Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son-Chapter 247 [Summit Of Unity] [Prelude] [Plans]

The luxurious car slowly moved.

The starry night sky illuminated the road; the moon wasn't visible today.

I quietly looked out of the window, observing the extravagant decorations along the road.

My body felt tense, but I tried my best to relax.

It took all my willpower to remain calm.

"Sit straight." A voice echoed within the closed car.

I turned to look to my side, where a woman sat with platinum hair cascading down her shoulders and lifeless grey eyes glancing at me.

"....."

I quietly straightened my back without arguing or saying anything.

Even though I felt anger building up in me, I tried not to let it take hold of me.

Not now.

Now isn't the right time.

"Azariah." I turned my head toward the seat opposite me.

Adaliah, wearing a black gown with her blackish-brown hair tied properly, stared at me with obsidian eyes, lips parted. "...I heard you plan on dropping out of the academy."

'...How the fuck does she know that?'

I tried hard not to frown at her words.

I haven't told anyone about dropping out of the academy—not even Christina.

...Arianell.

But that was when we were in a forest with no one around.

"I do," I replied, suppressing my bubbling emotions.

"Why?"

"It's none of your business—."

"There's no point in hiding it." I drew in a deep breath as I heard my mother's voice.

And even though I wanted to deny it.

She is right.

There's no point in hiding it.

"I plan to visit Lemuria, the land protected by old gods," I replied, looking out the window again, "...and if possible, some other places on the Kandam Continent."

"...Do you have my permission?" I glanced back at my mother.

"I will use my last wish if I don't." Clenching my fist, I whispered.

"Why do you wish to visit an entirely different continent?" She asked, her voice cold as ever. "...Perhaps to find a cure for your broken life source?"

"..."

I hate her.

I hate how she can guess everything accurately.

I hate her.

I hate how she can guess everything accurately.

I hate her with every fiber of my being.

"Do you regret saving those two?" She asked, making me turn to look at her.

"I regret nothing," I groaned, my frustration bubbling. "...And in the first place, was it really my decision to save them?"

"If you didn't desire to save them," her words prickled my skin, her eyes staring at me, "...nothing would have forced you to do so."

"Right."

I chuckled at her absurd words as I turned towards Adaliah.

Some sick and twisted thoughts started to creep into my mind as I thought about someone.

"...How is Sypha?" I asked, staring at her.

Her lips parted. "...Still recovering."

I gently nodded my head in response. "Make sure she's alive; I don't want her to die peacefully."

"..."

A chilling silence lingered within the car, but I ignored it.

...That woman.

I would never forgive her for what she did.

The car came to a halt, and I opened the door as I walked out.

Immediately, Pargoina royal castle came into view.

It was beautifully decorated with lights that gently glowed, filling the entire place.

A red carpet draped the stairs leading inside.

The opposite door of the car opened as I walked around it.

'Fuck, it's tight.'

I groaned in my mind as I adjusted my tie to get some air.

I waited as my mother came out of the car along with Adaliah.

Her dark cyan dress covered her entire body, without showing a single inch of skin.

She stood in front of me, and unlike before, she couldn't look down at me because now I am the same height as her.

"Hm?"

I flinched as she reached her hand out.

"....."

Grabbing my tie, she fixed it before her hand trailed along my arm, grabbing it.

"Let's go," she said, walking towards the castle. novelbuddy.cσ๓

I tried to ignore the urge to remove her hand from my arm as we walked inside.

The laughter and discussions of people were clearly audible from outside.

And the moment we entered the main hall, everyone turned silent as they all looked at us.

People moved aside as if running away in fear as we walked.

But...

...those fearful eyes.

They were all directed at me, not my mother.

"Is he?"

"Yeah..."

"Will the church do nothing to him? Aren't they going to protect the Avatar?"

"...Kill him while he's weak."

I kept a stoic face even though I could hear everything.

...The rumors about me being the [Exiled Prince] have become so famous that almost half of the population believes it.

'What a load of bullshit.'

I grimaced as my mother freed my hand before looking at me.

"Are you going to the academy after this?" she asked, her voice low.

I nodded my head once. "Tomorrow is the ceremony for first-year students."

She looked at me one last time before turning and walking away.

"..."

I quietly stared at her departing figure along with Adaliah before I turned around.

Everyone tried to ignore my presence, making sure they didn't come in my path.

Grabbing a glass of wine, I quickly found a corner to stand in.

'Let's just wait until Aimar or Christina arrive.'

I thought to myself as I slowly drank the wine.

[Az.]

'Yeah?'

[What is this all about?]

'The summit?'

[Yeah.]

'It's just...the church of three gods; they are uniting and preparing the human domain.'

[For what?]

I remained silent for a while before I softly replied,

'...For the upcoming war.'

[...]

In the memories of the second game that I have, things weren't good for first-game characters.

...Those who were around me were brutally killed in most of the routes.

And what's worse, I was the one who killed them.

"..."

My gaze quietly rested on the glass of wine as all of a sudden, I felt my chest clench tightly.

'...I miss Senara.'

For almost a year, I have been dreaming about her.

She has been in my mind for so long that it's hard to ignore it.

I miss her endless talk, random teasing, her care for me.

I miss everything.

'....Why did I kill her?'

I don't know, and I will never understand.

...What made me kill someone who loved me dearly?

'...If possible, I want to see her again.'

My gaze lifted as I felt someone walking toward me.

"Still alive?" Aimar asked with a small smile on his face.

"Barely," I replied, shrugging as I looked at him. "You look good."

"You're one to talk." He grumbled, his mood immediately turning sour.

I grinned as I leaned against the wall. "...So, where is Uncle?"

"...I came alone," he replied, his voice low. "...I haven't talked with him for quite some time."

"...Why are you doing this?" I solemnly asked, glancing at him. "...He also lost his son—"

"I can't, Az," he cut in, a glumly look on his face. "...I just can't."

"....Whatever happened to Oliver wasn't your father's fault," I said softly, looking down. "...Don't punish someone who doesn't deserve it."

"...."

He silently looked down without replying.

We remained like this for a while, and I completely ignored the comments passed around about me.

'...It's kind of annoying how they all accuse me when I haven't done anything.'

...Fuck my life.

"I am dropping out of the academy." I abruptly turned my head toward Aimar as I heard his words.

"Wait, why?" I asked, my brows knitting together.

"I am going to Akasha."

My heartbeat dropped at his words.

"No, fuck no." I groaned, placing the glass away as I turned toward him. "Why the fuck do you want to go there!?"

"If I want to become stronger, I have to learn from someone better."

"You retarded ass," I cursed, glaring at him. "You can train here as well."

"...I can't." He shook his head. "...I feel like if I remain here, it will be impossible to bring back Oliver."

I drew in a deep breath as I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Listen here, I will bring Oliver back. You don't have to—"

"He is my brother as well, fucker." He replied, slapping my hand away. "I am not leaving an idiot like you in charge to bring him back."

I drew in deep breaths to calm down.

No.

No matter what happens, I am not letting him go to Akasha.

"Listen here—"

"In the first place," he cut in, his voice doubtful. "...Why are you so worked up?"

Because if you go there, your fucking grandfather will kill you!

I swallowed that answer.

I shouldn't tell him, not now.

"...I am just trying to—"

"Are you hiding something from me?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"...."

I stepped back as I once again turned to lean against the wall.

"...Az—"

"Why don't you come with me?" I asked, glancing at him. "I am going to drop out as well and live in Lemuria for a while."

He gently shook his head. "...I think I will stick with my plan."

"...."

I turned my head to look at the entrance to hide my distressed face.

...I can't send him alone.

He will be dead before he can even properly grow.

But if I go with him, I will most surely die because of my life source problem.

...I can't think of anything that can help me with my problem in Akasha.

'No wait, maybe someone can—'

I immediately scraped that thought.

I would rather not go with that route.

"I will look after Christina for you." I turned to look at him as he said, patting my shoulder. "...I want to try greeting my old man."

Saying so, he turned and left.

A sudden commotion brought my attention to the main entrance.

A group of nobles flocked around a boy.

'....Ethan.'