This Villain Is Mine Now - Chapter 32

The life of a botanist was far from glamorous. Unable to earn enough to be independent, Nathan had been living under his brother’s roof even after reaching adulthood.

Given his circumstances, he couldn’t afford to devote himself to research all year round; instead, he helped tend the village crops during the busy farming seasons and only managed to come to the capital during the idle summer and winter months.

If he had come from a wealthy family, things might have been different. But in reality, all he had was a position as a research professor, which allowed him to borrow a laboratory for a limited period.

“Coo, coo.”

The carrier pigeon, Gugu, perched on Nathan’s shoulder, pecked at his earlobe, though not hard enough to hurt. The bird was irritated because it hadn’t been sent on a delivery in a while.

“No, Gugu, you can’t go to her anymore,” Nathan murmured in a dejected voice as he rubbed the spot where Gugu had pecked.

“Coo, coo.”

Even though a pigeon couldn’t understand words, Nathan felt as if Gugu’s cooing was questioning him—why not?

“She’s going to marry someone else soon. If I keep contacting her, I might only make things difficult for her.”

As soon as Nathan arrived in the capital, he heard the rumors that had spread like wildfire. Even before the rumor about her potential engagement to the Archduke had died down, it was said that the Marquis of Redwood was already seeking a new match for her.

She was a lady from a family distinguished enough to be considered for marriage to an archduke. Whoever they found next would surely be of similar stature.

“You knew it from the start. She was never someone I could be with,” Nathan whispered to himself.

Coo, coo.

Coward. Coward.

“Even if I am a coward, it can’t be helped. Don’t bother me, Gugu. I need to focus on my experiment.”

Nathan was currently in the topmost room of the oldest tower in the academy. He was grateful just to have this space, even if it was run-down. If he stayed too late, he often had to endure the glares of the guards as he left. With no time to spare, he needed to finish the experiment he had planned for the day.

Then, suddenly, he heard a voice.

“What the heck, ha… ha… Why did they even build… ha… a tower like this? It’s not like the academy is short on space.”

A woman’s voice, panting as she spoke, startled Nathan. He glanced at the door in shock. Someone was climbing the tower.

‘Who could it be?’

Ever since hearing about Diane, Nathan had locked himself in the tower, throwing himself into his research. In fact, he hadn’t seen a single person for days. The only time he left was when his hunger drove him out to find something to eat.

The footsteps were steadily approaching the top of the tower. Nathan froze as he heard a knock on the door.

“This is the right place, isn’t it? Why don’t I hear anything?”

As the voice expressed confusion, the door suddenly swung open.

“You…”

Nathan’s words trailed off as he recognized the person standing there, accompanied by a striking beauty with vibrant pink hair. It was someone he hadn’t been able to forget for even a moment during his self-imposed exile in the tower—Diane Redwood.

***

The room at the top of the tower was in a state of disarray. The desk was cluttered with glass flasks and test tubes, leaving no room to place a hand, and sheets of paper covered in hastily scribbled notes were scattered everywhere.

“Coo, coo!”

The pigeon fluttered over and landed on Diane’s shoulder, rubbing its head against her cheek as if it were a pet. Diane awkwardly petted the bird’s head, unsure of how to react. Elaina had been right—seeing Nathan in the bright daylight was completely different from the brief glimpse she had caught at night.

‘I didn’t know.’

She really hadn’t known. She hadn’t realized that his hair was such a fiery red or that he was so tall.

Elaina had said that appearance didn’t matter, but Nathan Hennet was far more handsome than any version of him she had imagined. Despite his shabby clothes and the unremarkable surroundings, he was striking.

“…How did you find me here?”

“Ah, I… I mean…”

Both Diane and Nathan fumbled, unable to even look each other in the eye. Frustrated by their awkwardness, Elaina spoke up, looking directly at Nathan.

“When you have guests, it’s polite to offer them a seat, isn’t it?”

“Oh, of course. Please wait a moment.” Startled by Elaina’s remark, Nathan hurriedly retrieved an old stool from a corner of the room.

Elaina sat on the backless wooden stool and alternated her gaze between the two. Diane, who had been staring at the ground, caught Elaina’s eye.

Speak. Up.

Elaina mouthed the words silently. If she didn’t speak now, she might never get another chance.

Diane gripped the hem of her dress and looked up at Nathan. Swallowing hard, she finally spoke as if she had made up her mind.

“You’ve been in the capital for quite some time now, haven’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“I was worried because I hadn’t received any letters.”

Nathan didn’t respond. Diane hesitated before continuing.

“Did you hear something that made you stop writing?”

The pointed question left Nathan at a loss for words. What kind of answer was she expecting? He couldn’t very well tell her that ever since he’d heard the news about her, he hadn’t been able to focus on his work or bring himself to see anyone.

“I did hear that the Marquis of Redwood has proposed a marriage between you and many noble families,” he finally replied in a dry tone.

Diane looked directly at him. “Most of those proposals have been rejected.”

“What? That’s impossible…”

“It’s true. My father said that if no suitors appear, he will send me to a convent.”

Nathan’s mouth fell open in shock. He had heard of widows or elderly women entering convents, but Diane was barely twenty.

Seeing Nathan’s shocked expression, Diane seemed to gather her courage as she made a confession.

“I don’t want to go to a convent. Because… because there’s someone I’ve liked for a long time.”

Elaina’s eyes widened in surprise. She had urged Diane to be honest about her feelings, but she hadn’t expected her shy friend to be this bold.

Elaina couldn’t help but glance at Nathan, anxiously waiting to see how he would respond to Diane’s confession.

“By any chance… is there another woman you have feelings for?”

“No! It’s not that,” Nathan responded quickly, clenching his fists tightly. “But I’m not someone who’s suitable for you.”

He wasn’t from a prestigious family, nor did he have a promising future. He wasn’t worthy of having Diane, the cherished daughter of a marquis, as his wife.

“It was my mistake. I should never have done what I did. I just wanted to show my gratitude for your kindness that night, but it seems that it led to a misunderstanding. I’m sorry.”

“So… does that mean you don’t have any feelings for me at all?” Diane’s voice wavered pitifully. Nathan fell silent for a moment, unable to answer.

“I’m sorry,” he finally said, his words heavy with regret.

The moment Diane heard his apology, she shot up from her seat. The stool she had been sitting on toppled over with a loud crash.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she ran toward the door. The sound of her hurried footsteps echoed down the stairs before anyone could stop her.

Elaina, who had also risen to follow Diane, turned to Nathan, her voice cold and biting. “Thank you for your time, Lord Hennet. I had a sliver of hope, but you managed to crush it so thoroughly.”

Her gaze was sharp as she glared at him. “To hesitate even after hearing she might be sent to a convent—go ahead and live the rest of your life like a coward. Quietly, like a wildflower by the riverside, unnoticed. But know this: you’ll regret this moment for the rest of your life.”

With that, Elaina hurried out, chasing after Diane down the stairs.

The door slammed shut behind her.

Startled, Gugu fluttered back to Nathan’s shoulder. The storm of emotions that had swept through the room left behind a heavy silence, but Nathan’s heart was anything but calm.

His previously tranquil mind was now in complete disarray, like a pond disrupted by the tempest Diane had brought with her.

“This isn’t the time for this… I need to focus on my experiment…”

But there was no way he could concentrate. His mind was filled with the image of Diane’s face, wounded and trembling, as she absorbed his rejection.