Not even a single day of peace—not even when my wife is finally here after a whole damn year.
Life really has it out for .
Shaking my head, I stepped out of the elevator, only to be greeted by an unwelco sight.
"Who is she?"
"A celebrity?"
"More like a foreign princess?"
"Move! I need a picture!"
A crowd had gathered in the lobby, a sea of people whispering and snapping photos, their phones held high. My expression soured.
At the center of it all, sitting on a bench like she owned the place, was Layla. Her long legs crossed elegantly, her posture relaxed as if the commotion around her didn't exist. The four bodyguards surrounding her kept the crowd at bay, forming a wide periter, yet Layla paid them no mind.
She twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, her gaze lost in thought, utterly indifferent to the chaos she had caused.
Then, as if sensing my presence, she turned her head. A bright, heart-lting smile spread across her lips before she gracefully stood. Releasing a wave of mana, she cleared a path, sending the onlookers stumbling backward.
In a few swift steps, she was beside , slipping her arm through mine without hesitation.
"Oh my, Honey, you look handso as always," she purred, her voice dripping with playful affection.
I raised an eyebrow. "Just that?"
She hadn't changed a bit.
"Are you sulking, Honey?" Layla giggled softly, her pinkish eyes twinkling with amusent.
I shrugged, steering us toward the hotel exit, ignoring the stunned stares that followed our every move.
"Not really…" I muttered.
Layla sighed dramatically. "If I'm being honest, I think I preferred you with black hair. Also, your haircut's too neat, and your outfit? A little too flashy for you."
I halted mid-step, processing her words.
"Aren't you just describing from my past life?" I asked, dumbfounded.
Back on Earth, thanks to Ephera—and her preferences that had ended liking as well—I had adopted a more understated look. Dark, muted colors, hair simply brushed back, and of course, black hair.
Layla's lips curled into a sly smile. "Not at all~"
I narrowed my eyes. "You want to dye my hair black again, don't you?"
She gasped. "Co on, Honey! Why should we care about looks when it's our date? I just want you to be yourself!"
I laughed, letting her drag forward. "Looks do matter, though. Like right now, I find you exceptionally hot."
Her grip on my arm tightened, her smug smile deepening. "Obviously. I always am."
I raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you prepare yourself to et ? Why shouldn't I do the sa?"
Layla let out a soft sigh, shaking her head. "Because you're at your best when you don't change yourself to impress others. Just be you, Honey."
I glanced at her, a small smile resting on my lips. "Then by that logic, you shouldn't feel the need to impress either. I love you just the way you are."
She t my gaze with a knowing smile. "Unfortunately, I can't afford to do that," she said sulking a bit. "You'll have more won in the future, Honey. I have to set myself apart—to impress you both in appearance and… skills."
Sothing about the way she said skills sent a shiver down my spine.
I narrowed my eyes. "What kind of skills?"
Her smile widened mischievously. "Bedroom skills."
I nearly choked on air. "W–Well…"
Layla chuckled, pressing herself closer against , her soft curves molding against my arm. The warmth of her body was sticking to , and I could feel the steady rise and fall of her chest.
"If there's anything I'd like you to impress with, Honey," she whispered, her lips brushing dangerously close to my ear, "it's in bed."
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. "I'll, huh… do my best."
Her playful smile didn't waver. "I expect nothing less—especially since you already have so experience."
The shift in her tone was subtle, but I felt a sudden chill crawl up my spine.
Layla wasn't letting this go.
"How many tis have you done it, and with how many won, Honey?" She asked sweetly, her grip tightening ever so slightly around my arm.
"Layla, I don't think—"
"Honey?"
The way she said it sent a clear ssage: Answer .
I sighed, knowing there was no escape. "Just one. Elizabeth. And only three tis."
Layla's expression didn't change, but I swore her grip on my arm beca just a bit firr.
"The first ti was… because of the potion," I admitted quickly. "The second and third tis were kind of… necessary to calm her down."
Layla tilted her head, as if processing my words. "Three tis, I see…"
I felt her fingers squeeze around my arm. Whether intentional or not, the pressure sent a faint prickle of unease through .
I had no excuses. Not really.
The first ti? That had been beyond my control. But the second and third? If I had truly tried, I could have stopped things before they escalated.
But I didn't.
"Does she love you, at least? This… Elizabeth?" Layla asked, uttering Elizabeth's na as if it was hard for her.
"I doubt it. Feels more like she just wants my blood."
Layla's expression darkened instantly. "What a waste," she muttered, disappointed. "I can't believe you wasted your first ti on that woman, Honey."
The shift in her deanor was almost scary.
"I would have given you a magical first ti," she continued, certainly. "Or at the very least, it should've been Ephera, Persephone, or Cleenah."
My eyes widened. "Wait—Layla, calm down," I said hastily.
She was speaking about sex so casually, without the slightest bit of sha. Worse, she was listing nas without a care in the world when one of the concerned parties was probably overhearing all of this.
"Am I wrong, Honey?" She asked, raising a delicate brow.
"Well…"
mories flashed through my mind—Elizabeth's tears, my own guilt, the overwhelming weight of that mont. The way she cried afterward… and the way I felt so empty and lost after it all.
Yeah. Layla wasn't wrong.
"I guess… yes."
But was Elizabeth crying because of what happened, or was it sothing else entirely? That part, I wasn't so sure about.
Layla sighed, pouting slightly as she leaned into . "I'm a very understanding woman, Honey. You don't have to hesitate with , you know?"
I forced a small smile. "I know."
But that wasn't the problem.
The truth was—I was more scared of her than I was of Elizabeth.
Because in the ga, Layla's Villainess Route was permanently burned into my mory.
No matter how many tis I tried, I never won against her when things went down that path. There were different degrees of her villainess route, but the hardest one? That one was impossible to beat.
Elizabeth's instability was nothing compared to how dangerous Layla could be. And I seriously doubted Nihil had put that into the ga for nothing.
If he created that Ga to warn about potential death flags and looming dangers, then Layla's Villainess Route existed for a very clear reason.
She wasn't the strongest Villainess across three entire gas for nothing.
"Are you thinking about , Honey?" Layla suddenly asked, smiling up at .
"Yeah, of course."
Her smile deepened. "Even when I'm right beside you? Oh, Honey, you're going to make fall for you all over again," she murmured, blushing slightly as she clung to my arm.
Well, there wouldn't be a Villainess Route anymore now that she had won in love—at least, I hoped so. But that didn't an that side of her had disappeared completely. It was still there, sealed away… as long as nothing triggered it.
"Oh, look, Honey! An entertainnt park!" Layla suddenly exclaid, her voice filled with excitent as she pointed ahead.
I followed her gaze.
Central Vedelia had dozens of amusent parks, catering to the endless waves of visitors flocking to the city. It wasn't surprising to stumble upon one, but the sheer enthusiasm in Layla's voice made it feel different—special.
"Let's go, Honey!" She grabbed my hand and pulled forward without waiting for a reply.
I let myself be dragged along quite delighted
For a brief mont, I was reminded of Ephera—how she had done the exact sa thing once, pulling toward a haunted house just to watch struggle. She knew full well that I hated ghosts, but she took a twisted delight in seeing put on a brave face.
Thankfully, Layla wasn't that kind of sadist.
"Co on, climb in, Honey!" Layla grinned, stretching out a hand to as she slid into a two-person roller coaster car.
I hesitated, glancing up at the track ahead.
A dozen loops.
A track that looked like it was designed specifically to give people heart attacks.
Right…
I took Layla's hand, and she pulled in without a second thought. The mont I sat down, the automatic seatbelt snapped into place, locking us in securely.
A high-pitched scream tore through the air.
"Kyaaaa!!"
I looked up just in ti to see the car ahead of us launch at a terrifying speed, its passengers shrieking as they shot toward the first massive drop.
Wait—what the hell is that speed?!
Before I could process my impending doom, I felt Layla's fingers tighten around my left arm. I turned to her.
She was gripping a little too tightly, her eyes sparkling with excitent but also carrying the faintest trace of nervousness.
"Are you scared, Layla?" I asked, amused by the contrast.
She blinked before smiling at sweetly. "I am scared, Honey. Will you protect if we fall?"
"Oi, don't say things like that—"
-WHOOOOSH!!
The car rocketed forward, and my words were stolen away by the wind.
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