The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 75

Chapter 75: 02/21- Going back home…

Aeliana sat in the carriage, staring blankly out the window as the familiar landscape of the elf kingdom passed by in a blur. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions—confusion, guilt, uncertainty. Every time she tried to focus on something, it was like her thoughts slipped through her fingers, refusing to settle. The storm still raged in her heart, its remnants lingering like an unshakable chill.

“Are you okay?” Kael asked from across the carriage, his voice cutting through the silence that had consumed them for the last few minutes. He hadn’t spoken much since they’d left the chaotic scene behind. He seemed to understand the weight Aeliana was carrying, but there was a deep concern in his eyes—one that spoke volumes more than words could.

Aeliana looked at him, forcing a small smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I don’t know, Kael. I’m just… I’m just so confused.” She sighed, pressing her palms to her eyes as if trying to erase the images of the argument she’d had with Lucian earlier. “I thought everything was fine. I thought we were fine. But now… now it feels like everything is falling apart.”

Kael nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. “You two have been through a lot, Aeliana. It’s not easy. Especially with the pressure of being an oracle and everything that comes with it. You’ve had to shoulder so much responsibility.” He paused, glancing out the window as if to collect his thoughts before speaking again. “But Lucian… he’s not going to let go that easily. You’ve known him for so long. You’ve seen him at his worst, and you’ve seen him at his best. He’ll come around. He just needs time.”

Aeliana didn’t respond immediately. She appreciated Kael’s words, but they didn’t ease the turmoil inside her. What if Lucian didn’t come around? What if this time, they really couldn’t fix what had been broken? Her chest tightened just thinking about it. She couldn’t lose him, not after everything they’d been through together. But she also couldn’t keep ignoring the fact that they were both carrying so much weight on their shoulders, and sometimes, that weight threatened to crush them both.

As the carriage rolled further into the heart of the elf kingdom, Aeliana’s thoughts drifted back to Lucian. Would he be okay without me? Would he even care if I wasn’t there? The questions felt like daggers piercing her heart, and no matter how hard she tried to push them away, they returned with renewed force.

“We’re almost home,” Kael said, his voice softer this time. “We’ll figure things out, okay? Just take a deep breath. We can’t change what happened, but we can work toward what comes next.”

Aeliana nodded, though she didn’t trust her voice to speak. She reached up, wiping away a stray tear that had escaped her eye, and forced herself to look at Kael. “I don’t know if I can fix this,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know if I can fix him.”

“You don’t have to fix everything, Aeliana,” Kael said gently. “Sometimes, it’s not about fixing it all. It’s about being there, showing up, and giving it your best shot. You’ve already done so much for him. Just don’t give up now.”

The weight of Kael’s words settled on her, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she took a deep breath. It was a small comfort, but it was enough to quiet the storm in her mind, even if only for a moment.

They arrived at the castle, the towering gates slowly creaking open as the carriage pulled through. Aeliana couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of relief and dread. Home. The place where she had spent so many years training, learning, and growing—both as the oracle and as a person. But now, it didn’t feel like a sanctuary. It felt like a prison. She wasn’t sure where to go, what to do, or how to fix the mess she had created.

Kael stepped out of the carriage first, offering his hand to help her down. She took it, her fingers cold against his, and stepped onto the ground, feeling the weight of her uncertainty sink deeper into her bones.

“Let’s go inside. We’ll get you settled, and then we can figure out what the next step is,” Kael said, leading her toward the castle doors.

Aeliana nodded, walking beside him but not fully present in her body. She was so lost in her own thoughts, her own worries, that she didn’t notice the servant who approached them, bowing respectfully before speaking.

“Lady Aeliana, there’s been word from Lord Lucian,” the servant said, her voice tinged with hesitation. “He’s… he’s requested to see you. Immediately.”

Aeliana’s heart skipped a beat. Lucian? He wanted to see her? After everything that had happened? She didn’t know whether to feel hopeful or terrified, but the mix of emotions was overwhelming.

“Where is he?” she asked, her voice tight as she turned to Kael, who seemed just as confused by the news.

“In the private chambers,” the servant replied, glancing nervously between Aeliana and Kael. “He insists it’s urgent.”

Aeliana’s breath caught in her throat, her mind racing as she stood frozen for a moment. This is it, she thought. This is the moment where everything either falls apart or starts to heal.

“Let’s go,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but there was a new determination in it—one she hadn’t felt in a long time. If Lucian truly wanted to see her, then she wouldn’t run anymore. She’d face him, no matter the consequences.

The walk to Lucian’s chambers felt like an eternity. Each step she took seemed heavier than the last, and the weight of uncertainty pressed down on her chest with each passing second. Would he forgive her? Could she ever make him understand? The questions were endless, but there was no turning back now.

Finally, they reached the door. The servant opened it for them, and Aeliana stepped inside. Lucian was standing by the window, his back to her. He didn’t turn around as she entered, and for a moment, she thought he hadn’t even noticed her presence.

But then, in a voice that was low and strained, he spoke.

“Aeliana.”

It was all he said, but the way he said it made her heart ache. She swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing herself to step forward.

“Lucian,” she replied softly, her voice trembling. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Please, just listen to me.”

He turned slowly, and she saw the storm still brewing in his eyes—though this time, it wasn’t the storm of anger. It was something else.

Aeliana stood still in the silence of Lucian’s chambers, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mind raced with a flurry of thoughts, but no clarity came. She felt like she had failed him, failed herself, and failed everything she had worked so hard for. The confusion, the guilt, the fear—it all swirled around her, threatening to overwhelm her. What do I do now? The question echoed in her mind, a haunting refrain she couldn’t shake.

Her hand trembled slightly as she raised it, fingers brushing her palm with the faintest hint of magic. A familiar, almost mechanical sensation followed as she summoned the system interface, a cold, glowing screen appearing before her. She had done this countless times before—checking her favorability with Lucian, the delicate balance of emotions and actions that governed their relationship. But this time was different. This time, she feared the answer.

With a few swift motions, she typed in a command, her thoughts distant as she focused solely on the screen. Lucian profile… favorability. She hit the enter key, her breath catching in her throat as the system processed her request. For a few moments, the screen flickered, then settled, displaying the results in harsh, cold letters.

Favorability: -100%.

Aeliana’s heart sank into the pit of her stomach. She stared at the numbers, the red text burning her eyes. Negative 100 percent. It was as bad as it could get, a reflection of everything that had gone wrong between them. Every word, every action, every mistake, it was all there in that number. And it wasn’t just a statistic. It was real. It was undeniable. She had lost him.

Her thoughts clouded over with despair. She clenched her fist around her palm, the harsh glow of the system fading as she shut it off. The silence of the room felt suffocating. I failed him, she thought again, the weight of the realization pressing down on her chest. I ruined everything. There’s no going back from this.

In that moment, she felt so utterly alone. The years of friendship, the shared battles, the moments of tenderness—they seemed so distant now, shattered beyond repair. She had tried to fix things, tried to make amends, but it had all fallen apart. The system couldn’t lie. The truth was right there in front of her. Lucian was gone, and with him, the chance for them to ever be more than what they were.

She closed her eyes, her body sinking to the floor as the tears she had been holding back finally broke free. Aeliana didn’t know how long she stayed there, but it felt like hours. Every second was filled with the crushing weight of regret. What now? She asked herself again, but no answer came.