BJ Villainess – Chapter 323

Author: alyalia

* * *

An old television broadcasted a screen filled with static. Chhhhhkk!

[“I think I love you too.”]

Through the noise, Theresa’s voice could be heard.

[“I’m serious. I love you.”]

Her tear-streaked face, far from pretty, was the most lovable thing in the world. So much so that it felt like his heart was being torn apart.

[“Okay. I love you.”]

He couldn’t hear the other person’s voice. But to Ozworld, glaring at the screen with bloodshot eyes, only Theresa’s voice was clearly audible.

I think I love you too. I’m serious. I love you. Okay, I love you. She was saying she loved someone other than him. With her beautiful, tear-filled eyes, and her sweet voice, she was confessing with all her heart.

…No. She definitely mistook her emotions because she was angry. Love? Sure. That emotion might be love. The kind of love a creator feels for their creation. That would be the extent of it. It wasn’t real love.

The only person Theresa could truly love was himself, not her creation. Because the feeling of her loving him couldn’t be a mistake.

Suddenly, Ozworld swung his fist backward. Bang! His fist collided with the man who had approached from behind, sending everything around them flying with the impact. Even the old television screen went out from the shockwave.

Although the man’s face was hidden by a butterfly mask, there was no way to mistake his identity. Ozworld, unable to suppress his raging anger and hatred, uttered the man’s name. “Clyde.”

A smirk formed on the lips revealed beneath the mask.

“As you said, learning is important. I knew exactly where you’d be hiding and what you’d be up to.” Clyde spoke as if he had made a mistake. “Oh, you probably don’t remember me, do you?”

“You’re being overly confident.”

“Do you no longer have the luxury to speak politely while going against the ruler’s instincts?”

Ozworld couldn’t deny that he was quite irritated by Clyde speaking as if he knew everything about him.

“I understand the desire to feel rewarded for all the preparation you’ve done to face me.”

How long that would last, he didn’t know.

Crackle! The power of Ozworld’s core shook time and space with just a simple attack. Overwhelming would be the right word to describe it. But instead of fearing or despairing, Clyde laughed.

“I told you, didn’t I? That’s why learning is so important.”

Clyde didn’t even lift a finger, as if he had fully anticipated Ozworld’s move. There was no need for defense. Because time and space absorbed all of Ozworld’s power.

A crack appeared in the air. It was different from the rift in time and space. Clyde had twisted Ozworld’s power into a portal.

Everything happened in an instant. As planned in countless simulations in his mind, he jumped into the portal along with Ozworld.

* * *

Knock, knock.

“Master, it’s time to wake up.”

I awoke to Motie’s voice coming from the hallway. It’s already morning, I thought, and a smile formed on my lips the moment I slowly opened my eyelids. It was because I was in Clyde’s arms. His embrace, smelling good, was broad and firm. Contrary to his prickly personality, it carried a gentle warmth.

I snuggled deeper into Clyde’s still-closed arms. “Wake up, Clyde.”

There was no way he hadn’t heard Motie’s voice. So he was pretending to sleep.

“Why are you clinging to me while telling me to wake up?”

As expected, Clyde had already been awake, seizing the opportunity to wrap himself around me so I couldn’t escape.

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘vRadiant Cavev’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[[It’s sickening how lovey-dovey you two are in the morning -_-^ Are you going to stop?]

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Just 5k Coins For A Kiss’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[I can do better than that guy ^-^…]

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Honesty Charm☆’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[They look good together, but patriarchal men sure have a lot to say.]

I hurriedly escaped his embrace before Clyde’s teasing could continue any longer. “Hurry up and get ready for work.”

Clyde, lazily sprawled out, looked up at me with dissatisfaction.

In the meantime, I used magic to prepare for going out all at once. As I opened the bedroom door, with the remaining magic particles floating like golden dust around me, Motie, who had been waiting outside, bowed respectfully.

“Lord David is in the dining room. He was preparing your favorite meal, so I couldn’t stop him.”

I tilted my head, unsure of what my favorite food was, and suddenly remembered the toast I had in Pantheon. “Foxfire Toast!” I waved at Clyde, who was lazily approaching. “I’ll go ahead to the dining room. Get ready and come.”

“What? Are you saying you’ll be alone with that guy…!”

“The duchess must be there too!”

Not only was Motie present, but several other servants had come to attend us. I quickly interrupted Clyde’s jealous words, ignoring any embarrassment, and teleported to the dining room.

David was there alone, meticulously toasting a mountain of bread. When he noticed me, he greeted me with an expressionless face, like a soulless office worker. “Good morning.”

“Yes, did you sleep well? Wow, I’ve been craving Foxfire Toast for so long, thank you.”

When I sat down, genuinely happy, David slightly lifted the corners of his mouth.

The Foxfire Toast, which I hadn’t had in a while, was still delicious. After eating my fill with a happy face and downing a glass of juice, David, who had finished toasting and sat down, spoke with a rather serious expression.

“Miss Theresa.”

There seemed to be something important he needed to say.

“Last night, I sensed Kike and Benito approaching. I took measures to prevent them from discovering that you and Clyde are here, but I can’t guarantee how long it will last.”

I thought I knew what he meant. This was the ‘past.’

“I kind of know. I remember that shortly after, Kike and Benito managed to find you.”

“But this is probably the ‘present.’ One of the attendants is a puppet of the company.” David, knowing that I was broadcasting from a past timeline, deliberately referred to the ‘Ozworld Company’ simply as the company.

I appreciated his considerate gesture. But a puppet? Was there something like that?

I didn’t think Ozworld wouldn’t find me. But hearing it said aloud still made me feel uneasy.

What would he do after finding me?

We had parted in a terrible way. The relationship had deteriorated to the point where it was beyond repair, and I had no desire to fix it. The only thing Ozworld, unable to accept this reality, would do was erase my memories again and trap me in a world of his own making.

“There’s evidence that master is intervening in dimensions to retrieve you. There will probably be significant action soon.”

“Why are you telling me this? Aren’t you his man?”

David confessed with an awkward smile as if admitting something troubling. “Sometimes, in a long life, one finds themselves caring for something inexplicably weak. This is one of those times.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m saying I’m a fan.”

I gaped at him in surprise and asked in confusion. “You’re my fan?”

“Yes. I’m your fan. One of those Therdang or whatever.”

“You don’t have to say that much.”

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘♡SoveREIGN 𝓠ueen𝒸𝒶𝓇𝒹 ♡’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[I don’t know what the conversation is about, but I’ve realized I’ve become Therdang too.]

Just then, Clyde’s voice came from the entrance of the dining room. “How long are you going to chat?” It was a threatening tone, implying that he wouldn’t let it slide if the conversation didn’t end soon.

“If you’ve arrived, you could at least make your presence known.” I lightly scolded, and Clyde scoffed.

Anyway, feeling a bit shy, I extended my hand to David. “Thanks for helping. And… for telling me you’re a fan.”

David smiled as if relieved to have confessed that he was a fan. “It’s only natural to want to help my favorite BJ.”

Just as we were about to shake hands, Clyde suddenly intervened, grabbed David’s hand, and shook it instead.

“Oh, thanks. Was it David? If you ever need something, I’ll repay you later. Feel free to spend whatever you need on a nearby tour or something.” Then, as if the business was over, he quickly let go of his hand and led me toward the portal.

David shook his head in disbelief, thinking it was childish jealousy. I felt the same way, but Clyde’s cute attempt to wipe the crumbs off my lips made me overlook it.

“But why are we commuting by portal today?”

“There’s an emergency call. It seems there’s been an intruder at the imperial palace.”

That reminded me of what David had said.

“Could it be a puppet?”

“Yeah. It’s a wooden puppet, they say.”

I frowned as I checked the mana distributed in the atmosphere. At this level, there shouldn’t be any problem using large-scale magic.

The magical plants and animals were reproducing and growing rapidly on their own without my intervention. As a result, the planet Signio was becoming more mana-rich by the day. So magic wasn’t the issue. What mattered now was Clyde’s thoughts.

As soon as we arrived at the empty airship landing, I stopped walking. “I have something to say, Clyde.”

Seeing my serious demeanor, he stopped and faced me.

“As you know, this place is my past. So I have to return to the time I was living in.”

Clyde knew from the memories I had shared with him that we would meet again in the distant future. That meant we would be separated for a long time. Or rather, Clyde would have to endure that time alone.

With a determined expression, I told him. “If it’s too hard, you can give up on me.”

Clyde, however, silenced my words of surrender with a passionate kiss.

“Tell me to endure and come to find you, even if it’s hard. Because I’d rather die than give up on you.”

That’s too selfish. It’s selfish, but honestly, that was my true feeling.

“Never give up on me.”

“Okay.”

“No matter what, we’ll meet again.”

“Yes.”

Only then did Clyde seem satisfied as he leaned in to kiss me again, just as—

“Theresa.” Ozworld’s cold voice called my name.

“Your Majesty.”

I was so taken aback to encounter Ozworld at such a time that I was caught off guard when he added coldly.