Becoming the Villain’s Family - Chapter 298
Chapter 298
“You wished to meet me again?”
Aria wondered why. To her, Grand Duke Valentine was an unforgettable beginning of salvation.
But to him, she thought she was nothing – perhaps a moment of pity, a whim, or just his kindness.
Yet, the Grand Duke revealed his innermost feelings transparently.
“Because you were my only salvation.”
It was a shocking confession.
“How could I have been the Grand Duke’s salvation? Ah, the Siren’s song…?”
“No.”
He denied it firmly.
“The song is just a part of you.”
“But I did nothing but sing.”
“Seeing you made me think for the first time that I didn’t want to give up. That protecting this world for you wouldn’t be so bad…”
By the time he realized he wanted nothing more, it was too late. The fragile light that brought him hope was nearly extinguished. He thought it better to snuff it out himself and fall into hell together.
After the Siren’s death, he resolved to destroy the world.
“Just knowing you’re alive is salvation to me.”
But circumstances have changed.
Even in another dimension, he had confirmed she was the Siren he knew. So there was no hesitation. The Grand Duke, wearing Lloyd’s facade, buried his face in her hands.
His eyes were gradually darkening.
‘This…’
Aria sighed inside. Not knowing what his thoughts were.
‘Maybe we should never have met again.’
Despite their profound emotions for each other, it now seemed more like a cursed relationship. For him, it was likely a painful encounter.
She couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud, remaining stuck in her throat.
Aria wrestled with how to tell him she must find a way to send him back to his ruined world.
Ah, but how could she…
‘That’s impossible.’
After all, Grand Duke Valentine before the return was also Lloyd. Aria couldn’t help but feel a soft spot for Lloyd.
Aria sighed deeply and reached out to stroke the Grand Duke’s dark hair. Even as she stroked as she wanted, the Grand Duke didn’t resist her touch.
However, her hand soon fell away as if waking from a brief, sweet dream.
The emotions she harbored for the Grand Duke. It was just that. She respected him as a savior who had extended a hand of salvation in the past and pitied him for not having been saved himself.
She wished for his happiness but harbored no deeper affection. It couldn’t have been that.
That place had long been reserved for Lloyd alone.
“……”
The Grand Duke keenly sensed this reality. To Aria, he was nothing more or less than her past savior.
‘There’s no rush.’
Slowly, bit by bit.
By gradually tightening the encirclement without leaving any escape routes, the Siren would eventually fall into his hands. Because he would never let go. That was what the Grand Duke believed.
“It seems I can’t resolve this on my own. It might be best if I leave.”
Until Aria spoke these words seriously after being lost in thought.
The Grand Duke, who had been intently watching her hand fall away without regret, asked.
“Leave? To where?”
As if he meant to say, ‘you’re here’.
Aria glanced down at the Grand Duke with a troubled look and replied.
“To the Valentine estate.”
“….”
“I told you, everyone is alive.”
The Grand Duke blinked slowly, looking unimpressed. As if he wasn’t really listening.
“You don’t believe me?”
“I believe you’re the Siren.”
“Then why believe only that?”
Hadn’t everything been resolved?
Feeling as if she had come full circle only to return to square one, Aria’s frustration showed on her face. Then, the Grand Duke reached out to toy with her hair, which fell to her waist.
“I believe the Valentines are still alive in this world. But surely, they’re not the ones I knew.”
“Even so, shouldn’t they be the same person with the same body?”
“Not to me. To me, they’re as good as impostors.”
No matter, they’re just fakes.
Despite her confusion, Grand Duke Valentine pressed his lips into her hair as if stamping a seal and then lifted his head, his red lips curving seductively as if to lure her.
“Siren?”
“Yes?”
“Where are the cigarettes? I can’t seem to find them.”
All through the meal, he had been rummaging through drawers, looking through something. That’s what he had been searching for.
“We don’t have it here”
“Why?”
“Because Lloyd is a non-smoker.”
“…..”
After a brief silence, he laughed off her comment. His eyes squinted languidly, dismissing it as a joke.
“You’re joking.”
“No, I’m serious. And just so you know, using Lloyd’s body to put such harmful things in your mouth will get you in trouble.”
“…..”
“Quit smoking.”
While she respected individual preferences regarding smoking or not, she was adamant about not letting anyone misuse Lloyd’s body in such a manner.
The Grand Duke, sensing Aria’s firm resolve, uncharacteristically groaned in protest.
“Siren, I’ve never once restrained my desires.”
“Is that so?”
Aria pretended to sympathize with him, then firmly added.
“But you’ll have to restrain yourself this time.”
“Why should I?”
“Because I wish you to.”
“…..”
“Would you like some candy instead?”
“Forget it.”
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