Villain's POV: The Heroines Want Me!

Chapter 15: Chapter 15- Little Games

Chapter 15- Little Games

The two stared at each other silently, impressed at how good they were. Rize expected Venera to be very strong at that age since she had been receiving the highest form of training for almost as long as he had been.

’It’s still a completely different story to see it with my own eyes rather than just read about it.’ He thought to himself as he gripped his sword. ’I can’t break her defenses easily. She definitely isn’t going to be an easy target to defeat.’

However, Rize knew that she probably thought the same of him, so he took that as a sign that the battle was certainly on equal grounds and the winner would be determined by small mistakes rather than major ones.

The two took a moment before they dashed forward and clashed violently again. Their swords made loud noises as they exchanged blows quickly within a few seconds. Venera threw precise attacks at Rize, only for him to deflect or dodge before countering.

Their movements were extremely fast and sharp, aiming to find weakness in each other’s attacks. If Rize tried to ambush her from an angle, Venera would take that moment to punish him, only for Rize to easily push her back with a quick reaction or a smart maneuver.

It felt more like a game of chess and a dance rather than a fight. Both felt more and more impressed with each other the longer the fight went. Each swing, each dodge, each close attack felt so thrilling for both that they didn’t even notice that they had been fighting for minutes.

*Swish*

Rize tilted his head, dodging the blade before he attacked. However, Venera was quick to react, dodging the attack as she swung the sword again. The boy used that moment to deflect the hit. Their blades clashed countless times.

As the girl pressed him back, Rize used that momentum as he let her sword slide off his blade, making her lose her balance. At the same time, he stepped forward and attacked with his sword, aiming for her face. However, as he was trying to do that, he suddenly felt his vision flip as he lost his balance.

Looking down, he saw that Venera had trampled his leg, making him lose balance. The boy fell to the ground, and before he knew it, a sword was aimed at his neck with Venera’s knee resting on his stomach.

”I win,” Venera said with a calm tone.

Rize stared at her silently for a second before he looked down. Venera was confused for a second before she looked down too, only to see that Rize’s blade was aimed at her ribcage.

”Draw.” He replied. ”I would’ve killed you if this were a real sword.”

”...” Venera squinted her eyes before she stood up. Rize tried to stand up, only to be surprised to see Venera stretch her hand for him. He blinked a few times before he took it and stood up.

’Was she this nice to Rize in the story, or is this the result of the change?’ He frowned.

”That was good. You’re not bad at all.” She said.

”You too,” Rize replied. ”You are quite impressive, your highness.”

”Mm, call me Venera. You have earned it.”

”...” Rize frowned. ”Are you sure? You’re the princess, and I’m... nobody.”

”Just call me Venera. It will be a lot simpler in the future.”

’She’s so odd. She’s acting off; Rize had never called her by her first name in the entire story.’ The boy tried to hide his confusion as he nodded.

”Ok, Venera, it is. You can call me Rize.” He said.

”Good.”

”Your Highness!”

At that moment, both of them heard Geralt’s voice as he came back from the woods. Seeing the two, he put the bag carrying the logs to the side. Venera’s butler was walking behind him with a cold look on his face.

”I see you woke up, boy. Did you greet Her Highness properly?”

”Uuuh...”

”You didn’t cause any trouble, did you?” Geralt asked with a prying look.

”...” Rize looked at Venera and then at Geralt and realized that if he told him that he had just sparred the princess, he would be dead meat. That was NOT something he was supposed to do at all.

”He definitely did greet me well. We were just talking.” Venera replied.

”...” Rize was surprised to hear her reply and protect him.

”I see... Well, I hope he didn’t disappoint you.”

”He is not half bad,” Venera replied. ”I see why you’re training him hard, Geralt. Good work.”

”... I try to do my best, Your Highness! It’s my honor to serve you!”

”Well, I’m sure he is hungry. You should go get something to eat.” Venera said.

”Oh yeah, come with me,” Geralt said as he picked the bag up and walked inside, followed by the butler.

Rize watched silently before he felt Venera nudge him.

”You owe me.” She whispered to him before she walked away.

”...” The boy watched her back, baffled and slightly speechless. ’You have got to be kidding me.’

He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at how ridiculous this situation was. Everything had just changed beyond recognition, and he couldn’t even do anything to prevent it. He didn’t know how much the future would shift or if things that are core to the story would not happen anymore.

’Fuck, I didn’t even get to the prologue yet. This has to be some sort of a joke.’ He frowned. ’My memory and knowledge of the future were my biggest advantage. If I lose them, I’m as good as the original Rize, and that’s not good enough. I need to find a way around that.’

With that thought in mind, Rize walked after the group into the cabin.

Inside, Geralt served him a hearty meal that he instantly wolfed down. Rize was starving so badly that he didn’t even bother to be very proper and clean about it. Then, he chugged down a lot of water.

”You should eat properly in front of Her Highness,” Geralt said.

”Ah, right, I’m sorry.”

”Sigh...” Geralt face-palmed. ”Please excuse him, Your Highness. I will teach him proper etiquette.”

”No, it’s ok,” Venera said calmly. ”If anything, being very laid back seems to be one of his strengths.”

’Did she just call me careless in a polite way?’ Rize smiled wryly.

”That being said, etiquette is definitely important if he wants to truly enter our world, and there is no better way than to experience it in an authentic environment.”

”What do you mean, Your Highness?” Geralt asked, feeling that the princess was hinting at something.

”I think he should come to the Awakening ceremony of my older brother.” She said.

”What?”

”What?”

”What?”

The other trio looked at her as if she had said the most ridiculous thing ever.

”Yeah, he should come.”

”No, absolutely not, Your Highness.” Geralt said. ”Rize is not ready for-”

”Are you defying my commands, Geralt?”

”...”

Her words made the man bend his head down in shame. ”My deepest apologies. I didn’t mean to.”

”Good, you shouldn’t determine what he could and couldn’t do. Let him decide if he wants to come or not.” Venera said. ”Isn’t that right, Rize?”

The boy looked at her, and she looked back at him. He could see a hint of playfulness in her eyes, and Rize immediately understood what she was trying to do.

’She’s testing me.’

While the other two were panicking inwardly, only they knew... Their game from earlier was still going. It was never over.