I Am The Game's Villain

It took more than half an hour before everyone had finally begun disembarking.

One after another, passengers carefully descended the wide sloped staircase that had been lowered from the ship onto the harbor. Knights maintained order while attendants directed the steady flow of people, making sure no one was delayed despite the impressive number of guests arriving.

John and the others eventually joined the line.

None of them were dressed too casually.

Although today wasn’t the Holy Academy’s Entrance Ceremony yet, it was still an event of tremendous importance.

The Saintess would be officially revealed to the world.

Representatives from countless noble houses, churches, kingdoms, and influential families had gathered for the occasion. Appearing underdressed would have been disrespectful.

Personally, John didn’t have much interest in attending.

After all, he already knew who the Saintess was, as he had taken part in the official ceremony in the Holy Church.

There was little reason for him to witness a ceremony introducing someone he had met barely two weeks ago.

Still, Amelia had insisted they go.

She had visited Edenis Raphiel once during her childhood, but her memories of the city were limited. Back then, she had traveled with her parents and, like any noble child, had been constantly supervised with almost no freedom to explore.

This time was different.

Since she wouldn’t be attending the academy herself, she wanted to spend as much time with John as possible before he officially became a student and they were forced to separate for a while.

"Careful."

John gently took Amelia’s hand as she stepped onto the sloped staircase.

The incline wasn’t particularly steep, but he still supported her until both of her feet reached the solid ground below.

Amelia let out a soft laugh.

"You’re so worried."

She smiled warmly before absentmindedly resting her free hand against her stomach.

Beneath her dress, a small but noticeable swell had begun to form.

It was only slight for now.

Three months had passed since her pregnancy began.

"I have every reason to be," John answered simply.

Amelia looked ahead before letting out a quiet sigh.

"Maybe the timing really wasn’t the best."

There was a hint of regret in her voice.

"I wish I could’ve attended the academy with you."

It had been one of her biggest dreams.

From the moment John’s acceptance into Edenis Raphiel had been confirmed, she had imagined walking through those prestigious halls beside him.

Then everything had changed.

When she discovered she was pregnant, John had immediately insisted that they keep the baby.

To Amelia’s surprise, her mother had supported the idea just as firmly.

Even Adrian had encouraged her.

Surrounded by the people she loved, Amelia had ultimately chosen to continue the pregnancy, accepting that it meant giving up her dream of studying at the Holy Academy.

She never realized that none of it had happened by chance.

Before anyone else had spoken to her, John had quietly asked both his mother-in-law and Adrian to help convince Amelia.

He had wanted exactly this outcome.

As long as Amelia remained pregnant, she would stay far away from Edenis Raphiel.

Far away from the dangers he knew were waiting there.

"You can always attend later," John said.

Amelia smiled sadly.

"By then it’ll be too late."

Her hand gently stroked her stomach.

"I’ll have our baby to take care of."

Her gaze wandered toward Jayden, who had just stepped off the ship alongside Milleia and Tyler.

"Carla couldn’t come either," Amelia continued. "She has to look after the baby."

Her eyes shifted again.

"And Azeliah stayed behind as well."

Not far away, Simon stood speaking seriously with one of the Falkrona household knights, his expression focused as he discussed something important.

During the past year, after marrying John, Amelia had moved to Celesta and settled into life there into the Tarmias Estate Household.

Over time, she had become familiar with nearly everyone close to him.

She had made many friends and gradually come to think of Celesta as another home.

Still, she missed Sancta Vedelia.

Fortunately, once John began attending the academy, she would return to the Dolphian Kingdom to stay with her parents and Adrian throughout the rest of her pregnancy.

It would be a lonely period without John beside her.

But at least she wouldn’t be alone.

She would have her family.

’And our baby,’ she thought with a faint smile.

"By the way..."

She looked back at John.

"Have you heard anything from Layla?"

There was genuine curiosity in her voice.

"She’s coming today too, isn’t she?"

Amelia had always liked her sister-in-law.

Unfortunately, Layla rarely stayed home long enough for them to spend much time together, but whenever they did meet, Layla treated Amelia like a true member of the family.

Never once had she made Amelia feel like an outsider.

Because of that, Amelia hoped they could meet at least once before she returned to Sancta Vedelia.

John shook his head slightly.

"I’m not sure."

The last time he had actually seen Layla had been nearly a month ago.

She had replied to one of his messages about a week earlier, but ever since then...

Nothing.

No responses.

No explanation about where she was.

No indication of when she planned to arrive.

John wasn’t particularly worried.

If there was one thing he was certain of, it was that Layla would come to Edenis Raphiel.

Knowing her, she’d simply make her appearance during the Entrance Ceremony.

Right on schedule.

Or perhaps fashionably late.

She wasn’t the one to get interested in the Saintess reveal. She wasn’t even there for the Ceremony despite their father had firmly demanded both of their presence but as expected Jarett Tarmias being a daddy daughter, didn’t argue much. John was sure if he pulled off something like that, Jarett would have given him a cold stare but then Jarett was harsher and strictly toward him because he was his Heir.

’Do you know where she is yet?’

John then decided to ask Hecate.

She was as much as Layla’s side than she was by his side because of the connection they shared. At least he thought so.

(<Not at all.>)

’Another lie from the witch.’

John snorted.

(<I am very much serious here, Jonathan. She has become very confidental even toward me sadly and since she had awakened Raphiel’s bloodline, I can barely reach her. She shut me off~>)

’Maybe she finally found out how useless you could be.’

(<Hey! That’s mean!>)

John scoffed.

It was more like perhaps he was upset he couldn’t stalk his sister anymore.

He didn’t know whether he should be truly happy that she managed to pull off the impossible by awakening Raphiel’s bloodline while having also awakened Hecate’s bloodline. She nearly died as a child because they couldn’t cohexist together but it seemed as she became stronger, she managed to find the perfect balance.

Even though she refused to accept Raphiel entirely recently, she did it.

"Hey, John."

The familiar voice coming from behind made both John and Amelia flinch.

John nearly jumped before immediately turning around, only to find Eric standing there with an awkward smile.

He shot him an irritated glare.

"You scared us, Eric," Amelia sighed, placing a hand over her chest.

"Ah... sorry."

There was a brief moment of silence.

Amelia seemed to understand what he wanted.

"I’ll leave you two alone."

She smiled softly before walking away to join Jeanne and Rubina, who were already talking a short distance away.

The moment she was out of earshot, Eric let out a long breath.

"Finally."

He stretched his shoulders.

"The time has come."

John slipped both hands into his pockets.

"Not yet."

He looked toward the harbor.

"We still have another week."

Eric chuckled.

"So you’re going to keep delaying the inevitable for as long as possible, huh?"

He looked at John with exaggerated pity.

John answered with nothing more than a groan.

Eric followed his gaze toward Amelia.

She was already laughing with Jeanne and Rubina, the three of them looking completely absorbed in their conversation.

"I guess I understand."

Eric smiled faintly.

"It’s hard leaving your family behind just to throw yourself into a place that’s basically hell in waiting."

John glanced sideways at him.

"I doubt you understand."

Eric raised an eyebrow.

"You don’t have a girlfriend."

John paused.

"Or a wife who’s pregnant with your child."

Eric’s face immediately twisted.

"Fuck off. I’m already feeling bad enough."

"What? Nobody wants to get engaged to the son of Duke Scarlett?" John asked.

Eric rolled his eyes.

"Oh, they definitely do." He laughed dryly. "I’ve received more marriage proposals than I can count."

His expression quickly became more complicated.

"The problem is that I keep rejecting every single one."

John looked genuinely surprised.

"You reject all of them?"

Eric nodded.

"My father is getting pretty fed up with it."

He sighed.

"I honestly don’t think he’ll stay patient much longer before choosing someone for me himself."

John remained silent for a second before asking,

"So what exactly are you waiting for?"

"I don’t know..."

Eric’s eyes wandered toward Jeanne and Rubina in the distance.

The two girls were walking side by side while Amelia listened to whatever they were discussing.

A small smile crossed Eric’s face.

"I just feel like my hands are already full.".

"You’re such a creep of a brother," John said noticing his gaze.

Eric looked at him in complete disbelief before bursting into laughter.

"That has to be the biggest own goal I’ve heard all year."

"Ladies and gentlemen."

The conversations around them gradually quieted.

An elderly knight stood at the front of the assembled guests.

He bowed respectfully before speaking in a loud, clear voice.

"Please follow us."

He gestured toward the large landing platform further ahead.

"The airships are ready for boarding."

Excited murmurs spread through the crowd.

Their sea voyage had come to an end.

The rest of the journey would be through the skies.

"I really don’t like heights..." Eric muttered under his breath. "I hope this goes well."

John glanced at him.

They would now board one of the great flying ships that regularly traveled between the seas and Edenis Raphiel itself.

For someone afraid of heights, it certainly wasn’t an ideal experience.

"What exactly aren’t you afraid of?" John asked. "You’d better toughen up if you want a happy ending in this game."

Eric snorted.

"That’s rich coming from the guy who’s terrified of drowning. Tell me though, if I splash a bottle of water in your face, do you have a panic attack?"

"Fuck you."

John glared at him without hesitation.

Deep down, though, he silently cursed the person responsible for making his thalassophobia, and his general fear of deep water, common knowledge.

He didn’t even have to think about who the culprit was.

Tyler.

The loudmouthed idiot had somehow managed to spread it to almost everyone they knew.

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