When the Villains Unite - Chapter 13; Part 4

“Yes, he is who you think he is, but please keep this a secret for his sake.”

“Of course, it’s none of my business.”

So, the Marquis de Pessil has had a crush on Ashik?

How embarrassing it will be for Ashik to hear about this, but I can’t help but feel so fond about this. No. Will the Marquis speak before he does?

As my gaze naturally drifted toward the terrace, Susan’s head jerked back and forth, misunderstanding.

“Princess, do you still feel signs of a stalker?”

“Oh… no. I think it’s gone now.”

Right, I had a stalker, didn’t I? Listening to her story reminded me of the story I forgot.

By now, the clock was already pointing to nine o’clock. It has been a while, so things should be settling down.

I was supposed to be home before 10:00…

As I thought about my home and Bellamy, I realized that I should probably leave. Well, Ashik can take care of himself. He had flaws, but he wasn’t such an idiot that he couldn’t eat when given food on a platter.

“With the stalker gone, I should get back to the mansion as soon as possible.”

“That’s what I think, too.”

“The favor you have done for me today will not be forgotten in Orca’s name.”

“I was honored to be of service, and… your words were a great comfort to me.”

“Ah…”

It felt unpleasant to be thanked. No one had ever said those words of comfort to her, meanwhile, I nearly spat them out. But when she looked at me, eyes sparkling like a bird that managed to emerge from its cage, the guilt I felt disappeared. It was replaced by fondness.

“I just said what needed to be said.”

Now that the Marquis found his mate, Susan Sperryn was glowing.

I smiled at her, telling her I’ll invite her to the manor next time, and walked away.

Freedom and independence were foreign words to me. Of course, I could always come and go without saying anything to them. Even now, the Orca brothers were telling me to enjoy my rights without being bound by obligations.

Of course, I’m not one to sit idly by, though. I do have a hand in most things within the manor.

It was purely of my own volition that I stayed in the manner, knowing that they have given me my freedom. I wondered if a bird that has lived its whole life in a cage doesn’t fly away when it is released because it is familiar and comfortable, not because it forgot how.

I gave Marquis de Swanchette, the host, a wink and left the party.

When I left, no one was around, making me wonder if I made a wrong turn. However, as I turned my head, I saw a familiar face that made my heart warm. I saw the person I wanted to be with the most.

“Rose.”

As darkness took over the sunny day, I ran to the person in front of me and embraced him. Neither the beautiful garden nor the full moon lighting up the night sky could compare to the sight in front of me.

In the dark of the night, where no one could see, I could do as I pleased.

Bellamy didn’t say anything about my spontaneous behavior; he just hugged me back as if he thought I was adorable.

* * *

“You’re going to work from the manor for the rest of the week?”

“Yes. It’s more convenient.”

Sure, it’s more convenient to work from home. Even though he’ll be working overtime, it’s unusual for him to be in the mansion all day, so I couldn’t help but be excited. Doesn’t this mean I can stay with him all day starting tomorrow?

Of course, tomorrow morning the palace servants will bring a huge amount of work for him to do, though.

“Rose, isn’t this position uncomfortable?”

“Uncomfortable? Then, I’ll get down an-”

“No, that isn’t what I meant. I just didn’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

“Oh, then let’s stay like this.”

Bellamy laid down on the bed, pulling me tight against him. He buried his head in the nape of my neck as I ran my fingers through his hair.

I had been clinging to him like a koala bear since I saw him as I left the party. In the carriage, I sat on his lap and leaned against his chest. Once we entered the manor, I was thrilled to be out of sight of others, so I continued to cling to him once we entered his room. Now, here we are.

“Why do you seem to be so clingy today? Did something happen at the party?”

“Uh, yeah. My partner left me.”

He stopped stroking my back over my pajamas and gently squeezed my shoulders. I wrapped my arms around his neck, not wanting Bellamy to suddenly push me out of his arms.

“Why-”

“Rose, wait. I have something to do.”

He won’t tell me what he was going to do, even if I ask. It’s obvious what he’s thinking right now. I don’t even have to try to read his mind to figure him out. I already know he’s about to do something no normal person would do.

“You can’t. Ashik is busy.”

“Of course he’s busy. I’ll be right back.”

He’s not even going to hide it anymore, is he?

I burst out laughing at his increasingly brazen behavior.

My breath tickling his bare chest made him flinch as he tried to push me away. I lifted my head and locked eyes with him, smiling like a little kid.

I hadn’t realized it until just now because my view was blocked by his broad chest, but he looked quite disgruntled. I ran my fingers along his eyebrow and casually stroked his cheek. On the way, he didn’t say much and just played it cool. He tried to act like the bigger person by saying he was glad I had fun at the party, but seeing him now, I couldn’t help but feel a little giddy.

However, I guess he couldn’t hide it anymore when he found out Ashik abandoned me at the party.

Even though I should’ve known better, I was irritated that he wasn’t acting jealous these days. So, I made a comment about this, but I never expected him to act on it right away.

Now I realize I should stop playing around for Ashik’s survival.

“It was just a scheme. He didn’t really abandon me.”

“A scheme?”

“If Ashik succeeded today, we’ll see less of each other in the future.”

Bellamy relaxed his grip as he listened to my words. Ah, what a good boy.

I recounted the events of the day, gently fiddling with his ear as he listened with his brows furrowed. The story went on for a while. As I watched Bellamy’s expression unravel with each passing moment, I couldn’t help but place kisses all over his face. He still doesn’t know that Ashik is gay, so the explanation is a bit unclear.

“I don’t get it.”

Even after I thoroughly explained, he still couldn’t piece it together.

“Well… I don’t want to go into details-”

“No, I don’t care if he’s fucking Dion Pessil. What I don’t understand is why you’re so loyal to Ashik. There is no reason for that.”

“It’s because Ashik is pitiful… Wait, what did you just say?”

I didn’t expect the Marquis’s name to come out of his mouth.

As I floundered in astonishment, he shifted positions, pinning me down on the bed and looking down at me.

Before I could ask, he pinched my cheeks in frustration.

Then, Bellamy explained how Ashik had been strangely distracted at palace meetings as of late, and Marquis Pessil was always at the end of his line of sight. It would be more difficult to not notice.

Perhaps it was the previous encounter with him that caused Ashik to suddenly lose control of his emotions after masking them so well. Ashik was so cute. I’m kind of upset there was such a cute side I didn’t get to witness.

“What’s so pitiful about a guy who has spent his entire life living in a field of lilies and being favored?”

“Hey, Bell, I thought we agreed not to be jealous?”

“No,” he cleared his throat, “I’m not.”

He’s lying. It’s obvious by the look on his face.

I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him to me, his body collapsing on top of mine. I thought I would be pinned down, but he held himself up with both arms on each side of me.

Who knew that the famously cold Bellamy could be so childish when he came home?

I used all my strength to keep him in this position.

“Since you’re so jealous, how did you put up with me when I came home earlier?”

“I wasn’t jealous.”

“Yeah, yes, you were….”

He deeply sighed, seeing that I was openly treating him like a child. He picked me up, supported my ass, and sat me on his thighs.

His breath on the nape of my neck and his hair tickled me, making me heat up. He pulled me by my waist and pressed me closer to his body.

I blushed as I felt his manhood grow beneath me. I remained still, wondering if he was up to something, but he didn’t move.

Puzzled, I slowly stroked his back and heard him muffle something against my shoulder, but I couldn’t make out what it was.

“Bell?”

“… I always feel like I’m running out of time when I’m with you.”

“…”

“You haven’t had any regrets about being an Orca before.”

Suddenly, his mood changed, and I felt like I heard a confession that wasn’t supposed to be a confession.

Didn’t I already know this?

Well, ever since I was a child, I didn’t try to give them my heart. Part of it was because I was from another world, and another part was because I didn’t know when I would return.

Still, I pretty much gave up on going back once I got out of the annex, so I thought the wall collapsed. The one exception was my brief derailment on New Year’s Eve I think?

It was only an attempt, but I didn’t think Bellamy still thought about it.

He gently pulled me out of his arms and locked eyes with me. They were dark enough that they looked almost black, but the moonlight revealed the vivid indigo blue. I remembered how fierce those eyes used to be, but now they look so vulnerable.

Bellamy tucked my hair behind me and whispered to me.

“I really can’t let you go now. It’s too late.”

Bellamy smiled as he said it, but his eyes were dark with possession.

Something about those possessive words made my heart flutter, and I thought it was nothing but lovely.

While I wondered why I enjoyed this, he brushed a hand below my eyes. I frowned in return, then he kissed my eyelids.

“So don’t think about going anywhere. Wherever you go, I’ll bring you right back to where you started.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Why do you keep thinking I’m leaving?”

“Because I think you would follow anyone who is handsome. You are weak to handsome faces.”

No, Bell!

When I looked at him in disbelief, he retorted, “Isn’t that true?”

Of course, I’m weak to good-looking people, but that only applied to Bellamy and Damian! Ashik and the Crown Prince were handsome, but my heart just couldn’t flutter with them.

I sighed and thought of the words he once said to me. I never thought I would repeat them in a situation like this.

“You need to trust me more. I don’t fall for all faces like that!”

“You told me the other day that the best is when you’re drinking with handsome men.”

“When did I?”

His expression remained serious to show he wasn’t lying. Damn, I’m so needlessly impulsive.

He was referring to the last time I drank too much while with the Orca brothers and we engaged in some… activities. It’s a shame I don’t remember much.

He smirked and patted me on the head as I cried out in frustration at my low alcohol tolerance.

“I… I hate you so much. I’m not going to sleep with you anymore.”

“I thought you said you weren’t leaving?”

“No, that’s not what I meant!”

“Phew… Okay, I’ll stop teasing you.”

I sighed and Bellamy laughed, blinking his docile eyes as he found humor in my reaction. It was impossible to be angry at his playfulness when he laughed so loud.

“That’s it, I’m going to sleep.”

“Okay, you must be very tired, so sleep.”

I tried to look pouty, but that didn’t stop him from tucking me into bed. Then he crawled into bed and wrapped his arm around me. I rested my head on his chest and looked up at him and he gently pressed his finger to my mouth, as if telling me not to speak.

I frowned and slapped his hand away.

“Bell, are you kidding me?”

“Why? I thought you were going to sleep.”

“I want to do it now.”

“…”

I was annoyed that he would really go to sleep after all that time he spent lifting me up, touching me, and making me feel so hot.

He seemed to freeze for a moment at my words, then flashed an irresistible smile and lowered his head to kiss me.

My arms wrapped around his neck as if it was routine. As I opened my mouth to welcome his tongue, he got on top of me and peeled off my clothes.

That night was the first time I realized how much Bellamy had been looking out for me.

 Kofi