The Obsession of a Fallen Paladin

10. I Will Become a True Villain for You (1)

Could others even imagine that such a noble and composed face could become so twisted?

Kasha continued speaking calmly.

“I learned about this by chance while researching lost magic and magic stones. I have nothing to gain from cursing you.”

Despite his murderous smile, Kasha’s gaze didn’t waver.

Their intense stares clashed, neither backing down. They scrutinized each other’s faces for what felt like an eternity, searching for hidden truths, emotions, or confessions.

Breaking the silence, Kasha spoke.

She needed to say more before he left.

“I…”

Do I just want to help you?

But in reality, she was using him to track down the mastermind who held the magic stone. She couldn’t bring herself to say those words. Kasha bit her lip.

What are you hesitating for? You decided to do what you want in this life.

Speak your truth.

“I…”

His platinum eyebrows raised, urging her to continue.

“I want you to be happy.”

That was Kasha’s true wish. One that never reached him before her regression.

Would this sincerity reach him this time? Or would he reject her and walk his lonely path again?

A muscle in his face twitched as if mocking her words.

At that moment, the curtain rustled.

“Kasha, I’m coming in.”

It was Daryl. As the curtain began to part, Leon grabbed it firmly, preventing entry. Realizing he was blocked, Daryl erupted in anger.

“What on earth are you doing that you won’t let me in? My sister is still just nineteen!”

Ignoring his rant, Leon held the curtain and with his other hand, pulled something from his uniform and handed it to Kasha.

A white handkerchief with a gold border, embroidered with Leon’s initials.

“Cover your neck.”

“……”

Only then did Kasha touch her neck, feeling the lingering heat. The mark must have been severe.

She silently took the handkerchief and quickly wrapped it around her neck. Once she finished, she reaffirmed her words to him.

“Come find me.”

“……”

But Leon continued to look down at her with disdain. Finally, he muttered coldly.

“We’ll see what I believe and what needs to be broken.”

As soon as his ominous declaration ended, he released the curtain. As it parted, Daryl appeared.

“What is the meaning of this? Two grown adults alone for so long….”

“Excuse me.”

Leon interrupted sharply, cutting off Daryl’s reprimand, and left the balcony without looking back at Kasha.

His departure was just like the memory of him leaving her coldly in her previous life.

“What’s with that Leon guy? I thought he was highly respected… Kasha, what’s with the handkerchief?”

Daryl, grumbling at Leon, paused as he noticed Kasha touching the handkerchief around her neck.

Something had changed from her previous life.

Whether it was a positive change, she wasn’t sure.

‘I have to believe there’s hope.’

“What exactly happened between you two…?”

Whatever Daryl was imagining, his murmur grew more complicated.

Ignoring him, Kasha left the balcony.

As soon as she stepped through the curtain, she felt the eyes of everyone in the hall on her.

Especially on the handkerchief around her neck.

“Oh my. Isn’t that a handkerchief given only to the knights?”

“Could it be that Sir Leon… no way!”

“But they were just alone on the balcony….”

“What on earth is going on?”

“I heard talks of a marriage between the Grand Duke’s family and the Duke of Tyroth….”

The sharp gazes and whispers. The tongues ready to tear her apart.

Somewhere among them was Odette’s gaze as well.

Click. Click.

Ignoring the whispers behind her, Kasha walked across the hall.

She enjoyed the bewildered gazes following her.

Unlike before, she wasn’t hurt or broken.

‘For now, that’s enough of a start.’

She murmured to herself, looking up at the grand lights of the duke’s mansion.

* * *

“Still no letters today?”

It had been over a week since Lady Kasha had attended the ball at the duke’s mansion.

Since that day, she asked Sena the same question every afternoon.

Had any letters arrived for her?

Each time, Sena had to nervously shake her head.

‘Poor lady. She must be waiting for invitations from other nobles…’

After her debutante, a few families with connections to House Ruschino had sent invitations out of courtesy. But this time, there was an unusual silence, as if by mutual agreement.

‘She looked quite beautiful that night, though…’

Sena looked at her lady with pity.

Whether Kasha was aware of this or not, she kept her head buried in the papers on her desk.

‘Is she very disappointed? Or… is she waiting for him?’

Sena cautiously approached Kasha.

“Lady Kasha, shall I ask Cook Haxen to make some pudding for you?”

“Yes.”

At least Kasha’s increased appetite was a good sign.

Previously, she would nibble on a salad and finish her meal quickly, but recently, she had been cleaning her plates.

‘They say people change when they’re about to die.’

With an uneasy look, Sena left the room, but soon she hurried back.

“Is the pudding ready already?”

Kasha looked up.

“No, that’s not it… Someone has come to see you, Lady Kasha!”

Sena’s face was filled with excitement.

“Who… who is it?”

Kasha turned her head, still wearing her glasses.

“The one you’ve been waiting for!”

Sena, out of breath from rushing up the stairs, spoke eagerly.

‘Could it be Leon?’

Kasha jumped up from her seat.

“Is it really him?”

“Yes! He’s waiting in the drawing room. Shall I take you down?”

“Yes. Wait a moment.”

Kasha removed her glasses and checked her appearance.

She had been poring over blueprints and research materials for days and looked a mess.

She regretted declining Sena’s offer to groom her that morning.

Seeing Kasha’s expression, Sena seemed to understand immediately. She became resolute and exclaimed,

“Don’t worry, my lady!”

* * *

Sena was indeed a capable maid.

Kasha thought, looking at her transformed appearance in the mirror.

In such a short time, Sena had perfectly done her makeup, hair, and changed her clothes. She felt guilty thinking about how she hadn’t appreciated Sena’s talents in her previous life.

‘Leon came sooner than I expected.’

A week had passed since that night. She was curious to hear what answer Leon had brought.

Kasha tried to calm her nerves and relax her stiff expression.

‘We’ll see what I believe and what needs to be broken.’

Thinking of the fierce anger in his eyes still made her heart twinge.

At the same time, she found herself imagining how dazzling he might look today, and she felt a bit foolish.

Finally, she descended the stairs, and the spacious drawing room came into view.

In the center of the room, a tall man sat on the sofa. The sunlight streaming through the window cast him in silhouette.

Thump.

Her heart reacted, recalling the hot hand that had traced her spine on the balcony that night.

‘Was I too startled then?’

She attributed her reaction to fear and took a deep breath.

Then, the man on the sofa turned to look at her.

“Ah, Kasha. You’re here.”

His tone was as if he were the master of the house and Kasha was his guest.

Arrogant and self-absorbed gestures.

It was Simon Blanch, not Leon.

Kasha’s steps halted abruptly.

She glanced back at Sena, who had followed her.

Her eyes questioned how this had happened, but Sena blinked innocently, unaware of the misunderstanding.

‘…If I were my old self, I would have run to Simon barefoot.’

Kasha thought, frowning.

‘So today is the day.’

In her previous life, it was today.

After suffering an irreparable wound at the duke’s ball, Simon had come to see her. She had felt like he was her only salvation, the only one who cared for her when everyone else turned away.

She had cried like a child in front of Simon, who consoled her with pretentious sympathy.

Even before that day, their relationship had been unbalanced, but it became clearer after that.

Kasha had been desperate to keep Simon from leaving, doing anything he asked.

She hadn’t thought deeply about what he used the magical tools she created for. She just did whatever he asked to be useful to him.

It wasn’t until he betrayed her that she realized he was a cunning villain, filled with vanity and malice.

She could still vividly recall the feel of his cruel boot on her back before she faced the executioner’s blade.

Her fists clenched involuntarily, nails digging into her palms as anger surged.

She wanted to inflict the same pain on him, to send him away without seeing his detestable face.

‘But our fates are too intertwined now to avoid him. I should extract some clues about the mastermind from him.’

Kasha calmed herself.

“Kasha. Why are you standing there? Come, sit down.”

His voice was falsely gentle. His tone feigned concern, but his arrogant demeanor remained.

‘Simon Blanch. This is so typical of you.’

Kasha gave a crooked smile.