How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 22

 

The look of determination on her face made it impossible to ask anything.

 

“Whew…”

 

Yves let out a deep sigh.

 

It was frustrating to have no idea what she was hiding. I could make out bits and pieces of her feelings and thoughts, but the real point was not there.

 

‘I don’t understand this whole thing.’

 

The curse was strange from the start. With wizards all but gone, only the gods could directly affect human flesh.

 

The commonly known divine punishments and stigmata were typical examples.

 

However, the curses issued by the gods were different in terms of divine power and magic.

 

Unlike divine power, which aims to protect humans, curses from the gods have a ferocious nature. It was easy enough for an experienced cleric to recognize.

 

So Yves had no idea that the scales that had suddenly sprouted on the back of his hand were a curse.

 

I hadn’t felt anything resembling a curse.

 

‘And Shanhart didn’t seem to notice…’

 

Shanhart was the High Priestess of the Great Hall of Astarte in the capital of the Euphrates Kingdom.

 

As Shanhart was also in the same organization as Yves, they were bound to meet often in their work, and she didn’t seem to sense the curse on Yves.

 

‘If I hadn’t overheard your conversation with Shanhart, I wouldn’t have known I was cursed.’

 

Funnily enough, it was only a small coincidence that led to the truth.

 

Not long after, the Oracle was announced.

 

After the Paladins had finished their training, Yves made his way to Shanhart’s office to give her a report.

 

No one was in the room when he arrived, but her prolonged prayers were a daily occurrence, so he made nothing of it and sat in the room to wait alone.

 

Yet, he relaxed for a moment.

 

Sensing a furtive movement in the hallway, Yves ducked quickly.

 

The assassin was likely to be the one who had approached the High Priestess’s office with deadly intent.

 

But to his surprise, it was the Crown Prince of the Euphrates himself, his brother Endymion, who opened the door.

 

Endymion, being less skilled than Yves, didn’t recognize the presence of someone inside the office, and in his haste to talk to the next high priest who entered, Yves completely missed the timing of the exit.

 

Eventually deciding that it was better to stay hidden than to risk causing a scene, Yves learned a shocking piece of information.

 

Endymion had grown feathers.

 

Like a bird’s tail feathers. 

 

But unlike Yves, who always had scales, Endymion’s feathers only appeared when he was emotionally upset, and then disappeared over time.

 

Unable to detect the strange aura on Endymion, Shanhart was briefly puzzled, but quickly concluded it was a curse.

 

Only an all-powerful god could change a human body.

 

What they discussed that day was to be kept secret, and he did not tell Yves, the paladin leader and royalty.

 

Instead, Yves had only vaguely suspected that High Priest Shanhart’s recent travels had been in search of the saint.

 

After all, if it was known that the crown prince was cursed, it would cause quite a stir.

 

“Tsk, getting carried away.”

 

Clicking his tongue, Yves ruffled his hair and shook off the thought.

 

Anyway, it wasn’t his curse that mattered now, it was Laura.

 

‘Why does she insist on taking on all of Laura Laurus’s faults?’

 

That, too, was something Yves found difficult to understand.

 

No matter how you looked at it, the soul currently inhabiting Laura Laurus’ body was a very different one.

 

Her reaction a few days ago made it even more clear.

 

The real Laura Laurus had been horrified and disgusted by the scales hidden beneath the gloves.

 

It was as if she thought they were contagious.

 

In contrast, she had no qualms about touching my bare hands. No. Rather, she was mesmerized, almost fascinated.

 

It wasn’t a gaze of disgust or fear, but one of appreciation. I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered those vibrant, deep green eyes.

 

‘I’ve never met a human being who was so much like her inside and out.’

 

Raised as precariously as a lantern in the wind, never knowing when it might be extinguished, Yves has been sensitive to the atmosphere around him since childhood.

 

Like a predator at the top of the food chain being preyed upon by the lower members of the pack.

 

Despite being born into royalty, Yves has had to learn to read people’s minds in order to survive in an aristocratic society filled with formalities.

 

Although he’s now adept at reading people’s minds, the more he learns, the less he trusts them.

 

‘This made her sincerity hit me even harder.’

 

Of course, in the beginning, she would lie to hide things, and when she realized that it showed on her face, she would shut up.

 

But at least since she’d gotten the divine mark, I could vaguely be sure that she wasn’t lying to take advantage of me.

 

And then…

 

— “I’ll be honest, I don’t actually want to die.”

 

The image of her pleading with Yves to live was still fresh in his mind as if imprinted on his retina.

 

Those clear, dark green eyes held a yearning for life, and the sharp, nervous voice rang as crystal clear as transparent glass.

 

And within her was the certainty that she would die.

 

All life must end at some point, but she acted as if she was going to die any moment.

 

‘What the hell does she know?’

 

The question had come full circle, but one thing had become clear in his muddled mind.

 

‘I couldn’t leave Laura alone when she said she didn’t want to die.’

 

✨

 

After that day, Yves didn’t visit me.

 

‘Thank god, because he seems to be taking his lessons seriously.’ I thought to myself.

 

I slept soundly until the sun was high in the sky, and stretched out to organize my plan.

 

‘Will my escape route be similar to the first?’

 

When I was first possessed Laura, I felt compelled to leave before the original started, but in retrospect, it was a surprisingly decent journey.

 

Although there are a few things I’d change.

 

‘I’m not a fan of those chunky antiques, so I’m going to take that out.’

 

Perhaps I should remove heavy, unwieldy items like music boxes and increase the number of small accessories available in the dressing room.

 

Things like lace trim and gloves made of fine fabrics would be less bulky and easier to resell.

 

‘And there’s more…’

 

In my mind, I’m already seeing improvements to my plan.

 

Knock, knock—

 

“Miss, you have a visitor.”

 

I hear Charlotte’s voice.

 

‘Did anyone but Yves visit me?’

 

Not Yves, given that she referred to him as ‘guest’ and not ‘Count Leblanc’.

 

But no one came to mind immediately.

 

I shook my head and turned to Charlotte on the other side of the door.

 

“Who is it?”

 

“She said she was Selene, a lady from the Viscount.”

 

“What? Why is she here?”

 

“What? I, I’m sorry, I didn’t hear the purpose of her visit, shall I ask her now?”

 

Confused, I asked without thinking, but the sharp tone must have made her think I was questioning her.

 

“No, it’s okay.”

 

For a moment, I panicked at the unexpected mention of her name, but quickly regained my composure.

 

Whatever the reason, I didn’t want to meet with her.

 

‘I don’t know what she’s up to, and I’d be doing myself a lot of harm by meeting her.’

 

Having made up my mind, I flatly refused.

 

“Tell her I’m out.”

 

“What? I thought the butler had already shown her to the reception room.”

 

How could he just usher someone in unannounced, without even consulting me?

 

‘This is ridiculous.’

 

My irritation flared, but I realized that Charlotte had done nothing wrong, so I calmed down and replied.

 

“Well, tell her to come back another time.”

 

It was incredibly rude of her to show up unannounced after so little interaction. At the time, we weren’t even close.

 

“Okay.”

 

Charlotte was easy to please, and I tried to shrug it off. If only she hadn’t knocked on my door again.

 

Knock, knock—

 

“My lady, the, it’s, it’s… Madame…”

 

Charlotte’s voice was heard, accompanied by a knock on the door, which was faintly louder than before.

 

‘When you say Madame, do you mean Baroness Laurus?’

 

Laura had never gotten along with her stepmother.

 

Partly because of the age gap, and partly because she found Laura’s presence very distasteful.

 

‘Come to think of it, we hadn’t seen each other since I took over the real Laura’s body.’

 

While she was lost in her thoughts.

 

“My lady has told you to get ready and come out, as she will be talking to Lady Selene.”

 

Charlotte added in a cautious voice as she glanced at me.

 

‘Is she crazy?’

 

My brow furrowed at her bizarre command, but I quickly dismissed it.

 

Remembering that Yves had done the same thing on his first visit to the barony.

 

The first time Yves had come to the Barony, after signing a ridiculous contract with Laura, the whole place had been abuzz with commotion.

 

Yves Leblanc, the envy of many noblemen, had come to see Laura.

 

Baron Laurus was out of town at the time, but the Baroness, who happened to be in the manor, had heard the news and rushed in.

 

To somehow get a word in with Yves.

 

‘Of course, Yves, having disliked the Laurus family itself, threw up an iron barrier, saying that he didn’t want to talk to strangers.’

 

There, Laura was delighted to see the Baroness ignored. She felt the Baroness’s envious gaze on her as she was tearing down.