Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Chapter 74- Change of plans?

“Are you returning to your room?” Austin asked as they stood near the girl’s dorm.

It was already past dinner time and they have spent most of their time together.

It was strange yet not that when you are with your favorite person, you don’t realize when time passes.

“I…have to,” Valerie responded as she held his hands and stood face to face.

Austin heaved a sigh and nodded, “Well, tomorrow is our trial and we will get to know who I will be facing to be with you.”

Valerie shyly lowered her gaze, her beautiful lips arching in a smile, as she said, “But we are already together.”

Austin shook his head, “Tomorrow, I am going to win the place beside you.”

Valerie looked up into his eyes; the determination and confidence he held made her heart flutter.

How time changes. Once, he only seemed so determined about only one person—Rhea. But now, his focus, and goal was her.

It was his ambition to be with her.

Valerie squeezed his hand and uttered, “I know you will win tomorrow.”

Hearing that, Austin mischievously grinned, before asking, “But if I win, I will naturally get to participate with you. What will you give me?”

Valerie was confused, her head tilted slightly, as she asked, “What…I can give you?”

Austin inched closer. His breath made her ticklish, as she held her breath upon finding the distance between their lips almost non-existent.

She was suddenly reminded of that moment when they kissed, further elevating her panic.

“A-Au-Austin…I-I-I…”

Austin looked into her beautiful trembling eyes. Her body was trembling in both nervousness and anticipation.

Leaning his face to the side a little, he whispered in her ear, “If I win tomorrow, I want to have the taste of your sweet lips, once again.”

Valerie’s eyes stretched slightly, as she opened her mouth to say something, only to find her Lord’s finger pressing against her lips, “I won’t take anything but ‘yes’ as a response.”

Valerie wasn’t going to reject him anyway, but still…why should she be the one to kiss? She even became shameless for the first time.

‘…it’s the reward he is asking for though…’ Valerie steeled her nerves, and with her eyes closed, she nodded in assent.

Austin smiled before he stepped back, “Go and rest, Valerie. Tomorrow will be a tiring day for you.”

———**——–

“Shit…that might have been too much…” Returning to his room, Austin clutched his chest and found his heart violently beating.

His face was hot, and whenever he remembered the expression on his lover’s face, he felt his mind turning numb and a shiver of excitement running down his spine.

‘She looked so timid and adorable…’ One couldn’t comprehend how such a fierce and cold warrior could make such an expression when he flirts with her.

“I can’t let anyone else see that expression or they will fall for her right away…” Flirting is okay, but he can’t do that outside.

*Knock*

Hearing the knock, Austin first steadied his breathing before opening the door and finding a familiar grey-haired man standing there.

“Good evening, sir.” Sebastian greeted as he entered the room.

“Sebastian…did you know about Father?” Austin asked right away. Although he heard the news from Rudolph, he couldn’t be a hundred percent sure until his trusted butler affirmed.

And indeed, “He is not doing well, sir. I received the news from a trusted source.”

Austin hummed, a deep frown marring his face as he sat down on the chair and rested his hand on the table.

After thinking for a bit, Austin asked, “What information do you have about the staff regularly working in the palace?”

“I have details about everyone,” Sebastian responded. For someone who used to serve the king, it was his duty to keep a record of those who regularly came in contact with Cedric.

Austin grimly asked, “What do you know about the chef working in the kitchen? Do they have a family?”

Sebastian was confused, “There are currently three chefs and seven cooks in the royal kitchen. And yes, they have their families except for the youngest cook who recently joined. He is an orphan.”

Austin hummed, before he asked, “I know it is too much, but can you do a background check on all these, especially the new one for me? I might be paranoid but I feel Father’s sudden health deterioration is not just out of stress.”

Austin could only trust Sebastian with this work. He doesn’t have the resources or manpower to do this job. And if Sebastian finds Aiden’s involvement in this matter then it would be quite beneficial for Austin.

“If possible…huh?” Austin was surprised to see the butler, despite the severity of the matter, was smiling warmly at him.

Sebastian explained, “It warms my heart to see you being worried for your Father, despite the distance you two may have created.”

Austin sighed. Interlacing his fingers, he said, “I am worried about the nation and our people. If the King falls, I hardly believe my elder brother could handle the responsibilities of the throne as of now.”

“Yes, yes, I understand you,” Sebastian said; however, seeing how the man was grinning, it was evident that he didn’t believe in him at all.

Austin groaned, “You really are…well, if possible, find out about them by the day after tomorrow.”

Sebastian nodded diligently, “Understood, sir. And…is there any change in plans for our trip?”

Austin nodded, “We will first visit the Great Forest, then meet Duke Corwon, and finally visit the capital. Since there would be fifteen days before the tournament officially begins, I think we can cover the journey in that brief time.”

Sebastian was a little concerned, “But sir, if we visit the Capital-”

“I know that we won’t make it to Drenovar on time. That’s why I am planning to postpone the trip…” but was that a wise choice? Austin was racing against time.

———**——-

“Based on the decision of the council, Eryndor and Drenovar might not get the permission to participate.”

Hearing those words from the Headmaster, a few didn’t react and a few gasped.

It was late evening when the meeting of the teachers was held in the conference room where the Headmaster, Vice-headmaster along with other teachers were present.

The topic in discussion was, naturally, the tournament.

“Is it because of the possible war, sir?” One of the teachers asked, and he got a nod in response.

“Indeed. Although we haven’t received any notice from the Union Council, it is being speculated that they would not allow the academy of the two nations who are on the verge of a clash, to participate.”

“But what war has to do with this tournament?” Another Professor asked.

This time, it was Morkel who responded, “There are several reasons, Professor Dorothy, but the most obvious one is personal grudge and manipulation. While we may not instruct our students to target those from Drenovar, who’s to say they wouldn’t encourage theirs to use this opportunity to take revenge on Eryndor?”

Dorothy raised her brows, “Are you suggesting that they will ask their students to harm our students.”

Morkel shrugged, “Who knows.”

Every eye then turned towards the Headmaster, before Philius added, “Professor Morkel is right about that. That’s why, it isn’t safe for us to send our students inside the ring where they gain the opportunity to severely damage our students.”

The Vice-headmaster asked, “So are we withdrawing?”

Philius shook his head, “Unless the Union Council doesn’t tell us so, we are going to move with our original plan. We will hold the trials as scheduled and see what happens.”

Morkel exhaled a weary sigh as he said, “All we can do is hope for a miracle.”

———-**———

It was quite late at night when Austin finally finished his planning about the upcoming trip to places.

He would be quite busy for some time now, however, this was necessary.

If the First Prince hadn’t made a move towards Valerie, Austin might have used Aiden for his benefit. However, now….Aiden needs to die.

‘If things don’t go in the way I desire them to be…then I always have a plan B…’ Austin looked at the small pocket watch Sebastian gifted him. If he fails then directly slaughtering Aiden would be the only option left for him.

‘Haah…let’s think about that later…’ He has a more important thing in hand right now. His training.

Tomorrow was his trial, and the Headmaster would be choosing his opponent. If Austin wins against him then he can have his spot reserved as an Elite.

That’s why…

‘System, re-open Stage 1…’

[Ding!]

[Re-establishing the stage…]

[Floor 1: Moonlit Mirage]

[Rank: C-]

[Time limit: 6 hours]

[Current points: 205]

[Enter?]

[Y/N]

Taking a deep breath, Austin summoned his Shard in his left hand before commanding,

“Yes.”