The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

Chapter 69

It was a few hours later, inside Duke Pietro’s office.
Desian rested his hand on his desk, his jaw set as he stared at the pendant. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. From within, Gemma stared at him breathlessly. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
-Why did he ask to borrow me for three days?

‘I checked him out on the way here, and he’s a monster! How could Citrina loan me to a monster for three days? She’s my contractor!’

Gemma was summoned to Duke Pietro’s office.
Gemma squinted at Desian’s expressionless face, but his blank face made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
No matter how she looked at it, this man was darkness itself.
Read only on salmonlatte.com

“You.”
-Yes…

He could hear her. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Gemma was frightened and folded her wings. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
Desian started reciting Gemma’s profile in an emotionless voice.

“Citrina’s contractor, Gemma. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. An intermediate spirit, recently awakened from her slumber.” read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
-Is, is that so? That’s right. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. I just awakened from a beginner to an intermediate spirit! read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

She suddenly felt tears welling up in her eyes thinking about how awfully difficult it had been.
With the help of the Silmaril, she awakened, so she was not going to be destroyed here. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Citrina had tried to reassure her, but it all didn’t make sense. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. So what was going to happen to her now? It seemed like he might kill her right away. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
Gemma flapped her wings a few times in a fit of tears.

“I won’t kill you.”

Gemma became even more frightened knowing he was reading her thoughts.

-Oh, okay. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. I’m being helpful to Citrina too…you know. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

This frightening person with obvious magical strength had been unusually generous to Citrina. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. So the sneaky spirit made sure to mention Citrina’s name. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
There was a heavy, heavy obsession that she could feel directed at her contractor even from deep inside her pendant while resting.
Desian Pietro clearly loved Citrina Foluin.

“Why did I bring you here, Gemma?”
-Um, I’m not sure?
“Soon, Citrina will be a noblewoman.”

Her house may have lost its prestige, but she was on the rise on her own for her ability to work with a nearly-lost species.
Gemma nodded her head. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Citrina would be rightly awarded the peerage. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. She was a contractor to the great Gemma-nim and had managed a decent harvest. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. [T.L. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Note: Harvest meaning that Citrina is doing alright in her business.] read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
But what’s this all of a sudden?
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“You’ll be a high-ranking spirit.”
-Oh… a high-ranking spirit…I don’t think I qualify yet, do I?
Gemma made a puzzled face.

“Then we’ll have to make you qualify, Gemma.”
-…Huh?
“That’s your job.”
-Oh…

He had asked permission, so it was perfectly reasonable and legitimate. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Indeed it was. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
Desian explained kindly. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. The reason was that Gemma was Citrina’s spirit. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
It took countless hours to make the leap to a high-ranking spirit. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Gemma was a gemstone spirit, so she had to appraise, hold, and smelt endless amounts of gems. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

‘Scary!’

Gemma’s wings flapped rapidly as she flew over the desk in his office, imagining the extreme training that lay ahead.

“Oh? Just a minute…”

As she flew over the desk, Gemma saw something lying there to one side. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. It was the peridot necklace that was the first thing Citrina ever made. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. There wasn’t even a speck of dust gathered on it. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
Was it this monster who had bought it?

“Did you see?”
-…

Desian didn’t even bother to hide it.
Gemma was horrified.

‘I really should be nice to Citrina, really, really nice.’
She thought she had met a gentle contractor, but somehow Citrina had a double life.

-I, I didn’t see anything. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. I’ll work hard. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
“Then you protect Citrina.”
-Ah, I get it.
Becoming a high-ranking spirit came with having a certain level of combat power. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Desian would naturally protect Citrina, but he couldn’t be there all the time. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
He knew Gemma wouldn’t be able to talk to Citrina about it anyway.
He tapped slowly on the desk. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. A palm-sized portal appeared, and the flow began. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. [T.L. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Note: What is flowing out is not described, but I assume it’s some sort of power to help Gemma level up.] read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.
Gemma squeezed her eyes shut.
Alright, high-ranking spirit it is.
I can do this.
Why can’t I? I’m Gemma!
Gemma gritted her tiny teeth and glared at the flow.