As a Villain I Really Don’t Want To Be Pursued by the Heroine

12

Dining together as father and son, a matter so ordinary it seemed incredible to Carl.

The former ‘Bad Boy Roy’ was quite the filial son, his address for Carl always being ‘old man’.

Carl couldn’t stand it, nor could he allow ‘Bad Boy Roy’s’ misdeeds towards the maids, inevitably leading to reprimands. And ‘Bad Boy Roy’ couldn’t tolerate his old man’s nagging, always holing up at home whenever Carl returned.

Over time, the father and son, though related, became like strangers.

Now, after a long absence, dining together at the same table, Karl finally had the chance to take a good look at his child.

Roy had changed.

His once unkempt black hair was now neatly combed, and he was dressed in a proper classical men’s suit. Although his manners seemed a bit stiff, like those of a beginner, it was a vast improvement over his previous slovenly and carefree demeanor.

Most importantly, his temperament had changed.

Gone was the pitiful arrogance that once lurked in his dark eyes, replaced by a humble gentleness that was far from servile.

Karl sipped his red wine and couldn’t help but smile, “You seem different from before.”

This was the moment Roy had been waiting for.

He put down his knife and fork, looked up with a smile, and replied, “Father, people change.”

“I have something I want to tell you.”

“Oh?” Karl raised his eyebrows, all ears.

“Recently, I’ve come to understand some things,” Roy lowered his gaze, paused, and brewed up emotions that weren’t there.

“I’ve done too many things wrong in the past.”

Karl’s eyes widened, and it took him a full two seconds to snap back to reality. “Tell me, what did you do wrong?”

“So much. I shouldn’t have been rude to you, I shouldn’t have punished the servants harshly, I shouldn’t have indulged in pleasures, forgetting the duties of nobility…” Roy clenched his fists, closed his eyes, as if ashamed of his past actions.

And it wasn’t all an act.

The thought of ‘bad boy Roy’ ruining such a stable start made him furious!

From noble mtl dot come

Faced with Roy’s profound self-reflection, Karl fell silent.

Karl never had excessive expectations for Roy.

He himself was indifferent to fame and fortune and didn’t expect Roy to achieve great things or bring glory to the family, especially after Roy’s later behavior, Karl even felt content if the boy didn’t squander the family fortune.

Now, this prodigal son had made a 180-degree turn, so much so that Karl found it magical.

But it was undoubtedly a good thing.

“Knowing repentance is good, but how did you come to this realization so suddenly?” Karl asked curiously.

Roy, of course, knew that claiming a sudden reform might seem abrupt, so he continued, “Father, I want you to meet someone.”

“Alice, come out.”

A petite maid with golden hair tied in short twin tails emerged from among the other maids.

“Hello, I am Alice.”

Alice curtsied, her tone neither humble nor haughty, her demeanor elegant, not at all like a new maid, and Karl could find no fault with her.

After a brief moment of astonishment, Karl feared his son had eloped with some noble family’s daughter and hesitated, “This child, is she the daughter of some noble family?”

Alice shook her head, “Alice is just an ordinary maid.”

Roy added, “It’s all because of Alice. She made me see my mistakes. To me, she’s like the holy light, illuminating my unworthiness, yet also showing me the way…”

Roy exhausted the limited ink in his belly to its fullest, recounting to his father a heartwarming tale of a ‘worthless scoundrel transformed by the innocence of a young maid, vowing to repent and start anew.’

Under Roy’s prior instruction, Alice naturally held her tongue, merely acting as an unfeeling nodding machine.

To Roy’s surprise, even Anya spoke up to help, stating that ‘the young master indeed changed after meeting Alice.’

Initially, Carl was skeptical, but under the concerted front and back attack of the three, he was eventually hoodwinked.

At the end, Roy lowered his gaze, adopting an uneasy demeanor: “So, father, now that I’ve turned over a new leaf, can you forgive me?”

Carl closed his eyes.

Even Carl, the iron-blooded man who once took a dragon’s claw without a whimper, felt like shedding tears in front of his son’s sincere apology.

He barely managed to hold back tears in front of the maids and his son, maintaining the dignity of both the family head and a father.

Moved, yet also reflective, he pondered.

They say human interactions are like mirrors, reflecting oneself through others.

Who would have thought a noble young master would come to such self-awareness through a maid, and awaken to a new realization?

Carl marveled at the whims of fate, yet felt fortunate that Roy met this girl.

“What’s there to forgive? Making mistakes is not to be feared, correcting them is what matters,” Carl said, holding back the sting in his eyes, exhaling deeply, and speaking solemnly: “If you must be blamed, then it’s my responsibility, I never blamed you!”

Faced with his father’s heartfelt words, Roy, who was merely acting, genuinely felt a warmth in his heart.

Then Carl turned to the blonde maid beside him: “Alice, I’ll trouble you to look after Roy from now on.”

“No need to worry, grandfather, caring for the master is my duty as a maid,” Alice replied earnestly, not understanding the polite social jargon, prompting laughter from everyone.

“Then I’ll be counting on you from now on,” Roy said, reaching out to ruffle the girl’s golden hair.

Anya beside them wore an aunt-like smile.

Under the flickering candlelight, Carl quietly watched the master and servant, unwilling to disturb them with his voice.

Roy had indeed changed, his dark eyes no longer held the past’s empty, pitiful arrogance, only sincerity and humility.

For the first time in many years, Carl saw a trace of his late wife in this black-haired, black-eyed youth.

If it’s the current him, there shouldn’t be a problem.

“My child, I wasn’t planning to tell you this so soon, but I’ve changed my mind,” Carl said, looking into Roy’s eyes with the gravity unique to elders.

“This matter concerns the friendship between our Ainsbrad family and the royal family.”

Hearing this, Roy sat up straight, responding with a firm tone: “Father, please instruct me! The current me will not disappoint you!”

Getting on good terms with Carl was all benefit and no loss. The future family inheritance rights and the [Iron Blood] potion all depended on this old man.

Besides, Roy, who grew up in an orphanage in his previous life and never experienced the taste of kinship, didn’t dislike this harmonious family feeling.

Now that Carl was willing to entrust him with such an important matter, how could he not seize this opportunity to overturn the ‘scoundrel’ label?

However, reality slapped him hard.

Carl’s face beamed with joy, he took a sip from his cup before cheerfully saying: “Since that’s the case, your arranged meeting with Princess Charlotte is settled!”

……

What?!?!