Struggling as a Villain

There was no direct teleportation portal that led to Awsperg so Richard and others decided to take the carriage from the nearest town to Awsperg.

Emily was invited by Richard since there wouldn't be anyone back in the mansion. Given Violet was told to accompany Bellarine and Jasmine was just watching over two sleeping beings, Richard asked Emily to tag along.

Naturally, she didn't show reluctance since Emily had no one to answer to.

When Richard asked, 'Don't you need to inform your parents about your late return?', she just smiled and shook her head

The relationship between her family members and Emily has turned ugly. Emily's father was aware of the fact that his daughter had turned into Ambrobate, and as a dignified citizen and ruler, he immediately broke off all his relationship with her.

Emily was unaware if her mother and her siblings knew the reason behind her exclusion from the family. However, it is a fact now that Emily was an orphan.

"Emily?" Suddenly a hand rested on hers, startling the girl before she looked at the brown-haired woman looking back at her.

"Is everything fine?" Lilia asked as the two of them remained seated side by side.

Bella and Richard were involved in a conversation that the other two didn't quite understand, so probably they didn't notice when Lilia asked her.

Emily slowly nodded before responding, "Just…a little sleepy." Since it was still too early in the morning, she went with the lie.

However, Lilia looked unconvinced. She could see that the blond teenager was disturbed about something and she often spaced out.

However, she decided not to pry any further and just suggested, "If you want you can talk to me. Although we haven't known each other for long, I can be a good listener if you feel like it."

Emily smiled, quite surprised that the ever-stoic maid could be so compassionate at times, as she nodded.

Richard, who was talking to Bella about movies and their childhood, heard the conversation between them.

However, he didn't call out to Emily or try to ask what was wrong.

The fact of the matter is that he doesn't know if he should maintain the distance between them or try to reach out to her.

It was rare for Richard to be so indecisive; however, in Emily's case, he just couldn't make up his mind.

****

"We are here." Lilia smiled as she saw the entrance of the town and the familiar smell arriving from a distance.

There was nothing special about Awsperg, and no tourists came to visit this place unless they had to board a ship or deal with fishermen.

However, for Lilia, this was her home and a place where she grew up. Every street, every alley is familiar to her. Although she has never been talkative since childhood, almost every old store owner knows her as the daughter of the Hero.

"It's a nice place…" Emily's eyes shone as she looked around. The last time she came here with Eleanor, her attention was converged on Ethan, so she didn't pay much attention to the town.

Bella also looked quite intrigued by these kinds of markets which were absent on Earth.

On both sides, the stores were lined up, people selling many different kinds of things. Children were running around, a very friendly and warm atmosphere could be seen.

Various people glanced at the carriage since it belonged to a noble house.

Richard asked, "Lilia, your mother won't mind right? That we are arriving without any prior notice?"

The brunette smiled in amusement, "Of course, not."

Richard doubted. Lilia's mother doesn't like him much, because of his past. Lilia was the one who informed her about his past self, and Cristina repeatedly told her to leave the job. And now, even after he has changed and his relationship with Lilia has undoubtedly improved, Cristina still holds the same opinion of him.

The carriage soon came to a halt before the grandest villa in the town, where the renowned hero lives.

Richard jumped out and helped the other three to climb down. There wasn't much luggage since Richard didn't know how long he had to stay in Emberclad.

Naturally, the soldiers stationed at the entrance didn't stop them; after all, all of them were sent here by the Duchess, so they naturally were aware of his identity.

As they entered the house, the first thing Richard saw was greatly astonishing,

"Wao…" He whistled as the whole reception area looked nothing less than a training ground.

No resting sofas or antiques decorated here anymore. Training dolls, aiming boards, and weapon shelves now filled up the reception area.

Lilia heaved a sigh; the last time she visited things were not like this.

"Mom?" She called out, and out of nowhere, a dagger flew at Lilia—which the latter easily caught between her fingers and threw back at the person.

**SWOOOSH**

Emily's lips were parted, unsure if it was normal to greet each other like this.

Lilia slowly made her way towards the place where the dagger was stabbed. It was nothing but a plain wall in sight, however, no one can be a hundred percent sure.

However, just as she stood before the dagger, she felt a sharp cold sensation on her neck,

"Caught you~"

Lilia heaved a weary sigh as she turned toward her mother and asked, "Is this a way to greet your daughter, Mom?"

The short raven-haired lady laughed, her hands resting on her waist, as she said, "Why go with the norm and be all dramatic?"

Her eyes then went towards the other three as she asked, "Why are you standing? Sit down."

Lilia raised her brows, "But where, Mom? Why did you move everything away?"

Cristina sighed, and while rubbing her head, she answered, "Actually, recently I began to teach kids, and the backyard was already too occupied, so yeah, making use of the free space."

She then gestured to follow her, as she said, "Come, let's sit inside."

Emily followed the duo while Bella silently whispered, "Is she insane?"

Richard reprimanded her, "Don't say such things about your elders." With a sad sigh escaping his lips, he added, "After her husband's death, she mostly remains alone. That's why to keep herself distracted, I could see how many things she is trying recently."

Richard still feels that during the Headless ambush, he could have done better if only he had utilized the system better and grasped his origin a little earlier.

Bella didn't say anything after that and just held her brother's hand softly to console him.

The five of them entered the room which once belonged to Lilia.

Lilia went to bring water for others, accompanied by Emily. Richard and Bella were seated together with their hands connected, and Cristina sat across them.

"She is…"

"My sister. Bella."

Cristina raised her brows, "She does look like Lady Scarlette. Ah, how is she?"

Richard smiled faintly, "Just busy with work. Many concerning matters are rising day after day that require her presence in the capital all the time."

Cristina slowly shook her head as she said, "The dangers this world is getting introduced to…someone like Scarlette Bellarine should be on the front lines rather than being occupied by boring meetings."

Richard smiled, "Mom would have surely agreed to that."

Cristina's lips also extended in a soft smile and the room soon engulfed in comfortable silence.

—----**-----

In the kitchen, Lilia was preparing tea for everyone. Thanks to the fact that her mother hasn't switched things in the kitchen that allowed the brunette to find things easily.

Emily was idly standing nearby, looking around, when suddenly her eyes landed on a picture frame in which a man with brown hair was standing beside Lilia; a little younger.

"You loved your father, right?" She could see the faint smile in the photo which Lilia adorned. It was amusing and adorable how the little girl wasn't the one clinging to her father but rather the other way around.

The edges of her lips stretched as she nodded, "Yeah…he was my hero. The strongest person I knew."

Although from a common perspective, Henry was the weakest one in the family, being unawakened after all. However, from Lilia's perception, he is the man who made her feel protected until she met Richard.

Emily's smile slowly faded as she said, "Sorry for not being able to do anything that day…even though I was in Awsperg at that time."

Lilia patted the girl on her shoulder before softly scolding her, "Don't you blame yourself for something that was impossible for you to change."

Emily looked up at the other one with complicated emotions swirling in her eyes.

Lilia released a sigh before telling her, "Listen, Emily, don't let your regrets of the past become a shackle. If something bothers you…makes you feel suffocated, then just try to do something about it. You have only one chance to live so don't let your past drag you down, okay?"

Both Emily and Lilia knew that the latter was saying all this in the context of something entirely different.

Emily's eyes were blurred behind the tears as she slowly nodded, "I will try."

—-------**--------

A/N:- Thanks for reading.

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