Villainess X Villain: They are obsessed with each other!

Chapter 38: Chapter: 37 Who am I supposed to tell?

Julius blinked as Cillian walked away with that same cold, blank face.

’Huh?’ Julius thought, rubbing his chin.

’Wasn’t this guy supposed to be the kind, passionate type? In that TST, that trash MC said the same thing to him and Cillian just accepted it politely... but here he straight-up brushed my hand away like I was annoying.’

He watched Cillian keep walking, until the guy stopped right in front of Alia Ruth.

’Ohhh...’ Julius raised an eyebrow. ’So they’re friends from before?’

Cillian leaned in and actually smiled at her, a real, soft smile. Alia’s shoulders relaxed a little as they talked quietly.

Julius clicked his tongue.

”Tch. That trashy author didn’t even bother mentioning they knew each other.”

”No wonder he rejected me so fast. If Alia hates me, of course her buddy would too.”

He snorted and turned away from the arena floor.

”Fine. I was nice enough to offer him a spot by my side. He wants to suffer like the beloved trash protagonist? His choice.”

Instead of heading to the waiting area, Julius walked straight toward the exit tunnel.

The moment he stepped into the dark passageway, a familiar irritated voice cut through the silence.

”What took you so long?”

Julius’s grumpy thoughts vanished instantly. A big, dumb grin spread across his face.

He jogged forward.

”I wanted to play around a little. Didn’t thought you would already be here.”

Rosalina stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed tight, looking very annoyed.

Julius stopped in front of her, still smiling like an idiot.

”So? Did you decide what to do?”

She glared at him, but he just kept talking in that cheerful voice.

”Even if you stay exactly the same, cold, arrogant, mean, it’s fine. That’s the version of you I love the most anyway.”

Rosalina’s cheeks went pink.

She quickly pinched the skin on her left hand to stop herself from smiling.

”Ahem. Ahem.” She cleared her throat twice, trying to sound serious again.

”Yes. I’ve thought about it. I can’t keep pretending to be kind. It’s too hard.”

Julius laughed happily. ”Haha! I knew you’d say that.”

”That’s exactly why I keep telling you, let’s just become a couple. A few years later we’ll get married, and I’ll do anything for you.”

He leaned in a little, eyes sparkling.

”Not that I won’t do anything for you even if you don’t marry me, obviously.”

”Tsk.” Rosalina clicked her tongue again, but the corner of her mouth twitched.

”You’re at it again. I still don’t know what made you fall this hard... but wow, you really turned into a complete simp.”

Julius just grinned wider, not even a tiny bit embarrassed.

”Anyway,” she continued, crossing her arms even tighter.

”What I came to say is, I’m done acting like a goody-two-shoes in front of those peasants. It’s exhausting.”

Julius nodded like a proud boyfriend.

”Good. Be your real self. The mean, arrogant Rosalina is way more fun anyway.”

She rolled her eyes, but didn’t argue.

For a second they just stood there in the dark tunnel, him smiling like the sun, her pretending to be annoyed while her ears stayed red.

Then Julius spoke up again, voice casual.

”Anyway... I thought it would be easier if you kept pretending to be nice. But honestly?”

”I like your cold side way more. So I’ve figured out a better way to make sure you win the election.”

Rosalina’s eyes flicked to him.

She tried to look uninterested, but her voice came out a tiny bit curious anyway.

”What way?”

Julius opened his mouth. ”Look, when a husband—”

”Not again!” Rosalina snapped, cutting him off fast.

”How many times do I have to say it? I hate you. We can’t be in that kind of relationship. I already told you, I’d rather stay single my whole—”

Poof!

A tiny Rosalina with small horns and a trident popped into existence right beside her right shoulder.

The mini-devil Rosalina jabbed her trident toward the real one.

”Hey, you wench! Speak for yourself!”

She looked furious, tail flicking.

”You can be seen and heard, so don’t talk nonsense!”

”What if my hubby actually listens to you and finds a replacement? Are you going to take responsibility for that?!”

Poof!

Another tiny Rosalina appeared right in front, this one with big shiny eyes, hearts floating around her head, and an obsessive grip on an imaginary Julius plushie.

Obsessive Rosalina grumbled, ”I hate to admit it... but that bitch is right.”

She glared at the real Rosalina. ”I don’t want to share my hubby! How dare you say those things?”

”If he really shows his face and tries, tons of girls will line up. Will YOU take responsibility?!”

Devil Rosalina nodded. ”Yes, this wench is right, though she got one thing wrong. It’s not ’her’ hubby... it’s MY hubby...”

A thick vein popped on Obsessive Rosalina’s forehead.

”You dare?! You already made me doubt my sweet daughter with your filthy—”

”She’s not your daughter—”

”ENOUGH!”

The real Rosalina barked the word and swatted both mini versions away with one sharp hand motion.

They vanished in twin puffs of smoke, red for the devil, pink for the obsessive one.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, breathing hard for a second.

Julius just stood there blinking, completely clueless.

He hadn’t seen or heard any of it. To him, Rosalina had just randomly yelled ”enough” at thin air and smacked nothing.

”...You okay?” he asked, tilting his head.

”Fine,” she muttered through gritted teeth.

”Just... a headache. Keep talking. What’s your actual plan? No more husband crap.”

Julius grinned again, unfazed.

Julius stepped closer and stopped right in front of Rosalina.

She had to tilt her head up to meet his eyes, he was taller than she remembered in that moment.

”Listen,” he said, voice dropping to something serious but still warm.

”We’re going to do this, then that, and boom, here’s how it plays out.”

He started explaining the plan again, step by step, slower this time.

No jokes, no simp energy.

Just clear, confident words about how they’d turn her cold reputation into pure power, how they’d make the entire school vote out of respect (and a little fear), how he’d handle the crowds while she stayed untouchable.

Every sentence built on the last.

Rosalina’s eyes slowly widened.

Her usual icy mask cracked, not with anger, but with pure shock.

She stood frozen as he talked, lips slightly parted.

When he finally finished, Julius let out a long breath and gave her that big, foolish grin.

”How is it?”

”...”

Rosalina just stared at him, completely dumbfounded.

Poof!

The tiny devil Rosalina popped out on her right shoulder again, trident in hand.

Poof!

The obsessive one appeared on her left, hearts still swirling around her head.

”That’s my hubby!” they shouted in perfect unison.

Then they immediately grabbed each other by the throat.

”He’s MY hubby, you lusty bitch!” Devil Rosalina snarled, shaking the other one.

”No, HE’S mine, you old hag!!”

Obsessive Rosalina screeched back, yanking on red horns.

They started full-on wrestling in mid-air, tiny fists flying, tails whipping, pink and red smoke puffing everywhere.

Only Rosalina could see the chaos.

”Rose?” Julius called softly, noticing her dazed expression.

”Ah?”

Rosalina snapped back to reality. The mini versions vanished with twin poofs the second she blinked.

Her shocked face didn’t fade, though. She took several shaky breaths, chest rising and falling fast.

Then, in a trembling voice: ”Are you an idiot!?”

Her words came out unsteady.

”Why are you telling me all those things? If I tell anyone, even one person, you could get killed! So why?!”

Julius just chuckled. He reached out and gently patted the top of her head.

She didn’t slap his hand away. She didn’t even move.

She just stared up at him with wide, stunned eyes.

”Because you’re my wife,” he said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

”If I don’t tell you these things... who am I supposed to tell?”

He kept his hand on her head, light and warm.

”I know you think I’m your enemy. I know you hate me. But even if you ran out right now and told the whole school every single detail I just said... even then...”

His smile turned gentle...soft in a way that made her stomach flip.

”I’d still love you with my whole being.”

He leaned down just a little, eyes locked on hers.

”After all... you’re my one and only wife.”

Rosalina’s breath hitched. Her hands clenched at her sides.

For once, she had no sharp comeback, no ”tsk”, no eye-roll.

She just stood there, cheeks slowly turning red, staring up at the idiot who was smiling at her like she was the only person in the entire world.

The tunnel was quiet except for their breathing.

After a long moment, she finally whispered, voice barely audible:

”...You really are an idiot.”

But she didn’t pull away from his hand.

And she didn’t tell him to stop.

Julius’s grin grew a little bigger, but he didn’t push. He just kept his palm resting lightly on her head.

”Ready to go watch the rest of the matches, wife?”

Rosalina swallowed hard.

Then, very quietly, she muttered:

”...Don’t call me that where people can hear.”

Julius laughed under his breath.

”Deal.”