I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 347

Chapter 53: Is Dating Also Part of Your Preparation (×)?

Roy left Leanna almost without a second thought and went to Charlotte’s side, pulling her aside and whispering closely.

Leanna couldn’t help but frown slightly at this move.

The Black-Haired Boy’s gaze was not as piercing as when he faced Jason, nor was it the same aloofness he showed her; instead, it was as tender as flowing water, warm as spring sunshine.

And Charlotte, after hesitating for a bit, finally surrendered with a huff, “Fine, we’ll do it your way.”

There was no way Charlotte wanted Roy in the student council, a hundred times over.

But since Leanna had indeed helped her a lot, and Roy needed her to cooperate on the matter of the Certificate of Kingship, Charlotte had to temporarily compromise.

Roy first smiled apologetically at Charlotte before turning back to look at Leanna again.

“Joining the student council temporarily is fine, but I still want to keep my identity as a member of the Lionheart faction.”

Temporarily. And still not forgetting the Lionheart faction.

Catching the wariness and distance in his words, Leanna’s eyelashes trembled slightly, but she nodded softly, “No problem.”

At that moment, Charlotte, arms crossed, spoke up with a heavy and authoritative tone, “Witch, I won’t forget your kindness. As long as you don’t break the alliance, the Lionheart will naturally regard you as an ally.”

“But Roy’s situation is different. I don’t know what you’re trying to seek from him, but if you dare to hurt him…”

Charlotte paused slightly, a fierce light igniting in her crimson eyes, releasing an unmasked warning.

“Don’t doubt it, I will make you pay the price.”

However, facing the imposing aura of the Lionheart princess, Leanna remained unfazed, smiling lightly, “Suddenly asserting your claim, are you afraid I’ll steal your knight, Your Highness?”

Charlotte’s brows furrowed for a moment, but quickly she smiled lightly, lifting her chin, “With you around, he’s not going anywhere.”

The brown-haired girl blinked in surprise, her bright smile tinged with a chill.

Seeing the subtle tension between the two girls, Roy hurriedly stepped in to mediate.

“You two must be tired after a whole night’s work. Senior, I’ll accompany Charlotte back for now.”

“Right, we’ll head back first.” Charlotte deliberately repeated it, hooking her arm through Roy’s and casting a light glance at Leanna.

Roy had no choice but to obediently escort his princess home.

“Senior, you’re very affectionate with that title, aren’t you?”

“What? Isn’t that a normal way of addressing someone?”

“Hmph!”

Watching the two closely intertwined as they stepped into the morning light, Leanna was left in a daze, a strong sense of emptiness swelling within her.

Recalling the gaze Roy had cast towards Charlotte, her heart felt even more discontent.

Leanna covered her face and, after a moment of silence, suddenly smiled softly.

“It doesn’t matter, Roy Ainbrad, I’ll make you mine sooner or later.”

“Something that belongs only to me.”

Roy inexplicably shivered, glancing back at the South Sea Mansion behind him with a hint of unease, but all he saw were countless figures of members from the South Sea and the Black Mage faction wandering about.

Charlotte bit her teeth slightly, almost squeezing out through her teeth, “What, can’t bear to part with your senior?”

Roy quickly and justifiably explained, “Not at all! My eyes only have you, Charlotte!”

As he said this, he slightly pulled the little princess closer, and as expected, Charlotte let out a symbolic grunt before her formerly stern face softened.

Compared to before, Roy realized he seemed to be getting better at dealing with girls.

Though he still had some gap in handling Leanna’s level, Charlotte was much easier to manage – just a bit of coaxing and she was no longer angry.

However, just as he was thinking that, he suddenly heard Charlotte say, “Only me?”

“Yup.”

Charlotte laughed, revealing a small sharp tooth, “Great, I can’t wait to show off to that green tea fairy.”

“Ah this…”

Roy couldn’t help but sweat.

Forget what I said.

It seemed even a princess wasn’t so easy to coax after all.

————————————

Leanna hated this place.

Cold and damp, mixed with the stench of blood and decay. There was no trace of sunlight, and it was so dark she could barely see her own hand in front of her. In the long, empty corridors, passersby cloaked in black robes had expressionless faces, along with children chained and dragged along like livestock, their bodies twisted.

The air was filled with whispers that sounded like weeping prayers and also like curses. The gazes of those children carried hope, envy, and hatred, but many of their eyes were already hollow and cold.

Leanna had once been one of them.

Like a test subject, constantly taking those modified magic potions that almost cost her life.

Every time she passed through here, it reminded her of those dark kings, a bitter taste rising in her throat.

But as a member of the Black Mage faction, reporting to her mentor was an obligation she couldn’t escape.

She held her breath as best she could, moving through the long corridor, and finally arrived at the deepest part of the Black Mage Association, pushing the door open.

Inside the spacious hall, countless filthy pipes hung from the ceiling, converging towards the center where an old man sat in some sort of capsule container.

The old man’s hair was white, his face colorless, and his body was emaciated, like a candle flickering in the wind.

Even opening his eyes seemed to take all his energy.

Yet, his gaze contained a terrifying pressure, depths akin to an abyss that made Leanna unconsciously lower her head.

The path of the extraordinary was hard to navigate on one’s own; nobles often had family members who would guide them, and every magician was nurtured by their mentor.

Leanna had come this far thanks to the old magician before her.

The head of the Black Mage faction, Eik.

But Leanna felt no gratitude towards him.

The prince of the South had not been wrong: those whose hearts are rotted by dark magic potions had long become cold-blooded and heartless. Whether it was herself or Eik, in the end, they were all just using each other, trying to drain the last drop of value from one another.

“Teacher, here’s this week’s report…”

“In short, the South Sea faction has been completely defeated, and the Black Mage faction will become the academy’s number one faction. Your standing in the association will surely…”

Before Leanna could finish, Eik impatiently let out a deep sigh.

“That sort of thing matters little.”

“You know it without me saying, right? If you don’t advance soon, you’ll follow your seniors’ footsteps.”

“There will be plenty of mutated monstrosities; your life is not within your control. Don’t let me down.”

Leanna bit her lip but still replied, “I understand.”

“I have already received news that the Hydra’s venom pouch will appear at next week’s black market auction. I have been preparing for it.”

The withered old man suddenly let out a cold laugh, like a wind howling in darkness.

“Getting close to the blood of a False King is also part of your preparation?”