The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 86

Chapter 86: 03/04- It’s for Lucian
Aeliana pulled her cloak tighter as she stepped onto the busy streets, the morning air crisp against her skin. She moved with purpose, her steps firm despite the uncertainty twisting in her chest. The rhythmic clang of metal striking metal echoed from the direction of the blacksmith’s forge, guiding her path.

Predictably, Kael was at her side before she had even made it halfway there. His sharp gaze swept over her, suspicion clear in his eyes.

“Why are you going to the blacksmith?” he asked, his tone edged with wariness. “What business could you possibly have there?”

Aeliana didn’t slow her stride. “I’m looking for work.”

Kael blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Work?” He stepped in front of her, forcing her to stop. “You? At a forge?”

She let out a sigh, adjusting her cloak. “Yes, Kael. Work. I need to support myself.”

Kael frowned, crossing his arms. “You’re an elf. And not just any elf—you’re—”

“I know who I am,” she cut in before he could say it. “But things have changed. I can’t just rely on my title. I need to stand on my own two feet.”

Kael studied her, his expression unreadable. “This is because of Lucian, isn’t it?”

Aeliana didn’t answer. Instead, she moved around him, continuing toward the forge. He followed without further argument, though she could feel his frustration radiating off him.

The heat from the forge hit her as soon as she stepped inside. The air smelled of molten metal and soot, and the ringing of hammers filled the space. A burly blacksmith, his face smudged with ash, glanced up from his work. His brow furrowed at the sight of her.

“Lady Aeliana,” he greeted, wiping his hands on a cloth. “Didn’t expect to see you here. What brings you to my forge?”

Aeliana took a deep breath before speaking. “I need a job.”

The blacksmith raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “A job?” He looked her over, as if trying to gauge whether she was serious. “With all due respect, my lady, this is hard work. Not the kind suited for someone of your standing.”

Aeliana straightened her shoulders. “I’m not here as a noble. I’m here because I need to work.”

Kael scoffed beside her. “This is ridiculous. You don’t even know how to hold a hammer properly.”

Aeliana shot him a glare before turning back to the blacksmith. “I can learn. I’m not asking for special treatment—just a chance.”

The blacksmith hesitated, glancing between her and Kael. “It’s not just about strength. Forging requires patience, precision… and resilience. Are you prepared for that?”

Aeliana nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”

The blacksmith studied her for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh. “Fine. I won’t turn down extra hands. But don’t expect me to go easy on you.”

Aeliana felt a small spark of relief. “Thank you.”

Kael groaned, rubbing his temples. “You are impossible.”

She smiled slightly. “And yet, you’re still here.”

The blacksmith chuckled. “Come back tomorrow at dawn. We’ll see what you’re made of.”

As they left the forge, Kael shook his head. “I still think this is insane.”

Aeliana glanced at him, determination in her gaze. “Maybe. But it’s my choice.”

Kael sighed dramatically. “Fine. But don’t expect me to carry you home when you collapse from exhaustion.”

Aeliana laughed softly, feeling lighter than she had in days. Maybe, just maybe, this was the first step toward reclaiming herself.

Kael exhaled sharply, rubbing the bridge of his nose as they walked away from the forge. “Aeliana, what exactly are you trying to prove here?” he asked, his voice laced with frustration. “You’re a princess. You don’t need to work. There’s more gold in the treasury than you could ever spend in a lifetime.”

Aeliana stopped mid-step, turning to face him. Her emerald eyes burned with conviction. “It is the kingdom’s gold, Kael. Not mine.”

Kael narrowed his eyes. “And?”

“And,” she continued firmly, “I refuse to take from the people when I haven’t earned it. That gold belongs to the kingdom, to the elves, to those who depend on it for protection and prosperity. It is not my personal reserve to squander when I suddenly feel lost.”

Kael groaned, running a hand through his hair. “This isn’t squandering, Aeliana. It’s survival. You don’t have to do this.”

“But I do,” she insisted. “I need to stand on my own. I need to know that I can support myself, that my worth isn’t just tied to my title or the privileges I was born with. I need to prove—to myself, if nothing else—that I am capable.”

Kael’s expression softened, though he still looked unconvinced. “This is about Lucian, isn’t it?”

Aeliana hesitated for a fraction of a second before replying. “Not entirely.”

Kael scoffed. “Right. Because you just suddenly decided you wanted to work in a forge for the fun of it?”

She let out a slow breath, looking toward the bustling streets ahead. “Lucian made it clear that if I want us to work, I have to take responsibility for my own choices. This is part of that. But beyond him, Kael, I want this for myself. I need to know who I am outside of my role, outside of being the ‘princess’ or the ‘elf.’ I need to know I can be something more.”

Kael crossed his arms, watching her closely. “And you think swinging a hammer at an anvil is the way to do that?”

Aeliana met his gaze steadily. “Maybe. Maybe not. But it’s a start.”

Kael let out a long sigh, his frustration ebbing into reluctant acceptance. “Fine. But if you pass out from exhaustion, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

A small smile tugged at the corner of Aeliana’s lips. “Noted.”

They continued walking, the market bustling around them. Merchants called out their wares, children darted between stalls, and the scent of freshly baked bread mixed with the metallic tang of the blacksmith’s forge.

Kael glanced at her again. “What exactly do you plan to do with your earnings?”

Aeliana considered the question. “I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

Kael arched a brow. “So you’re doing all this without a plan?”

“Not entirely,” she said with a smirk. “But I want to see if I can earn something for myself first before deciding what to do with it.”

Kael huffed. “You are the most stubborn elf I’ve ever met.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

They reached a quieter section of the marketplace, where the noise faded into the hum of distant conversation. Aeliana’s mind wandered as she traced her fingers along the rough wooden edge of a vendor’s stall.

She had been raised with everything—status, security, influence. But at this moment, she felt like she had nothing. Not Lucian, not certainty, not even a clear path forward.

Maybe this was why she needed to do this. Because if she could build something from nothing, maybe she could rebuild everything else too.

Kael must have sensed her thoughts, because his voice softened. “Are you sure about this?”

Aeliana nodded. “Yes.”

He sighed again, shaking his head. “Then I guess I’ll have to make sure you don’t get yourself killed in the process.”

Aeliana chuckled. “I appreciate that.”

Kael looked over at her, his expression unreadable. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re crazy. But… I also think you might be onto something.”

Aeliana’s heart lightened at his words. “That means a lot coming from you, Kael.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just don’t expect me to let you off easy when you realize how hard this is going to be.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said with a smirk.

Kael gave her a long look before shaking his head with a chuckle. “Well, at least this will be entertaining.”

Aeliana grinned. “That’s the spirit.”

Aeliana wiped the sweat from her brow, her arms aching from the repeated hammering. The rhythmic clang of metal against metal had once been almost meditative, but now it felt like a relentless battle she was losing. She had tried her best to follow the blacksmith’s instructions, but no matter how hard she worked, her strikes were either too weak or too forceful, warping the metal instead of shaping it properly. Her hands, unused to such grueling labor, had developed blisters by midday, and by sunset, her movements were sluggish, her muscles burning with exhaustion. She wanted to prove herself, to show that she was more than just a princess, but it became painfully clear that skill alone wouldn’t come overnight.

The blacksmith, a gruff but not unkind dwarf named Borin, watched her struggle with a critical eye. He had given her chances—more than he should have—but after yet another failed attempt at forging a simple blade, he let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. “Lass, you’ve got spirit, I’ll give ya that,” he said, rubbing his thick beard. “But this ain’t your calling. I can’t afford to have someone who takes more time fixin’ mistakes than making progress. You’re fired.” His words were blunt, but not cruel. Aeliana knew he was right, but the sting of failure still settled deep in her chest.

She stood there for a moment, gripping the worn leather of her apron before slowly untying it. “I understand,” she said, her voice steady despite the disappointment clawing at her. She had come here hoping to prove herself, to carve out something beyond her title, but instead, she had failed on the very first day. As she stepped out of the forge into the cool night air, Kael was already waiting for her, arms crossed, an unreadable expression on his face. “So,” he said after a beat, “do I say ‘I told you so’ now or later?” Aeliana groaned, rubbing her temples. “Kael, not now.” But despite her bruised pride, a small part of her couldn’t help but wonder—if she had failed at this, then what was she supposed to do next?