Struggling as a Villain

The next morning, Richard woke up around seven and met Amelia at the academy gate. She was waiting for him while holding her bag tightly in her hand and for the first time, he saw such a nervous look on her.

With his brows raised, he greeted her, "Good morning?"

"M-Morning...d-did you sleep well?" The way she awkwardly replied made him confused but he replied to her naturally,

"Yes, I did. What about you? Ah, and what happened with the council invitation yesterday?" Richard added the last part, both because he was curious and wanted to dissipate this awkward atmosphere.

Amelia heaved a sigh and her shoulders visibly relaxed as she replied, "They invited me to become a disciplinary incharge."

Richard was not surprised but he had to pretend, as he asked, "Wow....it's great news. But..don't they appoint the officers from the second year?"

A disciplinarian is someone who has gained knowledge of the academy's rules and policies. And for a freshman to suddenly boss around, on their seniors no less, was surely quite a strange occurrence.

Amelia replied in slight uncertainty, "It seems one of those council members saw my assessment."

About that...he was not aware so this time he asked in genuine curiosity, "What happened during your assessment that garnered their attention?"

Amelia rolled her eyes, "A guy was about to apparently slap his fianceé just because he failed and she passed. I was feeling a bit irritable, so I took him down."

Richard was surprised, "No wonder your points were higher than your expectations."

Amelia smiled, "Do you think I did the right thing?"

The way she hopefully asked made it seem that more than the increment in points and the invitation from the council, she wanted to be praised by him.

He didn't disappoint her.

Holding her hand he praised the girl, "You did well, Amy. I am proud of you."

The smile that bloomed on her lips—whether because of that nickname or his compliment—was brighter than the sun as many students halted in their path to look at her.

The rumours of these two datings have been circulating around since the first day, and now, by showing this intimacy, Richard had made it clear that they were indeed dating.

After walking for a few monents and when they were about to separate, Amelia finally muttered something which has kept her on the edge since this morning.

"You know Richard...I was very anxious about how I should treat you now. Whether I should be polite as per what I was taught or should I become more gentle? However, seeing you behaving normally gave me the insurance that I don't need to change."

Richard flashed a soft smile and pressed her nose playfully, "As I said, I fell in love with the person you actually are, Amy so no need to change yourself."

Amelia smiled hearing that with her head leaning down a little.

Richard would have talked to her a little more, but from the corner of his eyes, he caught the familiar figure of a violette advancing towards him.

From her eyes, Richard knew she was coming to say something to him.

"Okay then, I will see you during lunch?" Amelia nodded to that and soon they parted ways.

Richard didn't stop on track despite feeling Eleanor's gaze on him.

He walked inside the classroom and took his seat beside Rose.

"Morning." He greeted the girl, only to receive a soft nod in response.

God, how can someone be so terrified even of a simple greeting?

*Thud*

Maybe it was her way of gaining his attention as Eleanor rested her bag on his desk and asked him, "Can I have a minute? I have something important to discuss with you."

Richard looked at her before suggesting, "The class is about to start, so why don't you make it quick right here?"

He wasn't obliged to hear her worries relating to Ethan and answer her questions. Naturally, being not involved in something which involves Ethan was not acceptable to her.

However, the moment she opened her mouth, something unexpected rolled out, "Have you been able to contact your mother lately?"

Richard frowned, "Why are you asking this?"

Eleanor heaved a sigh before inching closer to him and faintly whispering so no one else could hear her, "I can't contact the spies I have planted in the Capital and the shop handlers who sell my product have also been unresponsive since yesterday."

Richard's frown grew deeper. He told Lilia to send a letter to his mother...but when he returned he just got into the mood and in the morning, Lilia wasn't awake that's why it completely slipped off his mind.

Now that he thinks about it, never even once after Richard left his home, and got separated from his mother, she missed a single day to contact him through any means possible.

And for two days now, she has been in complete isolation.

Shouldn't he get super worried about this?

Richard looked at the violette before asking, "Do you have a spirit beast? Or did you try that method-"

"Yes, I did that's why I am here asking for your help." Eleanor hurriedly interjected.

Richard was at a loss here as he asked, "How can I help?"

It was time to forget about the past and focus on the present. If there was any way of contacting his mother, then he could even ask for Eleanor's help.

Just as Eleanor was about to tell him, the teacher arrived, "Okay class, settle down."

Eleanor picked up her bag and told him, "Meet me near the library during the lunch break."

Richard slowly nodded to that as he absentmindedly saw the girl returning to her seat.

He was in a daze, thinking what in the world can prevent, the Duchess Bellarine from contacting him? A calamity which she can't face? No way...unless the Heavenly Demon General has suddenly descended from the Dark Star.

'But it can't be possible....after all, there haven't been many sacrifices made for that ceremony.'

Clinging to a hope that it could all be nothing but a trivial matter that prevented her from contacting him, Richard opened the book.

"Mister representative?"

Hearing his title, Richard suddenly realised that he had a duty,

"Yes, I am coming." Getting up from his seat, he made his way to the podium, and while Lucy was arranging the teaching material, he filled the roll calls.

Unlike how it was done in his previous world, in this academy, the representative just looks around to see if the students are present and tick beside their names.

While he was going through the list, he found that a single student was not present in the class—Elizabeth.

Frowning, he finished signing up others before informing the teacher, "Student Elizabeth is absent, ma'am."

Lucy nodded as she said, "Yes, she informed me that she isn't feeling well. Take your seat now."

Although Richard was surprised that Elizabeth missed her precious day to spend with Ethan, he didn't ask any more questions from the lady and walked back to his seat.

After a few minutes, the class finally began,

[The Evil Worshipper]

Resting the chalk on the shelf, Lucy began,

"There are some certain beings in this world who wears the skin of human but in actuality, they are nothing but Bates."

Taking a pause and confirming that every eye was on her she continued, "There is a way through which a being can attain darkness and become an Ambrobate and for that, they have to fulfill some requirements."

Although no one asked, and many of them were aware of what that requirement could be, Lucy wrote it on the board,

[Sacrifices.]

Turning towards the class she added, "There have been many occurence where humans followed the path of darkness to achieve something foolish. And for us those people are nothing but a wild beast which we need to get rid of."

"So today, I am going to teach the ways by which you can identify a corrupted person...."

The classes continued but truth be told, Richard wasn't able to focus on their words at all. He was anxious about his mother and was blaming himself to pay attention to it so late.

He anxiously waited for three hours before finally the lunch break bell rang and he hurriedly put his books inside the bag.

Before Eleanor could have left her seat, Richard walked out of the class to meet Amelia.

After waiting for a bit he finally saw her walking out of her class, and upon spotting him she waved her hand with a smile—which soon turned stiff noticing his nervousness.

Nearing him, she asked, "Richard?"

"Can we postpone the plan for lunch? I need to meet someone urgently."

Looking at his unnaturally worried visage, she grew anxious as she asked in a serious voice, "If it's not a problem then bring me there as well."

Richard thought for a moment before he nodded and after holding her hand he urged, "Let's go."

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A/N:- Okay, shit about to go down really bad. Thanks for reading.