Struggling as a Villain

Richard didn't take much time to leave since staying there was like sitting on a time bomb. Although he was strong, much stronger than when he returned to this world, he still could not win against tens of apostles who were easily S-rank.

Not to talk about there being an anomaly among the apostles who can summon a dragon.

That's why Richard escaped the mansion and returned to the academy—this time using teleportation to reach the nearest town of the academy. Considering he used the teleportation centre of the academy to come here, he had to take a detour.

He received some important information about the situation concerning Ethan. Although Richard was worried for the silver head—considering what Eleanor tried today, she could do worse than that—he didn't force him to come back.

The silver head has changed and matured in very little time, and when he had made a decision for himself, it would have been unfair to demand him to change his decision.

When he reached the academy, it was already six on the clock and the sun was peeking from the horizon.

The first person Richard noticed walking around the mansion was his mother.

Richard walked towards her and told her, "You didn't have to wait for me. You must be tired."

Hearing her beloved's voice, she flinched and immediately turned around to see him.

Her heart melted, and her shoulders relaxed seeing her child safe and uninjured.

"You won't understand how I was feeling in these hours unless you become a father," Bellarine uttered as she embraced him close in her arms.

Richard mischievously smiled, "I am ready to become a father...so shall we begin?"

Bellarine pinched his waist in complaint, "Don't joke around when I am being all emotional."

Richard chuckled seeing her pout, "Okay, okay, I won't. And as you can see, I am completely fine. I didn't come across any apostles, except for one."

Bellarine raised her brows. Propping her chin on his chest, she asked, "They didn't attack you?"

Richard smiled and couldn't stop his urge to pinch her adorable cheeks, "Nope~I have a suspicion that it was someone familiar, pretending to be an apostle."

"Ummm-mu-" Bellarine tried to speak, but the way he was squeezing her cheeks, massaging those mochis, she couldn't speak at all. In the end, she slapped his hand and stepped back

Covering her reddened cheeks, she sulked, "Why tease me? I am your mother; I must remind you."

"Then stop being so adorable. I can't control it."

Bellarine's cheeks, which were already red, flushed even more hearing that as she 'hmph-ed' and said, "Richard now bullies his Mama."

Richard chuckled and after holding her hand, he began to advance towards the mansion.

"What about the others?" Richard asked casually.

Bellarine snuggled closer to him as she responded, "Amelia fell asleep, even though she did her best not to. I somehow made Bella sleep for a few hours, and Emily is, along with Jasmine—protecting the others. And Lilia...well, it's impossible to make her sleep while you are out."

Nothing unexpected...however, upon hearing Emily's actions made Richard frown. Although he turned her into an Ambrobate, he didn't want her to feel servitude toward him.

Jasmine is devoted to Richard because of the fact that he is the successor of Zulcriz, but the same cannot be said about Emily.

"Thinking about Cravenford?" Bellarine asked, to which the other one nodded,

"Hmmm...I don't know why but Emily has changed. She...remains distant even though I could feel that she wants otherwise. She has lost her memories and has to remain away from her family....in such a situation she should have tried to make new connections with the people here."

Bellarine paused and after stepping in front of her son, she rested her hand on his chest and told him, "Baby, it's not easy for her. She knows no one here, and having her friends now a part of a distant and forgotten past must have been tough on her."

Richard heaved a sigh, and while resting his hands on her waist, he asked, "What should I do?"

Bellarine hesitated..."Before anything you should ask yourself...are you ready to accept Emily?"

Richard frowned, "What do you mean, Mom?"

Bellarine barely held herself from sobbing as she added, "You took your life because of her...and the misunderstanding that occurred between you two. And even in this life, she chose to abandon you."

Taking a pause, she asked again, "That's why before taking any decision, first ask yourself; have you forgiven her and are ready to accept her?"

Richard parted his mouth....but couldn't respond immediately.

He was no longer the Scarlette Richard of the book, who played the role of mid-rank villain. He is the same Richard who died after being betrayed by the woman he ever came to love.

Bellarine heaved a sigh, "Don't stress over it and come inside now."

Richard nodded, and along with Bellarine, they walked inside their home.

Lilia was standing there, and upon noticing Richard she stepped forward and helped him take off his coat, "I hope you had a safe journey, master."

"Of course, it was." Richard casually responded.

Turning his eyes toward his mother, he found her smirking, as she said, "How composed she is behaving now."

Richard was confused, as he glanced at Lilia and found the girl's cheeks turning rosy, "Lady Bellarine, you should get some rest."

"Is that so?" The lady raised her brows teasingly before she turned towards her son and informed him, "Don't get fooled by her mature appearance, baby. When you were gone, she was fidgeting all over the place, moving about the house, looking out every other minute to see if you were back."

Richard was surprised as he turned towards his beloved maid, "Really, Lili?"

Lilia's face was now flushed red but she tried her best to maintain a cool demeanour and replied, "It's natural for me to get worried for my master."

Richard smilingly asked, "I would appreciate it if you show that concern now as well." Saying so, he pulled the girl in his arms.

Lilia's eyes widened; she wasn't used to being intimate with her master in front of others.

She hid her face in his chest and didn't look up at all.

But the way she clutched his shirt, showed how she wanted to be close to him.

Richard grinned at the reaction, before a thought crossed his mind,

'It's been a while since I spent time with Lilia and the others...'

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A/N:- A few SOL chapters. Thanks for reading.