I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 469

Chapter 15: Tonight, You Can Stop Treating Me Like Your Master

The steaming dishes had long been set on the table, and in the center, there was a big cake. The girls were either eagerly or politely chattering, inviting her to take a seat. Meanwhile, the black-haired boy waited for her arrival with a smile.

This was something Alice had grown accustomed to.

She always preferred to sit at a distance from the table, watching the boy and the girls laughing and being close.

But before she could even decline, Nia pushed her to the seat closest to Roy.

Faced with the meticulously prepared dishes and the lively atmosphere, Alice felt a bit flustered: “Is there a special celebration today?”

“Alice, just sit back in your usual spot…”

The little maid was about to get up when the elven girl behind her gently pressed her back down.

“No, no, no! This spot is yours today; after all, you’re the main character!”

“Main character?”

Charlotte, who was nearby, chimed in, “Yeah, Roy prepared all this for you.”

Leanna raised an eyebrow at the boy, “Isn’t it more appropriate for him to say that himself?”

Under the confused gaze of the little maid, Roy scratched his cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“I wanted to celebrate the practical training, and also give you a chance to relax.”

Roy’s tone softened unconsciously as he continued, “Alice, you’ve been so busy with housework and studies, and still manage to participate in various practical trainings. You’ve worked really hard.”

Alice’s eyes widened slightly, a fleeting warmth passing through them, but soon she lowered her gaze.

Her master’s kindness always surprised her.

But she felt she wasn’t showing the proper gratitude in return.

“I’m sorry, Master. I know you went through the trouble to prepare this, but this practical training probably disappointed you.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Sigh, I mean the practical training…” As she got halfway through, Alice fell silent.

Yet Roy couldn’t help but chuckle, “Disappointed? When did you get the idea that you let me down?!”

Alice muttered weakly, “But you were clearly very angry at that time.”

“That’s a different story! You risking everything to fight beyond your level and almost getting hurt was indeed a mistake,” Roy chided seriously, but then added gently, “But your performance was excellent.”

“To hold your ground against a Sequence 6 monster like that, you did great.”

“Really?” Alice’s eyes lit up instantly, but then she hesitated, “Even with that kind of appearance, did I really not let down the master?”

Upon hearing that, Roy gently tapped her forehead and smiled softly.

“You’ve never let me down.”

In fact, it was that battered and bruised look while bravely fighting that made Roy realize just how hard Alice was trying.

“Sigh, although your habit of not taking care of yourself is a problem, I’ll find a way to make up for that.” Roy said as he pulled out a beautifully crafted gift box.

On the box, there was a pair of gleaming silver, elegantly shaped armors radiating a holy aura.

This was the item he had spotted on the item list from the mage’s guild—an extraordinary armor from the Holy Light Church.

“This is a Sequence 5 extraordinary armor, crafted from mithril and sacred white stone—the [Sanctuary Gauntlets], once worn by the holy knights.”

“This item enhances holy light abilities and can automatically conjure a holy light shield to block various attacks like physical, magical, or illusionary attacks. It’s not just any ordinary item,” Roy bragged proudly.

Alice had always focused on offense, often neglecting defense, so Roy had been wanting to get her some protective gear.

Of course, the [Sanctuary Gauntlets] cost quite a bit, making even Roy, who usually didn’t care about money, feel a little sting at the expense.

But only for a moment.

Treasures were just material possessions; they couldn’t compare to the safety of his little maid!

Alice blankly accepted the gauntlets and donned them on her arms.

The gauntlets automatically adjusted to fit her figure, making her slender arms appear elegant and graceful.

“Do you like it?”

“Um… I like it!”

Alice stared at her reflection in those dark, shimmering eyes, feeling her previous worries were utterly silly.

It turned out her master had always been watching her.

Though perhaps his gaze was different from how he looked at others, he had never forgotten to care for her.

Even without needing to consciously show anything, he would still grant her so much happiness.

Exquisite dishes, precious weapons, a meticulously prepared little celebration.

As a maid, Alice could hardly imagine anything happier than this.

Yet, her heart raced more fiercely, grew warmer, and became harder to bear, as if the feelings were about to burst forth, making it almost hard to breathe.

She should have given up by now.

She should have felt satisfied by now.

She had resolved to silently be just a maid.

But the more she savored her master’s sweetness and kindness, the more she yearned to be looked upon by him like this, making it even harder for her to contain.

She wanted more, to be seen by her master even more.

Alice blurted out abruptly, confessing, “Master, I’m sorry.”

“At that time, the reason I wanted to defeat the Heart-Eating Demon was to prove myself, to earn your praise.”

Alice’s voice trembled, her expression growing a bit bitter: “I want to be recognized by you, just like Charlotte, Nia, and Leanna. But I don’t know what to do?”

“Whether it’s my background or my looks, I’m just too ordinary to match you, Master. So I thought that maybe if I defeated a strong enemy, you might treat me the same way as you treat them.”

The three girls exchanged glances, all looking a bit surprised and their expressions complex.

Roy, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

Having received twisted lessons from human traffickers since childhood, Alice, like a child, rigidly adhered to the rules, losing her childlike innocence.

She wouldn’t act spoiled, wouldn’t cry and fuss; in the original work, even when mistreated, she would only silently endure.

But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t feel lonely, sad, or cry.

Just like Charlotte, Nia, and Leanna, after shedding those halos from the original work, she was just an ordinary, fragile, and lovable girl.

He had given her so much—undoubtedly, he was way better than the ‘evil Roy’ in the original.

But perhaps that was why he overlooked something.

Overlooked what Alice truly longed for.

Especially after getting acquainted with Charlotte and the others, he had spent even less time with Alice.

Just like a little sister feeling awkward when her brother has a girlfriend, it wasn’t strange for Alice to feel lonely. It’s just that she wouldn’t throw a tantrum; instead, she would try hard as a maid, trying to pull her heart back to him.

Clumsy and endearing.

For the first time, Roy pondered whether the identity of a maid was a home or a shackle for Alice.

To be honest, he didn’t know the answer.

But one thing he could affirm:

To him, Alice was never just a maid.

“I understand your dilemma. But you really don’t need to be so indirect about it, you know?”

Roy gently ruffled the girl’s silky golden hair, feeling the warmth between the strands, calming her unease: “If you’re feeling lonely, it’s alright to be a little stubborn, a little proactive, or even a little spoiled!”

“How about this: today, you can make a wish. Tonight, you can stop treating me like your master.”