How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 64

A man who does his best at whatever he does would choose to prioritize his duties, even if he had something important to discuss with his brother.

 

“Ah! Then why don’t you two sit down here and talk, and I’ll sit on the edge of the bed…”

 

“No.”

 

What do you think? Before I could finish my sentence, Yves cut me off.

 

Although I was a little puzzled as to why it was Yves and not Endymion who cut me off, I decided to listen to him.

 

“Right.”

 

A bed was the most private of personal spaces, and he and I were barely acquainted, or rather, we were enemies.

 

The last thing I wanted to do was invade his space, even in the smallest way, because it would offend him.

 

But to my surprise, Endymion graciously agreed.

 

“I don’t mind.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Well, this room is a formality, and I don’t use it much anyway. So you can sit wherever you feel comfortable.”

 

Apparently, the Crown Prince’s one-room quarters were small and uncomfortable.

 

The answer doesn’t surprise me, so I nod dismissively.

 

“But where do you sleep?”

 

Suddenly, the question of Endymion’s current living quarters arises.

 

He doesn’t have a private residence inside the Great Hall, and if he had one outside, he’d have to commute to and from it every day, which would be inconvenient given the difficult access procedures.

 

Endymion replied in a casual tone, “As a guardian knight, of course, I often take a nap while escorting Selene.”

 

“…That’s surprising.”

 

The answer was far from what I expected.

 

‘I didn’t think he’d be able to adjust to a frugal lifestyle, having been raised in luxury since birth.’ 

 

Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that he would be worse off, almost homeless.

 

As if reading my expression, Endymion smiled wryly and added, “Anything is better than a battlefield.”

 

“Ah…”

 

As he said, territorial wars were still active in this world.

 

‘Even in the game, Adhad and Endymion had each fought in wars before reaching adulthood. It was also briefly mentioned that Riqueia had lost his brother in the war…’

 

I’d forgotten about it, though, since I hadn’t had any direct experience of war since waking up in Laura’s body.

 

As Endymion remained silent, stunned by the seriousness of the situation, he bit his tongue.

 

“You’ve really made the air heavy. Anyway, the bottom line is, I don’t care, and you can sit wherever you want.”

 

If you say so. I went ahead and sat down on the edge of the bed.

 

His unexpected revelation of his past had me pondering for a moment, but I had other things on my mind right now.

 

Suddenly, Yves stopped me.

 

“Miss Laura, you may sit here. I’ll stand.”

 

It was so natural an escort that I barely had time to protest, and I shuffled over and sat down across from Endymion.

 

“Wait, I’m not even part of the conversation, so…”

 

Realizing in hindsight that something was awry, I started to rise from my seat, but Yves cut me off and squeezed my shoulder.

 

“It’s only when Miss Laura is sitting here that my mind is at ease.”

 

“What does that mean… no? I see.” 

 

For a moment, I was about to question Yves, but then I changed my mind.

 

The stalling conversation between the two of them took precedence over asking what my sitting in the chair across from Endymion had to do with Yves’s peace of mind.

 

It was better to let it go than to take the time to address my questions.

 

Once we were seated and the mess was barely cleaned up, Endymion cut to the chase.

 

“Let’s pick up where we left off. I realize, as you point out, that the nobles are not yet settled, and I realize that at this rate, you and I could be contending for the throne.”

 

He dropped the bombshell very calmly.

 

“By the way, I’m willing to give you the Crown Prince position, if you want it.”

 

“…!”

 

Yves was stunned and speechless.

 

Endymion, on the other hand, was unfazed by Yves’ reaction and continued.

 

“It’s actually something I’ve had in mind to some extent since I revealed my flaws in front of the nobles.”

 

“…Are you serious?”

 

His voice was cold, almost freezing. It was a far cry from the fiery, shouty tone he’d used earlier.

 

‘He must be incredibly angry.’ 

 

A cold anger I’d only seen once before in the early days of my possession.

 

“I am. That’s why I held you back from going to the Holy Realm. If I had known then that you were only leaving the realm to avoid a confrontation with me, I would have stopped you.”

 

This was the first I had heard of it.

 

Endymion stops Yves from giving up his status and leaving.

 

‘Wait, so Yves ditched Endymion and came to the Holy Realm just to become my guardian knight?’

 

Enheduane came to mind with the question.

 

That day, as Yves was recounting the state of affairs in the Euphrates Kingdom, Enheduane burst out laughing.

 

Even then, Enheduane had spoken as if Yves had come to the Holy Realm on a whim to be my guardian knight.

 

‘Of course, I thought she was exaggerating to make fun of him.’

 

At first, it seemed easy to believe that she was just making fun of Yves because the rationale for not contesting the throne with Endymion seemed so much more weighty and valid.

 

But now that I think about it when I visited Enheduane as soon as the trial was finished, Yves asked her to leave the position as my guardian knight vacant. 

 

It certainly felt like he had been planning to follow me to the Holy Realm all along. No matter what the circumstances were in the Euphrates.

 

‘Was being my guardian knight really the main reason?’

 

Even as I pondered that, the two continued their conversation.

 

“From then on… I must have misunderstood you completely.”

 

As if to emphasize the point, Yves spoke each word with force.

 

“I thought you were ready to sacrifice anything for the cause of turning the Euphrates into an empire, and then you let yourself be possessed by a woman.”

 

“You saw it right. I’ve only changed since I met Selene.”

 

Endymion didn’t bat an eyelid at Yves’s sarcasm, which was laced with a hint of coldness.

 

“Ha… I see nothing but a foolish man blinded by love and destroying himself, but is that worth your life?”

 

Lost in my thoughts, I was startled back to reality by Yves’ venomous words.

 

‘Should I stop him now?’ 

 

Though I’d been holding my breath so as not to interrupt their conversation, there was a reason I was wondering this now.

 

It reminded me of the scene in Endymion’s Bad Ending, where he decapitates his loyal aide with a single blow to the head after he tries to talk him out of his maniacal obsession with Selene.

 

Of course, the game’s Endymion and the current Endymion, who seem to have regressed, are a bit different.

 

After all, he still had the same eyes for Selene, enough to give up his Crown Prince position…

 

Perhaps I should stop Yves before he does something unnecessary.

 

“Besides, she’s been hanging out with other men of high rank besides you, do you really think she’ll stay by your side now that you’re no longer the Crown Prince?”

 

Endymion gulped in an involuntary gasp.

 

Expecting Endymion to lash out with his sword at any moment.

 

But to my surprise, Endymion replied bluntly.

 

“It is my decision.”

 

“Is it so precious to you?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“I… I just don’t understand it. That you, the most rational and wise man I’ve ever known, would throw away something you’ve wanted all your life in one moment.”

 

“I understand. You’re shocked by the sudden change. And that everything you’re saying now is out of concern for me.”

 

“…”

 

At those words, Yves’s cold, frosty aura softened.

 

As if the sight of Endymion’s indifference to such a strong provocation had caused him to lose his cool.

 

“By the way, Selene’s influence has changed you, but that’s not all.”

 

Endymion turned to a confused Yves.

 

“I can’t go into detail, but it’s because I happened to… reflect on my past life.”

 

He revealed that the goal of turning the Euphrates Kingdom into an empire belonged to his father, the current king, and not to him.

 

And that he has his aspirations.

 

“The reason I suddenly became so kind to you is because I realized the value of those who truly care for me.”

 

“…You mean?”

 

The frozen look on Yves’s face contorted.

 

It was surprising to hear the word ‘precious’ come out of Endymion’s self-centered mouth.

 

“I know you don’t believe me. Even Mouflon wondered if I had contracted a disease.”

 

At the same time, I noticed something new.

 

It was clear that Endymion had regressed several times.

 

‘Because everything he’s told us so far has a different ending.’

 

The ‘Mouflon‘ he had just mentioned was the name of a loyal aide who had given his life to right Endymion’s wrongs in the Bad Ending.

 

Also, his reconciliation with Yves was a normal ending, and his realization of his mistakes and realization that what really mattered to him was Selene was a happy ending.

 

In other words, Endymion had at least three regressions.

 

‘The only thing that bothers me a little is the difference between what I saw in the Trial Court and what I see now.’

 

Honestly, Endymion’s changes weren’t that obvious at the time.