Struggling as a Villain

"Why bother to contact me, now? In hope of boasting your victory?" Richard asked; his voice threateningly calm.

Emily has erected a barrier around Richard, triple layer no less, just in case they try to use some long-distance attack or might be watching him from somewhere.

[No...please, don\'t talk like that Richard...]

"Rose~Rose, don\'t you dare use that tone to show that you were unwilling in all this. Just accept it; you love to spill the blood of those who trust you."

There was no response from the other end when Richard said that; however, very faintly, a stifled sob could be heard.

Leaning back on the headboard, he asked, "You didn\'t even spare the person who considered you as his granddaughter."

[I didn\'t--!!!] Rose exclaimed, [I never wanted Headmaster to die! Believe me, I never wanted all those students to die!]

Hearing that tone, Emily frowned. Her red eyes shone dangerously in the darkness.

Richard softly held her hand to calm her down, as he told the girl,

"Shouting at me will change nothing, Rose. Even if you didn\'t want them to die, you did nothing to stop them either."

This time as well, no instant response arrived.

Richard scoffed, "Now, if you are done with this meaningless conversation, then I would like to excuse myself." Just as Richard was about to dismantle the spell using the Scarlette clan\'s treasured spell-breaking technique, a new voice came from the other side,

[Richard, I want to tell you something. Can you give me a minute? Please?]

This time it was Ruby, and Richard wasn\'t surprised to hear her.

Crossing his arms, he said, "Yeah, go on."

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Elizabeth was feeling out of place as she sat at the stairs of the academy and looked at the campus where the contest was supposed to happen.

However, now all she could see was the dead bodies and pools of blood all around. The burnt smell of humans and Ambrobate\'s flesh was making the air heavy.

Ethan was missing and she had no idea where to find him. She knows nothing...nothing at all.

Just as the day began, Elizabeth decided to stay with Ethan since she had a hunch that something massive was about to happen—the girl was knocked out cold even though there was no one in the room.

How? The energy flowing in her body was depleted to the level where her body went into hibernation so she didn\'t perish.

They didn\'t want her to be a part of this all, or Elizabeth surely would have interfered in one way or another. And most of all, she would have never allowed them to take away Ethan.

\'It was all planned, all along....\' Elizabeth got up from her seat with a smile on her face. However, that smile was not because of elation. Far from it.

She was agitated.

"Eli!" Suddenly the elven princess arrived by her side and asked, "Are you okay? Did they incapacitate you as well?"

"What do you think?" Elizabeth indifferently asked as she continued to move towards the entrance of the academy.

Nora clenched her fist in frustration. They are no longer trusting them in anything related to Light and Darkness. It was like Nora and Elizabeth were black sheep now.

As they crossed the gates of the Academy Nora couldn\'t help but ask, "Where are we going?"

Elizabeth responded without hesitation, "Somewhere we can remove these shackles called blessings."

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In the Scarlette mansion, everyone gathered to have dinner after they were done with their respective works.

Today\'s dinner was prepared by Violet and Amelia, the latter being invested to enhance her culinary skills.

Around the table, except for Lilia, the other ladies close to Richard sat down. The brunette respected the Duchess a little too much to share the same table.

Jasmine was also called back since there was another shadow of Richard on work to maintain the security of the mansion.

"Mom, is everything alright with the Emperor?" Richard asked as Lilia placed dishes on his plate.

The lady slowly nodded and informed him, "The attack of Ambrobates was easily subdued, and no other forces arrived, given the diversion they wanted to create by calling me there, failed."

"Is the Emperor aware of the conspiracy?" Amelia asked.

Bellarine seemed uncertain, "No one has told him explicitly about the whole ordeal and the main perpetrator behind the ambush, however, the Royal Majesty isn\'t an idiot to not connect the dots."

"Even if understands the whole thing being planned by the apostles, will the Empire go against the Church?" Emily asked, to no one in particular.

She was aware of the influence which the church has on the capital and the authority which the Pope possesses. As such, even if the Emperor gets informed about the plan behind this attack, it is highly unlikely he will go against the church.

"Eldoria is headed towards its demise," Bella suddenly voiced out, attracting everyone\'s attention before she added, "They have sheltered Darkness by not removing Mother from her position, and they have always been in an inseparable relation with the Church. And it is no genius to discern what happens when someone tries to travel in two bots, moving in different directions."

No one could argue with Bella since she was right. The Emperor was aware of Bellarine\'s connection with Demon Generals. However, he showed no initiative to even confront her about it.

"Don\'t worry, I won\'t let Eldoria fall into ruins." Suddenly, the voice of a certain Princess entered the conversation which didn\'t surprise most of them since they sensed her coming inside.

Jasmine glared at the red-eyed male who came along, "Didn\'t Master say to not let anyone inside?"

The older male shrugged, "Lord Richard allowed me to let them enter."

Richard nodded to that before he urged, "Join the table…Elizabeth, Nora."

Elizabeth, without hesitation, approached the table, followed by Nora.

The Princess sat near the end of the table before proposing, "If I can get rid of this curse called divine essence then I will readily side with the God of Death during the war. And not only that, every soldier and warrior under Eldoria\'s command will be standing on the side of Darkness, I promise you."

Bellarine frowned, "You know what you are promising here, right?"

Elizabeth calmly nodded, "I know, Your Grace. And despite how long it had been, my anger for my father hasn\'t subdued. So if he allows me to become the new leader, then that\'s fine, but if he resists, I will simply let my anger take over me."

The incident that sparked Elizabeth\'s grudge against her father occurred during the time Ethan was abducted and subjected to experiments. Elizabeth hadn\'t forgotten a single thing and was just waiting for the right moment to take any action.

"But what about the blessing we talked about? Not to talk about if someone from the Dark side—presumably you Elizabeth—attacks the Emperor, there is a high chance for the deities to support him."

Amelia added, and that was something Elizabeth could not refute. There was the blessing of the founder of Eldoria with her father. And until he doesn\'t pass on that blessing to someone, it is impossible to kill him.

"Then convince him?" Lilia asked to which Elizabeth narrowed her eyes.

"I don\'t think Elizabeth has the patience to convince anyone unless they are Ethan," Nora added, and that was something Richard could agree to.

Silence ensued in the dining hall, as no one knew what to do.

Suddenly Bella turned her eyes toward the person sitting at the head of the table and asked, "What do you think, brother?"

Richard leaned forward before asking the Princess, "What happens to Eldoria isn\'t my concern now since increasing forces never remained my priority." Richard\'s tone suggested conviction, as he leaned forward and joined his fingers with his index fingers pointed towards Elizabeth,

"I want to know whether you are fine switching sides. The child of a deity you are."

Elizabeth, very calmly, asked, "Look into my eyes, Richard, and tell me; do you see any hesitation?"

Richard could not. Although Nora seemed a little uncertain, the Princess was dead sure about her intention in this war.

"I don\'t give a single fuck about this war. If I can get Ethan back, then I will just watch everything from the sidelines. And if you help me get Ethan back, then I will devote my loyalty to you."

Richard raised his brows; never did he think that this crazy girl would say something like this to him.

That shows her desperation to be with Ethan and to what lengths she could go to keep him safe.

Heaving a sigh, he said, "Take your time, you both, and by tomorrow morning, tell me what you have decided."

Elizabeth wanted to say that she had already made up her mind but then suddenly Nora got up and pulled Elizabeth with her, "Thank you for the consideration."

The elven princess was surely not prepared.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.