Struggling as a Villain

Who could have kidnapped Ethan at this point in the plot? This was getting complicated. Was it Elizabeth? But she can't have left the palace given she has recently escaped without telling anyone, and being the beloved daughter of the Emperor, it was given that the security must have been doubled around her.

Then who? And why now? Just because Ethan had gained a little more strength than what he was supposed to attain around this time, some future villains began to target him. That would be disastrous.

'Exactly what in the seven hell these regressors are doing if they can't even protect their lover?' Richard felt irritated inwardly as he looked at Emily's worried visage.

They have the resources, knowledge, and strength to keep an eye on Ethan and help him become stronger, but all they do is create trouble for him.

'Seriously, now I am feeling sympathy for that guy...'

Heaving a sigh, Richard replied to Emily's previous query, "Listen, Miss Emily, I understand that you are worried about your friend, but there is nothing I can do to help you here. And asking my mother to allocate soldiers would only cause Cravenford house trouble, considering the past we share."

Richard made it clear that the broken engagement wasn't forgotten and any further collaboration was nigh impossible. In the first place, Lilia didn't like Emily being around him so he never had any plans to help her out.

Emily looked crestfallen hearing his response, but somehow she expected it. The emotions she saw in Richard's eyes that day when he returned the ring had completely vanished.

Now, he has someone in his heart and someone he cares for. He was no longer compassionate for her to help her.

"Let's go...El." Saying so, Emily was about to get up, but Eleanor pulled her down and asked Richard,

"Can you just help me with one thing? Please, I beg you." Eleanor pleaded; completely feeling hopeless after getting rejected by Richard.

The redhead raised his brows before asking, "What is it?"

"Just give me a letter of approval so we can freely move in the territory of Governor Hector."

Richard frowned, "You are intending to investigate Silverleaf by yourself?" That market was under the governance of Hector, and this girl was asking for the approval of Scarlette's house so they could search for Ethan.

Eleanor lowered her eyes before slowly uttering, "I know you are not obliged to help us, nor can we provide you with something useful in exchange, but please, it's about an innocent life. Please help us." With her head lowered, she begged.

For once, Richard wanted to roll his eyes. Why did this alchemist, who was known for her brains, have to bring herself down in the first place? Why couldn't they have taken precautions?

Well, forget it.

"I will provide you with the approval." He casually spoke, making both ladies in front of him, startled.

They were expecting heavy compensation in return, given Richard's personality. Although he has changed, the roots of his disposition wouldn't have allowed him to give away the approval for free.

Raising from his seat, Richard offered his hand to Lilia, which the latter instantly took before he began to walk away.

"Richard!" Hearing Emily's hurried voice, Richard paused but didn't turn around to look.

After a brief moment of silence, Emily finally uttered, "We failed as a couple, but c-can we be friends?"

The grip around his hand became more firm; Richard noticed.

Looking over his shoulder and with a smile on his face, Richard answered, "No."

"..."

After returning to the mansion, Richard wrote the approval letter and stamped it before handing it to Violet.

"Give them the letter and send them off." The blue-haired maid gave a brief bow before exiting the room with the letter in hand.

"Was it the right choice to not help them, my lord?" Hearing Lilia's words, who was currently setting up the lunch, Richard smirked,

"Weren't you worried that I might end up spending more time with Emily if I agreed to help them?"

*CLINK*

The glass from her hand fell from a little height on the table, as she got frozen up at her spot.

W-was she so obvious?

Richard walked to stand behind her before collecting his beloved fiancée in his arms. Resting his head on her shoulder he warmly whispered,

"People often say that beautiful girls are hard to read, but here I am, proving them wrong."

The tips of her ears became red in embarrassment as she coyly asked, "Those are empty words. I am definitely not as beautiful as Lady Emily."

She looked so adorable to him right now that Richard couldn't help but kiss her fondly and inform her of his thoughts, "Our standards of beauty might not be the same. For you, Emily might be beautiful, but for me, you are the prettiest."

While enjoying his tender kisses, Lilia mischievously asked, "Even more than Madame Duchess?"

"Err...that....is not fair..." His body froze upon hearing that question. He couldn't say that Lilia is indeed the prettiest if Bellarine is in the contest as well.

Lilia giggled as she cupped his cheek and assured, "Don't worry, I know what you mean. I was just teasing you."

The duo flirted for a little longer before finishing the lunch.

These few days before the academy were going very pleasantly for Richard.

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Inside the forest near the Silverleaf market, Eleanor and Emily were searching for any traces of Ethan.

They would have contacted Elizabeth, but right now, she was under heavy surveillance, so asking for her help was futile. That's why they decided to find Ethan on their own.

While looking around, Eleanor noticed that Emily looked slightly lost, which urged the violette to ask, "You okay?"

Emily flinched being nudged before she nodded instantly....only to shake her head slowly soon after.

"Isn't it strange?"

"That he rejected you?" Eleanor asked back.

Emily narrowed her gaze and complained, "No, not that. I think it's strange how love can change people so much." With her gaze becoming a little nostalgic, she added, "The same Richard who was known for his ruthless behavior and arrogant disposition, was behaving so gentlemanly for his fiancée just now."

"Indeed. He seemed like a new person." Eleanor added.

A brief pause descended between them as they kept moving mindlessly for a few minutes, before Eleanor suddenly asked something absurd, "Hey Em...you aren't regretting your decision, right?"

"About the engagement annulment? No!"

Eleanor blinked innocently, "But I never mentioned the engagement tho...."

Emily punched her lightly on the arm before retorting, "But you did mean it, right?"

Eleanor shrugged in response.

Emily sighed before honestly responding, "Even if Richard hadn't been arrogant and misunderstood by me, I still would have withdrawn from our relationship. I love Ethan and that is a fact about which I am utmost sure."

With her shoulders slumping in dejection, she spoke again, "But it's just...if I had known what he had in his heart since the beginning, then I might have handled things in a better way."

"How? By offering your friendship after annulling the engagement?" Eleanor asked, which left Emily speechless.

Eleanor scoffed, "Asking your ex to be your friend is one of the heinous sins, Em. You should let go of those lingering feelings or you won't be able to start a new life with Ethan."

Emily slowly nodded. She understood what Eleanor meant.

"Hey....look there." Suddenly, Eleanor held Emily's hand before pointing toward a specific spot.

There was the head of a man lying there. Upon closer inspection, Eleanor said, "He was beheaded around half a month ago."

Emily frowned, "Then how has it not decayed until now?"

Eleanor suddenly touched its forehead and inserted her fingers inside its nose—much to Emily's disgust.

After inspecting the head for a bit, Eleanor declared, "Ice magic was applied to it which didn't allow the head to get decayed."

Emily widened her eyes, hearing that before she asked, "B-But 'she' doesn't possess ice magic, right?"

Eleanor slowly got back on her feet with her eyes still drawn to the ground before she slowly uttered,

"Em...Ethan might have been abducted by a stranger. In my opinion, Nora never arrived in Eldoria."

Emily gasped. This was far worse than what they originally thought.

---------***--------

After the messenger left, Bellarine was sitting in her office with the message scroll resting on the table.

Richard entered the office and while standing behind her, he slowly began to massage her shoulders.

"Hah~" She heaved a sigh in relief and leaned her head to the left.

"When?" Richard asked in a soft tone without bothering to read the whole scroll.

"In three days they expect me to report to the Capital and depart from there."

Richard hummed before suggesting, "That's fortunate that they invited you to the capital first."

Bellarine hummed with her eyes closed; enjoying the blissful sensation.

Suddenly Richard asked, "Mom...if possible, then let me accompany you that day. I have a feeling that I will find something useful there."

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A/N:- I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.