When A Villain Meets A Villain - Chapter 61

As Atalante had been busy with her ‘schedule’ as of late, Lionel became as anxious as a puppy that’s away from his owner.

Just approaching the grand duke’s office was sufficient to tell that he was in a bad mood.

However, Lionel didn’t draw his sword indiscriminately or speak viciously as he did before. Instead, a choking amount of killing intent radiated off him.

If people could be killed with only killing intent, more than half of the grand duchy’s servants were already dead.

However, he had definitely become much better compared to the past. Whenever the servants were gathered together, they would prove the grand duke’s changes like they were gathering evidence.

“I broke a cup beside His Highness and he only told me to clean it up and get out.”

“In the first place, doesn’t he respond like that towards trivial matters? The incident I witnessed is much more awesome than that. After having a short argument with the lord chamberlain, instead of drawing his sword like usual, he just murmured something instead told him to settle it by himself.” 

“When I went to report about the facility’s expansion, the grand duke praised me by saying well done.”

It was a 180 degree change from how he was before he left for the capital… No, though it wasn’t to that extent, the servants would thank Atalante several times a day for the grand duke’s 120 degree change.

Of course, while the other servants were joyful, Paul was the only one that felt like he was dying.

He was dying to stop the grand duke from going to visit Atalante every day and messing things up.

“Do you remember Miss Atalante’s taste in men? Rather than a man that interrupts her classes, a man that can wait patiently would certainly be more attractive to her.” 

Unexpectedly, Lionel accepted those words, and he relieved his stress caused by not being able to see Atalante towards the strict Paul. Of course, it wasn’t as oppressive as it used to be…

“Miss Atalante is already perfect as she is, I honestly don’t know what other classes she needs.”

“…In the first place, a naturally formed jewel requires constant polishing. Miss Atalante is intelligent… She’s also wise and capable of becoming a brilliant grand duchess, so it’s only natural for her to take classes that are appropriate for her.”

When Paul said ‘intelligent, wise and brilliant grand duchess’, he almost bit on his tongue, and from a certain angle, it was something natural.

“I think of her whenever I close my eyes and it’s practically driving me insane. She must have become more beautiful during the time I haven’t met her, what should I do?” 

“……You’re right.”

“You must have seen Atalante on your way here and there. Describe to me how beautiful she was today.”

The grand duke’s response was his ridiculous grumbling, and used an absurd method to increase the lord chamberlain’s blood pressure.

All in all, through Paul’s bitter efforts, Lionel didn’t interfere with her ‘schedule’. Though Atalante had never thought that the reason she was able to focus on her classes was all because of Paul.

‘How can you show such a beautiful smile?’

Does Atalante know how lovely the smiles she gave were?

Usually, when that oddly alluring countenance gave a comfortable smile, it would relax innocently.

The sight of her smiling face made him feel rewarded for all the recent weeks of patience in an instant.

Perhaps it’s because she felt his direct gaze, Atalante, who had been laughing for a while, slowly stopped.

“…Is this your first time seeing someone smile?”

“It’s my first time seeing a smile as lovely as yours.”

Instead of scolding him, Atalante gave him a glare and cleared her throat.

‘Why did I even laugh? He didn’t even say anything funny.’

Was it because she lost her tension after it’s been a while since she saw him? No, that can’t be. Atalante had no reason to welcome that man.

But why did she… Feel so ticklish? Even though he was just by her side.

Atalante looked at Lionel with trembling eyes, unfiltered complicated feelings evident within.

It’s obviously wrong to do so. It’s because he shouldn’t become anything to her.

Once the antidote and the sudden marriage were completed, their relationship would be worse than ordinary people. In the first place… that man doesn’t really love her.

‘Stop having weird thoughts constantly, Atalante.’

Even though her heart was filled with determination, her quickly beating heart didn’t show any sign of calming down when she saw the affectionate grand duke.

Lionel stared at her dazedly with a chin in his hand and smiled beamingly.

“Miss Atalante, did you miss me too?”

“No, I…”

“I missed you.”

“Very much,” he added without giving Atalante time to respond, and continued.

“I was about to go insane wanting to see you at every moment, but I held it in because I was afraid that it would interfere with your schedule.”

As though he had accomplished something great, Lionel’s voice rose slightly.

“Isn’t it praiseworthy?”

Although it was hard for her to understand what about that was praiseworthy, Lionel, who had been so eager to stick by her side, hadn’t visited her for the past two weeks, so he might have used a large amount of patience.

“Ah, yes.”

Although she agreed somewhat bewilderedly, Lionel’s expression was still rather eager. Just like something hasn’t been resolved yet.

With a slow sigh, Lionel finally revealed his true intention.

“I’d like you to praise me a little more.”

“Praise?”

“Yes, please praise me.”

He wasn’t even a child, so how was she to praise a fully grown man?

As she looked at him blankly, Atalante soon recalled that she was experienced at praising a fully grown man before. It was all thanks to Yuffie, no less.

‘Yuffie is a fully grown man, even if his intelligence is close to a ten year old.’

She thought that she could praise Lionel in the same way she did to Yuffie.

After deciding on a way to praise him, Atalante’s soon reached out her head towards Lionel, who’s eyes were shining like someone about to receive a huge reward.

A small hand, which moved like it was about to touch his cheek, reached the top of his head.

“Oh?”

A disconcerted exclamation left Lionel’s mouth, perhaps because he didn’t expect her to touch him.

Much less the top of his head. Other than in the distant memory of the past, no one dared to lay their hands on the grand duke’s head.

However, Atalante didn’t mind that and stroked Lionel’s fine silver hair.

“You did a great job.”

After stroking his hair for a while, she added a slightly vague compliment.

‘His hair… How should I say this? It feels really good.’

Perhaps because of that, Atalante spent slightly longer time stroking his hair than she would have with Yuffie.

“…Stop.”

Until a small voice stopping her appeared from Lionel’s mouth.

Atalante removed her head from the grand duke’s head regretfully and confirmed that his expression was strangely distorted.

‘Hmm? Is touching another person’s head an impolite act?’

She recalled the etiquette tutor’s words, but she couldn’t remember learning such content. Of course, it wasn’t taught as it was naturally taken as common knowledge.

“Do you feel unpleasant? You want me to praise you though.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then what’s with your expression? You look like you’re angry.”

Lionel lightly swept his hair, which became slightly dishevelled at her touch, and looked at Atalante with strangely reddened eyes.

“I’m not angry.”

Lionel searched for the words to say while hesitating, before giving a vague smile.

“I was just thinking that I should continue working hard to receive praise from you.”

“What, just for something like that.”

Unbeknownst to herself, Atalante smiled with him and immediately made a dark expression like she was hiding her embarrassment.

“So, what brings you here at this hour?”

Recalling that the grand duke has yet to answer her first question, Atalante changed the topic.

‘I might just kill someone if I don’t take a look at your face anymore, but you wouldn’t like it if I answered like that.’

Although the truth was that he’d reached the limit of his patience, Lionel, who was determined to suit her tastes, made a plausible excuse.

“I’m sure Agnes has already explained this properly, but I was wondering if you had any questions about the upcoming national marriage. Surprisingly, there are many differences from an imperial marriage.”

I also wanted to check if there’s any grievances that’s difficult for you to voice.

As Lionel added those words chillingly, his eyes gleamed.

Through Atalante’s intuition, she knew that if she spoke of her hardships without cause or reason, a tragedy would befall upon a certain unnamed person.

“There isn’t anything like grievances, All the servants in the grand duchy are all kind and competent. I’m not lacking anything, be it attending classes or living here.”

At those words, Lionel’s incomparably beautiful face lit up and a radiant smile appeared.

“I’m glad you said so.”

“Don’t smile like that.”

Upon hearing those sharp words, Lionel covered his mouth with a large hand instead of erasing his smile. Even so, his curved eyes were too pretty… Though it didn’t have much of an effect.

“The marriage will proceed as per your wishes. Although you have a schedule, just remove everything that you don’t like, and feel free to ask for whatever you want.”

“But there must be traditions. Can I really do that?”

“Of course. It’s your wedding.”

“It’s also your wedding.”

“I’ll always agree with you, dearest Atalante.”

Though you can’t break off the engagement.

Lionel added slickly after reading Atalante’s thoughts like a ghost.

Tsk, after clicking her tongue, Atalante closed her book and turned towards Lionel.

“I would like to hear about how weddings in the Grand Duchy differ from those in the Empire. Actually, I’ve never attended a proper wedding ceremony, so I probably won’t be clear even if I heard about them.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Lionel proceeded to explain calmly.

“First of all, the ceremonial attire is different, and the citizens of the grand duchy can participate in the wedding, so the national marriage would differ from the imperial marriages in this aspect. Ah, there’s a special ceremony that’ll take place on the day before the wedding.”

“Ceremony?”

“As you’re probably aware, the Grand Duchy of Blanc was founded by Imperial Princess Ariadna. Although men and women are considered equal these days, it still leans towards matriarchal society. This ceremony originated from there.”

“Hmm, I’m quite curious about what kind of ceremony it is.”

“It isn’t much,” Lionel laughed and whispered spine chilling words with a smile.

“The groom vows to only serve the bride for the rest of his life, and offers a part of his body.”

Before Atalante could ask what it meant, he continued in an infinitely affectionate voice.

“Please decide which part of me you want to have in advance.”