Heroines, Villainesses, and the Hero's Yandere Harem? I want them all!-Chapter 20: Mind Games

"...Who is she?" I finally asked.

He grinned. Slow. Lazy. Like he already owned the conversation.

"All information comes at a price," he said. "And considering how sensitive this particular piece is, it demands an even higher one."

Haah.

So that's how we're playing it.

The curiosity card.

"Scarlett Morndel... What if I told you I know something concerning her that you might want to hear?"

His grin twitched. His brows pulled together, a deep frown settling in.

"What?"

Oh? Suspicious now, are we?

"Sensitive information requires a high price," I said smoothly. "Wouldn't you agree?"

He leaned back, fingers steepled, eyes locked onto mine like he was trying to read past my mask and into my skull.

"You're bluffing," he said flatly. "Don't play those mind games with me."

Now, here's the thing.

Scarlett was a side heroine. And at first? She was obsessed with this bastard. Completely lost in the delusion that he actually cared about her.

He used her. Toyed with her. Pulled her strings like a puppet, just to see how much control he had. When things got messy, he threw her under the bus. When he needed a disposable pawn, he made her one.

And despite everything, she loved him.

Until Jason happened.

After getting saved by him one too many times—plus, you know, the usual plot conveniences—she started shifting her affection. And the moment psycho-boy over here realized?

He snapped.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is freewebnøvel.coɱ.

A narcissist's worst nightmare—losing a follower.

So he did what any self-obsessed lunatic would do.

He killed her.

No hesitation. No remorse.

Just like that.

A complete nutjob.

But... come to think of it.

I can find a way to put both of them into good us.

The more pawns, the merrier.

As for him, I just have to make him think he's using me.

That's the only way to manipulate someone like him. He sees through lies, through deception, through every little trick in the book, as he himself is a master of manipulation. But if I let him believe he's the one in control? If I make him think he's outplaying me?

That's checkmate.

To deceive a genius manipulator, I have to become my own greatest fool. The best lies aren't sold. They're believed. By the liar.

It's all about confirmation bias. Give him just enough truth to make him think he's figured me out. Dangle the bait right in front of him and let his own paranoia do the rest.

And in the end...

I'll use him.

As a sacrifice.

To get Vysindra's curse.

A slow grin tugged at my lips.

This is better than using Angelica after enslaving her.

"....I refuse," he said suddenly, sipping his drink. Smirk back in place.

Hah. Called it.

He doesn't actually care about Scarlett. Not enough to pay attention—yet.

"Okay." I shrugged.

He kept watching me, waiting for another move. Too bad for him—I wasn't offering another deal.

"It seems you don't care much about it," he said, testing the waters.

I just looked at him for a second.

"A princess," I said.

The tiniest twitch in his lips.

Gotcha.

Want to play mind games with me? Cute.

I've seen every scheme, every manipulation, every deception that's ever played out in this world. Some so intricate it took me years to fully grasp.

It's only a matter of time before I become the one pulling the strings.

"...Who knows," he shrugged.

I smirked under my mask. He couldn't see it, but he could feel it.

"Why is everyone so relaxed in here?" I asked, watching him flag down a waiter for another drink.

Wait.

I thought lower-ranked nobles weren't even allowed in this place.

...Unless.

Are the waiters actually high-ranked nobles?

...That makes no damn sense.

"Wait. You don't know about the three-layered magic barrier on the castle?" he asked.

Wait.

But according to what I remember...

The castle—right before the Mystic World appeared—

...it blew up.

Wait.

Oh, shit.