Fated to Be Loved by Villains

Fortunately…

Even after all that chaos unfolded, the whole situation was somehow settled.

While Faenol and Dowd were still engaging in an awkward war of nerves, everyone safely returned to the castle thanks to the Margraviate’s personnel who soon arrived after the fuss happened.

Of course, when there were lives, there was bound to be a threat of cancer looming around. Misfortune was always followed by fortune.

At least that was how it was for Beatrix.

“I will have to apologize first.”

Though Eleanor said so, that didn’t get Beatrix’ face to turn any less pale.

Then, Eleanor bowed her head to apologize, in such a courteous and polite gesture too.

“I didn’t expect such an accident to happen. The fact that there were no casualties was a relief, but this matter clearly stemmed from my mistake. It wasn’t like I did not know you cannot stand the cold.”

That apology was sincere and Beatrix knew that.

After all, the first person who checked up on her the most thoroughly, confirming all of her vital signs while making sure that she wasn’t hurt anywhere the moment she returned to the palace was Eleanor.

“…No, it’s okay. Nothing big happened in the end, and I never thought of blaming you in the first place.”

“Alright, that is a relief to hear.”

However, even though things developed in this way, there was a reason why Beatrix was kept on her toes.

“Then…”

Because she knew, no, both of them knew the topic they were going to talk about next.

As soon as that conversation was over, Eleanor quickly raised her head, prompting Beatrix’ whole body to flinch.

“I’ve heard quite a few interesting descriptions regarding ‘the state’ Dowd and you were in when you were discovered.”

“…”

“I will give you the chance to explain.”

“…”

Beatrix kept her mouth shut.

Of course, she could say something here, but seeing the glare on Eleanor’s eyes, she was sure that staying silent was a better decision.

“Do you have nothing to say?”

“…I am sorry.”

Eleanor nodded calmly at the apology that came out with no resistance.

“Then you should not have done anything you are going to be sorry for from the beginning.”

“…”

Why did you ask in the first place then?!

Such a thought crossed Beatrix’ mind, but this time, she didn’t have the courage to say it out loud.

“First, answer me honestly.”

Black flames soared in Elanor’s eyes.

“Did you do it?”

“…Do what exactly?”

“Passionate baby making with—”

“…We didn’t.”

Beatrix answered while holding her throbbing head.

Is this really the same person who apologized with such a great manner and humility just now?

“Really?”

“Yes. I swear on Kilgore Marquisate’s honor that we didn’t do it.”

Since Beatrix had gone that far, Eleanor had no choice but to groan and shut her mouth tightly.

In a sense, swearing on Kilgore Marquisate, which was a traditional major household in the Empire, meant that she swore on something more important than her own life. This wasn’t something anyone could argue back carelessly.

“…Then let me change the question a little bit.”

“Hm?”

“Can you swear on your family’s honor that e something like that will never happen again in the future?”

“…”

A-Ah…

T-That…

A-About that, uhm…

Seeing Beatrix’ hesitation, Eleanor quickly narrowed her eyes.

“…Y-You know, t-that punk… I-I think he isn’t as bad as I thought he was…”

“…”

“I-I won’t cross the line, but I think it won’t be a bad idea if I were to befriend him… J-Just as a friend, you know…”

“…”

Seeing Eleanor’s eyes gradually narrowed even more, Beatrix jumped up in fright.

“I-I’m serious! I-I won’t go as far as you think! I-I have no intention of doing that!”

“…Beatrix.”

Eleanor held her throbbing head, a rare sight since it was usually Beatrix who did that.

“Wasn’t it you who asked me why there were so many women attracted to ‘that bum’ a while ago?”

“…”

“So, why…?”

“…”

Eleanor let out a deep sigh as Beatrix went silent, as if cat had gotten her tongue.

“…Well, it doesn’t matter. Women usually become like that whenever they meet Dowd.”

“…”

H-Huh, wait…?

Why did you just accept it as if it was natural…? That doesn’t make any sense…

“What I meant to say is, I feel that the sexual preferences of the women around him are becoming stranger little by little.”

“…”

“I heard the rumor of what he did to Miss Yuria and the Saintess recently. From the rumors, it seems like they came to enjoy being dragged around on a leash.”

“…”

“There’s also Her Imperial Majesty the Empress… Reports said that she became particularly obsessed with his smell after the…uhm…unfortunate incident…”

“…”

“That woman, Faenol, the one who came back with you, also came to feel excited when being treated roughly by him.”

“…”

…What…?

As Beatrix tried hard not to lose her mind while hearing the series of information that only became more dizzying the more she heard it, a terrifying guess suddenly crossed her mind.

“Hey, Elanor…”

“Hm?”

“I don’t think this is the case, but…”

Beatrix gulped dryly and…

“…Have you developed those strange sexual preferences or something as well?”

“…”

Eleanor met Beatrix’ eyes for a moment…

And instantly went silent.

Then, she looked away, as if she hadn’t heard anything.

“…That’s all. Get a good rest. I have to attend the formal dinner since Margrave Kendride invited me.”

“…”

Hello?

“Eleanor?”

“A lot of things happened, but he specifically requested me to attend.”

“…”

Hey!

This time, it was Beatrix who began narrowing her eyes, but Eleanor just ignored her while trying her best to avoid her gaze.

“…”

It was obvious that she didn’t want to answer.

But, the topic Eleanor just brought up was also quite concerning, so Beatrix just let out a sigh while indulging Eleanor in her change of topic.

“…Even after all that chaos, they’re still holding a formal dinner?”

Finding it ridiculous, Beatrix said that, meanwhile Eleanor just frowned.

It was clear that she also didn’t understand what was going on.

“…He seems to have something important to say to me.”

Recalling the only reason she heard, Eleanor got up.

She would have to go and hear it herself to know what the heck he wanted to say to her so ‘desperately’.

●

“It’s about the revision of law concerning bigamy. The law has obtained Her Imperial Majesty the Empress’ approval.”

That was the first thing Iliya had stated over the dinner table. Everyone showed various reactions towards it.

Someone choked on their food, another one dropped their utensils, while another one held their glass so tightly until it cracked.

“…”

What about my reaction? Well…

I just kept on chewing my food.

It was a tagliatelle. Because of the salt, it was a little salty, but the taste went well with the combination of the wide and flat pasta and the meat sauce—

[Nah, dude, you can’t escape reality like that.]

“…”

I drew my head really close to my plate, as if trying to analyze the molecular structure of the food, but Caliban’s warning prompted me to raise my head.

But, even after I did so, it didn’t seem like the liquid-nitrogen-like coldness that filled the table would go away anytime soon.

“…”

“…”

“…”

Eleanor, Faenol, and Iliya exchanged gazes.

Their eyes, which contained such force that seemed as if they would’ve blown up each other if they could unleash physical force from them, were locked on to each other for a moment.

“I was originally planning to tell the others about this when they got here, but I changed my mind. I felt like I had to tell you guys first.”

Iliya continued, breaking through the silence.

Meanwhile, her gaze was fixed on Eleanor.

As if she was trying to say that she did this for her specifically to hear.

Seeing that, Eleanor furrowed her brows.

“…Bigamy isn’t something special among high-ranking nobles. But, what’s the reason for revising the law about such—”

“No, you didn’t get it. The bigamy that noble households normally do usually divides the ranks between the ‘legal wife’ and the ‘concubine’. In terms of authority and various rights, there is a huge difference between the two.”

“…”

Hearing that, Eleanor’s frown grew deeper.

It seemed like she could tell what Iliya was going to say next.

“…Was that why you’ve been so accepting of all the other women, Lady Tristan?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“This is the designation of a special law. To grant all of the women, restricted to those who marry Mr. Dowd, ‘equal rights’.”

Iliya put the documents related to it on the table, full of smiles.

And after that…

She put a small ‘gift box’ on top of the paper.

“…”

An ominous premonition came over me after I saw it.

The atmosphere that had grown cold immediately froze up the moment that thing came to everyone’s sight.

“Teach.”

And then, she called out to me.

“Could you open it?”

“…What’s this?”

“You’ll know when you open it.”

“…”

I grabbed it with trembling hands.

No way, right…?

Surely, it isn’t… But…

“…Ah.”

The moment I saw what was inside the box, a wave of dizziness struck me.

It was a ring.

A ring that looked extremely expensive and clearly had a special meaning to it.

“…This—”

“It’s exactly what you think it is.”

“…”

Iliya cut me off, not letting me finish my words.

Even though Eleanor, who was sitting beside her, had made a demon-like expression on her face, she was completely unfazed by it.

And then…

“So…”

She…

“Marry me. Take me as your ‘second legal wife’.”

Dropped such a nuke on me.