How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 63

“Excuse me?”

 

“The premise of what you just said is wrong. Do you understand that?”

 

His demeanor was that of a child.

 

“Selene came to the Holy Realm with me from the beginning.”

 

“What?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“…”

 

At the shocking statement, Riqueia and I simultaneously questioned, and Yves remained frozen.

 

“We can’t let a Saint Candidate wander around alone. As random as it is that Yves is appointed guardian knight of the Holy Realm, and I was Selene’s guardian knight.”

 

So that explains his sudden appearance in the library a few days ago.

 

Although I had suspected that the reason for his visit to the Divine Realm had something to do with Selene, I hadn’t realized he was her guardian knight.

 

“Where were you escorting her?”

 

Being in the same class as Selene, I often find myself with her even when I don’t want to be. I had completely failed to notice that she was staying here, except for the day Endymion spoke to me in the library.

 

“A good knight can escort without being seen.”

 

Was it the atmosphere?

 

‘The way he’s looking at Yves and talking to him, I’m guessing it was a snipe.’

 

He wasn’t being sarcastic, though, just friendly and playful.

 

On the other hand, Yves was still as frozen as ever.

 

‘Well, I’m surprised Endymion’s even here.’

 

It shocked him quite a bit to hear that he was Selene’s guardian knight.

 

“So, why don’t you stop grabbing priests and going on a rampage and go home?”

 

“…I’m not on a rampage, I was just trying to see if Selene was there.”

 

“So the priest in charge gave you an answer, and you refused to accept it and insisted. That’s what they call a rogue.”

 

“I didn’t accept it, so I made a valid counterargument. I’m proud!”

 

“If you’re so proud, you can continue, but I’m taking this matter to the Kingdom of Larsa.”

 

“What?”

 

“Riqueia Larsa has been bullying and harassing the priest in the Holy Realm, but says he’s proud of himself, so you can judge for yourself.”

 

“…”

 

In silence, Riqueia’s face seemed to materialize the word ‘red’.

 

‘Then let’s go.’

 

At least if he had gone with Adhad when he left, none of this would have happened. That didn’t mean I felt sorry for him.

 

If only he’d come back sooner, we wouldn’t all be wasting our time and energy on the same old crap.

 

It was a regret for that.

 

Endymion, who had crumpled Riqueia’s pride with just a few words, spoke up.

 

“Well, at least I understand your concern for Selene, so I’ll give you something good.”

 

“…”

 

As the minutes ticked by without any half measures, Riqueia remained steadfast and unwilling to turn back, the whip dangled a carrot in front of him, knowing he would not back down.

 

“Selene would be in the Babylonian Empire by now.”

 

Riqueia’s face changed as he balled his fists and glared at Endymion.

 

“The Babylonian Empire?”

 

“Yes. She said she had business there, and I tried to follow her, but she refused… and went with another paladin.”

 

The Babylonian Empire.

 

‘Did he go to see Xenon?’ 

 

I thought she’d given up after the first meeting, which went badly.

 

‘No. If she could have gotten to him this way, wouldn’t she have had to put me to the guillotine?’ 

 

These questions arose, but they weren’t important at the moment, so I pushed them to the back of my mind.

 

“…But why did you tell me? You didn’t want Selene to be with anyone else.”

 

“That’s right. I wasn’t going to tell you.”

 

“Then why did you change your mind? Or are you lying?”

 

“You’re free to believe what you want, but it’s true.”

 

A strong disbelief flashed in Riqueia’s eyes. He looked like he’d been tricked by Endymion a few times before.

 

“I don’t think you’ll stay here forever if I don’t tell you Selene’s whereabouts.”

 

“…”

 

“And the Babylonian Empire is so vast that you’ll never meet her even if you know.”

 

Endymion said with a hint of mockery in his voice, and Riqueia’s eyebrows twitched, but he didn’t reply.

 

It was as if he had finally realized that confronting him would only hurt him.

 

‘Oh, I’m freezing, can I go inside now?’

 

At first, I was forced to stand there by Riqueia, but then I realized that the conversation was coming to an end and I wanted to go back to my room.

 

The night temperature was freezing in the middle of winter.

 

Thankfully, there was no wind, but my ears were starting to ache from the prolonged exposure to the cold temperatures.

 

“If you’re lying, I’m going to punish you later.”

 

“…Whatever.”

 

Endymion’s expression hardened.

 

Like someone who’d just swallowed a rebuttal that had been stuck in their throat, like, ‘What could you possibly do to me?’

 

Finally, with Riqueia’s gone, the priest who had argued with him earlier also entered the building, sighing deeply as if tired.

 

I also hurried inside to escape the cold.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

After a long moment of silence, Yves turned to Endymion and asked a question.

 

“If Selene is in the Babylonian Empire, then it is true.”

 

“No, I mean that you are a guardian knight of Lady Selene.”

 

“Alas, that is also true.”

 

“…Are you crazy?”

 

“You’re suddenly being too hard on your brother.”

 

Endymion returned the lighthearted remark with a smirk, but Yves’ stiff expression did not soften.

 

“Are you kidding me?”

 

Yves’s voice rose.

 

“How precarious your position is right now, and you’re here, leaving your position as Crown Prince for a woman like that!”

 

“…”

 

Endymion’s voice trailed off, as if he was offended that Selene should be called such a woman.

 

The atmosphere was as cold as a winter wind.

 

Eventually, I interrupted, “Look, this is going to be a long story, so why don’t we do the rest inside?”

 

It sounded ridiculous, I know, but it was really, freezing.

 

Yves looked at me in disbelief, but then agreed.

 

“If your nose is… hmm, cold, you can go in first.”

 

My nose must be very red.

 

‘Somehow, I don’t feel it.’ 

 

As I contemplated whether to take Yves up on his offer, Endymion entered the building unexpectedly.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“You said it was cold, and we should talk inside.”

 

“That’s true, but…”

 

My words trailed off as I watched his back as he walked briskly away.

 

But I couldn’t bring myself to ask him if he wanted to talk.

 

‘I honestly thought Endymion would avoid me.’ 

 

Apparently, Yves was just as surprised as I was. Impatient, I tugged on his wrist.

 

“We should go in.”

 

As if my touch had brought him back to his senses, Yves slowly took a step forward.

 

Endymion wasn’t too far away, so I was able to catch up to him in no time.

 

“But where are you going now?”

 

“My room.”

 

For a moment, I was puzzled, but then I remembered that he was Selene’s guardian knight.

 

‘I can’t believe I’ve never seen him before, even though we’ve been living in the same building.’ 

 

It was surprising, even though Selene had only been in the Holy Realm for less than a month.

 

“Yves, did you know that Lady Selene had a guardian knight?” I asked in a whisper as I caught up to Yves.

 

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered hearing that good swordsmen could detect enemies in hiding with their psychic senses.

 

“I knew someone was hiding and escorting Lady Selene, but I didn’t think it was my brother.”

 

“That’s because I was more careful not to give away my identity when I was near you.”

 

Endymion, who was leading the way, spoke up, though he spoke softly enough to be heard. His playful tone seemed to lighten the mood from earlier.

 

Well, to cut to the chase, it’s going to get ugly again.

 

‘Ah, perhaps I should have just gone back to my room?’

 

Then I realized that if I went with them, I might interrupt their heart-to-heart.

 

Maybe I should go back now, but I hesitated.

 

“Don’t even think about going back first.”

 

“What?”

 

“You look like you want to go to your room and rest, so I thought I’d tell you.”

 

“…I’m not.”

 

“If you weren’t, I’d apologize.”

 

“Don’t apologize.”

 

My conscience pricked. I left out the afterword, but one corner of my mouth twitched up as if Yves noticed.

 

‘You’re scaring me.’ 

 

As much as I didn’t want to interrupt their conversation, I was sincere in my desire to get back to bed.

 

Meanwhile, Endymion’s pacing stopped.

 

“Come in.”

 

Endymion’s room was surprisingly plain.

 

“Oh, it’s just the same.”

 

“It’s for a Guardian Knight status, I don’t get special treatment.”

 

That was true.

 

‘When you’re a Crown Prince of a kingdom, don’t you usually complain about living in a room that’s worse than a corner of a warehouse?’ 

 

Sure, the building itself was neat and nice, but Endymion was a Crown Prince.

 

It’s strange to think that someone who lived in a palace bigger than the one we’re in now would live in a single room.

 

Although Yves had been living in the temple since he was a child, so he was more used to it than Endymion.

 

“I can’t serve you tea, so you can sit wherever you like.”

 

“Hmm. I think I’d better go back after all, don’t you think?”

 

I asked as I looked around Endymion’s room, which was exactly the same as mine.

 

He had only two chairs, after all.

 

“Hmm, I see, but my brother, being the responsible one, will follow you to your room.”

 

Endymion’s point, I quickly conceded. Yves was my guardian knight, after all.