Lucia's eyes narrowed the instant she saw Catrina step down from the carriage, her expression filled with open hostility.
Alex shouted out at once, voice weak but eager. "Mother! I'm here. Don't worry, I'm fine—"
"Move!"
Catrina's sharp command cut him off mid-sentence. The sheer force of her tone stunned Alex into silence.
Lucia blinked, taken aback. Even she hadn't expected that reaction. Her expression faltered for a brief moment, surprise flashing in her eyes—but she stayed silent, simply observing.
Catrina's gaze swept the crowd until it landed on Lathel. Without hesitation, she strode toward him.
Lathel froze. He hadn't expected to see Catrina here at all. According to the original script, today's scene should've been just him and Alex.
He remembered it clearly: in the original plot, after the dispute over the wooden carving, he was supposed to be humiliated and beaten by Alex.
But now... the roles were reversed. Alex was the one lying battered in the dirt, and Catrina had appeared instead.
It made no sense.
Still, the moment he saw her, a flicker of realization passed through his mind.
'Ah... maybe she's here to avenge Alex. Hopefully she'll go easy on me. Just a light beating would be fine.'
He sighed inwardly, mentally preparing himself for impact.
Lucia, however, stepped subtly in front of him, stance protective—like a shield ready to defend.
Catrina's steps slowed. Her eyes locked on Lucia's, and in that instant, invisible sparks flared between them.
For a few tense seconds, neither woman said a word. The air around them thickened with pressure.
Then Catrina glanced around, sharp eyes taking in the scene—Alex bloodied, the crowd trembling, Lucia standing guard before Lathel.
Her brow furrowed deeper. Finally, she looked back at Lucia and asked coldly, "You're the one who struck Alex, aren't you?"
Lucia's smile didn't fade, but the magic around her pulsed, condensing into an icy, suffocating aura.
"Yes," she said evenly. "Why? You planning to avenge him?"
Catrina ignored the challenge. "Is Lathel hurt?"
Lucia shook her head. "Not a scratch. As long as I'm here, no one will harm him."
"Hmm?"
Catrina stared at her, confused—because in Lucia's tone, there was no pretense, no malice, only genuine concern.
Lucia met her gaze with the same bewilderment, both women silently gauging each other.
From the ground, Alex gritted his teeth and shouted, "Mother! She's the one who attacked me! I was just trying to buy that sculpture and she—"
"Silence!"
"Silence!"
Both women snapped at once.
The word struck like a command spell.
They turned to each other, startled—eyes widening slightly, realization dawning like a dark omen.
Catrina frowned. "So... you know too?"
Lucia nodded. "And you..."
"I know as well," Catrina finished quietly.
Lucia's expression softened. "Then what will you do?"
Catrina exhaled, tone calm but resolute. "Protect the one I'm meant to protect."
Lathel: "???"
At that point, it was as if a row of glowing question marks popped up over Lathel's head. He looked from Lucia to Catrina, completely lost.
'What the hell are you two even talking about?!'
Alex looked just as confused—and twice as offended.
'Why the hell am I the one getting hated here?! Wasn't Lathel supposed to be the scum everyone despised? Why is the script flipped again?!'
Lucia's lips curved into a small, knowing smile as she stepped aside, clearing a path.
Catrina nodded slightly in acknowledgment. "Thank you."
"No need," Lucia replied coolly, tone calm but absolute. "This is something I must do."
Lathel frowned, opening his mouth. "Wait—what are you two even—Umph—!"
Before he could finish, a rush of perfume and warmth slammed into him.
Catrina had thrown herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around him—so tightly he could feel every contour of her soft, full chest flattening against his torso.
Lathel froze. His mouth hung open in sheer disbelief.
He wasn't the only one.
The crowd, even Alex, fell silent for several stunned seconds before the murmuring began.
"Oy! Isn't that..."
"Yeah. That's Catrina!"
"Wait, why the hell is Catrina hugging Lathel?"
"Don't ask me! Who the hell am I supposed to ask?!"
"Could it be they... have something going on?"
"No way! Catrina's never even let a man touch her before!"
"But that's her son-in-law! Why isn't she protecting Alex instead?!"
"This... this defies logic. Just shut up and watch."
"Hm?!" Lucia's brow twitched, and in an instant, the air temperature dropped several degrees.
Everyone immediately shut up. The silence that followed was absolute.
Being embraced by a beautiful woman like this was... undeniably nice.
But this woman was Catrina—the heroine, and worse, Arina's mother.
Inside Lathel's head, two opposing voices began to argue violently.
'Why are you panicking? She's just an NPC! Just relax and enjoy it—hug her back, idiot!'
'Are you insane?! That's Aunt Catrina—your mother's closest friend! Arina's mother! Have you no shame?!'
"U-Um..."
"Hick!!!" Lathel stiffened as Catrina rested her head gently against his shoulder. Her warm breath brushed against his neck, sending shivers down his spine.
He could feel it—his "younger brother," very much alive and reacting.
"D-Duchess Catrina, you..."
"Let me hold you," she whispered softly, voice trembling. "Just for a moment... only a moment."
Her tone disarmed him completely. Against all reason, Lathel's resistance melted. He sighed and let her stay like that.
If they'd been somewhere private, he might have even relaxed and enjoyed it. But surrounded by people? His brain screamed for mercy.
Lucia, however, seemed to read his discomfort. She waved her hand once—and the entire crowd instantly scattered, fleeing in terror.
Within seconds, only four people remained: Alex, Lucia, Lathel... and Catrina still holding him tightly.
Alex gritted his teeth, rage boiling in his chest. He wanted to shout, to curse, but the moment he saw Lucia's glacial gaze, his courage evaporated.
He trembled, taking a half-step back. Then—
THUD!
"Ack! You—!" Alex groaned as an unseen force shoved him back to the ground.
"Stay," Lucia ordered coldly. "Watch carefully, Alex. Watch what Catrina and Lathel are doing."
Her lips curved into a faint, almost sadistic smile.
Alex's body trembled as he stared at the scene before him.
Catrina clung to Lathel with desperate intensity, as if she wanted their bodies to merge into one.
Alex's fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white. His jaw tightened until it felt like his teeth might crack.
"D-Duchess Catrina..." Lathel stammered, face flushed crimson. "H-have you... hugged enough yet?"
She didn't move.
Lathel swallowed hard, heart hammering in his chest as he finally managed to speak again. "Because... it really seems like you're not planning to let go..."
Catrina didn't answer. She simply pressed closer, greedily inhaling his scent—his warmth, his breath—as if memorizing it. Only after a long moment did she slowly let go.
Lathel exhaled sharply, relief flooding his chest. But when he looked down and saw the glimmer of tears still wet in Catrina's eyes, he frowned.
"Duchess Catrina, you..."
He stopped midway. There was nothing left to say. The script was already in shambles.
Still, a small thought surfaced in his mind. 'Maybe this is fine. If everything falls apart completely, I can just return to the starting point.'
'Next time, I'll know what's coming. I'll make the right moves. The only problem is... I don't know how long this world can last before it collapses entirely.'
Catrina dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, then smiled softly.
"I'm sorry. I was... worried about you. I couldn't control myself."
"Ah, don't apologize. If anything, I'm the one benefitting here," Lathel replied bluntly.
He didn't even try to sound modest—he was the villain, after all. What need did he have for fake dignity?
"Hahaha..." Catrina chuckled lightly, covering her mouth.
Lathel: "???"
He blinked. 'What's with everyone laughing at that line? Lucia laughed earlier, and now Catrina too.'
"Lathel, are you hurt anywhere?" she asked gently, fingers straightening his collar, her touch as soft and caring as a wife tending her husband.
"No. But... Alex looks pretty bad," Lathel murmured.
He said it deliberately, trying to remind her. 'Hey, the male lead's right there. Maybe go care for him a little?'
But the moment Catrina heard Alex's name, her expression hardened.
Her eyes went cold. So cold that even Lathel felt a shiver run through him.
"Catrina, you—"
"Lathel," she interrupted, smiling again, that same gentle voice returning. "Don't worry. While Valoria's away, I'll be the one protecting you."
"Not just her," Lucia added smoothly, stepping closer with a faint smile. "You'll have me too."
Lathel: "..."
'Oy... System, why does it feel like I'm the protagonist all of a sudden?'
And it was true. Surrounded by beautiful women, cared for, defended—that was the male lead's privilege. Yet somehow, the supposed villain was the one basking in it.
As for Alex...
Lathel glanced over and nearly winced. The man looked pitiful. Blood poured from his nose and mouth; his face was swollen, twisted, one side visibly caved in from Lucia's slap. Several teeth were missing.
[I have no explanation. Maybe the world has already started to collapse. The characters are no longer following their intended scripts.]
"Ah." Lathel nodded quietly. That made sense. If the world itself was breaking down, it was natural for NPCs to glitch out, their behavior unpredictable.
It was just like the games he used to play back on Earth—one bug led to another, until the whole program crashed.
"Ah, but... look. He's foaming at the mouth."
Lathel pointed at Alex, who lay on the ground convulsing violently.
Catrina and Lucia turned to look. Lucia's gaze darkened as she began walking toward him, a dangerous aura gathering around her.
"Wait!" Lathel shouted. "What are you doing?"
Lucia paused and turned, confused. "He wanted to kill you. I felt his killing intent. So of course, he must die."
Lathel: "..."
'Mother of god... if he dies, the whole world ends! Are you both insane?!'
Of course, he couldn't say that out loud.
He forced a calm expression. "No. Don't kill him."
"Why not?" Lucia asked, tilting her head. "If he lives, he'll only come after you again."
Lathel quickly searched for a reason—any reason that would make sense to her. He couldn't stop her by force anyway.
"Ah... He's Arina's fiancé. The one chosen by the Grand Elder of House Velloa. If he dies, they'll turn their wrath on you and Duchess Catrina."
Lucia's expression softened slightly. She glanced at Catrina, who pressed her lips together and nodded faintly.
Lucia sighed and then smiled—a warm, admiring smile.
"Lathel, you really are... a good man."
Lathel: "???"
He blinked, dumbfounded. 'Good man? Me? Lady, I'm literally the villain of this story!'