The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind - Chapter 97

Chapter 97

After dinner, Citrina, accompanied by Desian, made her way to a small room in the basement.
“It’s said that he worked diligently to unlock the secrets of the Holy Kingdom.”
“Really? I’m curious.”
Citrina recalled the original story. The Holy Kingdom was a completely isolated place.
Since Elaina had changed the original world, some of her information must have been useless now.
“It’s not worth your curiosity.”
Desian spoke cynically. His face looked like he didn’t have a lot of faith in that person. However, his expression and voice softened when he looked at her.
“Still, maybe we can get some leads on the case?”
Citrina patted his arm and laughed.
They slowly entered the room. She expected the room to be decadent, but it was clean and light.
Desian introduced her to the psychic.
She was a woman in a black robe that fell past her nose.
Citrina slowly approached her. The psychic and Citrina sat down facing each other at a square table. Desian stood beside Citrina.
Like he was her knight.
His stance was quite ferocious. Before Citrina could speak, Desian turned to the psychic and whispered sluggishly.
“Tell me what you know.”
“Of course, Your Excellency.”
The psychic whispered back, as smooth as a snake. Desian eyed the psychic sharply.
“What are you curious about, Citrina Flang-nim”
Citrina had thought the psychic would be completely cut off from society. But that was her own bias. She even knew about Citrina’s new last name, Flang.
Looking at her again, Citrina spoke bluntly.
“Don’t you think the circumstances are strange?”
“And what would that be?”
“Genfiros is dead, and there hasn’t been much movement from the Holy Kingdom.”
Citrina’s jaw tightened as she looked at the psychic.
“So I’ve been thinking-“
Citrina’s voice trailed off in a sing-song manner. Her voice was calm, but her words were heavy.
“Genfiros and Elaina are just tools.” The psychic was speechless.
With Genfiros’s death, she thought it was all over.
But that wasn’t the case.
Elaina would join hands with secretive dark wizards to take down Citrina. However, Elaina was just a leaf. [T.L. Note: Meaning she is not the root of the problem, just a pawn.]
Removing the leaves doesn’t damage the rotten roots.
Citrina lowered her eyes, lost in thought.
So that was why Desian hadn’t killed Elaina.
“Yes. You guessed correctly.”
The psychic laughed. It was a little spooky to hear a shrouded person laugh. But Citrina didn’t show it.
The psychic spoke quietly again.
“You mean that the Holy Kingdom is planning something.”
“…Yes. Did you happen to hear something from the Duke?”
Perhaps the two of them were taking this opportunity to bring the topic up.
Citrina felt Desian’s piercing gaze, but she didn’t look back at him.
Instead, she looked at the psychic.
“Well, I was just guessing.”
Citrina couldn’t help but say it. Her mind was racing with several scenarios.
“Yes. As you guessed, traces of Genfiros’s black magic still linger within the Holy Kingdom. This means that Genfiros was acting under orders of the Holy Kingdom.”
“An order of the Holy Kingdom.”
It could be the government of the Holy Kingdom or a private organization within the Holy Kingdom.
Citrina listened a little closer to the psychic’s voice.
“Furthermore, the targets of the Holy Kingdom remain. With the arrival of the inquisition team, it is clear that black magic is running rampant in the empire.”
“So…does that black magic have anything to do with that sword Elaina has?”
Citrina tightened her jaw and smiled evenly. Arte Pianan’s sword lay on the table, and there was also Desian’s sword he always carried in the original work, <Elaina’s Flower Garden>.
“…Yes, that’s right.”
Citrina tore her eyes away from the cursed object. All the questions she had been pondering were now answered.
There was the information from the original <Elaina’s Flower Garden>, the incomplete information that the psychic was giving her now, plus the blueprints of the future that Desian had in mind.
If they put all three together, maybe they could counter the hidden conspiracy.
Citrina looked down at her hands on the table. Her fingers had calluses unbefitting of a noble lady.
“Leave.”
“Until next time, Psychic-nim.”
The psychic bowed to Desian and Citrina in turn. She rose from her chair.
“Ah, Citrina-nim.”
“Yes?”
The woman shrouded in her black robes paused at Citrina’s side, her voice carrying in the wind.
“You looked really good in the elf’s dress.”
“The elf’s…dress?”
With that, the psychic left her once more.
Citrina paused at the out-of-place words- elf’s dress.
By the elf’s dress, she must have meant the one she wore at Lection Garden, right after returning to the empire.
She blinked slowly.
Standing in the doorway, the psychic clutched her robes tightly.
“May the strength of the dress continue to protect you.”
“Thank you. Ah, by the way-“
Before Citrina could ask how to woman knew, she was gone. She turned to Gemma, but Gemma shook her head as well.
Desian could only stare at the spot where the psychic had just stood.
Citrina slowly lowered her eyes.
“That…what was the meaning of that? Do you have any idea?”
Suddenly talking about the elf’s dress could be a clue.
Citrina asked Desian, but Desian had no answer.
So she glanced at Desian who was still standing up. The nape of his usually pale neck was flushed pink.
“I have no idea.”
After blinking, his cheeks and the nape of his neck were as pale as ever.
Had she imagined it?
“…So, Lina, you don’t need to worry about that. Why don’t you look at something else?”
Desian’s long fingers slowly tapped the magic sword on the table. Citrina tilted her head as she looked at the magic sword with cuts here and there along the blade.
She remembered the shape being smoother than that.
It had been tidier than that. Nevertheless, Citrina answered.
“Yeah, okay. Let’s chat first. Gemm said she felt a strange energy from this sword.”
She couldn’t say it was something she read in the book, <Elaina’s Flower Garden>.
Citrina slowly lowered her gaze to the sword. She was slightly surprised to see it lying there so casually.
‘Am I seeing things?’
The sword…it seemed to flinch and move as if it was alive.
“So Gemma felt a strange energy.”
Saying that Desian sat in the chair where the psychic previously sat.
He sat across from Citrina.
Looking into his eyes, Citrina nodded.
-Did I feel some strange energy?
-Yeah, you felt it.
Citrina shrugged off Gemma’s curious tone of voice.
At any rate, from Citrina’s perspective, this sword had no limits. In the novel, Desian uses this magic sword to conquer all other swords.
Desian was on a rampage at that point, and they didn’t know what state Desian was in at that time.
So Citrina decided to try to use this magic sword.
Citrina raised her hand to touch the blade. Then, Desian’s big hand came up to stop her.
“It’s dangerous.”
“Ah…”
“There are marks on Arte Pianan’s sword. Don’t touch it.”
“Yeah, I won’t touch it.”
Desian was right. Genfiros may be dead, but the magic on the sword remains so there could be a reaction.
Citrina frowned slowly. All sorts of things crossed her mind, but first…
Flipping his palm over, she knit their fingers together.
“It’s warm, isn’t it?”
Citrina winked. He squeezed her hand. Desian’s hard mouth and eyes loosened up.
“Yeah.”
At his short agreement, Citrina lowered her eyes and smiled.
“Still, the elf’s favor is on my side, right?”
Desian’s fingers tightened around the back of her hand. It was a deeply possessive touch.
Citrina shivered slightly.
“You have me by your side.”
“Yeah, it’s good to have you.”
Citrina smiled, crinkling her eyes.
Because of that, she didn’t notice something. The magic sword she had almost touched shifted away from her grasp.
It looked like it was shaking.
If the magic sword could have spoken, it would probably have cursed the couple. However, its mouth was sealed now.
And it was Citrina who broke the affectionate silence.
“Del, can we talk to the sword now?”
“I’ll help you.”
Citrina took one look at Desian and then at the sword.
Whatever on Earth had kept the magic sword’s mouth shut melted like that.
And it was hanging off the end of the table, trembling.
Citrina couldn’t understand it. So instead of borrowing Desian’s mouth, Citrina decided to borrow the mouth of her lovely spirit.
She thought about how she could change these circumstances around, ironically.
“No, Gemma can do the talking instead of me.”
Citrina gently released his hand and summoned Gemma.
-Gemma.
-Uh-huh?
She asked cautiously as she got out of the pendant. Gemma looked so jittery that Citrina patted her on the wing.
-jump!-
…She was scared of Desian.
Citrina pretended not to notice.
-Gemma, I just need you to ask the sword something.
-What do you want to ask?
-Can that sword connect with the soul of another sword?
Elaina’s sword must have a soul. It could still be in there, even if Genfiros was missing or dead.
Just like Arte Pianan’s sword left an imprint.
Elaina was a person who could take care of herself perfectly well. There must be a reason she would go to such extremes.
‘I need to free her from the control of the sword.’
Since they were after Citrina’s life, she needed to fight them herself.
But she wanted to make one final hypothesis. Since she had an idea of what Elaina could do at this time.
-The sword is following the trail of Arte Pianan’s sword.
-And?
-There are a lot of sword spirits scattered around, so it is taking a while.
-How long with it take?
It hasn’t said exactly how long.
At that moment, an elegant glow emanated from the rusty sword. If Citrina hadn’t known the sword’s identity, she might have mistaken it for a holy sword.
-It says it’s embarrassing to make this kind of light and to keep it a secret.
Desian stared at the magic sword with narrowed eyes. Citrina chuckled softly.
Ah, these cute little villains.
She knew he was working hard to hide it, but they looked clumsy to anyone who knew the truth.
“It says it will take two or three days.”
“Really?”
Citrina smiled softly as the glowing magic faded.
“Then…I guess we can’t rest while the magic sword is hard at work, can we?”
Citrina wanted to think a bit more about the curse.
“You need some more rest.”
Desian looked seriously at Citrina as he spoke.
It was the same way you looked at a piece of glass that was about to crack.
Was he talking about a break? She planned not to take any requests for a while. Now that she had a title, no one could force her to work.
“Okay. I’ll trust you then.”
She would give Adilac and Lita a vacation and go on a little date with Desian.
That’s when Citrina got an idea.
-bam!-
The door opened.
And on the other side of the door was an unexpected person.
“Aaron?”
“Citrina!”
He was panting, sweat dripping from his forehead, and shaking a bit.
“What’s going on? Your forehead is all sweaty…”
“Give me a minute.”
His voice sounded a bit desperate.
“Does it have to be right now?”
“Not now, but still.”
Aaron glanced in Desian’s direction. Citrina was a bit puzzled.
‘What’s going on?’, she wondered.
Nevertheless, Aaron stood firm, dressed in full Knights Templar regalia. It looked like he’d just had his appointment ceremony.
He opened his mouth. It wasn’t his usual cheerful voice.
“It’s important.”
He whispered, holding a small bracelet in his hand.
Desian’s expression hardened to the extent that it was obvious to anyone nearby. Citrina glanced at Aaron, then Desian.
“What’s important…what’s going on?”
“I’m curious about that.”
Citrina read Desian’s fury in his tightly clenched jaw. If Aaron was willing to risk Desian’s temper with this, it must be important.
What that was, she couldn’t guess.
“Uh, so…it’s something important that you asked me to do.”
“An important task?”
Citrina had been through a lot. An important task didn’t immediately come to mind.
She shook her head and Aaron bit his lip hard.
“Do you remember talking about the favor at the atelier?”
“Ah! Yeah, I remember.”
That was when she had promised him.
Aaron had asked Citrina to do some kind of favor afterward.
So she had often wondered what he would ask her to do.
At last, today was the day he would ask for the favor.
“Yeah. I have time.”
Aaron’s face lit up.
“Then…please meet me out at Ashtarte Hall.”
Aaron seemed to be trying not to look in Desian’s direction. His attitude was determined.
‘You accuse Desian of being scary, but your liver is big.’ [T.L. Note: Livers are associated with courage in Korea. She is saying Aaron is brave. ]
That was probably how important this was.
This was something important he’d prepared for a long time.
But Citrina didn’t have the time to probe further. Aaron ducked out of the room, quick as a flash.
Citrina looked at the door where Aaron had disappeared.
Then her gaze shifted back to Desian.
Desian’s face was expressionless.
‘What am I going to do with this?’
“Del.”
“Yeah.”
“Shall I come back?”
Citrina got on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his cheek.
-kiss-
His cheek was warm against her lips.
“I’ve already promised, plus I’m curious. Huh?”
Citrina winked at him. She picked up her dress and strode in Aaron’s direction. Desian replied in a low voice from behind her.
“Yes, come back.”
It was a commanding attitude and sounded as if he was right next to her.
It was a voice Aaron would not have heard.
Citrina smiled and walked away.
Ah, being around Desian made her heart swell up.
What could she do?
The plan to grab him by the leash was working judging by the honey dripping from his eyes, and the more she leaned toward him and expressed her feelings the better it got……..
That was a poor judgment.

Pietro Duchy’s Ashtarte Hall was not a place open to the public. Even Citrina, who often came to the duchy, had not set foot in there before today.
“I’ve become an official knight.”
The circumstances were very intense. But on the surface, things at the imperial palace seemed normal.
Citrina nodded.
“Congratulations.”
Citrina smiled.
“With all my heart, I mean it. Congratulations.”
“On that note, I have something to say.”
Aaron looked nervous.
“I also know that the imperial palace is chaotic and that the situation is a bit bad.”
“…Yeah.”
Neither Desian nor Citrina had told Aaron everything So Aaron had figured it out on his own. It was thanks to his keen intuition and innate senses as a knight.
“But, Citrina.”
Aaron looked tense. He rubbed his sweaty palms over his robes several times, perhaps to calm himself.
They had been apart briefly, but they were already close.
“Yes, but what is it?”
“Since I met you four years ago, I don’t think it’s likely I’ll meet anyone who has cherished me as much as you have, so-“
Aaron didn’t finish his speech.
Citrina looked at him and thought.
Now, Aaron was choking up.
Citrina knew about Aaron’s childhood. Born into a ducal family, forced to live like a pauper, and endlessly forced to do good work for others. Aaron must have had a stressful life at the academy.
And the Aaron in front of her had overcome all of that.
“…Right. No one has treated me as humanely as you have.”
Citrina looked away, a little taken aback. She noticed a statue of someone who looked holy. With her eyes down, she whispered.
“I just-“
“I know. You were just being considerate.”
Aaron sounded like he understood, and Citrina winced a little.
In this small monastic-style hall, with a beautiful statue hanging at the end, Aaron looked fresher than the dewy buds of spring.
Citrina stared at him again.
“Citrina Foluin, no, Citrina Flang.”
Aaron slowly dropped to one knee. Aaron held out his sword, looking at her with fond eyes.
“As my friend and my family, I swear to protect you forever.”
His dark hair shone in the sunlight. A pair of gentle, kind eyes, so different from Desian Pietro’s, looked up at her.
“…that oath, can you keep it forever?”
“Yeah. I’ll protect you from danger.”
Citrina accepted Aaron’s sword in a poised manner. She glanced down at the bracelet that was attached to the scabbard.
It had happened so long ago that Citrina didn’t remember exactly. [when she gave him the bracelet]
When she had spoken a little meanly.
When she had spoken to Aaron with the indifferent thought of making things easier.
It all impacted him and led to this moment.
Everything came to Citrina as a kind of beautiful butterfly effect.
Citrina calmly received Aaron’s hand as he placed the bracelet around her wrist.
On a bench inside Ashtarte Hall, in front of a statue,
Citrina and Aaron sat down side-by-side. In a hall with a reverent atmosphere, looking at a statue dedicated to god.
“Citrina”
“Yeah?”
“If my brother kills me, be sure to give me a funeral.”
“…You won’t die.”
Citrina laughed, finishing her pint. There was nothing else to do but laugh.
“No, I think I’m going to die…”
Citrina overheard Aaron muttering to himself.
Well…
A knight’s oath is a promise to lay down his life.
It was an oath that could only be given once in a lifetime, to family, a friend, or a lover.
Citrina put the bracelet Aaron had given her on her left wrist. It felt a little heavier now.
That meant Aaron would firmly support her and make sure she didn’t die.