Chapter 248: If I’m Your Villain...

Without a shred of hesitation, Nat reached out, wrapped his muscular arm around April’s waist, and pulled her flush against his chest.

His free hand reached up, his fingers gently catching her chin and tilting her face up so she was forced to look directly into his burning, devoted yet manic eyes.

"Hey—!" Alexander barked, his face instantly twisting in outrage as his hand shot forward.

Xavier’s eyes narrowed sharply, his quiet authority instantly flaring as his mouth opened to intervene. Even Samuel’s professional composure cracked for a fraction of a second, his eyes widening behind his glasses at the warlord’s sudden, shameless display right in front of them.

Nat ignored them all completely, his thumb gently stroking April’s jawline as a dangerous, intoxicating smirk spread across his sharp face.

"Do you even have to ask?" Nat drawled, his deep voice vibrating right through her chest. "You want me to be your villain? That, I can do. But you better remember one thing, sweetheart... a villain doesn’t play by anyone’s rules. If I’m your villain, it means I get to steal you away whenever I want, no matter the circumstances, and no matter who tries to stand in my way. Even if it means I have to hack down everyone else."

April’s heart gave a sudden, heavy thud against her ribs. Standing in his tight grip, surrounded by his raw, unyielding heat, her mind raced. Yes... a true villain.

She wasn’t entirely adept at handling these intense, overwhelming emotions, nor did she fully grasp the cosmic script the system was writing. But looking up into Nat’s fierce, unshakeable gaze, she knew there was no other title in existence that fit him more perfectly.

PING!

A brilliant, translucent window erupted before her vision, illuminating the dim space between their faces.

[Class Successfully Appointed: Villain]

[NAMED PIECES UPDATED]

— Piece 1: Xavier Reed [Class: Saint]

— Piece 2: Alexander Greels [Class: Knight]

— Piece 3: Nat Collins [Class: Villain]

— Piece 4: Samuel Rollins [100% Loyalty — Class Pending]

Nat’s eyes flickered with a sudden, mysterious flash of awareness as the system confirmed the bond. His smirk widened, his grip on her waist lingering for one lingering, possessive second before he finally let her go, stepping back with an arrogant, triumphant grin.

April stepped back to catch her breath while Alexander glared daggers at Nat’s back, and Xavier slowly exhaled, adjusting his suit jacket with a cool, sharp look in his eyes.

Her gaze subtly drifted past the three men, landing quietly on Samuel, who had already resumed his perfect, vigilant posture beside Xavier.

Xavier is my Saint, Alexander is my Knight, and Nat is my Villain, April thought, her mind turning over the remaining unassigned candidate. So what about Samuel? What kind of class fits a man like him?

She didn’t have the answer yet. But as she looked at her loyal chief assistant, she decided she would figure it out soon enough.

After the chaotic commotion in the courtyard finally died down, evening settled over the estate, eventually giving way to a quiet, starry night.

Inside the softly lit living room, April sat alone on the velvet sofa, wrapped in a comfortable silence. She had been playing Winecraft on her phone for a while but paused to think about the pressing issues at hand.

Then, soft footsteps approached across the floor, halting just beside the low glass table.

Samuel stood there holding a steaming mug of warm cocoa, extending it toward her with his usual precise, impeccable posture.

April blinked, looking up at him in mild surprise. "Samuel? You’re still here?"

"Yes, Miss April," Samuel replied smoothly, his tone even and respectful as he handed the mug over. "I will be leaving for my quarters soon, but before then, I wanted to brief you on the progress of the dome at your fortress."

April took a sip of the warm cocoa, her interest piqued. "The construction?"

"Yes," Samuel nodded, adjusting his glasses. "With the expanded workforce you authorized and the additional funds allocated, the dome’s primary structural framework has reached its first completion phase. Once that concludes, the second phase—the holographic concealment and defensive shield installation—will begin immediately."

He paused, offering a reassuring nod. "All in all, I am confident the construction, integration, and initial maintenance protocols will be fully completed by the end of next week. That will give you ample time to move in and get settled long before the apocalypse officially begins."

"Yes, thank you, Samuel. That’s exceptionally helpful," April murmured, a genuine note of appreciation in her voice. "I haven’t been able to check up on the site personally with everything happening lately."

"That is for me to worry about, Miss April," Samuel answered steadily, a subtle, proud glint in his dark eyes. "I am your chief assistant, after all."

April watched him quietly over the rim of her mug. What kind of class fits a man like this?

He wasn’t a reckless warrior like Nat, nor a proud noblehead like Alexander, nor a brooding protector like Xavier. Samuel was the steady, unyielding pillar holding everything together behind the scenes—a caretaker of logistics, a manager of chaos, an absolute perfectionist.

Curiosity getting the better of her, April tilted her head slightly. "Samuel... do you really like working this much? Working tirelessly for me and managing everything behind the scenes?"

Samuel didn’t hesitate for even a fraction of a second. A warm, profound sense of fulfillment settled across his features as he bowed his head respectfully.

"Yes, Miss April," Samuel answered, his voice ringing with absolute, unwavering sincerity. "It brings me the utmost joy and satisfaction to ensure your every endeavor succeeds."

"When the world ends, I don’t think you’ll need to work that much anymore," April added, setting her mug down on the glass table. "You can retire early, sit back, and relax with all the rations you’ve amassed, and..."

Samuel froze. Before she could even finish her sentence, the impeccably composed, unflappable head assistant sank gracefully down onto one knee directly beside the sofa, bowing his head so deeply his dark hair shadowed his glasses.

"I do not wish to retire, Miss April," Samuel pleaded, his voice thick with a raw, desperate emotion she had never heard from him before. "Please... will you let me serve you? Even if I am reduced to a common gardener, or a basic operations officer tasked only with keeping the dome’s power grid running twenty-four-seven in your fortress... I will gladly do it. Just please... do not place me at a distance where I cannot reach you. You are my master."