The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away - Chapter 32.1
“Count…”
A groan slipped from Leslun’s lips.
Count Robert Camilo. There was no way he could ever forget who he was.
The lord of the territory where the village of his birth belonged, and the very first superior he had ever served. On top of that, in the original story, he was the villain who made himself out to be a lackey while committing every imaginable atrocity.
This was the first time he had faced Count Robert Camilo since his escape—and he had not changed one bit. If anything, his demeanor carried an air of even greater ease.
Count Camilo smirked.
“Fool. You should’ve watched your surroundings more carefully. Then you wouldn’t have walked straight into my sight.”
Leslun had known from the start that someone would come after him. But instead of answering back, he tried to pry Robert’s hand from his hair. His knees had struck the ground when he was dragged, but compared to the pain in his scalp, that was nothing.
“Let me go.”
“Let you go…?”
Leslun’s expression remained calm, but his mind was racing furiously.
Robert’s playful smile lingered in his thoughts, but there was no time to unravel its meaning.
He had to get back to the Crown Prince. If he didn’t return immediately, he would come searching.
His heart was already with the Crown Prince, but his body couldn’t move an inch.
“You disappear without my permission, and now you’ve grown insolent.”
The low, heavy voice sent a chill crawling up Leslun’s spine.
It seemed Count Camilo had made up his mind. The mischievous grin from before had vanished without a trace, leaving only eyes sharp as blades.
“A wretch like you dares give me orders?”
Mockery laced his words.
“Ugh… th-that’s not what I meant…”
When Robert tightened his grip on his hair, Leslun squeezed his eyes shut and let out a groan he could not suppress. His knees buckled without him realizing it.
“So you’ve already forgotten my temper.”
“Count…”
“Shh. Lower your voice. What if someone finds you like this?”
Thick fingers tapped against Leslun’s cheek. The gesture looked playful, but the emotion behind it was colder, sharper. Every spot his fingers touched felt as though it had frozen solid.
Then Robert leaned in closer. At a distance where his breath nearly brushed against him, he whispered through clenched teeth, voice laced with malice:
“Do you want to be found as a corpse in some unopened, empty building? One won’t be enough—I’ll make sure your parents are discovered alongside you.”
Leslun’s trembling ceased as if by command. He knew his former master’s threats would never remain mere words.
If Robert thought someone stood in his way, he would remove them by any means.
“Now you’ve finally quieted down.”
Robert looked satisfied at the sight of Leslun drained of strength. He had always enjoyed seeing Leslun act submissively before him.
“You dare enter another man’s service without my permission? At first, I thought I’d drag you back and punish you… but I held back.”
There was a hint of madness in his voice.
“Still, thanks to you, I’ve gained a very fine opportunity.”
Trapped with no chance of escape, Leslun sat silently, his face still, as he listened.
“Securing a line under the Crown Prince was already difficult enough, and I nearly lost my chance with the noble lady as well… But who would’ve thought, thanks to that, I would form a connection with the Empress?”
Terror coiled around Leslun’s throat like a tightening noose. His heart pounded violently, cold sweat streamed down between his brows.
“Whatever you did to catch the Crown Prince’s eye, keep doing it. And you will report everything about him to me.”
Robert’s voice was soft, almost gentle, but the greed and need for control beneath it rang clear. His intent was unmistakable—he meant to corrupt Leslun and plant him at the Crown Prince’s side.
Leslun’s eyes wavered. Silent horror spread across his face.
His breath caught as if his blood had rushed backward; his mind went blank.
“Report everything about the Crown Prince…?”
At that impossible command, his gaze sharpened. Where his eyes had been dulled with despair, defiance suddenly flared as he jerked his head up.
It was resistance.
“You mean to say… I should betray His Highness?”
“Ha. Listen to you.”
Catching the spark of rebellion in Leslun’s eyes, Robert muttered as if amused—then, suddenly, his hand lashed out.
Smack!
With a sharp sound, Leslun’s head whipped to the side. Though Robert had only struck his cheek, Leslun’s face was so small that even his ear took the blow.
A ringing filled his head, his vision spun. His body toppled sideways to the ground.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
