[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-in-love-with-the-villainess":3,"chapter-i-m-in-love-with-the-villainess-i-m-in-love-with-the-villainess-chapter-223":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I'm in Love with the Villainess!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},895383,1171,"Chapter 223: All’s Well That Seems to End Well","i-m-in-love-with-the-villainess-chapter-223",223,"\u003Cp>Julius and I headed back to the edge of the lived‑in outer district, to the top floor of an abandoned apartment building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t hard to find. Most of the buildings around here were already empty anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way we could just go home after... all that. We needed to talk everything through—especially the False Hydra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So... all’s well that ends well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julius leaned against a cracked window, eyes scanning the streets below, making sure no one was close enough to overhear us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ends well...? How are we supposed to explain the mess we made?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sprawled out on the unmade bed, still exhausted from everything. Honestly, it beat trying to stand around looking cool like Julius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comfort won out every time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That?\" Julius smirked and scratched the back of his neck. \"Well... what if we just tell the truth?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Really?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s his big idea?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell the truth? I’d rather not paint a target on my back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, I was hoping we’d be seen as heroes, not targets. So what do you suggest?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Evelina, obviously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know anyone who can come up with a better plan than her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’d say Lillian could do just as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sat up and crossed my legs, fixing Julius with a look that was half glare, half challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You willing to bet on that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I straightened up, suddenly interested in his bragging. There was no way in heaven or hell Lillian could beat Evelina when it came to strategy or brains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Photographic Memory]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I had the memory to prove it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But... Julius really is the fun type. Maybe I could use this chance to rope him into a challenge. One I’m guaranteed to win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I could even put up some ridiculous prize I could use to manipulate him later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Judging by that look in your eye, you’ve got something in mind?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. How about we both report everything to our own goddesses and see who handles covering up the damage better?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m up for it, but... I’m guessing you want to put a prize on the line.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about we keep it a secret? Might make things more interesting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I crossed my arms and flashed a dangerous smile. Didn’t matter if this face scared him off; the contest was optional anyway. I trusted Evelina to handle things on her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What really mattered was showing Julius just how confident I was in her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T-That’s not exactly reassuring, but sure, you’re on. Just make sure it’s something I can actually do, okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That goes for you too...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hook, line, and sinker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julius and I went our separate ways, but not before spending another minute combing the area, double-checking that no one had been close enough to overhear us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The storm might have been loud, sure, but I refused to believe no one heard anything—or worse, missed the little lightshow the two of us had put on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So yeah—better safe than sorry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Dark Step]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I teleported back into the bedroom, and Evelina was still lying on the bed, breathing softly, completely out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good thing I didn’t wake her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, the least I could do was let her rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’What were you up to?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice slipped straight into my thoughts, sultry and amused—the succubus, of course, sitting on the edge of the bed with a knowing smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I suggest you keep your mouth shut.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I answered her through the mental link she’d given me, keeping my lips still. Neither of us wanted Evelina waking up right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The succubus rose and walked over, leaning in close to my shoulder and inhaling lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Whoa... you absolutely reek of suffering. What in the world were you fighting?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She laughed and began circling me, taking in the blood and shredded mess that used to be my clothes. Honestly, it was a miracle I had anything left on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’A false hydra, apparently.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still had no idea what that thing really was, besides the fact that it erased memories and looked downright horrific. I didn’t even know where it came from. For all I knew, it might’ve been some endangered creature driven out of its home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although... I really doubted something that looked like that could be anything that innocent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’A false hydra!?’ She shot up into the air, laughing. ’You’re kidding!? Guess it makes sense, considering the inner district... but I’m surprised you’re still alive!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I’m honestly surprised myself.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I changed into something more comfortable, then burned what was left of my old clothes—if you could still even call that shredded mess \"clothes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I eventually report everything to Evelina, I had to make sure she wouldn’t find out I’d almost died. The last thing I wanted was to make her worry again. After the way she broke down earlier, I’d never forgive myself if I put her through that two days in a row.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day was already more than enough of a sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’You’re full of surprises, y’know? I knew you were strong, but I didn’t think you were strong enough to take on that aberration. If you tell Evelyn, she’ll be very impressed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’That’s a cute nickname for her.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’That’s what you’re focusing on?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Yeah. Thanks for the idea.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The succubus just sighed at my answer. ’A succubus matron like me is complimenting you. You should take it more seriously.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I only accept compliments from her, so no thanks.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Killjoy...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She frowned and stuck out her tongue before disappearing back into Evelina’s choker. Well, at least their relationship seemed to be going great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even had a nickname for Evelina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One I was definitely going to use tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I’d even get a flustered, cute reaction out of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I couldn’t get ahead of myself. There was still the elephant in the room I needed to check before going to bed. The last thing I needed was for it to suddenly go wild the moment I let my guard down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Check captured entity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[False Hydra (SS)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- Forceful Contract\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- Kill\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that was interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>",1011,"2026-06-03T05:52:53.768Z",1,"novelbin.me","091188b6bae3b69e949941f1cc32381741fd95947abbe8c47ec6384763703df8","i-m-in-love-with-the-villainess-chapter-224","i-m-in-love-with-the-villainess-chapter-222",324,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-in-love-with-the-villainess-cover.jpg"]