BJ Villainess

Jeffrey sighed in relief. “Really fortunate—

I mean, unfortunate for Lord Kapento.”

“Indeed.”

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Damian is the Real Male Lead’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[This can’t be real.]

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Stock Genius’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Lol, you should have switched to Euges like I did.]

“So, did His Majesty order an investigation into Damian? Maybe even ordered to fabricate evidence if nothing was found?”

Jeffrey, who had been trying to hide his smile by drinking tea after hearing about the rejected proposal, choked and coughed violently, turning red. “What? That,

! What,

!”

“So he did. Well, since it’s pointless now, could you please stop the investigation? I’ll explain it to His Majesty.”

Jeffrey wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and mumbled in defeat. “I usually don’t get dragged into things so helplessly. But I can’t seem to do anything in front of you, Princess.”

I smiled politely and spoke. “I know you’re busy, so you can leave. I have to stay here all day to process all the documents I’ve signed.”

“Understood. I’ve stationed courtiers outside. Ring the bell if you need anything.”

“Thank you.”

Jeffrey left the room with a much friendlier and softer smile than when he had entered.

Once I was alone, I lifted my head and stared blankly into space. I thought of Damian, who had been in this parlor with me just a while ago. Recalling his attitude, which demanded sacrifice and deceived me, I muttered a curse. “B*stard.”

When I was facing Damian, my mind was surprisingly calm. I bid farewell to him like a mature adult. I then handled Jeffrey as if nothing had happened, maintaining my composure. But it was a delusion. I thought I was okay, but being alone made me realize my true feelings.

“How could you make that choice?”

I had raised him poorly. Very poorly.

What? It was his nature?

“I shouldn’t have been so gentle. I should have beaten some sense into him.”

I seriously considered chasing after him and hitting him on the head, but after several frustrated sighs, I concluded that I still wasn’t mature enough.

The Gate of Paradise in the imperial palace was located in the only locked lounge of the banquet hall.

“Move.”

The teleportation spell I cast with my SSS-level intelligence was flawless and perfect. Using such high-level magic so easily was unimaginable before visiting the dungeon.

“I feel like I’ve become the strongest in the world.”

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Scion of Black Flame

‘

has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[

… It’s time to eliminate all those low-tier magicians]

So that constellation is still watching.

I looked around and took out the dimensional key from my subspace. “No one around, as expected.”

According to the setting, the Gate of Paradise appears in secluded places where people don’t wander. This place was no exception.

If I got lucky and found paradise when I inserted and turned the key, a notification would appear: [You have discovered Paradise. Would you like to enter?]

But there were no signs of that happening.

As I walked in, my footsteps echoed loudly. Something felt off.

“Why is it so dark?”

It was so dark that I couldn’t see anything, and just as I was about to light a magical flame, the door moved softly and closed again.

“

? Why can’t I use magic?”

It was pitch black all around, and I couldn’t use any magic. I tried to open the status window just in case, but it was unresponsive.

“Is this the Signio planet again?”

I sensed someone approaching me.

If it was Emperor Ozworld Signio, I would be in big trouble. He had tried to kill me the first time we met and had issued a bounty on me.

I clenched my fists tightly and asked cautiously. “Who’s there?”

“…”

The presence seemed to be right in front of me, but they did nothing.

As I stayed still, the tension gradually eased, replaced by curiosity.

“…Excuse me? Are you still in front of me?”

I reached out my hand, and before I could fully extend my arm, I felt something. I felt around with both hands. The surface was smooth, hard, and warm.

. This person is a man.

As I ran my hands over his hot, hard body through his thin clothes, he flinched but didn’t move away. He didn’t seem to want to attack me.

I carefully moved my hands from his abdomen to his broad chest. Feeling his wide shoulders, the pulsating vein in his neck, and his firmly clenched jaw, I moved my hands higher and touched something unfamiliar.

“What is this…? A mask? “

My unconscious question made him nod. He seemed more kind-hearted than I thought.

Feeling somewhat reassured, I continued to touch the mask covering his face. Judging by its shape, it seemed to be a butterfly mask covering half his face.

When I touched the man’s face with both hands, he let out a faint sigh. Did I touch him too much…? I tried to withdraw my hands, but he held them and placed them back on his cheek.

“Do you want me to keep touching you?”

“…Why?”

When I asked why, his cheek under my palm puffed up. The man was smiling. Although I still didn’t know who he was, it was clear he was very kind to me.

When I had tried to figure out his identity by touching him earlier, his body had tensed, making me think he was shy, but now it seemed he had quite a bold personality.

The man took my hand and wrote on my palm.

-If you don’t want to, it’s okay.

I thought he didn’t want to communicate with me because he hadn’t spoken, but it was unexpected.

I immediately asked him all my questions. “Who are you? Are you a member of the Ozworld Company Victim Association? Did Hardy send you? Why is your mask shaped like a butterfly?”

Finding balance in the darkness was harder than I thought. I held onto his shoulder with one hand while asking questions, feeling his body shake as he laughed.

He wrote on my palm again.

-I am a member, but Hardy didn’t send me. I just like butterflies.

“You didn’t answer the most important question. Who are you? Is it a secret you can’t tell?”

-Yes.

“I thought so. A man who appears so mysteriously wouldn’t have an honest identity. Are you from the Pantheon? Do you have something to hide?”

The man lightly touched my lips.

-Why don’t you imagine a more plausible relationship? Like Eros and Psyche.

“Eros my foot…”

-Don’t be disappointed, My Psyche.

“Is this fun for you?”

The man laughed again.

For some reason, I found myself smiling too.

“But why did you appear after blocking the broadcast? Is that a secret too?”

He didn’t write anything this time. Instead, he lightly touched my face with the hand he had used to write. The touch was so light and careful that it felt ticklish and affectionate.

I felt strange all of a sudden. The man’s actions made me feel like he cherished me deeply. He seemed to hold back his emotions as if meeting something long-missed but trying to restrain his feelings.

I didn’t hear him breathing. It was clear he was so focused on me that he forgot to breathe.

“…Hey, do you happen to be someone I know?”

The man remained silent. Instead, he withdrew his hand, which had been caressing my face.

“Wait a minute.”

I hurriedly grabbed him. Almost instinctively, I removed his mask. Even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to see his face in the darkness, I was too excited to think rationally. It felt like I knew this man. So, I clung to him, hoping for a clue. But he easily slipped away. His warmth faded.

“Wait. Don’t go!”

Don’t disappear!

The surroundings brightened.

The man was nowhere to be seen. Only the mask remained. It was a black butterfly mask.

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Born From Theresa’s Heart’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Why are you standing there in a daze? Did something happen?]

I quickly put the mask into my subspace, startled by the sudden sponsorship message.

“…It’s nothing. Let’s look for the reward.”

It felt like I had been in the pitch-dark space for a long time, but the constellations acted as if no time had passed, chatting casually. Had time stopped while I was with the masked man?

I clenched my hands, which had touched the man, until they turned white. It felt like I was offering a desperate prayer.