Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Chapter 78- Switch sides

“I….apologize. I was too tired and sleepy to notice.” It was rare for Austin to appear so apologetic. However, today, his action was quite bothersome.

He returned all tired last night and fell asleep, and when in the morning, Valerie came to get him for training, he didn’t get up and even pulled Valerie to sleep beside him.

“No, no…you don’t need to…I-I don’t mind…” Valerie assured him that it was okay since she didn’t like how her Lord was feeling bad for hugging her in his sleep.

Well, it was true that she wasn’t able to calm her heart even for a moment in those hours, but she never felt displeasure from his embrace.

If anything, she wanted to remain always there…

Austin heaved a sigh, as he slowly sliced the pancake and told her, “I have a very bad habit of clinging to something in my sleep, so if it happens in the future, please wake me up.”

Valerie’s cheeks were tainted with some redness as she nodded….however, truth be told, she wasn’t ever going to wake him up if he ended up embracing her like that again.

The atmosphere between them finally returned to normal once Austin gained her forgiveness. He really needs to do something about his habits.

The classes were suspended today, all the students have already gathered in the training hall, which explains why the common hall was so empty.

Austin went to ask for his match, and it turned out that it was scheduled for the evening. Valerie’s match would be in the afternoon.

“Are you prepared?” Valerie asked as she scooped some cereal and brought them to her lips.

Austin exhaled a sigh, “I think I am prepared but let’s see what opponent I get to face.” Austin wasn’t sure where he stands right now. His skills have developed and more than anything, his senses have sharpened.

Now, whether these things would help him win the match or not was another matter.

During the selection match, he wouldn’t be able to use his ‘Absolute Barrier’ given the thirty hours haven’t elapsed since he last used it. And second, he couldn’t just out of nowhere use a skill.

Surely, he could use WhisperWing, but the Stopwatch was out of the question, given he wouldn’t be able to recharge it for a month. And Austin has a more significant requirement for that Stopwatch.

While eating, Austin suddenly realized that his left hand was still quite shaky after the battle against the Commander. Just a single intense life-threatening battle Austin has gone through, and he was so shaken up.

Looking up at Valerie, he couldn’t help but ask, “How did you do it?”

Valerie blinked in confusion before asking, “I don’t understand?”

Austin, with a smile, asked her, “To become this strong…you surely must have gone through several difficult trials. How did you manage everything?”

Valerie was slightly taken aback by the sudden interest in her days of struggle.

She looked at the sincere admiration in his eyes and felt her heart accelerating.

“I…don’t know if I should be receiving such high praises from you-”

“Of course, you should. It wasn’t like you awakened the Third Evolution just by sitting at home and doing nothing. I have seen how hard you used to work in the past that made you what you are right now.”

With her eyes drawn to the table, Valerie slowly muttered, “….and that hard work created distance between us.”

Valerie said that, but instantly regretted it. With her eyes widened, she looked up at Austin and shook her head, “No, I don’t mean-”

“It’s okay, Val.” Austin held her hand, and assured her, “I understand what you meant.”

Exhaling a breath that contained both frustration and weariness, he said, “I was….jealous of seeing you achieve what I could never.”

“But it’s not true. I can see that you are progressing now, and in no time you will go through an Evolution.” Valerie added, and she was not saying sweet words just because of her feelings for him.

She has seen him going through phases in his life—from summoning his Shard to coming this far, he has suffered a lot and worked harder than anyone else.

Austin smiled at her, feeling his shoulders, which were stiff because of nervousness, finally relaxing when her familiar warmth seeped through his skin and touched his heart.

However, soon he was distracted as Austin caught the sight of a familiar man who did his best to hide himself but failed to do so. Considering Valerie didn’t react it was obvious that she didn’t notice him, but Austin did.

“Val, go ahead and keep a seat for me in the stands. I have some work to finish.” Austin said as he got up from the seat.

°°°°°°

Morkel didn’t know why he escaped the common hall when he went there just to buy a sandwich.

‘Maybe it’s the side effect of spying so regularly on him…’ Morkel was given the task of keeping an eye on Austin and because of that, he eventually got a habit of hiding whenever his eyes landed on the blond Prince.

Sometimes Morkel felt, ‘What the hell am I doing…?’ but then when he remembered what was at stake, he couldn’t stop himself.

“Yo, Professor.” Suddenly, a voice rang from behind which was familiar.

Morkel narrowed his eyes and turned around, “Austin.” He called out.

The blond Prince was resting his back against the wall with his hands folded as he called out, “I was wondering if you could spare some time for me. If only your Lord allows you, that is.”

Morkel narrowed his eyes, “I serve no one.”

Austin, with a smile never fading from his face, inches closer to the man, before whispering, “Then are spying over me for no good reason? I doubt that.”

“Who said I was spying? Are you putting allegations on your teacher?”

Austin looked amazed, “Still going to put on an act? What exactly did Aiden promise you? A well-paid job for Rhea? Or a promotion for you?” With a grin extending his lips, Austin faintly whispered, “Or did he promise to find out who killed her parents?”

Morkel’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at the younger one in disbelief.

That reaction alone was enough to confirm that Aiden had indeed promised Morkel the names of those responsible for Rhea’s parents’ deaths.

Austin heaved a sigh, “You are so naive, Morkel, to trust a man who was an orphan until a few years ago. Do you think he really knows something so insignificant like an ambush in a small village like Cadstead?”

Morkel was further delivered with another shocking blow, “You know about her hometown?” Morkel believed that it was only he who knew from where Rhea originally belonged.

Austin shrugged, “Not a big issue for me, who has spent years in the council, remained involved with the Ministers, and is served by the man who once served the King.”

Morkel narrowed his eyes and was forced to contemplate the credibility of the matter.

Naturally, there was no record of the ambush in Rhea’s hometown. All the information Austin had comes from his last life.

Morkel remained silent, and that allowed Austin to add, “I can give you the names and the details. Just switch your loyalty.”

Morkel snapped out of his reverie before he looked at Austin in suspicion, “Why would you share that information with me rather than tell it directly to Rhea?”

Austin chuckled, “Do you still think I am after Rhea? Can’t you see I have already moved on by realizing my mistake?”

Morkel frowned, “But…I heard it’s all just an act?”

“Heard from whom? Aiden, right?” Austin heaved a weary sigh, “Look Morkel, you are being fooled by him. Aiden won’t give a single crap even if you die today or something happens to Rhea. All he desires is the throne.”

There was a reason why Austin was going above and beyond to bring Morkel to his side—it’s the man’s usefulness in the long race.

He has a great mind, a great talent, and is easy to manipulate since his weak nerve is in Austin’s hold.

Unlike Parkinson, who can use extreme methods to get rid of people who annoy him or try to harm Rhea, Morkel is much more tamer.

A long silence descended between them before finally Morkel responded,

“Give me some time to think.”

Austin nodded, “Okay, take your time…but I need a response by the evening.”

Saying so, the blond one walked away.

Even if Morkel ends up revealing everything to Aiden, Austin wouldn’t receive any damage from it. He was not going to pretend to be all friendly with Aiden, and the information from Morkel wouldn’t do a shit to Austin’s reputation since, in the Capital, Austin doesn’t hold much importance.

‘If he accepts, he stays in the game, and if he doesn’t…then Rhea, sorry for your loss.’