When A Villain Meets A Villain - Chapter 70

There’s no way that he didn’t notice it.

Frankly, Devon has never seen a bride and groom that seemed as well suited as they were. The reason they caught everyone’s eye so much was obvious.

It was because only pure and ticklish feelings existed between them, without any complicated interests.

‘But Atalante is someone that would put the organisation first. When she’s like that, why would she, with a man that’s the complete opposite…’

Did they connect over the fact that they were both villains?

The grand duke’s notoriety didn’t lose to Atalante’s and spreaded throughout the empire, so Devon had heard of rumours about the grand duke.

“But we also need Atalante. You’re well aware of how this organisation was formed.”

“……”

She couldn’t bear to argue with the saying, “Atalante was necessary.” It’s because she couldn’t imagine an Argo without her, and she didn’t dare to imagine it.

But it was clear that the grand duke also needed her, no, perhaps even more than they did.

“I don’t think it’ll be too late to discuss this problem after listening to Atalante’s explanation.”

Mia, who had separated the two, concluded the conversation with a deep sigh.

Despite her calm manner of speech, she couldn’t erase the intense feeling of anxiety either. The anxiety that she might have to let go of Atalante.

“Before that, the problem we need to solve is Yuffie.”

Mia changed the subject and glanced at the tightly closed door.

Perhaps because he’d suffered a shock when he watched the ‘performance’ that Atalante, who he’d followed like a mother bird, gave, Yuffie refused to eat his favourite food and locked himself in a small room.

Jenna, who’d described today’s national wedding as a ‘performance’ to Yuffie, turned red for no reason in particular.

Who knew that they, who were akin to the faces of the grand duchy, would do such shameful affectionate acts during the ceremony in broad daylight.

“Mia is right. Let’s solve Yuffie first, and have a conversation with Atalante later on.”

“I’ll go and take a look,” Jenna said and turned around, knocking on the door with a gloomy appearance.

“Yuffie, can I come in?”

She called his name several times, but didn’t gain any answer from inside the room.

“Yu…”

But she was unable to finish calling him.

“That guy, who is he? That white-coloured man standing next to Atalante.”

An incredibly brutal voice surfaced from beyond the door, making them find it unbelievable that it belonged to Yuffie.

The flustered Jenna couldn’t answer right away and could only open and close her mouth.

‘It’s just like their first time meeting Yuffie.’

Jenna couldn’t help but tremble upon recalling the Yuffie that harmed people without any emotion and wiped the blood that was splattered all over his body at the fighting ring.

Among the numerous members of the organisation that had a complex past, Yuffie’s story stood out. At the same time, he was one of those that changed the most after joining Argo.

Of course, Atalante contributed the most to his change.

As the silence continued, Yuffie’s voice softened slightly.

“I don’t like that man.”

“…I don’t like him either.”

Jenna let out a heavy sigh after answering honestly. Although she hated it, if Atalante wanted to stay by his side…

“Are we, are we losing our boss to him?”

As the difficult question was posed, the door opened and a dishevelled Yuffie appeared through the gap in the door.

“We aren’t, are we?”

None of the three executives could deny it.

It was hard to confidently state that Atalante would choose them, as the sacrifices she made for the organisation were far too great.

Most importantly, Atalante’s smiling face that they’d seen in the day was still too vivid.

“Yuffie, there’s nothing that we can say for certain right now.”

“Will Mia be alright without Atalante?”

“How can that be? I’ve never thought of Argo without Boss.”

“Me too. I’m only here because of Atalante.”

After he finished speaking clearly unlike usual, Yuffie’s black eyes shone visibly.

“I won’t let him take her away.”

As he said that, Yuffie’s expression was akin to a child holding a toy he cherished, but it gave them chills for some reason.

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Although she’d known this since a while ago, Lionel was one of the few people that could surpass Atalante.

While she had controlled her power and strength sufficiently, Lionel added his strength without giving away any gaps.

And that subtle power gap was also applied on the bed to a certain extent.

“Uuh, wait… a minute, ungh.”

When she came to her hazy senses, Atalante was already pressed underneath him. It didn’t occur to her to push away at all.

Pride and slight heat mixed together, causing her to tighten the arms that were around Lionel’s neck.

The spacious room was filled with unfamiliar sounds of friction and short gasps. Atalante didn’t want to admit the fact that most of it came from her. So she pulled him in even harder.

She was the one that made the provocation first, but embarrassingly enough, her eyes were tightly shut for a long time.

It’s because she didn’t want to look into Lionel’s eyes anymore. She thought that he was going to swallow up everything when she was faced with his delicately wet blue eyes.

It felt like the burning body and the faint remaining senses did not belong to her.

The lips, which devoured her mouth tenaciously, as well as hands, slowly began to head down.

A sense of fear came belatedly. Rather than being scared of the raw thing itself, the heat that keeps growing inside me felt overwhelming.

‘It feels like something is wrong with my head.’

At that moment, an intense feeling of pleasure rose from the bottom of her spine as though she was wrapped within it.

She couldn’t form any coherent thoughts.

After a weak sound travelled out of her mouth, which she couldn’t believe that it was coming from her, the solid object that had been pressing against her lower half slowly disappeared.

After the sensations that she felt for the first time passed, her muddled head regained clarity and surprise occupied its spot.

‘It’s different from what I know. Is… Is that the end?’

After mustering her courage, Atalante opened her eyes to grasp the situation.

The first thing that entered her vision was dazzling silver hair.

The man that had been occupying Atalante’s stomach was looking down at her, while supporting himself with his knees.

“Atalante.”

Perhaps because she closed her eyes for a long period of time, his expression wasn’t clearly visible to her.

Perhaps that’s why she seemed to hear Lionel’s voice as he called her more clearly.

“Why do you stop? I’m fine…”

“Do you like me?”

Even if it’s just the slightest bit.

The words that he added immediately were filled with a strange passion.

It wasn’t hard for her to come up with an answer. But… it wasn’t easy for her to say it out loud.

If she’d really wanted to deceive him, Atalante should also whisper words of Lionel’s so-called love.

However.

“No, I don’t.”

If she continued on like this, it felt like she’d be devoured by that false emotion.

A love based on lies would gradually build up, and one day she would really… it felt like she would really fall for this man. No, that will most certainly happen.

Atalante didn’t even dare to imagine how miserable she’d be when that happens.

“I don’t like you. I can’t like you.”

Atalante repeated the words she had to say again, just like she was making up her mind.

It was rather cruel for a new bridegroom that had fallen in love to hear. But Lionel just smiled bitterly for a moment, and remained unexpectedly calm.

“…but why did you kiss me?”

“It’s because it was my decision to marry you. I thought I should do the most basic of obligations.”

“Obligations?”

“Obligations as a married couple. As I’d said before, I’m not a fool that knows nothing of the world…”

“Is it so important to keep that principle that you’d have relations with a man you don’t even like?”

Lionel’s eyes were filled with a sad glimmer as he spoke quite straightforwardly.

When he didn’t hear an instant response, he placed his hand on the bed and lowered his upper body.

“If you want to adhere to such trivial obligations, I’ll do as you please. It’s because my ears are yours.”

She was unable to say anything as she stared at the dark silhouette of the man’s face.

After a moment, a sharp voice appeared from Atalante’s mouth.

“I don’t know.”

“……”

“I don’t know anything.”

As Atalante confessed her honest feelings, her expression was distorted.

Why does this man always force her into a corner? He had never once allowed her to win.

Although he felt sorry, Lionel stared quietly at the woman that wouldn’t shed tears despite having reddened eyes.

“That’s a good answer.”

After saying something strange, Lionel seemed to be getting off her, but her field of vision changed instantly.

Lionel, who pulled Atalante on top of him while lying on the bed, encased her within his firm arms tightly.

“Forgive me for what happened earlier. It may sound ridiculous that you’re hearing this from me, but please value your body. Please don’t mind those sort of obligations and just do as you please.”

His upper body, which trembled slightly while he spoke, was very warm. She could feel his gentle heartbeat from beneath her.

Oh, she realised belatedly. His heartbeat was steady, while the one with a pounding heart was her.

Hearing the sound of her heartbeat being reflected on another person’s body was a rather strange experience.

“You’re weird. Everyone else seemed so impatient to do it.”

Atalante mumbled with her cold cheek against his chest and recalled.

Beautiful women were always in demand, even in the slums. Sometimes, those savage-like men didn’t even care about their age.

The things that Atalante had seen and learned seemed to be wildly different from Lionel’s opinion.

He said to treasure her own body, of all things. While she still didn’t understand what he meant, but the words he’d said… she didn’t know why she was so moved.

“When we become one while we aren’t in agreement. I wouldn’t be the slightest bit pleased, none at all. Not only you but I will also be hurt, dearest Atalante.”

Please feel sorry for me, Lionel added while hugging Atalante a little tighter.

“Well… I don’t understand. If you don’t intend to do that, why did you marry me?”

“If those around you are marrying for the sake of doing it, please don’t associate with them anymore. I’ve told you so many times, but I proposed to you because I wanted to be with you for the rest of my life.”

“But I…”

“Atalante, would you like to make a bet with me?”

Lionel, who had been gently stroking her hair with a hand, uttered temptingly in a low and subdued voice.

At the word ‘bet’. Atalante’s ears perked up instinctively.

“A bet?”

Lionel nodded his head slightly and continued with a faint smile.

“Before the anniversary of our national wedding arrives, I will make you fall for me. If I succeed, you’ll grant a wish of mine. If I fail to do so, I’ll grant a wish of yours. What do you think?”

“Isn’t betting on that too much of a loss for you? What if I insist on not loving you?”

Lionel laughed briefly upon hearing her valid protest.

“All that I have to do is to make you fall for me completely, to the point where you can’t even argue otherwise.”

A great deal of confidence dripped from those words, rendering Atalante speechless for a moment.

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