Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 111  Grave

"..."

Left alone, my eyes drifted towards my face, reflecting on the counter glass.

Curly mahogany hair, tied down reaching my waist, eyes of the same color filled with exhaustion, and dark circles below them, a reminder of the past few days of sleepless nights.

'...it came once again.'

....The day when my family got executed for something that they didn't deserve.

My responsible father, my loving mother, and my five-year-old little brother.

...Publicly executed.

"Ma'am." My gaze drifted back towards the lady who returned, "...Would you please tell me your name and state the reason for visiting Kamora City."

'...No matter how much time passes, I can't accept this name.'

....It was supposed to be Ewing Viscounty.

"..Lauryn Ewing." I replied softly as she wrote it down on the holographic screen placed beside her, "I am visiting my parents' grave."

"...I see." She mumbled, her voice carrying a hint of sympathy,

"I am sorry for the delay, but it's the procedure. We can't let someone of your rank use public transport without rechecking, and people like you usually take teleportation port—."

"It's fine." Interjecting her, I replied.

...She isn't wrong, though.

I could have used the teleportation portal and reached there instantly, but I don't want to.

....I just want to delay visiting them as much as I can.

"Please look here." Keeping her professional smile, she informed as I glanced at the camera placed in front, "No.6, and....It's done, ma'am."

I nodded my head, turning around as I walked through the bustling station.

....Perhaps it was the weekend; the place wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be.

Taking out a cap, I wore it on my head and used a piece of cloth to cover my face.

...Just in case someone does recognize me.

Making my way through the crowd, I moved around until I found the place I wanted to be.

....In front of the Anti-gravity train.

Entering inside, I looked around the train as it had been a long time since I traveled on one.

Making my way through the rows of three chair seats, I found my place beside two middle-aged ladies.

"Sit down, girl, the train will start soon." The older lady informed with a gentle smile.

....Nodding, I took my seat beside them.

The train started soon enough as I looked outside the window at the changing scenery.

"...Have you heard." I glanced at the lady beside me as she started talking with her friend, "...About the pact between the two empires and one kingdom."

"Of course." The other lady replied, "it's all over the news how countless years of struggle are ending." Nôv(el)B\\jnn

'...There was no struggle to begin with.'

Placing my hand under my chin with the support of the armrest, I thought.

...The easiest way to keep someone in control is through fear.

And the empire is doing exactly that with the common people.

"...Well, we can finally have some peace because of the church." The older lady whispered, joining her hands as if praying, "...They made it possible."

"...You know we might see marriages between the Prince and Princess of different empires." The other lady gossiped with an interested look, "...Maybe the first princess and third princess will marry off like this."

"Maybe." The older lady suggested, "I am more interested in who actually is the gods' chosen one."

"Well, the church will inform us about this soon enough." Her friend replied, "...But what about 'him'?"

"Him?"

"The [Exiled Prince]."

"...Have you heard the rumors?" The older lady whispered, closing the distance, "...About Lady Esmeray's son being—."

"Shhh." Her friend grabbed her mouth as she glanced at me, "We are in her dukedom. You can't badmouth her son like that."

"...She is wise enough to not kill someone because they are talking about the rumor." Removing her hand, the other lady complained.

'....How wrong you are.'

I thought, looking out the window.

Sometimes I do wonder how no one sees her ruthlessness.

How can people just think of her as a powerful woman....just another Duchess.

When she is much more than that.

'...But the rumors around Azariah.'

....That's concerning.

And even more concerning is how abnormally fast the rumor is spreading among the common people.

...It's like someone is deliberately doing it.

...But why?

If it's proven to be true...then he will lose everything.

....The world will turn against him.

...Who could hate him so much to do something like this?

'Well...His mother will take care of it.'

Like she always has, she will take care of this as well.

"Sigh..."

A sigh escaped my mouth as I closed my eyes, waiting for my destination.

.....

.....

.....

"Hello, father." As I looked at the tomb, I whispered softly. "...I am sorry for the late visit."

It was already night when I arrived here.

"Let me clean this place first," I mumbled as I knelt down around his tombstone and started picking up the weeds growing around it.

"...You know, father... things have turned weird around me." Removing the dried-up leaves, I whispered, "It's been three years since I last challenged that woman, and even after all this time, I still don't think I can kill her."

...I can't even defeat her secretary, let alone her.

"And you know what... a few months ago, I started teaching that woman's son," I informed with a bitter smile.

...Azariah.

"...I don't know why I even did that." I continued, my voice croaking, "...I thought maybe I could torture him... but I can't."

...I can't do that.

Even though I am rough with his training and make it seem like I am beating him, all I am doing is helping him grow.

...Every time he gives up, surrenders himself... I just can't bring myself to continue beating him.

...Maybe I am just too fixated on not hurting someone who can't fight back.

And...

Looking at how talented he is...

How he can learn things in days that took me months...

...I am afraid I am making a monster.

...Just like Esmeray.

"...Sigh." Sighing, I moved to the tombstone beside him.

"...Hello, mother." A smile adorned my face as I cleaned the place around her. "..If you are wondering about my marriage, then my answer hasn't changed—I am not marrying anyone."

...Maybe she would have nagged me right now if she were alive.

...I loved her.

Maybe that is the reason I cried the most at her grave.

"....."

Cleaning my mother's grave, I moved towards the last family member.

"Hey, little broth-er."

My voice cracked, my heart started to ache in pain, my eyes started to blur as I sat down looking at his grave.

...What did he do?

...He was just a child!

...Why did he die and I didn't?

...Just why?

"Huh?" I rubbed my eyes to stop the tears as I heard someone walking close to me.

With his face covered by a long hat, he walked confidently, stood tall with wide shoulders, wore an overcoat covering his body, and held a flower bouquet in his hand.

"...Loyalty is a weird thing, isn't it?" He mumbled, placing the flowers above my father's grave. "...Had he not been loyal to his dead master, he would have been alive right now."

"...He didn't die because of that," I rebuked, glaring at him as I stood up.

"...He died because he helped the traitor Heimdall family, right?" Glancing at me with his dull hazel eyes, he asked, "..Or are you saying that the accusation is wrong?"

"...Who are you?" I asked, my brows knitting together in confusion.

"Someone who knew your father," he replied calmly, looking at my father's grave. "..He was a good man."

"..."

I remained silent as he looked back at me.

"...If he had abandoned his worthless loyalty, maybe his family would have been alive," he stated, his voice carrying sympathy as if he knew my father well.

"He didn't know what type of monster he would face," I replied softly, my heart aching in pain.

"...Monster, huh? I know a monster as well—an emotionless monster."

Shifting towards my father's grave, he whispered, his voice oozing with sadness as he took off his hat revealing his light blonde hair,

"...She likes to see fear in her victims' eyes... she likes to hear them beg for mercy as she cuts them open... she did the same to my wife and child... and I have been looking for her ever since... looking for my vengeance."

"...Did you find her?" I asked, feeling something off about how he described her.

"I did." He nodded, letting out a tired sigh, "...but it turns out I can't kill that monster... not now or ever."

"....."

...Is he talking about her?

"...But I can make sure no other monster like her is born in this world." With madness filling his voice, he whispered, turning towards me.

And...

Only now did I see his face clearly.

...A disfigured face, at least a third of it burned, reaching his neck.

His lips parted once again as he asked, "...Do you know which monster I am talking about?"