Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son - C.165 Back Home [2]

"It's about Ethan," Christina said, her expression serious as she looked at me.

"What about him?" I asked calmly, walking toward a bench.

I needed a place to rest—my back still hurt like hell whenever I moved.

I sat down, and Christina followed, sitting right beside me.

"The church members came to meet him," she whispered softly, and my expression hardened at her words.

"Specifically, Lady Irisveil came just after he returned from Ekari Kingdom."

"...Why?" I asked, feigning calmness, though inside I was anything but calm.

"I don't know," she replied, shaking her head, her eyes dropping to her hands. "Even my father doesn't know."

"...I see," I whispered, leaning back against the bench, glancing at the evening sky.

"The church has asked the royals to keep him safe at any cost," Christina mumbled, leaning her body on me, her head snugly placed on my shoulder.

"What happened to Olesia?" I asked as I remembered that girl.

"She returned to Akasha yesterday," Christina replied. "Willis was with her until the end."

"Is that so," I whispered softly, closing my eyes.

I still can't understand what was wrong with Willis when he met her. But that can wait.

For now, I can't help but wonder:

'..Did Ethan accept it already?'

I can't think of any other reason for Irisveil to come and meet Ethan.

In the first place, the church shouldn't have interfered with Ethan's life because he wasn't worth their time.

...The only time they started protecting Ethan in the game was when they confirmed his identity.

...As the Avatar of the [Primordial God].

...If that's the case, then he accepted being an Avatar two months before the game timeline.

...Why?

He should have been more suspicious about the end goal of the gods.

Why did he do something so stupid? He was supposed to accept it when his life was in danger, not just randomly.

'..What should I do now?'

No, more importantly, what will my mother do now?

She won't kill him, that's for sure, but I don't know how she'll torture him now.

'..But for the next two months, everything should go smoothly.'

And then, there will be chaos.

...The event where someone close to Ethan will surely die.

...The mid-term exams are coming soon.

"Ashlyn used to visit you when you were unconscious," Christina commented, taking deep breaths.

"...Did you talk to her?" I asked, my eyes still closed.

"Yeah, she's such a sweet girl," she commented. "She's quite polite, as if she can't get angry no matter what happens."

"I see," I mumbled, feeling her breath on my neck.

...Ashlyn.

She reminds me of her mother.

And I hate that woman with all my heart.

Ashlyn is like that because of her.

She herself doesn't remember that.

...What actually happened to her mother.

...And I hope she doesn't remember that anytime soon.

Because if she does... she will immediately know that I am Noah.

...The one she's been looking for all this time.

"Can you stop doing that?" I grumbled, opening my eyes as I glanced at Christina.

"What?" she asked, feigning innocence, glancing up from my shoulder.

"Sniffing me," I replied, pushing her head away. "It's creepy."

"Creepy?" she repeated, her mouth slightly open.

"Yeah, creepy. And why do you even sniff me?" I snarled, shifting my body away from her.

"That reminds me, Az," she whispered, smiling softly. "Didn't you throw me inside that portal even when I asked you not to?"

"I did?" I asked, tilting my head.

"You did," she replied, smiling brightly.

"I'll be back in a second," I whispered, standing up.

"Where are you running!?" she yelled, grabbing my hand.

"I'm not," I replied, looking back and trying to loosen her grip. "Nature's call."

"I'm coming with you," she exclaimed, standing up.

"The hell are you going to do there?" I asked as she refused to let go of my hand.

"Keep an eye on you," she replied, glaring at me.

"Have some shame, woman!"

"You're talking like I haven't seen it already," she snapped, making me fall silent.

"Wait, what?" I asked, turning around, confusion filling my mind as I felt the evening light on my back.

"We used to bathe together, idiot," she replied softly, still glaring at me.

"But I always had a towel covering..."

My words trailed off as I quietly looked at her.

Now that I think about it, didn't that damn silver cat always snatch my towel away?

Even in front of everyone.

'I swear, I will strangle her someday.'

Pushing those thoughts away, I looked back at Christina.

...Or should I say Christina with red ears.

"...Are you seriously blushing right now?" I asked, tilting my head.

She pressed her lips together, glaring at me, her eyes trembling as they tried to move down.

...What is wrong with her?

"Ahem."

We both abruptly looked to our side as we heard someone cough.

"Oliver?" I mumbled, looking at him.

"Still alive?" he asked back, grinning at me.

"Are we interrupting something?" Aimar, standing beside him, asked, looking at both of us.

"No, you're not," Christina replied before me as she walked away. "I'll go check on Avril."

She pushed the bothers aside as we quietly watched her walk away.

Turning back to me, Oliver asked, "Did you guys fight?"

"Not really," I replied, shrugging as I sat back down on the bench. "What are you guys doing here?"

...Why does my back hurt so much?

Oliver quickly sat beside me, taking my hand and starting to massage it. "My kind brother, I need your help," he whispered.

"What happened?" I asked, jerking my hand away from him.

"Aaliyah," he grumbled, gently massaging my thighs. "She's not talking to me at all."

"Why?" I asked, tilting my head.

"I kind of threw her to a safe place, not letting her fight with me," he replied, showing his tongue slightly.

"Don't try to act cute, bitch," I grimaced, glaring at him. "And what am I supposed to do?"

"Tell me, how do I convince her?" he replied, looking at me with pleading eyes.

"Up to you," I shrugged. "Just take her on a date or something."

"I told him that as well," Aimar chimed in, glancing at Oliver. "And you broke our promise, fucker."

"Not my fault you can't find any girl to date," Oliver replied, shrugging. "I can't always wait for you."

"What promise?" I asked, feeling left out.

"If we start dating, we'll do it together," Aimar replied, standing up.

"So you planned to drag him with you?" I chuckled, standing up as well.

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"I know, right," Oliver replied, standing up too. "Everything was going according to his plan."

"Can you stop saying that—wait, Az, are you not wearing anything underneath?" Aimar asked, his voice shrill.

"I'm not?" I mumbled, looking down at my patient robe.

Only then did I notice the gentle breeze inside.

"Wait!"

I tried to move, but Aimar quickly stopped me.

"What?" I asked, annoyed.

"Don't let the light hit your back," he grumbled, glaring at me.

"It'll become translucent, and I don't want another round of PTSD."

"Wait, I was massaging your leg, right?" Oliver suddenly asked, looking at me.

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"Nothing, I just felt like your leg was quite... soft?"

"....."

"....."

An uncomfortable silence lingered between us as we looked at each other awkwardly.

"...You're kidding, right?" I finally asked, looking at him.

"Yeah," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Or am I?"

"...Fuck off, bitch," I grumbled, glaring at him.

"When are you going to be discharged?" Aimar asked, changing the topic.

"Don't know," I replied. "Maybe in a day or two."

"...I see," he replied, nodding his head.

I walked towards my room, and they followed suit.

"By the way, that commoner got quite close to Ruby," Aimar commented, pricking my interest.

"Ethan?" I asked.

"Yeah," Oliver nodded. "I also noticed that."

"I don't like that Ruby girl," Aimar commented. "I even saw her with a middle-aged man during the trip."

"Come on, don't slander her like that," Oliver grumbled, glancing at him.

"I'm just saying," Aimar replied. "I just don't like her."

"Did your father—?"

"Az," Oliver cut in, interrupting my words.

"What?" I asked, turning to look at him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered softly, not looking at me.

"About what?" I asked, tilting my head.

"When you were falling down... I could have saved you..." he whispered, looking down, guilt clear in his voice.

"But I don't know what happened... My own portal refused to listen, and it just—"

"Don't worry about it," I cut in, patting his shoulder. "At least we know that eye of yours prioritizes your safety over the one you want to save."

He nodded his head slightly, "...There is something we should talk about later on."

"Okay, enough emotional stuff," Aimar interrupted, coming between us. "I've got something better to tell."

"And what is that?" I asked, continuing to walk again.

"Come back to the academy, and you'll know," he replied, grinning.

"Why try to be mysterious?" I asked, looking at him annoyingly.

But my steps abruptly stopped as I looked back.

'...Why was Christina blushing again?'