The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

The next day came.
Desian had invited her to a restaurant near the duke’s mansion in the capital.
 The letter Desian sent also included the information about the princess that Citrina wanted to know.
Citrina happily responded to his letter.

‘Lets find out more about the princess, and also about Desian.’

Chefs and servers who kept their lips sealed served precious dishes one by one. There were delicacies like foie gras and the bluish-green eggs of a giant shark.
Citrina smiled happily as she ate the food paired with a white wine.

“It tastes good. I didn’t know there was a restaurant so close to the duke’s estate.”
“The capital has developed a lot, Rina.”

The manager came over to Citrina and Desian’s wine glasses and poured the wine naturally. The wine in the glasses swelled and rose.
However, the manager’s hand seemed to shake excessively while pouring Desian’s glass.

‘Is he nervous?’

Looking at his hands, Citrina thought that was true. And the man wound up making a mistake.

-clink-

All of a sudden, he knocked into Citrina’s wine glass. The manager looked like a veteran. But he made a beginner’s mistake.
Citrina’s beautiful white dress was soaked with wine.
She was relieved that was it.
The problem was that the wine glass had broken on the floor by her feet.
Luckily, she was not hurt. Citrina was only embarrassed for the moment.
What was more embarrassing was that the manager then knelt on the glass-covered floor.
Of course, the punishment for ruining an aristocrat’s meal was deep.

“I’m, I’m so sorry.”
“You are forgiven.”

Desian spoke gracefully and gently. His attitude was clearly friendly.
However, it contained an imperial arrogance.
Citrina looked at him in astonishment.

“I beg your forgiveness. Your Grace, Lady.”
“…Yes. You can make a mistake.”

Citrina looked at the manager and bit her lip. Desian’s icy gaze turned towards the manager.

“Get out.”
“I’ll, I’ll clean…”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Desian’s tone was dry. The manager hurriedly bowed to them and left.
Just the two of them were left in the room.
Desian strode over to the mess. He slowly bent on one knee near where the glass shards were still scattered.
Citrina couldn’t say anything.
That’s because he,
Desian Pietro,
grabbed Citrina’s right foot that had a very light scratch.
Desian lifted her ankle.
He slowly bowed his head over her foot.
This man never bowed his head to anyone.
Desian’s lips touched her ankle. She felt a tingling where his lips touched her ankle.

“Del…”

Today, Citrina caught a glimpse of his beastly side.
Or was this the real Desian?
Or did his hidden nature come out at the sight of blood?
Either way, her mind went blank. The immoderately hot temperature of his lips muddled her mind.
Desian looked up.

“If you get hurt, I don’t know what to do.”

Still on one knee, he looked up at her.
Though his tone was affectionate, his gaze wasn’t pleading. Though he was down on one knee, he had the face of a born ruler.
His arrogant face endlessly overshadowed his affection for her. Citrina called out his name.

“Desian, Del.”

But she couldn’t finish her sentence. The Desian Pietro she saw today was suspicious.

“Rina.”

Along with those words, an obsessive gaze was directed at her.
Citrina’s keen intuition whispered to her.
Alarm bells were plainly ringing in her head.
She knew at last.
Desian Pietro liked her.
No, this… was obviously obsessive love.

“It doesn’t hurt. It’s okay.”

Desian slowly lowered her ankle with a look of complete relief. The place where his lips touched was peculiarly hot.
The man was gentle. However his touch and gaze were tainted with the obsession and the desire to monopolize her.
She wondered how she didn’t get it until now.

“If you don’t mind.”

Desian moved his hand slowly.
The glass disappeared. Her cut healed without a trace.
Desian must have also been cut by the glass, but not a drop of blood came out.

‘It’s dangerous.’

The man was dangerous.
But Citrina was not afraid of Desian. She was sure he would never hurt her.
Now their eyes met like they were on a close tightrope.
She won the staring contest.
It was natural for her to be drawn to danger. Though she whispered with a composed face.

“Del, let’s eat dinner.”

She moved on to talk of other topics smoothly.
Citrina had yet to define her feelings for him.
Therefore, it wasn’t wise to push Desian into risky topics.
Desian friendly face was back again. There was no innocence like in Aaron’s face, but it was harmless to her.

“Yes, Rina.”

His languid eyes folded closed. He was obviously smiling.
He had a beautiful smile.
She looked at him for a moment as if possessed. Citrina lifted a glass of water to her lips and moistened her throat.
It was her feelings that were strange.
As a child, she had left for fear of being tied down by attachment. However, she had grown into an adult who could face her emotions head on.
Even though an attendant came in to refill the wine, the restaurant remained oddly silent.
Citrina changed the subject as lightly as breaking glass.
… because her success was more important now than her feelings or love.
At least for now, that is.

“What kind of person is the princess?”
“She’s average.”
“Huh?”
“She’s an easy to read woman. Everything you know will be right.”

Desian answered Citrina’s question slowly.
The expression on his face had already disappeared.