Ch.263263. Date (3)

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“…You know.”

Victoria spoke in a voice that seemed to be holding back a lot.

In fact, everything from start to finish was something she had to endure.

Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that she could overlook him thoughtlessly walking into a place like this.

His intentions were painfully obvious, but if this was supposed to be a “date,” she could at least understand how they ended up here.

But.

But seriously.

“At the very least, couldn’t we have separate rooms…!”

Even with Victoria’s limited understanding of dating customs, sharing a room on the first day was simply unacceptable…!

And the accommodation he’d chosen was no ordinary strange place.

Even for someone like her with limited common sense about these things, she wasn’t so clueless that she couldn’t understand what a unnecessarily large bed for two people and the bizarre layout with the living room and bath combined meant.

“That won’t work.”

Despite her desperate plea, the response from the other party was firmness itself.

“I brought you here specifically for this reason.”

“…”

So from the moment he called for her this morning, he had already planned to bring her here.

How should she put it?

He’s just a pervert, plain and simple.

All the criticism she had heaped on this man until now was clearly justified by his behavior…!

‘…Why did I ever…to a man like this…!’

As Victoria was thinking this, her body suddenly froze stiff.

‘Huh?’

To a man like this, what?

What was the sentence she was trying to think of next?

“…”

It was almost as if.

She was about to admit something to herself.

That throughout today, while spending time with this man.

She had been “feeling her heart race” because of him.

“…”

While Victoria was unconsciously hesitating, shocked by this realization, Darwood Campbell tilted his head as he observed her.

“Aren’t you going to wash up?”

“…What?”

“I mean, you obviously need to wash up.”

“…”

What’s so obvious about it?

Why do I need to wash up?

Why?

What’s obvious about it?

As these questions cascaded through Victoria’s mind, Darwood continued with an increasingly perplexed expression.

“I mean, you’ll smell if you don’t wash.”

“Are you saying I smell right now…!”

“…I didn’t say that.”

Darwood responded dryly to Victoria’s flare-up as he stood up.

“If you’re not going to wash, should I shower first?”

Do whatever you want.

Though Victoria thought this and snapped back with another retort, her body stiffened again at his next words.

“Get ready while I’m in there.”

“…”

Ready?

For what?

What am I supposed to get ready for?

Once again, a storm of such questions swirled through Victoria’s mind.

Meanwhile, Darwood slipped into the bathroom area, looking as if he’d said all he needed to say.

“…”

Sitting on the bed, she rubbed her face in confusion.

As steam wafted out from the bathroom in the corner of the room, Victoria’s confusion only intensified.

Who am I, where am I, what on earth am I about to do with that man? What exactly am I supposed to be preparing for?

As Victoria’s questions were verging on existential contemplation, Darwood emerged from the bathroom, dripping water as he walked out.

“…”

And the moment she saw him.

Victoria’s already overheated mind came to a complete halt.

She covered her eyes with both hands and let out a shriek.

“W-what are you doing?! You should obviously put clothes on before-!”

“…I came out to get dressed, actually.”

Darwood responded nonchalantly to Victoria’s scream-like outburst as he continued walking.

The splashing sounds that accompanied his footsteps and the water droplets trickling down his body traced extremely suggestive curves.

“…”

Though she was somewhat aware that she would regret it.

Nevertheless, the hands covering Victoria’s eyes began to part slightly.

‘Oh, oh my…’

His physique is better than expected.

He couldn’t be described as burly or sturdy, but he was still sufficiently firm and smooth. If compared to an animal, he’d be closer to a leopard than a bear.

Of course, she had somewhat guessed from how well his clothes fit him, but it was impressive enough to make her swallow hard as she looked at him.

‘W-wow…’

Shoulders, back, chest, and limbs. Everything looked good, but what particularly stood out was.

His abs.

Those abs.

Six clearly defined segments like sculptures.

Of course, due to her profession, she had met countless trained men, but seeing something like this… in such a suggestive atmosphere was a first.

As she absentmindedly “observed” them, Darwood, who was drying himself with a towel, tilted his head and spoke.

“Hey, Victoria.”

“I wasn’t looking-!”

“…I didn’t say anything about that.”

Darwood sighed and continued.

“I’d appreciate if you didn’t stare so openly. It’s a bit embarrassing.”

“…”

He might not have said it outright, but he had noticed all the same.

Victoria’s face turned redder than a radish.

“…Fine. There’s nothing to see anyway! You’re being self-conscious!”

“I’d rather you say that, actually.”

Darwood responded with a bitter smile.

“It’s a bit of an unsightly body. I don’t really want to show it to others.”

“…?”

Hearing this, Victoria looked him up and down again with puzzled eyes.

Unsightly body? Anyone would see it as firm and smooth-

‘…Ah.’

Then, things she had been too caught up in the atmosphere to notice began to come into focus one by one.

His entire body was covered in scars.

“…”

There are plenty of fools in fighting professions who want to show off their injuries, and among them are quite a few with visibly hideous scars. Victoria had seen countless such types.

But not a single one of them.

Could match this man who had clearly stepped to the threshold of death countless times.

Just by looking, one could immediately tell what level of threats this man had endured.

She already knew he possessed formidable abilities in various areas, but even so, the injuries accumulated on his body were unavoidable.

“…”

Come to think of it, looking at it this way.

There’s no reason to be embarrassed.

That was her first thought.

He’s a man carrying many burdens. If those scars came from fulfilling his duties and responsibilities, he should be proud of them rather than trying to hide them.

“I don’t think it’s… that bad.”

She mumbled those words.

“At least, it looks fine to me.”

Darwood’s eyes widened slightly at her words.

“…Thank you.”

A slightly melancholic smile spread across his face.

As if he was genuinely grateful for her words.

“…”

So.

Please don’t make that kind of expression.

Because the pounding in her chest was growing annoyingly loud without her even realizing it.

“A-actually, when you think about it, it’s quite handsome- wait, no!”

Victoria, suddenly coming to her senses, maintained a glare as she looked at Darwood.

“If you’re going to keep making me say strange things, I’m leaving!”

“…”

No.

He didn’t recall ever asking her to say such embarrassing things.

Darwood thought this, but he at least had the discretion not to voice it.

“…Don’t do that. We have some time. Let’s talk about something important until then.”

“Pardon?”

Important talk?

Victoria blinked blankly.

“Surprisingly, places like this have good soundproofing. So now—”

“I killed Count Nicholas.”

Victoria’s movements froze.

Her body, which had been hot and fluttering with an unknown heat until just a moment ago, felt like it was cooling down.

“Since he was someone connected to both you and Serath Evatrice, I think I’m sorry for acting on my own. At least, I didn’t have the right to take his ‘end’ as I pleased.”

“…”

“So.”

Darwood continued with an awkward smile to Victoria, who remained silently frozen.

“I’ll give his ‘second chance’ to you and Serath.”

“…Second chance?”

“He’s going to be resurrected. Soon, probably in a… hideous form.”

Darwood continued calmly.

“However, as hideous as he’ll be, he’ll also be much… ‘stronger.’ It will be difficult to kill him by conventional methods.”

“What on earth are you talking about right now…”

“Well, no need to go deep into it. Just know that he’ll be resurrected, and you and Serath will kill him.”

“…”

She wasn’t sure about the rest.

But there was one part of the sentence that bothered her most.

Her and that woman? Doing something ‘together’?

The next sentence from Darwood followed the same line of thought.

“So, for you to kill him effectively, I need to reconcile you with your sister.”

Victoria’s expression turned grim.

Anyone who wasn’t a fool could understand where this was heading.

But before she could voice her objection.

A bomb was casually dropped.

“That way I can plant my seed in both you and Serath at the same time?”

“…”

What the hell is this crazy bastard saying?

“Your seed, what?”

“Planting my seed.”

“…”

“With you and Serath, it’s most effective if done simultaneously in the same place. You know, among the ways I can make you both stronger, that’s the best option.”

“…”

“For that to happen, you two need to reconcile first—”

“…Shut up for a moment. Just for a moment, please.”

It was a sincerely uttered sentence.

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