Reborn As The Minor Villain In A Romance Fantasy Novel - Chapter 139

Chapter 139: Soulmates
‘The last time we met, I was trying to kidnap you for several million royals.’

That was the answer that wanted to leave her lips but saying that aloud in public was the kind of decision that ended with her being deleted from existence by a spatial distortion…

Sure she could turn into mist but she truly doubted that she would be able to survive a direct attack from him.

Every instinct screamed at her to come up with something, anything, that didn’t end with her body scattered across six dimensions.

‘Come on, Liora, think!’ she scolded herself. ‘You’re a genius investor, this should be a piece of cake.’

“I just…” she began, lowering her eyes to the floor, “…wanted to sit next to you.”

It came out soft like a confession she wasn’t sure she was ready to make.

Inside, she cringed.

‘That’s the best I could come up with?! He’s going to reject me, isn’t he?’

Who just walked up to a random man in a café and asked to sit beside him?

This was ridiculous.

It was embarrassing too. She could feel the barista’s eyes boring into her back, the awkward silence stretching thin…

“Sure, you can.”

Her head snapped up. “I can?”

Lucius blinked once, tilting his head. “Isn’t that what you asked for?”

She nodded quickly, a little too eagerly, and slid into the chair across from him before he could change his mind.

Villy, seated beside Lucius, gave her a look that could only be described as… complicated.

Liora avoided her gaze completely.

The tension in the air was broken by the arrival of the barista. The man carried a tray with two steaming cups of coffee, swirling dark liquid sending up curls of fragrant steam.

He placed the cups in front of Lucius and Villy with a polite smile.

Lucius leaned forward, cupping his drink between his palms.

The warmth seeped into his skin, it was burning… but not unpleasantly so.

‘Damn, that’s hot.’ He winced internally. ‘Not as hot as the furnace though…’

Across from him, Villy had already produced a pair of thick gloves from her own Spatial Compression Ring, slipping them on like it was second nature before taking her own cup.

At least he knew where she was pulling the stuff out of now…

Lucius nodded his thanks to the barista, who retreated to the counter, and then brought the cup to his lips.

He took a small sip and exhaled, his eyes closing briefly.

The taste hit him like nostalgia.

‘It’s just like the coffee back on Earth… only better.’

It had been ages since he’d had proper coffee.

He glanced to the side, taking in the newcomer… the woman who’d just boldly inserted herself into his quiet coffee break.

Her disguise was good. The oversized cap, the hoodie, and everything was perfect.

But it was also too good.

Overcompensation screamed “celebrity.”

She was hiding something… maybe fame, maybe money. He just hoped it was the kind that came with generous tips, who knows? She could pay for his drink.

“I wonder,” Liora said suddenly, “why a man as esteemed as you would come here for coffee.”

The way she said it so confidently betrayed what she was thinking on the inside… Even though Lucius hadn’t seen her face, like the way she could recognize him by his body… He could do the same.

What would he do if he found out she was one of the bounty hunters?

Lucius lifted an eyebrow, taking another sip before answering. “The same reason a popular person like you is here as well.”

Liora froze mid-breath.

He knew.

He knew.

Her mind spiraled instantly.

‘Wait, does he think I’m Liora Romanoff? Or… Mist?’

“Me? Popular?” she asked with a cough, trying to sound innocent.

Lucius set his cup down, meeting her gaze directly. “I mean, it’s obvious with the disguise.”

The corner of his lips quirked. “We both know why you’re here. So why not just say it?”

The way he said it sounded like he was humoring her.

Liora’s palms grew sweaty beneath the table.

‘He thinks I’m here for an autograph, doesn’t he?’

And honestly, that was fine… It was better than what she probably had in mind anyway.

She swallowed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Alright…” she said softly, eyes darting down as her fingers twisted a lock of her hair. “I’ll come clean.”

Lucius leaned back slightly and took another sip of his coffee. He was glad she didn’t go around shouting it… he was a celebrity too after all.

She took a deep breath. “Lucius von Hohenberg…”

He blinked once, waiting.

“…will you be my boyfriend?”

Lucius froze.

For a second, he wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly.

“Eh?”

She smiled shyly. “Will you be my boyfriend?”

He blinked again, completely thrown. “Wait… boyfriend? I thought you wanted an autograph.”

“Of course it’s not for free.” she said quickly, leaning in. Her voice was confident now… she was finally speaking her language. “I’ll take you on trips you can’t even imagine. Have you ever been in a flying limousine?”

Lucius stared at her blankly.

“We’ll be on one every weekend,” she continued, clearly warming up to the idea. “I’ll give you a monthly salary… several million royals, if that’s not too small for someone like you. That’s just the beginning.”

Her tone softened. “You’ll never have to work another day again. You can just… enjoy life with me.”

Lucius blinked once, then twice.

‘Why is she speaking my language?!’

He set his cup down slowly, turning his full gaze on her.

Up close, she was gorgeous… even beneath the hoodie and glasses.

Her features were sharp and her lips were glossed but her eyes were even more beautiful, like striking blue rubies.

Then it hit him.

‘Ah… I know who she is.’

This woman was… Liora Romanoff.

The richest woman in the world. The council’s most powerful private funders.

And according to the novel, she was a hopeless romantic that was looking to spoil a handsome man with a lot of money.

‘I knew I had a soulmate.’ He thought.