How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 67

“Do you really think we can afford to stand by and watch when things are already so precarious?”

 

It’s a question I throw out there, hoping that I might be able to give him a little breathing room, if not a change of heart, but Yves remains cold to the end.

 

‘Maybe he didn’t even need to ask for my opinion.’

 

For a moment, I thought about it, but then I realized that perhaps Yves was too confused and upset to be receptive to other people’s views, and I tried to understand him.

 

After swallowing a sigh that reached the top of my lungs, I answered calmly.

 

“Even if you are correct in all of your speculations, there is only so much we can do, Endymion, in the end, it will be him who makes the decision.”

 

Whether the opposing nobles were making a bad move, or whether love was paralyzing Endymion’s reason, and he would regret it later, it was his life after all.

 

“To interfere with Endymion’s choices any further in the name of concern seems to me to be nothing more than your selfish imposition.”

 

When I said it firmly, he stopped biting his lip.

 

“…Very well, I will take Miss Laura’s advice and wait and see.”

 

It was finally settled. Though it wasn’t a clean finish.

 

Releasing the breath I’d been holding, I turned to Yves and asked.

 

“Shall we head back?”

 

“Sure.”

 

The conversation had gone on longer than expected, and it was already the middle of the night when we emerged from Endymion’s room.

 

Neither Yves nor I said a word as we walked down the silent hallway.

 

At Endymion, our rooms were only on different floors, so it didn’t take me long to get there, and I bid Yves the usual goodbye.

 

“Good night.”

 

“Yep. See you tomorrow.”

 

Knowing he’d be watching until my door closed, I didn’t hesitate to enter the room.

 

‘I don’t have the strength to lift a finger.’

 

With no energy left to change clothes, I flopped down on the bed.

 

Completely exhausted, but not from being caught up in the conflict between Endymion and Yves.

 

It was because I’d been listening to their conversation for a while and realized something I hadn’t known before, and it was making my head spin.

 

‘This wouldn’t be a problem if I were lost in my thoughts, but I’m not good at keeping my facial expressions in check.’ 

 

Not wanting to interrupt their conversation, and equally not wanting to reveal my thoughts to Yves, I tried to maintain as much composure as possible.

 

It was almost impossible to hide my reaction, so I decided to push the thoughts out of my mind.

 

If the focus of my consciousness wasn’t there, the emotions that came from it wouldn’t be there.

 

The effort of deliberately trying not to think about it was exhausting.

 

‘Of course, the human mind is not perfectly controllable, so it gets weird sometimes.’

 

Perhaps if Yves hadn’t been so preoccupied with Endymion’s affairs today, he would have noticed the subtle change.

 

Something had gone wrong in the middle of their conversation.

 

‘I’m so glad I made it out alive.’

 

With relief, the thought I’d been avoiding came flooding back.

 

The realization that Yves might have feelings for me.

 

The first thing to note was the part of Endymion’s story about why Yves had come to the Holy Realm.

 

‘At the time, being a guardian knight seemed like a bonus, and I thought Enheduane was just teasing.’ 

 

But today, looking back at Endymion’s words and the circumstances, I realize that Yves’ main goal was to become my guardian knight, not to avoid a contested throne.

 

‘And the reason for this seemed to be due to his attraction to me.’

 

This was not the end of the evidence.

 

Earlier, when I compared the game to the childhood story that Yves had told me, I realized that my behavior was unintentionally similar to Selene’s.

 

The details were slightly different, but the fact that I’d purified the curse and gotten close just enough for him to confide in me was proof enough.

 

‘No. But is it true this time?’

 

But the reason I couldn’t let go of my doubts in the face of such clear evidence wasn’t because I was blind or a believer in the original.

 

No. Rather, it was because I knew the original story was not absolute, and I considered the possibility that Yves might not have taken a favorable view of me even if I had behaved similarly to Selene.

 

Although he did look out for me after arriving in the Holy Realm, it was only because Yves was my guardian knight, and I was the one who could purify the curse…

 

‘I rationalized, but no matter how I look at it, doesn’t that mean he likes me?’

 

Honestly, when I analyzed the situation with both logic and sentiment, I was more inclined to believe that Yves was into me.

 

Nevertheless, the 1% anxiety of ‘What if it’s just me thinking about the wrong thing and embarrassing myself in the end?’ made me jump to conclusions.

 

People tend to repeat the same mistakes, so I was worried that I was making a fool of myself this time.

 

‘I was so mortified that I assumed he liked me when he offered to help me in prison.’ 

 

Since then, I’ve tried to give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his demeanor.

 

‘So I added a reason to Yves’ behavior that wasn’t a rational attraction.’

 

Unable to deal with my reedy, shifting mind, I pulled the covers over my head and closed my eyes.

 

‘Forget it. There’s no need to rush to judgment.’

 

Whatever feelings Yves had for me now, it was clear that it wasn’t the kind of passionate, life-sacrificing love that had been in the game.

 

At best, it was a sort of casual thing.

 

So I shouldn’t worry about it either way and keep my options open.

 

‘Whatever the size of the feelings, it’s something that should be developed slowly.’ 

 

The reason I was so excited before the trial and tried to reject Yves was that my life was on the line.

 

If I made a mistake, I was going to die, and I didn’t want to drag him into it.

 

But it was different now.

 

Not knowing when it would regress was still unsettling, but at least I wasn’t going to die with it.

 

‘I don’t have the heart to make the first move, but if he takes a liking to me, I don’t see why not.’ 

 

He was a pure man who looked at only one person like a sunflower, a handsome man with a good body and a great mind.

 

The only reason I excluded him was because I didn’t want to have a long and difficult relationship.

 

Therefore, it was good to start with a little crush and gradually develop feelings.

 

‘But… how does a person start a relationship?’ 

 

The problem was that I had never been in a relationship in my previous or current life.

 

‘Don’t think about it too hard. It’ll work out.’

 

Everyone else seems to be doing it, so surely I could do it too.

 

‘I just have to be careful not to look like I’m secretly looking forward to it in front of Yves.’

 

💫

 

The next day.

 

After our regular classes, we were hanging out in the library before evening prayers when, to our surprise, Endymion came looking for us.

 

‘You acted like you were going to be gone for a while.’

 

Inwardly, I panicked because I didn’t expect to see him again in less than a day.

 

“I’d like to borrow this fellow for a while. 

 

Endymion says to Yves, pointing at me.

 

I blurted out, “Why are you asking Yves about that? What about my will?”

 

“I’m just asking Yves first. Because no matter what answer you give, I know that Yves, the Guardian Knight, will try to get involved.”

 

That was a valid point.

 

No doubt Yves would have followed me even if I had granted Endymion’s request.

 

On the other hand, Yves scowled, “What business do you have with Miss Laura that you feel the need to take her away from me?”

 

“It concerns Selene.”

 

“Is that something you can’t talk about in front of me?”

 

“Yes. It’s a secret that Laura Laurus knows, but you don’t.”

 

“…”

 

Yves frowned, as if he didn’t know what to say.

 

‘More than that, if it has to do with Selene… is it a regression?’ 

 

As much as I apologized to Yves, I was curious about Endymion’s story. There were issues to be resolved with him.

 

“Is it going to take long?” I asked, since I had my own agenda.

 

“Well, I don’t know. I can’t say for sure.”

 

“I think it should be fine before evening prayers… Yves, do you mind?”

 

Looking toward Yves, I signaled that I wanted to speak to Endymion.

 

After hesitating for a moment, Yves slowly opened his mouth.

 

“…As long as it’s in my line of sight, I’ll allow it.”

 

“Okay. We’ll stay here, but you’re on your own, just make sure you’re far enough away that you can’t hear the conversation.”

 

Endymion’s voice was insistent, even though he had come to ask.

 

Yves clicked his tongue, disgruntled, but obediently distanced himself.

 

‘Away from here is as far from there as it is from here.’ 

 

It was so quiet in the library that it seemed pointless, but Endymion pulled a small brooch from his pocket.

 

“It’s a magical tool to keep conversations from leaking out.”

 

There were all sorts of magical tools.

 

Looking at the ruby-encrusted magical tool in wonder.

 

Endymion suddenly held out his hand.

 

‘What do we do?’