The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: 02/06-Leona’s Date

A few days after the disastrous masquerade ball, Skye Drakonis managed to secure a date with Leona. Despite the light council’s hesitation and Kael’s outright opposition, Leona insisted on hearing him out. If she was going to understand his true motives, she needed to see him up close, beyond deception and fleeting glances their constant bickering. The meeting was set at the Celestial Gardens, a sacred sanctuary known for its ethereal flowers and cascading fountains—one of the few places where light and dark beings could coexist without hostility.

When the day arrived, Skye was already waiting for her, standing beneath the shade of a silver-blooming elder tree. Dressed in an elegant dark cloak embroidered with gold, he looked almost regal, a stark contrast to the cunning villain many perceived him to be. As Leona approached, he greeted her with a charming, almost disarming smile. “I must admit, I didn’t expect you to accept my invitation so readily, Oracle.” His voice was smooth, calculated, yet genuinely intrigued by her presence.

Leona kept her composure, though she remained wary. “I agreed because I want answers,” she stated, her golden eyes never leaving his. “You played a dangerous game at my birthday gathering, and yet now you come forward with an invitation, as if nothing happened.” She gracefully took a seat at the marble bench beside the reflecting pool, her posture poised, regal. “So tell me, what exactly do you want from me, Skye?”

Skye leaned against the stone railing, watching the ripples in the water before turning his gaze to her. “Perhaps I simply wish to understand you,” he mused, tilting his head slightly. “The Oracle of Light, willing to sit with the so-called enemy. Maybe you intrigue me, Leona.” His words carried an undeniable weight, and for a moment, she couldn’t tell if he was merely toying with her or if there was something deeper beneath his carefully crafted facade.

Leona folded her hands in her lap, studying him. Was he being honest? Or was this another elaborate scheme? She wasn’t sure yet, but one thing was clear—Skye Drakonis was dangerous, not just because of his power, but because of his ability to make people doubt what they thought they knew. And that, in itself, was far more unsettling than any poison he could have used against them.

Skye chuckled softly, a smooth and almost melodic sound, as he settled onto the bench beside Leona. He rested his arm casually along the back, creating a deliberate sense of ease. “Dark secrets?” he mused, tilting his head slightly toward her. “I wouldn’t still be standing here if I went around spilling those so easily, now would I?” His violet eyes gleamed with amusement, though a hint of wariness lingered beneath the charm.

Leona gave him a knowing smile. “I figured as much. But surely you have something to share that isn’t bound by deception or strategy?” She leaned back slightly, arms crossed in a casual yet analytical manner. “Everyone has hobbies. Even those who thrive in the shadows.”

Skye exhaled, his gaze drifting to the floating petals on the surface of the reflecting pool. “Hobbies… I suppose strategy games have always held my interest. Chess, war simulations, anything that requires patience and foresight.” His fingers idly traced patterns against the stone bench. “Though I doubt that’s much of a surprise to you.”

Leona arched a brow. “Not particularly. I would have been more shocked if you told me you spent your free time knitting.”

Skye smirked, a flicker of genuine amusement crossing his face. “I’ll have you know, I once tried embroidery.”

Leona’s lips parted in astonishment. “You’re joking.”

“Not at all,” he replied smoothly. “It was a required lesson in courtly etiquette. Of course, I was dreadful at it.” He held up his gloved hands as if to emphasize his lack of skill. “My stitches looked more like battle scars than art.”

Leona laughed, the sound light and genuine. For a moment, the tension between them seemed to fade, replaced by something almost… natural. But the moment passed quickly, and she narrowed her gaze once more. “You avoided my question about your personal life.”

Skye sighed, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. “That’s because it’s uninteresting,” he admitted. “I was raised in a world of politics and bloodshed. My childhood was a series of lessons on how to manipulate, control, and—when necessary—eliminate threats.” His voice remained neutral, but there was an undertone of something else… something close to weariness. “Any personal desires were secondary to the role I was meant to play.”

Leona studied him carefully. “And what about now? Do you still believe in that role?”

Skye glanced at her, the weight of unspoken thoughts lingering in his expression. “Let’s just say… I’m reconsidering certain things.” He leaned back once more, his usual smirk returning. “But enough about me. What about you, Leona? Surely the Oracle of Light has her own secrets.”

Leona hesitated, caught off guard by the sudden shift in focus. “I have no secrets,” she stated, though even she knew that wasn’t entirely true.

Skye chuckled. “Everyone does, Oracle. Even those who claim to walk in the light.” His gaze held hers for a moment longer than necessary, as if he could see right through her. And for the first time in a long while, Leona wasn’t entirely sure whether she was the one doing the interrogating… or if she had just become the one being read.

Skye met Leona’s gaze with a carefully crafted softness, the kind that hinted at sincerity without giving too much away. His violet eyes, so often filled with cunning, now carried a glimmer of something more elusive—something almost gentle. “Why am I doing this?” he echoed, tilting his head slightly as if pondering the question himself. Then, with a small sigh, he looked away, letting his fingers trail along the rim of his untouched wine glass. “Because… I wanted to.”

Leona narrowed her eyes, not fully convinced. “You don’t do things without reason, Skye. You don’t simply ‘want’ something unless it serves a purpose.”

He chuckled at that, shaking his head. “You think so little of me.” Then, he exhaled and leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table as his expression softened even further. “Leona, for once, it isn’t about strategy. It isn’t about manipulation. I…” He paused, letting the silence stretch just long enough to appear vulnerable. “I wanted to know you. Not the Oracle. Not the Light’s chosen. Just… you.”

Leona stared at him, searching for deception in his words, but his mask was near perfect. Even she, with all her wisdom, couldn’t quite tell if he was speaking the truth or spinning yet another web of lies. But she knew better than to let her guard down so easily. “You expect me to believe that after everything?” she asked, voice steady but wary.

“I expect you to consider it,” Skye replied smoothly, offering her a small, almost boyish smile. “I know my reputation doesn’t do me any favors. I know I’ve… done things that would make trust impossible between us. But if I were only here to use you, wouldn’t I have gone about it differently?”

Leona clenched her hands in her lap, her mind racing. He was right about one thing—if this were purely manipulation, he wouldn’t be so direct. He would have played a longer game, worked through shadows rather than standing before her so boldly. And yet, that didn’t mean he was telling the truth, either.

“I’m not a fool, Skye,” she murmured.

He gave her a knowing look. “No, you’re not,” he agreed. “Which is why I won’t ask you to believe me right away. Just… give me a chance.” His voice lowered slightly, his tone almost coaxing. “Spend time with me. See for yourself whether my intentions are real.”

Leona hesitated, her heart warring with her mind. Everything in her training told her to reject this—to see the danger for what it was. And yet… a small, treacherous part of her was curious. Was there truly more to Skye Drakonis than the villain she had always known him to be?

Skye’s mind raced even as he kept his expression carefully composed. He had to convince her—had to make her believe in his sincerity, even if it was only an illusion. Yet, for the briefest moment, as she turned her head, the candlelight casting a golden glow against her skin, time seemed to slow.

The way her lashes fluttered when she blinked, the soft curve of her lips as she pressed them together in thought—every detail sharpened as if the world had dimmed around her. It was distracting, far too distracting, and he mentally cursed himself. This was supposed to be a game of deception, not admiration.

Still, as Leona’s piercing eyes met his once more, Skye found himself momentarily lost. Focus, he reminded himself. He had a mission to complete. And yet, a small, irritating voice in the back of his mind whispered: What if, just for a moment, you don’t lie?