Chapter 354
Vian should be many times stronger than I imagine him to be.
Still, it was liberating to be able to expose his true self to just one person. I had many close friends in Duelkis Kingdom, so I never felt lonely. But Vian was different. He had always been lonely.
He could live in this world without constantly being judged by others. But, in order to live as the first prince of the Ravaal Kingdom, he had to erase his “Identity.”
Ravaal Kingdom needed Vian, but not Vivian.
That’s the logic of this world we live in.
“Why are you being so good to me?”
Vian looked straight at me as he hugged his red dress tightly around his chest.
I try to think of the right words to say to her, but nothing comes out.
I have no choice but to respond honestly to his gaze, which did not allow any lies.
“…I wanted to give Vivian a world that was a little easier to live in.”
I could see his eyes moisten as I said this, an expression he never showed me when he was Vian..
It was such an honor to meet the real him.
“You are a good man, you know?”
“A good man, you say… I don’t think so.”
He choked on his words and became a little weak. I was not a good person, but even I, who wanted to be a Villainess, could understand.
I was a good person to him at the moment. Maybe for the first time in my life, I did something good.
“You don’t sound happy.”
“I’ve never wanted to be a good person. I just…”
“It’s a real sin for one to be so unaware…”
“What?”
I didn’t catch Vian’s quiet mutter.
“No, nothing. There is kindness in harshness and strength. There are only a few people who can recognize it. Sometimes, by the time they realize it, it’s too late. The people may call you a Villainess for ending up in exile. But that is only superficial. The real evil is much more persistent and tries to deceive everyone.”
…Oh no, the prince of the Ravaal Kingdom told me I was not a Villainess.
Well, I was supposed to be a Villainess in Duelkis Kingdom, so I guess that’s OK. And here I had to pretend to be a boy.
“Maybe I should learn how to be truly evil in this country…. Then I can go back home with an even better reputation.”
Vian frowned at my words.
“What are you talking about? You should stick to your beliefs. Alicia is always shining. I envy you.”
“Vivian~~!”
I involuntarily hugged Vian. He gently pats my head and says, “You’re such a good boy, aren’t you?”.
We were no longer friends, but more like father and son….
And I felt comfortable around him.
“Come on, let’s get dressed and go to town!”
Vian’s higher-than-usual tone of voice echoed through the room.
We changed into our dresses and Vian helped me put on my accessories.
With practiced hands, he attaches the earrings to his own ears. Vian noticed my gaze and our eyes met.
“What?”
“I wish I could be that, sexy.”
Vian’s gaze shifted to my chest. I immediately understood what he was trying to say, and unintentionally, my face turned red.
“…I could not help it! I am normal! Everyone else is just too big!”
“Isn’t it good that it’s easier to train, and it’s less obvious that you are dressed as a man?”
What kind of follow-up was that?
No one has ever said that to me before. I was not small. It was just that my rival, Liz-san, was much bigger than me. She was the heroine of an Otome game.
I let out a big sigh. Let us not think about breasts anymore.
“Breasts don’t determine sex appeal.”
“That’s certainly true. And I don’t think sexiness is about looks.”
“Then why did you lower your gaze?”
He said nothing and covered it up with a small cough.
Well, people call it sex appeal for a reason…
“So what is this sexiness that Vivian is talking about?”
“It’s something that comes from the inside. Like a flower that blooms in the face of adversity, that attracts people… that’s you.”
He answered immediately.
Did you just say “Me”?
“Let’s go.”
“Eh, wait…”
Before I had the time to think about the meaning of what Vian said, we sneaked out of the room so that no one would find out.