I Reincarnated as a Noble Bastard, So I'm Seducing All the Villainess Chapter 24: We Make a Good Pair, Right?

What a beautiful view. At so point I’ve forgotten, we stopped at a makeshift overlook with a view of the lowest part of the Scorn, where the underground tracks intersect like veins and the artificial lights flicker like the heartbeats of a dying beast.

Using that analogy, it wouldn’t be hard to believe that the ground beneath the Imperial City houses so kind of dead creature. There’s no specific ntion of this in the novel, as if the author would include it, but it’s quite interesting to analyze the landscape and think in that way.

Ravenna is beside , sitting on the edge of the low wall, swinging her legs over an abyss that leads to a vast network of tracks. After causing so much chaos back there, we managed to shake off our pursuers and co here, supposedly a place she wanted to visit and quiet enough for no one to bother us. The space behind us is quite enclosed, with only this crumbling low wall preventing certain death.

Anyway, it’s a cool spot, even if it’s macabre. Goths really have a taste for bizarre places.

"You ever thought about... disappearing?"

I turn my face toward Ravenna, the one who asked the question, and rest my elbows on the low wall. Not the biggest fan of these kinds of questions, as I’ve never been one to philosophize or lose sleep imagining things at night.

"Like, really vanish? Vanish for good?"

"Yeah, vanish for good. Not die. Just... cease to exist in what people expect of us. Stop being the monster, the witch, the noble... I don’t know. Escape the versions they’ve invented."

"I’ve thought about it many tis, but then I realize that even if I vanished, soone would put my face on a rumor. There’ll always be soone inventing stories in my place. I rember a friend who told about dead people who don’t even find peace after going to the other side. Well, considering my position, I guess the sa applies to ..."

She laughs, but this isn’t funny at all. This life really sucks, especially when you’re at rock bottom. Witches in this world are hated as much as bastards. I’m a stroke of luck that for so reason the duke decided to take in, while Ravenna is a miracle of nature for existing.

From this perspective, we actually make a good pair.

If it were in another situation, maybe back in my past life, we would have t and made a great duo for causing chaos.

"Hahaha! Hahahahahaha!"

I slap the low wall, leaning forward so of the trains below skid on the tracks and crash into each other, causing a terrible accident. Not even a day has passed and I’m already this insensitive, incredible.

"Darius, can I ask you sothing?"

"Shoot."

"Why did you save ? Tell the truth. So far, your path with has been one lie after another, but I think it’s ti to spill it... what’s your objective?"

Direct, aren’t you, witch? I take a deep breath, tilting my head up, seeing another one of those magically enchanted lamps swaying above us. Let’s lay our cards on the table.

"I was drunk and probably high on sothing they put in my drink. You must know my reputation, hanging out in brothels and causing trouble because I want to... well, when I left Mada Cerise’s brothel, I thought it would be really stupid to go to you."

"But we’d never t before, that doesn’t make sense."

"That’s why I said they put sothing in my drink. I don’t know what the hell was going through my head, but soone told where you were locked up, so I just gave in to it and went after the risk."

"Why?"

"I have no idea. Madness? Craziness? Or because I thought you were beautiful? Maybe because you’re my type?"

To play along, I nudge her arm with my elbow, letting out another one of my typical laughs that now sounds more like a villain’s than anything else. However, there’s no good feedback. She’s not blushing, but rather has a strange glint in her eyes, holding back a dam of tears.

I think about making so witty remark, so catchphrase, but there’s no room for it. Saying sothing idiotic would never improve the mood, maybe it worked before when she was excited.

I hate playing the gentleman, but this situation demands a respectful person to help this lady. I bring my fingers to Ravenna’s face and brush away a rebellious strand of hair that covers her eyes, those hypnotizing knife-like grey eyes.

Would it be terrible if I mislead her a little? No, considering her ntal state and the fact that her face is about to burst into tears, I have almost no alternative but to appeal.

"Now, I see things differently."

"Differently? How so?"

"I think what I ended up saying about loving you might have been true from the beginning."

"Huh? Wai-Wait..."

My bad, no ti to lose. My lips attack hers, stealing a delicious kiss from that black lipstick that for so reason tastes like blackberry. Anyway, my high is quickly cut short as she pushes back with her hands on my shoulders.

"W-What was that?! Are you crazy?!"

Ravenna blushes. Wow, the ruby red of her necklace and face really match the black tones around her, it’s quite captivating.

Oh, damn it, Darius, don’t tell you just turned into a teenager in front of this girl? Is that even possible? I was supposed to keep my distance, why the hell are you getting so close, you idiot?

One of my hands touches the witch’s delicate chin, our eyes fixed. Since my specialty is being shaless, I don’t even feel embarrassed.

In fact, I have a better idea.

"You said you could start to like , rember?"

"B-But that was because of your a-acting! It was b-because you did a good job!"

"And do I look like I’m acting now?"

In part, I am, it’s a sha Ravenna can’t quite tell, maintaining such a deep silence full of doubt that I feel pity for her. I move my face even closer, which makes Ravenna shiver like a black kitten. Apparently, I have you at my fingertips.

"If that’s the case, I’ll collect the favor you owe . In the cell, when I promised to save you from the trial, you accepted my terms, so I want to use it now."

"W-What is it?"

"I want a night together. You and I, in the sa bed."

The silence after I say this is an affront to my courage. The sound of tal trains grinding and crashing below barely surpasses that of my own heart beating fast, unable to believe I had the guts to ask this of soone who could literally end my life with a snap of their fingers.

As for Ravenna, it seems her brain is having a hard ti processing what I asked, until her face slowly starts to crumble.

"D-Darius..." Her voice cos out choked, a whisper more fragile than the invocation of the dark spirit. "Is this... is this se-serious?"

"Do you think I’d joke about this?"

"B-But... here? N-Now?"

"What? No. I’d never allow anyone to see you in such a shaful way..."

I sigh, running a hand through my hair and tidying my ssy fringe. Let’s try another approach, this ti softer, calr.

"I’m sorry, I think you must have misunderstood. I ant that... I just wanted to sleep in the sa bed as you, not have sex. Better now?"

"Oh... I-I see... I guess that’s what you ant by ’I need to be alive to ask for the favor,’ hahaha... haha..."

She doesn’t even have the strength to laugh properly, poor thing. All right, it’s part of a plan. If you really think I’m going to let you off this easy, Ravenna, you’re sorely mistaken. I’ve been through hell on Earth because of you, I haven’t forgotten a thing, so I’m going to be mischievous today.

"You know what? This whole thing today has left dead tired! How about we buy so drinks and relax for the rest of the day?"

"Dr-Drinks? I want wine! Very expensive wine!"

"Ravenna, we only have a few silver coins left, so try to be patient with what you spend them on..."

"But the money was originally mine, you only had a chance to win that rat competition because of !"

And now we’re back to the traditional animated Ravenna. It’s funny how the ntion of "drinks" completely flipped a switch in her. Anyway, I decide to head down the street and am soon joined by the skipping goth witch, who is suddenly less clingy due to my "sleep together" remark.

I truly am a jerk for making her follow along like this. Am I more villainous than a secondary villain? Who knows, first let’s focus on getting drunk! I deserve it today after such a painful victory!