The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies

Chapter 66

“He- Her- Hermione?!” Adele stammered, her initial surprise impossible to fake.

Hermione’s eyes narrowed slightly. Before answering, she scrutinized the girl she couldn’t get off her mind, searching for any recent changes.

The moment their eyes met, Hermione was captivated by Adele’s breathtaking beauty. The girl’s long, black hair cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall, shimmering under the starlight. It lent an ethereal glow to Adele’s figure, as if the entire world revolved around her charm.

When Adele gazed back, her gentle, affectionate pink eyes seemed to hold nothing but Hermione’s reflection. Her softness, her cuteness, everything about her leaped into Hermione’s mind through that gaze. It was inescapable, not that Hermione wanted to escape.

Was this Adele’s true, innocent nature, or… a carefully crafted facade?

Hermione didn’t want to be suspicious. The mere thought of Adele harboring secrets, of her not being the kind, pure girl Hermione believed her to be, was agonizing.

However, the scene she had witnessed at the academy parking lot that evening had shaken her to her core, leaving her deeply troubled and haunted.

Hermione had tried to soothe her nerves with a hot bath and warm milk before bed, hoping to forget the entire ordeal by morning. But it was futile. The moment she closed her eyes, the image from the parking lot resurfaced.

The petite, black-haired girl on top of the blonde, their bodies moving rhythmically… the moans… the things they did, things Hermione couldn’t even bear to name…

Hermione was forced to watch, unable to speak, to intervene.

Then, the black-haired girl turned around, and it was Adele’s face! She smiled, a chilling, predatory smile that shattered the illusion of innocence.

At the same moment, the blonde beneath her looked up. It was… Celeste!

Celeste’s eyes held a triumphant glint, a look of pride and satisfaction as she gazed down at Hermione. It was as if she was saying:

—You lost, loser. Adele is mine, my master. We played you for a fool.

—It was exhilarating to do it right in front of you.

—You may have humiliated me, but I’m the one who wins in the end!

—You’ll end up alone, with nothing!

Hermione’s eyes flew open. Frost covered the room.

“…”

Her hand flew to her forehead, trying to quell the sudden dizziness. She couldn’t stay here tonight. Not until the servants had thoroughly cleaned the room.

So, where could she go?

The answer, it seemed, had presented itself.

She found herself standing before Adele’s dorm room, in the dead of night, her knuckles rapping against the wood.

She was worried, even… afraid.

Yes, even the Ice Queen was capable of fear.

She was afraid that Adele wouldn’t be there, that her roommate would answer the door and tell her that Adele wasn’t around tonight. If that happened, Hermione would probably wander aimlessly until Adele returned.

But thankfully, it was Adele who opened the door. Not her roommate, and she hadn’t spent the night elsewhere. Especially not at that woman’s place.

Hermione’s relief was short-lived, quickly replaced by a fresh wave of anxiety as she registered Adele’s surprised expression.

Could it be… that Adele didn’t want to see her?

But before that thought could fully form, Adele was already pulling her inside, glancing left and right as if hiding a treasure.

“That was close,” Adele whispered, her voice a soft murmur against Hermione’s ear. “I almost didn’t hear you over the dorm manager. It would have been troublesome if she had caught you.”

“Just last week, a girl was caught bringing her girlfriend back to the dorm. They were both severely punished. Next time, they might even be expelled and sent to another academy.”

Adele held Hermione’s hand in hers, rubbing her cold palms. She even breathed warm air onto them, her concern genuine.

Her attentiveness, the care and affection in her eyes, slowly melted the frost of suspicion and doubt that had gripped Hermione’s heart, replacing it with a fiery warmth.

Shame washed over Hermione. How could she have doubted Adele, even for a moment?

Despite her suspicions, Adele had welcomed her without a moment’s hesitation, without questioning her motives. In fact, she seemed overjoyed, as if Hermione had made a special trip just to see her!

Her surprise and bewilderment stemmed from not expecting Hermione’s arrival, though it was clear that, deep down, she had hoped for it.

As for the flicker of panic in her eyes… it was because of the dorm manager.

And the story about the girl who was punished for bringing her girlfriend back…

Hermione blushed. Weren’t they doing the exact same thing right now?

Was this Adele unconsciously revealing her own feelings, her attachment to Hermione? Treating her like a girlfriend…

Hermione’s eyes sparkled, her heart pounding. If she could be Adele’s girlfriend… she would spoil her rotten.

Her thoughts were a jumbled mess. Perhaps she hadn’t been thinking straight all day. The confrontation with Dorothy, the harsh words she had spoken… And then, that scene in the parking lot, with those girls who looked so much like Adele and Celeste…

It was infuriating. How dare that girl look so much like Adele? She possessed none of Adele’s purity and innocence.

And that blonde… she was just like that dog, Celeste. She deserved to be beneath someone, collared and leashed. It was her rightful place.

Hermione maintained her cool, composed facade, but inside, a storm raged. Still, she wouldn’t let Adele see it, wouldn’t let her worry.

“I just… missed you,” Hermione confessed, her voice barely a whisper. Her ice-blue eyes, usually cold and sharp, held a newfound tenderness.

That was her answer, the reason for her unexpected visit.

Adele’s eyes widened slightly at Hermione’s words, then softened. “Mmm… I knew it.”

Under Adele’s gaze, Hermione felt exposed, as if her every thought and heartbeat were laid bare.

Suddenly, Adele stepped forward and embraced her. Her body was cool against Hermione’s, but her embrace was tight, her warmth seeping into Hermione’s very being.

“I missed you too, Hermione,” Adele whispered.

In the entire academy, perhaps even the entire world, only Adele could share such intimacy with the Ice Queen.

They stayed embraced for a long moment before finally separating. Adele took Hermione’s hand and led her towards the stairs.

“But next time,” Adele said casually, her voice light and teasing, “you could always let me know you’re coming.”

Adele’s expression was calm, her tone nonchalant. Hermione suspected nothing.

However, beneath the surface, Adele was trembling with relief. She couldn’t bear to imagine what might have happened if she had chosen to stay at Celeste’s apartment, missing this encounter with Hermione.

Even now, despite her outward composure, a cold sweat clung to her back.

Hermione nodded, her lips pressed together. “Mmm…”

She took the opportunity to observe her surroundings. The building was small and cramped, the decor modest. However, everything was spotlessly clean. The first floor housed the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. The second floor had two bedrooms, one for Adele and one for her roommate.

“Careful, don’t bump your head,” Adele warned softly.

They were at a sharp turn in the stairwell, and the ceiling jutted out at an awkward angle. Hermione, with her statuesque figure, had to duck slightly to avoid hitting her head.

Adele, on the other hand, had no such issues.

Hermione was touched. Adele had noticed such a small detail. It meant that she cared.

The thought filled Hermione with warmth.

They reached the second floor, standing in the hallway between their rooms. Hermione glanced at the closed door of Adele’s roommate’s bedroom. A thought crossed her mind: perhaps she could arrange a swap, move into this room, and be closer to Adele.

The living conditions were far from ideal, but the prospect of being near Adele made even the pampered Hermione willing to compromise.

She couldn’t help but wonder about the girl who had the privilege of being Adele’s roommate. What good karma had she accumulated in her past life to deserve such luck?

No, that wasn’t the problem. The real issue was… what if this roommate fell under Adele’s spell? What if she harbored inappropriate desires towards her?

If Hermione lived next door, she could…

Adele was about to open her bedroom door when she noticed Hermione’s lingering gaze on the adjacent room. That wasn’t just any roommate living there. It was Sharon.

Adele decided to intervene, just in case.

As if on cue, Hermione voiced her curiosity. “Adele, what’s your roommate like?”

Even if Hermione couldn’t bear to live in such cramped quarters permanently, she could at least ensure that no one else encroached on Adele’s space. Her pure, innocent Adele shouldn’t be tainted or coveted by others.

Unconsciously, Hermione’s thoughts took on a possessive edge, a hint of her domineering nature. It was a side she only revealed to those she held dear.

“My roommate…” Adele murmured, shaking her head. “Honestly, Hermione, I don’t really know her. She keeps to herself. We haven’t even spoken since the semester started. She seems to prefer solitude.”

“I respect her choices, so I don’t intrude. And she’s never bothered me either.”

Hermione raised an eyebrow, surprised. Such a person existed?

But if she had no interest in Adele, no desire to interact with her, and preferred to be alone…

Hermione reconsidered. Perhaps there was no need to banish this girl from the sanctuary where her heart resided.

Modern civilization had tempered even the most ancient beings, including Hermione. They had learned to respect individual differences. While their aristocratic upbringing sometimes reared its head, they were far more tolerant than their ancestors.

“Well, come on in, Hermione,” Adele said, pushing open her bedroom door and gesturing for Hermione to enter. “Welcome to my humble abode. I hope you don’t mind the lack of space.”

“Not at all,” Hermione replied, stepping inside. “Anywhere you are is filled with… your scent. And I love it.”

“My scent? You’re making me blush~” Adele teased, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink. She leaned into Hermione’s touch, her shyness feeling increasingly natural.

To Hermione, this was a sign that Adele had accepted her. In the past, Adele had always seemed distant, her heart out of reach. But now, it was as if a special room had been built within Adele’s heart, just for her, waiting for her arrival.

Welcome home, Adele seemed to be saying.

There were other rooms too, of course. One for Dorothy, one for Celeste, one for Sharon…

They said the human heart had seven apertures.

Adele, it seemed, had many more.

Such a fickle girl. There would be many more to come.

Filled with anticipation, Hermione stepped into Adele’s room. The door clicked shut behind them.

At that same moment, in the adjacent room, a pair of silver-grey eyes watched through the peephole.

The girl’s body slumped against the door, all strength draining away. She slid to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest, a heartbroken sob escaping her lips.

Hermione… It was Hermione…

She couldn’t win. Not against her. Never against her.

Adele had taken Hermione to her room. What were they doing in there?

Whatever it was, Adele wouldn’t be able to resist. And there was nothing she, Sharon, could do to stop it. Just like in the past, she could only watch helplessly as Adele was turned into a plaything in the hands of Dorothy and the others…

No, she couldn’t even bear to watch. All she could do was imagine the girl she loved being subjected to Hermione’s desires…

It was a tragedy.

And as with most fantasies, it was far more intense and cruel than reality. In Sharon’s mind, it was as if Adele had already been claimed by Hermione.

Meanwhile, inside Adele’s room, Hermione sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed, her usual regal composure gone. She felt like a nervous schoolgirl who had been invited to her crush’s room for the first time.

Her heart ached with a bittersweet longing. Could this be… love?

Hermione didn’t understand it, but she couldn’t deny the way it made her feel.

Adele’s room was small, minuscule compared to Hermione’s own bedroom. It was probably smaller than Hermione’s bathroom. But it was neat and organized. A desk piled high with books and papers, a testament to Adele’s diligence. A neatly made bed with a cute cat plushie resting on the pillow, a reminder that despite her circumstances, Adele was still a girl at heart. A vanity table with a few inexpensive cosmetics and a cracked mirror.

Hermione’s heart ached as she took in her surroundings. Her girl deserved better. A better life, a better environment.

But Adele didn’t seem to mind. She smiled, a shy, genuine smile that lit up her entire face.

“Come sit here, Hermione,” she said, patting the spot beside her on the bed. “I apologize, this place is a bit cramped. And I didn’t have time to prepare any snacks or anything.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Hermione reassured her, sitting down beside her. “Just seeing you is enough.”

Adele tilted her head, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Just seeing me? You’re not staying?”

“S-staying?!”

Hermione’s shock was evident. But beneath the surprise, a thrill of excitement shot through her.

It was as if a wave of happiness had crashed over her, leaving her dazed and breathless.

It took her a moment to compose herself. “Is that… alright?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“Of course!” Adele replied, her eyes shining.

At that moment, Hermione felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Coming here tonight was the best decision she had ever made.

And the surprises didn’t end there.

Before Hermione could fully process the fact that she was allowed to stay, Adele brushed her hair over her shoulder, revealing the delicate curve of her neck. Her skin was pale and smooth, almost translucent in the dim light, the blue veins beneath pulsing with life.

Adele’s breath hitched slightly, her pink eyes sparkling. She reached up and untied the ribbon holding her hair, her shoulders tensing slightly. The movement revealed a sliver of her elegant collarbone, a tantalizing glimpse of the beauty hidden beneath.

Hermione held her breath, her gaze glued to Adele’s every move.

Adele’s eyes met hers, a playful glint in their depths. She bit her lip, her teeth grazing her plump lower lip.

“Tonight…” she whispered, her voice a breathy murmur. “You can have me, Hermione.”