This Villain Is Mine Now - Chapter 83

The sound of rain gradually became lighter. Lyle’s sharp senses caught this change precisely. The rain would stop soon. However, instead of preparing to leave, Lyle held Elaina more tightly in his arms.

“Lyle?”

“You’ll catch a cold if we’re not careful.”

Elaina’s pink hair was still damp. Despite roughly wringing out the moisture, her wet hair remained wet. If left alone, Elaina would surely catch a cold. Among the reasons Lyle pulled her close to his side was this practical concern.

However, that wasn’t the only reason, and it left Lyle feeling conflicted.

The moment he held her, Lyle realized anew how delicate Elaina’s body was. Her wrist was so slender it couldn’t even match half the size of his, and her neck and shoulder line were equally delicate.

A pleasant scent emanated from her body. As she breathed, her body gently rose and fell, brushing against him repeatedly.

Although Lyle reproached himself for letting her get caught in the rain, paradoxically, he found himself wishing this moment could last forever.

Since realizing his feelings for Elaina, maintaining any distance between them had become increasingly difficult for Lyle. Bit by bit, using Elaina’s kindness as a shield, he indulged in the desire to monopolize her, his greed only growing.

For someone like Lyle, the time spent in the cave was an opportunity to fully embrace Elaina without worrying about anyone’s gaze. Using the plausible excuse of preventing her from catching a cold, he could justify his actions.

Enough time had passed that his shirt, hung by the fire, should have dried by now. Yet Lyle didn’t bother to check. Instead, he closed his eyes, still holding Elaina tightly.

***

“[Could they have gotten lost in the forest because of the rain?]”

Drane rushed over to Kyst, his face filled with anxiety. The rain clouds had arrived faster than expected, and a torrential downpour had ensued without pause.

“[This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have encouraged Her Grace to go.]”

Drane clutched his head with both hands, mumbling to himself.

Quick-witted, Drane had long noticed Lyle’s feelings for Elaina. He was also aware of the unspoken line that seemed to exist between them, even though they were married.

In Drane’s judgment, Elaina was an essential presence for Lyle—not just as an archduchess or because of her noble lineage.

Lyle was similar to Drane in temperament. Once he set a goal, he would focus solely on achieving it, ignoring everything else. His exceptional determination came at the expense of balance in his life, a significant weakness.

Elaina was the only person capable of tempering Lyle. She could break his stubbornness and teach him how to live like a human being. The remarkable growth of the Grant family over the past six months had all begun with Elaina. Because of her, Lyle could carry out his plans without hesitation, trusting that she would keep him grounded if he veered off course.

“[What if something happened to them?]”

Drane’s visible agitation piqued Kyst’s curiosity, prompting him to observe Drane with interest.

“[It’s just rain. Why are you so worried?]”

[To you, as a dragon, it may just be rain, but for ordinary humans, this could be life-threatening!]

“[But Lyle Grant isn’t just any ordinary human, is he?]”

“[That may be true, but Her Grace is as fragile as I am!]”

Practically pleading, Drane begged Kyst.

“[You said your magic has stabilized, right? Please check on their situation.]”

“[Hmm.]”

Kyst raised an eyebrow. Seeing Drane so flustered made him curious about the couple’s predicament.

Closing his eyes, Kyst focused, the air around him growing calm. Drane bit his nails anxiously as he waited. Soon, Kyst’s expression twisted, and he opened his eyes with a grimace.

“[W-what is it? That expression… Did something happen to them?]”

Unable to wait any longer, Drane jumped to his feet, intending to request a search party from the Grant Knights.

“[Sit down. Don’t make unnecessary fuss.]”

“[Unnecessary fuss? We don’t even know if they’re safe!]”

[They’re perfectly safe. They’ve taken shelter in a cave, lit a fire, and are drying their clothes.]

Upon hearing Kyst’s words, relief washed over Drane’s face.

“[Really? That’s such a relief. We should send out a search party immediately. Where is this cave? No, it would be better if you went to check on them yourself, Lord Kyst.]”

“[Me? I don’t want to do that.]”

“[Fine. Then at least tell me the cave’s location. I’ll ask the knights for assistance.]”

“[Didn’t I just tell you not to make unnecessary fuss?]”

Kyst frowned as he continued, “[Let me ask you something. When humans embrace each other, it’s considered a positive thing, correct?]”

“[Uh, yes, that’s correct.]”

Adjusting his glasses in disbelief, Drane cautiously asked, “[Could it be that… they…?]”

“[They’re so close they’re practically sharing body heat. Lyle Grant is shirtless, and Elaina is—]”

“Aaaah!”

Drane abruptly cut off Kyst’s explanation with a shout.

“No more details, please!”

“[But if I don’t use human words, I can’t explain properly.]”

“[I said I don’t want to hear anymore!]”

The thought of his liege’s private matters—especially ones this intimate—was not something Drane wanted to know. He quickly dropped his worried expression, replacing it with one of disgust.

Kyst chuckled at Drane’s reaction.

“[So we shouldn’t disturb them, right? That’s why I’m not going to look for them.]”

Drane scratched his head vigorously before nodding.

“[I agree. If we sent a search party, it would just lead to an awkward situation for everyone involved.]”

Only then did Drane regain his composure and notice that the sky had brightened considerably. The once torrential rain had subsided, now reduced to a light drizzle.

***

The shirt had dried. However, the fur coat was still dripping wet.

“Since we’re almost down the mountain, wouldn’t it be okay to wear it now?”

“No.”

Lyle firmly wrapped his cloak around Elaina’s body. She now looked like a swaddled baby as he picked her up.

“Ah…!”

“Stay still.”

Lyle didn’t seem to find carrying her burdensome at all. Despite Elaina’s repeated requests to be let down, he showed no intention of obliging. Instead, he muttered that struggling would be dangerous, leaving her no choice but to settle quietly in his arms.

‘Why is he like this…?’

Elaina recalled something Kyst had once said about Lyle, describing him as “a wolf-like human.” Wolves, known for their strong attachment to their family, choose only one mate for life. Kyst had found this comparison intriguing.

Elaina was well aware that Lyle’s behavior toward her had changed significantly. At first, she had thought it was simply due to his deep affection for his “family.” She had assumed it was similar to how he cherished Knox and dutifully fulfilled his responsibilities as a loyal husband.

However, since arriving in Mabel, things had become increasingly confusing. Drane was largely to blame for this. Unaware of the contractual nature of their marriage, he often interpreted Lyle’s kindness as romantic gestures.

The problem was that Elaina herself had started to waver because of his words.

As she sat in his strong arms, staring at the crackling fire, the thought crossed her mind that he might kiss her.

Originally, their marriage had been a simple contract to achieve their respective goals: reviving her family and ensuring Diane’s happiness. When she had first barged into his residence to propose, she had made it clear that love had no place in their agreement.

Even after their divorce in six months, she hoped to maintain their peaceful relationship, free of emotional entanglements. Thus, if Lyle attempted to kiss her, the right thing to do would be to reject him.

Yet, despite knowing this, Elaina couldn’t help but wrestle with conflicting feelings. Could she truly refuse his kiss?

As she remained in his arms, grappling with her thoughts, Elaina ultimately realized one thing: deep down, she didn’t want to reject him.