Third-Rate Villain Of Fantasy Novel-Chapter 46: Logic Meant Nothing To A Father

His gaze darkened as his fingers tightened around the edge of the desk, the polished wood creaking softly under the pressure.

"It’s not Arthur... then what about him?"

The thought slipped out before he could stop it. Joachim immediately shook his head, as if trying to physically cast away the ideas forming in his mind. He had seen it with his own eyes that night two years ago—he knew exactly what kind of person Elena’s fiancé was.

The image resurfaced against his will.

A little boy, no older than a child, rolling in the mud with his body battered and bleeding, yet still standing in front of others as if shielding them with his own fragile frame. The injuries had been far too many, far too severe for someone so young. Even now, that sight refused to fade from Joachim’s memory.

He remembered how furious he had been.

He had scolded the boy without holding back, calling him reckless, foolish, and irresponsible. He had told him bluntly that if he continued behaving that way, he would only bring needless tears to Elena’s face.

"It can’t be..."

The whisper left Joachim’s lips as he leaned back in his chair.

In all these years, he hadn’t heard Arthur express even the slightest concern about his son—let alone praise him. Arthur had always spoken of him plainly, sometimes dismissively, as if the boy were nothing more than an afterthought.

Joachim closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, erasing the jumble of thoughts threatening to spiral out of control. There was no point in overthinking. With practiced composure, he straightened himself and turned his attention to the crystal ball resting on the desk.

He wanted to contact her directly.

No—he wanted to, but he held himself back. He still remembered the Tower party, how his eagerness had shown too clearly. He didn’t want to repeat that mistake.

Just as he settled into silence, the crystal ball suddenly began to glow.

Joachim’s heart lifted instantly.

For a brief moment, he was certain it was Elena. His expression softened, a broad smile spreading across his face as he leaned forward eagerly. But the instant the image within the crystal became clear, that smile froze—then collapsed entirely.

His face twisted, draining of color, rotting rapidly like a corpse afflicted by black magic.

"What... is this funny sight?"

The figure reflected in the crystal tilted his head slightly.

[It’s ridiculous to openly laugh at people’s faces. That’s harsh.]

Joachim scoffed, his brows knitting together.

"Are you living without looking in the mirror?"

The caller was none other than Arthur Kraus—the owner of the castle where Elena currently resided, and Joachim’s long-time friend.

Though they contacted each other frequently, the image of Arthur that appeared in the crystal ball today made Joachim seriously question his sanity.

"When you’re all grown up, why are you wearing a crown on your head?"

Joachim squinted at the crystal ball, his voice flat but edged with suspicion.

[This? This was made by my youngest. I think he has good dexterity—takes after me.]

Arthur’s voice came through far too cheerfully. The image shimmered, then focused, and there it was: a slightly crooked crown woven from thin twigs and pale flowers, perched proudly on Arthur’s head.

Joachim’s brow twitched.

"It must be Alphonse, not you. Did you go on a picnic or something?"

Arthur opened his mouth, then paused. For a split second, something flickered in his eyes—amusement mixed with calculation. Joachim caught it instantly.

Joachim stopped talking.

He could vaguely sense it then: whatever that bastard in the crystal ball was about to show him, it definitely wasn’t just an innocent crown made by his youngest grandson.

"You can’t."

Arthur’s lips curved upward.

Sure enough, he flashed a mischievous smile—one Joachim remembered all too well from their younger days—and raised his wrist toward the crystal.

[And this bracelet was made by my daughter-in-law...]

The image zoomed in slightly. A delicate bracelet of woven flowers circled Arthur’s wrist, carefully arranged, elegant in a way that screamed feminine patience.

"You disgusting—!"

The curse left Joachim’s mouth before he could stop it. His hand slammed against the armrest of his chair, the stone groaning under the force.

The Edelweiss family territory, Merrohim—where the Tower of Dawn stood—was a land of biting winds and endless frost. Flowers did not grow easily there. Because of that, Joachim had once poured an unreasonable amount of effort into creating a small flower garden inside the castle.

All for his daughter.

He had used climate-control magic, rare soil brought in by traders, and favors owed by nobles who still feared his name. When the first flowers bloomed, Elena’s eyes had shone brighter than any jewel in the treasury.

Her grateful smile from that day was still etched into Joachim’s memory.

And when the flowers had grown enough, he had once picked the prettiest, most fragrant one and handed it to her with a proud grin—only to be smacked across the arm moments later.

’You can’t just pluck them!’ she had scolded him, tears in her eyes.

That had been the first time his daughter ever hit him.

Joachim knew very well what kind of land Arthur lived in now. The southern territories were warm, fertile—overflowing with life. In their youth, Joachim had visited often, wandering through Arthur’s absurdly large gardens and the endless flower fields surrounding his manor.

Flowers there were common. Abundant. Something you could pick without guilt.

Unlike Merrohim, where each bloom had been a small miracle.

So yes—logically, Joachim understood. A flower crown. A bracelet. Child’s play.

But logic meant nothing to a father.

His jealousy boiled hot and irrational in his chest.

[No, why are you so angry...?]

Arthur sounded genuinely confused. That only made it worse.

"Call."

Arthur blinked.

[What?]

"Call your son and Elena. Immediately." Joachim leaned forward, eyes sharp. "Before I teleport there."

The crystal ball pulsed faintly.

[You wouldn’t—]

"I would."

Arthur laughed nervously. [You’re overreacting. It’s just a bracelet. She made one for the children too.]

"That’s exactly the problem."

Joachim pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply.

"When did this happen?"

[Yesterday. The kids wanted to play in the garden, Elena joined them, and—well—] 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Joachim’s glare intensified.

"You let her weave flowers around your wrist."

[They insisted.]

"And you didn’t refuse."

[How could I? They’d already crowned me king of the garden.]

Silence stretched between them.

Then Joachim spoke, each word clipped.

"I raised her."

Arthur straightened unconsciously.

"I taught her the value of flowers in a frozen land where nothing grows easily. And now you’re parading around like some flower spirit wearing her handiwork."

[You sound hurt.]

"Shut up."

Another pause.

Arthur’s expression softened, just slightly.

[If it helps... she laughed the whole time.]

Joachim froze.

[She looks happy.]

The old man turned his face away from the crystal, jaw tight.

"...That’s not the point."

[It is, and you know it.]

Joachim didn’t respond immediately. After a moment, he muttered,

"...Still. Call them."

Arthur sighed. [Fine. But if you teleport here and scare the children again, that’s on you.]

"Try stopping me."

The crystal ball dimmed as Arthur reached out of frame.

Joachim leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, scowling at the fading image.

"...Flower bracelet," he muttered darkly. "Unforgivable."