A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

Chapter 73: Chapter 75- Favours?

"Hicc... uh-huh? Marqu--ess." Aecilia was, in truth, taken aback; the surprise caught her off guard, causing her to hiccup. Her pupils, almost as if in slow motion, gradually shifted downward in a straight line towards her knees, clearly attuned to the sensation of his warm hand resting over hers.

With her voice wavering and gaps punctuating her tone, she turned her head towards Avendial.

He wore a gentle smile, his eyes blissfully closed as he glanced in her direction, seemingly unconcerned about what he had just done—not just touching her, but also having spoken to her in such an informal manner.

For those living in the Free Cities, this might seem perfectly normal, but due to the cultural nuances between noblemen of the Free Cities and those from the Kingdom of Thaloris, it transcended mere casualness.

In Thaloris, speaking informally with a member of the opposite gender often indicated a shared bond or relationship.

Of course, for the ordinary citizens of the Free Cities, this might appear cringeworthy or simply confusing to comprehend; still, the differences in culture and perspective play an essential role in shaping reactions. Aecilia stood there, stunned, her eyes widening and pupils constricting in disbelief.

"Why do you look so surprised—ah, should I remove it?" Avendial asked, already aware of the tumult of thoughts that must be swirling in her mind due to her astonished expression.

He glanced at his hand, as if contemplating whether it had been a mistake to touch her, also cognizant that, according to his upbringing, this was the proper way to treat a lady.

However, Aecilia quickly realized he was intentionally teasing, aiming to fluster her. Her expression shifted to one of impassiveness; her eyes narrowed, and a frown creased near her chin.

"No need for that. How about this instead?" Aecilia lifted both her hands and placed his palm firmly on her knees, the delicate, silky fabric of her nightdress allowing Avendial to feel the softness of her skin beneath.

"Ahem," Avendial stammered, pulling his hand back as he coughed, suddenly aware that, unlike Rivia, who might have responded to such a gesture with girlish delight, Aecilia was a much more formidable character to handle.

He recognized that Sertsul's family was of great importance, and he didn't want to risk offending her with behavior that might misalign with her feelings toward him.

After all, just because someone holds a favorable view of you in their mind doesn't necessarily mean it's true love.

Avendial had experienced various types of love and was keenly aware of the potential dangers in choosing a partner or accepting someone's affection without fully understanding their personality.

"Hm, why would I—just tell me what you want," Aecilia said, her initial instinct being to refuse his request, especially considering he hadn't yet fulfilled his promise of taking her on a date.

However, she modified her tone upon recalling that he had spoken to her normally and had even shown some physical affection.

She could clearly sense that he was trying to garner some favor from her, and while this left her feeling somewhat unsettled, she shrugged it off.

Folding her arms, she rested them against her chest, subtly accentuating her cleavage, even if it remained modestly concealed by her elegant nightdress.

"Exactly," Avendial continued, regaining his composure. "There are actually two requests, to be precise." He recalled that at this moment, he needed crucial information about two particular individuals.

Since Aecilia had already shown a willingness to assist him, he decided to make the most of this opportunity and glean both pieces of information together.

"Huh? You are increasing the bargain, Aven," Aecilia exclaimed, dropping her honorifics as she glanced at him with an arched eyebrow, her expression a mix of annoyance and resolve.

Her golden eyes rolled slightly as she turned her gaze forward, feeling a flutter of nerves at having addressed him directly by name.

In truth, her apprehension stemmed more from her role as an investor and businesswoman.

She knew all too well that calling him by his name without adding honorifics—or even a pet name—could easily offend him.

The thought of him retracting his investments sent a chill down her spine, as it would result in a significant setback for the Sertsul family as a whole.

While it might seem petty to take offense over something as trivial as being addressed by one's name, the irrational anger of someone in a position of power can be quite surprising until you experience it firsthand.

It seems absurd, but one misstep in addressing someone—merely omitting their honorifics—can lead to disastrous repercussions, distorting your life in ways you never imagined. Suddenly, what once felt like a joke can turn into a haunting reality.

"Aven? Hm, it seems Miss Aecilia has given me a new name," Avendial remarked, seizing the opportunity without restraint. Fully aware of the implications, he altered his tone to be firmer and colder, causing Aecilia to flinch as she tightened her fingers in response.

"M-Marquess, that's—" Aecilia began, suddenly realizing that Avendial was clearly displeased with being addressed by his name.

She attempted to clarify the misunderstanding that had arisen in the heat of the moment, but he interrupted her.

"Pfft, this is the second time you've flinched. Quite amusing, really," Avendial chuckled, folding his arms and clearly enjoying the tease, which only caused face to twitch in response.

Instead of the usual embarrassment reflected in her blush, there was a noticeable vein bulging on her forehead.

"Just tell me the favor you want, Marquess," Aecilia said, opting to refrain from using his nickname until they grew closer.

She simply inquired about the request, wishing not to offend him, as one could never know when he might turn moody.

"Nothing in particular; I want you to gather information about this Doctor Etrinia. As for the other favor? I'll ask for it another time," Avendial replied calmly. He noted Aecilia's formal tone, as if she were indifferent to those around them.

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He found it amusing, recalling how he had to adapt to survive in his past life. He had learned to navigate the diverse languages spoken by the individuals he encountered in the tower, even picking up on their different accents, formal or informal.

Indeed, in his journey to survive the tower as he climbed up, he met several individuals along the way, including those from outside the countries existing within the Arinphiam Empire.

His time spent with them allowed him to grasp their languages, including the origin languages—the tongue used by the natives of the tower.

"First, it was Lin Diego, and now it's this doctor?" Aecilia mused, remembering that the first task he had assigned her upon their departure from the academy was to investigate the family details of Lin Diego.

Given that Avendial had never visited the Free City, he had no personal connection to Lin Diego other than recognizing his physical appearance.

Now, he was instructing her to research a doctor from the city hospital?

It appeared that the Sertsul family was being utilized without any apparent compensation. Of course, Avendial was an investor, but they were also providing him with profits. Aecilia leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm as she contemplated everything with her eyes closed.

"Are you thinking that I'm using Sertsul family resources without any payment?" Avendial inquired, noticing her slight contemplation.

"Hm, yes," Aecilia admitted, though her intent was not to consider whether she should receive something in return for her work. Instead, she pondered the potential connection between Diego and this doctor that could explain Avendial's curiosity about them.

After all, he had never shown any curiosity about her.