This Villain Is Mine Now

Chapter 25

“What’s with that look on your face?” Knox asked.

“Nothing,” Lyle replied, letting out a sigh.

“Actually, I predicted my victory even before the cookies were packaged. But one can never be too sure. You have to tell me honestly, alright? After all, once we’re married, I’ll find out directly, so don’t think about lying,” Elaina said with a playful smile.

Lyle placed his hand on Knox’s head, who was looking up at him. “Go ahead, try one. I didn’t know what you’d like, so I bought a variety.”

“Hmm,” Knox hesitated for a moment before reaching for a cookie. Naturally, he picked the one shaped like a smiling person, made of dark chocolate.

***

“I knew from the start,” Elaina said in a triumphant tone. “Ginger cookies, really? It’s the thing kids hate the most. The moment you picked ginger cookies, my victory was guaranteed.”

Of course, she thought. Chocolate versus ginger. It wasn’t even a fair fight.

“Still, he seemed to like the cinnamon cookies quite a bit,” Lyle said.

After finishing the chocolate cookie, Knox had decided to try just one more from the other side, choosing a cinnamon cookie. The butler had later informed Lyle that Knox occasionally drank warm milk with cinnamon before bed.

“That’s surprising. Most kids dislike that flavor,” Elaina remarked.

“I liked it too. The butler used to make it for me when I couldn’t sleep,” Lyle replied.

Simply buying sweets had uncovered an unexpected commonality. As they found small topics to talk about, the previously estranged brothers began to slowly grow closer. Knox, who used to retreat to his room whenever Lyle came home, started to venture out more.

“So, what’s your wish?” Lyle asked. The bet had been that the winner would get their wish granted by the other.

“Will you really do whatever I ask?”

“As long as it’s possible.”

“Alright, then let me see the Grant mansion.”

Lyle raised an eyebrow at the unexpected request. “Is that really your wish?”

“Yes. I can’t visit there freely since we’re not yet married. And there’s so much to prepare before we move in this spring. I don’t know if we can get it all done in time,” Elaina said.

Wallpaper, old furniture, and overall repairs were just the beginning. The current staff at the Grant mansion was insufficient, and they would need to bring in people from the Winchester estate and hire additional staff.

“Alright.”

“Really?” Elaina’s eyes widened in surprise, and Lyle nodded.

They were having tea at one of the most famous cafeterias in the city, different from the tearoom they had visited before. Lyle knew he had to get used to the nobles glancing at them, but it still felt bothersome, like annoying flies buzzing around.

“Shall we go?” Elaina suggested.

Their tea had long gone cold. Lyle knew he wasn’t much of a talker, but conversation with Elaina flowed effortlessly, so much so that he had forgotten about his tea.

Even in the carriage, Elaina continued to chatter. Usually, he found talkative people tiring, but Elaina was different. She didn’t wear him out.

“By the way, I’ve been thinking,” Elaina began, spreading her hand open and then closing it.

“Is it true that having big hands makes it easier to handle a sword? Does that mean someone like me would have a hard time learning swordsmanship?” she asked. “You know, like how people with long fingers are better suited for playing instruments.”

She continued, “I once tried lifting a sword from the study. It was a decorative piece, so it was heavier, but still, I was shocked. I pride myself on my strength, but lifting it was all I could manage. Just how strong do you have to be to wield a heavy sword like that… Hey, why are you laughing?”

“Me? I’m not laughing,” Lyle denied, though his face betrayed him as he turned away and covered his mouth.

“You totally laughed. I saw you turn your head and cover your mouth,” Elaina accused, her tone indignant. “Was it really that funny that I struggled with lifting a sword?”

“It wasn’t that part. I laughed at something you said earlier.”

“Earlier? What did I say?” Elaina frowned in confusion.

“You said you pride yourself on your strength,” Lyle explained.

“And? I am fit.”

“Of course.”

“If you have something to say, just say it. Pretending to agree is more aggravating.”

“You look healthy, but strength and endurance are different things.”

Suddenly, Lyle moved closer to her. His scent wafted over, making Elaina’s eyes widen in surprise. But Lyle, oblivious to her reaction, placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Strength comes from muscles, and when swinging a sword, you need both upper arm and forearm strength. This is the upper arm. And this is…” His hand slowly moved down her arm.

“This is the forearm, but unfortunately, you have no muscle here,” Lyle said, amused. His mouth curved into a slight smile as he noticed how soft her body was, with no hint of the hard muscles or calluses he was accustomed to.

“Muscles? I must have some, right?” Elaina protested.

“You do have some. You walk and lift things, after all. But let’s leave it at that.”

“Then can I touch yours?” Elaina asked suddenly, leaning toward him as he had done. She almost tumbled due to the jostling carriage, and Lyle quickly steadied her.

“Oh, thank you. I should probably sit over here.” Elaina moved to sit beside him and began to touch his arm.

“Wow, I get it now. It’s really firm, like a rock.”

She understood why Madam Marbella had fussed over his perfect physique. This was what it took to wield a sword.

‘But he’s quite different from Leo,’ Elaina thought, picturing her old friend. Leo Bonaparte, with his golden hair and blue eyes, had a slender frame unlike Lyle. Lost in thoughts of her friend, Elaina was snapped back to reality by Lyle’s voice.

“If you’re done, you should return to your seat.”

“Huh?”

Elaina realized she had been thoroughly inspecting Lyle’s arm. He had turned his head away, clearly embarrassed. Seeing his reaction, she felt a bit self-conscious herself.

‘How strange, considering he touched me first,’ she thought. Feeling slightly awkward, she cleared her throat.

“Alright, alright. It seems you’re particularly sensitive about physical contact, just like with Madam Marbella,” she grumbled, returning to her seat. The lingering scent of her perfume still tickled Lyle’s nose, so he opened the carriage window.

“Isn’t it cold to have the window open?” Elaina asked.

“No, I’m a little hot. I’ll just leave it open for a moment,” Lyle replied. His face, indeed, had turned a bit red.

***

Early in the morning, Knox’s ears perked up at the news that Lyle had returned. Normally, Lyle wouldn’t come back until the evening, so Knox was curious about what had brought him back so early. He peeked out of his room, casting a glance down the hallway.

“Next time, why don’t you go out to greet your brother? I’m sure he’d appreciate it,” the butler suggested.

Knox often heard about Lyle from the butler, who genuinely liked his older brother. He was always talking about how Lyle was his only family and how he cared for him. Perhaps that was why Knox resented him even more. Lyle had monopolized their mother’s and the butler’s attention long before he was born.

‘Should I go out and greet him?’ he wondered.

When Knox was five, the butler had arranged the Archduchess’s funeral, as no one else would. Since then, Knox had no one he could call family. After Lyle returned, he had shown no interest in Knox. The sweets Lyle had bought had somewhat softened his resentment, but the idea of family still held significant power for a lonely ten-year-old boy.

‘If I go first, maybe he’ll do the same for me,’ Knox thought.

After some hesitation, Knox closed his book and headed downstairs. The sound of laughter reached his ears, making him frown. ‘What’s going on?’ Laughter in the mansion was an unusual sound.

As he descended the stairs, he saw a woman standing next to Lyle, laughing. Their eyes met.

‘That woman.’

Knox’s expression darkened. It was the same woman who had visited the mansion before. He noticed the ring on her left hand—the same ring Lyle had taken from their mother’s things.

“Ah! Finally, we meet! Nice to meet you, Knox. I’m…” Elaina began to introduce herself, but Knox’s sharp voice cut through the air.

“What is this pumpkin doing here?”