I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 194 [Event] [Celesta Twinsʼ Birthday] [7]

Arsethya Sienna Arvatra, the [Legendary Heroine] of the [First Game], was an enigma. She was notoriously difficult to conquer due to the extreme difficulty of the game and her late appearance. I had never managed to fulfill the conditions required to encounter her, so this was my first time seeing her in person.

Rumors circulated about Arsethyaʼs personality. She was known to be extremely distrustful, even towards her own family. It was said that she harbored a deep hatred towards the High Priestess of the Monolith of Eden. However, beyond these tidbits of information, I knew very little about her. I couldnʼt claim to know much about her at all.

Charles Celesta, the king, stood up to greet Zenos Arvatra with a warm smile. ”Itʼs a pleasure to have you here, Zenos.”

Zenos Arvatra shook Charlesʼ hand and returned the smile. ”Likewise, Charles. I hope the alliance between your daughter and my son will be the start of a long-lasting friendship between our two countries.” Zenos glanced at his eldest son, Rythvel, as he spoke.

Aurora gracefully pinched the hem of her dress and offered a slight bow to Prince Rythvel. ”Itʼs a pleasure to meet you, Prince Rythvel,” she greeted him with a warm smile.

Rythvelʼs cold blue eyes briefly studied Auroraʼs face, and then he extended his hand to assist her. Aurora was taken aback by the unexpected gesture but eventually accepted his help, expressing her gratitude. ”Thank you, Your Highness,” she said softly.

Colton, always one to stir up trouble, whispered to him, ”Lucky you, brother.”

Azeliah joined in with a giggle, teasingly adding, ”Colton, maybe youʼll have a shot at the younger Princess.”

Coltonʼs eyes wandered towards Sylvia, causing her to avert her gaze. He smiled widely, giving away his playboy persona rather than exuding the demeanor of a prince from a powerful empire.

Shaking my head, I took a moment to hydrate, drinking from a glass of water.

Eric, dressed in a stylish red suit, appeared beside me. ”You donʼt seem happy, Edward,” he remarked, his concern evident in his voice.

I turned to face him, acknowledging his presence. ”Oh, Eric.”

He noted that I seemed better than before, to which I nodded in agreement. ”Yeah, things have changed slightly. Thatʼs all.”

Eric filled his glass with water and chimed in, ”I know. Jayden is not stable even though he still didnʼt awaken but keep it low with him for now, Edward.”

We both understood the impending consequences once Jaydenʼs awakening occurred. The power gap between us would widen, and it wouldnʼt be long before that happened.

”I know, Eric,” I replied with a groan, fully aware of the challenges ahead.

Eric sighed but managed a smile. ”If it reassures you, Jayden isnʼt my favorite Protagonist. I prefer Victor and Lucius.”

I snorted in agreement. ”You bet. Those two actually think with their heads, not their... well, you know.”

Changing the subject, Eric gestured towards Arsethya and Rythvel. ”So, what do you think of them?”

I admitted, ”This is my first time seeing them, but itʼs clear that they are significant characters in the Third Game.”

”You…you didnʼt read what I wrote for you? Eric asked if I had read his writings about the Third Game.

”No. We have time anyway.”

”Sigh... Sethya is dangerous,” Eric expressed his concerns. ”If we leave her unchecked, we might lose the High Priestess.”

I reassured him, ”We can deal with her later, Eric. Right now, Iʼm more concerned about what Walter Celesta has planned.”

As I stared at Walter, annoyance crept in. ”If only we had concrete proof, we could bring down that bastard,” I muttered, frustration evident in my voice.

Accusing the kingʼs brother without solid evidence would be an uphill battle. We both knew that nobody would believe our claims.

”Letʼs keep a close eye on him,” I suggested, determined to remain vigilant.

Eric nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of the situation. ”Just a little more than a month, and it will all be over,” he stated, the weight of the impending events hanging in the air.

”Everything should go fine. Milleia and Jayden are ready, and weʼre here to finish Brandon just in case,” I stated.

Eric nodded in agreement. ”I know, but Iʼm worried about Layla. She has that look in her eyes like she took the wrong turn in the game.”

I glanced over at Layla and let out a sigh. ”I tried, Eric, but thereʼs something off with that girl when it comes to Alfred.”

”Weʼre well aware of that, Edward. You know her history,” Eric replied. ”After what happened to her, Alfred...”

”I know, Eric,” I interrupted him, placing my glass down on the table.

”Sheʼs still the girl we used to play with a lot back then. I donʼt need to remind you of that. Even before Miranda, you had feelings for her even though fleeting ones,” Eric said, his words embarrassing me.

I quickly cut him off, not wanting to dwell on the past. ”Eric, itʼs in the past. Letʼs not bring it up and save me from the embarrassment.”

”Edward, donʼt take it seriously but I know you quite a bit even with your previous memories and itʼs really unlike you to do everything you did for Layla so she could end up with Alfred. Milleia I can understand but Layla seemed exaggerated even from you. What were you trying to accomplish? I canʼt even say if your anger toward her is only for that slap or something else.”

”...”

That was a long speech and a pretty accurate one.

”Sometimes, I forget that weʼve been friends for so long. When did you notice about me liking her in the past?”

Even though I liked her, it lasted only a few months as Alfredʼs and Laylaʼs talks of engagement were already ongoing at that time. I hardly yet quickly buried them thanks to Miranda though. She is without doubts my first crush. I donʼt even know how and why I felt that toward her.

”I did not. Lucius was the one who told me. Now John is the one fighting Alfred but back then it was you, Edward. You were trying to pick a fight with him for no reason.” He chuckled.

”That guy… it seems even in a coma, Lucius canʼt stop meddling.”

Damn..itʼs really embarrassing.

I cringed at the memory of all the childish things I had done to get Laylaʼs attention. It was so embarrassing, and I am grateful that she hadnʼt noticed. Otherwise, she would have teased me relentlessly. 

”Lucius has always been a bit of a nuisance,” Eric remarked with a smile. ”As for who else knows, I would say probably only Miranda.”

”Miranda?” I repeated, surprised.

Eric nodded. ”Yeah, she figured it out, and she was quite jealous about it, if you recall.”

As I thought back, I realized he was right. Miranda had become rather possessive, and it had worked on me since she was my first love. The pseudo-engagement between my father and Mirandaʼs father had been decided soon after that.

”Itʼs just you and Miranda, then?” I asked, hoping there werenʼt any more who knew.

”Maybe John?”

”I will beat you up.”

Not him I beg you Eden.

”Oh, brother and Edward?”

A new girl appeared in a beautiful red dress, and it was Rubina Scarlett.

”Ruby, what is it?” Ericʼs tone changed as he asked tenderly.

What the hell?

”Iʼm here to thank you, Edward,” Ruby approached and said.

”Thank me? Oh.” I glanced at Eric. He might have told her that the guy with the mask was me.

”Donʼt fret over it,” I waved my hand. ”At least youʼre less prickly than before and more lady-like-”

Before I could finish, Ruby angrily threw a cup in my face. ”Shut up!”

”...”

I take back my words.

”R-Ruby!” Eric hurriedly went to comfort his sister.

[]

ʼI was just telling the truth!ʼ

”Edward...”

”Sylvia? Again?” I said jokingly, but Sylvia didnʼt seem to be in a happy mood. ”Whatʼs up?” I could tell that her conversation with her parents hadnʼt gone well.

”Iʼm not here to bother you, I... I just need you to introduce me to Jayden...” Sylvia said, forcing a smile.

”...”

I glanced at her parents and noticed that they were also looking at us.

Is this some kind of show for them?

Weʼre talking about Sylvia now?

Their youngest daughter.

I looked at Alfred, and he didnʼt seem to notice what was going on. He was busy talking with Milleia.

As for Aurora, she was speaking with Rythvel, occasionally throwing worried glances toward Sylvia. She might not even be aware of what her parents were preparing for her sister.

If Lucius was here, he would definitely have caused a ruckus to stop this farce.

Finally, I looked at Aunt Belle. She was patting Orlin, and when she noticed my gaze, she looked at me. She alternated her gaze between me, Sylvia, and her parents, and in a few seconds, she figured out what the problem was—as expected of her. She stopped her gaze and winked at me with a smile.

As expected of Aunty!

I smiled.

Here I was, planning to just stay on the sidelines during this birthday celebration.

I sighed and filled a glass with juice before handing it to Sylvia.

”Eh?”

”Drink it. Itʼs orange juice. Or do you want wine?”

”Wua?! No!” Sylvia shook her head and accepted the drink.

Making a bit of room on the table, I sat down and took a plate filled with pieces of cake. ”Here, open your mouth,” I said, bringing a forked piece of cake toward her.

”E-Edward...?” Sylvia was completely dumbfounded by my actions.

”Come on, you want me to help you, right?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

”Y-Yes...” Sylvia closed her eyes tightly, brought her face closer, and closed her mouth with a flushed face. ”I-Itʼs good...” She said, while chewing.

”Now itʼs my turn,” I said, handing her the fork.

”W-Whaaaa?!” Sylvia stepped back with a bright red face.

”Do you want my help or not, Sylvia?” I asked with furrowed brows. ”Your parents wonʼt be happy.”

Sylvia tried to look around her surroundings, but I spoke quickly. ”Sylvia.”

”....”

”Do you need my help?” I asked again, this time with a different tone, as I stared directly into her emerald eyes with my amber ones.

Nervously, Sylvia forked a piece of cake and brought it toward my mouth.

I closed my mouth and nodded. ”Yeah, itʼs really good.”

”Edward.”

”Hm?” I turned to my left and saw Jayden. He was looking at me with a conflicted expression.