The Villainess Winning Back Her Beast Husbands-Chapter 43: For Me, It’s Worth It

Evangeline gripped the silver needle and plunged it toward her heart.

The moment the silver needle pierced her skin, she shuddered. The color drained from her face, leaving it as white as paper, and large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead. A moment later, her trembling fingers pulled it free.

The once-gleaming tip of the needle was now completely coated in thick, dark blood.

Forcing herself to endure the pain, she held the blood-soaked silver needle over the cream. The coppery-sweet blood ran down the tip, dripping into the mixture like a string of tiny beads.

In an instant, the nauseating stench in the room dissipated, replaced by a soul-refreshing fragrance. The aroma spread, with delicate wisps drifting into the nose, instantly revitalizing one’s senses.

What makes a medicine forbidden? Those with dubious origins, those imbued with a sinister aura—these are considered forbidden.

The Jade Skin Shaping Cream. A beautiful name, but sadly, it carried a sinister aura. It was a miraculous beauty remedy, but its power was nourished entirely by heart’s blood. The more abundant the Spiritual Energy within the blood, the more potent its effects.

It wasn’t as if she *had* to use her own heart’s blood; she could have just grabbed any Beastman and taken theirs. But this was Rhys Finch’s territory. If she made a move so carelessly, she feared it would provoke a backlash.

Besides, with Rhys Finch watching with his own eyes, wasn’t this the perfect opportunity for another ’ruse of self-injury’?

’An excellent employee seizes every opportunity to complete their mission, anytime, anywhere.’

Her lips pale, Evangeline picked up the cream and walked toward Rhys Finch, whose expression was unreadable. "I’ll apply this for you."

Rhys Finch gave Evangeline a long, hard look, as if trying to discern her true intentions. "He’s just one Beast Husband," he said coolly. "If you lose this one, there’s always another. Is it worth all this trouble?"

Evangeline met his gaze, her lips slightly parted. "To me, it is."

’Winning over these Beast Husbands is like opening a set of nesting dolls. You get one, and there’s another waiting. From Danton to Thorne, and now to the mysteriously reappeared Caden Albright... I can win Caden over while I search for the Beast Crystal. Why wouldn’t it be worth it?’

’Her entire journey had been about seizing opportunities as they arose. As long as it benefited the mission, it was worth it.’

"Come here." Evangeline beckoned to Rhys Finch. He paused, his gaze sweeping over her chest before finally settling on the cream in her hand. Then, he actually moved a little closer.

Rhys Finch stared at Evangeline without blinking, his gaze so intense it felt tangible, filled with wariness.

His entire body was tense, poised to strike like a lurking Wild Beast. If Evangeline made the slightest move that unsettled him, he would explode into action and tear out her throat without a moment’s hesitation.

As if oblivious to his guard, Evangeline gently touched his face with her soft hand. Rhys Finch went rigid. It seemed a long time since he had been close to anyone; every muscle in his body screamed with discomfort, taut as a bowstring.

And his face, the vessel of his pain, was a forbidden territory he allowed no one to touch.

"I’m going to apply the cream now. It will sting a little, and then you’ll feel a burning sensation. Don’t scratch it." Evangeline glanced down at Rhys Finch and, without waiting for an answer, scooped out some of the cream and began to gently apply it to his face.

She focused intently on every scar on his face, not missing a single hairline fissure. Her movements were slow and deliberate, as if she were tending to a priceless treasure.

’A priceless treasure?’

Rhys Finch found the fleeting thought laughable.

After applying the cream, Evangeline wiped her hands and took out a roll of gauze. "The cream has to be changed every day. I’ll wrap your face so you don’t give in to the urge to scratch. If you do, you might be left with scars that can’t be healed."

"Changed every day?" Rhys Finch paused, his gaze falling to her chest once more.

Evangeline noticed his gaze, of course. She nodded. "Yes. Every day."

Rhys Finch said no more. Evangeline took the gauze and gently, carefully, began to wrap it around his face.

Soon, Rhys Finch’s head was swathed in layers of white gauze. With his horrifying face hidden, he looked much better. Since his eyelids were gone, his eyes were also covered by the bandages.

Evangeline nodded, satisfied. A faint smile touched her pale face as she advised, "You can eat when the bandages are changed each day. The rest of the time, you’ll just have to bear it."

Hearing this, Rhys Finch stiffened for a moment, then a soft chuckle rumbled up from deep in his throat.

The low chuckle lingered in the air—intimate, yet laced with threads of mockery. "The little maiden... Don’t you know that males don’t need to eat every day? You’re not even aware of that basic fact? And you’re the one who supposedly threw herself off Thorncliff for a Beast Husband and a Beast Crystal?"

With that, he tilted his head slightly. Though his eyes were covered by the gauze, his gaze seemed to bore straight through the fabric, scrutinizing Evangeline.

Weak from the loss of her heart’s blood, Evangeline felt too weary to bother explaining. "Who knows," she said. "Maybe I just had a moment of madness?"

Her words made him pause, and then he suddenly let out a delighted laugh.

He said, "The little maiden, what’s your name?"

Evangeline answered without hesitation. "Flora!"

Rhys Finch struck a lazy pose, leaning casually against the headboard with his long fingers resting at his side.

He seemed to pause at the name, then nodded slowly. His lips parted slightly, his words carrying a faint note of distaste. "What a tacky name."

Evangeline glanced at him. "I see the cream isn’t painful enough."

Rhys Finch heard the unspoken accusation—that he clearly had enough energy left to mock her name. At this, he chuckled again, amused. "Flora, you certainly are interesting."

Evangeline sat on the edge of the bed, her voice laced with exhaustion. "Scoot over. I need to sleep for a while."

Rhys Finch fell silent. Before he could respond, he sensed a body slump down beside him. She curled up gently, keeping her distance. Soon, the sound of her even, unguarded breathing filled the silence.

"Asleep already?" Rhys Finch murmured softly.

His long fingers moved with unerring accuracy to rest on her face. His fingertips were as cold as a blade.

"Flora..."

*

Evangeline slept so soundly it felt like she’d been plunged into darkness. When she finally awoke, the sky was bright.

She sat up and looked around, but Rhys Finch was nowhere to be seen. She got up and headed outside.

She ran into quite a few Beastmen along the way, all of them male. Seeing her emerge from Rhys Finch’s dwelling, each one flashed her a knowing, suggestive smile, but their intentions were friendly.

That was just how things were on the Beastman Continent. Procreation was instinct, so it was perfectly normal for a male and a female to spend the night together.

Suddenly, someone called out, "Female, are you looking for the leader? He went to the Sun-drenched Slope!"

Evangeline paused, confused. "The Sun-drenched Slope? What’s that?"

"Go out of the settlement and turn left! The Sun-drenched Slope is the place closest to the sun. Our leader goes there every day. There’s an old legend here at Thorncliff—it says the sun’s radiance shines upon all creation, washing away all filth and sin. Maybe, hidden in that light, is a way to leave this place."

As he finished speaking, all the Beastmen in the settlement wore looks of despair.

Evangeline paused. She had assumed Thorncliff was a place of exile, banished by the Beast God, and that the Fallen Beastmen stranded here would be violent and hard to deal with. She never expected them to be so similar to ordinary Beastmen.

’Rhys Finch goes to the Sun-drenched Slope every day?’

’He must want to leave Thorncliff to get his revenge on "Evangeline," right?’