Struggling as a Villain

The next morning, it might be the first time that Richard woke up earlier than Lilia and found the girl lying in his arms with a peaceful sleeping face on display.

His eyes softened upon gazing at such an innocent face. He softly brushed the hair strands away so he could look at her properly.

Last night...they had sex. It wasn't on purpose but it happened. They went at it quite intensely and were awake until around four in the morning.

He exhausted her, and in the end, she had to ask him to stop since she could no longer go on. Richard now felt embarrassed for pushing Lilia into such a state where she had to plead.

Heaving a sigh, he was thinking of taking another round of sleep when suddenly he found her mumbling under her breath and knitting her brows.

"Mmm...haaaa." Like a cat, she suddenly stretched her arms—revealing her modest assets to his clear view.

Suddenly she paused and parted her eyes wide.

Looking down, she suddenly seemed to recall what happened last night, and because of that, her face adopted a fresh apple shade, which was quite refreshing to his eyes.

"Morning." Richard greeted the girl as suddenly Lilia realized her current state and her embarrassment amplified.

She got back inside the blanket to cover her birth suit before she replied, "G-Good morning, master."

Richard smirked, "You are back at calling me master? Last night you were frequently shouting my name."

If there had been a hole in the ground then Lilia would have felt great to bury herself.

How shameless her master can be?!

"P-Please don't talk about last night so casually!" Lilia stuttered but the complaint in her tone didn't go unnoticed.

Richard chuckled, the vibration of his throat sounding like a tune that helped her calm down.

Resting his hand on her head fondly he assured her, "Regardless of how it happened, we can't deny the fact that we no longer are just master and servant."

Lilia's eyes stretched a bit as she wordlessly asked him what they were now.

Richard heard her silent query and responded in a confident tone, "After I turn sixteen, would you let me have the honor to hold your hand and take some oath before God?"

The sudden confession took her by surprise as she no longer thought about her state and straightened her back to look at her master properly.

Richard patiently waited for her to register what he said as he softly caressed her arm with a smile never leaving his face.

Lilia parted her mouth and closed it more than three times before she finally asked—in a sobbing tone, "M-Master...a-are you really okay with someone like me?"

"Of course, I am. You possess everything I need from my partner. Undoubtedly, I might not be your ideal type, but in a few months, I will try to reach somewhere around that."

Lilia instantly shook her head; tears already welling up in her eyes.

She held his hand so tenderly, that it seemed she would hurt if she showed rashness. While looking at their connected hand, she confessed, "The moment I agreed to stay by your side, I had already fallen for you. Not only your looks and changed personality but your dedication and caring behavior....everything just forced me to see you more than just as my master."

Richard slowly rose, held her face, and made her look at him before asking, "But are you sure about this, Lilia? You know you won't be my first wife, and my priority will always remain by my mother's side. Despite knowing all this, are you really fine with me?"

A smile bloomed on her face as Lilia nodded, "I knew that from the moment I started working for you. And that quality of yours is really endearing....R-R-Richard."

Richard's heart skipped a beat hearing his name from her. Although it wasn't the first time she said his name, at that time they both were not in heat, but now, it hits differently.

He hugged her and laid back down again,

"Ah!" She exclaimed.

"You are adorable! I am just having the cute aggression right now."

Lilia was unsure why her master was suddenly hugging and swaying her from left to right, but until he was happy, she was content to do anything for him.

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Around ten, Lilia went to the waterfall to fetch something to eat and also wash up. Richard had just changed clothes and currently he was sitting inside the carriage with a troubled expression.

He was holding the steel can, which was an artifact, and thought about what he would say to his mother.

If Lilia hadn't given a promise to Bellarine, then it would have been a different matter. But now, the promise was broken and Richard was solely responsible for it.

'I need to man up...' Lying in a relationship was not something he would ever consider unless the circumstances severely demanded it.

He pulled the string at the butt of the can and connected it to his ear.

It didn't take much time before the other side responded,

{Hello? Richie? Where were you?! Why didn't you contact me last night?}

"Mom...I had sex with Lilia." Whether it was because he had a very brief limit of communication or he just wanted to dump that information, Richard didn't hesitate to just tell her.

The other side became quiet and that allowed Richard to continue,

"I know you are hurt and sad...but it just happened. Lilia asked me to stop but I was just....Mom, I am really sorry."

He spoke those words with utmost sincerity however, the other side remained silent.

Richard grew worried as he anticipated the duration of no longer than twenty seconds remaining.

"Mom, talk to me...what happened? Tell me. Scold me, shout at me but just don't remain silent."

Ten more seconds and no response arrived.

Just then, Richard decided, "I am coming back."

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Back in the Duchy, Bellarine remained seated on her chair with the artifact connected to her ear and a blank expression on her face.

After the connection got cut, she got up and locked the door.

Making her way around the bed, she walked toward the drawer beside the bed and opened it—revealing a big and sharp knife resting inside.

A twisted smile that contained both pain and excitement marred her face, as she picked up the knife and while looking at her reflection in the blade she uttered,

"I wonder if this would be enough to make you completely mine..."

(A/N:- I don't understand her.)

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The moment Lilia returned to the carriage she found her master walking back and forth around the place with a serious frown marring his face.

"Young master?"

"Ah, Lilia." He drew close to her and held her shoulders firmly. His demeanor...made her a little terrified of what he was about to say. But she couldn't escape what was awaiting.

"Listen to what I am saying and please don't panic." Getting a hesitant nod from her, Richard heaved a sigh and told her, "I am going back to duchy with all my strength and while going on potion overdose. I will reach the nearest town by evening and will use teleportation to reach the Duchy."

She drew a sharp breath hearing the urgency in his tone as she asked, "Is Madame Duchess well?"

"....probably not. When I called her and told her what happened last night-"

"Why did you tell her about it now? You should have been there in person when delivering such important news." It might be the first time for Lilia to interrupt Richard and nearly shout at him. But she was right. Richard was being insensitive.

He lowered his eyes but decided to think about it later. He had to see his mother as soon as he could.

"Master, please don't worry about me and go to your mother. God knows what must be going on with her right now." Lilia urged him with a sense of sorrow filling her eyes.

Richard nodded to her, and after cupping her cheeks, he fondly said, "Please return safely. I will be waiting for you."

Lilia softly nodded in response and added, "I won't make it long."

With that said, Richard packed some supplies and changed his clothes before departing.

Lilia traced her master's back with her eyes until he disappeared as some words escaped her lips,

"I hope you don't end up regretting our first time...Richard."

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A/N:- I was finding the right term to describe Bellarine and I came up with one.

BIPOLAR!

She can react to some events in such a manner that you won't expect. This little drama I added for proper settlement of their relationships. Expect another smut chapter soon.

I hope these chapters don't bore you. Some action, slice of life, and romance would go hand in hand.

Now, drop some PS and bye-bye!