When the Villains Unite - Chapter 13: Ashik (2)

As we crossed the hall, nobles who had been watching us with curious eyes reluctantly stepped aside, their faces tinged with disappointment at having missed their chance to greet us.

The sudden commotion in the hall seemed to draw Diane Fessil’s attention. He looked up, trying to locate the source of the disturbance, only to find Ashik standing right before him with a composed, dignified smile.

“Diane,” Ashik called out warmly.

“Your Grace…”

Marquis Fessil gave a small bow to Ashik before turning his attention to me. Following proper etiquette, he bent at the waist in a courteous greeting.

I reciprocated by lifting my dress slightly and lowering my head in a polite bow before straightening up.

Ashik had addressed Diane so familiarly, as if they were close friends. Contrary to my assumptions, it seemed the two of them had grown far closer than I had expected.

“It’s been a while since I last saw you at the estate. Have you been well, Lady Orca?”

“I’m always well, thank you. It’s lovely to see you again,” I replied warmly, moving a little closer to Ashik’s side as I smiled at Marquis Fessil.

I hadn’t paid much attention to him the last time, but up close, he was surprisingly charming. His soft pink hair, deep amethyst-like eyes that bordered on black, and translucent skin—all of it accentuated his elegant features.

‘Seeing the two of them together, they really do suit each other… Their muted color palettes blend so harmoniously, their ideal height difference is striking…’

“I’ve heard so much about you from His Grace. I was quite curious about what kind of person you’d be in reality,” I said casually.

“Ah… His Grace has spoken of me…?”

He looked momentarily dazed as he glanced between Ashik and me. For someone said to have a meticulous and sharp personality, his slightly flustered expression was unexpectedly endearing. Amused by this contrast, I continued the conversation.

“He spoke about how you’re a warm-hearted individual who cares deeply for the less fortunate. I heard you’re planning to build a private hospital in the slums.”

“…Yes. It’s because many of them can’t afford the Empire’s expensive medical facilities,” he replied.

“How thoughtful of you. Thanks to you, many lives will be saved. If you’re open to it, I’d like to offer support under the Orca family’s name. Would that be alright with you?”

Hearing my words, Marquis Fessil, who had been somewhat lost in thought, suddenly raised his head, startled.

He likely hadn’t expected such an offer to come out of my mouth—me, the sister of Belhark and Damian, who had previously rejected his proposal to support his relief pRosect.

“If you’re willing to provide sponsorship, I see no reason to refuse, but…”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about my brothers. While they may seem intimidating to others, they’re actually quite kind and always value my opinion,” I reassured him with a lighthearted tone

“Hah, Belhark being called kind… I’ve heard all sorts of things in my life, but that’s a first,” Ashik scoffed with a dry chuckle.

“Well, that’s because you always go out of your way to do things my brother hates,” I retorted with a playful smile.

“If being by your side bothers him, there’s not much I can do about it. So, does that bother you, Lady Rose?”

“It’s not that, but…” I trailed off.

Of course, being around him was unavoidable for now. To others, it might sound like Ashik couldn’t bear to be apart from me because of how much he adored me, but I knew his words were purely circumstantial.

Seriously, I don’t want to stick with him either! I’d much rather be home, where my fox-like brothers, Belhark and Damian, are waiting for me. Well, Damian wasn’t around at the moment, but still.

Afraid my true feelings might show on my face, I quickly covered my mouth with my hand. At that moment, a cool voice suddenly cut through the air from in front of us.

“You two… seem very close,” Marquis Fessil remarked.

“No, it’s not quite like that… Diane?” Ashik’s tone shifted as he addressed him.

Marquis Fessil had been quietly observing us, but now he signaled to a passing servant carrying a tray of wine. He picked up a glass and drained it in one go.

Startled by his abrupt action, Ashik quickly took the glass from him. Just as I noticed the faint trail of wine that had spilled along the marquis’s lips—thinking how oddly it suited him—Ashik gently wiped the corner of Diane’s mouth with his fingers.

“You’re not good with alcohol. You’ll upset your stomach,” Ashik said softly, concern evident in his tone.

At this, Marquis Fessil took a step back, his gentle expression tightening into a frown.

“It seems His Grace is kind to everyone. Please refrain from doing anything that might cause misunderstandings, especially in front of Lady Rose.”

“Misunderstandings? What are you talking about…?” Ashik started, his voice tinged with confusion.

Ah, this isn’t going well.

Marquis Fessil murmured something under his breath in a low voice, his expression hardening. Without another word, he turned his gaze away from Ashik and locked eyes with me instead, his expression still unyielding.

“Lady Orca,” Marquis Fessil addressed me, his voice low.

“Y-Yes?” I stammered, startled by his sudden shift in tone.

“I apologize for not properly greeting you today due to the circumstances. Regarding the matter of sponsorship, I will contact your estate at a later time. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

With those brief, measured words, he gave me a small bow. Flustered, I returned his bow somewhat awkwardly, and as I looked up, I noticed the darkness in his expression.

Before either Ashik or I could stop him, Marquis Fessil turned on his heel and quickly left the ballroom.

This… this is definitely what I think it is, isn’t it?

Ashik, who had remained calm and composed during the entire exchange with Marquis Fessil, suddenly seemed to lose his cool. His previously relaxed demeanor was gone, replaced by a visible tension. He leaned forward slightly, as if ready to chase after Marquis Fessil at any moment.

Even then, he glanced in my direction and, with a tightly set jaw, finally spoke.

“…Lady Rose, can you confirm something for me?”

“…”

“This… this was jealousy, wasn’t it?”

“Why are you still standing here? Shouldn’t you already be chasing after him?” I teased with a smirk.

“…Ha. Fine. Orange hair to the right, pale yellow dress, pearl necklace. You know who I mean, right?”

“Don’t worry about anything here. Go after him. Now,” I said firmly.

As Ashik bolted out of the room, I turned my gaze toward the woman he had pointed out: Lady Susan Sperrin. Her orange hair stood out in the crowd, her pearl necklace glinting under the ballroom lights.

Determined, I quickly made my way toward her. It must have looked odd to others that Ashik and I had split off so suddenly in opposite directions, but who cared about appearances now?

The target of Ashik’s two-year unrequited love was jealous—jealous of me!

As if on cue, Lady Sperrin, who had been discreetly waiting for Marquis Fessil to leave the hall, immediately started following him.

“Lady Sperrin?”

Wearing high heels and practically sprinting, I stepped in front of Lady Sperrin, blocking her path with a radiant smile.

Caught off guard, she frowned slightly and looked at me. I brushed back the strands of hair blowing in the wind and beamed again.

“Lady Orca…?”

“Oh my, you already know who I am! What a delight,” I said, feigning excitement.

‘Honestly, not knowing the Orca Ducal family in the Empire would be akin to treason,’ I thought to myself.

Her expression made it clear that she wanted to say exactly that, but I played the part of someone blissfully unaware, maintaining an innocent smile.

“It’s an honor that you recognize me, Lady Orca. But, may I ask what brings you here…?” she asked hesitantly, her gaze flickering past me toward something—or someone—behind my shoulder.

Noticing this, I quickly grabbed her delicate, pale hand and pulled her closer. My cheerful demeanor faded, and my expression turned serious as I leaned in with a secretive air.

“To be honest, I didn’t know where else to turn for help. When I saw you, I felt so relieved that I couldn’t stop myself from approaching you… Would it be too much to ask if I shared something with you?” I trailed off, lowering my head as though too overcome to continue. My lashes fluttered slightly as I covered my mouth with one hand, the perfect image of distress.

Although I had just greeted her cheerfully moments ago, my sudden forlorn appearance seemed to spark a sense of duty within her. She covered my hand, which was still holding hers, with her own and urged me to speak freely.

‘Gotcha.’

“In the past few days, someone has been stalking me,” I whispered, lowering my voice conspiratorially. “I can feel their presence even here, at this party… If it’s not too much trouble, could you perhaps stay close to me and keep an eye out for anything suspicious…?”

“Stalking?!” she gasped, her eyes widening. “Who would dare… such a vile act! Don’t worry, Lady Orca. As a fellow woman, I swear to help you to the best of my ability.”

It seemed she had momentarily forgotten that she herself had been following Marquis Fessil like a shadow mere moments ago. Her eyes burned with determination, filled with righteous indignation.

Her willingness to stand up against injustice made me feel a twinge of guilt. She wasn’t as bad a person as I had expected, and my conscience pricked me slightly for manipulating her like this.

If only she were the kind of person who could gracefully let go of a relationship that had already ended…

“Thank you, my lady. I will make sure to repay this kindness in the name of Orca,” I said, offering her a bright smile in return for her goodwill.

Lady Sperrin and I moved to a quiet corner of the ballroom and sipped champagne as we discussed the supposed “stalker.” Of course, I’d never actually been stalked before, so I began listing off social issues related to stalking that I could recall from modern Korea.

Me, having a stalker…

The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous the idea seemed. Even if someone had attempted to stalk me, they would’ve been dealt with almost immediately by Belhark or Damian.

“The stalker even broke into your private space and left traces of their presence?!” Lady Sperrin exclaimed, her voice rising.

“Lady Sperrin…! Please, keep your voice down a bit,” I whispered urgently.

“Ha… it’s outrageous! How could someone who claims to be human behave like that?” she fumed, clearly appalled.

She reacted as though it were her own experience, her anger practically radiating off of her. Meanwhile, I kept an eye on her expressions as I subtly glanced toward the terrace where Ashik and Marquis Fessil had disappeared.

Of course, I couldn’t see anything from inside, but that area kept drawing my attention. Still, judging from Marquis Fessil’s earlier reaction, I felt confident that the outcome would be favorable.

Ashik wasn’t the impulsive type, and with how much effort he’d put in over the past two years, he was undoubtedly having a thoughtful conversation with Diane.

That said, I wish they’d wrap things up quickly…

The longer they took, the more trouble it created for me. Telling a small lie on impulse had been easy, but maintaining it—and spinning increasingly elaborate details—was getting harder by the second.

Lady Sperrin, who had initially forgotten about Marquis Fessil, was now leaning forward, utterly captivated by the unusual story I was weaving. As my supply of interesting anecdotes began to dwindle, it was only a matter of time before her curiosity got the better of her.

Sure enough, her expression shifted, and she started asking more pointed questions. I dodged them as best as I could with vague, evasive answers—until she mentioned my brothers, Belhark and Damian.

At that, I froze. My words caught in my throat.

“Lady Orca, have you considered asking your brothers for help?”

“Ah… not yet…” I hesitated, fumbling for an answer.

“Why not? Sir Belhark alone is the Crown Prince’s personal knight, and the Duke is an unprecedentedly powerful mage who could rival the Master of the Magic Tower. Surely they could resolve this issue in no time,” she said earnestly.

Why hadn’t I told them?

If I said it was because I didn’t want to worry them, I’d come across as an indecisive fool. But if I confessed that I was afraid they might kill the stalker, I’d be implying the Orca brothers were reckless brutes.

The Orca brothers already had a reputation for being cold and aloof. If more unsavory rumors spread, they’d only be further misunderstood.

After a moment of contemplation, I made up my mind. Since this was a situation I had created with Ashik, I decided to take responsibility, even if it meant taking a small hit to my pride.

“I only have circumstantial evidence right now, nothing concrete. If I act prematurely and miss the chance to catch them, it could all be swept under the rug. That’s why I decided to observe for now,” I explained.

“Lady Orca, that’s incredibly dangerous!” she exclaimed, her face scrunching in disapproval.

Sure enough, my answer only fueled her indignation. She began a fervent lecture about how the world was a dangerous place and how all men were beasts. She insisted I inform my brothers immediately.

Nodding along to her scolding, I silently vowed never to lie like this again. Her genuine concern was touching, but enduring her endless admonishments was exhausting.

I must’ve looked half-dead as I sat there, nodding mechanically. Eventually, Lady Sperrin seemed to catch herself, realizing she might’ve overstepped. Covering her mouth with her hand, she looked both embarrassed and flustered.

Ah, is she only now remembering our respective social statuses? It’s a bit late for that…

Amused by the situation, I couldn’t help but laugh, which seemed to confuse even myself.

Lady Susan Sperrin was far kinder and more good-natured than I had anticipated. Her willingness to fiercely defend me from a nonexistent stalker—without hesitation—revealed a down-to-earth side to her.

Still, I wondered why someone as bold and spirited as she had clung to Diane Fessil, who had not only broken off their engagement but also shown her no affection.

“By the way, where were you rushing off to earlier?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

Her eyes widened in surprise, as if it hadn’t occurred to her that I might’ve noticed. “Oh… You knew?” she asked sheepishly. Then, with a sudden shift in demeanor, her expression grew calm, tinged with a faint sadness.

“I was heading toward my former fiancé… Or, well, it’s hard to even call him that,” she admitted quietly.

“My apologies. I must’ve interrupted something important,” I said, feigning regret.

“No, no. Spending time with you has been far more meaningful. If I’d followed him, I would’ve only ended up regretting it, just like every other time,” she said with a strained smile.

“Does he have feelings for someone else?” I asked cautiously.

“No. I think it’s simply because I wasn’t good enough. Even after breaking off our engagement, he hasn’t pursued anyone else,” she said, her voice laced with quiet resignation.

It was clear she already understood that Diane Fessil had no romantic interest in her.

Her expression, a mix of regret and lingering affection, turned slightly bitter as she muttered in self-reproach.

Watching her, I absentmindedly traced the rim of my near-empty champagne glass with my finger. A memory of Ashik’s vulnerable side from two years ago surfaced in my mind, prompting me to speak my honest thoughts.

“The Lady Sperrin I’ve spoken with tonight is someone incredibly charming,” I said gently.

“Oh, no… Not at all. I’m nothing like that…”