I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 856: Lunishia, Tessara And Olga [1]

”What took you so long, Dad?” Tihana asked the moment she pulled her face back from Edward’s shoulder.

She was still in his arms, though now she wore a little pout, her brows drawn together as if she had been seriously wronged.

”I do not think I took that long,” Edward replied, lowering her carefully until her feet touched the floor.

Then he looked at her properly.

Each time he saw Tihana, it seemed that she had changed. She was growing quickly now; the little girl he remembered had begun to disappear beneath the shape of someone entering her early teenage years. There was more height in her, more confidence in the way she stood, and far more expression in her face than he was prepared to admit.

”It has been a month since you came to see us,” she said.

”Honey has been very busy,” Layla said from behind him.

She stepped into the entrance hall and lightly poked Tihana’s forehead with one finger.

”Layla!”

Tihana’s sulk disappeared at once, replaced by a broad smile. Her eyes moved past Layla, then stopped.

Alvara stood near the doorway, silent.

Tihana knew who she was. She had seen her in broadcasts and pictures; everyone had. Even on a screen, Alvara had looked beautiful in an untouchable, distant way.

But seeing her in person was different.

Up close, she was breathtaking.

For a few seconds, Tihana could only stare, her mouth slightly open.

”Let us go inside first,” Edward said, gently steering Tihana away from the doorway.

Tihana recovered quickly enough to step aside. Layla and Alvara entered, and she closed the door behind them, securing it once more.

”Finally, you are here, Edward.”

Belle appeared from the living room with Orlin beside her. Orlin remained half a step behind her, visibly shy despite clearly wanting to see his father.

Belle folded her arms, lookint Edward with a faintly amused expression.

”You have had quite a busy day, have you not?”

”I have,” Edward answered simply as he walked further into the mansion.

Belle let out a quiet sigh. She had seen the reports. The world had seen the reports. There was no need to ask what he had done.

”Orlin.”

Edward’s gaze dropped to the boy.

Orlin took a cautious step forward. He looked up at Edward, hesitated, then gathered enough courage to speak.

”Dad... that was a bit too much.”

For a moment, Edward only regarded him.

”Maybe,” he admitted.

He reached down and stroked Orlin’s hair.

Orlin’s shoulders sank with a resigned sigh, but then he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Edward’s waist.

”Just be careful,” he said. ”Please.”

”I am always careful,” Edward replied.

”It is becoming almost funny to hear you say that every day,” Belle said from beside him.

Edward smiled faintly.

Orlin pulled away, and Belle took his place. She stepped forward without hesitation and embraced Edward warmly, resting against him for a quiet moment. He returned the hug gently, one arm around her back.

”Did you grow taller again?” She asked as she leaned away enough to look up at him.

”Maybe,” Edward replied again, the trace of a smile still in his voice.

Belle narrowed her eyes at him, unconvinced.

”Are you hungry? You traveled all day to get here, did you not?”

”Yes,” Edward answered. ”We are all hungry.”

”Good. Then I will make dinner quickly.”

Belle turned toward the kitchen, but her gaze passed over Layla and then settled on Alvara. She took a step in Alvara’s direction before stopping herself halfway.

”Layla, welcome back.”

”It is very good to be back,” Layla said with a tired smile.

She made her way toward the sofa and sat down with a long exhale, finally allowing herself to relax after the journey.

”And Alvara...”

Belle paused, recalling what Edward had told her.

”Right. No touching from anyone except Edward?”

Alvara gave a brief nod.

”She does not like being touched?” Tihana asked, looking between them.

”She does not like being touched by most people,” Edward explained. ”There are a few exceptions, me, and members of her family.”

Alvara’s gaze shifted toward the stairs.

”I will take a shower,” she said quietly.

”Tihana,” Belle called, ”show Alvara the rooms. There are plenty available, so she can choose whichever she prefers.”

Tihana nodded enthusiastically. ”Okay! Come on, Alvara.”

Alvara gave Belle a short nod of acknowledgment before following Tihana upstairs. Their footsteps faded along the corridor, Tihana speaking quickly while Alvara answered only now and then.

Belle watched them go, then turned back toward Edward.

”Separate rooms for everyone,” she said, fixing him with a hard stare. ”There are children in this house. Do not do anything strange while they are here.”

”I know,” Edward said, sounding almost offended by the reminder.

Belle gave him a look that made clear she did not entirely trust that answer.

Edward’s attention drifted across the room.

Samara had risen from the sofa.

The moment she saw him looking at her, she stood straighter, though her hands tightened slightly around the book she had been reading. Her deep blue eyes met his only briefly before falling away.

”Nyr,” she said softly.

Edward took one step.

Then he was standing directly in front of her.

Samara startled at his sudden movement and nearly lost her balance backward against the sofa. Edward caught her before she could fall, one arm steadying her at the small of her back.

The room went quiet.

”I-I will go bring the ingredients,” Orlin said quickly.

His face had turned red. Without waiting for a response, he hurried toward the kitchen.

Belle followed him with an amused smile, deciding that helping with dinner was suddenly an urgent matter.

Edward continued to look at Samara.

”What is it?” He asked in a quieter tone. ”Are you upset because I told you to accompany Belle and the children?”

”I am not,” Samara answered quickly, shaking her head.

Yet she would not meet his eyes.

”If you did not like it, you could have told me,” Edward said. ”You know that.”

Samara’s fingers tightened around the book.

”I will do whatever you ask of me,” she replied.

Edward watched her for a long moment.

Then he lifted his free hand and brushed his fingers lightly against her cheek. His touch was gentle, enough to make Samara’s breath catch despite herself.

”My beautiful Samara,” he whispered.

Her eyes fluttered shut. The faint color in her cheeks deepened, and for a second she seemed to forget how to breathe normally.

Then Edward withdrew his hand.

He stepped back, leaving Samara standing there with the book pressed against her chest.

”Belle,” Edward called toward the kitchen, raising his voice, ”add three more plates.”

A pause followed.

Then he spoke again, more calmly.

”Lunishia. Tessara. Olga. Come out.”

The air in the living room shimmered.

Three separate lights appeared around the room. The mana gathered in silence, curling and thickening until it took human shape.

When the lights finally faded, three women stood in their place.

”Finally,” Lunishia sighed, stretching her arms over her head. ”I was beginning to get bored.”

She was the first to step forward.

Lunishia was definitely of werewolf blood. Long, vivid red hair cascaded down her back, nearly matching the color of the wolf ears rising through it. Her large tail, equally red fluffy, swayed behind her with visible irritation. In contrast, her eyes were a brilliant summer-sky blue, bright and lively even as she complained.

She wore a white-and-red skirt with matching red tights, an outfit that suited her vivid appearance perfectly. Between her confident stance, her sharp smile, and the wild beauty of her features, Lunishia was impossible to overlook.

Behind Lunishia stood Tessara, whose presence could not have contrasted more sharply with the red-haired werewolf’s restless energy.

Tessara looked no older than twenty. Where Lunishia filled the room with movement and noise, Tessara carried herself with composure. Her dark forest-green hair flowed down her back in smooth waves, while long bangs framed her face and fell lightly over her shoulders. Her eyes were a similarly deep shade of green, calm and watchful beneath delicate features. A single beauty mark beneath her right eye gave her face an added softness.

She wore a long green gown matching the color of her hair. The fabric clung elegantly to her slim figure before falling toward the floor in gentle folds.

The moment her eyes found Edward, Tessara smiled.

With graceful restraint, she gathered a small part of her gown between her fingers and lifted it just enough to make a respectful curtsy.

”My King,” she said.

The last to appear was Olga.

She was the youngest of the three looking in her mid teens, though she did not look particularly pleased to be there. Dark hair fell around her shoulders, drawing attention to her dark amber eyes; eyes that held a quiet, guarded intensity. Two black horns protruded from either side of her head, curving subtly through her hair. Along her cheeks were dark scale that ran from beneath her eyes toward her chin, giving her an unusual catchy appearance.

Unlike Lunishia and Tessara, Olga wore a simple knee-length dress.

She looked at Edward for a few seconds, then crossed her arms.

”I am not hungry, Edward.”

”You will be,” Edward replied shortly.

Olga just grumbled.

Lunishia laughed before she could.

”Come on, do not be so shy, Olga.”

She caught Olga by the arm and pulled her toward the sofa. Olga allowed herself to be dragged along with a tired, unimpressed sigh.

Lunishia dropped onto the sofa beside Layla, guiding Olga into the space next to her.

”Layla,” Lunishia asked brightly, ”how was your first experience in Edenis Raphiel?”

Layla leaned back against the cushions, looking exhausted from the long day.

”Hm. Very poor,” she answered without much thought. ”And it was not my first experience. I came here once when I was a child, though I barely remember anything about it.”

Lunishia blinked. ”Poor? That bad?”

Layla gave a small shrug. ”I did not enjoy much today.”

Olga turned her amber eyes toward Lunishia.

”What about you? You are from Edenis Raphiel, are you not?”

For the first time since arriving, Lunishia’s cheerful expression faded slightly.

She shrugged one shoulder.

”Not a very good experience either.”

Tessara, who had remained standing near Edward, looked toward him again.

”My King,” she asked gently, ”do you need anything?”

”Nothing,” Edward replied.

He moved toward the sofa Samara had been using earlier and sat down.

Samara immediately took the place at his left.

Tessara hesitated for only a moment. Then she stepped forward, her gaze shifting toward the open space on Edward’s right.

”May I?” She asked softly.

Edward looked up at her.

Instead of answering aloud, he held out his hand.

Tessara’s expression warmed. A bashful smile curled her lips as she placed her hand in his. Edward guided her down beside him, and she sat close at his right, smoothing the folds of her green gown across her knees.