After the Ending, the Villain was Saved with Money

“Episode 4”

Celestian placed his elbows on the table, resting his chin deeply in his palm. He stared intently at Daphne and opened his mouth.

“Why don’t you sleep with me?”

“What?”

Daphne let out a loud noise, wondering if she was hearing things. She looked down at his clear green eyes, unable to grasp his intention.

“You said you loved me and bought me. Isn’t that why you brought me into your room?”

His expression and tone were as gentle as always, but it felt like he was subtly expressing dissatisfaction.

“It’s too cramped for two.”

“Yeah.”

Especially with those inexplicably pouty lips!

“It’s cramped.”

Daphne’s main bedroom was by no means small. Her bed was far from small as well. It was large enough that she would have to roll over exactly six times to reach the edge.

“Right. It’s cramped to sleep together.”

Celestian spoke with a voice full of laughter. The smile that reached his eyes was annoyingly charming. Because of that, Daphne felt a strange sense of defeat.

“Still, it doesn’t make sense to give your room to a guest. If it feels cramped, you could at least provide me with a townhouse that suits me.”

Daphne was exasperated.

‘Is this how he asks for a house? What an impressive build-up.’

She narrowed her eyes.

“Talk to Misha about that.”

“Sure, whatever.”

Celestian shrugged.

“Do you even know who Misha is?”

“I don’t want to know.”

It seemed he didn’t really want a townhouse, as Celestian ended the conversation and stood up. He was now standing just two spans away from Daphne.

‘Even from this close, he has no flaws.’

He had such a handsome face that she wanted to grab his wrist and pull him close.

But looking down at Daphne from above like this was almost insulting to her pride, which had grown up almost like that of a princess.

“Can I pass through?”

Daphne frowned deeply. She could have moved aside, but he was making her move.

“Don’t order me around.”

Still, he was above, and she was below.

Moreover, hadn’t she just tried to talk him down? That unsettled her.

Daphne felt the urge to see him beneath her.

“Huh?”

“Don’t look down on me either.”

Celestian leaned back slightly and made eye contact with her. The area beneath his eyes always had a hint of redness.

“Do you want me to bow down?”

She suppressed the urge to reach out and touch him.

“Are you ordering me to look up at you?”

Daphne responded with a silent, crooked smile. Celestian raised an eyebrow as if troubled.

‘He still thinks he’s a prince after being stuck in that hot bedroom.’

In ‘Daphne’s Room,’ Daphne was the ruler. She didn’t even let her friend Psyche come here carelessly.

The fact that she had given up her bedroom for this arrogant prince was because she really liked him.

“I never imagined a lady from a noble family would lack manners.”

“Well, I must have learned more than you. Aren’t you going to bow?”

When she looked disdainfully at his still straight back and legs, Celestian raised an eyebrow crookedly and replied.

“I’m a ‘prince.’ I heard you order your servants to treat me as such.”

“And?”

“And now you want me to bow because you don’t like it?”

“When I say bow, you bow, prince.”

“It’s too late. If that was your intention, you should have treated me like a dog from the beginning. Don’t give me a bed, tie a leash on me and leave me outside. Only call me to the bedroom when needed.”

Daphne was contemplating whether to slap him or not.

“Or, hang upside down from the eastern clock tower for a week with your legs tied. Then you’ll grow as tall as me.”

She liked that. Without such wit, he wouldn’t have dreamed of being rescued by Daphne.

“I think cutting off your legs below the knees would be faster.”

“The Duke of Vucat’s daughter is quite savage. Why don’t you use that talent and learn how to butcher pigs at a slaughterhouse? Then serve me, a ‘prince.'”

When Daphne brought him home, her mother had patted her back, saying she had bought a cute piglet from a royal pig. That memory made Daphne burst into laughter.

“Prince.”

Celestian didn’t respond.

“Prince, prince. Yes, prince. You were a prince.”

Daphne had never considered the position he deserved.

“Are you playing the role of a prince just because I call you that?”

If he behaved nicely towards her, she would do whatever it took to reinstate him as an heir. But if he disobeyed, she had every intention of cutting off his ears and branding a lily on his left shoulder.

“You bastard.”

Celestian finally furrowed his brow. He looked extremely displeased!

Even though she had set her sights on this man as her life’s goal, Daphne wasn’t the kind of woman who would propose to a man who didn’t love her and would spend his life looking at other women.

“You’re a criminal. Just like Misha said, a dangerous element. If you go outside, Celeste, you’ll be torn apart. Your neck, your arms, one finger at a time, your legs. And…”

Daphne openly directed her gaze to his groin.

“That too.”

“What?”

“Never mind.”

The Sekradion Kingdom, despite being far more advanced than its neighboring countries, was remarkably barbaric towards its dangerous elements.

Her uncle, despite losing his wife and succumbing to gambling, was still a celebrity adored by the wealthy. Romeo, who returned victorious from war and became the crown prince, was effectively the acting king.

The monarchy had weakened, but the people’s love for the royal family remained. Their fanatical loyalty was akin to what could be seen at Gwanghwamun.

Fortunately, the Buequeter family was beloved by the people as VIP bourgeoisie. Her love could provide timely protection to the prince.

“If you won’t move, I’ll move.”

Celestian turned and strode toward the door. It was obvious he would go back to take another nap.

Daphne didn’t abandon her work and come home to see the back of his head or his sleeping face.

“Prince, let me show you your place.”

She followed him and sharply kicked the back of his knee. His long legs buckled, and Celestian, caught off guard, fell to his knees and looked back at Daphne.

“Oh.”

The sigh came a few seconds after their eyes met.

“The prince’s place is now right there.”

Specifically, she looked down at him. Daphne leisurely returned to the table and poured herself a tall glass of sparkling wine.

Celestian slowly stood up, looking somewhat dazed.

“I thought you might have become normal, but it seems you’re still a bit mad.”

His tone was genuinely regretful. He casually dusted off his pants, exuding nonchalance. But since Celestian’s words were mostly true, Daphne wasn’t deeply affected.

“Kisha!”

At Daphne’s call, the bodyguard waiting at the door entered. In a fluid, impeccable motion, Kisha approached and subdued Celestian, forcing him back to his knees.

Kisha had a look of a boy holding a fascinating toy.

“Hit him three times. Just once on the face.”

“Really hit him?”

“Yes.”

Kisha dutifully followed Daphne’s orders. Despite being punched in the cheek and kicked twice in the abdomen, Celestian never took his eyes off Daphne.

He spat blood onto the white marble floor. It seemed the inside of his mouth had been injured.

“There’s blood.”

“I’ve always wondered about that.”

His anxious voice sent chills down her spine. She could barely hear his small murmurings from behind.

‘Is he really asking why I don’t love him right now?’ Daphne frowned.

“He’s babbling nonsense again.”

The readers hoped his love would never come to fruition. Only those with a taste for the perverse, like Daphne, rooted for him.

<Why do you keep doing this to me? What did I do wrong…?>

<Talking will clear up misunderstandings, Psyche.>

<Don’t come near me! There’s no misunderstanding to clear up with you.>

However, if Celestian and Psyche had truly ended up together, Celestian’s allure would have diminished. Daphne wouldn’t have fought so desperately to keep him alive. Perhaps she would have continued to pursue honor and wealth, possibly even marrying Romeo.

“She hates you.”

His green eyes continued to flash a piercing blue.

“She wanted you dead more than anyone, and she’s disappointed that you didn’t die.”

If he had seen Psyche’s expression, maybe he could have freed himself a little from his delusional belief.

“Why did you save me? Why didn’t you let me die?”

But in novels, the secondary male leads are tragic, foolish characters who love the heroine until they die.

“Still, I’ll support your love.”

Though she loved Celestian, she preferred him as the “fool who pines for Psyche” rather than just “Prince Celestian.”

Daphne wanted to watch him for the rest of his life, never receiving love from the woman he loved.

Looking down at the sparkling wine bubbling in her glass, Daphne smiled cheerfully and added one last thing.

“Soon, there will be very good news, Celestian.”