I, The Villainess, Will Seduce All The Heroines Instead
Chapter 48: A New Affection Event?!

Chapter 48: A New Affection Event?!

Raphael’s lips curled. "Tired?" He laughed. "I haven’t had this much fun in years."

And that was exactly the problem.

The young warlord barely found excitement in a fight anymore.

No one challenged him, no one gave him the thrill he sought.

But now, with Verena forcing him to take her seriously, his blood was roaring.

His instincts screamed at him to push harder, to break through her defenses, to see just how far she could go before she fell.

"You look so pleased with yourself..." Verena lunged, twisting her blade. He dodged, barely.

She almost nicked his cheek.

For a split second, his heart pounded harder.

Interesting, indeed.

His grin widened, his movements faster, his power reckless.

The ground cracked beneath his feet as he surged forward, blade swinging, not with training precision, but with real intent.

Verena barely had time to register the shift in power before the force of the attack sent her skidding backward.

"Too slow," he murmured.

"Too insane," she hissed back, panting.

"Come on, fight properly." He stepped forward again, ready to strike—

But then, a voice.

"Raphael, stop—!"

Evelyn.

Her presence barely registered in the corner of his vision until it was too late.

His blade swung, wild with force.

Verena saw it before he did.

The trajectory. The weight behind the strike.

The way Evelyn had unknowingly stepped between them.

"Move!" Verena shouted, trying to reach her.

Raphael’s heart slammed against his ribs as he realized.

But it was too late.

The flat of his sword struck Evelyn’s side with enough force to send her sprawling.

A sharp, sickening gasp left her lips as she crumpled to the ground.

Silence.

The moment froze in horror.

Verena’s breath caught in her throat as she rushed forward.

Evelyn was curled up on the ground, clutching her side, her breathing ragged.

Panic swelled in her eyes, in the way she trembled, in the way her fingers dug into the dirt like she was trying to ground herself from the pain.

Raphael stood frozen, sword still raised. He didn’t move. He didn’t breathe.

A sharp clatter as his weapon fell from his hands.

His mind struggled to process.

The adrenaline in his veins turned cold.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

This was never supposed to happen.

"Evelyn," he murmured, stepping forward, but Verena was already between them, her eyes burning with fury.

"You absolute idiot," she snarled. "What the hell were you thinking?"

Raphael barely heard her. His focus was entirely on Evelyn, who was trying and failingto push herself up.

Verena kneeled beside her, pressing a hand against her injury. "It’s okay. Just breathe, alright?"

Evelyn let out a shaky breath, her grip on Verena’s sleeve tightening.

She was in pain, but more than that. She looked terrified.

Raphael swallowed hard.

The excitement he’d felt moments ago was now a sickness in his gut. He hadn’t meant for this. He never lost control like this.

Verena shot him a glare sharp enough to cut. "Help me carry her," she ordered.

Raphael hesitated.

"Now, Raphael!"

The command snapped him out of his daze. Without another word, he helped her get up.

As he ran, a single thought plagued him:

He had lost control. And in doing so, he had hurt someone who had never stood a chance against him.

And for the first time in a long, long time, Raphael felt afraid.

He overdid it... Ah, well. Not my problem.

After all, if he made a mistake now, Evelyn’s already fragile affection for him would slip even further through his fingers.

[System Notification]

[Affection Event Triggered!]

[Event Name: "A Knight’s Oath"]

[Target: Evelyn Ashbourne]

[Description: For the first time, the story has deviated from its intended course. The male leads are no longer the only ones capable of forming deep connections. Verena has stepped into the role of a protector.]

[Solution: Save the Damsel In Distress, bring her to her "castle", and act like her Knight]

[You are now recognized as a rival in the affections of a heroine. Handle with care.]

"So, I wasn’t considered a love rival before? Guess it’s not a love triangle anymore... but a love square."

She slipped her arms beneath Evelyn and scooped her up effortlessly.

The girl felt lighter than expected, almost like carrying a feather.

Far less of a burden than one would think.

"I’ll still come back for sword training, but you’re dealing with the aftermath yourself," Verena teased, her voice carrying an amused edge as she strode forward, Evelyn cradled gently in her arms.

The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting a soft glow over the garden as they made their way through the flowers.

They walked toward the House of Mercurial, where the air signs lived, the cool night breeze stirring the petals around them.

The guards recognized Verena almost instantly, and with a nod, they opened the way without hesitation.

"Lead me to Evelyn’s room," Verena instructed, her tone smooth as she walked through the familiar halls, feeling strangely like a knight on a mission.

Evelyn’s room was cozy, small but with a warm charm that made it feel more like a sanctuary than just a dorm.

It was decorated with trinkets and soft fabrics, all the little things that revealed the girl’s personality.

Nothing too over the top, just a few touches of whimsy and warmth.

"Wow, it’s like a cute little hideaway," Verena muttered, setting Evelyn down gently on the bed.

She immediately began scurrying around the room, rifling through drawers in search of the first aid kit.

After a moment, she found what she was looking for.

A small, neatly packed med kit.

She raised an eyebrow, impressed at the girl’s preparedness.

It was almost too cute for words.

So, I have to act like a knight, huh?

It was fitting, really. After all, she was dressed for combat practice.

She glanced over at Evelyn, who, bathed in the soft moonlight, looked ethereal like she was made from the night itself. It almost took her breath away.

"My princess," Verena said, dropping into a chair beside the bed. "Where did you get hurt? Show me, will you?"

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