The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind - Chapter 112

Chapter 112

In the flower garden next to Selen Hall, Iana and Desian sat across from each other. It was a meeting that both Iana and Desian had roughly anticipated.
‘Ah, this is awkward. Why does he have to be Duke Pietro…’
She’d rather follow an imperial order to marry Citrina.
As Iana’s thoughts raced through her head, an awkward undercurrent filled the air.
It was the stern-faced Desian Pietro who broke the unpleasantness.

“Long time no see.”
Iana moistened her lips with her tongue.
The atmosphere in the garden was romantic. Despite the chill, the flowers were in full bloom. It was no surprise since the empress had ordered the garden to be set up for first-time lovers.
“Ah, yes….. It’s been a long time, Duke Pietro.”
Iana pretended to inspect the flowering trees around them. Because, unlike those beautiful blooms, she felt very uncomfortable!
‘Ah, I miss Citrina…’
Seriously, she wanted to be an observer rather than a participant. Grumbling at the emperor, Iana took a sip from her teacup.
Desian, who had been leisurely observing her behavior, said.

“I was wondering what His Majesty had ordered you to do.”
“Well…”
“I didn’t expect this to happen.”
“Neither did I.”
“Of course, His Highness will not be happy about this either.”
Desian Pietro said. The sentence was a mixture of sarcasm and contempt.

“Yes.”
Iana nodded gravely, her face full of understanding.
It was true of the atmosphere of the court, of aristocratic society in general.
The attitude of giving a princess as spoils of war to the victor.
Iana had thought about the idea of an arranged marriage herself.
But she had no intention of being sold like this. She replied again, emphasizing.

“…this is not what I want either.”
“You’re right.”
Iana added hastily.
“Of course, it doesn’t mean I don’t like Duke Pietro, because I do, and I want Citrina to be happy.”
“Well then.”
Desian’s gaze pierced Iana’s.
Iana was surprised to see it. Desian was polite to her. It didn’t seem like an act of kindness. Then, could she tell him one more thing?
There’s still time.
Iana glanced at the hourglass on the table. It didn’t seem like more than a few minutes had passed. There was still a lot of time left in the hourglass before it would need to be flipped over.

‘I, I’m curious about just one thing. Let me ask one question.’
Come to think of it, isn’t this an opportunity to ask as many questions as she wanted?
Feeling like a reporter at a press conference, Iana rubbed her palms together.
“You said you didn’t want any confusion, didn’t you, Duke?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then, when are you and Citrina going to get married…”
Was it just going to stay that way with Citrina? Will the connection remain between something like a partner and a lover?
That was unbearable.
It would definitely scandalize Citrina!

When reading novels, Iana was always on the side of the heroine. There was no soup in the eyes of the heroine. [T.L. Note: I’m not entirely sure about this idiom(???? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ???), but it is something like no regrets for the heroine. If someone has a better explanation, please let me know in the comments! TY]
Even as Iana’s mind raced, Desian was looking straight at her. And then he spoke.

“Since you’re curious, I’ll tell you.”
“Yes!”
“I’m ready whenever she is.”
“Ready……?”
“Ready to get married.”
Hearing those words caused a huge earthquake in Iana’s pupils.
She couldn’t hide it.
The tremor in her eyes, the smile at the corner of her mouth.

“Ha, ha, ha!”
Iana laughed out loud, then quickly covered her lips with her hand.
Perhaps she laughed too hard. Feeling a little embarrassed and completely satisfied with her curiosity, Iana replied.
“That sounds good. Then I’ll be off.”
“Yes. I trust you will not need an escort.”
Desian bowed to her and sat down.
He gazed at the petals fluttering around him. She briefly thought he was perfect for the role of the beautiful leading man.

‘Ah, this isn’t the time for this.’
Iana rushed from her seat. Their conversation will reach the empress. She might think Iana left too soon, but what could she do?
‘I’m an observer!’
A gentle friend who encourages love. It was right up Iana’s alley.
Stepping out of the flower garden, Iana squeezed her pounding chest.
‘Now I just need to ask Citrina how she feels, right?’
A pleasant tension rose in her heart.
It wouldn’t take long to get from the garden to Selene Hall.
So, step by step, Iana walked through the garden path. One of the imperial ladies in waiting asked cautiously.

“Is it alright to leave so soon?”
“Why not? I’m just ditching.”
The maid’s face went white at Iana’s dismissive remark. Ever since returning from the knight academy, Princess Iana’s tone had become a little harsh.
“Your Highness, speaking like that…”
“Nevermind. Anyway, they didn’t expect us to start marriage talks right away, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Well, I’m glad he wasn’t the pot-bellied Marquess Pamang.”
“…Don’t even say that as a joke!”
The lady-in-waiting said in annoyance. For a lady-in-waiting who had always been at Iana’s side, serving her, it was a rare display of emotion.
Iana thought seriously.
Compared to Marquess Pamang, Duke Pietro is ten thousand times better!
Of course, she would never really marry him. It was only in her fantasy world.
‘Oh, wait!’
She stopped dead in her tracks. There was Citrina, near the doorway to the ballroom, but there were no spirits around her. Aaron wasn’t near her either.
‘Then is that not Citrina?’
The dress she was wearing confirmed that she was Citrina. The lady-in-waiting who was standing next to her also added carefully.
“That lady over there. Isn’t that Citrina-nim?”
“…Th, that’s right.”
The lady-in-waiting’s words were correct.
Citrina could be seen from a short distance.
Come to think of it, from Citrina’s point of view, wouldn’t she think that Iana and Desian were the only ones who had snuck off together and come back?
‘What should I do?!’
Her mouth dried up. Iana realized that her actions had been somewhat misleading.
“Citrina!”
She opened her mouth wide, calling Citrina’s name. Citrina’s gaze landed on Iana.
‘I need to explain things quickly. I don’t want to be in the villainess’s position!’
Iana walked towards Citrina with a slightly combative stride.
‘Oh, and there’s also something I want to ask her.’
A smile tugged at her lips, and she tried to hide it. It made her look a little ridiculous, but Iana was content with it for now.

“Citrina!”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“The banquet isn’t over yet, is it?”
“No, I was feeling a bit stuffy inside the ballroom, so I came out.”
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Citrina’s mouth. Iana nodded. The inside of Selene Hall had been a bit stuffy.
“So you were feeling stuffy…then would you like to take a walk outside and talk with me?”
The marriage talks had ended between the two parties. But you never knew. A rumor could still spread.
‘I’d better tell Citrina about it before she hears it through the grapevine!’
Iana’s expression grew even more grim.
“Yes, I will talk with you.”
Hearing Citrina’s simple answer, Iana scanned her surroundings furiously, looking for any secret lovers, who might be out for a walk.
‘I don’t think anyone is around here.’

Iana took Citrina’s wrist and stood at the fence between them and the flower garden.
Her hair stood on end as if she were nervous.
“Earlier, you saw Duke Pietro and I go off together.”
Oh, did that happen?
Citrina hadn’t paid much attention to Princess Iana, so she hadn’t known.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Before raising a question, Citrina decided to focus on what Iana was saying.
“My father has been trying to arrange a match between me and Duke Pietro.”
“…Ah, that seems likely.”
That could happen. It wasn’t like it didn’t leave a bitter taste in her mouth. The emperor wanted to use Duke Pietro. But he was not up to the task of using Desian.
“The Emperor’s chosen hand,” Citrina thought, “must have been Desian and the Princess. Citrina nodded to herself.
Iana was making a fuss. She sounded determined as if she had made up her mind about something. She must have been worried about Citrina because she said this.

“Yeah. But it’s over.”
Citrina listened to Iana calmly. She knew Desian, and she knew Iana.
So Citrina’s trust was not easily shaken.
“I see, Your Highness. Thank you for telling me, and thank you for your consideration.”
“Yeah. I…I was worried you might misunderstand!”
“What? Misunderstand what?”
“I was afraid you might hear about the marriage talks and be upset.”
With that, Iana shook her head in disbelief.
Marriage talks indeed!
This is… Isn’t this the villainess position that prevents the protagonists from falling in love?
‘She must be really upset!’
Iana studied Citrina’s face.
Citrina’s expression was pinched, distorted. There were no tears in her eyes, but still…
She began to feel uneasy.
Soon, she was blinking rapidly, her face agitated.

“Um, Citrina… I’m not interested in him and Duke Pietro isn’t interested in me, so don’t get me wrong. Okay?”
Citrina listened intently to Iana’s rambling, worried that she might be hurt.
‘Oh, she’s so cute.’
Her attentive demeanor was cheerful, but there was also a hint of melancholy.
‘Let’s not think badly about the princess, Citrina.’
She made a mental note to herself and kept her mouth shut. But Citrina’s silence seemed to confuse Iana.
“Yes. I didn’t misunderstand.”
Citrina replied seriously.
‘I… I really didn’t misunderstand, so why do you look like you’re about to cry?’
She knew that Princess Iana was seriously rooting for the love between Desian and her.

“Then I’m glad!”
The corners of Iana’s mouth turned up brightly, and she clapped once, lightly, as if to lighten the mood.
“Ah, Citrina. Don’t take this the wrong way. It’s not like I have other bad intentions.”
Citrina thought. Standing out here in the open with the princess, she seemed to hear the word ‘misunderstood’ quite a bit. Princess Iana’s expression tightened nervously.
‘You don’t seem…like someone with bad intentions.’
Citrina smiled at her, but Iana’s expression grew even more stern.
‘What in the world are you trying to say?’
She became even more curious. Citrina perked up her ears.
“So, Citrina…I’m just c,c, curious about something.”
Princess Iana pressed down on her rising cheeks. [T.L. Note: She’s trying not to smile too broadly.]

“Have you thought about…getting married?”
“Um. Marriage?”
She glanced around a few times, feeling a little embarrassed to say the word, for some reason.
“I haven’t thought about marriage yet.”
“Why, why!”
Iana let out a pitiful squeal as if her own marriage was going to be ruined.
Citrina blinked sharply and added.
“Well, not yet… It just doesn’t seem like the right time. I’m busy at work.”
Citrina was about to add, “Because we need to get back to business soon,” when she paused. Iana’s expression is unmistakably grim.
Citrina had a vague idea of why Iana was acting this way. So….
Apparently, Iana is eager for Desian and Citrina to marry.

“Yeah, ah, well… I’ll be busy for a while.”
Citrina tried to qualify her words.
“Well, being a duchess will give you plenty to do.”
Iana nodded in agreement. But she also looked like she was seriously considering something.
Iana took Citrina’s shoulder, a little hesitantly, and turned to face her.
They looked each other in the eye.
Citrina looked down at Princess Iana from their height difference with a slightly puzzled expression.

“…Your Highness?”
“…Citrina, even if you get married…”
“Yes?”
“Citrina I think you can do everything you want to do!”
“Ah…”
“Because the duke is the kind of man who will make it work.”
Iana involuntarily gripped Citrina’s shoulder a little tighter.
She didn’t miss the way Citrina’s eyes flickered.
Citrina, who seemed embarrassed by Iana’s drive, nodded in an instant.
It was done.

‘…I hope you’ll invite me to the b, bridal shower.’
In Iana’s mind, Citrina and Desian were already married.
She smiled brightly.