Struggling as a Villain

Someone who has trained her survival skills since the age of seven, Amelia had enough experience to know what is the natural fragrance of food and what could be blended into it to make it harmful.

The moment the waiter placed the food on the table, Amelia had her suspicion, that's why she instantly scooped a spoonful before Richard could taste the meat, and as she expected, there was poison in the food.

She instantly held his wrist before warning him.

Richard glanced at her before he took a small bite of the meat. He has gained poison resistance during his training, that's why he wasn't affected by the substance; however, he could taste the unnatural bitterness in it.

Richard previously ignored the long glance from the waiter towards Amelia. However, it seems he was a little too nonchalant. These people could go to some absurd extent, it seems.

"I think-" Richard turned to look at Amelia, suggesting that they should let the authorities handle this, when unexpectedly, he found Amelia's face a bit pale and sweat building on her forehead.

Richard drew closer to her before cupping her cheeks, and checking her forehead as he asked, "Did you consume it?"

She slowly nodded, "It seems it had Aembr essence."

Richard's eyes widened. Aembr essence was like a drug to ether users, which could easily destroy them from within.

Richard gritted his teeth before standing up from his seat and removing his veil from his head, letting his long, laval-like hair flow down and fall on his shoulders.

The customers around him became stunned in an instant, seeing that pair of eyes and those peculiar hair that can only be possessed by a single bloodline.

Instantly, the two soldiers in civilian uniforms appeared before Richard with their heads lowered and their knees planted on the ground.

In a low growling voice, Richard ordered, "Bring me the waiter who served this and the chef who made this."

The two soldiers instantly disappeared in a cloud of smoke upon receiving the command.

The people around him began to chatter and whisper, asking if they really were witnessing the renowned heir of the Scarlette clan.

Richard ignored their chattering and turned towards Amelia. She has taken a potion to stabilize her condition. She didn't look that bad in general, but from Richard's perception, she was in a very bad condition, and it was all because he was careless.

Soon, one of the two soldiers appeared before him with a fat middle-aged man in his hold, who was wearing an apron.

"Please! Let me go! I didn't do it...i-it was Elion who forced me-" The chef began to rub his face on the ground but it was all futile.

Richard stepped forward before crouching down. Patting his head lightly he asked, "So you can kill people if you are asked, right?"

The chef turned stiff and instantly raised his head, with a long knife in his hand—aiming to stab Richard in the chest.

However, before the knife could have even traveled inches toward Richard, crimson flames engulfed the man—causing a deafening cry to explode in the eatery. Richard stepped away, and so did the soldier as the burning body of the chef roamed around, trying to extinguish this excruciating pain.

But no one from the crowd helped him. Everyone looked at the chef with disdain and many of them even hit him away.

Under Richard's indifferent gaze, the bastard fell down on the ground soon after; burnt to death.

Soon the second soldier arrived, making Richard frown as he asked, "Where is that waiter?"

The soldier never looked up and spoke regretfully, "He got away, my lord. The waiter had a self-cloning skill and his movement suggested that he was no ordinary man."

Richard narrowed his eyes. Someone with a self-cloning spell? Wasn't that the specialty of the nation in the Far East? The descendants of one of the seven heroes.

'Why would a descendent of the Great Hero work as a waiter?'

This was a matter of concern but Richard didn't dwell on it for now. His priority rested on getting Amelia checked up.

Turning towards the soldier who brought the chef, Richard said, "Keep every staff member, owner, and manager under detention and interrogate them."

"Ha!"

Richard turned toward Amelia before softly asking, "Can you walk?" The previous aggression from his voice completely disappeared as he asked in evident concern.

Amelia's heart felt warm hearing that. She looked up at him before slowly nodding, "I can...but I might need to hold your hand."

Richard helplessly smiled before kneeling in front of her and offering his hand.

The scene was like out of a painting where a handsome young man was asking a beautiful girl out.

Amelia, for the first time today, showed a very soft smile before she gently rested her hand on his.

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Richard escorted Amelia to the nearest church and had her checked. There wasn't any lasting effect of the drug and she could recover if she took some days of rest.

"Traveling through portals isn't safe since her ether would diminish at a rapid pace and the Aembr would expand significantly." The medic warned.

Richard nodded before he bought some potion from the church and led Amelia back to the mansion.

Duke Hawkbridge was still present there, naturally, and Bellarine was getting bored hearing his tales and achievements.

Once Richard and Amelia stepped in, both adults sensed that there was something wrong.

"Please calm down for now," Richard told them before he looked at Violet and told her, "Amelia needs some rest. Provide her something warm to wear and put someone to look over her for the time being."

Violet nodded before with Richard's permission, she took Amelia's hand and tried to take her away.

But Amelia was reluctant to let go of Richard. Her source was warmth was getting separated...and she didn't like it.

"Come with me?" She asked—making Bellarine flinch.

However, Richard had to deny, "I need to tell them about the incident. You rest for now, I will come to check on you later."

With sadness appearing in her beautiful eyes, she released his hand and followed Violet.

Once she was gone, The Duke finally asked, "What just happened to my daughter?"

"Richie? Are you fine?" Bellarine neared her son and checked him for any injuries.

He held her shoulders before telling her, "I am fine Mom and Amelia have just minor dizziness."

Seeing that both of them were still unconvinced, he sighed and finally revealed the whole incident.

....

"They dare to poison my daughter?!" Gideon released an aura that was enough to make the antiques placed on the table tremble and the chandelier above their head sway.

Bellarine was equally furious as well, but since Richard was uninjured she didn't allow her anger to influence her surroundings.

"Duke Hawkbridge, I must remind you that your daughter is still weak. So calm your rage before you end up hurting her." Bellarine warned, and instantly, Gideon quieted down.

Once done with the big bull, she turned toward her son before asking, "Did you see that rat's face?"

"Yes, but he had a long beard and a big moustache which makes me wonder if he was using prosthetics."

"A rogue? From the east?" Gideon frowned before asking Bellarine, "Was he one of those experimental piggies?"

Richard was aware of these experiments, but his knowledge arrived from the novel he read, so he feigned ignorance, "What experiment?"

Bellarine heaved a sigh before crossing her arms and spoke in a tentative tone, "There are rumors that there had been attempts of copying the genes and ether signature of the hero descendants. However, without any evidence, those rumors remained just rumors."

"But we both know that they aren't. We have been in battles against those damned beings." Hawkbridge pressed, having the conviction that cloning was no myth.

Bellarine couldn't refute it. Although the Empire refused to formally declare that they had captured several beings with similar ether signatures and basic properties, Bellarine herself knew what she had killed.

"Mom, is it possible for them to be spread around the Empire, and gathering information for invasion?"

The atmosphere grew tense when Richard forwarded the possibility.

Richard was aware that after Bellarine died, some international war occurred, but Ethan refused to participate in it.

If the secret spies have really been sent over to Eldoria to gather intel, then it couldn't be disregarded that the foreign Empire was planning a secret invasion.

Duke Hawkbridge suddenly said, "I might have to visit the Capital. You are coming with me right?"

Bellarine instantly shook her head, "I have taken a month's leave. I have to train my son before he enrolls."

"But Bellarine, this is a continent-level threat." Gideon insisted and before Bellarine could refuse, Richard also said,

"I think you should go Mom. And it won't take more than two days to return." If the plot has somehow shifted, then there was a chance for the internal war to happen soon. That's why Richard didn't want to take any chances.

Bellarine pouted. Her son was again trying to get rid of her!

Gideon stepped forward before resting his hand over Richard's shoulder and spoke in a serious tone, "Until I return, I am leaving Amelia in your care. Keep her safe."

Richard nodded without hesitation, "I will."

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A/N:- Ahahahahaha! The perfect budding romance scenario!

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