This Villain Is Mine Now - Chapter 6

Elaina assumed that Lyle, who had already found it impossible to approach Diane, would give up for the day and return to the Archduchy.

She even danced to get in Lyle’s way as he hurried to follow Diane to get water.

It was a spur-of-the-moment move, but not a bad one in the end.

To the eyes of those attending Madame Setemba’s charity bazaar today, Lyle would appear to be interested in her, not Diane.

In “Moonshadow,” the rumor of Archduke Grant’s interest in Diane was the beginning of their marriage, and Elaina’s goal was to stop it from spreading.

No matter what, she would stand by Diane’s side and give her no space. And if she had to confront Lyle, she would take the lead instead of Diane.

However, contrary to Elaina’s expectations, Lyle Grant did not return after the dance and claimed a seat at the ball.

He watched her with the intensity of a predator watching its prey. She tried to pretend she didn’t care, to pretend she didn’t notice, but even that had its limits.

Unable to stand it any longer, Elaina jerked her head toward Lyle. Lyle was still staring at her, his face impassive and expressionless, and he didn’t even try to avert his gaze.

Their gazes met in the air.

Again and again, both times they had met at the ball, it had been Lyle who had approached her, but this time it was the other way around.

Elaina walked over to where Lyle was drinking.

“What is it?”

“I don’t think that’s what someone who’s been staring at me the whole time would say.”

Lyle raised an eyebrow. His terseness made Elaina’s voice rise unnecessarily.

“Why? Did you like me so much when we danced a little while ago that you’d rather have another dance? If that’s the case, I’d rather have another dance, because you’re staring at me so hard I don’t know what to do with myself.”

Lyle smirked at her sarcasm.

“Is that how you normally talk?”

“No. I’m usually a bit more cautious of what others think of me, but since no one comes near Your Grace, I don’t have to worry about anyone overhearing our conversation.”

“Ah. I see, then I can talk to you more comfortably.”

Lyle set the glass in his hand down on the table.

“I’ll let it slide for the day.”

“What?”

“I’m telling you not to approach me anymore.”

He echoed her words from earlier.

“Are you and Diane Redwood close? I can tell you’re worried about your friend, but I think you should stop wasting your time. To be honest, it’s a bit of a hassle talking to you like this.”

Lyle looked at Elaina’s pink hair, which was nicely coiffed.

The pink hair itself is a testament to her identity. The House of Winchester is a venerable one, and the fierce woman who bared her tiny fangs in front of him is the only daughter of the Duke of Winchester.

The Duke of Winchester, the head of the nobility, is a difficult man to turn against. No nobleman is friendly to the House Grant. Most of them are enemies.

To be honest, he should be grateful that the Duke of Winchester remained neutral.

The Duke of Winchester’s only concern is for his wife, his daughter, and his family, so the last thing Lyle wanted was to become involved with Elaina in this way.

Flowers in a greenhouse. The most precious of them all, a flower that would only grow in the brightest sunlight and the purest dew.

Elaina Winchester is someone who lives in a different place than he does. If it weren’t for this, they wouldn’t even speak.

Friendship and love are just things a young lady her age would risk her life for, like they were the most important thing in her life. Things that meant nothing to Lyle were apparently so important to her.

“I don’t know how you learned of the deal between me and the Marquis, but it doesn’t make any difference. Your dear friend will be my wife and have the prestigious title of Archduchess, and I will be rewarded accordingly.”

Elaina’s face stiffened. She glared at Lyle Grant.

“I mean, don’t bring Diane into this deal. Why would Diane be involved in a deal between you and the Marquis……!”

“Because she doesn’t have the power.”

“……Sorry?”

“Because she doesn’t have the power. If it were you, yes, it would be a different story, but Diane Redwood is not you. She has no say in her family, does she?”

The Marquis, who had offered him a deal for the position of Archduchess, treated his daughter as if she were property he could dispose of at any time. If he set the rules, she was expected to follow them.

“Don’t try to escape the world you live in, Elaina Winchester.”

It was a warning.

“You can live that way all you want, you know, with all the warm, fuzzy things like friendship and love.”

But Diane Redwood is different. She is essentially doomed to the same fate as Lyle himself.

Powerless, he was forced to spend ten years on the battlefield. Powerless to turn down the Marquis’s offer. And because he was powerless, he was forced to give the position of Archduchess to his enemy’s daughter.

“A maid’s daughter, Diane Redwood.”

Elaina’s eyes widened. It was a how-do-you-know-that reaction, but Lyle was even more surprised that Elaina knew that much.

“You knew that much?”

He’d expected Elaina to leave Diane’s side once she realized she was a maid’s daughter. Instead, Elaina glared at Lyle with indignation.

“To speak so carelessly about someone else’s weakness… You’re truly the worst.”

Elaina’s respectful tone was gone.

“Born a maid’s daughter, raised to a life of luxury as a marquis’s daughter. What’s more, she’ll become an Archduchess even if only in name. It’s a lucrative business for Diane Redwood, the highest a maid’s daughter can go.”

Unable to resist, Elaina raised her hand, as if to slap his cheek, but her slender wrist was caught by Lyle before it could reach its goal.

“Ouch. You shouldn’t be swinging your hand carelessly. Save it for graceful dancing, as befits the title of Lady Winchester.”

“You. You really are a villain, aren’t you?”

“Villain?”

Lyle’s mouth curved into a smile.

“You remind me that I’m back from the war. A villain. It’s a pretty word for a noble lady, but in the war they used to call me a slayer.”

When covered in blood, his black hair would turn red, the same color as his eyes. His appearance was so ominous that they called him a slayer. No one kills because they want to kill. Lyle just wants to survive.

He hurt others and took their lives, and in the end, all he had left was a tenuous family fortune and the label of slayer.

“I warned you, don’t interfere. I just wanted to say that.”

Lyle released his grip on her hand and raised one eyebrow.

“Love? That’s a fantasy for people like you to pursue. You were lucky enough to be born in a position to do so. When the time comes, you’ll marry a decent man from a decent family and live your life with love and all that.”

Lyle stared at Elaina for a moment, then continued, “But it’s not me or Diane Redwood. You need to stop paying attention to people who live in a different world than you, because like I said, it doesn’t make any difference.”

Elaina’s wrist was flushed red. Smiling at Elaina, who held her other hand to the sore spot, Lyle added a final word.

“A maid’s daughter and a slayer. You don’t seem too stupid to realize what I’m saying, so I’ll expect you to be a little more sensible next time.”

Having finished speaking, Lyle raised one corner of his mouth. It seemed some of the bitterness that the Marchioness had twisted in his gut had been released.

He liked the look on Lady Winchester’s face as she stared at him, frozen and dumbfounded.

No more business here. Lyle strode away, looking forward to the next time.