Chapter 72: Fatal Rhythm

Aesphyra stood in front of him, smiling without uttering a word, as though Vinny’s harsh words had fallen on deaf ears.

However, only Vinny could sense the intense emotional turmoil within her, which caused his virtue points to skyrocket by a hundred.

Heh, hehe...

Who would’ve thought that one day he’d actually provoke the protagonist, Aesphyra, into becoming his personal “leek”?

Vinny wasn’t sure whether to feel amused or horrified.

Even someone like Aesphyra, who had lived through two lifetimes, still had her own insecurities, things she cared deeply about, like...

Well, honestly, Aesphyra's figure wasn’t small, but compared to someone like Mirecia or the Elven Queen—who were particularly blessed in that department—she did have a more girlish frame.

Still, Vinny hadn’t expected Aesphyra to be this sensitive about it.

Even before she spoke, he could feel the tension radiating off her, sending chills down his spine.

When he made those comments, wasn’t he technically mocking his own future self?

Tsk! What’s the point in overthinking it? Given the current situation, this woman, Aesphyra, clearly came here looking for trouble.

She was obviously stuck on the past. If he didn’t fight back, he’d be crushed.

And if he did fight back, he’d still suffer. In that case, might as well go down swinging.

Besides, what made the protagonist so untouchable? Was she above criticism?

“So, do you get it now?” Vinny pressed his lips together, swallowed his hesitation, then curled his mouth into a smirk before delivering his next blow.

“This young master has no interest in someone like you. If I stick around, I’m afraid my future kids will end up starving.”

Virtue +120 (Main Character Mood Swings)

Current Virtue: 234

Huh. Why did he keep getting more virtue points the more he insulted her?

Vinny had long stopped paying attention to the rising numbers.

The more he talked, the more satisfying it felt—especially seeing Aesphyra’s calm facade hold, while her inner rage simmered, unable to explode.

That gave him a twisted sense of joy.

Oh? She thought she could outlast him, the king of psychological warfare?

Of course, he knew Aesphyra was pure and principled—and the thought of being romantically involved with a man would probably disgust her to no end.

But so what? She’d picked a fight, so she had no right to complain when he fought back.

Don’t blame me—you started it. You made the first move, so deal with it.

“So no matter how hard you try, it’s pointless,” Vinny said, striking a deliberately obnoxious pose that made anyone want to roll their eyes.

He pointed at Aesphyra with a grin. “I’m the man you’ll never have in this lifetime.”

“......... x2”

Now it wasn’t just Aesphyra left speechless—Carrick, who was standing nearby, was stunned too.

Vinny knew his reputation among the nobility, and after today’s little scene, it was obvious he was even more outrageous than they’d thought.

At that moment, Carrick’s gaze shifted to Aesphyra, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

It wasn’t that he suspected they were acting, but... he didn’t understand Aesphyra’s taste.

Why would she prefer Vinny over his invitation??

Carrick was utterly baffled.

Suddenly, he remembered the royal banquet over a month ago, when Vinny drunkenly caused a scene directed at Aesphyra.

Back then, his behavior had been enough to infuriate anyone watching.

He’d clearly been targeting Aesphyra—and yet, she hadn’t reacted at all.

At the time, everyone assumed Aesphyra was just being gracious, choosing not to engage with a mad dog.

But now, maybe there had been something more.

As he watched them now, Carrick’s expression shifted repeatedly, as though he’d stumbled onto a hidden truth.

Was there something strange about their relationship?

Given what he was seeing now, could it be...

Could it be that Aesphyra is secretly in love with Vinny...?

But Vinny was infatuated with Her Royal Highness Mirecia—and Aesphyra, unable to win his affection, had resorted to clinging to him out of desperation??

As this theory crossed his mind, Carrick narrowed his eyes at Vinny.

He couldn’t understand what kind of charm this mad dog had.

Her Royal Highness Mirecia was his childhood sweetheart—and now even Aesphyra seemed to be interested in this lunatic??

Could it really be that the two most beautiful and sought-after women in the kingdom of Camellia were both tangled up with this bastard??

Sure, Carrick considered the possibility that Aesphyra had roped Vinny into this just to brush him off, and that Vinny was playing along.

But it just didn’t add up. Vinny wasn’t the type to go to such lengths—he didn’t even have the brains for it.

There was no way Aesphyra could’ve predicted someone would ask her to dance and prepare this whole thing in advance.

Which meant... their relationship wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

At this point, the only reasonable explanation was that Aesphyra was seriously pursuing Vinny.

Having convinced himself of this, Carrick was both stunned and confused.

He couldn’t figure out why Aesphyra’s standards were so... warped.

No, “warped” didn’t even begin to describe it.

What kind of sane woman would fall for someone so infamous?

Was she not concerned about her reputation at all?

“I apologize, Lady Aesphyra. I truly didn’t realize you already had a dance partner. I’m sorry for interrupting. I’ll be taking my leave now,” Carrick said, giving Vinny a meaningful look before turning to go.

Aesphyra stayed silent. Her goal was accomplished, but there was no satisfaction in it.

How could she explain this feeling?

She’d tried to use something ugly to block something worse—and in doing so, had only ended up staining herself.

The distraction had worked, but the aftertaste was bitter.

“Lady Aesphyra, you now owe me one,” Vinny said smugly, dropping the act the moment Carrick was out of earshot.

Aesphyra looked at Vinny’s smug face and said nothing. Her expression was unreadable.

“Why do you look so ungrateful? You’re the one who dragged me into this, and I, despite everything between us, played along. Shouldn’t you at least say thank you?”

“No, I’m truly grateful for Lord Vinny’s kindness,” Aesphyra replied sweetly—but the slight twitch in her eyebrow betrayed her true feelings.

Oh, her acting was top-notch.

If it weren’t for the very clear spike in virtue points, he might’ve actually believed her.

“By the way, what I said earlier was just to help you. Don’t take it personally, alright?” Vinny added with a smirk.

“Oh, listen to me! Someone as magnanimous as you wouldn’t possibly hold a grudge over something so petty. What I said earlier practically insults your generosity—how rude of me!”

As he spoke, Vinny raised his hand as if to slap himself, but just before impact, he slowed it down to a feather-soft tap—there wasn’t even a sound.

Aesphyra watched Vinny’s performance with a faint smile.

This villain had far more layers than she expected, and it was getting harder to tell which version of him was real.

“Lord Vinny, I underestimated you before,” she said lightly, with a curious tone.

She’d thought he was just rotten through and through—a consistent scumbag.

But now she realized he was far more complicated, full of cunning and inner theatrics.

She began to wonder—was the version she’d seen before just an act?

“Huh? What do you mean, Lady Aesphyra? I’m an honest man. Don’t talk in riddles—I have no idea what you’re saying,” Vinny replied, pretending to look confused.

“Lord Vinny,” Aesphyra said, taking a step closer, her smile still perfectly in place.

“What?” The proximity was unnerving.

With just a slight tilt of his head, he could see her flawless features up close.

The cool, moonlit scent of her perfume mingled with the natural fragrance of her hair, making Vinny’s cheeks flush slightly.

He quickly averted his gaze, trying to maintain his composure.

Damn protagonist charm...

Even though he knew her favorability toward him was sitting at a chilling negative 99, and that getting too close to her was essentially risking his health—no, his life—his instincts still struggled to resist her allure.

“I have to admit, you’ve piqued my interest,” Aesphyra said, stopping just short of invading his personal space.

Her long legs, clad in black silk, were perfectly poised. Her smile carried a dangerous kind of warmth.

???

What the hell was this—straight out of a domineering CEO’s script?

But Vinny wasn’t fooled. Aesphyra wasn’t spouting a romantic “you’ve caught my eye” cliché.

No, her interest meant one of two things: either she wanted the secrets in his head... or his head itself.

No in-between.

“Oh? Should I take that to mean Lady Aesphyra is trying to turn fake into real, and is secretly sending signals of affection my way?” Vinny tilted his head innocently, then immediately took a step back, raising both hands in mock defense.

“I’m sorry, but my heart already belongs to someone else. Unfortunately for you, Lady Aesphyra, you’ve missed your chance. So please—don’t let such foolish ideas fester. It would be quite a nuisance.”

“Eh? Really?” Vinny had expected her to recoil in disgust, but instead, Aesphyra looked genuinely regretful. When he stepped back, she stepped forward.

“Not even a little room? Lord Vinny, can’t you spare just a tiny space in your heart for me?”

As she spoke, her voice softened, and she wore such a vulnerable expression that even the coldest person might falter.

No, what the hell kind of game is she playing now?!

Vinny’s instincts were screaming—danger.

“No. It’s non-negotiable.”

“Ah, so Lord Vinny won’t even give me the slightest chance? That’s going to make things difficult,” Aesphyra said, her voice light, but tinged with something darker as she sighed.

Vinny opened his mouth to respond, but froze as he suddenly became aware of all the eyes on them.

The attention wasn’t on him, of course. It was on Aesphyra.

But the looks he was getting were something else entirely: disdain, jealousy, resentment, outright hatred.

Aesphyra attracted attention everywhere she went—and now, thanks to her, Vinny was caught in the middle of it.

“I only wanted a little space in Lord Vinny’s heart,” Aesphyra said sweetly. “But since you’ve refused me...”

Her lips curled into a sly smile. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes full of mock affection, brushing her cheek with her fingers.

“...then to truly understand your heart, I might just have to take it out and have a look~”

“Let’s see what secrets are hidden inside.”

Gulp.

Hadn’t he heard that line before?

Why the hell was everyone so obsessed with ripping out hearts these days??

Her tone was playful, but Vinny could read between the lines all too clearly.

The reborn protagonist had definitely noticed his behavior didn’t match what she remembered. She was suspicious—very suspicious.

Right now, her mind had to be spinning. What caused this sudden shift in Vinny’s character?

What variable had broken the mold? Why couldn’t she handle him as easily as before?

“Tsk. And what about my thoughts? You think you can understand me just because you want to?” Vinny scoffed, raising a brow.

“If I don’t know, it’s like an itch I can’t scratch. Maddening,” Aesphyra said, her eyes narrowing like a cat’s. She wasn’t faking—her curiosity was real.

If she couldn’t get to the root of Vinny’s transformation, it would haunt her.

“Drop the act, Lady Aesphyra. I’m just a simple man. Unlike you, who wears a hundred masks and hides a thousand schemes behind every smile.” Vinny crossed his arms, his tone sarcastic and cold. “My goals are straightforward.”

“As long as you stop looking at me like I’m some kind of monster, we won’t have to be at odds.”

Aesphyra went silent.

Vinny wasn’t naïve enough to think a few clever words would erase her suspicions. Her distrust was deeply rooted.

“Lord Vinny,” she said after a long pause, her voice low and measured, “which version of you is the mask?”

“What mask? I’m an honest man,” Vinny snorted.

“Unlike someone, who changes their face depending on the audience. A new role for every occasion. Now that’s impressive.”

Aesphyra stared at the blue-haired young man before her.

For the first time, a flicker of doubt passed through her.

Had she ever really understood him?

Why had Vinny changed so much in this life?

Or had he not changed at all?

What if the fool from her previous life had always been an act?

What if the personality he showed the world was just a carefully crafted illusion?

Her thoughts drifted back to that life—the blood moon over the capital, the streets slick with blood and torn flesh, twisted corpses strewn across cobblestones.

Vinny, howling in madness, blood in his eyes, had screamed: “It’s all your fault!”

He’d plunged the royal capital into hell before finally collapsing in his broken state.

Aesphyra’s eyes narrowed at the memory.

If all that idiocy in their past life had been just a cover...

Then the man in front of her was far more terrifying than she had ever imagined.

Someone capable of hiding that kind of malice... was a danger beyond reckoning.

But—

Was that really the truth?

Her thoughts drifted to recent days. The orphanage. Vinny mingling with the children. Helping find doctors for the sick. Smiling without pretense.

He wasn’t performing. He hadn’t known she was watching.

There was no reason for a so-called villain to waste his time helping powerless children.

It brought no advantage, no benefit.

And without realizing it, she had begun to see him as someone separate from the monster she remembered.

The Vinny of this life and the Vinny of her memories no longer aligned.

She recalled how he’d helped her brush off Carrick earlier—how he’d played along, without asking for anything in return.

That hadn’t been the action of a cold-blooded villain.

It had been something almost... human.

For the first time, Aesphyra found herself questioning everything she thought she knew about the man standing before her.