Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son-Chapter 197 [Island Of Drath] [12] [Three Choices]

[Hesperia kingdom]

[16 years ago]

The chilly wind of winter breezed past the castle of the royals.

A castle that lost its original luster, turning into nothing but broken pieces, its walls crumbling from within.

Burned and shattered objects were scattered around the now destroyed place.

Flames rose from the very same castle, casting a hue of black and red around the area.

Those flames cast an ominous look over the kingdom, leaving nothing but silence in their wake.

A figure stood amidst the layers of smoke in front of the castle, along with several soldiers mounted on giant armored birds.

"Kill the intruder before it reaches His Majesty!" the figure shouted.

His aged voice, along with his frail structure, made him look fragile, but his strength was anything but that. "Lay your lives down to stop it, that's an order!"

"Hooo!!"

They collectively shouted, eyes firm with determination, minds ready to sacrifice themselves.

He stretched out his spear-holding hand, lowering it toward the burning flames below him, while the soldiers behind him began casting all the astral magic circles they knew.

…A figure slowly walked through the burning flames.

The flames that burned the centuries-old castle couldn't do anything to her.

She held nothing but a simple sword in her hand.

A silver crown adorned her head, hovering slightly above her.

Her lifeless gray eyes, with a tinge of purple, gazed up at the myriad of magic circles showcasing a blend of different colors.

"...Inrath."

She whispered softly, a invisible dome covering the entire caslte, her platinum hair with purple streaks at the ends fluttering around.

She waved her hand, holding the sword toward them.

A shockwave followed her movement.

'Thud'

The soldiers fell, along with their mounts.

Dead.

Cut into pieces.

Painting the ground crimson.

She walked over their dead bodies, slowly moving toward the castle entrance.

A layer of mana blocked her path, a barrier strong enough to stop an Eternal rank for a while.

She looked at the barrier for a moment before using her free hand to touch it.

A crack appeared where she touched, slowly expanding until it covered the entire dome.

Crack.

The barrier crumbled beneath her touch, breaking into pieces, shattering like broken glass.

She resumed her walk, entering the castle.

"FIRE!!"

A voice yelled as soon as she walked in, hundreds of magic spells rushing toward her like missiles, all at once.

"Stop."

She whispered softly, a soothing hum echoed, and all the elemental attacks stopped in their tracks, inches away from her body.

She walked slowly, gazing at the hundreds of soldiers frozen, terrified by the monster standing before them.

"AGAIN, FIRE—!"

"Thread."

She whispered, her voice drowning out the shouts of the soldiers.

All those present, except her, felt chills down their spines.

Black threads emerged from all sides, filling the entire castle hall.

Those threads moved slowly, penetrating the heads of all the soldiers present inside.

Their eyes lost color, turning gray as soon as the threads touched their brains.

"Move," she ordered, and they followed.

Making way for her toward the throne where the King of Hesperia stood.

She walked between the soldiers, their heads bowed as if acknowledging her as their ruler.

The king moved to his family's side as she moved and sat on the beautiful throne.

"Kill yourselves." She ordered, gazing at the hundreds of soilders in front of her.

They obliged.

Some plucked their eyes.

Some ripped their thorat out.

Esmeray watched the mayhem with bored eyes until all of them died.

Leaving nothing but strench of death.

"Who are you?" the king growled, shielding his family behind him. "Why are you doing this?"

"Bring me Elohim's sword, and I will leave," Esmeray replied calmly, no trace of emotion in her voice, even after killing thousands.

"Never!" The blonde-haired man standing behind the king roared, "...We would rather die!!"

Esmeray's gaze landed on him, then slowly shifted to his wife. Her lips parted. "...Is she going to give birth soon?"

"And so are you," Maria replied softly, holding her sleeping son tightly while gazing at her round stomach.

Esmeray ignored her words before her gaze returned to the king. "...What is your answer?"

"Neve—!"

His words were cut short as she waved her hand, her sword moved.

A clean vertical line formed at the very center of his body.

His body split into two halves.

Falling to the ground.

His guts and blood spilled on the floor, soaking into the carpet below.

Maria closed her eyes tightly, turning away from the gruesome sight.

While Delwyn froze, staring at his father's dead body.

He fell to his knees, his vision blurring as he tried to make sense of what was happening.

Just half a day ago, he was happily talking with his father, but now...

His gaze slowly turned to Esmeray, his broken voice echoing, "...Why?"

Esmeray remained silent, touching her swollen stomach gently.

Rage boiled within Delwyn as he shouted, "...Why are you doing this to us?!"

"You are delusional to think you have any worth for me to do this," she replied, her tone flat. "Your father, soldiers, your kingdom—they are all nothing but collateral damage."

Those words broke him even further.

Knowing all this happened without any reason shattered him to the point of tears.

"You monste—!"

"Give me Elohim's sword, and I will leave," Esmeray repeated, looking at him. "Or do you want to lose even more?"

Delwyn's lips trembled as he slowly turned to look at his wife, son, and unborn child.

Her gaze locked with Maria's.

She shook her head firmly, holding her son even more tightly.

Delwyn felt his world crumbling, torn between his family and his duty to the kingdom.

...He couldn't choose.

"Think it through, Prince," Esmeray said, looking at him. "...You can still save your kingdom."

His body trembled violently, tears streaming down his cheeks.

But he remained silent, glaring at her.

Esmeray slowly stood from the throne, walking toward them.

...Toward Maria.

"It seems your husband needs a reality check," she said as she stood in front of her.

Delwyn tried to move to protect his wife, but his legs wouldn't budge... He remained frozen, unable to move.

"You have three choices," Esmeray said, her hand slowly reaching toward Maria, touching the boy in her arms. "Your son."

Her hand moved toward Maria's belly, touching it softly. "Your unborn child."

Her gaze shifted to Delwyn. "Or your husband."

Maria trembled as her gray eyes locked onto Esmeray's. She bit her lips, trying to stay calm. "...Why do yo—?"

"Choose," Esmeray interrupted coldly.

Maria slowly looked at her husband, who sat there without moving... Just staring at her.

Only then did Maria notice, something gruesome holding her husband down.

She took deep breaths, hugging her son even tighter. "...My son. I choose to keep my son safe."

"As you wish," Esmeray replied, moving her hand swiftly.

Before anyone could react...

...Her fingers wrapped around Maria's son's delicate throat.

Snap!!

...His neck broke.

And all Delwyn could do was watch...

.....

.....

.....

Long after the sun had set and night crept in, bringing a bitter chill with it, Delwyn sat mindlessly by the fire.

Hours must've passed since he last moved from his seat as his whirling vortex of thoughts filled his entire mind.

After the anger had fizzled out, and his mind stopped thinking about his now deceased family.

Just above him, the clouds seemed the same, pouring down heavy rain stopped only by a small barrier, and the world behind him glimmered like crystal dust across the horizon.

...Something was burning at the very center of the island.

But he ignored it.

Gazing with his hazel eyes ahead, as if waiting for someone.

And...

...He didn't have to wait long as a silhouette emerged from the forest, rushing toward him.

A flash of lightning revealed the figure clearly.

Purple hair, damp with water, clung to his head... Blood dripped from both hands, filled with scratch marks.

Purple eyes stared at him.

Azariah didn't hesitate before drawing his katana, ready to fight.

"Are you sure you have enough time?" Delwyn asked, gazing back at the rising fire behind him. "...Can you even defeat me before that fire engulfs whoever stayed there?"

Azariah bit his lip in frustration, eyes glaring at him.

He lowered his katana and asked, "...Are you the one who did this?"

"No," Delwyn shook his head, "...The one who did is a lot closer to you than me."

Azariah tilted his head in confusion before Delwyn's words sank in.

His mind went numb as he considered the possibility.

"Sit down," Delwyn said, motioning to the empty chair beside him. "...We need to talk."