Blessed to be the Villain-Chapter 51: True Nature 2

Appearing back in his bathroom, Ethan immediately caught a whiff of his own sweat, and it hit him just how badly he needed a shower. The grime of the day clung to his skin, sticky and uncomfortable. With a groan, he peeled off his clothes and stepped into the steamy cascade of water. The moment the hot droplets hit his sore muscles, he let out a deep sigh of relief.

God, that feels good, he thought, leaning into the spray, letting it wash away the sweat, fatigue, and strain from training with Arthur. His legs still ached faintly, a dull burn reminding him this was just day one.

After drying off and changing into loose-fitting sleepwear—a soft, dark shirt and lightweight pants—he walked out of the bathroom. His eyes scanned the room, half-expecting something to be out of place. But everything was exactly as he'd left it: bed sheets unruffled, books stacked neatly on the desk, and the curtains drawn halfway. It seemed the guards had done their job.

Moving toward the door, he cracked it open and peeked out. The hallway was quiet. Two guards stood on either side of the entrance, both stiff and alert. The one on the right, a tall man with a comically thick mustache that curled at the ends like a villain from a children's play, turned to him.

"Did anyone try to come into my room while I was gone?" Ethan asked casually, one hand resting on the doorframe.

The mustached guard snapped to attention. "Only the maids, young master. But since you didn't respond, we didn't let anyone in."

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Ethan gave a small nod, suppressing a smirk. Damn, they're more reliable than I expected.

"Good job," he said with a grin. "You did very well. I'm going to take a nap, so can one of you wake me in two hours?"

The guard gave a firm nod. "Of course."

"Great. Have a good day." Ethan offered a lazy wave before closing the door with a soft click. The moment it latched shut, he flopped face-first onto the bed.

The soft mattress welcomed him like an old friend. His entire body screamed in protest, muscles tense and sore. He didn't even bother pulling up the sheets. Within seconds, exhaustion claimed him, and he drifted off into deep sleep.

---

Meanwhile, outside the mansion, down a dimly lit alley shadowed by towering stone walls, a maid from Ethan's household crept forward. She kept her head low, glancing behind her every few steps. Her breathing was shallow, heart pounding in her chest. The muffled sounds of the city faded behind her as she stepped deeper into the secluded passage.

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the darkness and covered her mouth.

Her eyes widened in alarm—until she heard the familiar voice.

"Did anyone follow you?" The voice was sharp, clipped, and demanding.

The maid nodded quickly, and the hand released her mouth. She stepped back, heart racing, but didn't scream or resist. Instead, she turned and bowed respectfully to the man now stepping from the shadows.

Dressed in tight-fitting black gear from head to toe, a curved dagger at his hip, and his face partially obscured by a cloth mask, Night Saka stood tall. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, studied her with unsettling calm.

The earlier grip and question weren't an attack—they were a silent signal. One she had been trained to recognize.

If she had been followed, she would've shaken her head side to side. But since she nodded, it meant the coast was clear.

Saka's eyes narrowed, voice low. "Did you notice anything?"

Still catching her breath, the maid smoothed her apron and nodded. "Yes. Master Ethan didn't act abnormally at all the whole day."

Saka blinked, caught off guard. "...Not at all?" he asked, skeptical.

"No, sir." The maid's voice steadied as she began recounting everything in order. "This morning, I saw him flirting with that maid, Janifer. Then he had breakfast with the mayor. Later, he visited the training grounds and had a private conversation with Night Commander Ralf. After that, two guards were stationed outside his room, and he went to the library to fetch a few books before locking himself inside. He didn't come out, not even for lunch. The guards turned everyone else away."

As the report ended, Saka remained quiet. His expression unreadable.

But inside, his mind was racing.

None of this makes sense.

From Saka's perspective, Ethan should've been panicking. He was nearly assassinated last night. A normal noble—especially a spoiled one—should've been in a frenzy, demanding protection, asking questions, lashing out at servants or guards.

Instead, Ethan had started his day by fooling around with a maid.

Saka had anticipated the young man would rush to Commander Ralf immediately and expose what happened. That was why he had remained outside the mansion all night, prepared to flee if his involvement was suspected.

But no. Ethan played it off. Had breakfast. Took his time. Only after everything else did he visit Ralf—if that's even what the visit was about. That wasn't just bold… it was calculated.

Saka clenched his jaw, stepping back as his thoughts swirled.

If Ethan had told Ralf about the assassination, Ralf should've launched an immediate investigation. He was no fool. The assassin either had to be someone with skills far above normal—or they had inside help.

And if Ralf even suspected the latter… he should've already locked down the staff, started interrogations, traced any potential trails.

But there was nothing. No tension. No guards moving erratically. No sudden disappearances. No increased patrols.

Nothing.

Saka's eyes glinted with suspicion as he stared into the shadows.

Something was wrong. Deeply wrong.

It's almost like… he expected the attempt.

A chill ran down Saka's spine.

No. I've been thinking about Ethan Mijuri like he's a typical pampered noble.

His fists clenched.

But what if he's not?

What if everything about him—the laziness, the charm, the carelessness—is just a mask?

The realization sank in like ice in his gut. He thought back to Ethan's composed demeanor, the lack of panic, how everything felt too smooth, too… prepared.

What if he's not the fool everyone thinks he is? What if he's something else entirely?

The maid stood nervously beside him, watching his expression change.

"S-Sir?" she asked, unsure if she had done something wrong.

Saka didn't respond right away. He finally turned to her and spoke with a voice lower than before.

"Keep watching him. Tell me everything. Even the smallest details."

The maid bowed her head. "Yes, sir."

As she vanished back into the night, Saka remained in the alley, staring at the cobbled ground beneath his feet.

One thing was now certain.

Ethan Mijuri… is far more dangerous than anyone realizes.