The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 107

Chapter 107: 03/25- Riven VS Lucian
Aeliana barely had time to process the dull ache of her wound before Lucian’s voice cut through the tense air like a blade.

“Move aside. Let me console her.”

His tone was sharp, edged with frustration, and he stepped forward as if to physically push Riven away.

But Riven didn’t budge. Instead, he scoffed, golden eyes glinting with something between amusement and challenge. “It’s not my fault I got to her first.”

Lucian’s jaw clenched. “You’re in my way.”

Riven smirked. “Am I? Or are you just upset that you weren’t paying enough attention?”

The words struck deep, and for a second, Aeliana saw something flicker across Lucian’s face—guilt, frustration, something raw and unspoken. He took another step forward, fists clenched, but before the tension could snap into something worse, a loud groan interrupted them.

“Guys, stop.”

Kael, arms crossed, gave them both a pointed glare. “We just fought through an entire battlefield. Aeliana’s injured. Maybe—just maybe—now isn’t the time for a testosterone match.”

The rest of the group was less serious.

“Oh, this is hilarious,” Garrik snickered, nudging Markus. “Who knew Lucian had competition?”

Markus chuckled, eyes dancing with mischief. “I think the real question is—who’s winning?”

Selene smirked from where she leaned against a broken pillar. “My gold’s on Riven. He’s got the upper hand already.”

“Are you kidding?” Lirian added with a chuckle. “Lucian’s gonna snap soon, and when he does—” He mimed an explosion with his hands.

Aeliana groaned, covering her face with her free hand. “Can you all not?”

But that only made them laugh harder.

Kael, ever the voice of reason, sighed and shook his head. “Seriously. We need to get moving before anything else shows up.” He glanced at Riven. “You said there’s a safehouse?”

Riven, still smirking, finally relented and took a step back from Aeliana. “There is. Not far from here. I’d offer to carry the Oracle myself, but…” He glanced at Lucian with a teasing grin. “I don’t think he’d take it well.”

Lucian shot him a glare. “Try it and see what happens.”

Aeliana, deciding she had absolutely had enough of this nonsense, let out an exasperated sigh. “I can walk, thank you.”

Lucian instantly turned back to her, concern overriding his irritation. “You shouldn’t.”

“I can.”

Riven chuckled. “Stubborn one, isn’t she?”

Aeliana turned a glare on him, but he only smiled wider.

Kael rubbed his temple. “Can we just go?”

With some effort, Aeliana pushed herself to her feet. Lucian was immediately at her side, steadying her, his hands gentle yet firm. She allowed it—only because she was still slightly dizzy.

The group finally began to move, following Riven’s lead through the ruined landscape.

As they walked, Selene leaned in beside Aeliana with a mischievous grin. “So… you’ve got two men fighting over you now?”

Aeliana groaned. “Selene.”

“What? I’m just saying—most people would kill for this kind of attention.”

Garrik, overhearing, snickered. “I don’t know. Seems like a pain to me.”

Dorian grinned. “Bet she secretly loves it.”

Aeliana sighed. “You’re all impossible.”

Lucian, walking beside her, shot them all a glare. “Enough.”

But that only made them laugh harder.

Riven, keeping pace slightly ahead, looked over his shoulder with a smirk. “You should see your face, Lucian. It’s priceless.”

Lucian’s eye twitched.

Kael, as patient as ever, simply sighed. “It’s going to be a long walk.”

….

Lucian’s voice was colder now, edged with something sharp and unrelenting. His exhaustion from battle, his frustration at himself, and the rising tension between them all culminated in one simple, undeniable truth—he didn’t trust Riven.

“Who knows what your intentions are, Riven?” Lucian’s grip on his sword tightened, his body subtly shifting into a guarded stance. “You’ve been gone so long… I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

The rest of the group took note of his shift in demeanor. Kael’s hand drifted toward the hilt of his blade. Selene subtly adjusted her stance, her daggers within easy reach. Even the usually carefree Garrik straightened, his fingers flexing as if readying a spell.

Tension rippled through the air like a storm about to break.

Riven, however, remained maddeningly composed. He regarded Lucian with a smirk, though his golden eyes were unreadable. “Oh?” he mused, tilting his head slightly. “Is that what this is about? You’re worried I’m not the same person I used to be?”

Lucian didn’t respond, but his silence spoke volumes.

Riven’s smirk widened, but there was something else beneath it—something bitter, almost mocking. “Well, you’re right about one thing,” he said. “I’m not the same. But neither are you, little brother.”

Lucian’s jaw clenched. “Don’t call me that.”

Riven exhaled, running a hand through his tousled auburn hair. “You’re always so dramatic, Lucian.” His gaze flicked to Aeliana, who was watching the exchange with wary eyes. “And you? What do you think? Do you share his distrust?”

Aeliana hesitated. Truthfully, she didn’t know what to think. Riven had saved her life just minutes ago—twice—but there was an undeniable secrecy about him, a careful veil he kept between himself and the rest of them.

“…I think,” she said carefully, “that we don’t have time for this. If we’re going to fight something, it should be the real enemy—not each other.”

Kael nodded. “Agreed. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be cautious.”

Selene, ever the strategist, narrowed her eyes at Riven. “You knew we’d be here. You claim to have a safehouse ready for us. You show up out of nowhere, just in time to ‘help.'” She crossed her arms. “It’s suspicious.”

Riven chuckled, clearly unfazed. “I prefer the term ‘conveniently well-informed.'”

Kael’s expression darkened. “See, that’s the thing—why are you so well-informed?”

Lucian took a step closer, his blade still sheathed but his intent clear. “We don’t know who you’ve aligned yourself with, Riven. For all we know, you’ve been working against us this whole time.”

The accusation hung in the air, heavy with implication.

Riven finally let out a soft, almost tired laugh. “Against you?” His golden eyes gleamed in the dim light. “You really think so little of me, Lucian? That after everything, I would betray you?”

Lucian’s expression didn’t waver.

Riven sighed. “Look. I get it. I’ve been gone. You don’t trust me. Fine. But I didn’t come here to play villain—I came here because you needed me.”

Aeliana tensed slightly. “And how, exactly, did you know we needed you?”

Riven’s gaze met hers, and for the first time, something genuine flickered in his expression. “Because I make it my business to know when the people I once called family are walking into danger.”

Lucian bristled at that. “You don’t get to call us that anymore.”

Something flickered in Riven’s golden eyes—an emotion too brief to name. But then, just as quickly, it was gone, masked behind that infuriating smirk once more.

“Suit yourself,” he said, turning away. “But standing here arguing won’t do your Oracle any favors. She still needs rest.”

Aeliana hated that he was right. The ache in her side was worsening the longer they delayed. She was holding herself together, but she wouldn’t be able to keep it up forever.

Lucian noticed her shift in posture and immediately turned his attention to her. His anger, his wariness of Riven—everything took a backseat to his concern for her. “We’re wasting time,” he muttered. Then, reluctantly, he looked back at Riven. “Lead the way. But if this is a trap—”

Riven smirked. “Then you’ll kill me. Yes, yes, I know. Now, let’s get moving before you all collapse from sheer paranoia.”

With that, he turned and began walking.

The group hesitated, exchanging glances, but ultimately, they had no choice but to follow.

Lucian walked close to Aeliana’s side, subtly watching her for any sign of weakness. She sighed, sensing it. “I’m fine, Lucian.”

He didn’t look convinced. “You’re hurt. And I let it happen.”

Aeliana frowned. “That’s not fair. You were fighting. I wasn’t careful enough—”

“No.” His voice was firm. “I should have seen it. I should have protected you.”

Aeliana softened. “You’ve protected me more times than I can count.”

Lucian didn’t respond right away. When he did, his voice was quieter. “That doesn’t make it okay to fail you now.”

Aeliana opened her mouth to argue, but Riven’s voice interrupted them. “You know,” he called over his shoulder, “you two are nauseatingly sweet when you’re not bickering.”

Aeliana groaned.

Lucian scowled. “Shut up, Riven.”

The others laughed, and just like that, the tension eased.

Aeliana’s mind reeled at Riven’s words. Little brother? The title lingered in the air, carrying a weight she hadn’t expected. She stole a glance at Lucian, searching his face for any confirmation, any hint that this was a misunderstanding—but his silence was telling. His expression was tense, his jaw locked tight, and in that moment, Aeliana realized something staggering. They are related. Not by blood, perhaps, but in some way, through bonds she didn’t yet understand, they had once been family.

Her grip unconsciously tightened on her side as her thoughts raced. Why had Lucian never mentioned Riven before? And why did hearing those words—little brother—make him so visibly tense, so visibly wounded? There was history here, buried deep beneath old scars and unsaid words, a past that neither of them had spoken of. Aeliana had always known Lucian carried burdens he rarely shared, but this… this was something else. The way he had immediately distrusted Riven, the way Riven had spoken with a mix of mockery and something almost bitter—it was clear that whatever had once tied them together had long since frayed into something sharp-edged and dangerous.

What happened between them? Aeliana wondered, feeling a strange knot form in her chest. She had thought she knew Lucian, but now she was faced with a part of his past that had been hidden from her. And judging by the tension crackling between the two men, she had a sinking feeling that whatever had broken them apart had never truly healed.