I Am The Game's Villain

Chaoter 328  [Event] [Dolphian Kingdom Under Ruins] [14] Discussion And Bet

"What happened?!"

"I don't know but that was amazing…"

"I-I didn't know that John was that strong!"

"Even though he is from a third rate Kingdom…"

Whispers of confusion rippled through the crowd as steam obscured the conclusion of the battle between Amelia and John.

Amidst the foggy veil, some with keen eyes managed to catch glimpses of the unfolding events.

"I-I can't believe it..." Celeste muttered, her cheeks tinged with a slight flush of disbelief.

"Y-Yes... it escalated so quickly, didn't it?" Victor nodded in agreement.

"Are they both out of their minds? Don't they fear the consequences?" Roda grumbled, his brows furrowed in concern. First, there was Amael's altercation with Allen Teraquin, a Great Noble, and now John Tarmias had audaciously kissed a Princess of Sancta Vedelia, right in front of the King and Queen...

As the steam began to dissipate, revealing Amelia lying unconscious on the ground with John standing nearby, clutching her bracelet in his hand.

"It's over, Professor," Selene remarked casually, having emerged victorious in her own battle.

"Yes... Team B is the victor," James Raven acknowledged, though a nervous tension lingered in his demeanor. His gaze darted upwards to the VIP box, only to find the King conspicuously absent.

'Shit!'

-BAM!

The sound of a powerful clash reverberated as James Raven materialized in front of John, intercepting a devastating blow aimed at him.

"I ask you to remain calm, Your Majesty," James Raven said firmly, his gaze stern.

"Step aside, Raven," Reiner Dolphis growled, his expression brimming with fury.

"I cannot comply," James replied. As the Head Professor of the exam, he bore the responsibility for all the students under his care. Furthermore, he couldn't stand by and allow Reiner to harm a student, even if it was in response to a kiss directed at royalty.

"You're the King, Reiner. Pull yourself together!" James whispered sharply, gesturing towards the unsettling gazes they were attracting from the surrounding students.

"You expect me to stay calm after what he did?" Reiner retorted with his glare.

"Despite the unconventional method, he prevented her from losing control, Reiner. You know that," James reasoned, alluding to his daughter's previous state.

"He's right, dear. Please, try to calm down," the Queen interjected, echoing James' sentiments as she landed beside him.

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Reiner reluctantly lowered his hand.

James breathed a sigh of relief before turning his attention to John. "I believe some apologies are in order."

John, who had remained silent until now, furrowed his brow. "Why should I apologize?"

'Don't make things more difficult!' James inwardly groaned.

"This impertinent brat!" Reiner began to raise his hand again, but his wife intervened once more.

"James, we need to have a word with him," she insisted.

James hesitated momentarily before conceding. "Very well, but I'll accompany you. Idris, can you oversee the next matches in the meantime?" He directed his gaze towards a man with a pallid complexion and weary crimson eyes, identified as Idris Tepes.

Idris exchanged a wary glance between James and John before nodding in agreement.

"Thank you," James acknowledged before turning his attention back to the unfolding situation.

Reiner lifted his daughter before carrying to the healers followed by his wife. "You follow me," James said to John.

"Why?"

"Because I say so," James glared at John.

'Where in Eden, did Melfina find these two boys?'

… n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

…

Inside a secluded chamber, four figures convened: King Reiner, Queen Doria, James Raven, and John Tarmias.

"Do you have an explanation?" Doria addressed John directly.

"Explanation for what?" John countered, feigning ignorance.

"Don't play dumb, you insolent brat," Reiner growled, his fists clenched in frustration.

"I did it to protect her," John replied evenly.

"You took advantage of her vulnerability! That's the truth!" Reiner erupted, his patience wearing thin.

-Thud!

"Father!" The door swung open suddenly, admitting Amelia, still adorned with bandages. "W-What's going on here?"

"The question should be directed at you, dear. Is what Selene said true?" Doria inquired, her gaze steady.

"Are you actually considering Selene's words?" Amelia countered, her disbelief evident.

"Of course not. That's why we're asking you, Amelia. We hope there's no truth to it," Reiner warned, his eyes narrowed.

Amelia hesitated, casting a glance towards John. "What did he say?"

"He claimed it was to save you," Doria supplied.

"To save me? You kissed me to save me?" Amelia asked incredulously, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.

"Is that a problem? Did you expect me to let you die?" John retorted, his annoyance evident.

"No? I don't know?" Amelia shook her head, her laughter tinged with bitterness. "But don't you have anything else to say? Why did you do it? What's your motive? Now..." She trailed off, her gaze narrowing into a glare.

"...I have nothing more to add," John replied tersely.

Amelia's hopes plummeted at John's curt response. She had anticipated that he would finally offer some explanation in front of her parents, but once again, he remained silent. Despite willingly kissing her, he now chose to retreat into silence, leaving her feeling confused and betrayed.

"...I understand. There's nothing left to discuss," Amelia muttered, her gaze falling away.

"You speak out of turn, sister," Adrian interjected as he entered the room, his expression tinged with annoyance.

"After tarnishing our family's reputation," he added, shooting a reproachful glare in John's direction.

"Adrian!" Doria reprimanded sharply.

"Why are you directing your anger at me instead of her?" Adrian retorted, his frustration evident. "She screws around with that commoner Half and then loses embarrassingly to him! What will others think of our noble house?!"

Each word from Adrian's mouth felt like a dagger to Amelia's heart, tears welling up in her eyes as she hastily fled the room.

"They'll think you're an ass," John snapped, his anger simmering beneath the surface as he addressed Adrian's question."

"What did you say? You fucker?" Adrian approached John but James quickly intervened.

"Enough both of you."

"He insulted my House," Adrian groaned in anger.

"I insulted you," John corrected with a derisive snort.

As tensions escalated, the door swung open once more, revealing Amael with a smirk. "Amelia's in tears again. Whose fault could that be? The tsundere lover or the dimwit brother?"

"What are you doing here?" Reiner demanded, his glare fixed on Amael.

"I've come to ensure the King didn't do away with my brother-in-law," Amael replied coolly.

"Amael Falkrona. The other half. What a pleasant surprise," Adrian said, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"Adrian Dolphin."

"It's Dolphis, you bastard."

"Whatever. Your house is on the verge of collapse anyway. Amelia has been defeated, and you'll be next," Amael retorted.

"Hahaha! Do all halves from third-rate kingdoms have such poor humor?" Adrian laughed mockingly.

"That's for you to tell me, Mr. Dolphin."

"I will!"

"Enough!" Reiner intervened, halting Adrian's advance towards Amael.

"Father, he insulted our house. This isn't the first time. He should be punished accordingly," Adrian argued. "And his aunt isn't here to bail him out this time," he added with a smirk.

Reiner paused, considering his son's words before sighing heavily. "If you want him to be punished, then you can take care of it..."

Adrian frowned in confusion. "How so, Father?"

"Your opponent in the second round is Amael's group," Reiner announced, his words prompting varied reactions.

"...!" Adrian opened his eyes wide in shock.

"No freaking way!" Amael exclaimed, feigning surprise, earning a grimace from both John and James.

"Hahaha! What luck for me!" Adrian gloated, shooting a smirk in Amael's direction. "Your pitiful journey ends here, Falkrona."

"You seem awfully sure of yourself," Amael observed.

"Of course I am," Adrian scoffed confidently.

"In that case, how about a bet?" Amael proposed, seizing the opportunity.

"A bet? Now, that's interesting," Adrian responded, his confidence undiminished.

"If I win, you'll call off your engagement with Alicia," Amael declared, his words sending shockwaves through Adrian and his parents.

"What?" Adrian sputtered, stunned by the audacity of Amael's proposal.

"Well, if you're afraid—" Amael taunted, but Adrian cut him off with a glare.

"I'm not afraid! But your bet is ridiculous. What do I gain from it?" Adrian retorted.

"If you win, you'll marry Alicia immediately after our match, and you can do as you please with me," Amael countered, laying out the terms of the bet.

Adrian was taken aback by the proposition, but upon seeking confirmation from James the latter indeed gave his consent.

"Wait, Adrian... something's not right," Doria said, her voice laced with concern.

"Listen to your mother, Dolphin. You'll regret it otherwise," Amael chimed in, a smirk dancing on his lips.

"James! What's the meaning of this?" Reiner demanded, his frustration evident as he turned to James for answers, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.

"Reiner... you know I never agreed to this engagement in the first place. It was my father's decision," James explained, his tone tinged with seriousness.

"Hahaha! So you've pinned your hopes on this Half, Professor? How disappointing," Adrian mocked, with clear arrogance. "Tonight, I'll have my way with your daughter, and you..." He shifted his gaze to Amael, a malicious glint in his eyes. "I'll reduce you to begging for forgiveness before I cast you back to your third-rate country."

"Well..." Amael's smile remained serene. "I'm rather looking forward to it."

"Adrian! Do you understand the implications of what you're saying?" Doria seemed uneasy by the course of events.

"Mother, I know exactly what I'm doing," Adrian retorted, annoyedly coloring his tone.

"I trust you, son," Reiner affirmed, confident in his son's victory.

"Then it's settled," Amael declared before departing.

'Done.'