Stealing Heroines' Affections Is My Job as the Villain

Chapter 24: Beneath the Blue Roses

Nightfall...

The palace maids were finishing up their duties for the night, clearing dishes in the kitchen, sweeping the courtyard, and handling the royal family's laundry for the next day.

Meanwhile, the palace guards carried out their usual patrols around the Armed Palace, making sure the royal family was as safe as treasure guarded by a dragon.

In the Blue Rose Garden, a secluded estate within the Armed Palace, there was a grand gazebo. The garden was filled with blue roses... a unique color that released a cool aura when touched by moonlight, making the gazebo an ideal spot to relax or have a conversation at night.

This was where Prince Vritra and Princess Luciana were having their little meeting.

"God Vritra, please try this tea... I think you'll like it. I know you usually prefer red tea, but I decided to switch things up and make you some brown tea instead. It's a fresh new product shipped to us from the Sacred City of Naxos."

Princess Luciana's bright smile showed just how comfortable she had become around Prince Vritra. After all, there was no reason to fear the man who had protected her──being afraid would simply be ungrateful.

"I hope you enjoy it."

She carefully held up the teapot and poured some brown tea into Prince Vritra's cup.

Vritra picked up the cup and took a small sniff, appreciating the calming scent of the tea. "So, how did you know I enjoy red tea?" he asked, smiling gently at Luciana.

The princess set the teapot back on the table and bowed her head before replying.

"It's because I also enjoy red tea. In fact, I'm one of the few people in the Central Continent who actually drinks it. When I found out my stock had run out, I asked Esmeralda, and she told me you drank most of it."

Vritra nodded thoughtfully at her words. "So, you're saying I finished your tea?"

Luciana immediately waved her hands in panic, trying to dismiss the idea.

"N-, No, not at all, God Vritra! I'm just saying it's surprising that you're one of the few who appreciate the unique and acquired of red tea!"

In response, Vritra took another sip of his tea and stayed silent for a moment.

『Hmm... it seems she's still cautious around me.』

For Luciana, the pause felt like ages as she worried she had messed up.

Finally, Vritra spoke.

"As I've said before, you can afford to be comfortable around me. As long as it's not unwarranted insolence, I have no reason to punish you. And even if it were, a beautiful woman like you would receive leniency from me. So, feel free to relax. This is just a conversation about tea between two royals."

His calm words made Luciana feel at ease again, maybe even more so than before.

She realized that even when he made his earlier statement, he hadn't seemed offended.

『He really... isn't angry...』

He had spoken calmly and with a mild smile.

『Could it be that the young lord was just trying to... make a joke? No, no, that's a silly thought, Luciana.』

It was a difficult thought to swallow.

Vritra took another sip of his tea and gestured to the chair across from him without looking.

"Have a seat, and let's talk some more."

"Yes, God Vritra?"

Princess Luciana spoke with much more eagerness, clearly showing that she was more interested in talking with him.

"Are you flattering me because you want me to favor your nation and form an alliance? Why are you so irritatingly desperate? Just weeks ago, you all laughed at the idea of an alliance with this young lord."

Vritra's sinister smile and smooth voice showed he knew exactly what he was doing.

However, Luciana was too panicked to notice.

She leaned forward with a worried face.

"I-, I would never dream of that, God Vritra! I'm just trying to have a conversation with you, to get to know you better. That's all. My modest beauty and limited mind could never convince someone like you! I just──!"

"Shut up..."

Luciana gasped loudly at Vritra's calm but chilling command and fell silent.

[The heroine knows her place: -20 Affection Points!]

Seeing this, Vritra smiled with his eyes gently closed and stood up to get a better view of the cool garden from the gazebo.

Princess Luciana was feeling very nervous.

『H-, How did he know──?!』

Her light makeup was barely staying in place as she sweat, and her body shook like a fragile creature in the cold of winter.

All she could see was Vritra's back.

The young Asura sipped his tea with a smirk.

"So, you would really dare to lie to me like I'm a child, despicable woman? Or are you seriously saying that you just want to compliment and flirt with someone as cruel and merciless as me, who has killed countless men, women, and children? That's how your old man describes me, anyway."

The gazebo fell silent.

Princess Luciana didn't dare reply.

『Did I make it too obvious? Father will be furious with me...』

She kept her head down, trying to hold back her tears and hide her gloomy face.

This was the perfect moment to act!

Vritra glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"I have a question for you..."

The princess looked up, responding quickly, "Yes, God Vritra!"

"Now that I've shown you that I'm no fool and I know you were sent here by your father to try to persuade me into an alliance, I have just one question for you. What if I said I wouldn't form an alliance with your nation unless you became my wife?"

An evil grin appeared on Vritra's face.

"No, let's make it even more interesting... what if I said I wouldn't ally with your nation unless you became my meat toilet? What would you do then?"