The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

Chapter 20

Citrina was in doubt.

‘Will Desian come with us? It would be nice to go together.’

It was unlikely that he would give his attention to the duke all the way through. But it would be nice to add experience points if he were to experience the joy of the outside world.

“Sure I’d like that.”

‘In this way, I can show them a new world if we go outside together.’ Citrina shrugged.

But before she leaves the house of Pietro, there is a problem.

She needs to get paid by Heled.

‘I need to have money when I leave. I’ll only suffer if I go out without any.’

Ulike Aron who was a romantic, Citrina was a hardcore realist.

Everything outside of the mansion costs money.

And under the condition of not quitting work for the first month, he said the first wage was very high. If she were to get paid a little bit more, she would be able to lead a decent life.

‘Let’s get the money.’

Citrina smiled bashfully.

“Please wait a bit, Aron.”

The timing was just right.

She closed the book and headed for Heled.

Despite the duke’s illness, the situation in the duke’s mansion was strangely calm.

All of them were doing their usual routine, except for Desian who didn’t return to the basement.

Although everyone knew about Desian’s appearance, they seem to just tacitly accept it.

Except for the fact that she hardly saw Desian’s face, a calm day continued.

“Heled!”

Citrina easily found Heled. He was checking the rooms of the outer residence.

“Yes?” Heled looked at her.

Unlike his previous dull eyes, they contained life now. It was a face that seemed to have been released from mind control.

“What is it, Citrina?”

“Is the duke all right?”

“I’m not exactly sure, but you don’t have to worry too much about that, Citrina.”

Unfortunately, Citrina was not in a position where she could visit the sick duke.

But she was able to deduce the state of the household by listening to rumours.

The conversation that has nothing to do with getting paid ended. It seems like Aron seems to know more than Heled. She got lucky.

“By any chance, can I get paid with the money that I’m supposed to get this month?”

“Oh, it’s payday soon. Okay.”

“How long will it be processed?”

“I will bring it to your room with the specifications by tomorrow. Oh, and also…”

Heled’s complexion slightly darkened.

“Yes?”

“I got a letter from baron Foluin. Would you like me to burn it as you have requested?”

“Um, yes. Please do that.”

There’s no need to be stressed with things from miles away.

She has a clear idea of what the letter was about. Citrina decided to meticulously ignore them.

‘Since I might be leaving soon anyway.’

If she saw Desian’s change to some extent as she hoped, she was thinking of leaving to another empire as soon as possible to meet the dwarf craftsman and the gem spirit.

There would be no Baron, Baroness, or Elena by then, is what she thought.

***

The next morning, Citrina was paid. Heled gave her first month’s salary in a thick envelope.

“How much would it be?”

The envelope she received was quite thick. She had a high expectation, she didn’t want to be disappointed..

After Heled left, Citrina checked inside the envelope. Soon, she couldn’t stop the tip of her lips from rising.

‘What’s this, this is… It’s a lot of money. It’s a lot more than expected.’

The duke is a duke, indeed. The amount is enough to go to Ronata’s Atelier to learn his craftsmanship and start a business.

Deeply surprised, she smiled and whistled.

‘I don’t have to worry about money for the time being.’

Isn’t this amount enough for a lifetime?

The amount in the envelope is about the pay of about tens of thousands of days. It was clear that a little more work would be enough for initial funding.

“I… might just be fond of the duke now.”

Right after she got those words out of her mouth, she bit her lips at an instant.

It was the bitter feeling you get when your comrade is having a hard time.

‘Let’s try our best to help. I won’t die and Desian can live as a good person. Aron will also be happy.’

Thinking so, Citrina smiled a little.

The streak of sun rays are starting to sneak in one by one. The appointed time isn’t long.

Aron will come, and Desian too… will come, right?’

She started to tidy herself up. And when she was fresh and prepared, Citrina received the expected visit, in an unexpected way.

Three knocks sounded politely on Citrina’s door. It wasn’t Aron, but Desian.

Of course, she assumed it was Aron. So, when she opened her door, she was a little embarrassed of herself.

“Desian?”

Desian still wore a languid face. And Aron popped out from behind him.

“Brother decided to come!”

Citrina, who heard Aron, has yet to realize that Desian’s ears were slightly red.

She looked at Desian awkwardly.

“It’s dangerous… outside, Citrina.”

“Dangerous?”

“Yes. It’s dangerous.”

At Desian’s reply, Citrina nodded slowly.

Aron said it would be his first time to the town square. The center of the empire was always noisy thanks to various incidents and accidents.

‘Are you worried about me?’

Citrina narrowed her eyes but still can’t see past Desian’s intentions and his unchanging expression. But still, this was a pretty good sign.

Desian’s interest in others has certainly increased and so did his empathy, since the duke didn’t die either. It was obvious that he was changing little by little.

‘I’m proud.’

Is this how it feels to see a half-grown rabbit?

Of course, in terms of size, she’s more like the rabbit, but she decided to ignore that.

“Ah… Thank you.”

Seeing him gradually changing, she felt relieved. Citrina smiled brightly.

Instead of smiling back just like before, Desian looked down. It couldn’t be, but it seemed like he was a little embarrassed.

‘By the way, since Desian decided to go with us, then let’s carry out the second stage of the rehabilitation project.’

Citrina smiled in her heart. How can things work out so well? Things are getting better and better than she’d hoped for.

‘Good. The time has come to start the ‘Rehabilitation Project. Codename: Real Experience’. It would be better to show them both bad and good people.’

The capital is always crowded, and there are always wicked people everywhere, popping out like flies.

Since the original plot has changed, everything is uncertain, but it was unlikely that he would not be able to deal with the small groups in the capital. Her heart is strangely pleased.

“Oh, Desian, but how can we get to the town square?”

When Desian heard Citrina’s question, he smiled at her.

Citrina’s question originally is in fact ‘how on earth could she sneak out the duke’s household?’

The answer was simple.

Teleportation magic.

Through Desian’s magic, Citrina and her party were able to move to the town square at once. Citrina who was from a small space teleported to the town square was in awe.

‘Wow. That’s fast. Should I learn magic too?’

Citrina clasped and opened her hand. It didn’t really work. Unfortunately, her body does not contain a substance called Mana.

… While Citrina was acting like this, Aron roamed his eyes in admiration.

Citrina wanted Desian to gain experience, but he was only looking at her without even moving.

She’s been at the end of his gaze for some time now. It feels… nice but a bit burdensome.

“This is the center of the capital?! It’s Amazing! Citrina, brother!”

“I know. It’s amazing even for me.”

Citrina replied to Aron, also in admiration. She was also captivated by the sight of the capital.

She saw a beautiful fountain in the middle of the wide square. Above the beautifully sculpted fountain, water poured out like a wave.

The three stood still in front of the fountain, but other people were walking around busily.

‘To do the rehabilitation project properly, I have to find a dark back alley. Where exactly would it be?’

As Desian was watching her eyes roam around, he asked, “Citrina, what are you looking for?”

“Very dark and secluded alley… Ah, no.”

Desian’s eyes were staring straight at her. It must have contained pure evil itself, like a paper stained with ink, but it couldn’t be corrupted further.

Citrina hurriedly closed her mouth.

“Citrina?”

But Desian seemed to have already heard her.

Citrina’s face didn’t blush. However, the nape of the neck turned hot real fast.

But it must have been her imagination.