Struggling as a Villain

Emily asked Nora to not tell anyone about her situation, including Richard. However, considering the current situation Nora has no other way rather than relying on someone whom she thinks is reliable.

That's why, after gaining permission from the headmaster that she wanted to check on Emily, she took a day off and came here using Teleportation.

She knew lying was not good, more so when the Headmaster had so many eyes and ears all around Eldoria, but she didn't have any option. If she had said she wanted to meet Richard, the Headmaster would have asked her the reasons. And using his tricky way of conversation he would have found out about the whole thing relating to Emily and Ethan.

So yes, lying was the only option.

Now, sitting inside the mansion she was feeling inexplicably nervous. The possibility of Richard not having any solution to Emily's situation or for him to deny helping his ex-fiancée—which wouldn't be unreasonable—was quite high.

And if not Richard, then Nora was only left with one option: to bring her friend back to her village where her father and the head of the village could heal her. However, she didn't want to resort to that, given the strict rules and policies they follow.

"Good morning, Your Highness."

Hearing the voice, Nora was startled as she hurriedly stood up and nearly flipped the cup.

"Sorry...ah...and, good to see you, Richard. Please don't be so formal with me." She really doesn't like to be treated like an aristocrat usually. And surely not by her classmates.

Richard nodded before he asked, "Let's sit down and chat?"

Nora nodded, and after pressing her skirt, she elegantly sat down.

Richard was wearing a casual attire, consisting of a white shirt and black trousers. And thanks to his genes and healthy diet, his hair has grown enough to not make him appear bald.

Nora asked, "Is your mother doing good now? I heard a demon attacked?"

Although Nora had the knowledge that Duchess Bellarine was actually involved with the Demon through a binding vow, she couldn't reveal it here.

Richard nodded, "Thanks for worrying about her. She is doing well. Tell me about you, Nora, how are you these days?"

He asked casually to which Nora almost heaved a sigh and expressed how burdensome her life as a student has gone by in these few days. However, she retained a calm front and said, "I am doing good."

The conversation came to a pause after that. It was quite awkward.

Richard gestured toward the maid as she stepped forward and refilled the cups.

While she did, Richard asked, "So tell me, what is your purpose behind the visit?"

Naturally, Richard and Nora weren't as close that the elven princess would have travelled so far to just ask about his health or gossip about others.

Nora steeled her nerves and while pinching the hem of her skirt, she asked, "Have you heard about it from Ethan? Regarding Emily?"

Richard nodded, "She revealed things about Eleanor?"

Nora nodded slowly, and with her gaze dropping, she slowly uttered, "For taking your side, Emily was punished by those who once gifted her with their blessings."

While pretending to be unaware, Richard asked in an uncertain tone, "You mean...she is one of the apostles?"

"You know about them?" Nora asked in surprise.

"Yes, recently I got to know about the fact that there are a few apostles from both sides living on Clion for years now. Never thought of Emily being one."

Nora nodded, not revealing the fact that she herself was one.

Another brief pause descended; however, this time, the silence was quite heavy and promised the revelation of something drastic.

And as Richard expected, "Her punishment caused her the very gift of magic. And because of forced ether removal, her life expectancy has become even lesser than a normal human."

"----!!!" Richard's eyes widened. Not even in the worst-case scenario, he expected such harsh punishment to be inflicted on that girl.

"Are you sure what you are saying? Removing ether is not something..." Richard stopped himself from what he was about to say.

Ether was granted to humans by those residing in the heavens. The essence which allows them to resist Aembr derives from those beings who decided to punish Emily. And now, without ether, the resistance against Aembr must have become excessively burdensome on her.

Emily right now is like a forest bear left in the polar region where other polar bears have adapted to the harsh winds since birth; she has been introduced to the cruelty all of a sudden.

Richard clenched his fist. How can they go to such extreme lengths to punish Emily? Just because she revealed Eleanor's true face, they were willing to let someone die painfully?

This is insane.

*Rumble*

From the four different directions, four different women dashed out, advancing towards the reception area when they felt Richard's aura growing heavy.

The other servants were frozen to their spots upon experiencing their young master's aura after his return for the first time. They almost thought that the Madame was displeased about something.

"Baby?" Bellarine, who appeared behind her son asked him in a soothing voice while hugging his neck.

Nora was startled to see the four beauties appearing one after another, and two of them—Bellarine and Amelia—still in their night suits.

"Sorry for disturbing you all." Richard apologized, once he regained his calm.

Bringing his mother to sit beside him and gesturing for others to do the same, he told the Duchess, "I am going to Cravenford today and based on what happens there, I might have to bring Emily with me here."

Bellarine frowned, "Is this related to what happened back then?"

Richard nodded and said, "I have to save her Mom. She lost everything to save us."

Bella frowned, unsure of the whole situation but somehow she could sense something which probably no one else sensed

Amelia asked, "Will you be fine by yourself? Count Cravenford might not let you bring Emily here."

Bellarine added, "If you allow me then I would love to come with you."

"No, you need to stay here and properly recover. If things become awry then surely I won't hesitate to ask for help."

"Young master, I am coming with you." Lilia...stated and Richard sighed,

"Not like I can stop you." Richard knew his maid well enough to not waste his energy convincing her to change her decision.

Bella jumped in, "Then I as well-"

"No, Bella. Your ether flow is behaving quite weirdly these days. You need to stay close to Mom for the time being." Richard firmly stated.

Bella sulked, her brows quivering as she stared at her brother pleadingly.

Nora's hesitant voice attracted others' attention, "Umm if you are okay, then I can look at her ether-flow. I might not look like it, but I am very good at diagnosis."

Richard raised his brows; of course, she would be. After all, she has the greatest knowledge about ether in this room.

Richard nodded, "Please do."

Nora hesitantly stood up and approached the black-haired woman who was giving a very intimidating look.

For some reason, she was quite close to Richard even though her existence was unknown in the last timeline. Is she a wandering soul?

'But does it matter now?' Nora has already moved on from the words that the Goddess stated at the time of their rebirth.

Bringing her fingers to Bella's arm, Nora began assessing her ether flow. Her fingers illuminated with a faint greenish glow as the elven princess frowned while examining the situation with her magic routes.

It took a few minutes before Nora opened her eyes and turned towards Richard, "Her ether nods are bursting with energy, and the amount of ether in her body cannot freely regulate with the current number of nods she has."

Richard frowned, "She needs to go through Sprouting?"

"It seems so."

Bellarine heaved a sigh, "I also thought that to be the case. Since Bella doesn't have much knowledge about ether flow and things related to it, she never trained her magic as a necessity."

With a sadistic smile appearing on her face that sent a shiver down everyone else's spine, she added, "But don't worry, I am here to train my dear daughter."

Richard held Bella's hand and worryingly said, "Take care, Bella. This can hurt a little."

Bella looked between her brother and mother alternatively; not being able to discern what this was all about.

Richard then turned towards Nora and said, "Please have lunch with my family while I get changed. After that, we will leave."

Richard was about to turn around and tell Lilia something when suddenly Nora stepped toward him and held his hand.

Richard, with his brows raised, looked at the girl before he heard her saying, "Thank you."

Richard smiled softly at her as he nodded.

Something began to burn near them, and this time, the servants knew that their mistress was indeed displeased because of something.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.