I Was the Hero, But She Turned Me Into the Villain-Chapter 10 - 9 : Convergence – Part 3

Alice gently settled me into bed. Her care, unintentionally, reminded me for a moment of a certain blonde woman. I quickly shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away, and settled myself more comfortably between the sheets.

—By the way, young master... —Alice tilted her head slightly, her curiosity barely disguised as she asked— what were you doing lying on the... floor?

Before I could even come up with an excuse, a treacherous sound broke the silence.

"Grrrrr..."

My stomach growled loudly, so loudly that it made my cheeks flush.

Alice put her hand to her lips and let out a soft giggle. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement that made all the heaviness in my chest dissipate for a moment.

—Wait, young master —she said promptly,— I’ll prepare something for you to eat right away. I won’t be long.

And without waiting for a reply, she left the room with agile steps, leaving me alone with the quickening beat of my own heart.

"Haha..." a sigh escaped my lips.

***

It didn’t take long before the door to the room opened without warning.

—You’re... back already? —I managed to say, expecting to see Alice.

But no. Standing in the doorway was a young man with brown hair and dark eyes that flashed with a dry, almost hostile gleam. He seemed to be about the same age as Alice... though something about his face struck me as disturbingly familiar.

His gaze swept the room with disdain until it settled on me, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

—Well, look at you... —he said in a tone dripping with contempt—. Still lying there like a damn parasite.

I swallowed, an uncomfortable knot settling in my throat.

—W-who are you...? My trembling voice sounded strange to me. Why the hell was I acting this way in front of this idiot?

He raised an eyebrow, almost amused by my reaction. Then he tilted his head slightly, and something in his expression rotted completely.

—Pathetic. It disgusts me to call myself the brother of a bastard like you.

(...)

—You would’ve done us all a favor if you had died that winter... —he spat, each word soaked in venom—. Just like that whore of a mother of yours.

"Thumm"

My heart lurched violently, a cold shiver ran down my spine. My body trembled almost imperceptibly, as if his voice had touched something broken and very deep inside me.

A memory struck me without warning.

.

. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

.

On the bed lay a woman with silver hair, spilling like threads of moonlight over the sheets. Her skin looked so pale, so fragile, that I feared touching her might make her crumble. Her breathing was weak, labored, and yet she gave me a smile that clutched fiercely at my heart.

Her large violet eyes looked at me, so full of tenderness it hurt.

—Why do you have such a sad look, Daven? —she said to me in a soft whisper, laden with sweetness—. You’ll ruin your handsome face if you keep frowning like that...

I tried to say something, but it was useless, the words stuck frozen in my throat. My whole body was shaking.

—But... because of me, you...

She let out a faint laugh, almost a sigh. With effort, she lifted a trembling hand and caressed my tear-streaked cheek. Her touch was so warm it made my chest tighten.

—Don’t say such nonsense, my son... —she whispered with a calm that split me in two—. This... sooner or later... had to happen.

Tears slid down my face, blurring her silhouette until she became a luminous blur. A sob escaped me, even though I tried to swallow it.

—You know, Daven... —her lips curved into a smile so sweet it shattered me—. Could you... smile for mama... one last time?

.

.

.

Argh...!

A brutal ringing pounded in my head, tearing the memory away abruptly, hurling me back into the room with my chest burning and my breath ragged.

—Young master!

Alice’s voice broke through forcefully, pulling me out of the pit I was about to sink into. I looked up and saw her rushing in, carrying a tray in her arms. Her expression was tense, almost pale.

She carefully set the tray on the stand and moved closer, examining me with worried eyes.

—Are you alright...? —she asked softly.

—Y-yeah... I replied weakly, trying to pull myself together.

But before I could say anything else, Alice straightened, placing herself in front of me, as if trying to shield me.

—Young master Frederick... —she said with a slight bow. —Right now, young master Daven isn’t well. Perhaps... you could come back another time. He needs to rest.

(...)

A heavy silence filled the room.

Suddenly, a sharp, violent sound sliced through the air.

!Paf!

Alice’s head snapped to the side abruptly, and a deep red began to spread across her cheek.

—Know your place, servant —Frederick spat, looking at her with disdain as he slowly withdrew his hand.