32

‘Why on earth?’

No matter how much I pondered, I couldn’t understand the reason. The only thing I could grasp onto was Lucian…

But in the current situation, there seemed to be no need for Dante to be hostile towards Lucian. In the original work, Dante had no particular interest in Lucian, at least until the female protagonist appeared.

‘Oh, could it be?’

For a moment, I blinked.

‘Did Dante become sensitive and seek Elze because he thought Elze damaged his authority?’

It was a reasonable deduction. Since I was Dante’s lover, the scene where Lucian and I were alone together might have bothered him.

‘In that case, it makes sense that he investigated Lucian thoroughly.’

Dante’s emotions towards me were probably not much different from what a child would feel towards a toy. When a child loses interest in a toy and is willing to give it to another child, the child might later refuse to let go, claiming, ‘This toy is mine.’

It’s that kind of possessiveness.

“What are you thinking, my dearr?”

Dante whispered with a moist voice as he gently scraped his fingers along my neck.

“Hmm.”

Every nerve in my body tensed, and my toes curled involuntarily.

‘No, I can’t.’

I bit down on my teeth. I didn’t want to engage in this kind of relationship, not because it was inappropriate or unromantic, but for some innocent reason.

It wasn’t that innocent, though. After all, the original Elze and Dante had already been intimate several times.

Rather, it was more like, ‘I’m not the one who loves this man; it’s the original Elze.’

Yet, my head was already spinning. My breathing quickened, my whole body warmed up, and my senses became more acute.

This was not good. If I made a wrong move, I might get swept away by the emotions of the original Elze and lose myself.

And my goal was to…

‘Survive.’

To somehow survive and escape from this decrepit reverse harem romance fantasy world.

Breaking free from the fate of the villainess and living as myself.

To achieve that, I shouldn’t establish relationships with the male protagonists deeper than necessary—at least not in the current state of heightened emotions. Spending the night with someone should be avoided.

“Milord… you’re not a bastard.”

Dante froze for a moment.

“You said that forcing one’s feelings onto an unwanted partner and sticking to them is what a bastard does.”

I gasped for breath and repeated.

“Right?”

Dante fell silent for a moment.

In truth, Dante never engages sexually with someone who is not willing. This principle is related to Dante’s long-standing trauma.

Dante’s mother became pregnant with him through an unwanted relationship and blamed him for ruining her life. Dante resented his unknown father, who was as much to blame as the one who destroyed his mother’s life.

“Hmm.”

A moment later, Dante, who had risen, stared at me with narrowed eyes.

It was as if the toy that had been playing well until the day before suddenly broke, and his oddly swollen face seemed to convey that.

“See? It’s different, as I expected.”

“Milord…”

“If it were the usual you, you would never have refused me.”

I would never refuse him, that’s what he said. Perhaps that statement was true.

Until now, it was Elze who had eagerly hoped for a physical relationship with Dante, and Dante had been the one pushing her away because he found her bothersome.

But when I heard that firm declaration, something deep in my chest wavered.

…The original Elze must have loved Dante that much.

“Well, your words are correct.”

Dante distanced himself from me.

“Since I’m not a bastard, let’s stop here for today.”

“Please go wash up and get some sleep soon.”

I flashed a bright smile.

Dante, displeased, clicked his tongue and walked toward the bathroom with determined steps.

*Splash*

After a while, the sound of water pouring behind the closed bathroom door echoed.

“…Ha.”

I sighed deeply, sprawling across the bed.

The tension melted away, replaced by a relaxed feeling.

Come to think of it, I’d been on edge since yesterday.

‘Tired.’

I pressed my eyelids firmly with both hands.

Inside my sight, red and black spots took over, blinking like stars.

‘…I shouldn’t fall asleep.’

The sound of water pouring like raindrops felt like a lullaby.

I tried to resist somehow, but the force pressing down on my eyelids was too strong.

My eyes closed with a soft swoosh.

I succumbed to sleep without resistance.

* * *

Clang.

The bathroom door opened.

A warm mist wafted out, revealing a finely chiseled man wearing only a loosely draped shower gown—Dante.

“My dear.”

“….”

“My Dear, Elze?”

But Elze still didn’t respond.

Frowning, Dante walked hesitantly toward the bed.

Soon, he noticed Elze, peacefully asleep.

“What’s this? She fell asleep in the meantime?”

Dante carefully sat beside Elze.

He scrutinized her sleeping face.

Long, lush eyelashes cast a light shadow over her smooth, doll-like face.

Slightly parted pink lips resembled a budding rose.

The rhythmic, even sounds of her breathing were serene.

…In stark contrast to Dante’s feelings.

“Ha, seriously.”

Dante chewed on curses while nervously tousling his hair.

His behavior today was so irrational that even Dante himself couldn’t comprehend it.

When he first returned to the dormitory and tore apart Viktor, Dante felt elated as if he were soaring.

However.

The moment he’d stepped onto the rose-covered grounds.

“Really, it felt like shit.”

The fragrance of blooming roses, the gentle breeze carrying the scent, and Elze’s radiant hair that flowed like waves.

The angelic young man, gently placing a rosebud in Elze’s hair with a clumsy gesture.

His honey-colored eyes, as if they could taste sweet when licked, looked up at the young man.

In that moment, Dante had to endure an intense discomfort, as if his entire being was twisting.

Why was it so discomforting?

Was it because Elsie, who had been so relentless in her pursuit of Dante’s ass, was looking at another man?

But one thing was certain.

Elze and Lucien standing side by side looked so perfect that they seemed unattainable.

The scene was excessively beautiful, and Dante wanted to trample it down and mess it up.

‘…Duke Kalleid.’

His crimson eyes sank coldly.

‘It’s irritating.’

Perhaps that was the reason.

He had intended to ask about Viktor first and, against his own will, his lips moved, asking about Duke Kalleid.

‘Was the sweet stroll you had a part of your special management too?’

Moreover, the moment when Dante kissed Elze on the forehead earlier.

The fierce gaze of Duke Kalleid was something else.

It was undoubtedly…

“Ha.”

Dante twisted the corner of his lips.

Moreover, Elze’s attitude was the same.

Her bright smile, like a fully bloomed flower, was as radiant as usual.

However, her gaze now often drifted away from Dante.

As if she was no longer interested in him.

“Hey.”

He called out straightforwardly, but Elze only let out a faint, trembling breath, refusing to answer.

“It’s not good to smile like that while looking at someone else.”

Dante gently whispered as he removed strands of hair clinging to her cheek.

“You’re trying to turn me away, aren’t you?”

Elze’s behavior, as Dante remembered, was always diverse.

She would cry, get angry, apologize, plead not to be abandoned, cling persistently…

Or she would put on a mask-like smile to hide her expression.

But Elze next to Lucian was smiling gently without any hint of distress.

It was the first time.

That Elze made such an expression.

More precisely, Dante couldn’t even imagine Elze making such an expression.

“…”

Dante clenched his teeth tightly.

Countless emotions bubbled up from deep within his stomach.

He couldn’t determine the nature of these emotions.

Yet, he couldn’t help but feel restless.

“Damn it.”

Dante lay on the bed without caring if the sheets got wet.

He pressed his body against Elze, wrapping his arms tightly around her slender figure.

Only then did his restlessness subside a little.

“Really, it’s not like I’m a kid who can’t sleep without their mother by their side.”

Dante closed his eyes, forcing a bitter laugh.

The tension that had been building up finally loosened.

* * *

At that moment, in the prison cell.

Lucian was barely suppressing the surging anger.

Quack!

The scene of rough boots trampling on rose flowers was still vivid in his mind.

The man who kissed Elze’s forehead, looking into Lucian’s eyes as if declaring, “This woman is mine.”

Dante Dessaby Offenheir.

The one who held Lucian’s freedom and Elze’s freedom in his hands.

“…Annoying.”

In his azure eyes, there was a spark of vitality.