I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 859: A Dinner In The Clover’s Mansion

In the mansion’s living room, Edward waited while Belle and Orlin finished preparing dinner.

They had made far more food than the household had originally needed. Edward’s return alone would have been enough for Belle to turn the evening meal into something special, but the mansion had also gained several unexpected guests. By the time the last dishes were ready, the kitchen was filled with the rich scent of warm bread, seasoned rice, roasted vegetables, and simmering sauces.

Edward sat on the central sofa.

Alvara was seated at his right as she watched the television with him. Layla sat at his left, considerably less restrained. She leaned against him as though she had no intention of leaving his side for the rest of the evening.

The television was not tuned to Edenis Chronicles this time.

Instead, the program was presenting a feature on Ophirion.

Ophirion was among the most famous places in all of Edenis Raphiel. Technically, it was not a single island at all, but a close cluster of smaller islands connected so perfectly by bridges, elevated paths, and transportation lines that the world had come to regard them as one vast island.

It was famous for one reason above all others.

The Holy Academy stood there.

Even through the screen, Ophirion looked extraordinary. Towering white structures rose above gardens and waterways, their architecture blending elegance with something almost sacred. Shining bridges crossed from one island sector to the next, while mana-powered transport lines moved silently between the districts. The distant view of the Academy itself dominated the broadcast: immense, beautiful, and far more imposing than any ordinary school.

Ophirion was a city of wonders, though not everyone was freely allowed to experience it.

The island was primarily reserved for students of the Holy Academy and their immediate families. Wealthy visitors and individuals with enough status could gain permission to visit parts of Ophirion, but the Academy grounds remained heavily restricted. Only students, staff, and approved family members were permitted inside.

That did not stop countless people from wishing to see it.

"Wow..." Tihana breathed.

She had moved close enough to the television that she was nearly pressing herself against the screen.

"It is so beautiful. Are you going to study there, Dad?"

"Study?" Edward repeated with a scoff.

Layla lifted her eyes toward him amused.

"Honey."

Edward only shrugged.

The truth was that he had no real interest in studying at the Academy.

He was going because the events unfolding there could influence the world outside its walls. There were things that needed to happen, things that needed to be prevented, and people who mattered to him who would be attending.

He could not afford to remain ignorant of what was happening in a place that important.

He had heard that the Holy Academy was not limited to books, lectures, and theory. There would be practical training and experiences that ordinary academies could never offer. Still, Edward was not particularly drawn to that side of it.

In some ways, he even felt as though he had been pulled into the Academy against his will.

But he needed to be there.

Too many people important to him would be there, and Edward had no intention of allowing danger to approach them while he remained somewhere else, unaware.

Well, maybe he wasn’t really pulled. He decided to be there for a lot of reasons but none of that included studying hard with books.

"I agree with my love," Alvara said, crossing one leg over the other. "I doubt there is much left for either of us to learn."

"It is Edenis Raphiel," Layla replied. "Not an ordinary academy. We will see."

Belle appeared at the entrance to the living room, her expression dry.

"Instead of sitting here lazily and watching television, would you help set the table?"

Edward looked toward the far side of the room instead.

Brain and Jarvis were playing with Olga and Lunishia. The two robots had somehow become the center of attention, with Lunishia laughing at their behavior while Olga watched them with quiet curiosity.

"Heard that?" Edward said.

[Right away, Master.]

[On my wayyy!!]

Brain and Jarvis immediately rushed toward the kitchen.

They moved so quickly that Belle had to shift aside to avoid them running straight into her legs.

She grimaced as they passed.

Edward truly treated those uncanny superior artificial intelligents like ordinary household robots.

"Oh, it smells so good," Lunishia said.

Her fluffy red ears perked up at once.

Without any hesitation, she followed after the robots toward the kitchen, her tail swaying eagerly behind her.

"Dad!"

Tihana rushed away from the television and ran toward Edward. She stopped in front of him, looking up with wide, hopeful eyes.

"You have to let me see Ophirion."

"We will see," Edward replied.

Tihana’s face fell immediately.

"That means never."

"It means I will think about it," Edward corrected. "I would rather not take you there."

"Why?" Tihana asked, already beginning to sulk.

"You are an Enigma Beast," Edward said. "It is not a place for you."

"T-That is mean!"

"He does not mean it that way, Tihana," Layla said gently.

She reached toward Tihana and brushed a hand through her hair.

"Ophirion can be dangerous. Honey is simply worried about you."

"But I will behave," Tihana insisted.

She climbed onto Edward’s lap, wrapping her arms around him before he could stop her.

"I will be good. I promise."

Edward looked down at her.

For all her confidence and excitement, she was still young. And that was exactly why he wanted to keep her as far from danger as possible.

"One day," he said.

Tihana lifted her face toward him.

"Promise?"

Edward paused.

Then he sighed softly.

"Yeah. I promise."

Tihana immediately smiled.

She pressed herself against him again, satisfied with the answer.

But Edward’s thoughts remained more complicated.

He did want Tihana and Orlin to see the world. He did not want them to spend their lives confined to safety, unable to experience anything beyond the places he considered secure.

Yet Ophirion was different.

If people saw them beside him, they would quickly become obvious targets. Edward’s enemies might not be able to reach him directly, but they would have no hesitation in looking for those he loved.

That was the truth behind his hesitation.

It was not that he believed Tihana would cause trouble.

He simply wanted to protect her, and Orlin, for as long as he possibly could, at least until they could handle and protect themselves enough.

A few minutes later, Belle called everyone to the dining room.

Fortunately, the table was large enough to accommodate them all. It had four seats along each side and two at the heads, leaving just enough room for the growing number of people gathered inside the mansion.

Edward took one of the head seats.

Belle sat at the other.

Layla and Alvara settled on either side of Edward, while Lunishia, Tessara, Olga, and Orlin occupied seats along the opposite side of the table. One chair beside Alvara remained purposefully empty. Belle had left it that way after remembering Alvara’s particular discomfort around unfamiliar people and close contact.

Tihana, however, ignored the available chairs entirely.

She climbed onto Edward’s lap as though that was the only seat she had ever intended to use.

"Feed me, Dad."

Belle slowly raised an eyebrow.

"Tihana," she said, "how old are you?"

"Four years old."

Tihana answered with a smug little smile.

"Right," Belle replied, unable to stop herself from chuckling. "You use your age whenever it is convenient. But the moment we mention your safety, you start talking about being an Enigma Beast and how quickly you mature."

"Well, it is rare for me to be with Dad," Tihana said, crossing her arms. "I only want him to spoil me a little."

Edward did not seem bothered in the slightest.

Before Belle could say anything else, he had already taken a spoonful of food and brought it toward Tihana. She opened her mouth happily, accepting it without even attempting to hide her satisfaction.

"You know she will only become more spoiled if you keep doing that, Edward," Belle said.

"You are here to make sure that does not happen," Edward replied calmly.

Belle blinked.

Edward glanced toward her.

"You raised them wonderfully. Better than I ever could have."

For the first time that evening, Belle looked genuinely embarrassed.

"You are surprisingly good at it," Edward added. "Especially considering you never had children of your own."

Belle’s cheeks grew faintly warm.

"Well," she said, trying to dismiss the compliment, "they have been good children themselves. And Tihana spent a great deal of time under Brida’s care too."

"Brida..." Edward repeated.

He fed Tihana another spoonful before looking toward Belle again.

"How is she doing? Is she still looking for Kleah?"

"Still," Belle replied. "Though now that you have returned, I do not think she will come back anytime soon."

Tihana’s expression fell.

"That would be mean," she said, her mouth still half full.

Belle looked at Edward.

"Did you learn anything about her?"

"Kleah..." Edward repeated thoughtfully.

His feelings concerning her were complicated.

Kleah, Gladys, as he had once known her, had been part of his circle of friends on Earth. There was a place in his memory reserved for her and for the people he had once called friends. He could not completely detach himself from them.

But her relationship with Leon had created distance between them. Edward had accepted that she was likely with him now, and he had not made an effort to interfere.

In the end, it was no longer his place to involve himself.

"Tell Brida to stop looking for her," Edward said. "She will only get herself killed."

Belle’s face became more serious.

"Her sister is fine," Edward continued. "She is with someone she loves."

"Are you certain?" Belle asked.

"That is what she meant the last time I saw her."

He offered Tihana another bite.

"Kleah... that is Gladys," Layla said quietly. "Who would have thought that so many of your friends from Earth would be reincarnated here, Honey?"

She looked toward him.

"That cannot be a coincidence, can it?"

"No," Edward said.

The warmth in his expression disappeared.

"It certainly is not."

Nihil had known exactly how to influence him.

Edward could not deny that much.

His friends had apparently died on Earth. By bringing them into this world, Nihil had given them another chance at life. Edward could not entirely hate that. There was mercy in it, perhaps, or at least something that could be mistaken for mercy.

But Edward also understood the darker purpose behind it.

Nihil had placed people from Edward’s old life around him, knowing they would affect his choices. Knowing that their existence would complicate every decision he made. Knowing that Edward could not fully hate him if he believed those people had been saved.

Whatever Nihil expected from him, however, it would not work.

He had underestimated Nyrel’s friends.

And more importantly, he had underestimated Edward himself.

"Nihil," Belle muttered. "The Holy Guardian."

She sighed and looked down at her plate.

"God, Edward... you truly have many enemies. And some of them are figures I used to worship as a child."

"There is nothing worthy of worship in that man," Edward said.

His voice was calm, but the contempt within it was quite there.

"He would throw his entire family into death for his own pathetic satisfaction and for Ymir’s approval."

"Ymir’s approval?" Belle asked. "The Holy Mother of all?"

In most places, Eden was worshipped first.

Ymir was recognized as the ancient mother, the original creator behind all things, but faith differed greatly from one region to another. Every kingdom had its own temples, stories, traditions, and interpretations. Some believed Eden had been the first and highest god. Others worshipped Raphiel as the supreme goddess. Some considered Ymir little more than a distant figure from old religious texts.

The truth, as Edward understood it, was far more complicated.

It was simply easier for the world to believe in clean hierarchies: Eden as the supreme god, Raphiel as the supreme goddess, and everyone else beneath them.

Edward showed no intention of explaining further.

Belle recognized that immediately and allowed the subject to fade.

"Anyway," she said, changing the topic, "I will need to meet with the family soon. I may not be able to look after Orlin and Tihana for a few days."

"Family?" Orlin asked, tilting his head.

"The Falkrona family," Belle explained. "Edward’s grandfather, aunt, and uncles."

"My grandfather is certainly not that old man," Edward said with a grimace.

Belle gave him a small smile, though it did not reach her eyes.

"Well, you are known to the world as my son. So, officially, he is your grandfather."

Edward looked deeply unimpressed.

"And you will have to meet them eventually," Belle continued. "You carry the Falkrona name, and you possess the Core Bloodline. The House cannot simply pretend you do not exist."

Edward groaned.

The little he knew about Waylen Falkrona and Belle’s siblings came mostly from Amael’s memories. Amael had visited them several times with Thomen, and Edward had seen enough through those memories to form an opinion.

They were not much better than Kleines.

Kleines had been worse, certainly. Far worse.

But the rest of the Falkrona family had their own arrogance, their own hidden cruelty, and their own spoiled children. Edward had no desire to meet any of them.

"If you do not want them pestering you forever, you will have to meet them, Edward," Belle said. "Do you understand?"

"I will think about it."

Edward wished he could simply ask his real grandfather to tell these people to leave him alone.

But he did not want to rely on him for every inconvenience. His grandfather had already done too much for him, and was still doing too much.

And asking literally the God of their House for such little task was maybe too much.

He should be able to deal with the Falkronas himself as much he hated it.

"Why cannot we come with you, Belle?" Orlin asked.

Tihana nodded eagerly.

"Right. We can come too."

Belle’s smile became strained.

"That is... it would be better if you both stayed here."

Edward glanced toward her.

"Must be difficult," he said, "having only greedy scumbags for siblings."

Belle sent him a glare.

He knew exactly why she did not want to take Tihana and Orlin with her. The way Belle’s relatives might treat them was one concern. The possibility that someone would notice what Tihana truly was, or suspect that Orlin was unusual as well, was another.

If their identities as Enigma Beasts were exposed, it would only bring them more troubles.

"You cannot deny it," Edward added.

"They are not that bad," Belle argued.

Edward said nothing for a moment.

Then he looked down at Tihana and fed her another spoonful of food.

"Whatever the case, I do not want Orlin and Tihana anywhere near that family."

Belle sighed.

"Fine. So they will need someone to look after them."

"I can handle them tomorrow," Edward said. "I am planning to take them out."

Tihana’s eyes widened.

"Yeah!"

She threw both hands up in excitement.

Orlin looked surprised, but a quiet happiness appeared in his expression.

"For the next few days, until you return, I will figure something out," Edward added.

He intended to spend an entire day with Tihana and Orlin. They deserved that much from him.

But he also wanted to see more of Edenis Raphiel himself. There were things he needed to examine and places he wished to visit, and he could not take the children everywhere with him.

He would have to leave them at the mansion for part of the day.

Still, they would not be unprotected. He could leave one of his banshees behind to watch over them.

"Then I will leave tomorrow," Belle said.

Edward looked toward her, faintly annoyed.

"Why are you even going to meet them?"

"Because they are still my family," Belle replied. "They can be exhausting to deal with, but your grandmother is truly kind."

"She is bedridden," Edward said.

"That is exactly why I am going to see her."

Belle watched him carefully.

"If you are so curious about why I am going, you should come with me. They are in Edenis Raphiel."

"Would you blame me if I ended up killing one of your siblings or nephews?" Edward asked.

"I would," Belle answered sternly.

Layla giggled from beside him.

"Oh, Honey. You should try to get along with your cousins."

"They are not his cousins," Alvara replied coolly. "They are not even his family. Did you not hear him?"

"Do not be so cold, Freydis," Layla said with a teasing smile. "Honey is not always honest about his feelings. Maybe, deep down, he has a soft spot for them."

"The only spot I have for them," Edward said dryly, "is a potential killing spot."

He was not truly as murderous as he sounded.

At least, not without a reason.

But Edward knew he would struggle to control himself if anyone insulted him, spoke badly of Belle, or attempted to use the children against him. And because he suspected the meeting would eventually turn toward the Holy Tree of Ymir, he knew the discussion could become dangerous very quickly.

There was a real possibility that words would not be enough.