Failed To Abandon the Villain - Chapter 19

“If you don’t intend to kill me, then stop threatening me like this.”

Reinhardt’s eyes widened at her retort. A soft chuckle escaped him, his shoulders shaking slightly. Then, pressing his forehead to her shoulder, he burst out laughing.

His quiet, amused laughter made Valetta sigh.

“You’re heavy, you know?”

“Master.”

At Reinhardt’s call, Valetta turned her eyes toward him without moving her head. His weight still pressed on her, restricting her movements.

His lips drew close, teasingly near, and his eyes curved into a crescent shape as if attempting to charm her.

Valetta placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed him away. Though her push wasn’t forceful, Reinhardt relented easily, stepping back with no resistance.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“When are you planning to leave?”

“This is my room, Master.”

Reinhardt shrugged. With a wave of his hand, a dining table appeared. A snap of his fingers filled it with a feast, the tantalizing aroma of freshly prepared food wafting through the air.

“…Your room?”

“Ah, technically, it’s our room, isn’t it?”

He spun around lightly, as if the absurdity of his statement was a delightful revelation.

“You’re insane, aren’t you?”

“You always know just how to flatter me, Master.”

Reinhardt’s gentle smile only made Valetta scowl harder. She sincerely wanted to fix whatever in his brain interpreted insane as a compliment.

Her irritated expression only made Reinhardt laugh again.

“I told you before, didn’t I, Master?”

“…?”

“That you’re the only one who’s ever truly met my eyes.”

Unlike the others, who recoiled in fear when his smile dropped and his true expression emerged, Valetta was the only one who didn’t avert her gaze. She merely frowned, her face unreadable, as if trying to puzzle him out.

“Come on, let’s eat, Master.”

“I’m not your master.”

“…Valetta.”

Her name rolled off his tongue, and Valetta froze. Was her name always pronounced in such a way that it sent shivers down her spine?

She forced her tense body to relax and sat down at the seat Reinhardt had prepared, feigning nonchalance.

“If I call you like this, will you call my name in return, Master?”

“…Just get me a new room.”

“There are no spare rooms.”

Reinhardt smiled serenely, shrugging. Was he seriously claiming that in this vast tower—likely over 100 stories tall—there wasn’t a single empty room?

When Valetta furrowed her brow, Reinhardt shrugged again and took the seat across from her.

“How about a storage room?”

“Oh dear, it’s full too.”

“You…”

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you.”

“…That’s not the point.”

So, he wouldn’t kill her, but did that mean he intended something else entirely? As she narrowed her eyes in frustration, the light behind them brightened, and Reinhardt’s expression twisted.

“What’s this? I told them not to interrupt.”

It was Reinhardt’s close confidants, Silon and Quilt, who appeared. Judging by their demeanor, they had likely been informed by others about the situation.

So, those two are allowed access to the Sky Chamber, Valetta thought.

Before bowing their heads, the two glanced briefly at her. Then, lowering their gazes, they addressed Reinhardt.

“Lord, pardon the intrusion. It seems you must come down immediately.”

“Can’t you see I’m eating?”

“A royal magician who had been dispatched has returned with a message. It requires your attention, my lord.”

Reinhardt’s face twisted with irritation as he rose from his seat. Before leaving, he ruffled Valetta’s hair carelessly.

“Sorry, Master. Enjoy your meal. There’s an old saying that even dogs aren’t disturbed while eating, but apparently, these people think I’m worse than a dog. I’ll go educate them and be back.”

He spoke with a smile but disappeared with Silon and Quilt before Valetta could respond.

“…He’s seriously pissed,” she muttered.

The fact that he cursed—something he rarely did—was proof of his foul mood. In all their years together, she could count on one hand the times Reinhardt had used profanity.

…Well, whatever.

The idea that the Mage Tower might soon become a bloodbath crossed her mind, but it wasn’t something she needed to concern herself with. Even if she wanted to, there was no way for her to stop him.

Shrugging off the thought, Valetta began eating the food in front of her before it went cold. It was a quiet, solitary meal.

Reinhardt found himself standing in a crowded hall, filled with murmuring magicians. He surveyed them slowly, his presence commanding.

The hall was spacious, its purpose unclear, but at its center stood a magician cloaked in white robes adorned with ornate gold embroidery—a clear indication they were from the royal palace.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lord—”

“Ever heard the saying, ‘Even dogs aren’t disturbed while eating’?”

“…What?”

The royal magician, Melial, faltered, staring blankly at Reinhardt, unsure if he’d heard correctly.

“What, am I a dog? Or worse than one?”

Reinhardt smiled—a dazzling expression that only added to Melial’s confusion. His lips moved, but the sheer audacity of his words had Melial whipping his head left and right, searching for the source of the voice.

The hall fell silent, all eyes fixed on Reinhardt. The realization dawned slowly: the scathing words had come from him.

Is this what a celestial being might look like if one descended to the mortal world?

Despite the blatant hostility in Reinhardt’s tone, Melial couldn’t help but marvel at his appearance. The thought was a treasonous one to have in front of the Master of the Mage Tower, but it slipped through nonetheless.

“Lost your tongue? Not answering me, huh? I was under the impression that royal magicians were part of the Mage Tower, but was I wrong?”

Reinhardt’s face was suddenly close, his smile deceptively sweet as his crimson eyes bore into Melial’s. His lilting tone sent shivers down the royal magician’s spine, and he flushed red, overwhelmed.

“N-no, my lord. I apologize,” Melial stammered, bowing quickly. It wasn’t guilt that prompted his apology, but an inability to meet Reinhardt’s gaze directly.

Count Delight had been a man of refined taste, known for his eye for beauty despite his greed and duplicitous nature. He had dealt with countless exquisite slaves, raising his standards to unparalleled heights.

That Reinhardt, even as a scrawny, bedraggled boy found in the aftermath of war, had caught the Count’s discerning eye spoke volumes of his innate beauty.

Now, with his elegant attire, cascading silver hair, and rare crimson eyes—paired with his crescent-shaped, enticing gaze and softly curling lips—Reinhardt could leave even men like Melial momentarily spellbound.

But for such crude words to come out of that mesmerizing mouth… Melial struggled to reconcile the two.

“Then…”

Reinhardt, having accepted the apology, stepped back slightly and let his gaze sweep across the hall. His eyes landed on the robed magicians accompanying Melial, all of whom bore signs of unease.

It wasn’t just Melial who had come. The royal envoy had brought an entourage—a group clad in robes clearly marking them as magicians of the Mage Tower.

Reinhardt’s lips curved into a faint smile as if he could read their unease like an open book.

“So, you think I’m a joke, don’t you?”

His voice was soft and lilting, his smile as dazzling as ever.

Had Valetta been there, she would have recognized it instantly as dangerous—a predator’s smile. She would have fled the hall, quick as the sharpest monkey sensing imminent danger.

Unfortunately, not a single person in the hall understood the peril they were in.