Struggling as a Villain

Along with Amelia, Richard reached the place where Eleanor called him.

The violette, fortunately, was punctual and was already standing there when the duo arrived.

Finding a peaceful spot on a resting bench, Richard asked, "Is there any problem connecting with them, or is it completely blacked out?"

Without asking him for details, Eleanor knew what he asked as she answered soon after, "It's complete isolation for them, it seems. Not even a single person is responding to my letters and artefact signals."

Amelia has heard about the situation from Richard en route, that's why she could be seen currently frowning.

Isolation of the capital means the head of the whole body(continent) being disabled. Many units working across the Empire get regular messages and orders regarding their action and if suddenly the command center stops working...only disaster awaits.

"What can I do to help?" Richard asked, his voice sounding more serious than ever.

Eleanor couldn't believe that she was about to ask this from Richard but she had no other options, "You have a good bond with Ethan...can you ask him to help us?"

Richard raised his brows as he added, "You mean through Elizabeth?"

Eleanor nodded. She couldn't believe that Richard would be playing the messenger's role between her and Ethan one day, but it is what it is.

Richard thought for a second before he nodded, "It won't be convenient right now but I will talk to him after school. If anything happens I will tell you through Amelia."

Glancing at his girlfriend, Richard asked, "Can you do that, Amy?"

"Surely, I can," Tilting her body she glanced at Eleanor before asking, "Your room number?"

"104."

Amelia nodded, and soon, the brief discussion came to a conclusion.

Richard and Amelia were heading toward the cafeteria while holding hands.

Richard was unnaturally tense and Amelia could understand the reason. After all, it was quite a widespread fact that the mother and son of the Scarlette family were quite close. She herself has seen the bond they share, and for the Duchess to suddenly stop responding to his calls....indeed, Richard had more than one reason to be worried.

Reaching the cafeteria in silence, they were met by the most amount of students gathered in one place. There were many dining tables and the duo easily found themselves a seat.

Every student gets a free and decent meal during lunch, but asking for anything extra, or trying a different meal costs student points.

Neither Amelia nor Richard had such an attachment to fancy foods so they picked the general one and returned to their seats.

Once they started eating Amelia asked, "What do you think? Will Your Highness help you?"

Richard, while slicing the meat, replied with a slow nod, "As Eleanor said, my relationship with Ethan is good and if he asks Elizabeth I know she won't refuse."

Amelia raised her brows, "Love?"

Richard smirked, "More than that. She is crazy for him."

Amelia was slightly surprised, "A commoner and a noble? How....unoriginal."

Richard chuckled hearing that, "You read a lot of romance books, it seems."

Amelia, after gulping a spoonful of soup, responded, "Just started recently to know how I should be acting around you. You know, this is my first."

Richard raised his brows, "And what did you learn?"

Amelia rolled her eyes, "Don't ask me that; if I actually start following their way you might end up dumping me in no time."

This time Richard laughed aloud. She really says whatever comes to her mind.

Wiping his mouth, he shook his head before thanking her, "Thanks, Amy...thanks to you, I now feel better."

Amelia smiled softly and held his hand on the table before replying, "She will be fine, Richard. The person we are talking about is the strongest witch in existence."

Heaving a sigh, she added, "And if something can threaten even her, then this world might be done for."

Richard hoped that to not be the case. A calamity which can be challenging even for Duchess Bellarine...is definitely not something the Protagonist can handle in his current state.

...

While they were about to finish their lunch, suddenly a face emerged from the outside and looked around the cafeteria in a panic.

Richard noticed the girl and so did she, before she made her way towards him.

Seeing the elven princess here caused a ruckus, but she didn't pay attention to them and only halted once she was before Richard.

"Nora?"

e with me. There is something Ethan saw." Just as he heard that his body instinctively rose from the seat.

"Richard? What happened?" Amelia's voice turned serious.

Richard didn't explain it to her and just said, "Come with me."

Naturally, Amelia followed him along with Nora as the trio went towards the library. That is the only place where the students could remain on campus except for their classes without taking permission.

"Is it about the Capital?" Richard asked while they moved hastily towards their destination.

Nora nodded, "It seems so. The clone has made its way nowhere else."

"The clone? The one Richard fought?" Amelia's question was answered by Richard,

"Yes. Since that clone was created by Ethan, he can see the flashes of memories from the eyes of the clone. And through that, we are discerning its next move."

Amelia nodded and didn't ask anything further. She very well knows that asking several questions in this kind of situation would easily get annoying.

They reached the library, and through Nora's guidance, they climbed to the second floor where the other three were seated.

Richard was surprised to see Elizabeth. Her face was ghastly pale and her breathing was unsteady while he held Ethan and Rose's hand. Ethan had his eyes closed while Rose drew the images which Ethan directed at her.

Nearing them, Richard crouched down beside the pinkhead and took the sketches she drew.

His brows drew closer as he saw the outline of a massive city with a round circumference, currently surrounded by a dark dome...more like a barrier.

"Is this the capital...?" Nora asked.

Nodding grimly, he picked up the second sheet and looked at the drawing.

Various shrouded people enter the capital through the main entrance.

"Who can they be?" Amelia asked with a frown, while Nora barely held herself from gasping.

"The Evil Worshippers," Richard replied; all his restraint for revealing his knowledge now brought down to cinders.

Amelia's eyes widened upon hearing that. She, as the daughter of a Duke, was naturally aware of these dark cultists who had a single life goal.

To revive the God of Death.

Richard slowly picked the third image, only to find great destruction ensued in the capital. Houses were being burnt down, people were getting slaughtered, and the whole city was in chaos.

"Who can threaten the security of the capital to this extent? Is that clone that strong?"Amelia couldn't help but mutter.

"No...alone, that clone can never cause this much harm," Richard voiced his opinion.

"And the evil worshippers aren't strong enough to defeat the imperial legion," Nora added.

Then what...what could cause such great mayhem in the capital? And where was his mother?

Has a Heavenly Demon General actually descended from the Dark Star to annihilate people and defeat Duchess Bellarine?

'No...it can't be. The clone couldn't have slaughtered that many people in this short duration to summon those Generals.'

The following few images contained the great destruction caused by the clone. With each murder it committed, the stronger it became.

Making several of its copies, the clone was wide spreading the destruction. People were getting exterminated like live stocks and amidst the whole chaos, the cultists made their way toward the main palace.

'They are there for the ritual...' Richard discerned what could be their motive for this sudden invasion. The ex-Prime Minister of Eldoria had created the ritual through which the Sovereign of the Dark Star could be called. And for the sake of that ritual, they have decided to stop hiding and attack from the front.

'But how....the captain of the Imperial Legion is none other than the Berserk Bennet himself.' That person was trained by the Duchess and has won several battles throughout his life. For someone of his rank was defeated? By what? The clone?

Impossible.

Then what...what could cause such a great distress?

"Richard." Suddenly, Ethan's voice woke him up from his daze as he looked at silver-head who was holding a paper.

"I know who is causing the destruction and perpetrator behind this attack." Richard frowned and asked,

"Who?"

Ethan looked at the drawing once again before extending it to Richard.

Richard eagerly took the picture and looked at the person....only to find the paper falling from his hand and his eyes parted wide.

With his mind turned numb he stared at the drawing of the person, and a single name left his lips,

"B-B-Bella?!"

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A/N:- Read the author's thoughts.