Cursed Villainess’ Obsession

"Are you sure this is the right way?"

"Honestly, Ken, are you always so gullible? Or do you just not trust me?"@@novelbin@@

"Uh... sorry."

After our date, Diana and I had become more like friends. Maybe it was because we’d shared some honest feelings with each other—or perhaps it was just the fact that we were deliberately ignoring any special emotions that lay beneath the surface. Either way, I now felt comfortable enough to speak to her informally.

And Diana seemed to think of me as just another companion from our escape.

'But my heart still aches.'

If I were rejected by Raphne, Emily, or even Mary, it would tear my heart apart. And especially if the reason for that rejection was because of a mistaken assumption about my gender.

"...Why are you looking at me like that?" Diana asked.

"No reason."

"Focus on where you're going. You might trip over a root or something."

Diana was still every bit a woman, yet she led the way through the forest as if she were a man. We were currently walking through the woods because, according to Diana, the ruins at the end of this path held the secrets of crafting the Demon Sword, hidden by her great-grandfather.

So here we were, trekking through a nameless forest, not far from the village where we’d had our date. I’d asked the others to stay behind. Bringing five people along would draw too much attention, so it was just the two of us this time. After all, we were only here to find the manual.

Raphne had grumbled, but since our engagement, she seemed to mind a little less when we were apart. Which is why Diana and I could walk through the woods in peace.

'Good thing I left the others behind.'