I Will Fulfill the Role of the Villain

The bouquet Luke held out obstructed Theo’s view, giving Luke a brief moment to think quickly. Was that really Theo he had just seen? Could it be someone who merely looked like him? But considering Theo’s distinctive face and demeanor, the idea of a doppelgänger seemed even less plausible.

And then there was the voice and manner of speaking—unmistakably Theo.

Which led to a bigger question: why on earth was Theo here? It couldn’t have been to find Luke; Luke had made sure to keep his whereabouts a well-guarded secret after leaving the military. No one, not even Theo, should have known where he had gone.

"Are you planning to just stand there forever?" Theo asked as he took the bouquet from Luke’s outstretched hand, clearing the view Luke had been using as cover.

"Ah, right," Luke replied with an awkward smile, brushing the dust off his clothes as he got to his feet.

Woods, who had been thrown into the distance, appeared to have passed out, lying still and silent.

"So… why are you here?" Luke finally asked, his voice rising.

Theo glanced at the bouquet in his hand before lifting his gaze back to Luke. Even under the dark sky, the light purple of the flowers and Luke’s silver hair stood out vividly.

Theo tightened his grip on the bouquet slightly and took a quiet breath, as though grounding himself.

"Your welcome is rather… aggressive," he remarked.

"When did I say I was welcoming you? Now give that back," Luke retorted, reaching for the bouquet.

Theo raised the flowers just out of reach, effortlessly avoiding Luke’s grasp. Luke glared up at him, frustration bubbling over as he realized the height difference was working against him. Even on tiptoes, he couldn’t reach the flowers.

"Taking back a gift is unbecoming," Theo said coolly.

"I never gave it to you in the first place," Luke shot back.

"If you want to know why I’m here, why don’t you ask directly?"

Luke scowled, following Theo’s gaze as it shifted to Phael, who stood a few steps away, looking utterly miserable.

Ah, so something had happened. Seeing Phael standing there like a drenched puppy made it clear that trouble was afoot.

"Phael, stop standing there and come here," Luke called.

"Yes, sir…" Phael mumbled, shuffling over to stand beside Luke.

Theo glanced between the two of them, his expression unreadable. He seemed to be assessing the situation, recalling how the two had been embroiled in some messy business together during their time in the military.

"So, have you two made up?" Theo asked, his voice calm but pointed.

"Made up? No. I called him here for work. He just happened to be visiting the area, so I put him to use," Luke said casually, omitting the detail that Phael had taken leave and traveled all this way just to see him.

If he let that slip, it might seem like they were closer than they actually were.

"Work, huh? Including reporting that monster on your behalf?" Theo remarked, his tone sharper now.

Luke sighed, running a hand through his hair. Theo’s words confirmed that the issue with the monster was indeed the reason for his visit.

"I came because of that matter," Theo continued. "Nothing personal."

"Yeah, yeah, as if I’d expect anything else. Let’s go inside. No point standing out here," Luke replied, waving Theo toward the house.

The longer they lingered outside, the more likely it was that someone would spot them. Theo’s unfamiliar face and striking features would definitely draw attention in the village.

As they headed toward the house, Luke’s gaze fell on Woods, still sprawled near the door. The drunkard had curled his arms around himself as if warding off the cold, muttering in his sleep.

"Mmm, Luke… come here…"

Luke’s expression hardened, and a wave of disgust crawled up his spine. The idea of shaving Woods’s head crossed his mind. Or perhaps something more permanent—rendering him unable to drink again didn’t seem like a bad option.

"I-I’ll take care of him, sir!" Phael interjected hastily, reading Luke’s murderous expression.

Luke snapped out of his dark thoughts and gave Phael directions to Chess’s house. With the drunkard in tow, Phael disappeared into the distance, dragging Woods behind him.

Luke shot a glance at Theo, then turned to enter the house. Theo followed, taking in the modest interior while his gaze occasionally drifted to the back of Luke’s head.

"Is he your lover?" Theo asked suddenly.

"What?" Luke spun around, his voice rising in shock.

Theo, as composed as ever, looked unperturbed despite the absurdity of his question.

"To be so affectionate outside your house, you must be close," Theo continued, as if stating a simple observation.

It didn’t take Luke long to realize Theo was referring to Woods’s earlier drunken antics. From a distance, it must have looked like something entirely different.

"Are you insane?" Luke snapped, glaring at Theo.

Luke stayed silent, simply staring at Theo instead of answering. The subtle twitch of Theo’s eyebrow betrayed his slight irritation.

"Even in his sleep, he was calling for you. Maybe you should work on your taste in people," Theo said, his voice edged with dry sarcasm.

"Hey, why don’t you go tell him that yourself?" Luke replied with a chuckle, stepping into the sitting room and motioning for Theo to take a seat on the couch.

Just as Luke turned to leave, his hand on the door handle, the wooden door creaked faintly as if it was about to open, only to be pushed shut with a resounding thud.

Startled, Luke turned slowly to see Theo standing behind him, one hand pressed firmly against the door, holding it closed.

Theo loomed over him, his expression calm save for a slight furrow in his brows. With his larger frame and the position of his arm blocking the door, Luke felt as if he’d been cornered in Theo’s space.@@novelbin@@

"What… what are you doing? Want to fight?" Luke asked, his voice betraying a mix of irritation and unease.

"An answer," Theo replied simply.

"An answer to what?"

"You still haven’t answered my question," Theo said, his gaze steady.

Luke blinked in confusion before realization dawned on him.

"Are you seriously asking if I’m involved with that drunkard?" Luke groaned, his voice dropping into a low, incredulous tone.

"Have you lost your mind? Me? With a scumbag like that? I do have standards, you know."

At Luke’s vehement denial, the tension in Theo’s shoulders seemed to ease, and the crease in his brow softened.

"And besides," Luke continued, "didn’t you see? Woods is a man. A man. How could you even think we were involved?"

Theo said nothing, his expression unreadable, as Luke swatted away his hand and opened the door.

"I’m getting us some tea, so sit down and wait quietly," Luke said, stepping out.

Theo watched as Luke disappeared through the doorway, his gaze lingering briefly before shifting to the vibrant purple bouquet of flowers. He stood there, quietly turning Luke’s earlier words over in his mind. A man? So what?

Moments later, Luke returned, holding a tray with two cups and a coffee pot. "There’s not much to drink around here. Just have some coffee," he said, setting the tray down with a thud.

"Now," Luke began as he took a seat, "explain what this is all about. What’s going on?"

Theo carefully set the bouquet down beside him before recounting the events that had brought him to Kyleum. He explained that he had been conducting an inspection at the local division when he encountered Phael, who had come to report the monster.

As Theo spoke, Luke rubbed his temples and sighed, clearly exasperated.

Of course, the division fell under the jurisdiction of the Commander-in-Chief. Luke had simply failed to consider the possibility that Theo might show up, especially since commanders rarely left headquarters unless the matter was urgent.

"If you came all the way here, it must’ve been an important issue," Luke remarked.

"I can’t discuss internal military affairs with civilians," Theo replied curtly.

Civilians. The word stung in a way Luke hadn’t expected. It was a deliberate choice of words, drawing a clear line between them.

"Then how did you figure out that it was me, not Phael, who dealt with the monster?" Luke asked, leaning back in his chair.

He had been meticulous in preparing Phael, coaching him on what to say and how to deflect any suspicion. Phael might have been timid, but he was reliable when given clear instructions.

"He gave a nonsensical answer when I asked how the monster was captured," Theo said simply.

Luke winced internally. That part hadn’t been included in his instructions to Phael. He had underestimated the likelihood of Theo asking such a specific question.

Phael was dependable, but only within the scope of what he’d been told to do. Beyond that, he tended to flounder. And, of course, Theo had proven to be an exceptionally formidable opponent. Phael wouldn’t have expected the Commander-in-Chief himself to appear, leaving him vulnerable to Theo’s probing questions.

"Then let me ask you this," Theo said, his voice low and steady. "Why didn’t you report the monster yourself? Why send Phael to do it?"

The answer was simple. Luke wanted nothing to do with the Imperial Army, not even the slightest connection. He had severed those ties the moment his role was complete.

"Too much trouble," Luke replied dismissively. "It was just a low-level monster. Why would I bother going myself?"

"So you made your former subordinate lie and handle it for you?" Theo pressed, his tone sharper now.

"He volunteered," Luke shot back.

In truth, Luke hadn’t been thrilled about asking Phael to lie, but he had his reasons, and Phael had agreed willingly. Phael had wanted to help, and Luke saw no reason to feel guilty about it.

Still, to an outsider, it could easily look like Luke was using Phael, exploiting the lingering loyalty of a subordinate.

But Luke didn’t care how it looked. Theo was part of his past—a past where Luke had willingly played the role of the villain. And while he hadn’t expected to see Theo again, he saw no reason to act any differently just because they’d crossed paths once more.

Phael had once mentioned that Theo seemed disappointed in Luke for leaving the military so abruptly. But Luke saw no need to change that impression. Villains didn’t suddenly redeem themselves at the end of the story.

"You…" Theo began cautiously, breaking the silence.