villainess chapter 15

Evan’s mind drifted to his first encounter with Vivian as he walked towards the training grounds. It was a memory solely his, as she remembered nothing of it. Their first meeting had been on a warm spring day, much like today.

***

“Hello.” Eight-year-old Vivian greeted twelve-year-old Evan, who lay against the trunk of a tree. The late afternoon sun illuminated her brown hair, making it gleam, and her warm hazel eyes shone. Her smile, bright as the sunlight, poured into his view. He lowered the arm shielding his face and sat up. “Who are you?” he asked the girl who had interrupted his brief respite.

“My name is Vivian Beaufort. I’m a new student here. What’s your name?”

Ah, the second daughter of the Beaufort family. He’d heard she was enrolling. She had a completely different aura than her sister, who was his age. Vivian’s eyes held a warmer, gentler light.

“Eden.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Eden. But why are you so bruised? Are you hurt?”

How kind. Perhaps she was too young to understand the ways of the world. He pressed his lips into a thin line, studying the young girl’s worried expression. The Grand Ducal family, protectors of the Empire, had enemies, both known and unknown. Outwardly, they were revered and feared, but the insidious truth hidden beneath the surface was another matter entirely. And this academy was a gathering place for nobles of the Empire, as well as foreign royalty and aristocracy. Therefore, he was disguised as a commoner, sponsored by a wealthy, undistinguished noble. 

He never knew when, where, or from whom he might become a target. His twin sister had long ago publicly renounced her claim to succession. Ironically, her title as Grand Duchess now protected her. Everyone was eager to forge a marriage alliance with the Empire’s sole Grand Ducal daughter. Evan, on the other hand, was the future Grand Duke, a potential threat to other nations. Because of this, there had already been several assassination attempts. 

This was why he was officially known to be absent from the academy due to health reasons. He was rumored to be sickly from birth, receiving private tutoring at the Grand Ducal residence. Perhaps disguising himself as a commoner, rather than simply a lower-ranking noble, had been a mistake. Noble boys his age resented him. They couldn’t stand the fact that a commoner, someone from the lower classes, was more handsome and intelligent than they were.

“He probably couldn’t even step foot in the academy without a sponsor.”

“I bet he’s being sponsored by some lonely noblewoman.”

“Plenty of male nobles have a taste for pretty boys.”

Their vulgar words made him want to wash out his ears. They weren’t even from the highest echelons of the Empire, yet they were obsessed with trampling on those weaker than themselves. Unfortunately, at this age, Evan wasn’t physically larger than his peers. He was simply an average preteen boy. However, his inherent nature wasn’t weak. He usually tried to avoid attention, but he wasn’t about to tolerate those who provoked him.

“Yes, I’m lucky. It’s something ordinary people can only dream of, isn’t it?”

“What? You little commoner!”

The academy, in principle, was a place where everyone, regardless of class, was supposed to interact as equals. They constantly sought him out to pick fights, so he merely responded. Their ugly faces turned red and blue, and fists flew. Outnumbered as always, Evan was frequently beaten. Divine abilities? Using them against these children would be disastrous. He’d be immediately summoned back to the Grand Ducal residence and subjected to endless lectures on duty and responsibility. 

On top of that, his father would undoubtedly make him train until he dropped. The thought alone was horrifying. Since graduation wasn’t far off, ignoring them was the best course of action. He’d heard from Caroline that these boys cowered before his sister. Yet, they were relentlessly cruel to him, pretending to be a commoner. Today was another one of those days. Just moments ago, he had been utterly exhausted. Vivian, who seemed intent on disturbing his rest, annoyed him. That’s why he remained leaning against the tree, offering no response to her greeting or question. Vivian plopped down beside him. She quietly observed his scratches, then pulled out a clean handkerchief and offered it to him.

“Our doctor says even small cuts can become serious if they’re not cleaned. Here.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, you need to clean them. I can’t touch you, can I?”

He stared at the small, plump hand she held out, shaped like a maple leaf. He didn’t seem inclined to take the handkerchief. Slightly embarrassed, Vivian patted his arm with her other hand, urging him.

“Come on. My arm is getting tired. Take it.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Relieved that he had accepted her kindness, her smile brightened. Her bright eyes, delicate features, and baby fat made her incredibly cute. The only female Evan knew was Caroline, whose personality was… unique. His mother was often ill and he rarely saw her unless he visited her room. She was frail and quiet, like a delicate flower. Seeing this lively, smiling child stirred an unfamiliar feeling within him.

“Hee hee, how old are you, Eden?”