I, the Villain, Want to Save Myself, But the Yandere Heroines Disagree-Chapter 89 - Beneath the Blossoming Fireworks (2/4)

Elsewhere, Orson left the auditorium and made his way to the commercial district.

At the district’s entrance, he immediately spotted Olivia, dressed in a stunning gown with light makeup. It was clear she had gone to great lengths to prepare for tonight’s date.

“Orson~” Olivia noticed him as well. She waved enthusiastically before jogging over and wrapping her arm around his.

Orson, now fully aware of Olivia’s feelings for him, felt a bit shy at her intimate gesture, given his inexperience with relationships. Yet, he didn’t dislike it.

On the contrary, as his arm sank into the soft warmth, and Olivia leaned against him like a delicate bird, Orson found the sensation quite comforting.

He couldn’t understand why someone as extraordinary as Olivia, who had always seemed beyond reach, would fall for him.

“Ahem, Olivia, you look... beautiful tonight. Even more so than usual,” Orson complimented her, genuinely noticing the effort she had put into her appearance.

If he didn’t say something nice, he’d truly be unworthy of the life he’d lived so far.

“Huh?” Olivia was momentarily stunned by Orson’s rare compliment.

Her cheeks flushed, and she turned her head away, feigning indifference.

“I thought you’d never say anything, you dummy,” Olivia muttered under her breath.

“What was that?” Orson didn’t catch her words and asked for clarification.

“Nothing!” Olivia quickly dismissed it, pulling him along as they began their stroll.

This time, Olivia didn’t drag Orson into a shopping spree. Instead, she seemed to enjoy simply admiring the scenery with him, relishing the shared awe they felt at the beautiful sights.

Multicolored lanterns lit the streets, festive decorations adorned the shops, and the distant glow of illuminated buildings and towers painted a magical backdrop.

On the night of the academy festival, the Imperial Academy’s nighttime views were considered unparalleled, even compared to the imperial capital.

The two wandered aimlessly for about an hour before eventually finding a quiet wooden bench by an artificial lake.

The secluded spot was dimly lit, with few passersby. The peaceful atmosphere was a welcome relief, making the moment feel all the more intimate.

“Orson,” Olivia murmured, resting her head on his shoulder. Her snow-white hair trailed down his arm, with a few strands brushing against the back of his hand.

Orson turned his hand over, gently running his fingers through the soft white strands.

“Do you think my hair is pretty?”

“Mm, it’s beautiful,” Orson replied.

What a joke—white hair and red eyes were a visual weakness for people from his past world. Coupled with Olivia’s captivating figure, she fit perfectly into Orson’s aesthetic preferences.

“Of course, you’re even more beautiful,” Orson added, using his decades of singlehood to deliver an unpolished yet heartfelt line.

“Pfft.” Olivia couldn’t help but laugh. “Orson, have you never been in a relationship before?”

“And what if I haven’t? It’s not like you’re some love expert,” Orson retorted.

“Ugh...” Olivia blushed at his counter. “Fine, we’re both novices. Someone has to take the initiative, though.”

“Hey, Orson,” Olivia continued.

“Mm?”

“Do you know when I first started liking you?”

“I don’t,” Orson replied honestly.

“The first time I saw you... I must’ve been around twelve,” Olivia began. “You probably don’t remember, but I was at the Imperial Library, reading. That’s when I stumbled across one of your books.”

“I happened to see you chatting with the librarians. I remember thinking, wow, you’re amazing. Even though we were the same age, you had already published books that were archived in the Imperial Library.”

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

“Ah...” Orson nodded. “I did publish a few books, but most of them were more like guides, right?”

“Yes,” Olivia nodded. “Your book helped so many people. When newcomers arrive at the Imperial Library, they’re often overwhelmed by the sheer number of books and don’t know where to start. But after reading your guide, they immediately find a direction.”

“Those were fairly basic contributions, though.”

“Even so, at the time, I thought you seemed so solitary, always working alone. You looked lonely.”

“I wanted to talk to you, but for some reason, the aura you gave off—cold and unapproachable—made me too scared to approach you.”

“Later, in Saint Roland City, we ended up attending the same noble school. During a field trip, a Tier 4 magical beast appeared. Even the teacher leading the group couldn’t handle it. I wanted to run, but my legs were too weak to move.”

“And then, just in the nick of time, you showed up and saved me~” Olivia closed her eyes, reminiscing.

“That...” Orson thought back. It sounded familiar, but over the years, he had taken down so many high-tier beasts that Tier 4 creatures didn’t even leave an impression anymore.

“At that moment, I thought you were really cool.”

“So, does that mean your feelings for me now are a way of repaying me?”

“Perhaps,” Olivia considered for a moment before nodding. “I guess you could say that.”

“Later, when we ended up in the same class and even became desk mates, I was so happy.”

“But last semester, aside from the mandatory classes, you rarely came to the classroom. Even when you did, you always seemed so cold and distant—sometimes even intimidating. It made you hard to approach.”

“But this semester, you’ve changed a lot. You’ve become... warmer, maybe? More approachable?” Olivia said. “Is it because of Litte? Now that you have a close family member around your age?”

“Ah...” Orson nodded. “Probably...”

Thinking about it, it was true. While taking care of Litte, he had gradually softened, becoming more gentle and considerate.

Though he still retained the ruthlessness one might expect of an antagonist in certain situations, he had indeed grown more empathetic toward his friends, just as Olivia had described.

“In that case, I owe Litte a thank-you~” Olivia said, her tone light and cheerful. “If not for Litte changing you, I wouldn’t have had the courage to confess my feelings to you now.”

“It’s not that serious...”

“It is!” Olivia sat up straight, looking Orson directly in the eyes. “It’s very serious. For me, every day I couldn’t be with you was torment.”

“At first, I wasn’t sure if my feelings for you were admiration, infatuation, or something else. But after spending time with you, I’m certain—I love you.”

As Olivia’s words fell, the academy festival reached its climax. Fireworks began exploding over the plaza on the other side of the artificial lake.

The vibrant explosions illuminated Olivia’s blushing face.

Orson looked at her, his heart racing.

Her crimson eyes glimmered with affection, her delicate skin glowing under the light of the fireworks.

Seeing Olivia’s breathtaking beauty, Orson couldn’t help but feel his heartbeat quicken.

“Orson, did you hear me...?” Olivia murmured.

“I love you.”

Under the blossoming fireworks, on the bench of fate, their bodies drew closer and closer.

Finally, they leaned in, their lips meeting.

—

In the nearby woods, two figures watched the scene unfold in silence.

“Litte...” Lianca turned to her companion, noticing Litte’s dark expression. “You look... unwell.”

“I’m fine,” Litte said, shaking her head. But her face remained eerily somber.

“I’m leaving, Lianca.” Litte turned and walked deeper into the woods.

Lianca, meanwhile, couldn’t shake the unpleasant feeling in her heart as she glanced back at the kissing couple. After a moment of thought, she too turned and left.

—

It was a long while before Orson and Olivia finally pulled apart.

“Orson...” Olivia leaned against his chest. “Do you understand my feelings now?”

“Mm.” Orson nodded, gently holding her.

“Olivia, from now on, let’s take care of each other.”

At that moment, a group of festival-goers began heading toward their secluded spot. Orson and Olivia quickly adjusted their posture, sitting upright.

Seeing each other’s alert expressions, they couldn’t help but laugh softly together.