Blessed to be the Villain

Ralf, a seasoned knight of fifty-six years, had served the Mijuri family with unwavering loyalty. A disciplined warrior, he had been entrusted with the responsibility of watching over Ethan Mijuri, the son of the Duke's fourth son, Isaac Mijuri. Sent to this distant town as both punishment and protection from political rivals, Ethan was a burden Ralf bore without question.

Ensuring the young master's safety—whether from external threats or his own reckless behavior—was his solemn duty.

As Ralf walked toward Ethan, his sharp gaze immediately caught sight of a figure standing behind him. His body tensed as he instinctively narrowed his eyes. As he stepped closer, the figure became clearer—a girl.

Wavy purple hair framed her sharp features, cascading over her shoulders like flowing silk. Her golden eyes, vivid and piercing, held an intensity that flickered like embers beneath the surface. She wore a red tunic adorned with flame-like embroidery, dark fitted trousers, and a pair of sturdy boots designed for movement. Even at a glance, Ralf could tell—she was strong. Not as strong as him, but formidable nonetheless.

Yet, what troubled him was the way she carried herself. Though her posture remained poised, there was a stiffness to her shoulders, a wariness in her stance. She was prepared for a fight if necessary, but something else lingered beneath her controlled exterior—hesitation.

Ralf's grip subtly tightened around the hilt of his sword as he stepped closer.

"Young Master," he called, his voice even yet firm. "Where exactly are you going? And who is this?"

His sharp gaze remained locked on the girl. There were no noblewomen in this town. So who was she?

Ethan turned at the sound of Ralf's voice, his crimson eyes meeting the knight's with a confident, elegant smile.

"Good morning, Sir Ralf. How has your day been so far?"

Ralf barely reacted. "Good," he said curtly. "But where are you going?"

Ethan paused, as if caught off guard. Rubbing the back of his neck, he let out a soft chuckle, feigning embarrassment.

"Well… I was just about to escort this beautiful lady back to her estate."

Ralf's eyes narrowed. "And who might this 'beautiful lady' be? Do you know her?"

Ethan turned to the girl beside him, a glint of mischief sparking in his crimson gaze.

"Well, of course I know her," he said, his voice rich with amusement. "You could say I know her quite… intimately."

Without missing a beat, he took her right hand with a gentle touch and placed it over his chest. His smile widened.

"She is the most gorgeous, noble lady I have ever met. Compared to her, even the finest noblewomen of the kingdom would pale in comparison."

His words were honeyed, his tone smooth like silk.

Lara's golden eyes widened slightly before she hastily averted her gaze, a soft crimson hue dusting her cheeks. Normally, she dismissed Ethan's flirtations without a second thought, yet this time… this time felt different.

Her heart fluttered against her will.

She clenched her fists at her sides, frustrated with herself. Why?

Ralf observed the exchange with unimpressed eyes. Ethan had always been a known playboy, charming women with mere words. This wasn't unusual. What was unusual, however, was the girl's presence.

She carried herself with the grace of nobility, yet Ralf knew for a fact that no noble families resided in this town.

Still, that was a concern for later. Right now, Ethan needed a reminder of why he was here.

"Young Master," Ralf said sternly, his deep voice carrying weight. "You know why your father sent you here. It was to reflect on your actions, not to seduce beautiful women."

Ethan met Ralf's gaze, his confident demeanor never faltering. "Sir Ralf, I understand what you're saying," he said softly. "But ever since my father banished me here, I couldn't help but feel like a failure—someone without value."

His gaze lowered slightly, as if recalling something painful.

"My world was filled with darkness… like a night sky swallowed by endless storm clouds."

Then, slowly, he turned back to Lara.

"But then, I met her."

His voice dropped to a quiet murmur, almost reverent.

"She was like the moon's soft light… gently piercing through my gloomy sky, illuminating my world with her brilliance."

Lara's entire face burned crimson.

Before, she had always dismissed Ethan's advances as empty words—a game played by an infamous flirt. Yet now… now, something felt different.

Why…?

Why did her heart refuse to stay calm?

Inside Ethan's mind, the system cackled in delight.

[Bravo, Host! Bravo!] it cheered. [Continue exactly what you're doing! My reputation as a system is on the line! Your future harem protagonist's destiny is on the line!]

Ethan almost faltered, barely managing to keep his elegant smile in place. He shot back mentally, "Would you shut up?"

Turning back to Ralf, Ethan maintained his composed demeanor. "So you understand me now, Sir Ralf. It's not my fault. Besides, I'm never going back anyway, so it doesn't matter what I do, does it?"

Ralf's expression remained unreadable. "You can't leave the mansion without any guards, Young Master."

Before Ethan could argue, Lara spoke. "That's fine. I can go home on my own."

Ethan turned to her, brows furrowing. "But how can I let a lady go back alone?"

Ralf scoffed. "You don't have to worry about that, Young Master. I believe she can handle herself just fine." He narrowed his eyes slightly. I need to find out who this girl is.

Ethan hesitated but eventually nodded, unwillingly accepting their decision.

Ralf watched as Ethan escorted Lara toward the back exit.

The guards stationed there shifted but held their ground at Ethan's silent gesture to stand down. He walked a little farther with Lara, his footsteps light against the cobblestone path.

Beyond the mansion walls, the town stretched before them—a maze of stone streets, wooden stalls, and distant flickering lanterns. The evening air carried the scent of burning wood and baked bread, mingling with the faint fragrance of rain-kissed stone. The alleyway they approached was quiet, shadows stretching long under the dimming sky.

Ethan turned to Lara. "Now you're free."

Lara met his gaze, her golden eyes cold. "Really? Nice. I hope we never meet again."

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, her red tunic billowing slightly with each step.

Ethan watched her go, his lips curling into a faint smirk.

"…Well, you never know what can happen."

The system chimed in gleefully. [Yes, Host! No one knows what's going to happen—except me! And I know you'll definitely meet her again and make her part of your harem!]

Ethan's eye twitched. "Will you stop with that?!"

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