When the Villains Unite - Chapter 13: Ashik (3)

“Young Lady, it’s not easy for someone to listen to or empathize with another’s pain so deeply. That’s why it saddens me to see someone as warm-hearted as you bound emotionally to a person who doesn’t recognize your worth.”

You’re not lacking in any way.

Susan, who had been glancing around nervously, froze like a broken doll at my final words. Soon, her bright orange eyes filled with tears, and large droplets began to fall one by one onto her pale face. It was I who was taken aback.

Why, why are you crying all of a sudden?

“Young Lady?”

“Sniff… sniff… I’ve never… heard words like these before… and suddenly…”

As I listened, Susan revealed that she hadn’t followed Marquis Fessil around of her own volition. Her parents, more than she, had clung to the idea of him.

She explained that her parents, tied to business dealings, had pressured her to reconnect with the marquis, and she had reluctantly complied to meet their expectations.

Perhaps I’ve been too out of touch. Even though arranged marriages for economic reasons are commonplace in noble society, I still find it hard to accept.

“And I thought, someday, the Marquis would come back to me.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because the person the Marquis has feelings for… sigh… doesn’t fall within the legal bounds of what’s permissible in the Empire. It was such a foolish thought.”

Wait, what? What is she talking about? Someone the Marquis has feelings for?

When I tilted my head in confusion and looked at her, Susan hesitated briefly before speaking.

“Two years ago, whenever I visited the imperial palace to see the Marquis, his eyes were always on someone from the Eurasius duchy. If I couldn’t read his feelings from the way he looked at them, wouldn’t I have to be truly dull?”

“Oh…”

If it’s someone from the Eurasius duchy, there are two people I know. But if loving them would make it impermissible under imperial law, both would fit the description. Aria is already engaged to the Crown Prince, and Ashik is… well, he’s gay.

Two years ago… At that time, Aria was already subtly flirting with the Crown Prince and often attending parties with me. She rarely went to the imperial palace back then. How many chances could Susan have had to run into Aria at the palace? But Ashik, who worked at the imperial palace daily, would be a different story.

“Then, the person the Marquis has feelings for is…”

“Yes, it’s who you’re thinking of. But please, keep this a secret for their sake.”

“Of course. This concerns someone close to me.”

So, the Marquis Fessil has liked Ashik since who-knows-how-long-ago?

How flustered would Ashik be if he heard this? Or maybe, deep down, he’d actually be thrilled. No, wait—would the Marquis confess before I even get the chance to mention it?

As my gaze naturally drifted toward the terrace, Susan, for some reason, glanced around nervously and spoke in a low voice.

“Lady, do you still sense the stalker’s presence?”

“Oh… no. It seems they’ve disappeared for now.”

Ah, right. I did have a stalker, didn’t I? I had completely forgotten, distracted by Susan’s story.

The clock was already pointing to nine. Enough time had passed that the situation should be somewhat resolved by now.

I was supposed to head back before ten…

As thoughts of Belhark waiting at home crossed my mind, it occurred to me that this was a good moment to head back. Especially with the stalker out of the picture for now.

Well, Ashik can handle himself.

Sure, he’s a little careless at times, but he’s not so clueless that he couldn’t figure this out on his own even if it were served to him on a silver platter.

“Now that the stalker’s presence has disappeared, I should head back to the estate.”

“I agree with you.”

“I’ll remember your kindness tonight in the name of Orca.”

“It was an honor to be of help. And… your words earlier were truly a comfort to me.”

“Oh…”

For some reason, being thanked for those words didn’t make me particularly happy. Was it because no one had ever offered Susan the kind of reassurance I had given her so casually?

But as she looked at me with her eyes sparkling like a newborn chick, the subtle worry I’d felt toward her melted away. In its place, a vague sense of affection for her began to grow.

“I only said what needed to be said.”

Now that Marquis Fessil had found his match, Susan Sperin seemed to be glowing with the promise of a fresh start.

I smiled at her, reassured her that I’d invite her to the estate next time, and then made my way out of the room.

Freedom. Independence. These were such unfamiliar words to me. Of course, they were things I could have anytime if I wanted, even without speaking them aloud. My brothers in Orca had always told me to enjoy my rights freely, unbound by obligations.

“Of course, I’m not one to sit idly by—I’ve had my hand in most of the affairs within the estate.”

Even though I knew they were willing to grant me freedom, my choice to remain quietly in the estate was entirely my own.

When a bird that has lived its entire life in a cage is released but doesn’t fly away, it’s not because it has forgotten how to fly. It’s because the cage has become familiar and comfortable—it simply doesn’t want to leave.

After exchanging a polite nod with the host of the party, Marquis Swanchet, I left the party venue and made my way toward the front gate.

For a moment, I wondered if I’d taken a wrong turn, as there was no one in sight. But as I turned my head, I spotted a familiar face. Just seeing him brought a warmth to my heart. Was it because he was the person I wanted to see the most right now?

“Rose.”

On a night where the brightness of the day had given way to darkness, I ignored the beautifully manicured garden and the full moon illuminating the night. Instead, I ran straight toward him and threw myself into his arms, holding him tightly.

In the quiet darkness where no one was watching, I decided to let myself do what I wanted.

Belhark, without a word, embraced me in return, his touch as gentle as if he found me utterly endearing.

“You’re staying at the estate all week to work?”

“Yeah, it’s just more convenient that way.”

True, working from home is always more comfortable, even if it means working overtime.

It’s unusual for him to stay at the estate all day, so I was thrilled. Did this mean I’d get to be with him constantly starting tomorrow?

Well, that’s assuming the imperial palace attendants don’t deliver a mountain of work to his doorstep in the morning.

“Rose, isn’t this position uncomfortable for you?”

“Uncomfortable? Should I get down, then—”

“No, not at all. I was just worried you might be uncomfortable.”

“Then let’s just stay like this.”

Lying on the bed, Belhark tightened his embrace around me as I lay atop him, burying his face into the crook of my neck. I, in turn, played with his hair, pressing myself closer into his warmth.

To be honest, I had been clinging to him like a baby koala since we left the party.

In the carriage, I had perched on his lap, leaning into his chest and fidgeting restlessly. When we returned to the estate, I had reluctantly let go for a moment to avoid curious gazes, but the instant we entered his room, I changed into more comfortable clothes and latched onto him again, like sticky rice. And that brought us to where we were now.

“Why do I feel like you’ve been extra clingy today? Did something happen at the party?”

“Yeah, my partner stood me up.”

I said it casually, in my usual tone, but the moment I did, Belhark’s hand, which had been gently stroking my back over my pajamas, came to a sudden halt. Then, with a firm but soft touch, he gripped my shoulders.

Before I could process what was happening, he began to pull me away from his embrace. Not wanting to be separated, I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck and held on tighter.

“Why…?”

“Rose, just wait. I’ve got something to take care of.”

If I asked what he was planning to do, I knew he wouldn’t answer.

It was obvious, though. Lately, I didn’t even need to try to read his thoughts—they were easy enough to figure out, no matter how outlandish his plans might be.

“No, don’t. Ashik’s busy right now.”

“What could that lazy scoundrel possibly be busy with? I’ll handle it quickly and come back.”

He didn’t even bother hiding it now.

His increasingly shameless attitude made me burst out laughing.

As my breath tickled his bare chest, Belhark hesitated for a moment in his attempt to push me away. I lifted my head, met his gaze, and smiled sweetly.

Moments ago, my vision had been blocked by his broad chest, so I hadn’t noticed, but now I could see that he was wearing a rather disgruntled expression. Giggling, I gently smoothed out the furrow in his brow with my fingers and casually stroked his cheek.

On the way home earlier, he’d brushed off the evening with little more than, “Was the party fun? Then that’s all that matters.” It seemed like, ever since I cried in front of him last time, he’d been making an effort to act like a bigger person.

But now that I’d mentioned being stood up by Ashik, that magnanimity seemed to have evaporated.

I knew it wasn’t right to provoke him, but recently, his lack of jealousy had left me feeling oddly disappointed. So I’d decided to test him a little. I hadn’t expected him to actually spring into action, though.

Watching him, I realized I needed to stop playing around before his “punishment” reached the wrong target.

“It was just a tactic. He didn’t really stand me up.”

“A tactic?”

“If he succeeded today, we’d probably be meeting less in the future, right?”

Hearing this, Belhark loosened his grip and quietly listened as I explained. Oh, he’s such a good listener.

Step by step, I recounted the events of the day, pausing to gently stroke his ear whenever he frowned at a particular detail.

Each time Belhark’s expression softened, I couldn’t help but pepper his face with small bird-like kisses, which made my explanation drag on longer than I had planned. Since he didn’t yet know that Asik was gay, my explanation became a bit vague and roundabout.

“I still don’t get it,” he said, his expression clearly dissatisfied despite my thorough explanation.

“Um… it’s hard to get into the details…”

“It’s not about whether that bastard is fooling around with Dian Pesil or not. I couldn’t care less about that. What I don’t get is why you’re going so far out of your way to show Asik consideration. You have no reason to.”

“That’s because I feel bad for Asik… Wait, what did you just say?”

I hadn’t expected Marquis Pesil’s name to come out of his mouth.

Startled, I tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but Belhark swiftly shifted, pinning me to the bed and leaning over me.

How did he know Asik had feelings for him? Before I could even ask, he grabbed my cheek in frustration and gave it a playful tug.

Belhark then explained that Asik had been acting strangely during recent imperial palace meetings. His attention had been completely off, his gaze always fixed on Marquis Pesil.

So, he had noticed. It must’ve been harder not to notice than I thought.

Asik’s recent lapse in composure must’ve stemmed from his feelings bubbling over after their last encounter. Poor Asik. For someone who doesn’t seem the type, he has a surprisingly endearing side to him.

“A guy who’s spent his whole life basking in the lap of luxury surrounded by lily of the valley—what’s so pitiful about that?”

“Hey, brother. Weren’t you the one who said you weren’t going to get jealous today?”

“I’m not jealous.”

Liar. Even his expression was a dead giveaway.

I looped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer, causing him to fall on top of me. I thought he’d crush me with his weight, but Belhark immediately supported himself with his arms, sparing me any discomfort.

Who would believe that the ever-composed, famously stoic Belhark could become this childish the moment he stepped through the doors of his home?

I hugged him tightly in that position, showering him with affection.

“If you’re so prone to jealousy, how did you hold it together on the way home earlier?”

“I told you, it’s not jealousy.”

“Sure, sure, whatever you say~”

At my teasing, he let out a deep sigh, clearly resigned. Then, without warning, he lifted me up by my hips and placed me squarely on his lap as he sat upright.

The movement made my long hair fall behind me, exposing the nape of my neck. Belhark buried his face against it, his warm breath tickling my skin and leaving me feeling oddly flustered.

He pulled me in close, his arm wrapped tightly around my waist. The closeness of our position made my cheeks burn when I felt the unmistakable press of his arousal beneath me.

What’s he doing? I froze, unsure of what to expect, but Belhark didn’t make any further moves. He just held me there, completely still, as if that alone was enough for him.

I gently stroked Belhark’s back, puzzled, when his low voice, muffled by my shoulder, reached my ears.

“Brother?”

“…Whenever I’m with you, I feel like I lose all my composure.”

“…….”

“You’ve never been attached to Orca, not even from the beginning.”

The sudden shift in his tone caught me off guard, and it felt as though he was confessing something, even if indirectly.

Wait… so he already knew?

Now that I think about it, he was probably right. Ever since I was young, I’ve avoided forming emotional attachments to them. Part of it was because I’d come from another world and didn’t know when I might return to reality.

Still, after moving out of the annex, I thought I’d let down most of those walls since I had pretty much given up on going back. The only potential misstep might’ve been that moment of indulgence during Damian’s New Year’s party.

It had been nothing more than an attempt, yet it seemed Belhark had been holding onto it all this time.

He gently pulled me back from his embrace to meet my gaze. In the dim light, his eyes appeared almost black, but where the moonlight touched, they shimmered with a clear navy hue.

In the past, those eyes used to seem fierce to me, but at some point, they’d softened, as if their edges had been dulled.

Tucking my hair behind my ear, Belhark spoke.

“I can’t let you go anymore. It’s too late.”

As he said it, a faint smile graced his lips, but his eyes betrayed a deep possessiveness.

Strangely, those obsessive words set my heart aflame, filling my mind with nothing but how utterly endearing he was in that moment.

Was this really my kind of thing? As I wrestled with the thought, he brushed his fingers over the shadows cast by my lashes. When I instinctively closed my eyes, he leaned in and pressed a brief kiss over them.

“So don’t even think about going anywhere. No matter where you go, you’ll end up right back here.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Why do you keep assuming I’ll leave?”

“Because if there’s a handsome man, you might follow him. You’re weak to good looks.”

What?! This guy!

I stared at him in disbelief, but he had the audacity to smirk and ask, “Was I wrong about that?”

Of course, I do have a weakness for handsome faces, but that’s limited entirely to Belhark and Damian.

Sure, Asik and the Crown Prince also possessed absurdly good looks, but for some reason, they never stirred my heart the way those two did.

Letting out a deep sigh, I found myself quoting something Belhark had said to me once. I never thought I’d be the one to use it, especially in a situation like this.

“You need to trust me more, brother. And for the record, I’m not that shallow about looks!”

“You literally said, ‘Good looks are the best,’ the last time you drank.”

“When did I say that?!”

His serious expression told me he wasn’t lying. Ugh. My primal instincts really betray me sometimes.

He was probably referring to that one time when I foolishly underestimated this body’s alcohol tolerance and ended up blacking out after drinking with the Orca brothers.

Feeling the weight of regret for the first time over my embarrassingly low tolerance, I pouted. Belhark chuckled at my expression and reached out to gently ruffle my hair.

“Ugh… I can’t stand you! I’m not sleeping next to you tonight.”

“I thought you weren’t leaving?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Pfft… Okay, okay, I’ll stop teasing you now.”

When I sighed in frustration, Belhark’s laugh only deepened. His teasing smile was paired with a softness in his eyes that made it impossible to stay mad at him. As he chuckled, even letting out a small laugh, his playful demeanor left me with no room to retaliate.

“Fine. I’m going to sleep now.”

“Yeah, you’ve had a long day. Get some rest.”

Pretending to be a little sulky, I turned away from him, but Belhark, without a hint of hesitation, laid me down on the bed, tucked the blanket neatly over me, and climbed in next to me.

Acting as though he hadn’t done anything at all, he slid his arm beneath my head, offering me a pillow.

As I rested my head against his firm chest, I glanced up at him with an expression of mild exasperation. He simply tapped the tip of my nose with his finger, as if asking if I had anything more to say.

Frowning, I grabbed his hand and pulled it away.

“Are you messing with me?”

“Why? Weren’t you going to sleep?”

“I feel like doing something else now.”

“…….”

I was dumbfounded. After all the teasing—lifting me up, touching me, and making my face heat up—he had the audacity to act as if he was just going to sleep?

Belhark froze momentarily at my words, then let out a soft, exasperated laugh as if he couldn’t resist me. Lowering his head, he captured my firmly closed lips in a deep kiss.

Almost instinctively, my arms moved to wrap around his neck. As his warm, firm tongue entered my mouth, I welcomed it, opening up to him without hesitation.

At that, Belhark climbed fully on top of me, pulling at the straps of my slip to slide it off my shoulders.

That night, I came to realize just how much Belhark had been holding himself back all this time.