A few days later, Dylan seemed to have received a letter from Lawrence.

As a matter of course, upon personally reporting the highly successful outcome of his investigation at the masquerade ball to the royal castle, Dylan’s accomplishment was acknowledged. Apparently, the letter also mentioned Avril, but Dylan adamantly refused to show it to her.

In fact, as Dylan pored over Lawrence’s letter, his expression was marred with disgust and reluctance.

Lord Dylan is a duke. Therefore, he is given numerous special missions unrelate to managing his territory.

—In other words, another difficult mission might arise, one similar to infiltrating the Ashfield mansion.

Even if just a little, I want to be of help to Lord Dylan…!

Dylan—who finished reading the letter—spoke to Avril who was determined to accompany him the next time as well.

“Avril, your performance at the Ashfield mansion was truly remarkable, and Lawrence also praised you in the letter. However, I don’t want to endanger you. Even though it was a request from the crown prince, I regret letting you accompany me. If you’re reluctant to accompany me next time, that’s fine, too.”

“No, I had a lot of fun helping Lord Dylan. Please let me join you next time.”

At Avril’s words, Dylan stubbornly shook his head.

“…I’m sorry, but I can’t agree to that.”

Is that so? Lord Dylan is being unusually stubborn.

While fully comprehending what he was implying, Avril was still displeased when Dylan didn’t agree so easily. After all, wanting to help himwasn’t her only motive.

After attending the masquerade ball, a certain thought plagued her mind. When it occurred again, she was stunned.

“…But I haven’t danced with Lord Dylan at a masquerade ball, yet. Even if it’s for the sake of the mission, I feel sad thinking Lord Dylan is spending time with a young lady else where. Therefore, if there’s next time, I want to go with you.”

Her innocent smile left Dylan frozen for a few solid seconds. Then, he crumpled the letter from Lawrence and threw it away, as if giving up.

“…You, you really are—”

“Wow, seriously?” Chris wryly smiled as he went to pick up the paper.

Avril tilted her head at Dylan’s unusually childish antic.

“Lord Dylan, truthfully, I’m glad I didn’t have my first dance that day.”

“…Is that so? I was disappointed.”

Avril smiled when she saw the look of discontent on Dylan’s face.

“No, I just want to have my first dance with Lord Dylan at our wedding. If you were to be my first ever dance partner at my wedding, it’d be even more wonderful and special.”

“…”

Chris left the study with a smile on his face and the crumpled letter in his hand.

Promptly, Dylan hugged Avril. Although they had become a true couple, Dylan rarely engaged in intimacy with her.

At first, she was a little nervous due to the unfamiliar sensation, but she soon grew to appreciate his tender embrace.

No words were exchanged between them, but Avril smiled in the sweet atmosphere.

Even without a memorable first dance, I’m happy enough.

***

Incidentally, even though she paraded as a villainess on Lawrence’s mission, Avril acted like her usual self at the Duke of Lancester’s mansion.

She’d clean while her surroundings were busy trying to stop her, spend most of her time in the servant’s quarters, and had solid bread baked for her in the kitchen.

Last time, she even helped fix a broken boiler. However, there was an accident, leaving her so covered in soot no one could recognize her. Afterwards, Grace reprimanded her severely.

Also, except for those who served at the townhouse of the Duke of Lancester, many still mistook Avril for a villainess.

For example, there was a paperboy who decided to enter the garden so as peek at Avril after being overcome with immense curiosity. On the day of the boiler incident, she had accidentally met him while being covered in soot.

Afterwards, rumors spread across the city that the villainess of the Duke of Lancester was secretly taking care of troublesome men and side pieces at her home.

Although Dylan was furious, Avril somewhat enjoyed it after her recent brush up on detective villainess novels.

While I appreciate Lord Dylan’s thoughtfulness, I felt somewhat proud for being considered suspect.

—Such was Avril’s daily life.

She didn’t need to pretend as a villainess anymore—

—or so she thought.

---

***T/N: Nonono, the villainess life chooses you, Avril.

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