The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: I cheated.

Aeliana stormed so fast into Silvion’s study, her face was so flushed with a redness from anger and shame. Silvion is lounging casually in his armchair, looked up from the book he was skimming, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

“Aeliana,” he began, his tone soft but teasing, “you’re up early. I would’ve thought last night’s festivities would’ve left you—”

“Enough of this Silvie!” she snapped, cutting him off. She clenched her fists that her heart pounding so fast as she tried to organize her chaotic thoughts. “This… this is so absurd. You’re my cousin!”

Silvion blinked, momentarily caught off guard, but then his usual calm demeanor returned. “Fifth generation,” he countered, setting the book aside. His voice was smooth, almost dismissive. “We’re barely related by blood. It’s not as scandalous as you make it sound.”

Aeliana’s chest tightened, her voice trembling with a mixture of guilt and fury. “It doesn’t matter! I betrayed my promise to Lucian. I… I cheated. And I let it happen.”

Silvion’s smirk faltered, his expression softening. He took a step toward her, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “Aeliana, listen to me. It wasn’t planned. It was… a moment. A beautiful, fleeting moment. You were vulnerable, and I—”

Her hand lashed out before he could finish, the sharp crack of the slap echoing through the room. Silvion staggered back, his cheek reddening as he stared at her in stunned silence.

“Don’t you dare romanticize this!” Aeliana hissed, her voice breaking. Tears that were welled up in her eyes, but she keeps refusing to let them fall to show weakness. “You should’ve stopped me! You knew how fragile I was, and instead of helping me, you took advantage of it!”

Silvion’s jaw locked and tightened, but he remained silent, his eyes fixed on hers. For the first time, his confident mask cracked, frickeled revealing a flicker of guilt and somewhat, shameful face.

“Now, I have to live with this,” Aeliana continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “And so do you. But don’t think for a second that I’ll forgive you—or myself—so easily.”

“This is so morbid,” She added

Without waiting for a response in return, she turned her heel and stormed out of the room, frustrated. Her eyes were blurred and clouded with unshed tears. Silvion remained rooted in his spot, his hand brushing against the red, stinging handprint on his cheek. The door slammed shut so hard that the concrete pavement cracked half-way.

“Even if I was to say fifth generation or not,” he murmured to himself”she’ll never forgive me and she never see me the way I see her,”

Aeliana retreated almost immediately to her chambers, her mind racing with regret and self-recrimination. She sank to the comfort of the soft sheets of her massive bed, clutching the pillow tightly as silent tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt as though her plans had collided and the balance was off. She had no idea it would come to this, she sniffles the tears back. Aeliana wandered the castle halls aimlessly, her mind a storm of guilt and confusion. She tried to distract herself from the grandeur of her surroundings, but every step felt heavier than the next.

By the time, she stumbled into one of the quieter courtyards, she was a trembling mess, tears were clouding her vision threatening to spill once more.

She didn’t notice Kael standing by the fountain, his usual stoic demeanor softened by the early morning light. He was nursing a small flask, taking occasional sips as he leaned against the marble edge. When he caught sight of her, his brow furrowed.

“Aeliana?” he called out, his voice low but concerned.

She froze, wiping at her eyes hastily, though the redness betrayed her efforts. “Kael,” she murmured, avoiding his gaze. “What are you doing here?”

“Right back at you, Princess,”

“Are you still recovering from last night’s hangover,” he said with a half-smile, holding up a flask.

She shook her head not knowing what to do. She tried to force a weak smile, but her lips quivered. Before she could say another word, Kael had already closed the distance between them. His expression turned serious as he noticed her tear-streaked face.

“Aeliana, what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice soft but insistent.

“Nothing,” she replied too quickly, stepping back. “I just… I need some space and fresh air.”

Kael frowned, not convinced. “Air doesn’t make you cry like that.”

. “You wouldn’t understand. I can’t… I can’t talk about it.”

“You don’t have to,” he replied, stroking her hair awkwardly but kindly. “Just let it out.”

She wept so openly, her body trembling as he held her. For a long moment, the only sounds were the quiet sobs and the trickle of water from the fountain in the front veranda.

After a little while, Kael tried to lighten the mood, somehow. “You know,” he began, his tone more playful, “if this is about the Vivaldi Elixir, I completely understand. That stuff is dangerous. Did you save me any? Because I could use another round.”

Aeliana managed a weak laugh through her tears, hitting his arm lightly. “Kael, you’re impossible.”

“That’s what they all say,” he quipped, smiling faintly. “But seriously, Aeliana, whatever’s bothering you… you don’t have to face it alone. If you need someone to punch, cry to, or even drink with again, I’m here.”

She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. “Thank you, Kael,” she whispered.

“Always,” he said firmly, his gaze steady.

Though her heart still ached, Aeliana felt a small measure of comfort in his presence. For now, at least, she wasn’t entirely alone.

‘How I wished to be by his side right now’ she thought as Kael’s warmth was so comforting she feels as if her eyelids slowing giving in, but she shakes her head to where Kael says “Rest, if you’re tired Aeliana.” and with that she let herself rest in his arms as he carried her to her room.