* * *
Isn’t he the one whose expression turns ugly whenever he looks at Ranshel?
He doesn’t even bother to keep up the polite facade he shows others, acting like Ranshel is nothing but an annoyance.
Zavad let out a long sigh and snapped coldly:
“Stop making that face in front of me.”
“……”
“At least pretend you’re in a good mood. Stop ruining people’s day with your filthy attitude…”
The more he talked, the more nauseous Ranshel felt.
Why was he treating him like this?
Today had been exhausting from start to finish, and Ranshel was already drained.
But he’d endured, reassured by the thought that he’d finally found someone on his side…
As his anger boiled over, the heat twisting inside him transformed into an icy chill.
Ranshel spoke, his face cold and expressionless.
“You pride yourself on being so smart, but your memory’s terrible, isn’t it? Seems you forgot, so let me remind you. I’m just a servant hired by House Pomel. You think I followed you all the way to the capital because I like you? Not a chance. I’m only putting up with this because if you become the family head, I can benefit from it.”
Ranshel spat out his words, sharp as blades, deliberately provoking Zavad.
“And now you think I should hand over my feelings too? Don’t kid yourself. Sure, I’m assigned to you, but my actual employer’s someone else. Even if I’m with House Pomel for now, I can leave anytime, and you know that. So why do you act like you can control me? You’ve neither the power nor the right!”
Zavad’s crimson eyes darkened.
He stepped forward, grabbed Ranshel by the shoulders, and yanked him closer.
The distance between them vanished in an instant, their eyes clashing up close.
Zavad’s gaze blazed with furious heat, while Ranshel stared back with unrelenting, icy eyes.
Shaking Ranshel roughly by the shoulders, Zavad shouted:
“That’s exactly why I’m trying to claim it all! I’m killing myself to get there, so shouldn’t you be helping me?!”
“I am helping you! You have no idea how hard I’m trying—!”
“Help? You just fool around laughing and joking with the people next to you!”
“I—!”
Ranshel nearly snapped, but swallowed his words with difficulty.
His anger almost made him say something that would give himself away.
Not yet. He still had to keep it hidden.
For the perfect moment of betrayal.
Ranshel lowered his head, biting his lip hard.
He gave up defending himself, gave up explaining the things he’d done for Zavad today.
Instead, he finally spat out the thorn that had been pricking his heart all along.
“…Isn’t it the same for you?”
Zavad’s grip on his shoulder hurt.
Why was he being so harsh to him?
Just earlier, at the academy gates, he’d seen how gentle Zavad could be to someone he cared about.
The difference was unbearable.
He couldn’t keep it inside anymore.
“You were with Frey all day. That must’ve been wonderful for you.”
“…What?”
“You know what I mean. Frey’s so beautiful. Even if you lost yourself completely in her, I’d understand…”
“What the hell… What are you even talking about?”
Zavad’s voice carried confusion.
How amusing.
Pretending he didn’t know, when he absolutely did.
They were bound by this world’s fate.
Even if the timing had shifted, the story between the heroine and her target wouldn’t fundamentally change.
Frey was the one Zavad was destined to fall for, to love deeply.
That’s why Zavad was always so soft and kind to him.
Watching them together, Ranshel…
“I was jealous.”
Yes, so jealous it was unbearable.
He should’ve been nothing but someone Zavad looked down on.
But he envied the warmth and affection he was never allowed to have.
He didn’t want to be hated.
At the very least, he wanted to be trusted as a servant.
Maybe even take Danie’s place, just that much.
Danie…!
The way Zavad had smiled so brightly welcoming his maid, the gentle tone, the clear trust and affection in his eyes.
He wanted that.
If he could comfort and care for Zavad, instead of tormenting him…
What if he’d been by Frey’s side from the beginning?
Then maybe he wouldn’t have to feel like this.
Frey was this game’s heroine.
Countless people adored and protected her.
She wasn’t like Zavad, who grew up guarded, wary of everyone.
If he had possessed Danie’s body instead, he wouldn’t be plotting how to betray his master for personal gain right now.
But no.
He became Zavad’s greatest villain, the root of Zavad’s deepest misfortune.
And that… that was Ranshel’s own bitter tragedy.
“…I wish Frey had been my master instead.”
He truly wanted to be good to Zavad. With all his heart.
“……What did you just say?”
Ranshel let out a small, dry laugh, raising his head.
Those beautiful red eyes were fixed on him.
Staring directly into those faintly trembling eyes, Ranshel spoke flatly:
“I don’t want to serve you, Zavad.”
“……”
“That’s why I was so jealous of Frey’s maid today. That’s all there is to it.”
“Ugh…” Ranshel frowned.
The grip on his shoulders wasn’t normal.
Just as he was wondering if it would leave a bruise, Zavad’s hand finally let go.
Zavad clenched his fist tight and dropped his gaze.
Veins bulged on the back of his trembling hand, strained from barely containing his anger.
“…You still haven’t come to your senses? You’re still…!”
Thud!
His tightly clenched fist slammed into the floor.
Thud. Thud.
Over and over again, as if unable to hold back his rage.
Ranshel bit his lip.
That had to hurt.
He didn’t want him to do that.
He couldn’t understand why Zavad would hurt himself like that.
Couldn’t he just slap him, like he had with Hans?
At least that way he wouldn’t injure himself.
Zavad, who had been pounding the floor, finally spoke again after a long pause.
His voice came out cracked and raw.
“…I told you, didn’t I? That you’re not someone worth looking at. That to nobles, someone like you is nothing but a toy to be played with. How many times do I have to say it for you to get it? Just how long do I have to keep repeating myself before you accept it and let go?”
Ranshel swallowed down the blood pooling in his mouth.
He must’ve bitten the inside of his cheek hard, because his whole mouth felt torn up.
Of course, Zavad being interested in Frey was only natural.
Just like the sun rises and the moon sets, target characters fall for the heroine.
That’s how this game works.
So originally, as the villain, he should’ve hated Zavad.
That’s what his character was written to do.
But Ranshel—no, Cha Eunseong—couldn’t do that.
He thought about Zavad against his will, he hurt because of him against his will.
It was inevitable.
It just happened.
Ranshel thought Zavad was beautiful.
He had grown attached to him.
He wanted this boy to be happy.
That feeling was the only thing he could truly control, amidst the villainous acts he was destined to commit.
…To Zavad, the feelings of a mere commoner like him were probably nothing—something petty, dirty, easily discarded.
“I told you before, didn’t I? My feelings belong to me.”
For Ranshel, those feelings were everything.
“This isn’t something you can control however you want.”
Zavad opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.
For a moment, the whole world fell silent.
The system chimed with a notification.
[Contribution Level has changed.]
[Event Contribution]
+
The Most Villainous One: 10% → 25%
+
…What?
* * *
