The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

The opportunity to test what he had found in the library came easily.

-knock knock-

Then, there was a knock in front of his room. Desian had very weak expectations for this.

Brother!

And this was a bit more disappointing. Aaron looked in at Desian who was lounging and reading his book from yesterday.

Aaron poked his head into the room and said,

Brother, lets have lunch together in the dining room. What do you think?

It was an exceedingly doubtful proposition.

The annex was completely isolated now, and he had mind-controlled the attendants to bring meals to their rooms. Aaron had no reason to visit the dining room.

Is there something wrong?

Nothings wrong. But I wanted to eat lunch together, so I prepared a meal. Ah, should we invite Citrina as well?

Aarons expression became even brighter as he mentioned Citrina. Desian nodded, staring at the smile on Aarons face.

That smile was the sort of expression you make you are fond of someone.

Desian decided to express his affection for Citrina. For the first time, people did not seem like inorganic things. Curiosity was seeping into his mind.

Yup! See you later, Brother!

Desian sluggishly closed his eyes, listening to Aaron talk.

It was strange.

Thinking of her, emotions swelled up in his lungs.

Was it true what had been said about him liking Citrina?

In that case, he is.

***

Citrina overslept for the first time in a while. It was Aaron that woke her up.

She blurrily opened her eyes when she heard a knock on her door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Aaron knocked slowly on here door

Citrina, are you sleeping?

Yes. I woke up just now.

Oh. Perhaps, then, do you want to eat lunch together?

Yes. Ill be right out, Aaron nim.

Citrina got out of her comfy bed, took off her pajamas, and put on a cotton dress.

It was an outfit that showed the impoverished conditions of the barons house.

Even though they had known Citrina was going to the dukes house, a dress had not been prepared for her.

Citrina didnt care. In any case, she would succeed in becoming a world-famous jewelry designer, and then she would be rich. She would buy a lot of clothes when she became a really rich person,

I dont need it either, but its nice to have a mirror here.

The barons household did not have a mirror. A mirror was a precious object, so it was expected that the barons house would not have one considering they couldnt even afford to have many servants.

Once Citrina was all dressed, she checked herself in the mirror.

Alright. This is pretty good.

By the time they finished the meal, the atmosphere was more harmonious than she would have imagined. Desians demeanor was also mild. He didnt even seem to be blackening or turning into a villain.

The table was neatly cleaned. All of the tableware was taken away by the attendants brainwashed by Desian.

They had eaten all of the appetizer, and the stew was certainly delicious. The warmth and fullness made her feel languid.

Citrina was happy. Except Desians attention occasionally, no often, was on her.

And just then, Aaron

Oh, wait, Im going to bring my cookbook back to the library !

walked out of the dining room without saying another word.

Yes, Aaron nim?

Aarons attitude was somewhat unnatural. There was no need to bring the cookbook to the library.

It seemed more like a trick in order to get Citrina and Desian alone in the same space.

Its a misunderstanding, right?

Aaron was already out the door before Citrina could retort. Only empty echoes rang out through the dining room.

This leaves me and Desian alone together.

The circumstances were not bad. But when Desian began to speak to her, a little bit of tension caused her to straighten up.

Citrina.

What?

It seemed like you had something to say. Before.

Come to think about it, there was something she wanted to say a minute ago. Aaron had interrupted her skillfully, but Desian seemed to have remembered it now. It felt strangely like consideration.