The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

Citrina returned to the townhouse. This was after working hard to decline Harold’s invitation to stay at the manor for dinner.
She put the finishing touches on her dress with the help of a temporary maid she had hired for the townhouse.
Over a simple dessert, she decided to sort out her feelings.

‘Yeah, I could like him.’

Citrina thought she could like him enough. It was only natal to rely on a kind person when you were on the brink of an emotional collapse.

“Phew…”

It was never a good sign to give in to every one of those feelings.
Anyway, Citrina decided to admit it. In her heart, she knew she liked him and relied on him.

-Citrina…….

Citrina was soon met by Gemma’s serious eyes, who was lying on the living room rug like a corpse.

-Come on. What’s going on?
-I’m being serious.
-Why?

Gemma pushed herself up. Her body moved like slime.
Citrina involuntarily took a step back. At the same time, Gemma exclaimed.

-I think you like that monster.
-…Huh?

Monster?
Citrina’s eyes widened slightly at the word ‘monster’.

-My heart skipped a beat when you looked at him!

Gemma murmured. Citrina answered firmly to ease Gemma’s shock.
-That’s right. I like Desian.
-We’re getting all emotional. I’m saying that it’s weird if you liked him. You like him?! Huh? Huh!
-Yes, that’s right?
-Ah, ah, ah, and you like him?
Gemma continued to fly around the townhouse in an arrogant pose.

-I can’t believe you like him.
-Why are you saying that?

Looking like a father or mother-in-law, Gemma pointed with a scowl and spoke up.

-I’ll never be deceived! Sheesh, so I guess you two are going to get married now?

Citrina burst into laughter and Gemma innocent inquiry.
She’d been laughing more and more since she and Gemma had been together again. It had changed her life for the better.
Citrina gave Gemma a small wink.

-You’re talking about marriage all of a sudden.
-I’m scared of him! Give me time to adjust! Got it?
-Alright. I also need time to adjust.

Gemma fluttered over to Citrina. Citrina stroked Gemma’s hair lightly. She had grown up faster than other people, so she understood the difference.

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-Gemma, but…
-Oh?
-There’s something Desian is hiding from me.

This was the first time Citrina felt this way.

-Of course! He doesn’t want you to find out he’s a monster. Ah, no, no, no…

Gemma hastily covered her mouth.

-Monster?

It was a figure of speech, but she could understand why Gemma was saying that.
It was then.
From another room in the house, the fox beast person, Lita, came out rubbing his eyes.

“Oh, Citrina-nim, you’re here?”
-Let’s ask him! You’re a fox beast person. You’re a relationship genius.
-Sure. Let’s do it.

Citrina replied cynically.
And just like that, a small dating counseling center was set up in the townhouse.

In the house’s living room, on a small table sat two cups and a very small teaspoon.
Citrina gulped.

“…Lita, I’ll tell you about someone I know.”

Somehow, it was embarrassing to tell her story to the cute Lita.

“Ah, yes, is this about relationship counseling?”

Lita held onto his pen and paper earnestly.
He was really going all out.

“Relationship counseling? It’s something like that.”

Citrina said calmly.

“I guess you’ve known each other for a long time?”

He had a probing gaze. Citrina answered Lita’s question with sincerity, yet her mind was unsettled.

“Yeah. This person can sometimes be confusing. But he’s reliable, and it is exciting being around him sometimes. It’s cute when you see him being shy now and then-“

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Citrina let the words come out slowly.
The thoughts in her head felt like they were organizing themselves gradually as they came out of her mouth.
In short, as she talked and thought about it, she liked him even more.

-This is serious.

Gemma’s self-talk woke her up with a jolt.

“Ah, it’s just like that.”
“It’s not difficult. You like him, don’t you? Then you’ll drift together.”

Lita concluded simply.

“Unless they don’t like you, Citrina-nim. Then it’s a different story.”
-That monster is totally obsessed with her!

Gemma smacked her tiny fist onto her chest.

“…well, it seems like that man likes me too.”
“I see….”
“No, it’s not about me.”

Citrina waved her hands in the air, but Lita didn’t seem to believe it.
A light blush appeared on Lita’s pale cheeks. The boy whispered under his breath.

“If they like each other, what’s the problem?”
“…Okay. Why make a big deal out of this for no reason.”

You can admit that you like each other and get together.

‘I just need to get to know Desian better.’

Once she’d said it, everything became simple and clean.
She realized she could lose a close friend if things went wrong, but that didn’t mean she could turn her back on the feelings she had now.

‘I don’t know when I’m going to die, so I might as well live in the moment.’

Citrina smiled as she organized her thoughts.

“Ah, there’s one more thing.”

She spoke in a resolute voice. Lita and Gemma’s ears perked up at the same time as if she was about to say something very important.
Catching their gazes, Citrina tightened her grip on her mug. So tightly it might shatter.
Citrina blinked, finding it a bit difficult to speak.

“I’m a bit ashamed to say this, and also a little shy. Do you just start dating like this?”

Is it just me?
Yesterday, she perceived him as a friend, and today she thought of him romantically.
It wasn’t something she was familiar with.
The only thing she knew was how, to be honest about her feelings.

“Is it just me?”

Citrina asked, looking at them both for agreement. Gemma shook her head.

-He is him, but you are also you.
[T.L. Note: Meaning each person is different.]

That was the buzzword Gemma was pushing lately. It felt oddly familiar.

“Then…you can just date, can’t you? Starting from now on.”

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Lita put down his pen with a troubled face.
Citrina tapped at the table, feeling a little embarrassed.
Gemma and Lita looked at her. They looked into each other’s eyes and smiled.

“When Adilac-nim wakes up, I’ll have to tell her an interesting story.”

Lita laughed.
The boy thought.
It was autumn.
The chilly weather made it feel like winter would arrive soon, but it seemed like spring had arrived for Citrina.