Help! I'm just an extra yet the Heroines and Villainesses want me!-Chapter 78: Home Sweet Home?

William picked up his bag and started walking toward the entrance, wondering what exactly this weekend would bring.

The heavy wooden doors opened before he reached them, and a butler appeared — elderly, impeccably dressed, with the kind of posture that showed decades of service to noble families.

"Master William," the butler said with a formal bow that was perfectly measured. "Welcome home. Her Grace is expecting you in the west drawing room. I’ll have your belongings taken to your chambers."

"Thank you," William said, handing over his bag to a waiting servant.

The butler led him inside and William was immediately struck by how different the interior felt from his memories of arriving here six months ago. Then, everything had been disorienting and alien. Now, with six months of distance and experience at the academy, he could appreciate the cold elegance of it all.

The entrance hall was massive, with a grand staircase splitting into two directions on the second floor. Portraits lined the walls — generations of Cross family members staring down with varying degrees of severity. Marble floors gleamed under morning light filtering through tall windows.

Everything was spotless, perfectly maintained, organized with the efficiency of a military operation disguised as a household.

They walked through several corridors, passing servants who bowed respectfully as they went by. William noticed some of them watching him with curiosity — probably wondering what had happened to the arrogant brat who’d left six months ago.

The west drawing room was smaller than the main halls but still impressive, decorated in deep blues and silvers with furniture that looked antique and probably was. A fire burned in the ornate fireplace despite the relatively mild weather, giving the room a warmth that contrasted with the manor’s overall coldness.

Duchess Arabella Cross stood by the window, looking out over the estate grounds. She turned when William entered, and he was struck again by how different she was from what he’d expected before meeting her.

She was in her early forties but looked younger, with silver-blonde hair styled elegantly and sharp green eyes that missed nothing. She wore a dark blue dress that was formal without being ostentatious, and carried herself with the confidence of someone who’d been managing a major noble house for decades.

"William," she said, her voice controlled but not cold. "You’re punctual. I appreciate that."

"Mother," William replied, inclining his head respectfully.

She gestured for him to sit on one of the couches while she took a seat across from him. The butler had disappeared silently, leaving them alone.

"You look well," she observed, studying him carefully. "The academy agrees with you. Your posture has improved and you’ve lost that sullen expression you used to wear constantly."

"The academy has been... educational," William said carefully.

"I’ve been receiving reports from your instructors. They say you’ve been training seriously, that your combat ability has improved significantly despite your control issues." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "They also mention you’ve made connections with several notable students, including Seraphina Ashenheart and Lyanna Stormweaver."

Of course she had intelligence networks at the academy. William shouldn’t have been surprised.

"I’ve been fortunate in my training partners."

"Fortunate." Duchess Arabella’s tone suggested she didn’t believe in fortune. "The Ashenheart family is militarily powerful and the Stormweavers are politically influential. These are useful connections if maintained properly."

William said nothing, waiting to see where she was going with this.

"The Inter-Academy competition is in three weeks," she continued. "This is an opportunity for you to prove your worth to your father and to the other noble families who still see you as the disappointment who only gained academy admission through family connections."

"I’m aware of what’s at stake."

"Are you?" She leaned forward slightly. "Because your father wanted you pulled from the competition entirely. He said having you represent House Cross would be an embarrassment, that we should claim illness or injury and spare ourselves the humiliation of watching you lose in the first round."

William felt his jaw tighten but kept his expression neutral.

"I intervened," the Duchess continued. "I convinced him to let you compete. But that means if you fail, it reflects poorly on my judgment as well as yours."

"I won’t fail."

"Bold words from someone who ranked fifth in team selection." But there was something in her eyes that wasn’t quite dismissal. "However, your instructors’ reports suggest genuine improvement. Which is why I wanted you here this weekend."

She stood and moved to a cabinet against the wall, retrieving a wooden case that she brought back and set on the table between them.

"This belonged to your great-grandfather," she said while opening the case to reveal a sword in an elegant sheath. "He was one of the few Cross family members to achieve master-level cultivation. The blade is designed to amplify fire essence specifically."

William stared at the sword. It was beautiful craftsmanship — the hilt wrapped in dark leather, with silver inlays that caught the light.

"I’m giving this to you for the competition," the Duchess said. "Not because I think you’ve earned it, but because I believe you might actually be capable of using it properly now. Your recent improvement suggests you’re finally taking your cultivation seriously."

"Thank you," William said, genuinely surprised by the gesture.

"Don’t thank me yet. This gift comes with expectations." Her green eyes were sharp. "You will place in the top three of at least one individual event. You will contribute meaningfully to the team competitions. And you will conduct yourself in a manner that brings credit to House Cross rather than shame."

"I understand."

"I hope you do." She closed the case and pushed it toward him. "Your father still doesn’t believe you’re capable of anything worthwhile. Prove him wrong, and doors will open for you within the family. Fail, and you’ll spend the rest of your life as a footnote in Cross family history."

A knock on the door interrupted them. The butler entered and bowed.

"Your Grace, Lady Seraphine is asking if Master William has arrived."

William felt surprise. His younger sister — the one person in this family who supposedly didn’t hate him.

"Send her in," the Duchess said.

The butler disappeared and moments later a girl entered the room. She was maybe thirteen or fourteen, with the same dark hair as William and eyes that were lighter than his amber but darker than their mother’s green. She was dressed simply compared to the formal clothes everyone else wore, and her face lit up when she saw William.

"William!" She rushed forward and hugged him before he could react.

William stood there awkwardly for a moment before carefully returning the hug. This was the sister the letter had mentioned — Seraphine, the only family member who’d apparently cared when he left for the academy.

"Hello, Seraphine," he said when she finally pulled back.

"You’re taller," she observed, looking up at him. "And you look different somehow. More... confident?"

"The academy does that."

"Tell me everything! What’s it like? Are the other students nice? Have you learned amazing magic? Do they really make you fight each other?" The questions came rapid-fire, her enthusiasm genuine and unfiltered in a way that was completely different from the controlled formality of everyone else in this house.

"Seraphine," the Duchess said firmly. "Your brother just arrived. Let him breathe."

"Sorry," Seraphine said, though she didn’t look particularly sorry. She grabbed William’s hand and pulled him toward the couch. "But I have so many questions! You barely wrote any letters and they were all boring. Just ’classes are fine’ and ’training continues’ without any actual details."

William found himself sitting next to his apparently very enthusiastic younger sister while she peppered him with questions about academy life. The Duchess watched with an expression that might have been amusement, though it was hard to tell.

He answered as best he could, keeping things general and appropriate for a thirteen-year-old while Seraphine listened with rapt attention. She wanted to know about the different houses, the training facilities, what the other students were like, everything.

"And you made the Inter-Academy team!" Seraphine said proudly. "Mother told me. That’s amazing! I knew you could do it."

"It’s a team of ten. I placed fifth."

"That’s still really good! Father said you wouldn’t make it at all, and I told him he was wrong." Seraphine’s expression became more serious. "He still says mean things about you. But I don’t believe them."

William felt something uncomfortable in his chest. This girl barely knew him — the original William had probably barely acknowledged her existence — but she’d defended him to their father anyway.

"Thank you," he said simply.

"Seraphine," the Duchess interrupted. "Your brother needs to rest after his journey. You can interrogate him more at dinner."

"Okay," Seraphine agreed reluctantly. She hugged William again quickly. "I’m really glad you’re home, even if it’s just for the weekend." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

She left the drawing room with a wave, and suddenly the room felt colder without her energy.

"Your sister has always had a soft spot for you," the Duchess said once they were alone again. "Even when you gave her no reason to. Don’t disappoint her along with everyone else."

"I won’t."

The Duchess stood, indicating the conversation was over. "Dinner is at seven. Your father will be attending, so dress appropriately and mind your manners. I don’t need him finding new reasons to criticize you."

"Understood."

"Your old room has been maintained. The butler will show you there." She paused at the door. "And William? Whatever has changed in you since you left for the academy... I hope it’s permanent. I’d like to see what my youngest son is actually capable of when he tries."

She left before William could respond.

He sat there for a moment in the quiet drawing room, processing everything that had just happened. His mother’s conditional support, the sword that was both gift and test, his sister’s genuine affection despite having every reason not to care.

The butler reappeared to escort him to his chambers. They climbed the grand staircase and navigated through more corridors until they reached a door that the butler opened with practiced efficiency.

"Your room, Master William. Your belongings have been unpacked. If you require anything, simply ring the bell."

"Thank you."

The butler left and William entered the room that had technically been his for nineteen years, though he had no memories of it.

It was large — nearly as big as his entire dormitory room at the academy — and decorated in dark woods and deep blues. A large bed dominated one wall, a desk sat near tall windows overlooking the grounds, and multiple doors led to what he assumed were a bathroom and closet.

William moved to the window and looked out at the estate. Gardens, training grounds, servant quarters, all organized with military precision. This was the seat of House Cross’s power, and somewhere in this massive complex was a father who’d wanted to disown him and siblings who barely acknowledged his existence.

Three days in previous loops, Kai had said. Three days before things at the estate created complications.

But this loop was different. William was different. And maybe that would be enough to change how this weekend played out.

He sat on the bed and pulled out the knife Kai had given him, checking that it was still concealed properly. Then he closed his eyes and activated his essence sense, feeling the ambient essence throughout the manor.

The technique was becoming more natural. He could sense servants moving through distant corridors, could feel the concentrated essence signatures that must be family members or cultivators employed by the house.

He maintained the awareness for several minutes before the headache forced him to stop.

Dinner was hours away. Time to rest and prepare for whatever came next.

William lay back on the bed, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling of a room that should have been familiar, and wondered what the weekend would bring.

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