I'm a Villainess, Can I Die?-Chapter 69

Lukas told me to step back for a moment, then casually shook out his hair. The strands that had been clinging to the ends fluttered down onto the cloth beneath him.

Once he had shaken off all the loose hairs, he stood up from the chair and tied his hair back with the ribbon wrapped around his wrist.

Something about that light green hair ribbon looked oddly familiar.

"There. It’s done."

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Lukas turned to face me, speaking as if something had been accomplished.

What exactly was done? I tilted my head in confusion, but before I could ask, he rummaged through his coat and pulled something out—a dagger.

...A dagger?

Wait, was this what he meant by being done? Had he prepared everything to kill me? Had he somehow figured out that I’d briefly considered taking action against him with the scissors earlier?

As expected, a protagonist’s instincts were on another level.

I instinctively hunched my shoulders, thinking of Selina’s fate in the novel, and took a step back. A perfect defensive stance.

Lukas alternated glances between me and the dagger in his hand, then made an exasperated expression.

"I’m the vice-captain of the duke’s knight order and your personal escort. It’s only natural that I carry a dagger, even within the duchy, to be prepared for any situation."

Hearing that, I straightened my posture.

Honestly, I had just been messing around. Of course, that was all it was.

After all, we had been stuck together, bickering or not, for five months now...

Yes, really.

It had definitely just been a joke.

"Here."

Lukas stretched out his arm, offering me the sheathed dagger.

I hesitantly took it from him, then looked up.

What am I supposed to do with this?

"You need to finish cutting my hair."

With this?

What if I accidentally slit his throat?

I remained frozen in place, but Lukas stepped forward. No matter how much I backed away, we were both still standing on the large cloth spread across the floor.

Lukas reached down, took the scissors awkwardly dangling in my right hand, and set them aside. Then, bending down slightly, he met my eyes.

Despite being a full head taller than me, his lowered posture brought him to my level.

"Cut it."

"Like this?"

I had never heard of anyone cutting hair in this kind of position before. But Lukas, as if my question was completely unnecessary, simply smiled.

He then lifted my left hand, gently placing the dagger into my right instead.

And, ever so considerately, he removed the sheath for me.

The sharp, gleaming blade was exposed.

Even with the cold steel right in front of his face, Lukas showed no hint of fear—just an easygoing smile.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering how I was supposed to cut his hair like this. Eventually, I placed a hand behind his neck for support.

Even though he had bent down to match my height, I still had to stand on my toes.

God, I’m doing all sorts of ridiculous things today.

Still, this way, at least I wouldn’t accidentally cut myself. Though Lukas’s neck was still at risk... well, that ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) would be an unfortunate accident. Nothing I could do about that.

With my left hand, I grabbed the gathered hair above the hair tie. With my right, I pressed the dagger’s edge just above it.

Then, applying outward pressure from his nape, I moved my hand.

The silver strands were cleanly severed, the cut ends instantly revealed. A few loose strands slipped from my grip, floating weightlessly in the air before drifting to the ground.

"Well done."

Lukas’s voice came from right beside my ear. A voice thick with amusement, as if he were savoring this moment.

"Selina."

The low murmur tickled my ear, making me quickly withdraw my arm from around his neck.

Seriously, could he not talk so close to me?

I ran my fingers through the handful of hair still in my grasp before unceremoniously letting it drop to the floor.

No matter how shiny and silk-like it looked, hair was still just hair.

I picked up the sheath and properly stored the dagger before setting it aside. As I bent down to grab the scissors, I felt an odd gaze on me.

"What?"

Lukas simply blinked at me, then exhaled through his nose as if sighing. A faint smile played on his lips.

When he turned away and sat down on the vanity chair, something about his posture looked unusually drained.

What the hell was that about?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

If someone had to name the hottest topic in the duchy today, without a doubt, everyone would say it was Lukas’s new hairstyle.

Even the Duke and Duchess, who had been busy preparing gifts for the imperial party and inspecting the upcoming festival within their territory, had paused their work just to take a look at him.

The maids, the servants, the knights, even the gardeners.

Everywhere Lukas went, people either stared at him in shock or observed him with curiosity.

Aaron was no exception.

He had been helping their father with administrative duties, but by late afternoon, he finally managed to snatch a short break.

Planning to unwind with a cup of sweet tea, Aaron found himself completely blindsided when Lukas appeared before him—sporting short hair.

Aaron, startled, pulled Lukas into a chair across from him and sipped his tea.

"You cut your hair? I don’t think I’ve seen it this short since we were kids."

Since Lukas had been practically dragged here, there was no tea in front of him.

Drumming his fingers idly on the empty table, he signaled a servant to bring some tea, then leaned back against the chair.

"Someone told me they preferred short hair."

A face immediately came to Aaron’s mind.

His one and only sister, Selina.

Aaron forcibly erased her image from his thoughts and casually changed the subject.

"I don’t remember you leaving the estate today... Did you call a hairdresser?"

"No, Selina cut it."

All attempts at diversion shattered instantly.

At the mention of that name, Aaron slammed his teacup down onto the table with a loud clank.

"What? Selina did? Why?"

The tea sloshed over the rim, spilling onto his hand.

Thankfully, it wasn’t too hot.

Even though his hand was soaked, Aaron’s gaze remained locked on Lukas.

With a resigned sigh, Lukas pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and passed it over.

Unlike Lukas, who handed it over at a leisurely pace, Aaron snatched the handkerchief urgently.

It was an unspoken demand.

Hurry up and explain.

Lukas smirked as he watched his so-called genius friend fluster in frustration.

"I used my wish. Remember?"

"Wait, don’t tell me... You mean that game of Five-in-a-Row?"

"Yeah. That game of Five-in-a-Row."

"You could’ve just asked me to cut your hair instead."

"My wish was supposed to be granted by Selina. Why would you cut my hair?"

As Aaron’s voice grew louder with agitation, a knock on the door interrupted them at the perfect moment.

It was the servant who had brought the tea Lukas had ordered earlier. He accepted the teacup with an easy smile.

The servant, who admired Lukas for his composed demeanor and courteous manner even toward those of lower status, turned to greet Aaron—only to freeze on the spot.

If Lukas always looked relaxed, Aaron was the embodiment of warmth. But at this moment, that usually calm and kind face was thoroughly twisted. Deep furrows lined his forehead, an expression utterly uncharacteristic of him.

And usually, when someone who never scowled suddenly did, it was all the more terrifying.

The servant gulped nervously, wondering if they had made some mistake.

Noticing this, Aaron massaged his temple and forced a smile.

"Good work. You may go."

The servant scurried out with hurried steps, clearly relieved. As soon as the door shut, Aaron’s face immediately crumpled again.

Still, the brief interruption had helped him regain some composure.

Lukas, watching him with amusement, let out a soft chuckle and lifted his teacup.

"If I had asked you, you would’ve accidentally slit my throat."

Aaron nodded solemnly, as if that were an undeniable fact.

"Ah, you got me. But even if I tried to take you down from behind, would you really let it happen? You know I’m useless when it comes to swordsmanship."

"Haha, that’s true. You’re a genius when it comes to brains, but utterly hopeless with a sword."

Lukas grinned, his eyes curving with amusement.

"But still, if it were you... I’d let you do it."

Aaron had been joking, but Lukas’s response was just as casual—light, almost playful.

And yet, Aaron found himself unable to say anything in return.

Because everything about Lukas—his eyes, his tone, his expression—told him that those words weren’t a joke at all.

Yeah... you really would let me.

As that bitter thought crossed his mind, Aaron reached for a ginger cookie and snapped it in half. The crisp sound of it breaking filled the silence.

"...You’re being ridiculous. Stop with the weird jokes and just eat the damn cookie."

He held out one half to Lukas, who accepted it and took a bite.

Aaron watched him for a moment, then turned his gaze toward the window.

The piercingly bright sky reminded him of Selina.

He felt a little guilty thinking this, but he had no intention of letting Lukas have his sister.

Selina was someone he felt was too precious for any man to deserve. But especially Lukas—Aaron simply couldn’t accept it.

He had watched Lukas for a long time.

From the moment he first arrived at the estate as a child, eyes burning with something too intense for his age—to the days of his youth, gripping a sword so fiercely that his hands were covered in callouses, blood, and sores—to now, as the calm, calculating, and ever-loyal knight of House White.

Throughout all that time, Aaron had come to a realization—Lukas carried anger within him.

Whether it was directed at nobility, at the world, or at something else entirely—Aaron wasn’t sure.

But that anger had always been at the heart of Lukas’s existence, as if it were his driving force.

And that kind of deep-seated emotion—Aaron didn’t want that anywhere near Selina.

Not because Lukas was a bad person.

No, he wasn’t some lawbreaker, nor was he the type to lose control and cause reckless destruction. In some ways, Aaron even respected him—Lukas had risen from nothing, carving his way up through sheer determination, unlike Aaron, who had been born into privilege.

But that didn’t mean he was the right person for Selina.

Aaron’s mind drifted to the image of his sister—her face pale as a ghost.

Her eyes, forever closed as if they would never open again.

Even just remembering that moment made it hard to breathe.

To Aaron, Selina had always been that kind of person. Someone fragile. Someone who made him anxious just by existing. She had seemed more stable since the accident, but that worry never truly left him.

That was why he wanted her to live a life of peace. To never have to struggle, to never even have a reason to think of doing something drastic again.

To be content. Safe.

That’s why... Lukas is out of the question.

A fragile sister and an angry friend.

A sister who needed peace and a friend who was constantly reaching for something just out of grasp.

A sister who was painfully honest and a friend who smiled to hide himself.

They were both people Aaron cherished, but they were also two people who should never end up together.

He turned back to Lukas, who had also shifted his gaze to the window.

Even with his shorter hair, Lukas still looked strikingly refined.

Aaron knew that if he ever voiced these thoughts to Lukas, he would probably step aside without a word.

Lukas was fiercely loyal to House White. If Aaron outright told him to give up on Selina, he would likely do so without hesitation.

But Aaron wasn’t cruel enough to actually say that.

He didn’t want Lukas and Selina to be together. But he also wasn’t arrogant enough to interfere with matters of the heart.

If, by some chance, Selina ever said that she wanted Lukas... then in the end, he would have no choice but to wish them happiness.

Even so, he still thought that things would be better if the two of them never ended up together in the first place.

Aaron raised his teacup to his lips, subtly using it to hide his face—just in case his bitter thoughts somehow showed.