The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

she would explore the mines to bring him back gold.
It was a bit of a stretch, but…it would be in their mutual interests to do so. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. Otherwise, she would have to think seriously about how she could help him. read only at salmonlatte .
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“Still, I never thought it would come to that, Del.”
“Don’t feel pressured.”
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Knowing Citrina’s mind, Desian spoke softly.
He’d placed a personal ad in every plaza all around the empire. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. It was an astronomical amount of money that Citrina couldn’t even imagine. read only at salmonlatte .
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“The Senate also was a factor in it.”
“…Huh?”
“There was a request to lessen the notoriety of the duke.”

Citrina knew about the infamy of Duke Pietro, though she hadn’t heard all of the rumors yet, as others fled in a panic when he was mentioned.
“I see.”
She was slightly mistaken.
Desian looked at Citrina and lowered his eyes. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. Dense, long eyelashes shaded his eyes, making him look almost pitiful. read only at salmonlatte .
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‘When I look at you like this, you look like an angel.’

Citrina slowly ripped out the bud of doubt from her mind.

“Del.”
“Yeah?”
“There were no people in the tower? Weren’t you hurt?”
“I killed them all.”

Desian smiled merrily.
If you think of it that way…it still looks bad.
He spoke of death more easily than anyone else. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. Citrina rubbed at the goosebumps that had risen on her arms. read only at salmonlatte .
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“Well, I’m glad to hear that our plans worked out for both of us.”

It was an unfortunate thing, the difference in status. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. It meant that Citrina couldn’t be sure that she could give as much as she was given. read only at salmonlatte .
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“Then I have a favor to ask of you.”
“What favor?”
“I have this strange sound ringing in my ears.”
“A strange sound?”
“Yeah. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. And…” read only at salmonlatte .
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Trailing off, Desian bit his lip slowly. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. The tip of his tongue tingled. read only at salmonlatte .
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“I hear it whenever you’re not around.”

Feigning weakness.
Slowly.
To make her love him.
Desian lifted his eyelashes slowly upward, looking at Citrina.
He smiled as pretty as a picture.

“So stay with me.”
“…”
“Because that’s enough.”

Desian’s large hands gently swept through Citrina’s hair.
Citrina flinched.
It was strange. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. There had been times before when he’d affectionately ruffled her hair, and she had never thought about it. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. She had just assumed it was a touch between friends. read only at salmonlatte .
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But now it was so obvious this was an intimate touch.
Desian removed his hand from her hair and brought it to her cheek. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. His hand was cold enough to make her wince. read only at salmonlatte .
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“You have a bit of a fever.”

Desian murmured languidly.
Her heat transferred to his cold hand.
He thought.

‘I was going to wait until your feelings for me gradually developed. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. I was going to give you a choice. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. If I didn’t do that, you would run away again. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. But isn’t this a clear foul to look at me with both cheeks tinted red?’ read only at salmonlatte .
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Desian slowly removed his hands from her cheeks as well. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. This was because if they touched for much longer, it would be unbearable really. read only at salmonlatte .
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He knew only one thing- his patience was running thin.
There was only so much time before his patience ran out.

“What are you thinking?”
“Nothing much.”
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Citrina’s everyday question was followed by Desian’s falsely calm response. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. Hearing his voice, Citrina smiled. read only at salmonlatte .
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When she looked at him like that, with eyes so full of emotions while saying nothing,
it made him want to know her more.

And it made him want to keep trying again and again.

“I’m not really thinking about anything.”

Citrina cupped her hands around Desian’s ears.

“Now there’s no sound?”

Their gazes met fiercely in the air.

“All I hear is your voice.”
“That…makes me feel good.”

Citrina smiled.
Citrina Foluin liked Desian Pietro.
That was clear to see.
She didn’t know if it was love, but she did know that a crush was slowly blooming in her heart.
For now, pushing for success to precedence over the gentle waves of love.
Citrina blinked.

“For the time being, let’s just put it to the back of our minds. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. We have enough stuff to work through.” read only at salmonlatte .
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For now.
And yet.
If he stopped trying at all, he wouldn’t get anywhere.

“Del, I heard Elaina and Genfiros are after me.”
“Yes, it’s dangerous.”
“Do you think they’ll try to take my life?”
“…yes.”

Citrina was lost in thought.
Desian looked down and smiled grimly, deep in thought.
It wasn’t just one person who was after Citrina’s life. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. The leader of the paladins had labeled elementism as a forbidden art. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. which meant that Citrina’s safety was slowly getting more and more precarious. read only at salmonlatte .
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Desian had already noticed a few suspicious faces circling around Citrina, but he didn’t need to tell her everything.
You remain lovely.
I’ll get my hands dirty.
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“So…I have one favor to ask, Rina.”

The emphasis was on the word ‘favor’.
There was a force in his earnest voice. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. Citrina looked at Desian again. read only at salmonlatte .
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And what happened next was something she hadn’t predicted.
It was right then.
Desian looked at the pendant around her neck without saying a word. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there. The pendant sparkled, glowing. read only at salmonlatte .
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