I Will Not Fall For the Villain’s Flirtations - Chapter 73

“Tried to kill you?”

He raised one eyebrow and questioned.

“Me, tried to kill you, Du?”

“Then you didn’t? Didn’t you push me off a cliff?”

I considered the possibility that he might not have intended to kill me. After all, if he really wanted me dead, he wouldn’t have given me the life stone.

“The priests were watching.”

“So, you pushed me off so mercilessly?”

“The exit was opening, and light was streaming in. It was the fastest way to send you there. I didn’t want you to get caught up in the upcoming battle.”

“Ha.”

Even so, pushing me off a cliff without any warning was hard to overlook.

“You could have at least said something. Even a hint!”

“I told you to go ahead.”

“Do you seriously think that was a sufficient hint? How was I supposed to know if ‘go ahead’ meant the exit or the afterlife? Besides, you said something ominous about not letting any sprouts grow!”

“Oh, Du.”

He laughed lowly and looked at me as if I were a beloved creature. Just as I was feeling bewildered by his suddenly gentle gaze, he said something outrageous.

“How could you interpret my confession like that?”

“…A confession?”

Who in the world confesses like that?

“I said it because I was amazed.”

“What?”

“I was amazed… at myself.”

“……”

“When I lost you, I was half out of my mind.”

He took a step closer and reached out to touch my face. His cool hand caressed my cheek and tucked my hair behind my ear.

“I searched for you more diligently than I did for any relic.”

“……”

“Even when you were running away with a relic, you looked so cute. It was amazing. So, I said it. You amaze me, and so do I for letting it happen.”

I knew it was nonsense, but seeing his familiar figure and the sparkling amethyst eyes in front of me, I couldn’t say anything. Despite spouting such ridiculous words, his face was so serious, and he looked so happy.

Will there ever be a day when I can truly understand this man?

How much weight does the person I am hold for him?

“If I scared you, I’m sorry. But even if I had time to explain, I would have done the same.”

“What?”

I frowned deeply at his absurd words. Is that how someone apologizes?

“The life stone only provides overprotection when the sympathetic nervous system is extremely activated.”

“…Ha.”

His plausible explanation made me even angrier. But that was only for a moment. The irritation that had surged up quickly subsided, and a sense of futility filled my chest. Suddenly, it felt exhausting to pursue this topic with him. He was someone whose true intentions were always unclear so what’s the point of questioning his actions now?

But the truce was a different matter. I was genuinely curious if he had any intention of improving relations with the Holy Kingdom.

“Is the truce sincere?”

“Stopping for a moment is something I can do.”

When I looked at him with surprise, Keene chuckled and said.

“Actually, it was the king who brought it up first. It was quite bold of him to try to contact me while avoiding the Pope’s eyes. I liked that, so I agreed.”

“……”

When there are two leaders, it’s usually impossible to avoid a power struggle. The Pope had declared that he would not interfere with the governance of other nations, but his influence spread across the entire continent, making his words meaningless. Until the previous king, they had been absolutely loyal to the Pope, but the young king seemed to think differently.

It was Keene’s words that followed that cleared my cluttered mind.

“But that’s not why I’m here. As I said earlier, I have another priority.”

“Another purpose?”

His smile deepened. Keene extended his hand politely and called my name.

“Miss Duna.”

The unfamiliar address made me hold my breath. Soon, a sweet voice flowed into my ears.

“Would you honor me with a dance?”

“……”

My heart thumped at the line an ordinary gentleman uses for courting a lady he fancied. I couldn’t tell if it was because of his unusual attire that highlighted his beauty or the sweet voice that caught me off guard.

As if enchanted, I gave him my hand. Just as he smiled deeper and pulled me closer, I, feeling somewhat intimidated, planted my feet firmly and resisted.

“I-I can’t dance.”

A dimple appeared on his cheek. Keene looked down at me leisurely and said.

“It’s okay.”

“Before you came, we were dancing a quadrille. Do you think people will let us join?”

“It’s been a while since it changed to a waltz.”

“I’ve never danced it before…”

“Du.”

He spoke softly again.

“It’s okay.”

Come here. His low whisper made my legs go weak. With a mix of tension and anxiety, I returned to the hall where people were gathered.

I expected fewer people due to the presence of a dangerous individual, but surprisingly, many remained in the hall. It was unclear whether they were relieved by the truce or just pretending to be to cover up the earlier commotion.

Maybe they were cautious because the king and queen hadn’t left yet?

The young people were also holding their ground. For those who had to go all-in this season, missing out this year and gaining a reputation as an old bachelor or spinster seemed more dreadful than the presence of the Master of the Magic Tower.

Perhaps they felt reassured by the increased royal guards. Whatever the reason, it was fortunate that the ball hadn’t been completely ruined.

“…No one’s looking.”

I was worried the orchestra might stop playing again upon spotting the Master of the Magic Tower, but surprisingly, people paid us little attention.

How could they be so indifferent? Even with the adversary of the Holy Kingdom present? As I kept looking around in confusion, I noticed a familiar ring on Keene’s finger.

Ah, that was it. An artifact that diminishes presence.

“What are you thinking about, Du?”

Just then, he naturally wrapped an arm around my waist and asked. As I awkwardly glanced around and placed my hand on his shoulder, I answered.

“I was just wondering how you learned to dance.”

I had taken lessons before entering the temple and practiced tirelessly with my family during reward vacations. Despite that, my results were pitiful enough to bring tears.

This man would have had even fewer opportunities to dance than I did.

“I learned from my older sister when I was young.”

“……”

I flinched at the mention of Ren Lione. He seemed unfazed by mentioning the deceased.

While it might not affect him, it was extremely uncomfortable for me. I knew it was best to move on naturally, but the prolonged silence made it seem like I had already failed.

As I stood silently, unsure of how to respond, a new song began. Busy following his lead with my eyes glued to the floor, he suddenly leaned down and whispered in my ear.

“Did you dance with the king when you first arrived?”

“What? No?”

When I looked puzzled by the sudden question, he shamelessly continued without changing his expression.

“Really? I thought you would have started since you’re the prettiest here.”

“……”

I hadn’t paid much attention due to Lindsey’s pressure to socialize with many men, but the first dance of the ball was likely led by the king and queen. Even if it followed the usual custom of the host family and high-ranking guests leading the first dance, it wouldn’t have been me. My status here was quite insignificant.

Blushing as I watched him make such absurd remarks without any embarrassment, I wondered why I had to be the one feeling embarrassed.

“Do you always speak nonsense?”

“Nonsense?”

“You’re saying things that don’t make any sense.”

“Excessive humility is also impolite, Du.”

Before I could laugh at his absurd comment, he spun me around once. When I struggled to keep up with the steps after being pulled back, he lowered his voice and said.

“The real nonsense was what that brat was saying earlier.”

“Brat?”

His previously gentle demeanor turned icy as he looked at me.

“Calling you his fiancée.”

“……”

“Surely you haven’t gotten engaged in that short time, have you? Especially not to that scoundrel.”

Ah, Viscount Lesprey.

Realizing who he was referring to, I sighed lightly, and Keene suddenly interlocked his fingers with mine, gripping it tightly. His persistent question followed.

“Tell me it’s not true. Please?”

“What if it is?”

Just his unexpected intrusion into my life was harmful enough. He wasn’t seriously thinking about a future with me, so what was he going to do about it?

“It’s infuriating enough that someone who should be in the temple is here, dressed so dazzlingly, looking for a husband.”

“……”

“And to be holding hands with a guy who doesn’t even come close to Peidos Carmel’s level makes me want to lose my mind, doesn’t it?”