How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 28

 

‘Oh, wait, this isn’t it.’ 

 

After a moment of being mesmerized by his face, I blurted out as if nothing was amiss.

 

“I’m serious.”

 

“…”

 

Yves pursed his lips as if to retort, but fell silent.

 

Perhaps because he could read my facial expressions better than anyone else, he realized that there was not a hint of pretense.

 

“…There’s no reason for me to kill you.”

 

“Because you were the one who hated me the most.”

 

“That’s…!”

 

He raised his voice, then shut up abruptly.

 

A rare look of bewilderment crossed his face.

 

‘I felt it the other day, but it’s still strange.’ Lately, Yves had been acting as if he had some sort of fondness for me.

 

He said he’d never smiled genuinely.

 

‘Is he truly oblivious?’ 

 

But there was no reason for him to harbor such feelings for me.

 

Since my possession, I’ve only spent about two weeks with Yves.

 

We’ve met daily to learn about divine powers, but we’ve spent less than a day together, and nothing special has happened in between.

 

It was just small talk to improve our relationship.

 

How I wish I could have done what Selene did, or something similar.

 

In the first place, he never told me about his childhood, and I never said anything comforting to him.

 

So it was hard to tell what he meant by his behavior.

 

Judging by the demeanor, it was probably something positive, like compassion or favor, if not love.

 

‘Why on earth?’

 

… was the unanswered question.

 

Studying Yves’ expression, lost in thoughts.

 

After a long moment of silence, he asked a question that struck a nerve.

 

“You told me you didn’t want to die, and then you gave up so easily?”

 

Easily? Easily, he says?

 

‘You don’t even realize how hard it was for me to give up…’ 

 

The anger I’d been holding in check bubbled up, and the words spilled out of my mouth, unfiltered by reason.

 

“You’re a Count, so don’t speak of things you know nothing about.”

 

A thought flashed through my head that I should stop here, but instead, the emotions that had begun to overflow spilled out in a torrent.

 

“I tried, but in the end, I didn’t change anything!”

 

Oh, crap.

 

‘I want to hide in a rathole.’

 

My face was burning and tears were threatening to fall.

 

I felt embarrassed as I spewed out lines from novels and dramas, such as, ‘What do you know?’ and ‘What does it matter to you?’. 

 

‘This explains the importance of the media I’m used to seeing.’ 

 

Of course, Yves didn’t know what was going on, but I couldn’t look him in the eye.

 

Even though everything I said was sincere, without the slightest hint of exaggeration.

 

“…”

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

In the silence, it was Yves who spoke first, “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

 

He apologized, dropping his gaze as if his momentum had been sapped.

 

“I just got frustrated with the way you seemed to have given up and said something insensitive.”

 

“I… I see.”

 

I almost asked, ‘What does that have to do with you?’ but managed to rephrase it.

 

‘Well, it’s not like I’m going to be able to do anything but talk to you.’

 

With an air of awkwardness and discomfort in the air, I tried to wrap things up appropriately.

 

“Well, I’ll forgive you, then, but will you please leave?”

 

But Yves didn’t back down.

 

“There’s still something I want to ask you.”

 

I wish he’d just cut to the chase.

 

Although the burning in my temples was getting worse, I had a feeling he wasn’t going to leave until I answered his question, so I complied.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Do you still… want to live?”

 

He paused long enough that I worried it was a serious matter.

 

‘You’re making me nervous.’

 

The question was innocent enough. The reasons for my current resignation are not voluntary.

 

I had been forced to give up by the force of fate.

 

“Of course,” I answered without delay.

 

In response, Yves heaved a faint sigh.

 

As if relieved.

 

‘This is awkward.’ 

 

Selene being her self, Yves was no stranger to being weird.

 

Visiting me in prison, not poisoning me, and constantly showing signs of concern for me.

 

I blurted out another complaint I’d been holding in.

 

“I don’t know why the Count cares about me, but I’m frankly not comfortable.”

 

It was a problem I hadn’t pointed out until the last minute, not wanting to scratch the old itch.

 

‘Whether it was the possibility of me being a saint, or perhaps it was Yves’s unspoken liking for me, I figured it would end when I ran away.’

 

Which would still be the case if I died.

 

I created a dark history today, and since I’d already said most of it, I decided I didn’t need to hold back the one I was most curious about.

 

‘I’m sure he’s angry or offended by my bluntness.’ 

 

After all, it’s not like we’re in a passionate relationship, and the response of someone we’re just trying to be nice and concerned about whom we think might be pretty cool might be hurtful.

 

But I was completely wrong.

 

“Like what?”

 

“What?”

 

Never thought I would hear myself ask this.

 

‘What’s wrong with my ears?’

 

When I stood there dumbfounded, not quite the response I had in mind, he must have realized I didn’t understand his question, because he elaborated and repeated it.

 

“I asked what makes you uncomfortable.”

 

Apparently, I didn’t have a hearing problem.

 

I replied in a gravelly voice, “Like this.”

 

“…?”

 

And then Yves’s head tilted. It looked like he didn’t know.

 

‘You usually read my mind like a ghost.’ 

 

Why do I have to explain this stuff in words that he doesn’t understand?

 

Despite my thoughts, I dutifully explained, “I just told you, I’m not comfortable with the Count paying attention to me.”

 

Yves’s silver eyes flickered.

 

‘Are you confused?’ 

 

None of the words were difficult, but it was as if he couldn’t understand what I meant.

 

“…Why?”

 

Or maybe not.

 

After a moment’s hesitation, he asked again.

 

At the same time, a grunt of pain escaped his lips.

 

‘Doesn’t this mean that Yves is being overly self-conscious?’ 

 

Calmly, with a reasonable suspicion that perhaps he thought that if he did a favor, the other person would automatically like it.

 

“I don’t feel comfortable with the Count doing me favors, because I’m about to be executed.”

 

“You say you don’t want to die, so you’re going to be executed as is?”

 

“That’s not the point, is it? I’m saying I don’t want to be near the Count because I might die.”

 

Yves, who had been showing a variety of expressions today, stiffened.

 

“Are you suggesting that I’m doing this because I have a rational attraction to you?”

 

“Look at it objectively. This relationship started from the worst possible place, and we’ve only just managed to regain a modicum of trust. Normally, a relationship like this wouldn’t bring you here.”

 

“I think you’re mistaken. I’m just trying to help you because I can’t leave you alone after being framed.”

 

“So why? Just because someone I don’t even know has framed me doesn’t mean that you should jump to my defense.”

 

Exasperated, Yves trailed off. Perhaps he couldn’t find anything to counter my argument.

I seized the opportunity to drive a wedge.

 

“Besides, wouldn’t it be better if I, the one who knows the Count’s secret, were to die?”

 

“Secret…”

 

Listening intently, Yves murmured softly.

 

As if realizing something he had forgotten.

 

‘You’re finally leaving now, aren’t you?’ 

 

If he’d only wanted to keep me alive because of the divine marking on me, the conversation would have been less cordial.

 

Better Selene, with her immense divine powers, than someone who mistook your best intentions for a favor.

 

However, I was a little worried that if it was an unconscious crush, I might be inadvertently stirring up feelings that he wasn’t aware of.

 

But when I saw the way he denied it with a shudder, I was pretty sure he’d been having a little kick.

 

‘Whatever!’

 

I exclaimed, just as I was about to bask in the liberating feeling of finally getting the conversation over with.

 

“You do realize there’s a clause in the contract that says I have to protect your life, right?”

 

Yves cut in with a sharp point.

 

“What?”

 

“Therefore, I will work to clear your name with your help.”

 

It was a blatant lie. No matter how I looked at it, Yves appeared to be someone who had forgotten the contract existed until I mentioned it.

 

But it was quicker for me to point it out than for him to speak.

 

“Of course, it doesn’t mean that you’re attracted to me rationally!”

 

I guess I must have sounded really frustrated.

 

There was a lot I wanted to say, but my priority right now was to shut him up, so instead of arguing, I countered his point.

 

“Anyway, that’s one thing, and this is another. That clause was put in to account for the possibility of being assassinated by the Count.”

 

“It doesn’t matter what you think, the contract says I have to guarantee for your life, and if I don’t comply, I’ll die too.”

 

“Then I’m destroying the contract right here and now.”

 

“Isn’t that a shame, because it also leaves me with one condition, that I can ask for one thing?”

 

“Not at all.”

 

“Why are you so reluctant to accept my help?”

 

“Because I have no intention of involving anyone else in my affairs.” I said it deliberately and firmly.

 

To emphasize that, I really don’t need any help.

 

I met the silver eyes staring back at me, trying to convince him of my sincerity, but Yves shook his head slightly.

 

“I understand what you’re thinking, the rest is up to me.”

 

Coming to his own conclusion, he turned as if to leave.

 

“What? Hey, wait!”

 

I called out, trying to catch him, but he vanished like the wind after his sudden appearance.

 

‘What the hell. Seriously.’