The adorable Villainess is mine - Chapter 16- Don\'t pry

The horned hare didn’t even get the chance to dodge before an arrow sliced through its skull. It staggered a few steps, then collapsed lifelessly on the forest floor.

“Woah, Keith! Your aim’s gotten way better,” one of the students praised, clapping him on the back.

Keith gave a shy smile, a little uneasy at being complimented by someone other than his girlfriend.

But then, his eyes drifted away—towards a silver-haired figure standing calmly before a charging wild boar.

“U-umm… shouldn’t we help him?” Keith asked, gripping his bow tighter.

“Help him?” another student snorted. “That’s the guy who knocked Bruce out with a single wave of his hand. We’d be better off focusing on our own hunt.”

Some of them had already accepted it—Carter wasn’t just strong, he was hiding the true depth of his power all along. And now, for whatever reason, he was finally showing the world why he was the nation’s Prince.

Even so, unease still lingered in Keith’s chest. He nocked another arrow, just in case.

Just then, the boar charged straight at Carter.

The silver-haired boy didn’t flinch—he stood perfectly still, not a trace of fear on his face.

*Krrik*

Keith pulled the string taut, his arrow aimed at the ground before Carter, ready to act if things went wrong.

In seconds, the boar was upon him, tusks gleaming as it unleashed its innate skill—.

Keith gritted his teeth and released, praying he was fast enough.

But then—

“Huh…?” His eyes widened. Not only was the boar suspended in midair, its short legs thrashing helplessly, but his arrow too—frozen in place.

Carter calmly turned his head. “I appreciate the thought, but your aim was a little off. Wouldn’t want my arm grazed.”

Keith blinked in disbelief. He tilted his head, following the line of his shot—only to realize the arrow truly would have injured Carter.

His face drained of color. “I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean—”

“I know,” Carter cut in, his voice steady. “I saw your intent. So… thank you.”

Then, without even lifting a hand, he turned back to the boar. A twist of his will snapped its neck with a sickening crack, and the beast dropped lifelessly to the ground.

Keith could only stare in awe at the sheer precision Carter displayed with his power.

As Carter walked over, he picked up the fallen arrow and asked in a low, almost hesitant voice, “Is it true… that you’ve been hiding your strength all this time?”

Carter simply shrugged. “You could say that.” His tone was casual, but he didn’t linger to explain.

Instead, he lifted the boar effortlessly with his invisible arm of force and continued ahead.

There was a reason he hadn’t objected to joining the hunting team—and that reason was about to reveal itself.

Spotting Lia a short distance away, Carter closed in on her. “You got a minute?”

Lia flinched. She hadn’t sensed his approach at all.

She looked around nervously. “Is… everything okay?”

Carter’s voice sharpened, cutting straight to the point. “I’ll warn you only once. Stop prying into my life.”

Lia blinked, startled. “What do you mean? What did I—”

“Aren’t you and Beth planning to inform the Tower… that I’m corrupted?”

Her breath caught, eyes widening. “…!” How did he—

Wait. Her mind raced. “You read my thoughts.”

Carter’s expression remained flat, giving nothing away.

“You—” Lia’s voice rose, anger mixing with disbelief. “I’ve told you before not to invade my mind, and yet you—”

Carter frowned. “Is there a rule that forbids me?”

Lia’s shoulders slumped. ‘Rules?’ Were they not friends? Did the promises they once shared mean nothing now?

Her face hardened as she admitted, “You’re right. We are going to inform the Magic Tower about you.”

Carter tilted his head, voice laced with quiet disbelief. “So you don’t trust me when I say I’m not corrupted? Is it because I defeated you? Is it just your wounded pride—”

“Carter!” Lia’s voice broke as she shouted, her eyes glistening with tears. “Of all people, I never thought you would sound so cold… so cruel. You were the one who understood me before. And now…”

His gaze hardened, his voice cold “Friendship isn’t upheld by one side alone. You want me to trust you, to respect you—yet you can’t trust my words. You know the weight of being branded corrupted, you know how people would see me after that.”

Her lips quivered as she bit down, shoulders shaking. “I want to trust you—I really do—”

But Carter cut her off, his tone sharp as a blade. “Then do whatever you wish. But if I come out clean after the purification… I will never see your face. Not even in death.”

He turned, walking away without another glance.

There was no reason to argue further, no need to persuade her. He could’ve ignored their schemes, let them chase shadows. Reputation meant nothing. Rumors meant nothing.

The only reason he’d spoken at all… was Grace.

Because he knew—once the Tower dragged him away—she would break. She would worry, and then she would cry.

And Carter could not endure that sight. Not again.

‘Grace… I swore I’d never let your tears fall because of me. Yet here I am—about to fail you once more.’

*****

A/N:- Thanks for reading

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