I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 478: Alvara Freydis Teraquin SS [1]

It felt like a dream-a long, wistful dream.

But if it truly were a dream, then it was the most beautiful one imaginable.

It was a vision of a time when innocence, joy, and the careless indulgence of childhood seemed within reach. A time when she allowed herself the fleeting luxury of being carefree, spoiled, and unburdened by expectations.

The royal garden of Teraquin Palace was bathed in serene radiance. Birds chirped melodious tunes. The midday sun blazed high above, its rays cascading over an expanse of vibrant, colorful blooms. A blend of flowers swayed gently glimmering beautifully.

Amid this picturesque sight stood a single young girl, no older than ten. Her mint-green hair, tied neatly back, shimmered in the sunlight, and atop her small head sat a crown-a gleaming symbol of her royal station. This child was none other than Alvara Freydis Teraquin, the First Royal Princess of the Teraquin Kingdom.

Kneeling on the soft grass Alvara extended her slender hands toward a cluster of elegant white flowers. Lilies-pure, immaculate, and timeless in their beauty. She had already gathered four of the finest blooms, their velvety petals tucked into a neat bundle in her grasp. Yet her eyes scanned for more, seeking perfection among perfection.

Her delicate fingers closed around another blossom, plucking it with care. She brought it closer, studying it with quiet intensity. A soft smile curved her lips as she twirled the stem between her fingers, the flowerʼs beauty mirrored in her contented expression. ”Big Sister!”

A voice shattered the tranquil moment, bright and eager, breaking through Alvaraʼs solitude.

Her smile faltered instantly, replaced by a look of practiced indifference. Without turning, she responded with a flat tone. ”What do you want?”

A smaller girl approached, two years younger. Bryelle.

She had rushed across the garden, her excitement plain in the quickness of her steps, only to meet the chilly reception she had come to expect. Her blondish-green hair framed a round, youthful face, and her wide eyes shimmered with hope. ”May I help you, Elder Sister?” Bryelle asked a bit hopefully. She clasped her hands before her. ”Iʼm already finished,” Alvara replied coolly, standing abruptly as if to close the conversation. ”Oh...” Bryelleʼs voice trailed off, her gaze dropping to the ground as her shoulders slumped. ”I see...”

It was always the same. No matter how hard Bryelle tried to reach out, no matter how many times she approached her elder sister with sincerity and hope, the response was cold.

She had been in the royal household for only a year, yet she felt the weight of her outsider status every day. Born to a different mother-one who was not Queen Tanya Teraquin- Bryelle was treated as less, an unwelcome presence among her half-siblings. No matter how often she extended her hand, the walls remained firmly in place, her sisterʼs cold indifference refusing to let her in.

Alvaraʼs resentment toward Bryelle wasnʼt unfounded. It stemmed from the fractures that Bryelleʼs arrival had caused in their already fragile family dynamics. The strained relationship between their parents, which had long simmered under the surface, had worsened when her father, King Rhys, made the controversial decision to bring Bryelle into the palace and formally ʼadoptʼ her.

But Rhys had little choice in the matter.

Bryelleʼs mother had died tragically young, leaving the girl orphaned and vulnerable. For all his faults, Rhys couldnʼt bring himself to abandon his child. He was a father before he was a king, and his conscience wouldnʼt allow Bryelle to be left alone in the world, especially when her maternal family, the influential Elaryon House, outright refused to take her in.

The rejection was complicated. Bryelleʼs mother had been the elder sister of Namys Elaryon, the woman destined to become Queen of the rival Elaryon Kingdom. By birthright, Bryelle should have been the heir to the Elaryon House. But because she was born of an ʼillicitʼ relationship—a union unapproved by either the Elaryon or Teraquin houses-she was deemed unworthy by the elders of Elaryon. They dismissed her as a stain on their legacy, despite Namys herself expressing willingness to care for her niece.

And so, the burden fell to Rhys.

In the end, Rhys welcomed his daughter into the palace. Perhaps too eagerly. His joy at having Bryelle under his roof was obvious, even excessive, and it only deepened the wounds in his marriage to Queen Tanya.

Tanya, though loyal to Rhys, had never fully forgiven him for his betrayal. Polygamy, while not uncommon in the Teraquin Kingdom, was largely frowned upon within the royal family. In their tradition, the Queen was the most powerful figure in the royal household, and a king taking another woman-especially without the Queenʼs consent-was considered a grave insult.

But the true insult lay in the specifics of Rhysʼs affair. The fact that his relationship had been with the future Queen of Elaryon, their kingdomʼs most bitter rival, was a betrayal Tanya found impossible to overlook. Rhys had apologized countless times, but the wound was fresh, and Tanya couldnʼt simply move past the deception. Worse, she hadnʼt even known of Bryelleʼs existence until Rhys brought her to the palace, and her fury at the revelation had shaken their marriage to its core.

Although a year had passed since Bryelleʼs arrival, the scars remained. Outwardly, Tanya appeared calm, her fury tempered over time, but her occasional sharp words and pointed reminders kept the tension alive. The palace might have returned to its semblance of order, but the cracks in their family were still visible.

At the heart of it all was Bryelle.

For Bryelle, her fatherʼs arrival into her life had been a beacon of hope. Losing her mother had left her hollow, bereft of the love and warmth that had once defined her world. When Rhys came to her, speaking of a new home and siblings who would be her family, Bryelle had felt her spirits lift for the first time since her motherʼs death. She imagined herself finding joy again, laughing and playing alongside her new brothers and sisters.

Reality, however, was far harsher than she had dreamed.

Her half-siblings had not welcomed her with open arms.

Allen Teraquin, the eldest prince, largely ignored her. Always surrounded by his friends and his duties, he treated Bryelle as though she were invisible. He was polite when necessary, but their interactions lacked any warmth or genuine care.

Alvara, on the other hand, made her feelings painfully clear. Among her siblings, she had loved their parents the most fiercely. For Alvara, Bryelleʼs existence symbolized the discord that had torn their family apart, and she resented her younger sister deeply for it. Her cold indifference cut deeper than outright hostility, leaving Bryelle to wonder if there was anything she could do to earn her affection.

Kendel Teraquin, the first son, was the only one who made an effort to bridge the gap. Though awkward in his attempts, he occasionally tried to include Bryelle in his activities. But as the heir to the Teraquin throne, Kendelʼs time was stretched thin. His gestures of kindness were fleeting, often overshadowed by his responsibilities and the pressure to uphold the family name.

Bryelle was left in a strange state, neither fully accepted nor outright rejected.

In the end, Bryelle would trail closely behind Alvara, her half-sister, with wide, hopeful eyes. Among all her siblings, Alvara was the one she admired most. She saw Alvara as everything she wished to be-graceful, confident, and strong. From the moment Bryelle had first seen her, Alvara had become her role model, someone she longed to become.

But Alvaraʼs reactions were always the same: cold, distant, and dismissive. ”Why do you keep following me?” Alvara muttered, barely glancing over her shoulder as

Bryelle struggled to keep up. ”I just wanted to-”

Before Bryelle could finish, Alvara interrupted her. ”Go find something better to do.”

Without sparing her a second look, Alvara strode forward.

Bryelle stopped in her tracks, her small hands clenching the hem of her dress. She bit her lip, willing herself not to cry. Even now, she clung to a faint hope that one day, Alvara might accept her. ”Is that how you treat your younger sister, Freydis?”

A warm, and reprimanding voice suddenly called out. Alvara froze mid-step. The ice in her demeanor melted in an instant as she turned to face the source of the voice. Upon seeing the figure, her face lit up with a joy she rarely showed. Her lips curled into a smile, which only widened as she rushed forward. ”Leena!”

The beautiful teenage girl standing before her opened her arms, embracing Alvara tightly. She ran her hand through Alvaraʼs hair in a familiar, affectionate gesture. ”How are you, little princess?” Leena asked. ”Very good, now that youʼre here!” Alvara giggled. ”Huh? And what about me, then?”

Peeking from behind Leena, Alvara saw Kendel standing there, his brows furrowed in an exaggerated expression of sadness.

With a small laugh, Alvara released Leena and rushed to Kendel, throwing her arms around him. ”Welcome back, big brother!”

The three siblings stood close together, their reunion brimming with affection. To an outsider, they looked almost like parents with their child-Kendel and Leenaʼs mature presence despite being in their early teens contrasting with Alvaraʼs youthful exuberance. From a distance, Bryelle watched the scene unfold. A small, bittersweet smile played on her lips as she hugged herself. She was happy for them, but an ache lingered in her chest. She wanted to be part of that warmth, to stand among them and feel that sense of belonging. Leena noticed the quiet figure standing apart and turned her gaze toward Bryelle. Her smile softened, and she stepped forward, crouching to meet Bryelleʼs eye level. ”How are you, my cutest little sister?” Leena asked with a playful grin, brushing a strand of Bryelleʼs hair away from her face.

Bryelleʼs eyes widened in surprise. For a moment, she stared, unsure of how to respond. Then, a radiant smile broke across her face. ”Iʼm fine!” She beamed, throwing her arms around Leena in a tight hug.

Leena laughed gently, patting Bryelleʼs back. ”Thatʼs my girl,” she said warmly.

From behind her, Leena shot Kendel a sharp look. ”Hey, you idiot prince! Are you going to greet your youngest sister, or do I have to remind you of basic manners?” ”Ah, right!” Kendel chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. He approached Bryelle, pulling something from his pocket. ”I brought this for you,” Kendel said, holding out a delicate pendant. At the end of its silver chain hung a beautifully preserved white leaf.

Bryelle gasped, her wide eyes sparkling with awe. ”Wow...” She whispered, cradling the pendant in her hands as if it were the most precious treasure she had ever seen. ”I used one of the leaves from the Holy Tree to make it,” Kendel explained, smiling sheepishly. ”I hope you like it.” ”I love it! Thank you, Elder Brother!” Bryelleʼs voice trembled as tears pricked her eyes. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around him, clutching him tightly.

Kendel blinked in surprise but quickly softened, returning her hug. ”Iʼm glad you like it,

Bryelle.”

From the sidelines, Alvara watched the exchange, her lips curving downward into a faint pout.

She crossed her arms, her earlier happiness tinged with something unspoken.

Leena, noticing it, grinned and reached over, playfully ruffling Alvaraʼs hair. ”Hey! Stop that!” Alvara protested, trying to bat her hand away. ”Donʼt be jealous of your younger sister, Freydis,” Leena teased. ”Iʼm not jealous!” Alvara snapped, her cheeks flushing a deep red. Kendel chuckled, shaking his head. ”You already got a gift last time, Freydis. Donʼt act like youʼre being left out.” ”I said Iʼm not jealous, brother!” Alvara insisted, her voice rising in pitch. Bryelle, still clutching her pendant, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. ”Um... Elder Sister?” She said timidly, holding out the pendant. ”If you want it, you can have it. I-I donʼt mind...”

Alvaraʼs eyes widened, and for a moment, guilt flickered across her face. She shook her head, forcing a smile. ”No... Keep it. Itʼs yours,” she said awkwardly, her voice softer than before. Bryelle nodded, clutching the pendant tightly once more, her face lighting up with happiness. ”Now, now,” Kendel said, breaking the moment. ”Letʼs head inside. Father has returned.” ”Fatherʼs back?!” Alvaraʼs eyes lit up with joy. She glanced at the small bouquet of flowers in her hand before darting toward the palace doors. ”I need to see him!” Leena and Kendel exchanged amused glances before following after her, Bryelle trailing behind them happier than ever she had been for a while.