Stealing Heroines’ Affections Is My Job as the Villain

The group had been moving in comfortable silence for quite some time, and occasionally, a topic or two would come up, allowing them to enjoy some conversation.

The only person who was silent now was Sophia.

Even Sadim, who was typically paranoid and cautious to the point of avoiding conversation, was now more relaxed, seeing as he was with his Rosemarie again.

But Sophia didn't seem as active as she usually was. Anytime a monster attacked, she would be dull, making no attempt to kill any of them or protect the young lord and the princess, as she was assigned to.

Since everyone was getting along so well, no one really bothered to ask her about it, feeling it would spoil the mood. Usually, someone like Ghislaine would have asked regardless, but even she was trying to ensure she didn't stick a pin in the wrong place.

『I'm not useless… I'm not useless…』

That was all Sophia could tell herself as she walked far behind them, her sword scraping lifelessly against the ground.

Finally, Sophia gathered some confidence and rushed forward until she stood in front of Vritra. Bowing her head quickly, she shut her eyes tightly, holding back the tears that threatened to spill.

"I-, I know I haven't exactly been useful, but please, just give me a chance to do more! I'm sorry! I haven't been doing the job I was assigned to, but it's because I didn't imagine that the young lord would be so competent."

Silence…

Everyone just looked at Sophia, unsure of what to say, but in truth, they all had a good idea this was the likely reason for her downcast mood since they'd cleared the earlier reptile and slime rooms.

"How can I do more… please… I'll do anything…"

The heavy desperation to be useful rang in her voice so strongly that no one in the room could ignore it. They all felt bad for her, in one way or another.

Except for the young lord.

"Sophia…"

"Y-, Yes? God Dionysus?"

"Are you stupid? Honest question…"

"Wh-, What…?"

"I'm God Dionysus. The apparent heir to the throne of the a powerful family in the higher world and also an ancient being that swallowed one of the great stars of the Three Worlds Domain ages before you were born. What level of arrogance do you possess to think I would require your aid in the first place?"

The young lord's stare was cold and deadly.

When his eyes met Sophia's, the Imperial Knight didn't know how to react. Her voice caught in her throat, and she took numerous careful steps back, still trying to form words.

"I-, I don't know… I… I'm so sorry…"

She was on the verge of tears.

The way they streamed down her cheeks, and the pallor of her face, as if all the blood had drained from her body, was hard to miss.

The others looked at her, feeling sympathy for how harshly the young lord had spoken, but none dared challenge his authority in that instant.

Perhaps Rosemarie or Luciana would have said something—maybe even Neron, if he had been present. But not with how fierce the young lord's expression was at that moment… they were clearly frightened of this side of him and chose to stay silent.

Clutching her chest tightly, Sophia tried to breathe out some of her nervousness.

"Please, just tell me how I can be of better service to you. I-, I'll do anything to ensure that the young lord is satisfied with me… I'll do anything!"

The words rushed out of Sophia's mouth as though she were a mindless corpse begging for another chance.

Vritra saw this, and his expression softened for a moment.

This scene—it was familiar.

『Yes…』

There was a time when he, too, had been drowning in his need to be useful… to earn, to prove his worth in the eyes of those who wielded power over his life. The days had blurred together into an endless cycle of exhausting tasks, and every ounce of himself had gone into chasing a sense of purpose in that drab, demanding existence. He had been just another pawn, overworked for mere pennies and stripped of anything that made him human.

He didn't remember much anymore, just a faint, gnawing emptiness that marked those years… years when his value had been determined solely by his ability to perform.

Sophia's desperation mirrored the same hollow drive that had once consumed him, that feeling that she held no worth unless she proved herself through action. He understood the crushing weight of that belief, her need to be of use to him as if that would give her life the meaning she craved.

But he needed to crush that misconception, for her sake and his. She wouldn't find her true worth by serving him; her value had to come from within, not from just being helpful to someone else's goals.

『You will never be useful to me…』

He had those thoughts at the tip of his tongue.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Why do you try so hard? Are you one of those people who believe that if you're not useful to someone important, then you're absolutely worthless? Is that what you believe?"

"N-, NO! I believe everyone has worth regardless of how useful they can be to someone in power. I apologize if I ever gave off that impression… I'm not trying to──!"

Without letting her finish, Vritra stepped forward and grabbed Sophia by her small chin.

"Oh? Is that so?"

He stared down at her with a condescending look.

"Then you might as well apologize to everyone here for being absolutely worthless to me. After all, you served your purpose by guiding us through the Red Desert and giving me the little information you had… isn't that enough? Why do you need to do more for me? Did I ask for it?"

He pulled her face closer.

"You know what? Why don't you apologize to yourself for being so worthless, too? I'm certain there were other imperial knights the marquis could've sent who are much better than you… and yet here you are."

The young lord planted a small kiss on her forehead and walked past her, leaving her with a small pat on the head.

"I'd prefer you just be quiet and do nothing if you believe you're that useless. But don't you dare walk in front of me and apologize for your uselessness when you were never useful to begin with. You can do that when I can't live without you—but as an immortal god, I obviously can."

Those words cut deep, and Sophia didn't know what to say or how to act in that moment.

Everyone looked at her and just walked past.

Esmeralda, being the caring woman she always was, placed a gentle pat on Sophia's shoulder.

"Don't think about it too much…"

She said this, but even she knew that those words meant little to someone who had just suffered one of the greatest disgraces they could ever imagine. While the head maid knew how harsh Vritra could be to anyone who wasn't a woman who shared a bed with him, she actually believed he was generally lenient to all women and vicious only to men.

However, this clearly showed her that the young lord could be vicious to anyone who insulted his image, whether directly or indirectly.

━ ━ ━ ━

Luciana sighed quietly as she walked beside Esmeralda, casting a quick look over her shoulder to where Vritra had left Sophia standing.

She was feeling a bit pale and unsettled.

… Hnnn~

Unable to hold back her curiosity, she tilted her head slightly and glanced up at the head maid.

"Esmeralda?"

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"It's God Vritra… uhh, I don't know how to say this?"

"He's your husband, you can say anything…"

"Why's he so… well, mean today?"

The princess asked very softly, like she was scared to even ask to begin with.

Esmeralda paused and sensually bit her lip as a faint blush crept up her cheeks.

Her eyes suddenly darted to the side.

"Mean? I… I can't really say."

She fidgeted, recalling the way his strong hand grabbed her butt earlier. It felt so good.

Luciana rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

She had the stern look of a mother on her face as she looked at the slightly aroused head maid.

"Oh, of course, you'd say that! You're practically tripping over yourself to defend him. Are you sure that's not why you're blushing?"

Esmeralda's face reddened even more, but she quickly regained her composure.

"It's not that…"

She couldn't hide the excitement in her voice.

"Yes, the young lord is… harsh sometimes. But you have to understand, Your Highness—he hasn't always been a… a good person, and it takes a lot for someone like him to even try. He may be mean, but it's just another way he shows us who he really is. If he was a perfect husband, he wouldn't exactly be him."

Luciana smiled softly and she nodded slowly.

"I like that. I'd rather see the real him, even the mean parts, than some fake prince who's all smiles and charm."

"Like Lumis?"

"I didn't say that! Tee-hee!"

"Naughty girl…"

[The "hero" Lumis Nela Deva has lost a Fate Value worth 20 after being made fun of by the heroine!]

The princess took a deep breath.

"I'll support him… no matter how difficult he can be."

Feeling a new spark, Luciana picked up her pace and jogged ahead until she caught up to Vritra, who didn't seem to have noticed she'd fallen behind.

She wrapped her arms around his side and leaned into him, offering a bright, comforting smile.

Vritra looked down, his gaze softening as he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her a little closer without saying a word. In that quiet moment, they both felt a gentle warmth… a silent understanding of loyalty and support.

Meanwhile, at the back, Sophia walked in a bit of a daze, her eyes downcast as though the ground might somehow hold the answer to the tight feeling in her chest. She didn't notice the soft footsteps approaching until Rosemarie was beside her, the red-haired nun giving her a gentle, sympathetic look.

"Feeling okay?"

Rosemarie asked gently. Stay tuned for updates on empire

There was genuine concern in her tone.

As expected of a nun.

Sophia blinked, struggling to find the right words.

"I… I don't know. I mean… maybe he's right. Maybe I really am… worthless."

She clutched her chest.

"Why would he say those things if they weren't true?"

Rosemarie frowned, shaking her head.

"God Dionysus has his way with words, and sometimes he doesn't care who they cut. But don't take it to heart."

She looked at Sophia earnestly, even resting a hand on her shoulder.

"Being useful? It's not everything. You don't need to prove yourself to be worthy of existing. You're already worth something, Sophia. You're more than what you can do."

Sophia managed a small smile.

She was deeply touched by Rosemarie's kindness.

"Thank you… I needed to hear that."

They walked on together, and for the first time in what felt like ages, Sophia's steps felt a bit lighter. The pain of Vritra's words hadn't fully faded, but with this kind nun by her side, it seemed just a bit more bearable.

At the front of the group, Sadim caught sight of Rosemarie's concerned glance at Sophia and let out a huff.

"That's what happens when women stick around an arrogant bastard like him!"

He muttered under his breath.

Catching his tone, Rosemarie shot him a sharp look and marched over to give him a smack on the chest.

"You could show a bit more sympathy, you know!"

Sadim winced and clutched his chest dramatically.

"Ow, Marie… that actually hurt."

"Oh, please…"

She scoffed, rolling her eyes as she walked past him, making him grin with fake hurt before moving along with the others.