I gently patted Elena's head as she sniffled in my arms.
At first, she trembled like a leaf caught in the wind, but after a while, something seemed to change.
Maybe it was the warmth of the hug, or maybe she just needed someone to hold her. Her sobs slowly quieted, the sound fading into soft hiccups, and the coldness in her body began to melt away.
As the young master of a noble family, I was always expected to carry a handkerchief — an unspoken rule drilled into me since childhood.
So, without hesitation, I took it out and began wiping her tears. The fabric was soft and silky, far too luxurious for something as simple as drying tears, but I still handled it with care. Her skin looked delicate, and I didn't want to do anything that might hurt her.
When her teary eyes finally met mine, she gave a faint, embarrassed sniff.
I sighed inwardly.
Do teenage girls really have this many mood swings?
I didn't get it. Shouldn't they be past that stage by sixteen?
It's not like I could read minds either. How was I supposed to know what someone was actually feeling?
What truly caught me off guard was the sight of Elena Edelweiss crying.
That alone was shocking. It didn't feel right to just brush it off as some phase of teenage emotions. Even in the novel, Elena was an introvert, sure—but she had a heart as strong as steel. I could count on one hand the number of times she ever cried in the story.
But now… things were different.
The girl in my arms had only known me for less than a day. In that short time, she'd been cheerful, lively—almost glowing whenever she talked to me. And yet, the moment our conversation shifted, she suddenly broke down.
I froze, completely unprepared.
It wasn't the kind of crying that came from frustration or embarrassment. It was quiet, trembling, like she'd been holding it in for too long.
And for the first time, I realized just how much the world around me had changed from the story I thought I knew.
I wondered if she was just putting on an act—but no, there was something real in her eyes. Genuine remorse. Sadness. Bitterness. All of it directed at me… Damian.
But she wouldn't have looked at him that way—the Damian I knew.
If I were still the original Damian, she would've glared at me with nothing but resentment, not held me so gently, not looked so fragile. That meant this reaction wasn't for him—it was for me.
She was the same yesterday too. Why? Did something happen that made her feel indebted to me?
I stopped myself from thinking too deeply about it. The more I tried to figure it out, the more it felt like stabbing my own head with a fork.
I already spent half of yesterday brooding over it, and in the end, I gave up. Even if I reached some kind of conclusion, it would probably have been the wrong one anyway.
Asking her directly wasn't an option either. I didn't want to make her cry again. Damian might've enjoyed that, but I'm not him—I don't find any pleasure in watching someone break down in front of me.
Besides, she looks far better when she smiles than when she cries. Why couldn't Damian ever see that?
That's why he was just a third-rate villain—someone destined to be thrown away before the real story even began. The bastard was too damn clueless.
I let out a quiet sigh. I really don't know anymore.
There's always a reason behind someone's kindness. I know that much. Whatever her reason is, it won't last. Sooner or later, her heart will change, and she'll drift toward one of the other Male Leads—just like the story intends.
So what's the point in wondering? I already know my role in this world.
I'm the villain.
And villains aren't meant to be loved. We're meant to hurt the heroine—and be hated for it.
No matter what I did, it didn't change the fact that I was given the role of a villain named Damian Kraus.
It might've been pointless for me to break off our engagement so early in the stage out of my safety. The result was granted regardless.
It was possible that even after the original plot began, I'd remain her fiancé for quite some time.
That said, it was guaranteed that Damian Kraus and Elena Edelweiss were going to break up. There was no way that someone like me, who couldn't change a person's fate, could twist a huge event that would become a turning point for this world.
I'd end up hurting her in some way and then she'd leave. I just hope it'd end with a simple parting. The actions I took now were nothing more than to erase my debts for events to come.
"How long do you want to stay like this? Didn't we agree to browse the manor together?" I murmured to Elena.
I tapped her lightly, who was still leaning on me. I wiped away all the tears that she had shed.
Her eyes were slightly reddish and didn't appear to be very swollen. They looked beautiful as always.
I had also noticed she was breathing normally again since we were so close to each other.
"The weather is nice today. You can see the garden vividly from here, still, it'll be better to see it in person. The breeze carries the scent of the fragrant flowers. Of course, that's not all there is to see in the Isilia Pavillion."
She slowly started to lean away from my chest.
Elena's skin was very white, so it was particularly noticeable when she blushed. She also knew of her trait as she lowered her head to conceal her face.
It seemed like I eased her worries a bit, she had cheered up a little.
I chuckled at the sight. She curled up more after hearing me laugh, which I found adorable.
She was covering her face with both hands.
I extended my hand towards her.
"So would you grant me the honor of showing you the view of the Isilia Pavilion?"
Elena stayed silent, so I added a few more words.
"Come to think of it, I didn't explain the origin for Isilia Pavillion's name. Isilia was said to be the name of the first Count Kraus' wife. The first count had built this annex naming it after her. Since then, this place has been established as a space for the wives of House Kraus."
Flinch–
"Elena, since you are the bride-to-be to the next count of the household, wouldn't it be better if you learned the path here ahead of time?"
A small hand clasped my hand tightly.
One of the hands on her face had disappeared, revealing half of it. Although her face was still red, I could see the corner of her lips curling up as well as those smiling violet eyes.
The moment I saw her expression, I had a feeling in the corner of my heart that she might not be the only one who would be disheartened when that day arrived.