Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 279  Mariam [2]

"A strange last words for someone who was a peak demigod." A soft voice echoed from behind. "Don't you think?"

I slowly turned around; a woman came into my view, walking towards me.

She had long, pointy ears that peaked from her crimson hair, her eyes a shade of golden with spirals in them, staring at me.

She had a striking resemblance to Ragnar.

And my blood boiled just by thinking about him.

"It is strange." I replied, gazing back, suppressing my emotions. "Strange how no one is able to find the meaning of his words to this day."

Mariam came to a halt just in front of me, her eyes softened a little.

"You have grown a lot." She whispered, reaching her hand, touching my face. "I thought I would never see you."

"Don't act like you care for me." I replied, gently removing her hand away. "I hate when people do that."

Hesitation flashed in her eyes as she retracted her hand.

Her lips curled up in a gentle smile as she turned around. "Come with me."

"...."

I followed behind as she took me towards the side of the mansion.

"Do I need to put on a disguise of an elf?" I asked the question that had been bothering me for a while.

"No one knows who you are here, and even in Lumina, there isn't a record of how you looked."  She replied without looking back at me.

"So, no, just be yourself. Besides that, every family head already knows your identity."

"And they still allowed me?" I questioned, raising one brow.

"Half of them were against it." She replied. "But Corett—Uzume family head—changed her decision."

"Is that so?" I mumbled, throwing another question at her. "And why Himmel?"

"Hm?"

"You chose that name for me, didn't you?"

"....It suits you." She softly replied.

"I don't think it does." I said, looking down at myself.

"You changed a lot since last I remember." She said, glancing at my left hand, while slowing her steps to walk beside me. "What actually happened?"

"Can't say." I replied with a light shrug.

"I see." She nodded, refraining from commenting. "I had prepared some ways to help you—."

"Of course you did." I cut in her words, sarcasm clear in my voice.

"It would have hurt your pride if a cripple became the heir for the oh-so-great Segyal Highbloods."

"That's not the reason." Mariam softly wishpered, glancing at my face. "I never wanted you to be burdened with my family's situation."

"Then why bother adopting me?" I scoffed as I came to a halt. "Surely it's not without a reason."

Mariam stopped as well, staring back at me.

She sighed as her gaze shifted towards the golden tree looming over us.

"Do you know what that tree signifies?" She asked, keeping her gaze on it.

"Nuaria." I replied, looking back at the handcuff in my hand. "Something that keeps Akasha alive by refining ethereal mana."

She slowly extended her hand, the space beside her rippled like waves in a still pond.

A brownish tree branch slowly conjured into thin air; it moved gently, patting my head.

"Anyone with Segyal bloodline has a subspace-like thing where they can cultivate a tree." Mariam explained while I slapped the branch away.

Her gaze returned back to the golden tree, her voice prideful as she whispered, "Nuaria was the tree cultivated by the first head of Segyal Highbloods."

"....I know that." I grumbled, annoyance filling my mind.

[<That's a cheat ability, isn't it?>]

Inna commented, and I subconsciously nodded my head.

Verdant Nexus.

The ability to connect to a tree, which can take the enemy's damage inflicted, give one infinite mana, and much more.

An offensive and defensive ability envied by everyone.

"You still haven't answered my question." I asked again, shifting to look at her. "Why bother saving me?"

She averted her gaze, unable to look at me as her gaze returned, fixed on the tree.

"...I have so many regrets in my life." She whispered, her voice barely audible. "Regrets that keep drowning me."

"..."

I waited for her to untangle her emotions as she remained silent for a while.

"I-I j-just don't want you to become like Ragnar." She confessed, squeezing her hands. "I don't want you to take the wrong path like him—."

"So, I am just a tool for you." I cut in her words with a tired smile. "...A tool you can use to correct your mistakes."

"What? No—."

"You can see it, right?" I asked as I turned, standing in front of her. "That I am going to die soon."

Her gaze trembled slightly.

Just like I thought, she can see through my condition.

"And yet you didn't ask how this happened." My lips curled up in a slight smile. "Were you delighted knowing I won't live long enough to be a threat like Ragnar?"

"Why are you talking like that?" She grumbled, staring into my eyes. "I was going to help you with your condition and even provide a peaceful and happy—."

"Sure you do." I cut in, sarcastically. "Aren't you best at helping others and making them happy? I mean, just look at your happy famil—Urgh."

"Himmel." Her cold voice echoed, and a heavy pressure hit my body.

It felt like I was being crushed by a boulder, but the pressure vanished as soon as it appeared. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Her eyes widened as she noticed her blunder. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to—."

"It's fine." I raised my hand, stopping her from coming closer. "I shouldn't have overstepped my boundary."

Her expression crumbled at my words.

I forgot she is a demigod and has no reason to care about me.

There isn't any reason for me to act close to her either.

She is using me to lessen her guilt, and someday I am going to use her as well.

So....

I straightened my back as I stared at her restless face before I calmly asked, "What order do you have for me, Lady Mariam?"

"Please don't act like that—."

"Your. Order."

"Sigh." She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Orelena asked to meet you, and so did Edwin."

"....I see." I replied with a slight nod. "Anything else?"

"No, you can do as you please." She shook her head in response. "I will help you assimilate with ethereal mana in the next few weeks."

"I understand." I said as I turned around. "Then I will go meet the Aljanah family right away."

"They are your family."

I chose to ignore her words while I kept on walking.

[<You don't trust her, do you?>]

'I don't trust anyone.' I grumbled as I found Diana standing at the forefront of the mansion.

[<Not even me?>]

'...I trusted Christina, and look what happened.'

[<.....>]

She quieted down as I made myself clear.

"Do you need anything?" I asked while I arrived in front of Daina.

"As per my lady's decision, you will be joining the academy from tomorrow." She replied, her face impassive. "Tell me if you need anything."

Ahh.

Is this what Mariam meant by 'A peaceful and happy life?'

....Damn.

That's some bullshit.

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" I asked, looking back at her.

"I tried. You didn't care." She replied. "I will inform both families to expect you today."

I rubbed my temple in frustration.

My family....

I really don't want to see them.

I really don't.

[<Just go and meet them. Who knows, they might not be as bad as you think.>]

I mentally nodded at her words.

"Call Aimar." I said, walking past her. "And we need a phone as well."

"Anything else?"

I halted my steps as I looked back. "I need a bike."

...

...

...

My squinting eyes relaxed as I slowed the new bike I got.

'It's perfect.' I thought as I gazed down at the purple bike with a mana-based engine.

"Is this the place?"

Stopping the bike, I turned back as I asked.

"Are you blind?" Aimar mumbled, looking at his phone. "Beside you."

I shifted my focus to my side, where a bright and elegant palace with tall towers and arched windows was situated.

The soft sunlight gave it a glowing, dreamy look, and just above it was a huge pair of wings looming over the palace.

Two soldiers stood at the main gate, staring at us.

The gate slowly opened up without us even talking.

I sighed as I started the bike, moving in.

A neatly designed garden with pathways and flowerbeds came into my view.

I parked the bike just at the outer part of the garden.

"I think I shouldn't be here," Aimar mumbled, his gaze still on the phone.

"Don't be shy," I replied, patting his back. "My family is your family as well."

Aimar sighed as he kept his phone back with a distressful look.

"What happened?" I questioned, fixing my clothes.

"Ethan executed 'you'," he replied. "For Lumina, you are officially dead."

"I see," I mumbled, my gaze shifting to the two maids rushing toward us. "The church should know about the decoy, right?"

"Pretty sure they do," he replied. "And they also declared me as a traitor."

I chuckled as both the maids reached us.

"Please follow us." They bowed slightly as they requested.

I smiled. "After you, ladies."

The younger one blushed a little, while the older one quickly turned around.

[<Don't smile too much.>]

'Why?' I asked as they led us inside.

[<Just don't.>]

'Urgh, whatever.' I groaned, walking inside the palace.

The beautiful hallway was the first thing that came into my view.

At the end of the hallway was the staircase that led to the second floor.

"Please have a seat." The maids bowed before walking away.

We both moved toward the sofa while a few more maids glanced toward us.

'Come to think of it, Elijah should be here as well.' I mused, taking my seat.

[<Are you planning to keep your distance from him like your other family members?>]

'...'

I remained quiet at her words.

Technically, he is my brother.

The problem is he is also the protagonist of the second game.

And if I want to influence the events of the game to my accord, I need to be close to him.

[<So you are going to be close?>]

'...We have another problem.' [<That is?>]

I sighed tiredly. 'I don't know which route he took.' [<And what does this 'route' mean?>]

'Depending upon which main heroine Elijah is close with, the game has different endings.' Some good, some bad, and some disastrous.

[<Oh wait, isn't your new fiancée—?>]

'Yep, a Main Heroine of the game.' And I have no idea how to handle the situation if Elijah is close with her.

[<Come on, it wasn't your fault that you're engaged to her.>]

'Inna, I would burn any man alive if he was engaged to Shyamal or Christina, doesn't matter if he isn't at fault....doesn't matter if he's my brother.' [<...Not everyone is like you.>]

"Az!"

A loud voice echoed within the hallway, making me turn toward the staircase.

A beautiful girl with purple hair rushed toward me.

I stood up from my seat, looking at Avril.

"I am glad you are safe."

She hugged me tightly, relief clear in her voice.

"I am glad you are doing great."

I patted her head as I hugged her back.

A few more stepped down the staircase, making me gaze up.

And my expression immediately hardened as I stared at the 'him'.

He was a tall young man with broad shoulders, his short purple hair combed neatly, and purple eyes staring back at me.

My older cousin.

Killian Noah Aljanah. And... The [Villainess Maker] of the Second Game.