Struggling as a Villain

[Child, I cannot express how grateful I am.]

It was happening again. After Richard brought Amelia to the room, he was summoned back into the goddess' realm.

The method was the same, and now he just wanted that in the real world, time would stop, or his mother would become sick in concern.

"Granting me my wish would be the best token of gratitude." He suggested.

[I would not go back on my words, child. Rather, for your great deeds I would allow you to have the cloak of invisibility.]

Richard raised his brows, "For real?"

[Indeed you can have that, child.]

Richard rested his hands on his waist with a broad smile on his face. A cloak that hid him from the world...isn't that pretty much a broken tool?

[But remember child,]

Ah, here it comes,

[...until now, I have been providing the divine energy to keep you hidden from the deities, but now, since you would be using ether, you won't be hidden from those who possess divine essence.]

"You mean, I would be visible to Ethan and the deities, eh?"

[Indeed, child.]

Richard sighed. Although it was a little sad that he wouldn't be completely invisible to every being, it was still a great tool for him.

[Now, for the wish you asked for.]

Suddenly, Richard's body began to glow, and a warm sensation penetrated his skin, making him feel that he was in a sauna.

Richard looked at himself as the illumination slowly subdued and a strange mark appeared on his left hand.

Richard smiled in satisfaction as he found his surroundings starting to melt and the voice of the goddess resonating through the space,

[Have a great life ahead, child.]

....

"Uh?"

Amelia blinked in confusion suddenly hearing the strange sound from Richard before she asked, "Is something wrong."

Richard looked at her, trying to collect his thoughts before answering, "Yes...everything is good."

*Knock*

Turning around, he found Violet standing there with a tray in her hand.

Richard nodded to her before she walked in and rested the tray on the bedside table.

"You can go now."

Violet bowed her head briefly before making her way out of the room.

Richard took the glass before handing it to Amelia, as he said, "Have some honey water for a better sleep."

Amelia closed her eyes and bent a little forward.

Richard sighed and shook his head before placing the glass tip against her soft lips.

She parted her lips and slowly began to drink.

Seriously, the way she gracefully tucked her hair strand mid-way and never opened her eyes threw Richard in a daze as he absentmindedly continued to look at her.

Amelia finished the content and had already removed her lips. She looked at Richard with a tilt of her head; not understanding why he was behaving like a statue.

"Richard?"

Richard suddenly shook out of his stupor as he hurriedly said, "Sorry...I just...anyway, you sleep for now. Your body requires some much-needed rest."

He got up saying that and was about to step away when Amelia held his hand; urging Richard to look down at her.

With an upturned gaze, Amelia asked, "Can't you sleep here with me?"

"----!" Richard widened his eyes. Usually, a maiden like her should have been shy when proposing such an idea, however, Amelia wasn't like others. She always remains honest with her desires.

Richard shook his head before telling her, "We can't, Lady Amelia. We are just friends-"

"But what if we had been engaged?"

Richard paused, then thought, then looked at her before replying, "But we aren't. Please understand."

Amelia smiled before telling him, "Glad to know that at least you won't resist after we get engaged."

Her words made it seem that they would surely get engaged. Richard didn't know how to answer her. Truth be told, only Amelia is the one who can make even Richard embarrassed.

Stuttering he said, "Okay then...good night."

On his way out, he heard her melodious laughter, which sounded honey-like sweet to his ears.

Subconsciously, his lips also stretched in a smile as he inwardly muttered,

'She sure is fierce....'

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

Ethan woke up in a daze and was sitting at the edge of the bed for a long time. He didn't know where he was nor could he clearly remember what happened to him before he lost consciousness.

He just felt he met a girl in the jungle...and then...he was brought to a strange dark place where he experienced unimaginable pain. Even thinking about him made his heart race and body tremble.

Shivering, he looked up and tried to extend his hand toward the glass of water nearby. However, he was feeling so weak that even lifting the glass seemed like a labor that he was unable to endure.

"Allow me," Suddenly a soft voice greeted him before Ethan looked at the familiar blond girl advancing towards him.

Truth be told, despite wanting to react to her presence he was just too tired now.

Elizabeth helped him drink the water and nearly lapped the droplets that fell from his lips.

Endure...endure...

Once she was done, she asked him, "Would you like to eat something? I will prepare it myself."

"I don't think I can eat anything right now..." Ethan honestly replied, feeling no appetite at all.

Elizabeth felt quite sad hearing that and her agitation flared up towards that bastard named Lucius.

Thinking for a bit she asked hesitantly, "Some soup? You won't need to chew it and it will help replenish your lost energy."

Ethan felt she was being more helpless than he was. Looking into the eyes, he felt she might cry if he rejected her, so he nodded.

She beamed with a smile before going towards the open kitchen just across the bed. She moved around a bit, boiled things, added things, and in ten minutes, she brought a full bowl of vegetable and meat soup.

Sitting on a chair near him, she scooped the soup before slowly blowing air over it and bringing it near his lips.

However, he didn't part his lips to taste the soup; he asked her, "Why are you concerned about me?"

Elizabeth slowly brought her hand back down and looked clueless about how she should answer that.

"And please tell me honestly. I am tired of hearing lies." Ethan added, his tone carrying weariness rather than annoyance.

Elizabeth finally uttered and didn't hide the truth, "I love you."

Ethan blinked...and blinked again.

Elizabeth didn't want to hear his response before she finished what she had to say, so she hurriedly added, "Don't ask me when I fell for you...but just know that my feelings are all true. " She has seldom felt this much nervous before. She kept her eyes closed and her fist clenched when she uttered those words.

She has confessed to him in the previous timeline but every time she says those words, she feels her heart about to explode in excitement.

Ethan remained silent for a bit before he held her hand, urging Elizabeth to look at him.

Her eyes contained a bit of moisture, and she looked quite anxious to him.

Ethan felt troubled in his heart as he said, "I don't know how a Princess like you fell for a commoner like me...but I cannot reciprocate your feelings. Sorry."

Elizabeth didn't react to that. She expected much. It was one of the qualities she loved about him.

Wiping the tear, she brought the spoon near his lips before asking, "At least, you can have my soup, right?"

Ethan felt bitter in his heart. It was the first time he had rejected someone. And given how genuine her feelings seemed, he felt even more guilty.

However...accepting her feelings without knowing anything about her other than her name and status made him feel that it would be unfair to her.

He parted his lips and tasted the soup, before telling her, "It's quite good."

Elizabeth fondly smiled as she scooped another spoonful and said, "I am glad."

They both sat in comfortable silence; Elizabeth slowly and patiently fed him the soup and Ethan consumed it with a lot of thoughts going inside his head.

Ethan wasn't able to finish it, so Elizabeth took it to the kitchen, with the pretense of throwing it away, only to store it so she could drink it later...using the same spoon, no less!

Ethan drank some water, by himself this time before he asked Elizabeth,

"Your Highness, can you tell me...what happened to me?"

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

A/N:- Now, we are finally starting the academy arc. Just two more chapters I guess?

Things would be fun given everyone had their character development before the main arc. Eleanor and Emily are completely lost by now. Elizabeth got what she desired, and Ethan had gone through the most severe development.

The blessing Richard gained would be explained soon. It would be extremely useful for him once he enters the Academy.

Anyway, drop a few comments, and see you!