Transmigrated as the Villainess Princess - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Tease You

Richard’s lighthearted demeanor put her slightly at ease, Ahcehera couldn’t shake the lingering questions in her mind.

What had pushed Richmond to the edge? And why did Khaterine, the heroine of the novel, seem so vulnerable?

But for the time being, she let the questions to simmer as she and Richard left, her innermost thoughts raging beneath her calm facade.

Ahcehera was sitting across from Richard in a quiet, exquisite dining room in one of the academy’s upscale restaurants as the sun began to set, bathing the institution in amber and violet hues.

The soft glow of candlelight danced between them, the ambiance serene yet laced with an unspoken tension. This is the first time we’re dining in this place together as a couple.

Richard had chosen the spot carefully, a private corner with a perfect view of the academy’s gardens.

It was clear he had put thought into this dinner, but Ahcehera couldn’t quite discern his intentions yet.

As they ate, Richard leaned back slightly, swirling the drink in his glass. His gaze was fixed on her, warm but probing.

“I know you liked my eldest brother, Riezekiel,” he said suddenly, his tone calm but deliberate.

Ahcehera paused, her fork hovering mid-air. She looked at him with surprise and confusion. “Where did you get that idea?” she asked, her voice steady but curious.

Richard offered a sly smile, leaning forward slightly. “It’s a secret,” he teased, his eyes glinting with amusement. “But let’s just say I have my sources.”

Ahcehera set her fork down, her expression thoughtful. She could feel the weight of his words, but she also knew they didn’t fully apply to her.

Taking a breath, she met his gaze firmly.

“Richard,” she began, her tone even, “your news is outdated. People change.”

You’re mistaken. Maybe the original owner of this body admired Riezekiel, I can’t deny that possibility. But I’m not her. I’m… different.

Her words lingered in the air, and for a moment, Richard’s confident demeanor faltered. His eyes softened as he processed what she had said.

“I get it. You’re different,” he repeated, almost to himself.

Then, as if trying to shake off his sudden vulnerability, he straightened in his seat and offered her a lopsided grin. “Fair enough. But let me ask you something else.”

Ahcehera raised an eyebrow, curious and slightly wary. “Go on.”

Richard leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his gaze locking with hers.

“Is there a possibility for you to like my second brother in the future? Since he and the eldest brother are twins, and they share the same face.”

Ahcehera’s lips parted in surprise, and then, to Richard’s astonishment, she laughed. It wasn’t a mocking laugh, but a genuine, melodic sound that filled the space between them.

Her laughter caught Richard off guard. He sat back, his brows furrowing as a hint of jealousy flickered in his dark eyes. “What’s so funny?” he asked, trying to mask his unease.

Ahcehera wiped a small tear from the corner of her eye, her amusement gradually fading. She looked at him with a smile, but this time, her expression held a trace of mischief.

“Oh, Richard,” she said softly, “you really do ask the strangest questions.”

He frowned, his jealousy now apparent. “You didn’t answer me,” he pointed out, his tone tinged with impatience.

Ahcehera tilted her head, her smile unwavering. “That’s because the question doesn’t deserve an answer.”

Richard’s frown deepened, but before he could press further, Ahcehera leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a near whisper.

“Do you want to know what I do find interesting, though?” she asked, her eyes glinting with playful intrigue.

Richard swallowed, caught off guard by her sudden shift in demeanor. “What?” he asked, his voice quieter than before.

“You,” she said simply, her tone both light and serious. For a moment, Richard forgot how to speak.

His mind raced, but all he could do was stare at her, the jealousy that had gripped him moments ago melting into something warmer and far more vulnerable.

Ahcehera leaned back, picked up her glass, and took a sip. “But let’s leave it at that for now,” she said, her tone playful yet final.

Richard sat there, silent, his heart pounding in a way he hadn’t expected.

As the evening continued, he found himself replaying her words over and over, wondering just how deeply she had meant them.

Long, silvery shadows were created across the room by the moonlight coming in through the window when Richard got back to his dorm.

It was late, and the academy grounds had quieted, but his mind was anything but still. He sat on the edge of his bed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

No matter how much he tried to focus on other things, his training, the recent mission, or even the engagement that had thrown his life into chaos, his thoughts kept circling back to Ahcehera.

Her laughter from earlier echoed in his mind, light and genuine, yet tinged with a mystery he couldn’t unravel. She had laughed at his question about Richmond, but she hadn’t answered.

“Why didn’t she just say no?”

That single thought gnawed at him, twisting his stomach into knots. He was certain of his feelings for her, more certain than he’d ever been about anything.

But the idea that she could still harbor feelings for someone else, even someone who wasn’t alive, clawed at his composure.

He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, his hands folded behind his head. The faint ticking of a clock filled the room, each second dragging on endlessly.

“Why do you always have to make things so complicated, Princess?” he muttered under his breath, though there was no one to hear him.

Her words from the dinner replayed in his mind. Then there was the way she had deflected his question about Richmond.

Instead of dismissing it outright, she’d smiled and teased him, leaving him dangling in uncertainty. It wasn’t fair.

He turned onto his side, gripping the edge of his pillow tightly. He wasn’t sure if he was more frustrated with Ahcehera for being so cryptic or with himself for caring so much.

The thought of her playful smirk, the way she had leaned forward and called him interesting, sent a fresh wave of warmth and irritation through him.

“Why did she have to say that? Why did it sound so… real?”