When A Villain Meets A Villain - Chapter 56

56. Flowers in the Night Sky

Lillica had never seen her mother before.

 

On the day she was born, her mother, Countess Union, unfortunately died.

 

A child that killed her mother after she was born.

 

She didn’t know when it started, but Lillica was vaguely aware that many people called her that behind her back.

 

Deeply saddened by the loss of his beloved wife, Count Union became distressed at even the sight of his only daughter’s face. Her brother, Paulo, was the only one that cherished and treasured Lillica, who was almost neglected.

 

That older brother was currently running to her with a pale face. I didn’t even have to ask him why he looked like that. At the same time, she noticed a bright red phosphorescence that was just before her eyes.

 

She didn’t even have the time to scream. With the thought that she’d finally meet her mother, who she’d only seen in portraits, Lillica closed her eyes and trembled in fear.

 

“Lillica!”

 

With her brother’s horror-filled voice at the end, Lillica held her breath.

 

But she didn’t feel any pain, even after a few seconds passed. Did she lose her life instantly?

 

Although it was a futile ending, she thought that it was a relief.

 

‘When I open my eyes, will I see my dead body?’

 

As Lillica recalled the contents of a book that she’d secretly read without her nanny’s knowledge, she lifted her tightly closed eyelids slowly. She hoped that the place she’d see when she opened her eyes was heaven.

 

“Huh…?”

 

But the scene before her was strange. Lillica’s vision wasn’t filled with the appearance of the white heaven, but of burning red hair that billowed.

 

A lovely dress with layers of lace, and a unique rose tattoo. It’s a silhouette that she’d seen from the back before.

 

A puzzling thing was the sword she had in her hand, which did not match her pretty outfit.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Instantly, mysterious purple eyes gazed at Lillica.

 

“Bo, Bo…”

 

Lillica, who had yet to grasp the situation, forgot how to speak and just nodded slowly.

 

“Lillica!”

 

At the same time, she was enveloped into a warm embrace. Lillica’s tension was only released when she detected the familiar scent of her brother, and she burst into tears unknowingly.

 

‘Would Jenna and Devon ever be like that?’

 

Perhaps it was close to impossible. Atalante wasn’t sure as she didn’t have any siblings, but it’s obvious that ordinary siblings wouldn’t get along as well as they did.

 

Atalante glanced at embracing siblings, with a sword in one hand and an unconscious jaguar in the other.

 

Amongst the astonished gazes, she returned back to her original position nonchalantly.

 

“I’ve made good use of it.”

 

Atalante returned the sword to Lionel, and turned to approach the emperor immediately.

 

Kaiser looked at Atalante with a complicated gaze. It was a question filled gaze. At the same time, I could feel his disillusionment towards her.

 

“This, it’s Your Majesty’s, isn’t it? Here.”

 

It has passed out temporarily, so it’ll wake up soon.

 

At the words she’d added, the faces of the nobles, as well as the emperor, turned white.

 

Perhaps because he was worried that the jaguar before him might regain consciousness, the emperor backed away without realising it.

 

“Popra jaguars are different from regular jaguars, so they also have to consume vegetables. It’ll only get stressed if it only consumes meat and flowers.”

 

Adding that disappointedly, Atalante turned and headed towards Lionel without hesitation.

 

In the first place, it was strange to move the flora and fauna that had been living well in their respective habitats here carelessly.

 

‘If you’re going to imprison innocent people, you should, at minimum, be understanding.’

 

As Atalante clicked her tongue, all of the nobles’ gazes remained fixed on her, until she returned next to Lionel.

 

If there was a slight change, was it that the gazes that had contained blatant disdain until a few moments before had strangely softened? And a secret yearning appeared in its place.

 

It was particularly the case within the gazes from the young ladies that were Atalante’s peers.

 

“T–to think that she’d make His Majesty the Emperor’s jaguar to faint carelessly…!”

 

A few brainless people tried to rebuke Atalante for her actions, but they immediately shut up when faced with Lionel’s cold blue eyes.

 

The villain, Atalante, had saved someone.

 

She’d easily knocked out a beast that was more than twice her size in a single blow. Even if they’d witnessed it with their own two eyes, it was an unbelievable scene.

 

Everyone was admiring her internally, but Atalante wasn’t particularly interested.

 

‘In any case, I’ve kept my vow to prevent that sword from being drawn at the banquet.’

 

She’d used the sword while it was sheathed, so it was completely different from the sword being drawn.

 

With a relieved smile, Atalante belatedly noticed the gaze that remained on her. She looked up with a puzzled expression.

 

“What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

In the face of her innocent question, Lionel, who was caught off guard by how she’d actively snatched his sword, gave a despondent smile.

 

“Perhaps it’s because you’re so beautiful.”

 

“Please stop saying such funny things.”

 

Before Atalante could give a sharp retort, his ungloved hands appeared in her view.

 

Unlike her hands, his large and firm-looking hands were clean and without a single scratch.

 

To the extent that it couldn’t be regarded as the villain that had taken many lives.

 

Holding his hand wasn’t difficult as before she knew it, she’d gotten used to it.

 

She could feel Lionel’s hand more keenly than usual. Small muscles and curves seemed to protrude from his palm.

 

After pressing his lips against the back of her hand, Lionel whispered with a faint smile.

 

“I’ve fallen for you once again, dearest Atalante.”

 

“…Please let go of my hand.”

 

“But it feels as though I’m going to explode internally if I don’t tell everyone.”

 

Lionel straightened his bent waist slowly, and looked at Atalante with a slightly tense expression. Just before she could ask why he had such an expression, the loud sound of a firework rang out over their heads.

 

Atalante frowned, and wondered if war was happening, but that thought ceased as her pupils slowly widened when she looked up at the sky.

 

In the night sky… Flowers of various shapes and colours were blooming.

 

The large and small fireworks harmonised well with the stars that originally adorned the night sky.

 

“Wow, was there an event like this last year?”

 

“If I remember correctly, never before. I’ve never seen such big and beautiful fireworks. It’s really beautiful.”

 

Forgetting that a terrible accident had almost occurred a few minutes ago, the nobles that were gathered in the outdoor garden admired the fireworks like they were also enchanted.

 

With her shocked feelings calmed down to a certain extent, Lillica looked up at the sky with teary eyes in Paulo’s arms.

 

The thought that rather than the splendid garden that the emperor had created by pumping in money and manpower, the dazzling display currently blooming in the sky was much more beautiful came to mind.

 

“Atalante.”

 

Atalante had stopped looking at the sky with rapt attention after her name was called.

 

When she tilted her head down slightly, she was met with Lionel’s face, which was shaded differently depending on the colour of the fireworks.

 

At the sight of the handsome face that looked different with each second, she instantly felt discomfort in her stomach.

 

However, before Atalante could avoid eye contact, the grand duke was one step faster, and opened her mouth.

 

“Though it’s a little different from what I planned due to an unexpected accident, I hope that you’ll think it’s cute, even if it’s a little clumsy.”

 

“What? What does that…”

 

“Please marry me. My beloved Atalante.”

 

Along with those words, a cool object enveloped the ring finger of her left hand. Neither the jewel, which contained an even more dazzling light than the fireworks adorning the sky, nor its alarmingly delicate craftsmanship, caught her eye.

 

“What are you saying…”

 

“Please be my wife.”

 

Lionel seemed to be very sincere. In the blue eyes that only contained Atalante, there wasn’t any hint of playfulness in his blue pupils.

 

To the point where she’d misunderstand that his love was sincere. Possibly, to the point that she’d want to misunderstand.

 

Before she knew it, all the gazes of those that were directed towards the sky were directed at the both of them.

 

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

 

“What do you mean suddenly? When I first met you, I’d already said that I wanted to marry you.”

 

That certainly was the case. However……

 

‘Ah, was this the reason he’d been away from the mansion since morning…?’

 

It was obvious that during the entire journey to the palace, he seemed strangely nervous, and the fact that Paul didn’t even appear, was probably for this proposal.

 

The dazzling fireworks to embellish the night sky, it was all prepared by the villain before her eyes.

 

She felt as though she’d pieced together all the entire puzzle. Engulfed with mixed feelings, Atalante couldn’t even let out a breath and stiffened.

 

“Wait a moment, you’d clearly said that you wouldn’t pressure me.”

 

“I won’t pressure you.”

 

Lionel accepted Atalante’s protest easily, and bowed his upper body like he was trying to meet her eyes.

 

“However, I reject your refusal. “

 

What kind of stubbornness is this?

 

Atalante, who’d received an unscheduled proposal in such a public location, couldn’t give him an answer easily.

 

If she refuses him, she’ll be embroiled into another round of malicious gossip, and not just her safety, but the safety of the organisation’s members weren’t guaranteed.

 

‘You’re definitely doing this before others on purpose.’

 

The drugged man only gave Atalante a bewitching smile, without knowing her pointed thoughts.

 

Soon after, Atalante could only nod, with the thought that it would work out somehow.

 

Without knowing that his proposal was close to a semi-threat, the grand duke’s eyes brightened.

 

‘It’s a foul if you make a face like that, when you’re the one that has already set the stage!’

 

Facing the child-like artlessness within his blue eyes, Atalante was rendered speechless and couldn’t say anything.

 

“I will make you happy for the rest of your life.”

 

“Remove the ‘rest of your life’. I’ll divorce you depending on what you do.”

 

As soon as Esma makes the antidote.

 

Those that were unaware of the circumstances could only fall into contemplation. No matter how deep his affections for her were, mentioning divorce as soon as she was proposed to was enough to go against the grand duke’s intentions.

 

However, Lionel, the person involved, was extremely calm. As if it was a matter of course.

 

“Of course. I’ll do my absolute best, to ensure that it’ll be for the rest of your life.”

 

My beloved Atalante.

 

As he ended with the words he’d usually add, a soft clap rang from somewhere. With that as a signal, the applause gradually increased in volume and before she knew it, filled the palace.

 

It was probably an illusion of hers, to hear cheers from the other side of the palace.

 

Atalante, who was proposed with a ring called ‘Masterpiece’ beneath the fireworks, was like a painting.

 

Truthfully, the emperor was the one that’s the most flustered by Lionel’s unannounced proposal.

 

He had planned to announce the start of the Crown Princess’ selection test when the time was ripe at today’s banquet.

 

However, the aristocracy’s attention was completely focused on the new Grand Duchess, and the announcement about the Crown Princess’ selection, which should have been the biggest topic of conversation, became an unsettled event.

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