I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 836: Edenis Raphiel: Veyra [2]

”I am not sure I should have come,” Vina muttered in a small voice.

Standing there on the open platform of the station, surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces moving in every direction, she felt a quiet wave of discomfort tug over her. The air itself seemed crowded. Voices overlapped, footsteps echoed against stone, and curious glances kept drifting toward their group from every side.

”Why? Would you rather have stayed alone in the castle in Ravenia instead?” Alicia asked, turning to her with a questioning look.

Ever since James had taken his place as Head of the Raven House and King, both Leora and Alicia had returned to live in the great castle in Ravenia. Levina had begun living there as well. Victor, even after finally finding his mother again, still regarded Ravenia as his true home and remained there without hesitation. Selene, once their official wedding had concluded, had moved with him at once and made the castle her home as well.

Victor had hoped his mother might join them in Ravenia too. Yet Thelma had suffered too much trauma within that city at the hands of Lazarus Raven. Though the choice pained her, she had decided to live instead with her younger sister Alea and Alea’s family in the Olphean Kingdom. Today she might easily have traveled with Alea’s household, yet she had chosen to arrive beside her son and the rest of his family. Victor, for his part, seemed far more at ease among the Ravens than among the Olpheans.

Levina glanced up at Alicia and gave a small shake of her head.

Leora watched the exchange and let out a soft chuckle.

”She seems a little uncomfortable in her clothes, perhaps?” Leora suggested, noticing the way Levina kept tugging at the hem of her skirt as if she could somehow lengthen the fabric and hide more of her long legs. The skirt was not short by any means. It fell neatly below the knee. Still, Levina would almost certainly have preferred trousers if she had been given the choice.

”It is very hot around here, Vina,” Alicia replied, reaching out to brush a few loose strands of blond hair away from Levina’s face with careful fingers. ”You would melt if you wore anything heavier.”

”Yes...” Levina nodded, her gaze still drifting uneasily across the crowd of people who continued to stare.

There were so many of them, and nearly every pair of eyes seemed drawn toward their group.

”You spent a long time living alone and out at sea,” Alicia said, her voice dropping to a quieter, more tender register. ”I understand how strange this must feel. But I will be right here with you. My mother will be as well.”

Leora’s expression warmed as she watched her daughter speak with such natural care. There was something deeply moving in seeing Alicia take on that protective role so readily. Leora stepped closer to Levina and offered her arm with an open, inviting smile.

”Here. Take my arm, Vina,” she said.

Levina looked at her for a moment, then nodded timidly and curled her fingers around Leora’s left arm. Perhaps it was because Leora resembled Alicia so strongly, or because she carried an even deeper motherly presence, but Levina seemed to relax against her almost at once. She felt every bit as safe with Leora as she did with Alicia, and that fact filled Alicia with quiet contentment.

Leora herself could not have been happier that Levina had entered their lives. It truly felt as though she had gained another daughter. Levina even shared a clear resemblance to Alicia, which only deepened the sense of belonging. From the beginning Leora had taken the greater share of caring for the girl, knowing Alicia was still young and somewhat inexperienced in that kind of steady, daily guidance.

James felt the same deep happiness. He saw how brightly Leora’s spirit had lifted since Levina’s arrival, and how Alicia had softened in her own way as well. Alicia had never told them every detail of how she and Levina first met, yet she had explained that Levina was an Enigma Beast born from her blood. That single truth had been more than enough. From that moment on, the entire family understood that Levina was theirs in every way that mattered, bound to them by something deeper than ordinary kinship.

Victor glanced down at his phone, checking the time with a faint frown.

”Shall we go now?” He asked. ”We should head straight for the Grand Forum. There will not be time to stop by the hotel first. Our knights can take the luggage ahead while we go directly to the amphitheater.”

”Not quite yet,” Thelma answered, squinting toward the far end of the rails where another tram was gliding into view. ”Alea’s carriage is just arriving.”

The number displayed on the front of the approaching tram matched the one Alea had given her. Thelma’s amber eyes brightened with quiet recognition as the vehicle drew closer, and the rest of the family turned to watch as well, waiting for the next doors to open.

When the tram finally came to a stop, Thelma walked ahead first to welcome them properly. The glass doors parted at once with a soft rush of air, and Alea stepped out wearing a simple white gown. She looked as youthful and beautiful as ever.

The moment she fully emerged, Thelma swept her into a tight embrace.

”My little sister!”

Alea was caught off guard for only a heartbeat before she laughed and hugged her back with equal strength.

”My older sister,” she answered, her voice warm with delight.

”Perfect timing, Alea. We have been waiting for you,” Thelma said, still holding her close.

”Not too long, I hope,” Alea replied, her tone lightly teasing as they finally drew apart.

A soft giggle followed from inside the carriage. Christina stepped out next, looking every bit as resplendent as her mother. She resembled a younger version of Alea, though her features were softer and her hair longer, gathered over one shoulder in a neat tie. She wore a knee length white dress with long sleeves and open shoulders, paired with simple sandals that wrapped gently around her feet.

”My, my very beautiful niece!” Thelma exclaimed, moving to her at once and gathering her into a full, affectionate hug.

Christina giggled softly as she returned the embrace. ”You are as lively as ever, Aunt.”

”We have to be,” Thelma answered with a gentle smile, stepping back to look at her properly.

Christina moved aside a moment later, revealing the young man who stepped out after her. The instant he appeared, Victor and Levina both showed the slightest shift in expression, while Alicia simply watched in calm silence.

He was a handsome young man in his late teens, with short white hair and sharp amber eyes. He wore light silk white pants and a white shirt left slightly open at the collar, offering a glimpse of his collarbone and the two necklace chains resting against his skin. Beneath the fabric, a black coin hung from one chain, while the other displayed the clear emblem of the Olphean House. He was Amael Idea Olphean, Prince and Heir of the Olphean House.

A strange, brief silence fell over the group as he stepped fully onto the platform. Then Thelma broke it by pulling him into an immediate, tight hug.

”Little Amael, you have certainly grown since the last time I saw you!” She said, holding him .

Amael let out a small grunt at the unexpected strength of the embrace, yet a quiet smile curved his lips as he hugged her back.

”I am fairly certain we met only two weeks ago, Aunt,” he said, patting her back with mild amusement.

”And you have grown even since then,” Thelma insisted, stepping back to cup his cheeks with both hands. ”Goodness, you look so much like your mother.”

”I will take that as a compliment,” Amael replied.

”Of course you will take that as a compliment,” Alea said with a smirk, reaching over to ruffle his white hair with playful force. Amael tried to dodge while still smiling, which only made Christina giggle more as she watched.

”Come on, little brother,” Christina said, tugging lightly at his arm.

”You are going to tear my sleeves, big sister,” Amael said.

”Show a little more enthusiasm, Mael. This is a special day, you know,” she urged.

”I do know. The great Saintess will appear before the world for the first time,” he answered with a soft sigh.

”Are you not a bit too calm about it?” Christina raised a brow, still holding his arm.

”Well, the Prophetess has been my childhood friend,” Amael shrugged, as if that single fact explained everything.

”How lucky you are,” Christina grinned, reaching up to pinch his cheek and pull it gently.

Amael scoffed as best he could with his cheek caught between her fingers. ”Luck has little to do with it. We simply grew up around each other.”

”He is not wrong, daughter.”

A warm laugh rolled out from the carriage as the last member of the family stepped into the light. A grey-haired man emerged, his grey eyes resting on his children with quiet pride and affection.

Thelma smiled at him.

”Kleines.”