The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind - Chapter 92

Chapter 92

Citrina’s hunch was correct.
The missing Genfiros was with Desian.
It was as if he was never alive. He couldn’t even curse. Before he could even utter the word ‘curse’, his thoughts were shattered.
Kai, the magic sword Desian possessed, scattered all of the thoughts he had controlled.
All was not lost, but his power was destroyed beyond repair.
He was already aware.
Yes, it was only a matter of time.

“What do you want from me?!”
Sprawled haphazardly on the muddy floor at the border, Genfiros looked like an old man with a wan complexion.
Here, he could not use swordsmanship, nor could he manipulate others with his crafty speech.
“What do I want? You should know.”
Standing before him, Desian delivered his words with grace.

“Please die.”
In any case, Genfiros had laid a hand on Citrina. And that was the unforgivable ‘original sin’. Furthermore, there would be huge consequences in the future.
Then the obvious conclusion was to kill him, right?
To Desian, the world was black and white. Citrina and everyone else, life and death, good and evil.
Looking at Genfiros, whose face had turned blue, Desian whispered.

“Ah, no last words?”
“If you kill me, the world will be overrun with other species! And you’re human, aren’t you?”
Desian whispered with a sigh.
“I don’t care.”
“Ah, are you going to kill them all? If I die, the peace agreement with the Holy Kingdom will be broken. The death of the head of the paladins in the empire-“
“Ah, that’s a problem.”
Desian nodded dryly. His white hand lightly squeezed Genfiros’s throat.
“I’ll find an excuse for why you died.”
Genfiros’s face flushed and the lights went out.
“Th, think about it one more time. Are you going to kill everyone? My colleagues?”
Ah, Citrina’s younger sister, or was it older? He remembered her cold eyes.
The resemblance and the lack of resemblance.
With a reluctant look on his face, Desian whispered.
“Only you.”
Genfiros chuckled at that for a few moments before gasping.
“Do you believe masks and hypocrisy last forever? It will all come out in the end.”
What that sentence meant was clear.
“Isn’t that how you’ve lived your life too? Why?”
“Because I’m not the end.”
Genfiros said meaningfully.

What’s wrong with masking your whole life?
Desian killed Genfiros with the magic sword. The process of death is dirty, so he closed his eyes a few times to avoid seeing it.
The border was a place that took in and nourished all manner of filth. He disposed of the corpse there.
Well, it was time to be a gentleman.
He wondered how far Citrina’s doubts extended.

At the same time, Citrina got into a carriage, escorted by a servant.
‘Since I received a title, so much has changed.’
She had a carriage, attendants, and a lady-in-waiting who could be of use to her personally; and she had to work at the palace when something special happened.
These two things were her favorite changes.

“Where shall I take you?”
“The imperial palace.”
The coachman and the nameless attendant also looked nervous. With the disappearance of the leader of the paladins, the Holy Kingdom would be sending people to find out what happened.

The atmosphere was sure to be tense.
While pondering, Citrina slowly opened the curtains covering the carriage windows.
It seemed like they were about to enter the interior of the imperial palace.
The attendant cautiously asked.
“Where in the palace are you going?”
“Let me think for a moment.”
-What are you doing, Citrina?
-I’m just curious.
Gemma fidgeted but didn’t say anything more.
Gemma could connect with Citrina’s emotions. However, if Citrina closed off her emotions and focused, Gemma couldn’t feel anything.

Citrina mentally sorted through her three options.
‘Elaina, Princess Iana, and… Aaron.’
Elaina was in custody, so she wasn’t sure if she could meet with her.
‘Elaina…I hope everything goes okay.’

Citrina closed her eyes and opened them again. Princess Iana seemed to be aware of Desian’s notoriety, but Citrina did not yet know the princess’s true intentions.
The only way to find out for sure was to go to Aaron.
“Then go to the imperial knights.”
At Citrina’s words, the carriage set off smoothly.
Citrina decided to stay calm and enjoy a moment’s rest.
The training grounds used by the imperial knights were more grand than she anticipated. Many people knew of Citrina’s connection to Duke Pietro.
Citrina let out a small gasp of admiration at the chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling.

-bump-

Something struck her shoe.
“Who are you here to see?”
“Is Aaron Pietro-nim here?”
“Can you show proof of your identity by any chance?”
Citrina held out a palm-size scepter she had received with her title. Kings have a royal scepter, nobles have noble scepters.
“I see.”

The man took the scepter and meticulously checked it before handing it back with a smile.
He was a new knight with a puppy-like face and a uniform that fit him perfectly.
“Aaron-nim is likely outside the training grounds. I’ll lead you directly over there.”
“Yes, thank you.”

Citrina soon thought back to Aaron and Elaina.
They had both trained as knights.
Nevertheless, their fates had drifted apart from there.
As Citrina pondered the circumstances of Elaina’s detention, the knight led Citrina to Aaron.
“Citrina!”
“Aaron, hi!”
“I heard you received your title! I didn’t even get a chance to throw you a party.”
He looked so upset that Citrina soothed him.
“It’s alright.”
“Thanks for coming by.”
Aaron scratched his cheek, embarrassed. Aaron was always cute when he acted like that, and easily disarmed Citrina.
It was like he was a little puppy in the rain.

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“Yeah. I missed you too.”
“Do you want me to show you around?”
“No, next time.”
Aaron blinked rapidly, excited at the thought of giving her a tour of the inner workings of the imperial knights.
Aaron’s thoughts were always transparent, at least for Citrina if not for others.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Citrina smiled. Aaron tilted his head at her with a sweet smile.
“Yeah.”

Then he steadily held out his hand and escorted her.
‘So cute.’
His cuteness, and how obvious he was with his actions, made Citrina want to squeal.

Citrina and Aaron sat facing each other inside the reception room. Sweet refreshments and hot tea were served. Even though it was a small reception room, it was still inside the imperial palace.
The room was cozy and the refreshments. Citrina quietly enjoyed the refreshments while wondering how to bring the topic up.
However, Aaron beat her to the punch.
“Citrina.”
“Yeah.”
“Why did you come here? Elaina Foluin seems fine. I was told she is only being confined.”

Aaron could tell Citrina was worried about Elaina. But Citrina also had a rough idea of the situation.
Elaina would be safe. Elaina’s safety was no longer something Citrina needed to worry about.

“Yeah. Genfiros died too easily. Everything worked out too easily.”
Aaron didn’t seem to understand what she was trying to say. Citrina decided to get straight to the point.
“The reason I’m here isn’t Elaina.”
“What is it then?”
Citrina quirked her mouth into the ghost of a smile. This smile was more sharp than sweet.
“Desian killed Genfiros, didn’t he?”

-thud-

Aaron’s clasped hands fell.
“…oh?”
Aaron turned his eyes from side to side with a puzzled face. That alone was enough of an answer.
‘I got it right.’
If Desian had killed Genfiros…
Then the sweet Desian Pietro she knew was a fake.

Citrina spoke up.
“Aaron, is there anything you’re hiding from me?”
“…Huh? Hiding something?”
Aaron’s face subtly hardened. He was still playing dumb about Desian.
‘You must be getting quite nervous at this point?’
Things were getting pretty interesting. Citrina stared at him, jaw set.
“Tell me everything, from beginning to end”
“W, what’s the subject?”

This…she felt like if she pushed him a bit more he would spill.
She should question him.
Though that wasn’t the reason she was here today. A hunter who tries to catch multiple rabbits will wind up going home with none.
“The subject is Desian.”
“Oh?”
Aaron rubbed the corners of his eyes in confusion. It was plain to see there was a reason for his actions.

“What sort of person is Desian?”
“He is just as you see, Citrina.”
This was another expected response.
Instead of responding, Citrina took a sip of her hot tea.
She let the time stretch out in silence.
The more she did this, the more Aaron blinked nervously.
“So, what’s been going on is-“

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Aaron knew this day would come. He had prepared several stories accordingly. But Aaron knew Citrina well.
Looking into Citrina’s eyes, he was sure of it now. It would be absurd to lie given the circumstances.
Aaron closed his eyes and opened them.
“Alright, what happened?”
Citrina asked casually. She didn’t seem upset, so Aaron worked up the courage to speak.

One by one, Aaron began to recount their tearful efforts to conform to Citrina’s ideal.
“You built the almshouse to counteract his notoriety?”
“Yeah.”
“You cleaned up Dartrin Street, bought all the mines? Because of me?”
“Yeah…”
This is way too big of a scale. She was almost dizzy.
It was crazy to go to such lengths to impress one person, Citrina.

“…Th, that’s not all.”
Aaron started speaking again. Citrina furrowed her brow and nodded.
“Desian has a hard time expressing himself, so I told him everything! Your ideal type is a kind man, so he had to work hard from start to finish!” Aaron’s face lit up with emotion.
He went on to describe what had transpired in the four years while Citrina was gone, how he and Desian had worked hard on their acting training.
To sum it all up, Desian hadn’t been rehabilitated.
He was like a dog on a leash for Citrina.

‘Well, now my suspicions have been confirmed…but why do I find all of this kind of cute.’
In the first place, Citrina didn’t care about other people’s business. She was only trying to rehabilitate Desian so that she wouldn’t end up dying.
But she still couldn’t let him get away with deceiving her.
‘Yeah, we can’t just move one like this.’
After listening to everything Aaron said and organizing her thoughts, she responded.
“Right, I understand.”

“Citrina, for tricking you…I’m sorry.”
The look on his face almost seemed pathetic. Even though his face had matured, there were still hints of boyishness.
Under Citrina’s gaze, Aaron spoke carefully.
“It’s just…I was worried you wouldn’t like us. Citrina, don’t get me wrong. My brother really likes you.”
His eyes drooped. It was just like a puppy in the rain.
“I know.”
Citrina’s expression didn’t budge. Aaron studied her face uneasily.
“Del likes me, I know that.”
Aaron’s eyes lit up with hope. Citrina’s tone changed with each word.
Citrina whispered seriously.
“So don’t tell him I noticed.”
“Keep it a secret?”
“Be sure not to say anything.”
With his shoulders slumped, Aaron nodded.
The conversation with Aaron came to a close.

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The fog of doubt that dominated Citrina’s mind slowly lifted.
But there was still something strange.
She slowly disclosed the dilemma that had been lingering in her head.
“You said that my ideal type is a kind man, so that’s why you trained Desian to fit that.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Anyway…”
Citrina muttered.
“My ideal type, I don’t think it’s a kind man?”
“…Oh? What do you mean?”
Under Citrina’s languid gaze, Aaron jumped to his feet. His reaction was almost an unconscious response.
“Th, then what is it?”
It was a talent to say what he wanted in such a combative way.
The knight’s tassel on Aaron’s shoulder wavered.
Why did Aaron look so lost?
It was as if the tower he had built four years building had fallen.

Citrina replied indifferently.
“I don’t have an ideal type.”
Before she started to like Desian, Citrina had no intention of getting into a relationship.
But now she was being open about her feelings.
“If I like him, then that’s my ideal type.”
She liked Desian’s sweetness, but she also liked his other side.
…except that he was too villainous, like in <Elaina’s Flower Garden>.
She knew she must keep a firm grip on Desian’s leash.
It wasn’t just to rehabilitate Desian and save herself from certain death but for the sake of Desian and Citrina and their happy future.
Aaron staggered to his feet and then dropped into the chair beside her.

“Then, Citrina….”
“Yeah?”
“What do you think will happen between you and my brother in the future?”
“I’m just going to behave as usual, Aaron”
With Aaron asking what she would do in the future, Citrina deflected it with a modest smile.
“When will you be appointed as a knight?”
“Sooner or later…”
Aaron scratched his eyebrow.

“If the Holy Kingdom sends an investigative mission, it could delay it further.”
“An investigative mission?”
“Yeah. The leader of the paladins is missing and there’s a scandal going around.”
Desian must have made this up.
‘Genfiros is missing and Elaina is in custody, so it makes sense.’
Citrina shook her head.

“Okay, I’ll see you soon. There’s a bit more hardship to go.”
“I’ll work harder to protect you, Citrina.”
Looking into Aaron’s sparkling eyes, Citrina smiled.
“We’re a family, so I’ll protect you too.”
“…Yeah, let’s do that.”
Aaron’s eyelashes fluttered every time he blinked. Citrina smiled as she watched.
The meeting with Aaron was over.

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Citrina took a carriage to leave the imperial palace. The carriage quickly passed by the interior of the palace. It also passed the annex where the delegation from the Holy Kingdom was staying.
‘…What will happen to Elaina?’
With Genfiros dead, the delusions that controlled Elaina should disappear.
“I wonder what Elaina is thinking in there now.”
Desian had helped her, but it made everything all too easy. Citrina bit her lip as she looked out the window.
It was all so simple.
It felt like there would be another development, something more around the corner.
Citrina shook her head.

Bad premonitions aside, a peaceful day was here.
for the present, this peace would continue.
Citrina decided to think about Desian first.
What should she do with the man who had deceived her to win her heart?