[Full] The Villainess Just Wants to Live Quietly! (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 3
Askan’s expression, which had been poker-faced until now, crumpled all at once.
This time, the shift in emotion was unmistakably large—anyone could tell he disapproved of my kindness.
He trembled his lips before letting out a small sigh.
“…Hah.”
It was so faint a breath that one would miss it without paying attention.
Yet he uttered no word of refusal.
In a way, it was only natural. Regardless of his true feelings, I was a noble lady, and his status was that of a lowly slave.
“Ahem.”
I coughed awkwardly to hide my discomfort.
Though it made me slightly guilty to manipulate him so openly when his feelings were plain to see, I had no other choice if I wanted to keep him close.
‘He’s acting like this because I said I’d treat him well.’
Askan looked at me as if wondering what new scheme I had in mind, but I straightened my shoulders confidently and pointed to the room he’d been staying in.
“In any case, pack your things and come out. I’ve decided to move your quarters into the mansion.”
“…Understood.”
Askan instantly reverted to his usual blank expression. Without a word, he entered the room he’d been using and began packing.
A short while later, he emerged holding a small bundle.
It was so meager I doubted it even contained a full set of clothes.
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
His appearance left a bitter taste in my mouth, as if I’d just chewed sand.
I knew from the novel just how painfully Askan had survived.
To everyone else, he’d been nothing more than a lab rat. Even when writhing in agony that nearly killed him, no one had offered so much as a single painkiller—let alone asked if he was alright.
Everyone’s interest lay solely in the results of the human weapon experiments. No one cared about Askan enduring those inhumane trials.
He’d grown up like this his whole life—never receiving anyone’s care, knowing only the cold confines of a laboratory as his world.
Thus, when he later gained power and said he wished for the whole world to end, I’d thought, “If I’d grown up like Askan, I’d probably feel the same.”
Seeing his childhood—which I’d only read about in the novel—with my own eyes now made my heart ache.
The tiny bundle in his hand seemed to reflect his indifference toward everything.
“Are you kidding? Is that really all your luggage? What will you do when winter comes?”
Perhaps that was why—I couldn’t just leave him be.
“…Yes?”
“This won’t do. We’re buying you proper clothes right now.”
Of course, it wasn’t entirely selfless—I did want him to think well of me.
“I’m fine as I am.”
“I won’t accept any refusal. Like I said earlier, I intend to treat you extremely well.”
Askan’s expression shifted strangely. I couldn’t guess what he was thinking, but his wariness toward me was unmistakable.
Still, I didn’t care. As far as I knew, no one disliked receiving gifts.
“Follow me.”
I walked ahead confidently. Then, remembering something, I turned back.
I saw the butler I’d summoned to discuss room assignments trailing me from a distance, keeping far away from Askan.
“The butler will carry Askan’s belongings.”
“M-me, my lady?”
“Do I need to say it twice?”
“Ah—no, my lady.”
The butler, looking dazed, took Askan’s light bundle.
Askan gave me a peculiar look, but I swiftly turned my head forward and quickened my pace.
From now on, I’d show him through actions rather than words.
Returning to my room with Askan, I announced to the maids,
“From today on, Askan is my page. He’ll accompany me in everything, so treat him accordingly.”
The maids’ reactions varied, yet one shared sentiment was clear.
It was pity toward Askan.
They all gazed at him with sympathetic eyes, clearly wondering what cruel trick I’d pull on him this time.
‘Just how bad is my reputation with people?’
As far as I knew, Tanasia had been shy in her youth—but judging by those around me and the fact that I’d supposedly whipped Askan, she’d already shown strong signs of villainy.
Shaking my head, I addressed the maids once more.
“Where’s the tailor I summoned?”
“Yes, my lady. She’s just arrived.”
“Let her in.”
At my command, the tailor entered the room. I stopped her with a gesture as she moved toward me and pointed to Askan.
“Not me—measure my page’s measurements.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
The tailor seemed momentarily flustered but quickly approached Askan and began taking his measurements.
Askan also seemed uneasy in this situation, but his usual blank face gave no clue to his thoughts.
Beside him, I selected fabrics for his custom-made clothes and bought several pre-made men’s outfits as samples.
Shopping was always enjoyable, whether for myself or someone else.
Time flowed like water, and finally, I asked Askan to try on one of the sample outfits I’d temporarily bought.
When the fitting room door slid open, everyone’s eyes widened.
“Wow—”
An involuntary gasp escaped someone’s lips.
Dressed in fine attire, Askan looked nothing like before—now he radiated such nobility one could easily mistake him for highborn.
I’d thought him handsome even in his shabby clothes, but properly dressed, he was beyond mere descriptions of good looks.
All eyes, including mine and the maids’, were fixed on him—even the tailor who’d recommended the outfit seemed amazed by his transformation.
“It’s as if the clothes have found their rightful owner.”
“Indeed. Worth every coin spent.”
Pleased, I smiled and signed off on purchasing all the outfits I’d chosen.
Askan stood expressionlessly, as if subjected to a one-sided doll-dressing game, yet his presence now shimmered differently than before.
“Have the rest of the clothes moved to Askan’s room.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The maids responded energetically and carried out the clothes I’d bought for Askan.
Though I’d instructed the butler to place Askan’s room as close as possible, it inevitably remained somewhat distant from mine.
Watching the maids bustling about, I turned my gaze to Askan. He stood like a mannequin in the fitting room, silently watching me.
“Aren’t you getting hungry?”
It was natural to feel hungry after shopping.
This time, I headed to the dining hall with Askan.
Some stared curiously at us together, but since word had already spread that I’d taken him as my page, most seemed accepting.
As usual, the meal arrived as a full-course service.
Starting with appetizers, countless plates appeared and disappeared from the table.
Though Askan gave nothing away, his clumsy grip on the fork and knife revealed his unfamiliarity with this setting.
Thinking about it, that was only natural.
Since childhood, he’d been subjected to experiments by the Kalua Empire and suffered as a slave here. He’d likely never encountered such fine dining.
I cut the steak before me into manageable pieces and offered it to Askan.
“Eat this for now. Later, when you have time, practice using utensils. You’ll need to get used to it, since you’ll be dining with me from now on.”
“Yes.”
Without protest, Askan accepted the plate I handed him.
I’d wondered if he might refuse, but that worry had been unfounded.
Instead, he offered no thanks—simply fulfilling his role as a slave obeying my orders.
‘If he’s already this emotionally numb now, what kind of person will emerge after he’s dragged back to that lab again?’
He already seemed accustomed to hiding his emotions—but imagining him becoming even worse was beyond comprehension.
I stared at Askan for a moment before resuming my meal.
I hadn’t expected him to open his heart to me easily. My plan was to steadily show him kindness without rushing.
Fortunately, that wasn’t difficult for me.
Showing kindness simply meant sharing what I enjoyed with someone else.
In short, all I had to do was bring Askan along in whatever I felt like doing.
Suddenly remembering something, I turned to Askan.
“Our family owns many villas—how about we make time to visit one sometime?”
“Am I… to come along as well?”
“Yes. Whether it’s by the sea or mountains, just tell me where you’d like to go.”
“I don’t really have a place like that…”
“Well, then there’s no need to choose. We’ll visit both.”
“…”
“Do you know how to swim? Oh—if not, I’ll teach you. It’s not hard at all.”
Tiny cracks seemed to form in Askan’s blank expression. My words clearly caught him completely off guard.
Meeting his startled gaze, I smiled gently.
“Why look so surprised? Life’s meant to be enjoyed. It’s really not a big deal.”
Having died once, I now felt this more keenly.
My goal in this life was to survive until my natural end—but I had no intention of wasting it in unhappiness.
Since I’d reincarnated into a gold-spoon character, not enjoying it would be a waste.
“Oh—maybe you don’t even know what it means to enjoy life. Don’t worry. I’ll teach you from now on.”
It wasn’t complicated. With wealth I could never exhaust in a lifetime, I’d eat what I wanted and play as I pleased.
Doing what I loved while earning Askan’s favor—two birds with one stone.
“Of course, people have different tastes. Just because I like something doesn’t mean you will. But if you don’t speak up, I won’t know. So from now on, tell me plainly if you dislike what I do.”
At my words, Askan’s golden eyes darkened slightly.
“How could I possibly dare say such a thing?”
For some reason, it sounded sarcastic. After all, I’d whipped him without hesitation before—suddenly changing my attitude overnight must seem unbelievable.
But I meant it.
“Whether you believe me or not is your choice. Judge me by my actions from now on. Either way, you won’t lose anything.”
Askan offered no reply. But his silence didn’t trouble me—perhaps I was growing used to his quiet nature.
Truthfully, I didn’t need his permission for my affection. Since I didn’t know his preferences, I’d have to push forward my own way.
Watching Askan finish his meal, I continued,
“Shall we take a walk to aid digestion?”
Outside, night had already fallen.
Though the mansion’s lights made it feel more dazzling than dark, the night view wasn’t what I’d come to see.
“Hmm… should I go a bit deeper?”
Muttering to myself, I walked toward a distant garden away from the mansion.
Askan followed silently behind. Though I didn’t intend to treat him as a slave, he likely interpreted my invitation to walk as a command.
I wasn’t entirely satisfied with our current dynamic, but since there was no alternative, I had no choice but to leave it as is.
As I ventured deeper into the unlit garden, Askan—who’d followed silently at first—finally asked in a puzzled tone,
“How far are we going?”
“We’re here. Ah, that chair will do.”
I pointed to a chair in the garden. It reclined like a sunbed, which pleased me even more.
“Why here…?”
Ignoring Askan’s wary look, I sat down first.
Looking up, I saw the night sky densely studded with stars.
It seemed trivial, yet I could count on one hand the times I’d actually gazed at the night sky in my life.
Noticing Askan still standing stiffly, I patted the space beside me.
“What are you waiting for? Come sit here.”
Askan stared at me as if baffled, but soon sat beside me without a word.
His rigid, upright posture facing straight ahead was so absurd I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Who just sits like that when told to sit? Look up at the night sky—it’s beautiful.”
Only then did Askan lift his gaze to the stars.
At first indifferent, his eyes suddenly widened.
For the first time, he looked like an ordinary boy his age. Then I, too, turned my eyes back to the endless night sky.
Sometimes, people are moved by the simplest things.
For me, it was the night sky. I’d passed beneath it mindlessly every day, yet occasionally, glancing up would inexplicably stir my heart.
“Have you ever looked up at the night sky like this before?”
“…No.”
“So tonight is your first time?”
“Yes.”
His unexpected answer startled me—but thinking over Askan’s past, it made sense.
“I’m glad I brought you. Feel free to look whenever you want from now on. By the way, stars aren’t clearly visible in bright places. You need darkness like this to see them well.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Stars just are that way. They only shine in the dark.”
Askan didn’t reply. But even without turning to check, I knew he was gazing at the night sky.
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
“…Yes.”
“I’ll show you many more wonderful things. After all, I promised to teach you what enjoying life means.”
At my words, Askan turned his starlit gaze from the sky to me. His golden eyes, deep as an abyss, shimmered with complex emotions.
Unthinkingly, I smiled back at him.
“Let’s have fun together from now on.”
And don’t forget—later, you’ll save my life.
But contrary to my expectations, Askan’s eyes slowly dimmed as he looked at me. His expression, which had briefly softened into that of a boy his age, had already hardened back to its usual state.
Just as I wondered at this sudden shift in atmosphere,
Askan spoke in an even lower voice, his eyes fixed on me.
“Have you changed your approach?”
“Approach?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. No matter how sweetly you speak, my lady, I truly know nothing.”
“No, that’s not—”
In the original novel, Tanasia had wanted to study the ancient script and magic formula etched into Askan to gain his water-manipulating ability.
But that had absolutely nothing to do with me now.
‘How can I explain this?’
As I struggled to gather my thoughts,
Askan continued,
“You asked me to tell you how to steal Lady Noxia’s ability.”
“Well, that’s…”
“When that didn’t work, you asked me to get rid of Lady Noxia.”
“What—what did you say?”
My words caught in my throat.
I’d said that?
Tanasia—truly out of her mind!
At this rate, she must have been openly declaring her hatred for Noxia everywhere.
I couldn’t help but clutch my head in exasperation.
“Just beat and trample me like usual. This… this is just uncomfortable.”
Askan rose smoothly from his seat. Bowing stiffly to my frozen form, he said,
“If permitted, I’ll take my leave now.”
I didn’t know what to say. But keeping him here wouldn’t change anything.
Forcing my unresponsive head to nod, I watched Askan walk back toward the mansion without looking back.
All I could do was stare helplessly at his cold, retreating figure.
The path to avoiding the death route seemed long and arduous.
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
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Isn’t he is being cute, just let him be …ufff….