I Am a Villain, So What?-Chapter 139: Merle’s Gratitude

The private carriage rattled to a halt in front of the house.

Inside, the heavy atmosphere of lust and adrenaline had settled into a comfortable, simmering warmth. Ariana sat up, fixing her disheveled ivory hair and buttoning the top of her blouse with shaky fingers. She reached for her glasses on the seat, sliding them back onto her nose.

In an instant, the "Femme Fatale" vanished, replaced by the composed, intellectual "Genius Alchemist."

Well, almost.

Her lips were still swollen, and her cheeks held a flush that no amount of cooling magic could hide.

"How do I look?" she asked, smoothing her skirt.

"Like a valedictorian who just got into trouble," I teased, opening the door.

"Hmph. Good."

I stepped out first, offering her my hand. She took it, her grip tight.

The front door of the mansion swung open before we even reached the steps.

"Welcome back, Master!"

Lily, wearing her frilly apron, beamed at us. The smell of roasted garlic and herbs wafted out from the kitchen—a stark contrast to the battlefield we had just left.

Behind her stood Alicia.

She was dressed in a pristine, crisp maid outfit, her silver hair tied back severely. Her crimson eyes scanned me for injuries instantly—checking for burns, cuts, mana poisoning.

Then, they slid to Ariana holding my hand.

The air temperature dropped.

"Welcome back, Master," Alicia said, her voice smooth but carrying a hidden edge sharp enough to cut glass. "And... Lady Solmere. An unexpected guest."

"It’s not unexpected if I’m invited," Ariana replied coolly, stepping forward. She didn’t let go of my hand. "I’m staying for dinner. And perhaps... longer."

Alicia’s eyebrow twitched.

"I see. I will prepare an extra plate. Though we are serving spicy curry tonight. I hope the Lady’s delicate stomach can handle it."

"I love spice," Ariana smiled, the glass of her spectacles flashing ominously. "The hotter, the better."

I sighed.

’Here we go again.’

I walked past the two glaring women and entered the hallway.

"Master!" Lily trotted up to me, tilting her head. "Oh my! Your neck!"

"My neck?"

I touched the side of my throat. It stung slightly.

"Did a mosquito bite you? It’s all red and purple!" Lily gasped, reaching out to touch the love bite Ariana had left. "It looks swollen! Should I get the ointment?"

I froze.

Behind me, I heard a soft, triumphant hum.

"No need, Lily," Ariana said, walking past me and patting my shoulder possessively. "I already applied... treatment."

Alicia stared at the mark. Her red eyes narrowed into slits. She looked from the mark to Ariana’s swollen lips, and the realization hit her like a physical blow.

"A mosquito," Alicia muttered, her hand twitching toward the hidden dagger in her skirt. "A very large, pestilent mosquito."

"Alicia," I warned, sensing her killing intent rising.

"Yes, Master?"

"Dinner. Now."

"...As you wish."

Alicia bowed stiffly and marched into the kitchen, likely to chop vegetables with unnecessary violence.

****

[Dinner Time]

The dining table was a battlefield.

On one side: Ariana. On the other: Alicia, the Frenzied Maid. In the middle: Me, the victim. And on the sidelines: Lily, blissfully unaware, serving curry.

"Here you go, Lady Ariana!" Lily chirped, placing a steaming bowl down. "I made sure to add extra chili, just like you said you liked!"

Ariana took a spoonful. Her face turned pale, then red.

"Mmm. Delicious," she wheezed, clearly dying inside but refusing to show weakness in front of Alicia.

"I’m glad," Alicia smiled serenely, pouring water for me but "forgetting" Ariana’s glass. "Master Lucien prefers strong flavors. It takes a strong constitution to stand by his side."

"I have plenty of constitution," Ariana rasped, forcing another spoonful down. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "I can handle anything Lucien gives me."

The double entendre hung in the air like heavy smoke.

Cough!

I choked on my water.

"So," I interrupted, slamming my glass down to salvage the evening. "Merle. How is he?"

Alicia’s demeanor shifted instantly to professional mode.

"He is stable, Master. He is currently resting in the guest room on the second floor. His burns are severe, but Lady Lena applied a high-grade salve. He will wake up by tomorrow."

"Good."

"Also," Alicia reached into her apron pocket. "He woke up briefly an hour ago. He insisted I give you this immediately." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

She slid a small, ornate wooden box across the table.

I took it.

[System Notification] [Item Received: Merle’s Gratitude]

I opened the box.

Inside sat a single, monocle-like lens with a brass frame, and a jagged, rusty key.

[Item: The Eye of Lumeveil (Replica)]

Rank: AType: Accessory / Tool

Effect: Allows the user to see the "Structure" of artifacts. Grants a high probability to identify hidden mechanisms and flaws in magical items.

Passive: Increases [Dexterity] when crafting by +10.

[Item: Rusty Sector Key]

Description: A key to a specific warehouse in the Industrial District. Merle’s secret stash.

I smirked.

The Eye of Lumeveil. In the game, this was a mid-game item crucial for the "Artificer" class. With this, I could finally upgrade the Winchester properly without relying on guesswork. And the key... that was likely full of forbidden materials.

"He paid his debts," I muttered, closing the box.

"He also said," Alicia added, "that he is ready to work whenever you command. He seems... eager. Almost fanatical."

"Well, I saved him and his granddaughter," I said, leaning back. "To him, I’m a messiah."

"To us, you are the Master," Alicia corrected firmly.

Clang.

Ariana slammed her empty bowl down. Her face was flushed, sweat beading on her forehead, but she had finished every bite.

I looked at the clock.

"Lily, clear the table."

I stood up, grabbing Ariana’s hand before she could pass out from the spice or start a duel with the maid.

"Ariana, let’s go to my study. We need to... discuss the curriculum."

Ariana’s eyes lit up.

"Curriculum. Yes. Practical application."

As I dragged her upstairs, I heard a distinct snap from the kitchen.

I glanced back. Alicia was holding a bent metal spoon in her hand, smiling politely.

"Have a productive study session, Master."

*****

The heavy oak door of the study clicked shut, and I turned the lock.

The sound seemed to echo in the sudden silence of the room. The air was thick, filled with the scent of old books and the lingering tension from the dinner table.

Ariana, who had been marching up the stairs with the confidence of a general, suddenly stopped in the center of the room. She stood with her back to me, her hands gripping the edge of my mahogany desk.

"So," she started, her voice wavering slightly. "About the... curriculum."

I didn’t answer. I walked toward her, my footsteps silent on the rug.

I stopped right behind her. I could see the nape of her neck, flushed a deep, rosy pink. The "Emperor" of the cafeteria, the woman who had terrified Kael and Bordon, was trembling.

"You talked big downstairs, Alchemist," I whispered, leaning down so my breath ghosted over her ear. "You said you wanted to capture me."

Ariana stiffened. She turned around slowly, looking up at me. Her violet eyes, usually so sharp and analytical behind her glasses, were now swimming with a hazy, uncertain light.

"I... I didn’t want them to think you were available," she murmured, biting her swollen lip. "I had to mark my territory."

"And you did."

I reached out and gently took the glasses off her face, placing them on the desk.

Without the lenses, she looked vulnerable. The boldness she had worn like armor fell away, revealing the shy, insecure girl I had first met—but with a fire of desire burning underneath.

"But marking territory isn’t enough, Ariana," I said, my voice dropping to a rough growl. "If you want to keep me..."

I stepped closer, eliminating the space between us. My hips pressed against hers, letting her feel the hardness that had been aching since the carriage ride.

"...You have to own me."

Ariana let out a small squeak.

"I told you, you are playing with fire, didn’t I?"

I didn’t give her time to think. I grabbed her waist, pulling her flush against me, and crashed my lips onto hers.

"Mmph!"

It wasn’t like the kiss in the carriage. That was desperate; this was devouring.

My tongue swept into her mouth, seeking hers. She gasped, allowing me entrance, and our tongues met, wrestling in a wet, heated dance. I tasted the lingering spice of the curry and her own sweet, intoxicating flavor.

"Hah... ahn... Lucien..."

She moaned into my mouth, her arms winding around my neck, her fingers tangling in my hair. She clung to me as if her legs had lost the strength to hold her.

I kissed her deeply, tilting her head back to deepen the angle, stealing her breath until she was panting, her chest heaving against mine.

"Lucien... wait... it’s too..."

"Too what?" I pulled back just an inch, staring into her glazed eyes. "Too much? We haven’t even started."