Never Die Villain

As soon as Ilya stepped through the palace doors, he came to an abrupt stop after walking straight into someone’s back.

For that reason, he took half a step backward before looking up, only to be reminded once again that although he already was taller than most students his age at the academy, among the Belozerskys, his height was hardly anything remarkable.

"Ah... my apologies."

The man slowly turned around.

"Young Lord Ilya?"

Recognition immediately crossed his weathered face.

Standing before him was one of the ruling elders of House Belozersky, the Margrave of Volnograd, whose territory they had only passed through two weeks earlier.

Despite his age, the man still possessed the broad frame and imposing stature expected of a Belozersky, with a heavy winter cloak draped over a ceremonial military uniform that bore the silver wolf upon its breast.

"So it really is you. I heard you’d be returning for the Winter Assembly, but I didn’t expect to run into you the moment I stepped inside. You’ve definitely grown taller."

"It’s been a few years."

"It has." The Margrave crossed his arms. "I trust you’ve at least made some progress with the sword. My son, Mikhail, has been looking forward to crossing blades with you again. He says it wouldn’t be satisfying unless he settled the score himself."

"...."

The margrave smiled.

"I told him not to get his hopes up. After all, he’s spent the past few years training under veterans on the northern frontier. It would hardly be a fair match."

"...."

"Though, perhaps you’ll surprise us this year."

Ilya met his gaze.

"I’ll do my best."

"I’m sure you will."

The elder nodded with a smile that never quite reached his eyes.

"House Belozersky can always use another competent swordsman."

The words were courteous.

The meaning behind them was not.

To everyone in Severye, it was no secret that the Grand Duke’s second child had never lived up to the expectations expected of a Belozersky.

Compared to Anastasiya, whose talent with the sword had earned admiration throughout the Northern Krai, Ilya’s name was rarely spoken without disappointment following close behind.

Even those who wished him no ill couldn’t help measuring him against the heir of the family.

And by that measure, he had always fallen short.

With that, Ilya gave a polite nod and continued deeper into the palace.

He had barely taken a few more steps before another voice rang through the entrance hall.

"Cousin Ilya?! Ilya Belozersky?!"

Before he could even turn around, someone threw an arm around his shoulders with enough force to nearly pull him off balance.

"It’s me! Aleksei Karskin!"

"...."

"What’s with that look?! Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten your favorite cousin already!"

Ilya glanced sideways.

"...Cousin Aleksei."

The grin on the young man’s face widened immediately.

Aleksei Dmitrievich Karskin, the eldest son of the Elder of Karsk, one of the subsidiary territories guarding Severye’s eastern frontier.

Although House Karskin had carried its own surname for generations, its bloodline ultimately traced back to House Belozersky, making Aleksei one of Ilya’s distant cousins.

"That’s more like it!" Aleksei laughed. "For a second there, I thought the academy had turned you into one of those arrogant nobles who forgets his own relatives the moment he leaves home!"

"I don’t think that’s ever been my problem."

"Fair point!"

Aleksei nodded with complete seriousness before breaking into another laugh.

"Though I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting to see you this year."

He looked Ilya up and down before crossing his arms.

"Word’s been going around that you’ve changed quite a bit since entering the academy. Even Father mentioned hearing a few interesting rumors."

"...Rumors?"

"Oh, don’t look at me like that." Aleksei shrugged. "Half this family survives on gossip whenever the Winter Assembly rolls around."

His grin gradually turned into one of genuine curiosity.

"Though... Cousin Ilya."

"Hm?"

"...Is it true?"

"What is?"

Aleksei leaned in before lowering his voice.

"That you’ve... become a delinquent?"

"...."

For the first time since they met again, Ilya found himself genuinely caught off guard.

"A delinquent?"

"That’s what I heard!" Aleksei quickly defended himself. "Someone from the capital said you’ve started smoking, skipped classes, got into fights, and nearly beat another noble half to death."

He scratched the back of his head.

"Actually... now that I’m saying it out loud, it does sound a little ridiculous."

"...Only a little?"

"Well..." Aleksei coughed awkwardly. "There was also a rumor that you somehow ended up in the physician’s office almost every other week."

"...That one is true."

"...Seriously?"

"Yes."

Aleksei stared at him for several seconds before bursting into laughter.

"Hahaha! I knew it!" He slapped Ilya on the shoulder. "I kept telling everyone there was no way you’d suddenly turn into some rebellious young master!"

"The smoking rumor is true."

Aleksei’s laughter stopped.

"...What?"

"And so is the one about skipping classes."

"...."

The smile slowly disappeared from Aleksei’s face.

He leaned in, lowering his voice as though he were about to discuss a state secret.

"...Ilya."

"Hm?"

"Is someone bullying you?"

"...What?"

"I mean it." Aleksei glanced around to make sure none of the elders were paying attention before continuing. "If someone’s making your life miserable over at Holy Trinity Academy, just tell me. I’ll withdraw from the Severye Military Academy tomorrow, transfer over there, and beat the hell out of them."

"Nothing like that." Ilya raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t you just say the rumors painted me as the bully?"

"Hm." Aleksei shrugged without a second thought. "I did."

"And?"

"But I don’t buy it."

He answered so matter-of-factly that it almost caught Ilya off guard.

"You, a bully?" Aleksei snorted. "Please."

He crossed his arms and looked Ilya up and down.

"You’re the type who’d apologize after someone else bumped into you. You picking fights for no reason? Not a chance."

Ilya smiled wryly.

"...That’s quite the vote of confidence."

"I’ve known you since we were children."

While he almost certainly meant it as reassurance, there was another meaning behind those words, and Ilya knew it.

To Aleksei, Ilya was still the same cousin who had always lagged behind the rest of the family.

Someone diligent, polite, and earnest, but never someone the others had truly considered exceptional.

Even his disbelief came from the certainty that the Ilya he knew had never been capable of becoming the sort of person the rumors described.

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