Stealing Heroines’ Affections Is My Job as the Villain

Prince Vritra had been watching everything unfold, and it didn't surprise him at all.

It was natural at this point.

As he had said before and would always say…

『This is all part of my plan…』

The one who was truly confused was Butler Neron, who couldn't understand why the young lord was suddenly so pleased to see Princess Luciana enter the scene.

"I can't seem to grasp why you look so delighted now, young lord. Am I missing something?"

The old man asked eagerly.

Prince Vritra stretched out his arms and let out a loud yawn.

"Ahh, just watch and see for yourself. But as I said, the princess is quite an obedient young lady. Or rather, she's quite gullible it's almost laughable…"

Butler Neron frowned slightly and replied, "And I assume her naivety will work greatly in your favor."

There was no reply from the young lord.

He leaned in and focused on the spatial mirror.

Now, his attention was back to the unfolding scene in the king's study.

"Let's just watch…"

…

King Felmus stood in shock, staring at Esmeralda and Luciana with a face full of regret.

"I can't believe this…" he muttered, looking down at his hands, which trembled as if he were in the grip of some terrible illness.

He was terrified… terrified of himself, of how consumed by anger he had become to the point where he almost cut off an innocent woman's head.

The horrifying thought replayed in his mind like a nightmare.

Turning back to his daughter, who still struggled to meet his gaze, he stammered, "S-, So, you're saying…"

Luciana crossed her arms and turned away with a look of disgust on her face. She felt that if she kept looking at her father any longer, she might end up saying something she could never take back.

"Yes… God Vritra saved my life."

Even as she spoke the words, Felmus found them difficult to accept… just as Luciana herself could hardly believe it.

What really happened last night in the carriage? When Prince Vritra told Luciana he knew she was actually a God Vessel, she was overwhelmed with fear. She knew Vritra was smart, but even prophets couldn't uncover her true nature.

This was new territory for her.

Her father and Esmeralda were one of the very few people who knew about this secret.

Now, an Asura royal knew.

Surprisingly…

Vritra promised to keep her secret safe, and that led to a great shifted in her feelings for him.

Still, he knew that wouldn't be enough.

He then told her that God Vessels weren't compatible with Asuras but were very compatible with Devas. He explained that if a Deva were to eat her flesh, sleep with her, or refine her body, they could evolve to become a Celestial, which is a higher state for Devas.

While most of what he said was accurate, the part he told her next wasn't true…

He brainwashed Luciana into believing that her love for Prince Lumis was because God Vessels are naturally drawn to Devas, and Lumis was her perfect match.

He didn't go into details but made it clear that to Lumis, she was just a means to help him become strong enough to claim the title of the next Heavenly King.

This realization drove Luciana into deep despair, and Vritra couldn't help but grin, knowing he had effectively acquired the key that would conclude this story.

It made Luciana understand why her father had been terrified at the thought of her secret being exposed.

The man she thought loved her… and whom she couldn't stop loving, even after he nearly harmed her, actually didn't care about her at all.

A tool…

An instrument…

Just a finite resource for Devas…

What more could she be called? To spend her life being seen only as an object by the man she loved.

The thought tormented her.

It left her feeling ashamed of her existence.

It mocked her to the point she wanted to kill herself.

And she almost did…

Using the [Crystal Lotus Ring] that Prince Vritra had given her, Luciana formed a large crystal shard in her hand and tried to stab herself without a second thought.

In that moment, she was consumed by frustration with her own existence.

She felt a deep, overwhelming sense of disgust…

『I'm just a pig…』

She thought.

Just a pig… kept in a pen, fattened up, and then slaughtered to satisfy those who pretended to care.

『I'm just a pig! He fattened me up with all that attention he gave me, just because he wanted to use me as a source of power! I'm a pig! I'm a pig! Nghk──I'M A PIG!!!』

Luciana cried with unimaginable pain!

Just as the shard was about to pierce her stomach, Vritra placed his hand in the way, and lowered his [Combat Aura] so the shard would actually wound him.

… Shwick!

Blood gushed out thick and red, spraying everywhere and staining the chair as well as her dress.

"N-, NO!!"

When Luciana realized she had hurt Vritra, her eyes filled with deep sorrow, and tears began streaming down her face. She felt even more overwhelmed with the urge to end her life right then and there.

"JUST LET ME DIE!!"

As she tried to move her hand to stab herself again, the dark prince grabbed her wrist and stopped her from doing something rash.

"Do you really want to throw away your life and future over that loser? Are you really that foolish? You have your whole nation and someone as amazing as Esmeralda, yet you're willing to disregard all of that and consider ending your life?

"If you can't live for yourself, then forget your own worth and identity and start living for someone who truly cares about you. Live for me, Luciana! I'm an ancient god with the power to crush mountains and destroy realms if I choose. Would you really defy me for the peace of death?

"Trust in me, believe in me, and I'll protect you from that monster, Lumis! Do you hear me?!"

These words breathed life into Luciana's dead soul.

When it seemed like her Fate Value was about to drop to zero, the exact opposite occurred.

[Ding! The heroine's Fate Value has increased by 30%]

Luciana experienced character growth.

[The heroine's love for the host has grown significantly now that she sees you as the person who changed her life.]

[+300 Affection Points!]

[+30 Fate Value!]

[The host has completely tarnished the hero's reputation, causing Lumis to lose 50% of his Fate Value. Additionally, the heroine's love for Lumis has dropped to zero, which has further penalized him and reduced his Fate Value by another 10%]

[Congratulations! More rewards are now being processed in the System's warehouse!]

This came from all of Vritra's endless planning.

It turned out to be extremely fruitful.

"Yes, God Vritra… I-, I can live for you…"

Princess Luciana moved closer to Vritra with each weak and hesitant word she spoke, until she was close enough to press her lips against his.

Mmmph! Mmmph~♡!

Slurp ♡♡!

Kiss-smack~♡ Kiss-smackkk~ ♡♡!

Their kiss quickly grew more intense, as they started exploring each other's tongues and touching each other's bodies in a very sensual way..

[Ding! You have kissed the heroine!]

[+100 Affection Points!]

[+15 Fate Value!]

…

Most of this was what Luciana told King Felmus.

The king closed his eyes and let out a heavy grunt.

『Nothing has felt natural since that merciless Asura, God Vritra, showed up. I haven't been able to think straight since then, and he forbade me from speaking with him until he's ready. What should I do now? What should I say?』

… Hrmmm

As he thought things over, he opened his eyes and looked at the crystal ring on Luciana's finger.

… Hm?

By then, he had already knew the ring's significance.

『I see…』

It almost seemed like the ring itself was telling him the answer was obvious and he didn't need to overthink it.

King Felmus looked at his daughter.

"Luciana, there's nothing you dislike about him, right?"

The princess brightened slightly and blushed as she remembered how God Vritra's lips had felt against hers. She thought that if she mentioned this part to her father, he might not have asked this question.

"N-, NO! Not at all, Father…"

Right after, she hid her face behind her hands.

… Hrmm

The king gave his daughter a suspicious look but shifted his eyes to Esmeralda.

"I think the idea I have in mind might be the right choice. It seems that way at the moment. Yes…"

The king nodded thoughtfully.

"I will offer Luciana's hand in marriage to God Vritra."

…

"Good boy."

This was God Vritra's first comment.

His eyes drifted to the corner, where he spotted a chessboard. With a quick flick of his finger, he knocked over the king piece and smiled.

"The king has fallen…"

The only pieces left were two knights and another king.

━ ━ ━ ━

(T/N): More chapters are coming 🙂