Reborn As The Minor Villain In A Romance Fantasy Novel - Chapter 194

Chapter 194: Submissive Saintess?
“What do you mean by… hold you?” Lucius asked.

His brows furrowed slightly as he looked down at her.

He wasn’t angry… he was just confused. Out of everyone in the camp, the Saintess was the last person he expected to ask for something like that.

“I…” Rita’s eyes darted to the ground.

Her voice trembled. “I just… I want you to hold me.”

Lucius blinked. “You want me to hold you?”

“I’m t-testing something,” she stammered, her hands twisting together nervously. “I just need to know if…”

Her words trailed off.

Lucius sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Alright,” he said slowly. “How do you want me to hold you then?”

She looked up at him, her face flushed from the cold or maybe embarrassment. “Hug me.”

Lucius stared for a moment, unsure whether she was serious.

Something about this felt like some sort of ploy.

The Rita he knew was intimidating, she even kidnapped men to keep in her basement… The one standing before him looked like a lost child.

‘Is this some kind of trick?’ he thought. ‘Or a test?’

Still, there was no hostility in her eyes… he could only see desperation.

He exhaled through his nose and finally nodded. “Alright. A hug it is.”

He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her gently.

For a moment, she didn’t move. Then, little by little, her body relaxed against him.

Rita could feel warmth… She could actually feel it…

Rita’s breathing slowed and her heart pounded in her chest as if she’d been holding her breath for years.

‘So it’s true,’ she thought.

Because of her trauma… Whenever a man came close, she felt disgust and bile rising in her throat and why she also hated seeing them hard.

She hadn’t felt warmth in a long time, it had been so long that she had learned to live without it. But when he held her today… It was different.

She didn’t feel sick and she didn’t recoil.

Her body leaned in as if drawn to the warmth and it was the same now.

Lucius felt her grip tighten slightly around his back and her head resting lightly against his shoulder.

He didn’t say anything, instead he just let her have the moment.

And then, just as suddenly, it was over.

He loosened his arms and stepped back.

Rita’s eyes opened, the cold immediately biting through the spot where he’d held her.

“I’ll be going back now,” Lucius said simply, turning to leave.

“Wait.”

Her hand shot out instinctively and grabbed his wrist.

Lucius turned his head. “What is it now?”

Rita’s voice cracked as she tried to speak. “Money…”

He blinked. “Huh?”

“I’ll give you money,” she said quickly, her words tumbling out all at once. “I’ll give you my Guild… my body… anything.”

Lucius stared at her. “…What?”

“I’ll give you everything I have,” she said again. “Just… please. Make me feel that warmth again. I want you to hold me every second of the day.”

Lucius stared at her silently, trying to process what he was hearing.

‘Her Guild?’ He thought she must have lost it.

He wasn’t interested in her Guild, or her money.

“Your Guild?” he asked aloud. “You’re not serious.”

But she was.

Rita reached into her storage ring and pulled out a stack of papers.

Her hands were trembling, but her expression was clear. “The ownership documents,” she said. “If you promise to stay with me, I’ll transfer it.”

Lucius sighed.

‘She’s delirious,’ he thought. ‘Or exhausted.’

Still, curiosity flickered in his eyes.

“Alright,” he said evenly. “Let’s say I agree. I’m not promising to hold you forever.”

He took her hand gently, the warmth of his palm making her body loosen again.

“But,” he continued, “if you give me a lot of food supplies, I’ll hold you through the night.”

Her lips parted slightly, surprise flashing in her eyes… then relief.

“Deal,” she whispered, nodding quickly. “Th-thank you.”

Lucius gave a smile. “Good.”

He paused. “And… those guys under your basement… why were they there?”

Rita froze and her expression grew dark.

“…They tried to hurt me,” she said quietly. “They spiked my drinks. I was just defending myself.”

‘Defending herself… Yeah right,’ he thought, though he didn’t say it aloud.

“Well, whatever,” he said finally. “If it gets us food that isn’t instant noodles, I’ll call it even.”

Rita’s eyes softened slightly.

…

They walked back to camp together.

When they stepped into the clearing, Vanessa looked up immediately.

She was now keeping the stove and the pot in her own storage ring but her expression shifted the moment she saw Rita beside him.

“Did you get to do what you wanted?” Vanessa asked politely, though her tone was cautious.

Once, the two women had been close, but now they were far apart.

Rita smiled gently. “Yes, thank you.”

A gust of wind blew through the camp, lifting her pink hair and the hem of her dress.

She looked radiant in the firelight.

“I’m helping Lucius now,” she said suddenly. “Please take all of these.”

She lifted her hand, and a beam of light appeared.

From her storage ring, crates upon crates of food began to appear… sacks of rice, canned goods, bread, fruits, even frozen meat sealed with preservation charms.

Vanessa stepped back in shock. “That’s… wait, that’s too much!”

Rita smiled again, serene as ever.

“That’s all I wanted to do.” She turned to leave, pausing just once. “Oh, and Vanessa?”

Vanessa blinked. “…What?”

“I’d like to taste your cooking tomorrow,” Rita said with a soft laugh. “If you don’t mind.”

With that, she walked away into the dim glow of the other tents, her silhouette vanishing between them.

Lucius stood silently beside Vanessa.

Then…

“Ow!”

He winced as Vanessa grabbed his ear and tugged.

“You were the one saying ‘avoid her,’ and now you’re striking deals with her?!” she hissed. “Are you crazy?”

Lucius raised his hands defensively. “She offered food! Do you want to eat instant noodles for another week?”

“That’s not the point!” Vanessa said, puffing her cheeks in frustration. “You can’t just accept everything she offers. That woman’s dangerous, you said it yourself!”

“I know,” Lucius said dryly. “But so is starvation.”

Vanessa glared.

“That’s it! I’m not cooking for you for a week.” She paused, thinking, then corrected herself. “No… a month!”

Lucius’s expression twisted into despair. “A month? You can’t be serious!”

“I am!”

“Then what was the point of getting all that food?!” he groaned, almost doubling over.

…

He was in his tent now… everyone had gone to their respective tents to rest and so did he.

He reached for his phone.

Emilia had messaged him earlier, asking if he was safe.

He typed back a simple reply:

[Lucius: Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired. We’re camping on the second floor now.]

The reply bubble appeared instantly.

[Emilia: Be careful, okay? Who will fuck me if you die over there? And keep sister safe too… we need to have a threesome]

Lucius sighed at the screen before setting the phone aside.

Then, from the entrance of his tent, he heard a rustle.

The zipper shifted slightly, like someone was testing it.

Lucius didn’t move.

Space flickered subtly around the flap, unzipping it without a sound.

And standing there framed by the moonlight was Rita.

She stepped inside quietly.

Lucius looked at her and he was shocked… She was in her bra and panties.

Her voice was soft. “How… do you… uhm… like it?”