The Male Lead’s Villainess Fiancée Chapter 8 8

"…Ian."

His na ca out of her soft lips. She said it a little awkwardly, but she said it nonetheless.

For the first ti.

Ian had considerable expectations for when this mont would happen. He had wondered how much more amazing it would be after she said his na, but he didn't expect it to be in these circumstances.

"Louise."

He said her na back.

Standing before the brutal red glow of the sunset, Louise seed to be a different person. He wished it were so other imposter before him. It was cruel of her to ask him to abandon their relationship they had since childhood, a relationship that, whether it was sincere or teasing or anything else, still ant sothing.

The lips that spoke those sad words curved into a smile.

No, that was a false smile. It was the sa cowardly smile that so many people made in front of Ian. It was the smile worn by those that sought only their own interests.

Why did it have to be her? Was she laughing at him?

'Well, she's smart enough to be the top of the class. If it's necessary maybe she can pull it off with enough skill…'

It was only a stray thought that Ian had co up with in the hallway. He didn't expect it to be true.

He was stupid. Really.

He couldn't contain the bitterness in his heart from leaking into his voice.

"If I can't treat you like my fiancée, then what should I do?"

"Treat normally, please."

"That's difficult."

"But…I'm not even your real fiancée."

"But you're not my fake fiancée."

Ian gave a sardonic smile as if to say, "The words of the queen shouldn't be treated lightly."

"But this engagent isn't official–"

Louise mumbled before Ian cut in.

"We can make it official."

"Are you crazy?"

Louise yelled and took a step back.

"…That's quite a reaction. Do you really hate that much? "

Louise admittedly had a weakness against Ian's heartbroken face, but she couldn't get mixed up with him. If Louise began to like him, then ruin and hell would befall her. Ian would end up pledging his eternal love to Stella and completely abandon Louise, and the villainess inside her might erge.

" I just–"

Louise carefully chose her words then spoke in a cooler voice.

"I just didn't want to be misunderstood."

"Misunderstood? "

"Yes. What if soone hears you say 'my fiancée' and misunderstands you, isn't that a problem?"

Louise looked closely at him for agreent.

"I wouldn't mind."

"Well, I mind!'

"Oh? "

Ian took a calculated step towards her.

"Co to think of it, you ran to the library as soon as the entrance ceremony was over to borrow the love horoscope book."

"And?"

"Then all of a sudden, you're uncomfortable with calling you 'my fiancée'. Because you don't want to be misunderstood. Right?"

Louise could not bring herself to nod her head. Everything he said was true, but she sohow had a feeling that he was the one that deeply misunderstood. Maybe he thought she already had soone in her heart.

Hey, Louise Sweeney. The only man in her mind was the dean of the Academy. Her only goal in life was to be the top student and receive an honor from him at the graduation ceremony.

Louise's delay in answering was enough to test Ian's generous patience.

"So, who is it? "

"…What? "

"I want to know who it is so I can be more careful about any misunderstandings."

"There's no one,"

Louise mumbled, avoiding his eyes. Though there was a certain soone nad Stella that was supposed to co between them.

"I think there is."

Ian gripped her chin and pointed her gaze towards him.

"Uh, no! Really, I swear."

Ian stared at her stubborn face for a mont then finally sighed. Can she just get over trying to hide her facial expressions and emotions? She wanted him to believe there was no one. He was going to go crazy. Who was it?

It was clear it had to be soone on campus if she was scared of him calling her "my fiancée." He rembered the friend he was talking to earlier who seed quite interested in Louise. Was it a two-way relationship? No, he don't think so. If Louise Sweeney had her eyes on him, that cunning snake-like kid wouldn't have been able to help himself.

Who else was there?

Ian rembered his cousin that attended the Academy with him. No way, there may be others but not him. His cousin would have already heard Ian call Louise "my fiancée" many tis anyway.

…Who could it be?

"I understand."

Ian patted her on the cheek a couple of tis then took a step back and put his arm around her instead. He had to wait and see what her purpose was.

"You are right. My words and actions are quite misleading. "

Louise's troubled face transitioned to relief. Was that good?

Ian tried to suppress the strange feeling in his stomach.

"I promise to you, Louise Sweeney."

Their eyes locked.

"We will completely forget about our engagent. I promise I won't call you by the wrong title."

It seed that Ian finally accepted everything Louise asked for. But with such a solemn expression, it was hard for her to be grateful him.

"Well, then–"

Her lips quivered. It was ti for her to say thank you.

"But only for a year."

Ian suddenly had an impish grin on his face. Louise looked up at him in astonishnt. A year?

"Is that enough ti?"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

"Why is it nonsense? "

"Because–"

A year later, Ian would completely confess his love to Stella. Their passion would burn so much that they would find various shortcuts just to avoid the eyes of other students.

"Because–we might et soone separately."

"Who?"

"Either of us."

"I don't have any plans for that."

Hilarious. Louise had seen several shaless illustrations of Ian of making out everywhere. (And of course she cheered.)

She would count herself lucky if she ever kissed him! The re-released rated R edition was even more impressive, followed by a flood of five star reviews. Of course Louise hadn't been able to read it because of age restrictions.

"Why do you look so skeptical?"

"I don't believe you."

"I didn't realize I was so untrustworthy. Then here's the deal."

Ian struggled with himself for a long mont, then added the final condition.

"If either side has a partner, we will break off the engagent."

Louise nodded in agreent. As long as those conditions were t, there would be no trouble. Ian was going to have a wonderful relationship with Stella.

"And then–"

"And then?"

"A year later, if neither of us is in a relationship…"

Ian's lips curved upwards. Louise beca a little nervous. It was the sa smile he always wore when he was being mischievous.

"…we will be engaged."

"What? "

"It ans that you have to be my fiancée."

"Are you crazy?!"

"I may be, yes. And with that kind of condition attached, you have to hurry up and work up the nerve to start dating."

"Our agreent is fine without that kind of condition!"

"What are you so scared about? Where was your disbelief when I said I didn't plan on being with anyone else?"

"I was…"

"Who was it that made feel like I was about to fall in love with soone and start a passionate relationship?"

"I didn't act like that."

"That's what it seed like."

"You once said that arranged marriages were a relic of old age!"

"Of course it's a relic of old age."

"Then why want to be engaged to ? "

"It is the crown prince's job to cherish the relics. "

Ugh. Louise rolled her eyes in frustration.

These were his conditions. The two would no longer be bound by their childhood engagent for a year. Then a year later, if either of them had a lover, the engagent would be nullified. If not, the engagent would be made a reality to protect the relics of old age.

'I really don't like the condition that I have to get engaged.'

Although it didn't matter because it wouldn't happen anyway.

"Okay."

Louise nodded her head affirmatively.

"I accept all of your terms."

"I'll also keep my word."

"Thank you."

"And I'll tell you sothing else."

Ian had a very stern look on his face and declared seriously,

"After the engagent is recognized, no matter what happens, we can't break up."

"What are you talking about? We're in an era where we can get refunds for purchases we don't like!"

"Am I sothing you don't like? "

"…Not really."

"Well, I hope the fiancé you purchase will be to your satisfaction."

"Ha, but that's only if we get engaged, isn't it? "

"Yes. That will be when you haven't run away from for a year."

He looked like a lion staring at its prey. Louise braced her shoulders.