“Episode 8”
“I missed my villainess.”
Daphne knew that Psyche biting her lip and lowering her gaze was a form of protest. So, the fact that their eyes met just now wasn’t because of Daphne’s mood, but because Psyche was looking for someone, which meant it was Daphne. She didn’t appreciate the fact that they hadn’t been in touch all this time.
“Anyway, we were bound to run into each other like this, so why bother? What a waste of paper and manpower.”
Romeo adorned in a navy suit with faint white stripes, accessorized with a sapphire pin matching Psyche’s eyes.
“I’ll give credit for the hanger.”
Psyche, now hidden, wore an off-shoulder dress made of the same fabric, adorned simply with a topaz necklace. Her golden hair tied up with a large ribbon added to her elegance.
“Who would think she’s from a rural background?”
When their village and family disappeared overnight, Psyche despairingly rose within two days and stormed into the hotel where Romeo was staying to propose engagement bluntly.
The contract terms were straightforward: just the bed. Anytime, as much as you want! Marriage and heirs were also possible if desired, but the option of not loving her for a lifetime was also included.
Since she didn’t plan to love him, she assured him that she wouldn’t be hurt by whatever he did with whomever, as long as he protected her from the crazy prince. Of course, that crazy prince was none other than the one in Daphne’s room.
Regardless, Psyche was as proud as Daphne, if not more. There was no bending in matters she didn’t do wrong. It wasn’t like her to flee or beg to be seen.
Daphne intentionally didn’t look away. Leaning on the railing with her elbow and chin, she continued to watch her.
“Let’s see how long you’ll ignore me.”
Romeo left with the guests. Psyche, who had finally returned to Daphne’s sight, now wore a princess’s mask.
Fulfilling her role as the protagonist of the night, she smiled beautifully at the guests who greeted her and later left the hall with Stella.
“Why isn’t Misha here?”
She didn’t turn until the end. She casually stuck out her tongue and straightened her bent waist.
“Leaving our lonely boss alone for so long. Should I extend her unpaid overtime?”
It was a thought that could be justified if Misha heard it, saying it was from a crazy boss. Daphne reluctantly moved to her seat. She also planned to hurry and leave due to her poor health.
“Whoa, damn it!”
She startled, letting out a curse as she felt something hard hit the sole of her shoe. Because she didn’t sense anyone coming behind her, she thought she had stepped on a ghost’s foot.
“What the hell? What kind of curse is that? Where did you even learn that?”
As Daphne was about to turn around to apologize, the “ghost” grabbed her waist and effortlessly lifted her onto his thigh.
“Let go.”
Daphne frowned at the rude pervert’s face.
“It’s been a while, my villainess.”
It was Romeo Rodriguez.
“My, what? Are you crazy?”
“I missed you.”
It had been a long time since she had seen him up close like this since their childhood. But she wasn’t glad at all.
His jet-black hair and sharp yellow eyes were so detestable that she wanted to pluck them out and throw them away.
“Did you get shot in the head?”
“Cousin, are you keeping your distance now? How hurtful.”
Again, Romeo was ‘frighteningly’ handsome. No matter how much she lowered her mouth and made a displeased expression, the coldness emanating from all his features couldn’t be hidden.
“His Royal Highness Romeo Alessio Issuin… de Rodriguez, Crown Prince. Let go. You’re being watched.”
There were probably two more titles in the middle, but it had been so long that she forgot. As Daphne looked around cautiously, Romeo chuckled lightly.
“This corner is so tucked away that unless you look closely, you won’t see it.”
“Why are you like this? I said let’s not meet until we die.”
“I wanted to, though.”
As someone who didn’t want to touch any other man’s chest except Celestian’s, Daphne raised her index finger and pushed his collarbone away. She also put her foot down.
When she tried to escape from his embrace by lifting her hips, her waist was pulled tightly, and he hugged her tightly.
“Is this insane?”
While Daphne was taken aback, he whispered very softly in her ear.
“My villainess, Daphne Serenade Vaucater.”
It sent shivers down her spine, as if she had been caught red-handed stealing a land ownership certificate from her father’s safe when she was a child, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong.
Daphne had an uncomfortable meeting with her cousin on the terrace. She put on a nonchalant expression, sitting on the white stone railing with her arms crossed.
Romeo sat to her left, casually straightening his rumpled suit jacket. His unpleasant expression was because he touched Daphne before she hugged him.
“When did you buy the state newspaper?”
‘He’s getting straight to the point, damn it.’ Daphne grimaced.
“If you have money, what can’t you do? We even bought B-list gossip ladies. How’s the public opinion there? Will they offer asylum too?”
Herbon was a lenient country that often generously granted asylum to unfairly expelled individuals from neighboring countries.
“Moreover, the crimes in this country are only crimes here.”
And furthermore, since the newspapers were adorned with words like ‘pitiful,’ ‘unjustly accused,’ ‘abandoned,’ etc., the public opinion in the country would certainly sympathize with Celestian.
Now, Celestian could settle somewhere with the title of ‘Duke of Therios’ as soon as he boarded a ship.
“Sekradion’s Vaucater, rescued traitors out of ‘love’?”
Turning his head, Romeo, with a sardonic laugh, looked directly at Daphne.
While he had been smiling inside, now his expression was blank as he looked down at himself, making Daphne feel guilty.
“You knew, so why act surprised?”
“I didn’t think you were serious.”
“Seriously? I didn’t know you were that sincere either.”
“What? I didn’t know you were so sincere to Psyche either?”
Romeo reached out and held Daphne’s chin with his index and thumb.
“And rescuing Celestian was part of our plan too, wasn’t it?”
“That was before my brother committed treason.”
Daphne grimaced as she pushed away Romeo’s rude hand that was turning her chin.
“What are you worried about? I’ve already dealt with him.”
During the trial, Celestian had revealed the families involved in the rebellion. In addition to the knights and soldiers who were executed, he found and published all the names of those who had been involved. And some names were erased from the records.
“Isn’t that enough?”
The only remaining traitor was Terios, but even he was under constant surveillance, sold to a villainess, and couldn’t escape as long as Daphne guaranteed it.
“Oh, that’s your taste.”
“What taste?”
“How you dealt with him. Can I watch?”
“Except for limbs. You lunatic. You’re prohibited from approaching within a hundred kilometers of our house.”
Romeo treated the bastard son, who had only half of his blood mixed with his, like his own brother. After starting their deal with Daphne, they enjoyed polo or squash at a set time each week and even gambled together.
“You still call Celestian ‘brother.'”
Since he reeked of evil from head to toe, it was clearly a kind of mockery.
Talking about Celestian made Daphne miss that idiot with golden hair, so she tapped her cheek with her index fingernail.
“Calling him a traitor is too good for him. Ah, should I call him a bastard?”
Daphne flinched at Romeo’s precise pronunciation of ‘bastard.’
In the room with large windows, almost like being outdoors, Celestian, who had fallen asleep groaning in pain from a cold, would probably occupy the second bedroom soon.
“I can’t refute that. Anyway, don’t worry since there’s no one around him now.”
Daphne scratched her cheek with a smile.
“No one around him?”
“Yeah.”
Romeo, who had been absentmindedly touching his chin with his gloved hand, chuckled softly as he made a whistling sound.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Our cousin always acts like he knows the ending but chooses to take the long way around every time instead of taking the easy path.”
Daphne was puzzled.
“Is that really something you should say? Hashtag RegretfulMan was Romeo’s keyword, after all.”
“So we’re related in this aspect, cousin. Especially in this regard.”
Approaching with a meaningful glint in his eyes, Romeo made Daphne quickly retreat to the terrace window, where she leaned against it. He still stared at Daphne, piercingly, even though it was late at night, his golden eyes shimmered.
“What nonsense. I really hate it. Stop looking. I hate your eyes the most.”
“It’s like looking in a mirror, sister.”
Shivers ran down her spine, and she was speechless.
“That’s flattering. I hate your red hair exactly as much as your heart’s size.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Romeo smirked and shrugged his shoulders.
“Don’t touch the prince now. He’s mine.”
“When did you become so fond of calling him ‘brother’? I could never understand why you did that ever since you started playing with gold bars.”
Romeo genuinely thought Daphne was only moderately fond of him. He had no idea she would go as far as selling mines across the border, buying newspapers, fabricating evidence, and even manipulating people.
“Cousin, I won’t make a big deal out of it, since those were necessary tasks. But when will you reconcile with my wife?”
“My wife? Who? Psyche?”
Daphne frowned at the disgustingly affectionate term.
“Hey. Did you just say ‘my wife’? Seriously, you guys aren’t even married yet. Who calls her that? Gross.”
Daphne wondered when he became a character who couldn’t move a muscle in front of his supposed wife’s feelings.
“So, are you now Psyche’s puppet?”
If that were true, Daphne wanted to record it and pass it down to the Rodrigues family for three generations. Suddenly, she missed modern technology from her past life.
“I’ve never fought with her. But I’m thinking of picking a fight today. She pushed me to the second floor, remember?”
“I asked Stella to do that, so don’t get the wrong idea.”
“What?”
“I missed her.”
Romeo’s yellow eyes disappeared between the creases of his smirk.
