Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 205  [Island Of Drath] [20] [Fallen Prince]

Oliver turned towards the sound.

Ethan patted his back twice, making him glance at him.

He nodded, looking towards the same direction.

Oliver's eyes slowly started to burn, but he kept his gaze on those who arrived in front of them.

"More of them?" Ethan mumbled, bringing his sword out again.

Oliver nodded, flicking his hand to alleviate the burning sting around his arm.

His clothes felt clung to his body.

"Stay back," Oliver ordered, turning to look back at Aaliyah.

She looked at Ethan before nodding and taking a few steps away from them, Ruby following suit.

Oliver looked forward with his blurry eyes; he blinked, huffed, and shook his head.

Three people came into view, two males and one female, wearing the same attire—cloaks with hoods like the one he had slain before.

"I will take care of them," Ethan said, glancing at Oliver as he walked towards them, drawing the blade from its scabbard.

They looked confused, taking out their weapons, looking at the boy filled with marks—like traditional tattoos.

"Turning spell."

Ethan whispered softly, lowering his body.

The star mark on his hand turned brighter; it glowed from his hand, reaching towards his eyes.

"Huh?"

A thin line of grey thread slowly connected him with them.

Their eyes turned blank before life returned to them.

But...

...Something was different.

It was as if their strength, speed, and mana had been lowered considerably.

Ethan kicked the ground, his body moving in a blur as he rushed towards one of them.

The assailant raised his hand, holding the sword to parry, but the force of Ethan's strike yanked his hand back, followed by his of his face.

Without wasting any time, Ethan prowled towards the next one.

With a swift sweep of his sword, he cut the body in two halves.

The assailant's body fell in two different directions.

"W-what did you do!?" the last one asked as Ethan turned to look at him.

"Nothing," he replied, smirking. "...I just gave you my base rank and took yours."

"W-what—?"

Ethan's body blurred again, the sound of flesh being sliced through echoed within the forest.

He placed his sword back in its sheath—the assailant's headless body falling down.

"Huff..."

Letting out a sigh, Ethan glanced back at Oliver.

Turning, he walked towards them, a concerned look on his face. "...Oliver?"

Oliver blinked, his eyes turning back from golden to obsidian-black as he took in deep breaths.

He was exhausted, sweat stinging his eyes, his brain felt like it was burning, every limb aching as if they were filled with lead.

There was a burning pain on his back as he looked at Ethan.

His body stumbled, Ethan catching him, hugging him tightly.

Only then did something click in Oliver's mind, a chill running past his scalp.

These symptoms.

...He finally noticed.

....He had been poisoned.

"Oliver?" Aaliyah whispered, taking a step forward, but Ruby quickly grabbed her hand.

She turned around, glaring at her. "...Leave me."

But Ruby solemnly pointed towards the forest.

Confused, Aaliyah turned to look where she pointed.

And...

...From there, a man walked out from the shadows.

The clouds parted, moonlight gilding the forest for a few heartbeats, then it was gone, hidden behind more cloud.

But Aaliyah already noticed the burn mark on his face.

Oliver tried to stand straight as he looked towards the man—towards Delwyn.

Ethan took a step back, while Delwyn took a step forward, closer to them.

"...It's an honor to meet you," he said, his head lowering slightly to show his respect. "...Sir Oliver Von Casita."

Oliver tensed up, his body aching in pain as he looked at Delwyn.

Only then did he notice the abnormalities in his body had started to worsen.

....He felt tired, too tired to even move.

"Who are yo—?"

Oliver's words abruptly stopped.

"OLIVER!!"

Aaliyah's panicked voice burned in his ears, but the sound stopped the next instant.

A burning pain raced through his chest, his muscles aching, his body turning pale.

.....He felt a blade grinding past his spine.

Looking down, he noticed it.

The tip of a sword emerged from his chest, a spurt of blood fell, and his body stumbled.

Pain hit his body like a hammer, and his head turned back to see Ethan stabbing his heart from behind.

Ethan loosened his grip on the sword's hilt, his body trembling as he stepped back.

Oliver's body slowly started falling backward, but Delwyn stretched his hand.

A flat-ended spike of crystal appeared from the ground, supporting Oliver's body, making him gently sit on the ground.

"Urghh...Huff..Huff."

He groaned in pain as he raised his hand to touch the tip of the sword.

Looking around, he tried to make sense of the situation but couldn't comprehend what was even happening.

Soon, his consciousness slowly started to slip away.

"If you want her dead, then run away."

Blinking, Oliver tried to use the eyes of Horus, but a voice interrupted him, stopping him.

"Arghh."

Groaning in pain, he looked up towards Delwyn...

...Behind him, Ruby dragged the unconscious Aaliyah to where he could see her, a dagger leveled at her throat.

Ethan stumbled towards Ruby; he looked weak, as if he was going to fall any second.

He knelt, reaching out to hug Ruby's waist.

Oliver felt a sense of disgust creeping within him as he looked at Ethan, sniffling, crying, while Ruby rubbed his head with her free hand.

"...Why?"

A tremor rippled through him, a wave of rage.

Oliver glared at Ethan, the pain being overwhelmed by sheer anger.

"Do you know who you are?" Delwyn asked, walking towards him.

He sat down on the rough ground, his eyes never leaving Oliver.

Oliver took a moment, controlling it, controlling the urge to stab and kill this man.

His eyes turned towards Aaliyah.

"...Who a..re you?" Oliver whispered again, feeling his heart slowly stopping.

"Do you remember who Edel is?" Delwyn asked, staring at him.

Oliver's glare intensified, slowly his face contorting in anger and disbelief.

"...Of course you do," Delwyn replied, nodding to himself. "He is your grandfather, after all."

"....He didn't." Oliver whispered weakly, staring at him. "...No, no, he won't—"

"He had to," Delwyn cut in. "...He had no choice but to do it."

"...Ahh."

Everything started to make sense to him.

Every single thing.

A dry chuckle escaped his lips, blood dripping down his mouth.

Since childhood, he remembered his grandfather never liked him.

He hated them for spoiling the lineage of Von Casita.

....For being half-bloods.

For bringing shame to the family name.

"No, not because you are a half-blood," Delwyn said, staring at him.

His words didn't make any sense to Oliver...all he could do was blankly look at him.

"Do you know there is something about your family that many people don't know?" Delwyn continued, staring at him.

"...Three thousand years ago, the Oracle of that time foretold a prophecy."

Oliver's vision blurred, his heart giving up slowly.

Ignoring his condition, Delwyn continued, "...The next [Promised Prince] will be the highblood of Von Casita."

"...He did all this just because of a prophecy?" Oliver whispered weakly, staring at Delwyn.

"You don't understand [Promised Prince]s—your worth yet," Delwyn replied. "...There is a saying about [Promised Prince]s...A being who has been foretold to rule over all realms."

Oliver coughed, feeling his organs getting sliced by the sharp edge of the blade with even a slight move.

"...You were going to be a threat, a variable that Edel could never control," Delwyn continued as he took out a sharp knife from his bracelet. "...That's why he chose to eliminate you."

Oliver let out a bloody chuckle, his body leaning more onto the support made of crystal.

"...I see," he whispered, his eyelids feeling heavy, his breath slowing down.

"But regrettably," a cold glint passed Delwyn's eyes as he whispered, "...He also asked for your brother's death."

BOOM!!

A heavy pressure dawned upon them, their shoulders turned heavy, making them stumble.

A crack appeared beneath the surface where Oliver lay as he glared at Delwyn.

"...Touch my little brother," he whispered, his eyes burning golden as he stared at him. "...And I will kill every single one you hold dear."

"Oliver!" Ruby yelled, placing her dagger closer to Aaliyah's neck. "Stop it!"

The pressure on their bodies slowly started to lower, Oliver's golden eyes flickering back.

"Regrettably, boy," Delwyn whispered softly, looking at him. "...I don't have anyone left in this world whom you can take away."

"Huff...Huff..."

Oliver glared at Ruby, trying to keep himself calm.

His gaze slowly turned towards Ethan, who refused to even look at him.

Was it perhaps regret?

Or was it shame for betraying him?

Ethan never looked back at him.

"Do you want to save her?" Delwyn asked, gazing back at Aaliyah. "...Do you want to save your brother?"

Oliver grunted in reply, feeling his life slowly slipping away.

Delwyn reached closer, taking his hand and placing a knife in it.

"...An eye for an eye," he whispered softly, looking into his eyes. "...A life for a life."

"...No," Oliver whimpered, silently gazing at the clear moon.

A solitary being flew high in the sky.

...Slowly approaching them.

His gaze turned toward Ruby as she dragged Aaliyah away, hiding her body within the bushes.

Delwyn stood up, taking a step back, masking everyone's presence with mana.

His lips parted, "...I swear on my deceased family, I won't hurt any of them.

But in return...

...You have to kill Azariah."