Reborn As The Villain In A Game-Like World-Chapter 13: Fight In The Shadows
"Father!" August exclaimed while chewing on a rare blue piece of steak. Animal blood coated his lips with a glossy sheen, and his wide smile threatened to split his face in half.
A tired old man with a crown sat half-slumped in his chair. He glanced at his "son" and let out a deep sigh. "What, August?" he said in a tone one would use when speaking to a thing rather than a person. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"I met the most fascinating individual today at university."
"Uh huh, it’s not often you find other people of any interest," King Roland of Velmira said as he returned his focus to his food.
"There was this new teaching assistant that I think is either a blood elf or possibly even a vampire—he certainly had the arrogance of one. Jack was his name, and he seemed to borrow a noble surname from a girl he was with."
"Impersonating a noble is a grave offense," King Roland replied.
"Don’t ruin my fun, Father," August said. "He disrespected my authority, so I suggested he have a duel with the head professor. I even offered him a position as head librarian for him to agree. It will be to the death, so don’t worry about that grave punishment. I have it handled. And on the off chance he does win, I hope you will pressure the dean to accept this interesting fellow as the new head librarian—"
Roland gave his son a disgusted glance. "August, I have told you many times that authority is earned, not given. If the man shows disrespect, it means he does not respect you personally or has a higher station in life than you."
"How can some loser nobody working as a teaching assistant in my university be of higher status than me?" August sneered while slamming his cutlery hard on the table.
The maids surrounding the table didn’t even bat an eye at the display, except for one timid maid behind August called Evelyn.
A woman with the same blond hair as August patted him on the shoulder. "You are right to be mad, my little August! How dare someone disrespect my boy?"
Roland raised his voice at the duo. "Elizabeth. Stop allowing and encouraging your son’s behaviour. Also, young man, you do not own the university, as much as you try."
August’s face twisted in many ways before relaxing and being replaced with his usual dazzling smile. "You are right, my dear father. I still don’t own the university, at least not yet."
Elizabeth noticed that her husband had ignored her son’s heartfelt request to apply political pressure on the dean, so she whispered, "Don’t worry, Aug, I will have a personal talk with the dean."
She said it in a low whisper, but the long, pointed ears of the two women sitting opposite Elizabeth and August twitched as they heard everything.
August sighed. "Father, you don’t get it. I am simply preparing the university for my precious little sister. If I don’t have total control over all the staff working, how can I make sure nobody bullies her?"
Roland had a visible frown on his weathered and aged face, but it softened when he peeked at his beautiful elf wife, Kaylessa, and their only daughter, Emilia. Compared to August, a sinister bastard, Emilia was like the golden light of his life. Despite knowing August was leading him by the nose, the idea of Emilia being bullied in university caused him to turn a blind eye to August’s slow takeover of the university. He only noticed how deep his son’s reach really went recently. It was quite frightening that a twenty-year-old had such capabilities to win over so many people to his side.
The meal continued in its usual awkward silence until King Roland addressed Emilia.
"Emi, dear, how are your studies going? Still having trouble with magic?"
Emilia saw her brother’s mocking gaze. At only twenty years old, he already had A grade in Necromancy and B grade in Aerokinesis. The Necromancy was a secret, as it was banned. Emilia knew her brother’s secret but didn’t wish to reveal it to the public just yet.
"I am still stuck at the C grade with Luna Magic," she admitted sadly.
Roland’s heart ached to see his precious daughter sad, but there was nothing he could do. The books for Luna Magic were still back in the Silvermoon Clan’s base, which had been raided and destroyed by the Veranthos Empire twenty years ago. It was also such a rare type of magic. King Roland had found a few tutors over the years that helped Emilia raise her magic from F to C grade, but they all mysteriously went missing. Roland had a slight suspicion it was the work of his son August but had no evidence, and he seemed to like his sister...
After another ten minutes, the meal was finished, and the royal family of Velmira bid each other good night and left for their respective palace areas.
Emilia watched as the seductress with short blond hair left with her disgusting son toward the western wing of the palace, flanked by an army of maids, including Evelyn. She then turned to see her mother’s kind but worried eyes. She had long silver hair that curved around her pointed elven ears. Her towering height also contributed to her significant presence that matched her royal background. Although she was now called Kaylessa Greentail, she was once Queen of the Silvermoon Clan that resided near the Aldric Mountain Range in the north. Also known as the home of the vampires.
"Dear, don’t worry so much," she said, tracing the back of her silky smooth hand across Emilia’s cheek. "I am still looking for a suitable teacher or any records that survived the war; I have my agents working around the clock. I’m sure something will come up soon!"
"Sure, I appreciate it." Emilia smiled. "Good night."
The two departed ways, and Emilia entered her own room. She made sure to lock her door before sitting at her desk. Her previous smile had vanished entirely.
"Imryll," she said in a low voice.
The room hummed for a moment and then went silent. Finally, a woman clad in black appeared, kneeling next to her.
"My brother’s influence has grown too much lately," Emilia stated in a cold tone. "His presence has seeped into every aspect of the academy like a plague."
"It has, my princess," Imryll answered in a professional and subservient tone.
"Do you have any news on my brother’s shadows?"
Emilia had been given access to a portion of her mother’s agents as an eighteenth birthday present. As a result, she had control over a hundred highly trained elites that guarded her against the shadows and gathered intel on her enemies.
"Princess," Imryll answered respectfully, "Prince August’s intel network is large and powerful. Also, Queen Elizabeth has her own intel network. So it’s effectively a two-versus-one situation, and our resources are spread thin while tracking down those missing Luna teachers and books."
Imryll seemed to hesitate for a second and continued after seeing Emilia nod. "My queen is also fighting some enemies from Veranthos in the dark, further spreading our people thin."
Emilia sighed deeply. "The sentinels of Veranthos are making a move?"
"Yes, Princess, it seems Duke Henson is behind their deployment. They are trying to gather intel on someone inside our borders, but we don’t know the target’s identity yet, except that it’s an escaped baron’s daughter."
Emilia entered deep thought but couldn’t think of any barons’ daughters inside Velmira that could cause the duke to move Veranthos’ special forces.
"Do you have any intel on that assistant professor August mentioned at the dinner table today?"
Imryll shook her head. "August has complete control over the school; twenty percent of the students are estimated to be agents working directly in his intel network. They remove any information on Prince August’s movements."
"I know our resources are spread thin, Imryll, but can you get some information on this teaching assistant? I feel August had an unusual obsession with him from the glint in his eye."
"Your wish is my command."
The room hummed again, and the woman disappeared as if she were never there. Neither the window nor the door opened or closed to allow the woman to leave.
