I Was the Hero, But She Turned Me Into the Villain-Chapter 30 - 29 : Family Dinner – part 1

The sun began to set on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, while my body gradually adjusted to maintaining the flow of mana.

Each beat of my chest resonated like a distant drum in my dantian, sending waves of energy that spread through my meridians.

Unlike my first attempts, I could now guide that energy more easily.

My hands glowed with a faint light when I wrapped my fingers in mana, and a pleasant warmth ran through my arms to my shoulders.

If I closed my eyes, I could feel every strand of energy responding to my will.

"It’s not so different from the previous world..." I thought, flexing my hands and letting the mana flow through them.

The principle was the same: feel, guide, and let the rest follow your imagination.

With a little more focus, I directed the energy toward my legs.

A tingling sensation ran along my thighs and calves before transforming into a firm, steady warmth.

The pressure of mana was harder to sustain while moving, but my muscles responded with precision, giving slight tremors as if the weight of my own body had vanished.

I gave a test jump.

My feet struck the ground and pushed me up with force, lifting me over two meters into the air.

The cool wind cut across my face as I descended with a solid thud, kicking up dust in the training field.

—Not as much as I expected... —I muttered to myself, with a mix of disappointment and fatigue.

My breathing gradually calmed down as I watched the sky turn a deep red, its lights illuminating the countryside and creating a wonderful view.

For a moment, I stood there, motionless, appreciating the distant beauty that nature brought with it.

...

After a few seconds, I came back to my senses. There was no point in continuing to train.

I dusted off my gloves and started walking back to the mansion.

The cobblestone path crunched under my feet, damp from the evening dew. Among the trees in the garden, small fireflies began to glow, lighting up one by one, as if they were alone and the world was theirs.

As I walked, my mind drifted to other matters.

Apparently, the date of my departure for the Imperial Academy had already been set.

The marquis had even proposed a formal dinner with all members of the Riesenhart family.

I didn’t know what his intentions were, but I doubted it was just a farewell party.

"Haah..." I exhaled softly.

The very thought of sitting at that table, surrounded by inquisitive stares and heavy silences, slowly crushed my mood.

Each step I took seemed to echo that same feeling.

By the time my wandering thoughts faded, I was already crossing the garden, illuminated by the last embers of sunset.

I climbed the main staircase in silence, listening to the echo of my footsteps in the empty hallway, as if the entire mansion were holding its breath.

I opened the door to my room and let out a long sigh, dropping my body onto the soft, freshly laundered sheets.

Their fresh scent wrapped around me gently, as if the room itself had missed my return.

For a moment, I only listened to my breathing syncing with the distant creak of servants’ footsteps.

The fatigue I had been holding back all day seeped into my body, dragging my eyelids into darkness.

The light of day vanished, and as my eyes slowly closed, I felt the world drift away, leaving me floating in a deep, restful sleep.

***

Knock, knock.

—Young master, are you ready?—Alice’s soft voice echoed from the other side of the door.

I slowly sat up, letting out a long breath as I stretched my shoulders and neck. The heaviness of training still clung to my muscles.

—Almost... —I answered, my voice still carrying a hint of exhaustion.

With sluggish movements, I began to put on the black jacket of the formal suit. The fabric felt stiff and cold at first, and while I struggled to fix the bow tie in front of the mirror, my clumsy fingers only managed to tangle the knot even more.

Almost immediately, the sound of the doorknob turning filled the room.

—Excuse me... —Alice murmured as she entered, her footsteps dragging slightly across the floor.

She wore her immaculate maid uniform: dark skirt, white apron, and a small blue ribbon at her neck.

In her hands, she carried a small case with the gloves and brooch that completed the formal attire.

Her clear eyes scanned me from head to toe, a mixture of focus and faint concern in her gaze.

—The marquis instructed that everyone be ready for dinner... —she said quietly as she approached—. I can’t allow the young master to appear careless in front of the entire family.

I nodded without saying much, letting her take over.

Alice stood in front of me and began adjusting my jacket, smoothing the fabric with gentle tugs. Then, with slightly trembling fingers, she reached up to my collar, carefully fixing the black bow tie.

I felt her closeness, her held breath as she worked to make the knot perfect.

Her hands were warm, but the subtle tremor betrayed her nervousness.

—Sorry... —she whispered softly—. I’m just a little...

She didn’t finish the sentence, only tightened the bow until it was perfectly symmetrical.

—It’s fine —I replied quietly, without pressing further.

Alice stepped back slightly, examining me from head to toe with the precision of someone who allowed no mistakes.

Then she bent slightly, took my gloves, and leaned closer to help me put them on.

The faint scent of soap and flowers that always followed her lingered in the air, making the atmosphere oddly warm and pleasant.

—All set... —she finally said, showing a small, shy smile of satisfaction.

I glanced at myself in the mirror for a moment.

Reflected there was a young man perfectly dressed, his face calm, almost cold, and his eyes as vivid as seas of blood.

—Thank you—I murmured, adjusting my gloves.

Alice lowered her head slightly, a strange glimmer in her eyes, before stepping back to open the door.