How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 68

As I stare at his hand in disbelief, he suddenly grabs my wrist in a firm grip.

 

“It needs to be touched to work, so I know it’s uncomfortable, but bear with me.”

 

“No need…”

 

“What are you doing?”

 

Before I could reply, Yves stepped forward and swatted Endymion’s hand away.

 

‘When the hell did you get back?’

 

He was obviously walking toward the door.

 

“I only took her by the hand, so I could use a magical tool that only allows those in contact with it to hear voices, so stay out of my way.”

 

“If you were going to use the magic tool, you didn’t need to keep me at a distance, did you?”

 

Seeing Endymion’s device, Yves did not attempt to hide his annoyance.

 

Endymion pulled one corner of his mouth up into a crooked grin and replied.

 

“I know you can read lips. So don’t try any more tricks.”

 

“…”

 

The dissatisfaction still lingered on Yves’ face, but he was unable to offer any rebuttal.

 

‘Wow, it’s really possible to infer the content of a conversation from the form of lips.’

 

As I watched the two of them bicker, I was in pure admiration.

 

It wasn’t a superpower, but I’d always thought of it as something out of a detective movie.

 

“…Miss Laura, I’ll be by the entrance, so if my brother makes any strange threats, just give me a quick glance.”

 

His concern was made all the more pleasant by the realization that yesterday’s discussion with Yves had the potential to progress to the stage of a little something.

 

“Okay. Got it!”

 

I responded with a smirk, and a slightly surprised-looking Yves sighed softly and moved toward the entrance.

 

Endymion, meanwhile, frowned between his eyebrows, wondering if Yves’ displeasure was contagious.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“Something has… changed in you two.”

 

The only difference between yesterday and today was my realization of Yves’ feelings for me.

 

‘Speaking of you guys, does that mean Yves has changed too?’ 

 

I wasn’t expecting it, but when I met him this morning, I didn’t notice any change in him. Everything was the same as usual.

 

In a way, it was natural. I was the one who realized what I didn’t know.

 

However, Endymion’s comment made it seem that there had been a change in Yves from yesterday.

 

“Good or bad?”

 

I asked, curious to see how we would look to Endymion, who was as perceptive as Yves, but for some reason, his expression became even more distorted.

 

“I think it was an illusion.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’ll cut to the chase.”

 

It was clear that he was hedging his bets because he didn’t want to answer, but I didn’t bother to point that out.

 

There was more important stuff to talk about. I didn’t know how long Endymion’s conversation would go on, and I didn’t want to drag it out with unnecessary talk.

 

“What is it?”

 

“The reason I stuck around you for a while was to make sure you were a human I could trust.”

 

“Huh?”

 

I was stunned.

 

This was the last thing I expected.

 

‘What do you mean, what are you trying to do by checking…’

 

I felt anxious at the same time.

 

Just like last time, I realized that he might have something else up his sleeve and was just baiting me.

 

‘I’d forgotten after his demeanor yesterday, but Endymion is a man who can’t be taken lightly.’

 

Yesterday, when I spoke to Yves, I was honest with him about my thoughts, whereas normally I’m the exact opposite, calculating every word, every move.

 

“You don’t have to be so guarded. My observations have shown me that I can trust you. I’m here today because I have a problem that I want to hear your thoughts on.”

 

My anxiety was heightened. The word trust, coming from Endymion, the ultimate in human distrust, felt like a trap.

 

‘Maybe he means to trust in the long run.’ 

 

And I wondered what he was looking at to make that judgment.

 

Depending on how and to what extent he observed me, I don’t know, but I hadn’t done anything to earn Endymion’s trust.

 

As if reading my expression, Endymion sighed and asked a question.

 

“Are you as unwilling to believe anything I say as Yves was?”

 

The words were strangely guilt-inducing.

 

‘I don’t know how much of what you say is true and how much of it is a lie.’ 

 

It wasn’t like it would hurt Endymion if I said I didn’t believe him, but somehow I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

 

“If indeed you expect me to trust you, then you’ll have to cut to the chase and tell me what you’ve observed of me, and in what sense you trust me.”

 

It was a rude thing to say to the crown prince of a kingdom, but I blurted it out brazenly, confident that Endymion wouldn’t mind.

 

No, he didn’t seem at all bothered by my demeanor.

 

Nope. In fact, he overreacted even more than I expected.

 

He flinched and stiffened, as if realizing the error of his ways, and then apologized.

 

“…I’m speaking out of habit. I’m sorry.”

 

I wondered if I had stepped on a landmine.

 

For a moment, the question crossed my mind, but I shrugged it off and changed the subject, not wanting to make things weird.

 

“Well, I didn’t expect an apology, so let’s get on with it, shall we? We have to finish before evening prayers.”

 

“I see. Let’s get your question out of the way first.”

 

Fortunately, Endymion was back on track in no time.

 

“What convinced me that I can believe you, or more precisely, that I can trust you, was your demeanor a moment ago.”

“Me?”

 

What did I do?

 

When I scratched my head in disbelief, he continued, “Yesterday’s conversation between me and Eve gave you access to our sibling’s weaknesses, so you could use them against me.”

 

My jaw dropped open.

 

‘Yesterday’s conversation made him feel vulnerable…’ 

 

For a moment, I wondered if there was something wrong with his character, but then I realized that this was Endymion’s way of thinking.

 

Endymion seemed to have read my thoughts and gave me a cold glare.

 

“I see now that you just didn’t realize the weapon you had in your hand.”

 

I was about to retort that this wasn’t like him, who was always thinking of ways to take advantage of others, when I suddenly realized something was odd.

 

“Wait, did you mean to bring me into that conversation you two had yesterday?”

 

“Yes. Because, while Yves seemed to already trust you, I wasn’t entirely sure.”

 

This man was creepy as hell. While I was still reeling from this new revelation, Endymion continued.

 

“Well, aside from that, his facial expressions gave away his thoughts, and sometimes even those remarks that seemed to cut to the core of the other person were worthwhile.”

 

That sounds like a statement of long-term trust no matter how you look at it.

 

I gave him a look of incredulity, but Endymion said what he had to say.

 

“I’m sure you mean it when you say you have no malice toward Selene.”

 

Perhaps this was the point he was trying to make when he approached me the other day, but I suddenly remembered that I had acted very arrogant today.

 

“But wasn’t I pretty arrogant to Lord Endymion today?”

 

I ask, now that I’ve pointed out what I didn’t like.

 

‘Didn’t I say everything I wanted to say?’

 

It was almost a double entendre. But Endymion replied in a somber voice.

 

“It was the same as usual.”

 

“Really? I thought you were more direct today.”

 

“I certainly was. That’s true.”

 

“Why are you blunt?”

 

When I asked him how he could have just said it was the same as usual and then quickly changed his demeanor to say that it was, he didn’t seem to mind.

 

“You always say it with your face, even if you don’t say it out loud, so it’s the same.”

 

“Oh…”

 

I trailed off.

 

‘So it’s all that visible.’

 

It’s not like I carry a mirror around with me every day to check, so I thought I only showed enough emotion to vaguely read my thoughts…

 

‘Maybe I shouldn’t have to hold back what I want to say.’ 

 

Before I could let such an unseemly thought pass through my mind, I quickly regained my composure.

 

“I see. Anyway, the bottom line here is you trust that Selene has no malicious intentions, and she’s not smart enough to pick up on Endymion’s weaknesses and use them against him?”

 

“Are you starting to call Selene by her first name now?”

 

Ugh. I’d been thinking about it in my head, so I’d inadvertently called her by her first name.

 

“Come to think of it, you didn’t mind calling me by my first name the other day.”

 

“Oh, you did?”

 

It dawned on me now.

 

Until we met again in the Divine Realm, I’d called him Crown Prince.

 

“Yves seems to think it’s odd. I don’t think he’s ever asked you directly.”

 

“Yves’?”

 

“Didn’t you know? Whenever you called me by my first name, he seemed to faintly mind.”

 

Nod—

 

‘That’s a lame excuse.’ 

 

In the early days of our journey, I was careful not to make name mistakes.

 

Now that I’d strayed from the original, and since coming to the Divine Realm, I hadn’t had to use titles related to my status, I seemed to have completely let loose.