A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 172

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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172.

I’d been on the verge of losing consciousness just moments before.
But the moment my gaze met those pitch-black eyes, my blurred vision snapped into sharp focus.
I stared blankly at the man holding me in his embrace.
Honestly, the situation was so unexpected that I couldn’t comprehend a single word he was saying.
I just felt… strange.
I’d thought that if I disappeared, he would chase after me eagerly, but I never actually expected him to do it.
Perhaps sensing something odd about how I simply gazed up at him, he tilted his head.
“…Why? Have you fallen for me?”
Clang—
With that sharp sound, the inexplicable tension that had enveloped the surroundings dissolved.
Snapping back to my senses, I immediately pushed against the man’s chest.
But my arms, trembling like a newborn fawn, couldn’t possibly move that rock-solid frame.
I eventually furrowed my brow and resigned myself to the situation.
“…How did you come to be here?”
“That’s all you have to say to a prince on a white horse who arrived just in time to rescue you?”
“Your Highness, why would you call yourself a prince on a white horse…?”
I began to protest, but quickly closed my mouth.
He was the king’s son, so technically he was a prince. Though I wasn’t sure about the white horse part…
I exhaled a short sigh and turned my head to survey the surroundings.
I hadn’t been able to look properly in the chaos earlier, but it was quite a gruesome sight.
The men Serge had hurled with his telekinetic power were scattered haphazardly throughout the narrow alley.
Ugh.
The walls and ground drenched in blood made me nauseous, so I quickly turned my head back.
Unfortunate as it was, looking at that chiseled, handsome face was far preferable.
In any case, I’d nearly been dragged away without resistance, and he’d appeared in time to save me—for that, I was grateful.
Grateful, yes, but…
Wasn’t the timing just a bit too convenient?
“You were watching me again, weren’t you?”
“What?”
I narrowed my eyes and pressed the accusation, and he let out an incredulous laugh.
“If I had been, I wouldn’t have arrived this late.”
“Then…?”
“I’ve been combing through Volner all night, searching meticulously.”
That was somewhat unexpected.
“If I hadn’t managed to find that drunken Guide, you’d be getting beaten senseless with a club right now—so who exactly are you suspecting?”
“…”
“And even if you were being watched, what then? Were you planning to run off with that parasitic blond-headed fool again?”
He spat the words out like rapid gunfire, making no effort to conceal his displeasure.
‘That parasitic blond-headed fool….’
Was he talking about Vincent? How perfectly in character for him to name someone that way.
I’d certainly been curious moments ago about how he’d managed to find me, but somehow it felt irrelevant now.
Perhaps it was because this moment—being rescued so dramatically after surrendering myself to fate—felt utterly unreal.
A hollow laugh escaped my lips unbidden.
“You’re laughing?”
At my reaction, Serge’s fury faltered as he glared down at me.
His sharply raised eyebrows were so absurd that I found myself laughing aloud again.
His menacing gaze softened slightly at that.
“Tsk, what a sight you are.”
Serge reached out and yanked the mask covering my face upward in one swift motion.
The cold morning air brushed refreshingly against the tip of my nose.
‘Come to think of it, how did he know it was me?’
All the Believers were wearing identical Deer-Masked Maid masks.
It wasn’t as though we’d made eye contact up close like I had with Dylan.
“If you’re going to pay someone to hire them, at least choose someone competent enough to serve as a proper escort. What were you thinking, coming here alone? Have you no sense?”
You’re right. I should have.
I nodded obediently to his sharp reproach that followed.
I was already blaming myself for it anyway.
But how was I supposed to know that purifying the Erosion Infected would earn me the enmity of their families?
I twisted my lips and was busily arguing back to myself when I suddenly spoke aloud.
“How did you know it was me?”
Serge paused.
It was a trivial question, yet he wore an enigmatic expression as he looked down at me.
As if he himself found it curious that he’d recognized me at a glance.
‘So he didn’t just happen to follow me after all.’
Perhaps I had a talent for escape.
As I arrived at this rather unremarkable conclusion, he answered after a brief pause.
“…How many times do I have to see someone use their ability and fumble around like that? I recognize it instantly.”
I see.
Now that I thought about it, if this man wore a mask, I’d probably recognize him just as quickly.
His appearance and build weren’t the sort that a mask could conceal.
Having readily accepted his explanation, I suddenly remembered something I’d forgotten.
“Oh, that’s right. Count Frederick is inside as well.”
“….”
“He’s unconscious, so… could you send word to the Frederick Family on my behalf?”
I wasn’t even asking him to move the man himself—surely he could manage to send a message telling them to come retrieve him?
Yet he furrowed his brow fiercely as if he hadn’t heard a word I’d said.
“Were you with them all night?”
“What? Well… yes, I suppose?”
“You cling to every worthless rabble that crosses your path, yet you couldn’t even leave me a word before gallivanting off.”
I hadn’t been clinging to anyone—he’d been dragged along before I even arrived.
But before I could correct him, he suddenly bent down and scooped me into his arms.
“What—!”
This position was far more embarrassing than simply leaning against his chest.
A princess carry, no less.
As he began walking while holding me like that, I cried out urgently.
“Put me down! I can walk on my own!”
“Keep your mouth shut and stay still. I’m barely restraining myself from dragging you along in chains.”
Just moments ago he’d been agreeing with me, yet now he spoke with a chilling edge, as if he’d never said such things at all.
‘Chains? What did I even do wrong?’
While I glared at his strong jawline and muttered complaints, Serge slipped out of the alley.
The nightmarish abandoned building where I’d been trapped all night gradually receded into the distance.
“My lord.”
Just as we reached the end of the street, a group of knights in black armor appeared.
One of them extended his arms toward me.
“Allow me, sir. I shall carry—”
“No need.”
Serge flatly rejected his subordinate’s offer and jerked his chin toward the back.
“Bind all of them and throw them in the underground dungeon. Search the building and dump the redhead back at his own place.”
“As you command!”
The knights receiving his orders hurried frantically down the alley.
At least he was looking after Dylan. That was a relief.
The only remaining problem was figuring out what had gone wrong with the black-haired one, who was now descending the downhill path at a reckless speed without uttering a single word.
‘Does this bastard not realize how hard and uncomfortable his body is?’
Thump, thump.
My body, dangling from his arms, swayed relentlessly with each step.
The dizziness that had briefly subsided returned with a vengeance, worse even than the ride in that shabby carriage yesterday.
Too exhausted to even be angry, I simply rested my forehead against his chest and murmured.
“…Could you slow down? I’m getting dizzy.”
“Endure it.”
His response was utterly callous.
I asked irritably.
“Why are you angry?”
“Do I look like I’m not?”
“That’s why I’m asking—I don’t know.”
I’d braced myself somewhat for questioning about leaving without a word.
He wasn’t even the Duke, so I had no idea why the Grand Duke was interrogating me like this…
In any case, I’d been the one to seek out the Grand Duke’s Residence first, and I’d received help during a moment that could have been dangerous—so I could tolerate a bit of nagging.
But Serge’s response was something I never could have anticipated.
“Not only did you lock eyes with some random bastard in my own home, but you’ve been spending the whole night tangled up with another man. Should I congratulate you on a job well done?”
Whether he was genuinely furious at the reason, he exhaled a heated breath.
What did it matter who I spent time with or what I did? What were we to each other?
‘He said he didn’t like me.’
But if I brought that up now, it would only make things worse.
“…It wasn’t locking eyes. I was using him. To escape. We parted ways the moment we left the Grand Duke’s Residence.”
“….”
“And Count Frederick was unconscious the entire time.”
I offered my explanation with a sullen expression.
Fortunately, it seemed to be the right answer—his murderous expression softened considerably.
“…So whether you used him or whatever, why do it with another man? The one you made a deal with would lose his mind.”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
“Is this really the time to quibble over details? And if you’ve already sealed it, it’s done. You can’t take it back.”
“Sealed what?”
“A lip seal.”
That’s it. I’m done talking.
I must have been insane to think I could have a normal conversation with this man, even for a moment.
My energy drained in that brief span, I let my body go limp.
“…Talking with you gives me a headache. Never mind—let’s just go quickly.”
“You give me a headache too. I thought my head would split open all night long.”
“….”
“What’s so pretty about this that you’d personally carry it around….”
If he disliked it so much, he could just put me down.
His pace noticeably slowed.
My body no longer swayed and jostled with each step.
After that, we slipped out of the Slum without another word.
As we entered the familiar Main Road, a carriage bearing the Grand Duke’s Residence insignia was waiting.
Even after boarding the carriage, Serge didn’t set me down from his arms.
By then, my consciousness was already half-gone, so I had no mind to notice such things.
“…Your Highness, I think I’m about to lose consciousness.”
As I barely managed to open my hazy eyes and speak, a large hand covered them.
“I won’t let you go, so stop talking and rest.”
Drowsiness rushed in like a lie, carried on that warm touch.
Unlike before, his voice reached my ears with surprising tenderness.
“I’ll send someone to the Duke’s Mansion to have a dedicated healer standing by.”
The hand that had been gripping the man’s collar tightly all the way from the Alley slowly released its hold.
Only then did I find peace, sinking into deep sleep.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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