I Am The Game's Villain

"Mama!" Celeste's voice bubbled with excitement.

"Come here, sweety!" Sara's laughter danced in the air as she twirled her daughter around, her smile painting a picture of pure happiness.

"Mom, you're back!" Evan's voice held an air of relief and excitement. Recently, their mother couldn't be often present with them because of her new duties. They were both happy and proud on one side but on another side, they were sad that they couldn't play with their mother every days like before. Thus every time, their mother was relieved from her duties, they would always act spoiled toward her much to her happiness.

Sara enveloped Evan in a loving embrace, her tender touch brushing through his hair. "Have you been good while I was away?"

"Of course!" Both children chimed in unison, their faces beaming with pride.

"Sara," Harvey, Sara's husband, approached with tenderness, greeting her with a soft kiss.

"Dear," Sara responded, returning the affection.

"How was it?" Harvey inquired with genuine curiosity.

Sara's grin widened. "Very well! Lady Claudia has been explaining the tasks to me as the Prophetess, and I'm learning very fast. I can't wait, Harvey, and…" Her expression shifted, a touch of sadness crept in. "Perhaps your father will finally accept our marriage once I succeed Professor Claudia…"

"Honey…" Harvey sighed, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "Don't worry about my father. I don't care about him."

"Harvey…he is still your father. I'm sure you want him to acknowledge both of us…" Sara's hopeful tone sought to ease the situation.

"Mama! You're going to become the Prophetess?!" Celeste's voice sparkled with excitement.

Sara nodded with a smirk. "Indeed, and your father, my lovely apostle!"

Harvey scratched his head, an embarrassed chuckle escaping him. He knew that if Sara ascended to the role of Prophetess, his chances of becoming the Apostle would be significantly higher due to their compatibility.

"It will come with a lot of responsibilities," Harvey chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Together, we can manage that easily, Dear," Sara said, gazing at the towering tree visible even from their kingdom. "My dream…to bring everyone together, regardless of their race, using our powers, Harvey…" Her words carried a wistful longing.

As Celeste watched her mother's bright smile, it only further fuelled Celeste's admiration toward her mother.

"One day, I'll follow in your footsteps, Mama, and find my own Apostle." Celeste declared with determination in her voice.

***

"..."

The following morning, Celeste awoke with a gasp, finding herself covered with a bedsheet, her cherished toy beside her. The events of the previous night flooded back, and she questioned in disbelief, "Was that a dream?"

Rushing to the mirror, she confirmed the reality of her white gown, recalling the unusual occurrences.

('Am I supposed to be regretting it?')

A mixture of shame and anger played on Celeste's face. "I-I can't believe it!"

An hour in the bath and a change of clothes later, she tied her hair into a side braid, echoing her usual style. Checking herself in the mirror, she touched her lips, widening her smile. "Always be happy, just like Mama." Embracing a photo frame of her mother, she left her room, donning her shoes and heading straight to her grandmother's office next door. "Grandma!"

Melfina, engrossed in her work, asked without looking up, "What is it, Celes?"

"Someone intruded into my room last night!" Celeste declared, slamming her hands on the desk with a serious expression. "And he is a student, possibly my classmate!"

"Really?" Melfina inquired, still focused on her papers.

"Yes! It's the same man who nearly destroyed the shopping mall in the Dolphis Capital!" Celeste added.

"..." Melfina, who had maintained a stoic expression until now, grimaced.

She knew it was Edward who had entered Celeste's room, but she wasn't aware that he was also responsible for the chaos at the shopping mall. The memory of King Reiner Dolphis vehemently vowing to ruthlessly kill the intruder who dared to disrupt the capital's largest mall lingered in Melfina's mind.

Sighing in exasperation, Melfina nodded. "I will take care of it, don't worry."

"No, I will also help from my side, Grandma!" Celeste asserted, crossing her arms in irritation. "He would have assaulted me if I hadn't woken up in time!"

"No… I don't think he is after you-"

"He's obviously after me! Even at that shopping mall, he was looking at me, and…" Celeste's cheeks flushed suddenly. "A-And…"

"And?"

"A-And he said I was heavy! Curse him!" Stammering the last words, Celeste stormed out of the room. But as the realization that today was her exam day settled in, she took a deep breath, steadying her emotions.

Checking her phone, she noticed messages from Amelia and Cylien.

"Ah… I overslept…" She grumbled, feeling a tinge of shame.

However, her mind drifted back to the dream she had – a rare and enjoyable moment with her mother. But recalling the words spoken by her mother and herself back then, her expression darkened slightly. "I despise these Prophetesses and Apostles…"

"Celes!" Amelia waved from the dinner hall when she noticed Celeste.

Celeste smiled and joined Amelia and Elizabeth at the table. "Where's Cylien?"

"Probably battling," Amelia replied.

"Already? What about you?" Celeste inquired.

"Not yet for me, but Elizabeth has already passed her exam," Amelia said, glancing at Elizabeth.

"R-Really? How was it?" Celeste leaned in, curious.

Elizabeth smiled awkwardly. "It was a challenging mana beast, but I think you'll be able to defeat it, Celes. I managed it, after all."

"Oh, come on, Lisa, you're way stronger than Celes," Amelia teased.

"Hey! You don't have to put it like that!" Celeste pouted.

"You're thinking too highly of me, girls…" Elizabeth shook her head, though Amelia and Celeste exchanged knowing looks. They were aware of Elizabeth's true strength, having witnessed her peak last year.

"I suppose Victor and the others have started too?" Celeste pondered, observing the half-empty hall.

"Hm?" Suddenly, Celeste noticed a peculiar scene unfolding before her.

Her gaze fell on her classmates.

Jiren was accompanied by his two friends, and they seemed to be facing Amael. Jiren exchanged a look with Amael, who nodded before following them.

"They're at it again…" Celeste frowned in annoyance and stood up.

"What's going on, Celes?" Amelia inquired.

"It's Amael. He's with Jiren?" Elizabeth furrowed her brow, sensing trouble. She vividly remembered Jiren's hostile stare at Amael during the shopping mall incident.

"Yes, they're causing trouble even in class," Celeste said, attempting to leave, but Elizabeth caught her arm.

"You need to focus on your exam, Celeste," Elizabeth insisted.

"Eli? Shouldn't we help him? This is going too far, and he's Connor's cousin…" Celeste added, her expression downcast as she recalled her deceased senior.

Elizabeth froze at Celeste's mention of Connor Olphean.

Connor Olphean.

The realization dawned on Elizabeth as to why Celeste was so keen on helping Amael despite not knowing him well. Connor had assisted Celeste on several occasions last year, notably in dealing with Cyril. He had been there for her…

Moments later, Amael abruptly stood up, his hair dripping with water, evidence of Jiren's mischief. Jiren swiftly left with his friends.

Celeste's anger flared as she glared at the departing Jiren, then shifted her attention to Amael, who stood silently for a moment before departing on his own.

"Why…?" Celeste gritted her teeth and approached Amael. "Hey."

"Hm?" Amael turned around, raising a brow.

Celeste gazed into those familiar amber eyes. She had seen those eyes filled with authority from Alea Olphean, grace from Christina Olphean, and compassion from Connor Olphean. Yet, Amael's amber eyes seemed to reflect something unreadable, almost like indifference. It was as if he didn't care about anything.

Oddly, that look felt oddly familiar, but she pushed that thought aside for the moment.

"Why aren't you fighting back?" Celeste asked, her tone serious.

Amael seemed surprised by her question but chose to respond. "I don't want to."

"You don't want to? He's bullying you, so why not? Are you afraid of his status or that he's stronger than you?" Celeste pressed, feeling frustrated. Anyone would at least spoke some words for help or stop them but Amael was doing nothing.

Amael didn't offer an immediate reply. Instead, he showed his phone. "Excuse me, Lady Celeste, but I have to head for my final exam," he said, then swiftly departed, leaving a dumbfounded Celeste behind.

Celeste stood there momentarily before stomping the ground. "Whatever!"