How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 129

It was to the point where even a hint of madness could be felt.

 

Normally, it should have been burdensome or even frightening, but strangely, I didn’t dislike it.

 

No—rather, my oblivious heart began to pound even more fiercely.

 

The heavy emotion radiating from his gaze was something unfamiliar, something I hadn’t even seen in the game.

 

‘He’s clearly different from the Yves I knew in the original, no matter how many times I played it.’

 

In the game, he was always a character who devoted nothing but noble, pure, and beautiful love to the heroine.

 

So, without realizing it, I found myself flustered.

 

The thought crossed my mind that perhaps the emotions Yves held for me now were entirely different from those he had for Selene in the original.

 

‘Of course, it’s highly likely that the feelings described in the original were true love.’

 

Even so, I liked the emotions Yves was directing at me now.

 

Because deep down, I had been secretly anxious. Though we had become lovers by a series of coincidences, I couldn’t shake the suspicion that I might just be a replacement for Selene.

 

Even though Yves currently had no memories of the regression and thus wouldn’t see me as someone’s substitute, the unease was unavoidable.

 

After all, I knew that the game I had played wasn’t just a game—it was Selene’s reality.

 

‘But maybe I’ve truly lost it.’

 

Just the faintest possibility that I might not be a replacement for Selene was enough to make my heart dance foolishly. And here I was, in the middle of a serious situation, my thoughts veering off into romantic delusions.

All these thoughts had surged through my mind in the span of a single, fleeting moment.

 

‘They say love dulls reason—maybe I’m already too far gone.’

 

Just as I was lost in these frivolous thoughts, a voice suddenly snapped me out of my daze.

 

“…Laura, are you listening?”

 

Yves Leblanc, who had been speaking with just a slight turn of his head, had now fully turned his body toward me.

 

“Yes… No. Actually, I was lost in thought.”

 

I reflexively replied but quickly caught myself and corrected my words. It seemed Yves had asked the question assuming I hadn’t been listening.

 

So instead of making excuses, I chose to apologize quickly.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“No, it’s my fault for repeating the same things over and over.”

 

“…”

 

Ever since he mentioned the word my side, I genuinely hadn’t heard a thing, so I couldn’t bring myself to give any immediate response.

 

But Yves, with his eerily sharp perception, seemed to have noticed even that and smoothly continued.

 

“Just a few minutes ago, I complained that Laura Laurus was being inconsiderate of my worries…”

 

Drawing out his words in a soft tone, he naturally took my hand and brought it to his cheek.

 

“And yet, here you are, neglecting your own well-being, scheming with your brother the moment I stepped away.”

 

“Th-that’s…”

 

Caught off guard by Yves’ sudden fox-like charm, I flustered.

 

Whenever he set his mind to bewitching someone, he’d relentlessly deploy sticky skinship and cringe-worthy lines without hesitation.

 

“So I was explaining how I ended up raising my voice at Laura in a fit of frustration.”

 

Sure enough, he soon interlocked his fingers with mine and clung to me. I didn’t dislike it, but doing this in front of Endymion made me oddly self-conscious.

 

Still, I decided that soothing Yves’ hurt feelings took priority, so I accepted it without protest.

 

“Mmm… yeah, sorry.”

 

I wriggled my fingers in his grasp for a moment before offering another apology.

 

Yves then brushed it off casually, as if it were nothing, and changed the subject.

 

“It’s fine. More importantly, you’re aware that Laura just woke up, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I nodded obediently, like a dutiful student, and the corners of Yves’ lips curved gracefully upward.

 

“Even if she isn’t in pain right now, latent aftereffects could suddenly appear over time. So shouldn’t she prioritize resting and taking care of herself first?”

 

Though his tone was gentle and coaxing, upon closer listening, it was closer to a mix of concern and nagging.

 

‘Even if he can’t stop me from helping Selene, it seems he wants to keep me bedridden until I’ve fully recovered.’

 

I understood it came from a place of worry, but that didn’t mean I could simply comply.

 

Since there was no telling when, where, or how Nanna’s interference might strike, I judged it better to resolve Selene’s issue as quickly as possible.

 

“Hmm…”

 

As I let out a faint sigh while pondering, Yves’ lips and eyebrows drooped slightly, his expression sulky.

 

“Besides, every time you get involved with the Saintess, something difficult seems to happen to you… That’s another reason I’m uneasy.”

 

At his sharp remark, Endymion flinched slightly and furrowed his brow.

 

Given that we had just been discussing the incident at the Laurus barony, his conscience must have been pricking him even more.

 

‘Well, the conversation started because I wanted to understand why Endymion trusts Selene so completely, but…’

 

In any case, just as I was about to speak to reassure Yves—

 

“Yves is right. I’ll come back another time.”

 

Unexpectedly, Endymion stepped back with surprising ease.

 

“In my haste, I failed to consider your condition, Laura, who has only just regained consciousness. My apologies.”

 

Not only that, he even added an apology, which felt oddly out of character.

 

‘Just what kind of change of heart has Endymion undergone during this time?’

 

Of course, I already knew his personality had shifted significantly, but even so, his top priority had always remained Selene.

 

Therefore, if this were the Endymion I knew, he would never have made a statement delaying the plan to rescue Selene just to worry about my physical state.

 

‘Is he holding back because the prison facilities are decent, as Yves said?’

 

While I was harboring such doubts, Yves—who had been trying everything to get Endymion out of the room just moments ago—suddenly latched onto something strange.

 

“Don’t call Laura by her name so casually when you’re not even close. Brother.”

 

Ever since the last time, he had been oddly bothered by Endymion using my name, and now he finally voiced his petty complaint.

 

The problem was, it didn’t end there.

 

It would have been fine if Endymion had just laughed it off, but surprisingly, he clicked his tongue lightly and retorted.

 

“You’re the one being unreasonable. Names are meant to be called in the first place.”

 

“Tsk. Brother, you’ve lived comfortably as the crown prince all this time, so perhaps you don’t know, but among nobles, even friends don’t call each other by name without permission.”

 

“Do you really think I lack such basic common sense? Of course, I know that. But neither you nor Laura are nobles right now. You’re commoners without a family name, so I simply called you by name.”

 

It was such a trivial and pointless argument that I almost suspected it might be a hidden-camera prank.

 

“Brother, you wouldn’t like it either if I casually used the Saintess’s nickname, now would you?”

 

“…”

 

“And since we’re on the subject, I’ll go ahead and say it—wasn’t you taking my side just now an act to win Laura’s favor?”

 

“What?”

 

“Laura trusts people too easily. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice you trying to gain her trust by pretending to be kind, even now?”

 

As I debated whether to step in and stop them, an unbelievable sentence slipped from Endymion’s lips.

 

“Oh, please. From the very beginning, I didn’t approach Laura just to use her after she became the official Saintess.”

 

“Laura might not know, but I won’t be fooled. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been watching you, brother?”

 

The two of them were talking so naturally that for a moment, I almost wondered, Am I still half-asleep and mishearing things?

 

But… it doesn’t seem like a misunderstanding.

 

Hearing Endymion refer to me as the official Saintess, I quickly stepped between them.

 

“Hold on.”

 

At that, both Endymion and Yves turned their gazes toward me.

 

“Laura, don’t stop me until I expose my brother’s true intentions.”

 

“You’re exaggerating. My only goal is to free Selene from prison.”

 

“Both of you, calm down. There’s something else I’m more curious about.”

 

When I firmly cut them off, the two, who had been bickering like children, quickly quieted down.

 

“Just now, Endymion called me the official Saintess… What does that mean?”

 

I demanded an explanation, but instead of answering, they exchanged glances.

 

Then, Endymion spoke, “You mean… they haven’t told you yet?”

 

“It wasn’t intentional. As I’ve said many times, Laura has only just regained consciousness.”