I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 421  [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [9] Teraquins At Dinner

"Elder sister…" Bryelle's voice trembled with apprehension as she saw her elder sister, Alvara.

This was the worst possible timing.

Her heart raced as she tried to conceal the white bear plushie behind her back, but her small frame made the attempt futile. The plush was all too visible.

Alvara's gaze was impassive, her eyes coldly assessing Bryelle before she finally spoke. "I heard you once again tried to evade the guards assigned to protect you. Tried… no, you succeeded in escaping them this time, didn't you, Bryelle? Should I commend you for that?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

Bryelle's head drooped. "I apologize, elder sister…"

Alvara's expression softened slightly. "How many times, Bryelle? How many times do I have to remind you?"

"I—I just wanted to see more of the outside world…and maybe play a little," Bryelle admitted softly.

"It's dangerous out there. You know very well why it's dangerous, don't you?" Alvara's tone was sharper now as she stepped closer, finally sitting on the edge of Bryelle's bed.

Bryelle couldn't find the words to respond, so she remained silent, clutching the bear plushie tighter.

Alvara's eyes narrowed as they fell upon the plush toy. Her gaze darkened. Disgust flickered across her face, and Bryelle's body tensed, sensing the shift.

"I heard a Human abducted you?" Alvara's fingers threaded through Bryelle's hair, a gesture that would have been comforting if not for the steel in her voice.

Bryelle flinched. How had Alvara learned that Amael was a Human? He had been so careful to conceal his identity. But she didn't dare question her sister. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Um…yes, but it was a misunderstanding…he thought I was being chased and—"

"Did he touch you? Did he hurt you? Did he say anything to you? Tell me." Alvara's questions came rapidly.

"N–No, sister. He…um. He was kind—"

"Bryelle." Alvara's voice cut through Bryelle's words.

"Yes?"

"How naive you are," Alvara murmured, a faint smile playing on her lips, but it only deepened Bryelle's anxiety. "After everything that has happened, you still let yourself be deceived by these sub-races."

"N–No, sister. He wasn't like that. I was hiding my true face, and yet he helped me. He even—"

"That's exactly how they gain your trust. It's what they did to all of us. You remember that, don't you, Bryelle?" Alvara's fingers caressed Bryelle's cheek with gentleness.

"Yes…" Bryelle nodded, her eyes downcast, staring at her own legs.

"He probably wanted something from you. Perhaps he even tampered with that thing, we should get rid of it," Alvara said as she reached for the bear plush, her voice laced with disdain.

"W–Wait, sister! I–I'll take care of it myself!" Bryelle blurted out, clutching the plush protectively.

For a moment, Alvara held her gaze with a neutral expression, before finally releasing the plush from her grasp. She sighed, stroking Bryelle's hair in a gesture that was more possessive than affectionate. "Don't ever do that again. Never trust anyone, especially not those from other races. Do you understand?"

"…Understood." Bryelle nodded weakly.

Hearing that, Alvara's lips curled into a rare, gentle smile, a softness reserved only for Bryelle. It was a sisterly expression no one else had ever seen. If her classmates were present, they would be stunned to witness such warmth on her face.

"Let's go. Dinner is ready," she said, extending her hand gracefully toward Bryelle.

Bryelle nodded, allowing herself to be assisted by Alvara as she was gently placed in her wheelchair.

"Did you have a good day, elder sister?" Bryelle asked with a bright smile, her tone as polite as ever, laced with affection. Despite the power and status imbalance between them, she always spoke to Alvara with the utmost respect and love.

Alvara's gaze drifted, her mind clearly elsewhere. "A good day? Not at all." There was an underlying reason for her distance from her classmates during the trip, more than just her status as a princess who already knew every inch of her kingdom. As they made their way through the grand halls of the castle, the atmosphere shifted with each step. The maids, who were accustomed to Alvara's presence, still couldn't help but flinch when they saw her.

Their gestures were reflexive, a mix of fear and reverence, as no one dared to meet Alvara's piercing gaze. Upon reaching the grand dining hall, Alvara's expression transformed. Any trace of tenderness she had shown to Bryelle vanished the moment they crossed the threshold. The hall was vast, dominated by a long rectangular table centered in the room, its polished surface reflecting the flickering glow of the chandelier overhead. Every seat was filled, except for theirs. At the head of the table sat their mother, Tanya Teraquin, her regal presence commanding attention.

As they entered, all eyes turned toward Alvara and Bryelle. The weight of the stares made Bryelle shift uncomfortably in her chair, her earlier cheer draining under the scrutinizing gazes of their family.

"You're late, elder sister," Neia said with a smile.

Alvara ignored her cousin's comment entirely, her expression void of any reaction. She quietly positioned Bryelle beside her, adjusting the wheelchair with care before taking her seat next to her. "Fortunately, my dear family has waited for us," Alvara said coolly, her tone dripping with thinly veiled sarcasm.

Tanya's eyes narrowed slightly as they settled on Alvara. "Alvara."

Despite her sharp tone, there was indulgence between Tanya and Alvara. The queen had always spoiled Alvara, forgiving her for any misstep or transgression. But even Tanya had begun to feel the strain of Alvara's increasing severity. There was a shift in her daughter's behavior—a coldness that had started affecting her House, even going so far as to hurt her younger brother, Gamir. Alvara's cruelty had become harder to overlook.

Attacking others was one thing, but now Alvara had begun turning her hostility toward her own family. This was a troubling development, one that Tanya could not afford to ignore. She knew her daughter's mental state better than anyone, which was precisely why she had to keep her in check. The queen's eyes lingered on her daughter for a moment longer, but Alvara didn't react, her expression as inscrutable as ever. She offered no rebuttal to Tanya's reprimand, maintaining her silence.

"Tomorrow, Alvara's classmates will be coming here for a review session in preparation for the Exam," Tanya continued. "I don't want any problems. Do you hear me?"

Her gaze swept across the room, landing on each of her children and nephews. "Yes, Mother," came the murmured responses, heads nodding in unison.

"Bryelle," Tanya's gaze shifted toward the youngest.

"Y–Yes?" Bryelle stammered, her voice trembling with nervousness. Her small hands fidgeted in her lap.

"You will stay inside during that time, do you understand?" Tanya's gaze was stern. She wasn't fully aware of the incident that had occurred earlier involving her youngest daughter, but she trusted that Alvara had already handled it. Still, Bryelle's behavior concerned her. She was coddled far too much, and it showed in her childish antics. If something were to happen to her, the consequences would ripple throughout the family—especially affecting Alvara. That was a risk Tanya could not afford.

"Yes…" Bryelle replied meekly, lowering her head.

Satisfied with Bryelle's compliance, Tanya turned her attention to her eldest son, Kendel.

"I've heard that spies from Utopia have been captured within the kingdom's borders."

Kendel met her gaze with a calm nod. "Yes, Mother. I have already interrogated them thoroughly. It seems they were attempting to gather information about our teleportation circles, likely to facilitate an invasion."

Tanya's lips curled into a cold scoff. "Foolish," she muttered, her voice dripping with contempt. "And where are these spies now?"

"They were of no further use after the interrogation," Kendel replied, his expression unreadable. "So I dealt with them."

Tanya's brows furrowed at his words. "You should have consulted me before making such a decision, Kendel." Her voice was tinged with displeasure.

Kendel lowered his head slightly, acknowledging his mistake. "I apologize, Mother. I will consult you in the future."

"See that you do," Tanya said, her voice softening just a fraction. She took a breath, steadying herself before issuing her next command. "Reinforce the capital's security, especially around the students. Anything can happen at this point, and I refuse to let this kingdom fall to complacency. Dolphis was destroyed because they were careless. I will not tolerate such failure here."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Glamir, replied with a nod, followed swiftly by the others.