Struggling as a Villain

Richard was thinking back about the day, about all the things that happened. The Goddess hasn't summoned him back, nor has she taken the cloak and bracers back. Richard could still track Ethan. It seems the Protagonist is somewhere away from the palace.

'I hope Elizabeth can at least take care of him....' With his fingers interlaced behind his head, he stared at the ceiling mindlessly.

It was then,

*RUMBLE*

Richard immediately sprang to his feet upon experiencing the whole building under an explosive aura. This presence was familiar, and the person seemed agitated.

Without another thought, Richard dashed downstairs, and upon searching for the person, he found that his mother, indeed, looked quite angry.

Witnessing the other person on the table, Richard rolled his eyes. This girl can only increase people's blood pressure.

"Mom! What happened?" Reaching near her, he planted his on her shoulder and broke her daze. His eyes then landed on his own picture resting inside a document file, and some details written below it.

Subject Name: Scarlette Richard.

Primary skill: Elementalist

Bloodline: The Scarlette house

And many others.

Oh, so this was it—Richard inwardly muttered.

Looking at Elizabeth he asked, "To get your revenge, you came here to rile up my mother?" His tone carried a bit of annoyance.

Elizabeth shrugged, "I guess, as a diligent niece I should inform my aunt about what they were planning. Did I do anything wrong, Aunt Bella?"!

Bellarine burned the whole file without even touching it—making both teenagers jolt in shock.

With her fist clenched Bellarine muttered under heated breath, "They shouldn't have targeted you...unacceptable...they need to die..."

Richard suddenly hugged his mother from behind, before she could have taken any step.

Bellarine's circuits got overloaded, and steam blew over her head as she stuttered, "E-Eh, baby? Why this sudden reward?"

"You got angry for my stead, it made me happy." Richard softly whispered.

Bellarine lowered her head in embarrassment, with her cheeks turning red and the grown-up lady started fidgeting in her seat shyly.

Elizabeth looked at the duo with a dumbfounded look. She couldn't believe the Witch of Calamity was being all shy and embarrassed like a maiden. The same woman who was slaughtering those clones like a cold-blooded murderer was actually not immune to her own son's affection.

'Dear lord...what my eyes are greeted with...'

Richard took his time to soothe his mother's anger and completely ignored the flat reactions the Princess was showing.

After that, Richard sat down on the same chair as Bellarine with the lady partially sitting on his son's lap—her throne.

With her hands crossed around his neck, Bellarine smiled in contentment, and let Richard do the talking,

"So your Highness, you want to exact revenge on your father because he harmed your crush?"

"He is my husband."

"Yeah, that...anyway, so you want to usurp the throne and gain authority?" Richard asked, ignoring the obsessiveness she carries for even such trivial things.

Elizabeth leaned back in her seat with her arms crossed, "I don't need the throne nor do I care about my status. I just want that man dead."

Her indifference was what she was famous for. The obsessed yandere can even kill her family if it's about Ethan.

"I second that." Following Elizabeth, Bellarine chimed. Seriously, an indifferent mode of declaring the intent to murder is quite tamer in comparison to someone who shares her murderous intention with a smiling face.

Richard heaved a sigh before asking, "You both are much closer to the Emperor than me, yet you two are ignoring a very important fact," With his tone turning a little serious, he added, "With the blessings of the legendary hero, the Emperor is pretty much immortal, no?"

Silence befell in the eatery after Richard pushed the question towards the other two.

When a new Emperor or king is announced to rule the land which was established by one of the seven legendary heroes, the new ruler gets the blessings of the founder.

Taking a pause, he added, "Not to talk about Eldoria was founded by the legendary warrior Kraken Eldor, who was allied to two different heroes. If the words got out that the descendent of Hero Kraken is under threat, the other two Emperors would surely intervene."

Each word of Richard held a possibility of becoming true. The Emperor still possesses that blessing which would ensure that if someone attacks him, the soul of the legendary hero would surely protect him. And the two allied empires, on the other hand, would become a pain in the neck if they suddenly appeared in Eldoria.

"Then what do you suggest?" Solemnly, Elizabeth asked, barely suppressing her annoyance from surfacing. Bellarine has also stopped smiling as she looked at her baby for an answer.

Although she has calmed down a bit, the flames of revenge have yet to be subdued. That would only happen after she beheaded the blond bastard.

Richard thought for a moment, well he had to show that he was contemplating, before responding,

"In six months, the new Emperor would be announced, no?"

That statement made Elizabeth jerk before she looked up at Richard with wide eyes.

"You mean..."

Richard shrugged, "Just wait and let him transfer the blessing before you two make a move?"

Elizabeth remained silent and so did Bellarine. They had to take the suggestion into consideration as if their rash decisions failed; the Emperor might not transfer the blessings until his last breath.

After a bit of thinking, Elizabeth finally spoke up, "Okay then, revenge has to wait. I will take my leave."

Elizabeth soon stood up and walked out.

Richard heaved a sigh. Overtaking the throne and killing the Emperor would turn the plot into ruins. The Emperor was required for now, and despite his misdeeds, it cannot be said that he was bad at politics and stuff.

That person is needed for the time being, but once that ends, he would just let the Princess do whatever she wants.

As Richard was about to get up, with his mother in his arms, he saw her taking out something from her hair.

It was a pair of small metallic orbs which was attached to her hairpin.

Richard took the beads before he heard her saying, "This artifact has recorded the conversation I and Princess had."

Richard widened his eyes, "You recorded it?"

"Yep! I thought my baby might need it if the time comes." She kissed his cheeks fondly after saying that.

Richard suddenly had a thought. These kinds of artifacts...who is even making such modern world tools?

Turning eyes toward Bellarine he asked, "Where did you get this from?"

Bellarine tilted her head, confused by the sudden shift of conversation, but she still responded, "The seller is anonymous and only deals with very few customers. Is there something wrong, baby?"

Richard could tell that the developer of the tool knew things that they weren't supposed to know. Recording voices? Indeed not something he could have expected from this medieval world.

"If possible, then get me in contact with this developer."

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After spending the night in the motel, they left the place early in the morning.

The Emperor never summoned her but she didn't care. Her initial purpose of coming here was fulfilled. No way, she was leaving the Duchy now.

Richard never tried to find Ethan since he trusted that Elizabeth could take care of him now. Well, unless another disaster befalls and the Goddess requests him to rescue the Protagonist again.

There was no news about Eleanor and Emily but Richard didn't pay attention to them. Once the Academy starts he would naturally see them again.

For now, the plot was somehow brought back to its original pace. For now, that is.

Reaching the teleportation center, both Richard and Bellarine didn't waste much time before getting on the altar and returning to the Duchy.

It took a second at most before the scene in front of his eyes shifted. However, what Richard saw was unexpected.

Near the teleportation center, a person could be seen seated on a chair with her head hanging down. Her raven black hair covered her face while the girl seemed to be soundly asleep.

Richard shared a gaze with Bellarine and heard her saying, "Duke Hawkbridge must have been informed."

Richard heaved a sigh before he stepped down the altar and asked the blue-haired maid standing nearby, "When did she arrive?"

Violet instantly responded, "Yesterday, in the afternoon. She was reluctant to leave the area, saying that she wanted to see the young master as soon as she could."

Richard's heart trembled to hear that. The girl who was popular for her indifferent personality and straightforward nature could be so concerned for someone.

Amelia arrived here yesterday and has been waiting for him all this time...

"She is one hell of a competition." Ignoring his mother's inner talks, for the time being, Richard stepped forward and gently picked Amelia in his arms.

Maybe he wasn't careful enough that she immediately woke up after getting lifted.

Her big eyes parted wide as she stared at Richard with both concern and relief.

There were many things she had to ask and say, however, the first thing that left her mouth was, "Welcome back."

Richard flashed a smile before nodding, "En. I am back."

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A/N:- Bellarine be like: Finally! A worthy opponent!

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