26 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

Volume 3, Chapter 26~ No One Knows What Aesphyra Is Thinking “Aesphyra, what exactly are you going on about all of a sudden?” Wenny retorted, watching the blue-haired girl before him with feigned surprise. "Tch, it's just us here, you can drop the act now, right?" Wenny stood with his hands on his hips. "I ignored you at the dining table before, but continuing this façade is pointless now. Admit it, how did you figure out that Wennyya was actually me?" Aesphyra watched him silently, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. “Stop pretending, or else I'll have to pull that disguise off. Although, it's clear you've already pieced it together, so I might as well come clean,” Wenny admitted, acknowledging defeat. At least this way, Aesphyra would have to admit he was right. “Really, can't I just enjoy the full experience here, Wennyya?” Aesphyra chuckled after a pause. “Get real, are you that into the role? And enough of that name, call me by my real name! Is this fun to you?” Wenny huffed with annoyance. "I'm not the only one really getting into the part, am I?" Aesphyra's eyes sparkled with a dangerous glint as she leaned in slightly toward him. “What are you playing at? I'm a pure-blooded man, not someone you're interested in!” Wenny exclaimed, stepping back cautiously, his lips tightening. Aesphyra giggled softly. “Wennyya seems to have trouble even referring to himself properly. It's your first time dressing as a girl and yet you're already so deep in character you can't switch back; maybe this suits you better?” “Cut it out! Do you know who's to blame for this? You evil white-haired trickster! You deceived me, didn't even tell me the full rules, and let me fall into traps. And now I find out you're part of the organizing body?” "You set me up on purpose, claiming you didn't know the rules! You conniving little walnut, how could you be this rotten?" Wenny, though he attempted to reclaim his title of 'young master,' was still using a falsetto, which created a stark contrast. Here was the notorious delinquent of the royal city, typically a scowling, intimidating figure, now appearing as a delicate young lady, using a soft voice to scold and declare names. Anyone who knew him would be aware he was actually a good-hearted person at his core. The disparity caused a tremendous emotional upheaval for Aesphyra. “Virtuous Deed +60.” “Current Virtue: 11784.” Whoa. Wenny was once again floored. He felt he had uncovered another astonishing secret, that Aesphyra, despite her inherent dominance, might just have the potential to be submissive. From his observation of Aesphyra's virtue fluctuations, it was evident she wasn't angry from his scolding. He knew from experience that even attacking her directly didn't trigger her emotions; such mild remarks certainly wouldn't. Thus, it could only be positive emotions. But how could berating her lead to a gain in virtue? Oh no, was the white-haired trickster actually unwell? “But Wennyya usually calls herself the notorious rascal of Carmiller, doesn’t she?” Aesphyra teased. “Oh, wait, now you should be calling yourself the 'villainess?'” “Buzz off, walnut! And don’t even think about forgetting your loss; don't you owe me a display of that?” Wenny pointed accusingly. “Really? Wennyya is still holding onto that?” “What, thinking of backing out?” Wenny tilted his head defiantly. “Not at all. If you really want to see it, I'm more than willing to perform.” Aesphyra grinned, her voice honeyed and playful. “You, huh?” Wenny was taken aback, having expected Aesphyra to come up with excuses to evade her acknowledgment of loss. Instead, she was surprisingly straightforward. “Meow~ I lost, meow, Wennyya won, meow, Wennyya is the best, meow, I was wrong to tease Wennyya, meow~” Aesphyra raised a hand, imitating a beckoning cat, her demeanor alluring. Ah, now the princess-cat indeed looked like a regal feline. This scene, with Aesphyra admitting defeat openly, was unprecedented for Wenny. For Aesphyra, who never usually conceded with her pride, this was truly a significant moment. He dared not meet her gaze, worried that his soul would be ensnared by her captivating eyes. “Ahem, fine, this is acceptable,” Wenny stammered, stepping back a few paces, averting his gaze slightly. “To further express my apologies, may I offer you an even more sincere apology, Wennyya?” Aesphyra purred softly. “What, an even greater apology?” Wenny paused, assuming more rewards were forthcoming from Aesphyra. Agreeing reflexively, he nodded, “Alright then, seeing as you’re so sincere, I’ll reluctantly accept.” “Boom!" Suddenly, a gust of fragrant roses and roses overwhelmed him, leaving Wenny momentarily breathless. As comprehension dawned with the glittering of her violet eyes under the moonlit sky, Wenny realized he had been "wall-pinned" by Aesphyra against a corner of the alleyway. Wait, what? It took him several moments to grasp that he, the notorious rascal of Carmiller, had indeed been cornered by this Emerald-Eyed Tyrant. The protagonist and antagonist, usually sworn enemies, now stood in this intimate setting, shadows merging in the alley. Something definitely felt off. Stunned and dazed, Wenny struggled to accept that Aesphyra had done this to him, a fully grown man. Under the moonlight, her silver hair shimmered like stars, her eyes deep and entrancing. Was this still the Aesphyra he had known? Feeling the delicate scent near, Wenny dared not maintain eye contact. The petite silvery-haired girl leaned closer, tiny nose twitching as if searching for something. An inexplicable itch crept along Wenny’s neck, even though neither had touched the other physically. “Hey, what are you doing?” “Is Wennyya nervous?” Aesphyra laughed, a sound like tinkling bells, musical as a lark. “Your face is so red. Aren’t you supposed to be the assertive one?” “…” Wenny stayed silent, understanding she implied he should be the proactive one. “And no wonder, being of direct descent? Though distinct, Wennyya gives me a similar feeling.” Aesphyra's words startled him. Her reference obviously pointed to Vannesa. "What are you talking…” “So, Wennyya, what is your relation to Miss Vannesa?” Aesphyra moved in close, her eyes a hypnotic vortex ready to unravel his mind's secrets. “Well, it's not like you'd tell me if I asked, right?” Aesphyra concluded with a knowing smile, preempting his response. “But this makes it more intriguing; discovering the truth prematurely would spoil the fun.” “So please, keep sparking my curiosity?” Aesphyra’s whispered, soft and tickling like a feather caressing his palm, unmistakably alluring. “What curiosity?” Wenny stammered, momentarily lost. "Mm-hmm~" Aesphyra chuckled ambiguously, offering no explanation as she gracefully walked away. "Good night, Wennyya, and congratulations on your victory." What? She just left again? Wenny’s tense body finally relaxed, though he still felt a lingering sense of unease. Meeting Aesphyra’s gaze was intense and daunting. Moreover, what on earth did Aesphyra mean with those words? What did she actually believe about his relationship with Vannesa? She left without any clarification. Had she discovered something significant, or was she still lacking definitive proof? Perhaps only Aesphyra herself knew the answer. Wenny concluded that continuing to ponder over it would only drain his mental energy, stripping away what little vitality he had left. Carrying his prize tray, he returned to his dormitory. Exhausted from the day’s events, Wenny felt utterly spent, his body aching as though he’d been through a grueling ordeal. He yearned for nothing more than to collapse into bed and not get back up. “Yay, Wenny, you're back?” Shikondell opened the door at the sound of a knock, poking her head out. Her eyes widened at the sight of Wenny, visibly tired and holding a black and gold prize tray adorned with a dazzling medal, a golden rose, and a bottle of potion with an icy blue glow. “Huh?” Seeing the items Wenny held, Shikondell was stunned. "Wenny, did you... win?" she asked incredulously. "Win?" Wenny repeated her question, thinking for a moment before nodding uncertainly. "I guess I did." But somehow, he felt like he hadn’t won. It was all so unclear. “Huh?” Shikondell was baffled; a win should simply be a win. Why did it come with a "maybe?" Not pressing further, she sensed the heavy fatigue emanating from Wenny. It was as if Wenny, who had left for the contest freshly made-up, had returned as battle-worn as a hostess after a long day with clients. She couldn’t fathom what had happened, only that it seemed incredibly taxing. Shikondell quietly mused to herself: what exactly did this beauty pageant entail? “Wenny, are you sure you’re okay?” “No, not at all.” Wenny replied weakly. Handing the prize tray to Shikondell, he slipped off his shoes and bypassed even removing his footwear properly, evidence of his exhaustion. “Ah, ah, ah.” He stumbled into the living room, flopped onto the couch like a dried fish, and lay there motionless. “Wenny, do you want to take off your makeup?” Shikondell asked, approaching him. “Oh, makeup,” Wenny realized what she meant after some time, shaking his head slowly. “Later, I’m really too tired right now.” And so, he lay sprawled on the couch in that position for quite some time. After tidying Wenny’s prizes, Shikondell glanced at the dispirited blue-haired figure. Somehow, despite his weary appearance, it held its own kind of charm. Wenny, in his feminine guise, looked astonishingly good, almost as if he were born for this. This thought brought a faint blush to Shikondell's cheeks. “Virtuous Deed +30.” “Current Virtue: 11814.” Wenny, too tired to care about the changes in virtue anymore, felt like sticking out his tongue to pant from fatigue – he had no energy left to track his virtue points. “Like it~?” “Huh?!” Shikondell was startled, glancing around in surprise. Who had whispered in her ear? Was it just her imagination? Shikondell pondered this curiously. “Oh, Wenny, did you have something to eat?” She suddenly recalled. “I saved some dinner for you.” Shikondell was always so considerate. “I have, thank you for thinking of me, Shikondell.” “Wenny, did something happen?” Shikondell couldn't help but ask. “Sigh, let’s not talk about it, it was truly a bizarre ordeal,” Wenny sighed deeply. “Bizarre?” Although clueless about what had transpired, Shikondell sensed that Wenny wasn’t in the mood to elaborate and decided not to press further. After resting, Wenny eventually roused, removed his makeup, changed out of the disguise, and showered. He then collapsed onto his bed like a felled log, quickly falling into a deep slumber. And so, the turmoil seemed to come to an end. The next day, when Wenny encountered Aesphyra again, he anticipated awkwardness. To his surprise, her demeanor was unchanged, as if nothing had transpired the day before. Curious, hadn't she been inquisitive about his connection to Vannesa? Unable to decipher it, Wenny decided not to overthink. As always, whatever Aesphyra was contemplating was known only to her. Before long, the weekend arrived, and with it, the commencement of registration for exploring the Mars Secret Realm.