I Became the Villain’s Master - Chapter 113

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Chapter 113

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Kiris sat in the parlor, awaiting Helena. He’d been summoned after the investigation into the monster attack had yielded unexpected results. He’d set aside his time with Rosette to attend to this immediately.

‘This is irritating.’

Uncovering the faction targeting the tower, or rather, him, was paramount, but Kiris couldn’t shake his discontent.

‘I should be with my mistress.’

The wait felt interminable. Tap, tap—his long fingers drummed against the armrest of the sofa. Kiris glanced down at his hand, clenching it into a fist.

‘Mistress.’

He felt as though he were living in a dream, an inexplicable phenomenon defying magical explanation. Every time he saw Rosette, he ached to kiss her, to hold her small frame close. Her sweet voice echoed in his mind, a constant, honeyed refrain.

“I… I want to rely only on you, too.”

He pictured her shyly lifting her gaze, her lips parting slightly, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink. The woman he’d yearned to possess, to keep all to himself, reciprocated his feelings.

The realization had been so stunning, so surreal, he’d wondered if he was hallucinating. He’d been speechless for a moment, but after their lips met, clarity returned.

“I like you.” Her words were etched into his memory. Her smiling eyes, the way she moved as if they were the only two people in the world—it was all so captivating.

Kiris clenched his jaw, fighting to maintain control. The suppressed desire, the frustration of not being able to express it, was a growing pressure within him. He’d felt his heart stir for Rosette for a long time now. She was the light that chased away the darkness within him.

“This is maddening.”

The mere thought of her made him want to bolt from his chair. He imagined her wide-eyed, flustered expression, and a smile touched his lips. But a sliver of reason reminded him of the matter at hand.

Knock, knock.

“Sir Kiris, it’s Helena.”

“Enter.”

The door opened, and Helena entered, her expression grave. Her appearance was unusually disheveled, as if she’d rushed to get here. Kiris straightened, composing himself. “Report. I’ve been briefed on the general details.”

“Yes, Kiris. As you requested, I’ve conducted a thorough investigation. As you’ve likely heard…” Helena’s explanation began, and Kiris closed his eyes, absorbing every word. “…So I sent a message to Louis. He seemed to have found something.”

The black magic that had enveloped the tower was also found in the monsters inhabiting the Dark Forest.

‘I took mistress as my partner to the Imperial Palace banquet.’

Knowing this, it was highly likely they had targeted Rosette because of him.

“They’re targeting me, and the tower.”

“I believe so as well. Who would have thought that such malevolent magic was hidden within the etude?”

“Indeed. If luck hadn’t been on our side, the consequences could have been far worse than memory loss.”

“Then…?”

Kiris bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. “It must be one of the factions vying for control of the tower. But to attack my master, to seek my complete ruin—”

“.…”

“I won’t let them get away with this.”

Woooong—The crystal ball pulsed with an incoming signal. Kiris infused it with magic, and Louis’s face appeared. “Sir Kiris! I’ve examined all the etude transaction records and finally found it!”

Helena’s eyes widened as she stared at the crystal ball. Kiris calmly questioned, “Who is it?”

“D-Damian. The one who worshipped black magic!”

“Good work.”

“I finally did it, Sir Kiris! Is that all? I risked my life for this investigation!”

“Quiet. I’ll have another important task for you upon your return.” Kiris’s warning tone caused Louis’s face to pale.

“C-Can I ask what it is?”

Bzzt— Kiris abruptly cut off the magic flow, and the crystal ball went dark.

“Damian.”

“Damian? The mage who left the tower and never returned?” Helena’s question prompted Kiris to grind his teeth.

“Yes. He’s the one who delivered the etude to me. A challenge to the tower.” Kiris’s eyes narrowed, a chilling glint in their depths. “If it’s black magic, it will be difficult for us to handle alone. Requesting assistance from the temple would be wise.”

Helena nodded and withdrew. Kiris stared at the now-inert crystal ball. “A long tail will always be caught eventually.”

He then headed straight for the Tower Lord’s office. “My mistress will be waiting.” A smile bloomed across his face.