When A Villain Meets A Villain - Chapter 74

‘It wouldn’t be good if he ran into Lionel while wandering around.’

Atalante, who’d been lost in thought for a moment, ordered Jenna, who had already risen from her seat, to sit down, and looked towards Devon.

“Devon, you go.”

“What? No. You know I don’t like dealing with children.”

“What do you mean, child? Yuffie is older than you.”

Only his body was like that though.

Atalante leaned on the sofa with crossed arms, before ordering him to look for Yuffie once again.

“I’m commanding you as the boss, and not as your friend, Devon.”

Atalante was wearing a fluffy dress, so he’d forgotten for a moment. That she was his boss and as far as he knows, the strongest person in the world.

“Alright, Boss.”

Devon, who sighed heavily, got up to find the troublesome and huge ‘child’.

“One more thing. Try to act like you’re dating Yuffie when you’re in the grand ducal castle.”

“What?”

Devon’s expression was distorted grimly by her ridiculous order.

Did she get a strange hobby after being stuck in the middle of aristocrats for a while?

“You’re kidding, right?”

Atalante, who had expected such a response from Devon, looked at him seriously and began speaking.

“I’m not kidding. It’s a long story, so come back with Yuffie first. If you run into someone else, you must act as I say. Especially in front of the grand duke. It’s all for the safety of you and Yuffie.”

Noticing that there was something going on, Devon rubbed his hair irritably instead of answering. Atalante, who’d got along with him for a long time, knew that it was an expression of consent.

“You have to give me a bonus for bringing Yuffie back.”

Devon threatened before leaving while grumbling.

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At the same time, the vital point of the servant that was guiding Yuffie to the bathroom was hit and he was rendered unconscious.

“I, I’m sorry.”

Yuffie, who propped him up against the wall, bowed to the grand duchy’s servant.

‘I heard that that man’s room is just upstairs.’

Yuffie, who repeated the information he was given by the servant, immediately turned towards the hallway.

Yesterday, the others spoke like they had to let her go. For the sake of Atalante’s happiness.

Yuffie, who everyone thought to be a fool, also vaguely knew. That Atalante would only be happy by his side.

It’s because that day was the first time Yuffie saw Atalante with such a comfortable expression.

But… he also needed Atalante.

Jenna explained that the man who’d ‘married’ Atalante was a man with a very, very high rank.

In that case, he’d possess a lot of things, right? That man can obtain as much money and jewels as Jenna and Devon cry for everyday, he has the ability to build Mia’s dream hospital, and as much food as Yuffie wants.

But Yuffie only has one person, Atalante. No matter how he thought about it, it was horrible for someone, who already has enough things, to snatch away the only thing Yuffie had.

‘I’m going to ask him to return Atalante back to me.’

For that, he could even beg.

Yuffie had never begged anyone before, but he’d often seen the way others begged.

When he was a warrior, and when he was on the battlefield before joining Argo.

The way those begged for help had knelt down with crying faces.

Whenever that happens, Yuffie’s heart would soften. Although he’d never listened to their pleas before.

Anyways, he’d seen it many times before, so he’ll be able to imitate them.

If that man doesn’t return Atalante……

‘It’ll be saddening, but I must kill him.’

He was unequipped because all his weapons were taken away when he entered the grand ducal castle, but it wasn’t a problem for Yuffie.

As soon as he went upstairs, Yuffie could immediately tell where the grand duke’s office was.

The biggest and most antique-looking door.

Since he was said to be a high-ranking person, perhaps he was beyond that nice-looking door.

Yuffie swallowed dryly and tried to open the door.

“You look familiar.”

A cold voice came from right behind him.

“Hey, the stiff-necked one over there. Have we met before?”

When he turned his head around, there stood the silver-haired man, who’d kissed Atalante deeply. When Yuffie recalled that scene, it felt like something strange was boiling inside his heart.

“What are you doing, just standing there? I’m asking you.”

Lionel frowned as he took a step closer to the stiff Yuffie.

He learnt that he should introduce himself to someone he was meeting for the first time. Atalante would definitely be disappointed if she knew that he’d been rude.

Yuffie, who averted his close to black coloured dark navy eyes, slowly mentioned his name.

“I, I’m Yuffie.”

“Yuffie?”

Lionel, who was lost in thought for a moment, smiled languidly and exclaimed, “Ah.”

Even Yuffie was surprised by his captivating smile.

“Yuffie, the deputy head of Argo. It seems like I’d been rude to Madam’s friend.”

“Madam?”

Although Yuffie didn’t quite know difficult words, he knew what Madam meant. He could feel the deep affection in Lionel’s eyes as he uttered that word.

“What are you doing here all by yourself? Could it be that you’d lost your way?”

“E, erm…”

“I happen to miss her too, so I’ll take you to the drawing room in person. Follow me.”

Lionel turned away from him immediately after he finished saying what he had to say.

At this rate, he’ll completely lose Atalante to that man.

At that thought, Yuffie immediately fell onto his knees. Additionally, Yuffie, who grabbed the hem of Lionel’s clothes, begged with desperate eyes.

“R, return Atalante back to me.”

Lionel’s eyes narrowed, like he’d heard something strange.

“Return? She isn’t a thing though.”

“Atalante is the one that rescued me from the hellish martial arts tournament. She taught me how to live. I can’t be without Atalante.”

Lionel seemed to be reflecting on his words as he remained silent for a moment.

‘I heard that he has a problem with his intelligence, but that was just talk.’

Lionel, who was tapping his finger on his folded arm, soon realised the cause of his displeasure.

“It’s annoying, because it sounds like you like her.”

After speaking his thoughts directly, Lionel stepped on Yuffie’s knee lightly with a slow but accurate movement.

“Ugh!”

“It’s rather annoying, because it’s greatly different from what I knew.”

Although it seemed like he was just lightly putting his foot down, the pressure was so strong that Yuffie, who was good at taking blows, groaned inadvertently.

However, Yuffie wouldn’t lose to anyone in terms of strength. As Yuffie eventually thought that he had to kill Lionel, Yuffie’s hands balled into fists.

“Yuffie!”

The contemplative Devon, who was a distance away, ran over and grabbed Yuffie’s arm like he was trying to tie Yuffie’s hands up.

‘Why is this crazy guy in front of the Grand Duke, of all things?’

Devon, whose unadulterated astonishment was visible on his face, looked up at Lionel with an awkward smile.

“Haha! A—as you know, this guy is a little lacking. Please forgive him if he’d committed any offence against you.”

“He was, indeed, about to commit an offence.”

Lionel glanced down at the region of Yuffie’s hand, which Devon had covered up, and removed the foot that was stepping on Yuffie’s knee as he spoke.

“I, I’ll understand it as you’ve forgiven him! Can I take him with me?”

Lionel looked at the two men alternately for a moment before nodding, and the red-faced Devon pressed the top of Yuffie’s head to make him bow.

“Come on, Yuffie. Shouldn’t you thank the grand duke?”

“…Return Atalante back to me.”

“Haha! What nonsense is he spouting? Please ignore it, Your Highness. Like I’ve mentioned before, he’s a little lacking…”

“Yuffie, was it? If you keep asking for someone else’s return, wouldn’t your lover, who’s next to you, feel disappointed?”

The smirking Grand Duke spoke provocatively to Yuffie in low tones.

“Lover?”

Yuffie, who didn’t know the exact meaning of that word, tilted his head, while Devon paled and could only blame his own destiny.

Come to think of it, Atalante had made him promise that he had to work harder to keep up the pretence, especially in front of the Grand Duke.

‘No way, was it because the Grand Duke will keep me or Yuffie in check? Because we’re men?’

Devon, who came up with a plausible assumption, sighed inwardly as his stomach dropped towards the ground.

‘Even if it’s an act, I haven’t even had a proper relationship with a woman before, and now I have to do this with this large and stupid man…’

After thinking to himself that he would rather die five times, Devon seemed to make up his mind as he swallowed dryly.

“Yes, Yuffie. Why are you being like this? It’s making me upset. I know that you treat Atalante like a parent, but you shouldn’t do this in front of me.”

Devon, who even added a nasal voice, hugged Yuffie from behind and whispered.

Goosebumps rose at the sudden contact, causing Yuffie to forget that he was trying to kill the Grand Duke and he turned to look at Devon.

Devon had never been so friendly with Yuffie, because he found him annoying.

“D, Devon, what’s wrong? Don’t you hate me……”

“I’m sorry, what I’d said yesterday was too much! But I’d even come all the way here to look for you. Shall we make up, and spend some time by ourselves? Hmm?”

“I, I don’t think I feel well. I can’t control my strength right now, so I might kill you. Let go of me!”

“Yes, yes, I like you to death, too. Why don’t you quickly bid the Grand Duke farewell and we can talk, just the two of us?”

Lionel looked at the duo with relief, and nodded his head at Devon like he was indicating that they could leave.

“Thank you, Your Highness! Yuffie, please come quietly with me.”

Devon, who made the sound of gritted teeth, placed his arm around Yuffie’s neck and dragged away the stiff Yuffie, overshadowing his size.

“Ah, Yuffie. Let me give you a piece of advice.”

“Advice?”

Before he could ask what that meant, a sanguineous voice appeared out of Lionel’s parted lips.

“If you truly care for your lover and Atalante, you should leave Argo as soon as possible.”

“As soon as possible?”

“Your Highness, what does that mean……”

Without answering Yuffie and Devon’s questions, Lionel left behind those meaningful words and disappeared with dignified steps.

“I have good senses.”

Yuffie stood in place as he watched the spot Lionel had left foolishly, and was only surprised by Devon slapping him on his back.

“Why are you standing there like a fool? Come along, you idiot.”

To think that he said stupid twice in one sentence.

“You’re really Devon……!”

Yuffie let out a relieved sigh at the thought that he’d returned to his usual self despite the vicious remarks.

“What are you doing here? What happened to the servant that guided you?”

In order to meet the grand duke, I knocked him out by hitting his vital point.

Yuffie, who’d originally wanted to answer absentmindedly and honestly, averted his gaze.

“Erm, I got lost somehow.”

He knew that he would get into trouble if he said the truth, so he could only lie.

“More than that, Devon, don’t make such jokes from now onwards. It was quite terrifying and rather disgusting.”

Yuffie, who curled up so much that it didn’t match his size, rubbed his arm like he was trying to wipe away the goosebumps.

“I also felt disgusted!”

However, based on the Grand Duke’s response just now, perhaps for the time being…

Devon, who mumbled some harsh swear words, moved irritably, and Yuffie, who looked around helplessly, soon followed him.

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