Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 56

Chapter 56: Chapter 55- Nothing without you
Austin didn’t find Valerie in the common hall, so while assuming that she was still with her father, he returned to his room.

Rudolph’s situation was critical but the healer said that she would save him. The healers of the academy are quite well-trained and possess commendable skills. In their hands, Rudolph was safe.

Austin was currently brewing himself some coffee in his room when he asked the system,

“Is there no description I get on Shard? Or maybe a skill like Appraisal?”

The situation with his Shard was quite complicated. His Soul Shard has been acting weirdly, more so when Austin gets into dangerous situations.

Although it has never betrayed him until now, fortunately, discerning the mechanism of the equipment that was attached to his Soul was quite important.

[Unfortunately, host, the system cannot assign a quest for a specific reward. You can only request a quest to target a specific progression. However, there are chances that the reward obtained from the Overall progression might grant you the skill of Appraisal.]

Austin hummed, as he whisked the coffee and put the milk to boil.

The stress of the three demons was over, and before the tournament, there should be only a few small arcs. However, Austin’s main focus was on the tournament.

He was, most probably nearing the C-rank now. He would officially become a C-rank with some training and a few quests of the system.

Before the tournament, he, at least, needs to reach B-rank—one of the prerequisites of the tournament.

Even after that, he needs to go through a few tests to be selected as an Elite.

And the journey doesn’t end there; during the winter vacation he needs to go treasure hunting as well—and for that he has to do something through preparation.

‘A long way to go…and so less time I have…’ Yet, he was optimistic. After all, there was his supportive butler and loving fiancée for him.

*Knock*

Suddenly, Austin heard a knock on his door, urging him to turn off the boiler and approach the door.

*Click*

Surprisingly, it was Sebastian, “Young Master…Lady Valerie…in the gym.” The way he was unsteadily breathing and looked panicked gave him enough reason to break into a sprint as Austin made his way out of the dormitory.

Several thoughts crossed his mind as he advanced towards the gymnasium.

——**—-

[A few seconds ago]

Rhea’s eyes were parted wide when she arrived in the indoor gym to retrieve something. She wanted to return to the infirmary as soon as she could so she could look after Rudolph. However, the sight she was greeted with froze her in shock.

“What the….heck…” the gym was a mess. Hundreds of wooden training dolls were lying on the ground—snapped and wasted.

These are special training dolls with enchantment imbued in them to make them stronger than normal wood. It takes several days for a student to practice against a single doll to break it.

And here…hundreds of them were scattered around.

**DHAK**

Rhea raised her eyes and turned towards the cause of this mayhem.

Valerie, on the other side, was showing her profound skills in martial arts and beating the nonliving but pitiful training doll.

**SNAP**

Not so long after, that training doll snapped as well—leaving none anymore.

Rhea hurriedly approached Valerie, only to stop in her tracks when suddenly Valerie summoned her Shard and pointed it towards Rhea,

“R-Relax…I am not here to hurt you.”

Valerie narrowed her eyes before she released her Shard and turned away.

Rhea approached her again, this time cautiously, and said, “Your hands are bleeding. You should stop training now-”

Valerie sharply turned, making the pink head flinch, before the violette stated, “Listen, I don’t want any suggestions from anyone right now. So please, leave.”

Rhea was troubled seeing that indifference in Valerie’s eyes. It reminded her of that day when Valerie snapped her Shard. That day, she was upset because Rhea damaged the dress that Austin gifted. Then today as well…

“Val.”

Suddenly, they heard a voice from the entrance.

Valerie heard him but didn’t turn to look at him—fearing she might cry and let him know all her grief once again. She feared that she might make him sad because of her…once again.

Austin again voiced as he advanced at her, “…won’t you look at me, Val?”

Valerie flinched and clenched her fist. Tears welled up in her eyes, as she continued to look down.

Rhea, upon finding the right person at the right place, took the cue and stepped back,

‘I no longer need to worry for her…’

Austin stood beside his lover, before holding her wrist and uttering, “Please look at me Val…”

His soft voice and the familiar warmth broke her resistance as she turned towards him and rested her head on his chest.

The gym, which was previously hearing the screams of her wrath, was now filled with the cries of her agony.

Austin rubbed her back and continued to whisper, ‘It’s okay…I am here…’

——–**——-

Austin brought the girl to the stands and heard what happened.

She somehow calmed down enough to tell him about the conversation she had with her father.

Austin knelt before the girl and slowly removed the splinters from her hands. Seeing her blood oozing, made his heart shake. A lump seemed to have grown in his throat that made breathing difficult.

“…I don’t understand why…why would father ever suggest something….” Her voice was shaky. Anything that proposes separation from her beloved makes her so painfully hurt and agitated…

Austin didn’t look up at her and took a bottle of disinfectant and cotton from his <Inventory>.

While he cleaned her wounds, he told her, “You know Val, whenever everything seems like going good in my life, and I find myself being too happy…I always wonder, what if…my greatest source of happiness is snatched away from me?”

His tone was heavy, numerous emotions his voice held.

Forgetting about her grief, the violet-haired heard him saying,

“I have thought a few times…what if you get separated from me for some reason…and you know what I saw beyond that possibility?”

Valerie hesitated, not wanting to hear what he thought, but in the end, curiosity got the better of her, “What?”

“Nothing.” Austin raised his face and looked in the eye, “I saw nothing…just pure blank.”

Her eyes slightly stretched, as the burn from the medicine and the pain from her bones seemed insignificant in front of the pain her Darling was showing.

“I…cannot imagine a world where I can’t live with you. Complete emptiness…I will lose my reason to live. After all, for me, everything starts and ends with you.”

Valerie gazed at her beloved, a choked sob left her throat, as she heard him saying,

“So…even if it’s your father, I cannot…I will not let you go, Valerie.”

“Don’t…!” She held his face with her shaky fingers, “…never let go. Valerie can only belong to her Lord…to you.”

Their arms encircled around each other, and the embrace was more fierce and passionate than ever. It was like the duo was trying to become one with the hug. The very thought of being separated shook them to the core—making them realize what’s the most important thing for them.

And that is to always stay together.

——–**——-

Austin cleaned her wounds and wrapped bandages around her knuckles.

“Why did you come here instead of meeting me? Hurting yourself because someone else hurt you?” Austin asked, his tone signifying displeasure.

Valerie, meekly, responded, “I…didn’t want to make you upset by all this…so I thought…”

“So you were intending to hide such a big thing from me? Am I that unreliable, Val?”

The spear-user instantly shook her head, “No, that’s not…! I wasn’t going to hide it forever, just for the time being considering the recent events.”

Austin was surrounded by challenges that were both mentally and physically taxing. Recently, his friend recovered from a critical situation, and Valerie didn’t want to elevate his burden anymore.

Austin heaved a sigh, “Physically, I might not be impressive, but you can trust me when it comes to taking mental pressure. I am good at it.”

Once he finished wrapping up the bandage, he asked, “There…feels better now?”

Valerie was about to nod in assent…then something came to her mind, and she shyly shook, “…still hurts a little.”

Austin barely held himself from grinning as he brought her hands near his lips and tenderly kissed them.

“Now, is it okay?”

Valerie smiled, “Yes, it’s better now.”

——–**——

Sitting inside his office room, Aiden read the letter and didn’t feel betrayed.

He expected this. Valerie is a strong woman who can fight anyone if it comes to Austin.

Bringing the parchment near the candle, he burned the tip of it.

Watching the burning letter with a malicious grin, he muttered,

“It will be fun…this hunt will be more enjoyable, the more you resist.”

As the parchment burned, Aiden thought of his next move, which could detach his little brother from his sole reason for happiness.

——-**—–

A/N:- For Valerie, Austin is both her strength and weakness. Well, you all can see how attached they are, so no need to worry about needless separation and shiiii. Thanks for reading, drop a comment.