Reincarnated as a Villainous Aristocrat in an Otome Game, So I Bought the Main Heroine with Money - Chapter 64: Holding an Angel

Chapter 64: Holding an Angel

《Cerios’ Side》

The soft morning light filtered through the thin curtains, casting a gentle warmth over my body.

“…Hmm?”

As I slowly opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a cascade of familiar brown hair spread out before me. A faint, sweet scent lingered in the air, and in my arms, something warm and soft pressed against me.

(…Huh?)

The moment I fully woke up and grasped the situation, my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.

(W-Why is Liese in my arms!?!)

She was nestled against me, her face resting against my chest as she breathed softly in her sleep.

Her warmth seemed to seep into me, making me all too aware of her presence.

(Calm down. Just stay calm…)

My heartbeat pounded furiously, my thoughts in complete disarray.

But as I studied her sleeping face, I realized she looked utterly peaceful—completely defenseless, like a child lost in a dream.

(I should move… No, wait. If I move, I might wake her up…)

As I hesitated, trying to decide what to do, Liese stirred slightly in my arms, shifting even closer as she nuzzled against my chest.

“…mm… lord cerios…”

She murmured my name softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I froze.

(Did she just… say my name?)

Hearing her call out to me, even in her sleep, sent a tight, unfamiliar sensation through my chest.

(This is bad… There’s no way I can stay calm in this situation.)

“Liese.”

I called her name softly but clearly, trying not to disturb her too much. Yet, instead of waking up, she clung to me even tighter, nestling closer against my chest.

(…Seriously, how can she be this cute?)

A small smile crept onto my face despite the awkwardness of the situation. Just seeing her peaceful expression and hearing her gentle breathing made a warm feeling spread through my chest.

“…Lord Cerios?”

Suddenly, she mumbled my name in a sleepy voice. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at me with a drowsy, confused expression.

“Good morning, Liese.”

I greeted her, trying to sound casual. For a moment, she stared at me blankly, but then her eyes widened as she realized the situation. Her face turned bright red.

“L-Lord Cerios!? W-Why are you here!? No, wait… why am I…?”

She hurriedly tried to sit up, but then noticed that my arm was still around her shoulder. Her flustered expression deepened.

“Ah! Sorry! I-I don’t know how this happened either…”

I quickly let go of her, and she scrambled to the edge of the bed, sitting there with her face bright red. She glanced at me nervously.

“I-I’m sorry, Lord Cerios… I… uh…”

“No, it’s my fault. I must have fallen asleep from exhaustion. Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry about it… but…!”

Her embarrassed, fidgeting reaction was so endearing that I couldn’t help but smile a little.

“What are you laughing at!?”

“Nothing… really.”

“There’s no way it’s nothing!”

She puffed out her cheeks in protest, and I had to fight the urge to laugh even more.

“I’m really sorry. It’s just… I’m so grateful to you, Lord Cerios…”

She lowered her voice, looking embarrassed as she spoke. Watching her like that, the restless feeling in my chest slowly faded away.

“It’s fine, Liese. I saved you because I wanted to. You don’t have to apologize for that.”

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. Then, little by little, her tense expression softened, and a warm smile spread across her face.

“…Thank you.”

That smile was so radiant that I had to look away for a moment. Every time I saw her like this, it reminded me just how much she meant to me.

(From now on, I’ll be the one to protect her.)

With that silent vow in my heart, I turned back to her.

“Come, let’s get some breakfast. Take it easy today—you don’t have to worry about anything anymore.”

“…Yes, Lord Cerios!”

Seeing her beaming smile, I quietly stood up, ready to face the day ahead.

♢

《Emma’s Side》

The cold night wind brushed against my cheek as I made my way through the moonlit forest. The rustling of the trees filled the silence, but I kept my focus sharp, listening for any sign of movement.

“…Where the hell are you hiding, Kiru?”

Frustration seeped into my voice.

Kiru had betrayed us. No—more than that, he had tarnished our organization’s name. And that… that was something I couldn’t forgive.

“I ain’t leaving this to Lord Cerios. This is my problem.”

A traitor had to face the consequences of their actions.

As I moved deeper into the woods, a faint metallic scent hit my nose. 

Blood.

I looked down and spotted faint traces of it on the ground—barely noticeable, but enough to follow.

“…This way.”

The trail was uneven, but it was clear that someone had fled through here.

Keeping my steps light, I followed it deeper into the forest.

Eventually, a small figure came into view, slumped against the base of a tree, hidden in the shadows.

“Finally found you, Kiru.”

At the sound of my voice, the man leaning against the tree slowly lifted his head.

The moonlight reflected off his stark white hair, and in his eyes, I saw something unsettling—a quiet resignation, like someone who had already accepted his fate.

“…Emma.”

“That’s right. Took me long enough to track you down, traitor.”

“…A traitor, huh? Yeah. I guess that’s what I am.”

Kiru’s voice held no regret, no hesitation.

It wasn’t defiance, either—just quiet acceptance. Like he had already come to terms with what he had done.

“You really thought you could just act on your own without telling me? How do you plan to explain that?”

“There’s nothing to explain. I just… wanted to protect Liese. That’s all.”

Kiru’s gaze drifted off into the distance.

His expression—there was something there that I hadn’t seen before. A hesitation, a flicker of uncertainty.

Something no mere assassin, trained to follow orders without question, should have.

“You idiot. Do you even realize how much damage you did to our reputation?”

“…I know.”

“Like hell you do! Do you have any idea how much I had to clean up after your mess!?”

I couldn’t hold back my anger.

Kiru wasn’t just another pawn—he was my subordinate. Someone I had trusted.

And he threw that trust away.

All for this.

“…Even so, I have no regrets.”

His quiet response made my eyes narrow.

“Why? What the hell pushed you this far?”

Kiru didn’t answer right away. 

He let out a slow breath, his shoulders sinking slightly.

“I just… wanted to protect her. My whole life, all I’ve ever done is kill. But for the first time… I wanted to save someone. If Cerios was truly a bad man, I would’ve taken Liese and run. But… she believed in him. And in the end… he came for her, just like he promised.”

The Kiru in front of me looked pitiful—nothing like the cold, calculating assassin I had known.

For a man who had never shown emotion before, this change was undeniable.

There was no place for him in the dark guild anymore.

“You really think betraying us is the right way to protect someone?”

Kiru didn’t answer.

He simply lowered his gaze, closing his eyes in silence.

“…Kiru, you can’t run anymore. This is the last time I’m chasing you. It ends here.”

I drew my dagger, the blade catching the pale light of the moon, casting a faint gleam in the dark forest.

Kiru slowly rose to his feet, pulling out his own dagger.

He looked like hell—worn down, battered—but there was still a fire in his eyes.

I let out a quiet sigh in my heart.

Kiru… you really are a hopeless idiot.

“This is the end, Kiru.”

With those final words, I lunged toward him.