Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son-Chapter 419: Reason for War [3]

"Papa, look at this!"

A little girl’s voice echoed within the garden as she tried to turn back, sitting on the stairs.

Her skin, abnormally pale, had a sprinkle of water on it while her green eyes shone brightly.

"Sit straight, Izara."

Wilhelm’s voice echoed from behind her as he made her black hair.

The little girl’s elongated ears twitched at her father’s touch.

She giggled on her own as she made a picture with crayons.

Wilhelm tied her hair in a ponytail as he peeked at what she was drawing.

"What are you doing?" he asked, picking her up and placing her on his lap.

The girl showed her father the picture. "See? Family photo."

The girl began pointing at the figures one by one. "It’s you, me, Uncle Elijah, Iffa, Himmel—."

"Wait, what are they doing in our family photo?" Wilhelm asked, pinching her cheeks.

"They are family." She replied, giggling as she did. "Especially Himmel."

"Call him uncle."

"No!"

Wilhelm gave his daughter a stern look. "Izara?"

"No!" the girl said, jumping from his lap. "He isn’t my uncle!"

She ran away before he could say anything.

Wilhelm let out a sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

’What did that idiot do to my daughter?’

He groaned inwardly as he stood up.

But just as he began to move, he noticed the gate opening.

’Hmm?’

Wilhelm tilted his head as he saw a young boy walk inside.

He had long red hair that was tied to his side.

His golden eyes met with his.

"Uncle Elijah!!"

Izara waved towards him from afar, which Elijah returned with a smile.

He quickly walked past the girl as he arrived towards Wilhelm.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, looking at Elijah.

"Uh, I just came back from the funeral with Himmel," Elijah replied, smiling softly. "I thought we could have a talk."

Wilhelm looked at him suspiciously but motioned him to walk along anyway.

"How did it go?" he asked quietly. "...The funeral?"

Elijah took a moment to answer.

"It was quiet," he said, his voice low. "Not many people showed up."

Wilhelm gave a small nod as the two of them walked slowly across the garden.

"What about Himmel?" he asked, glancing back at him.

"He was... banished," Elijah informed awkwardly. "They say he isn’t needed."

"What is Pasit—the queen even thinking?" Wilhelm asked, frowning in confusion.

"I don’t know." Elijah shrugged. "I am as confused as you."

Wilhelm nodded, not continuing the topic. ƒreewebɳovel.com

A silence lingered between them before Elijah looked at him.

"I heard about it," Elijah said. "About you joining the army."

Wilhelm’s steps slowed.

"...Yeah," Wilhelm finally said. "I signed the papers yesterday."

Elijah stopped walking. "Are you sure that’s what you want?"

"Yes," Wilhelm said honestly, his eyes not meeting his. "And someone has to go."

Elijah looked down, unsure of what to say.

"Izara doesn’t know yet," Wilhelm added after a moment. "I don’t know how to tell her."

"...She won’t like it," Elijah said, honestly. "She is just a child."

"I know." He smiled, bitterly shaking his head. "But she has to know about it sooner or later."

Elijah hesitated for a while.

He tried not to say it but in the end couldn’t control himself.

"Why you... just don’t go," he mumbled, his voice uneven. "Why join a war when it’s nothing to do with you?"

Wilhelm turned fully towards him.

There was a smile on his face... a sad, bitter smile.

"I may not be the strongest, but I am strong," he said, his voice soft. "If my strength can save the life of an elf, I would gladly use it."

Elijah’s reasoning began to snap. "They took your WIFE!?"

"No. Not the innocents," he replied, shaking his head. "It was... my foolishness that took her."

Wilhelm slowly turned to look at his daughter.

She was now crouched by the garden bed, gently poking at a caterpillar with a stick. Oblivious to the heaviness in the air.

’She looks exactly like her mother,’ he thought hopelessly. ’She would have loved to see her grow.’

"Wilhelm." Elijah began, taking his attention. "Izara has no one but you."

"...No." Wilhelm shook his head in response. "She has a family."

"....."

Elijah let out a sigh as he glanced back at Izara as well.

"By the way," Wilhelm said, glancing at him. "Where is Himmel?"

---

[Himmel’s POV.]

The door of the library slowly creaked open as I walked inside.

It was still the same, with the spiral staircase in the middle and thousands of books lying around.

Even though it was the middle of the day, I saw nobody here.

...Well, except one girl.

I slowly walked towards her as she was too busy reading her book.

Just when I was in close range to her, a blue bird came flying and sat down on my head.

"Tweet!"

He let out a sweet voice before pecking on my head.

’....’

I swear, I will make you a chicken roast one day.

The girl finally looked up at me.

Her long silver hair, fading into soft blue highlights at the ends, cascaded down to her waist.

She was dressed simply yet elegantly—a white shirt and a blue skirt.

Two pristine white curves that framed her forehead like a natural crown.

"Uh, hello?"

Epione quickly began to fumble around.

I gestured at the seat opposite to her. "May I?"

"Sure," she said, nodding her head.

I took my seat and lay my head down on the table.

Epione blinked at me as I rested my head on the table.

For a while, she didn’t say anything, she just stared.

The blue bird on my head shifted, ruffling its feathers as if it owned the place.

"Rough day?" she finally asked.

"Funeral," I mumbled.

Her expression softened. "I see."

The silence stretched for a few moments, only broken by the soft flipping of her pages.

I didn’t lift my head. I didn’t feel like it.

"You didn’t have to come here, you know," she said, her voice quieter this time. "You could’ve just... rested."

I finally lifted my head to look at her.

"I wanted to talk," I said. "Thought I would find you here so I just came."

She looked confused but nodded nonetheless.

I slammed my head back on the table.

The silence once again lingered between us.

"I never thanked you for helping us in the wedding," Epione whispered meekly. "If you weren’t ther—."

"It’s fine," I replied, without looking up. "And I did kill your uncles."

Wait, would I talk with someone who killed my uncle?

Probably yes, he is a piece of shit anyway.

Epione didn’t say anything for a moment.

The air between us felt a little heavier, like a page paused mid-turn.

"...You saved my mother," she said finally. "That matters more than anything else."

I shifted my head slightly to glance at her.

She was still staring down at her book, fingers frozen on the edge of the page.

"And they weren’t really my uncles," she added, softer this time. "Just people I shared blood with."

"...."

I said nothing but kept on looking at her.

Silence lingered between us once again.

Then, I finally whispered, "I feel like I am lost."

"Hmmm?"

"For the last few months, I have this feeling," I whispered softly, looking away from her.

"That there is no meaning to my life... like I have been led around without even noticing."

I paused for a moment.

"Things just don’t feel right," I added softly. "I... I just don’t understand."

Epione gently closed her book and set it aside.

She didn’t speak immediately. She just watched me, like she was thinking of the right words.

I wasn’t even sure why I said all that.

Maybe it was because I was tired.

Or maybe because she was the only one who looked at me like I was still... me.

The only one who doesn’t want to use me.

"You don’t have to understand everything right now," she said softly. "Maybe you’ve been through too much too fast."

I sighed, my fingers curling slightly over the edge of the table. "It’s not just the last few days. It’s been happening for a while."

Is it Esmeray?

Maybe.

I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one who was pulling the strings.

Living in Akasha, which is mildly peaceful, I have completely forgotten who my real enemies are.

’The world won’t let me live in peace.’

"So, your problem is that you don’t know what to do?" Epione asked, making me glance at her.

"...Partially, yes," I replied silently.

Epione nodded, silently tapping her fingers on the table.

"From what you said, it seems you aren’t living your life for yourself," she said, looking at me. "You are living for others."

I frowned. "No, that’s not—."

"I have lived my entire life for others... for my mother, father, grandfather," she whispered softly. "I know what it means to live for others."

"...."

She isn’t wrong.

My entire life, I have dedicated most of it for others.

I helped those who I can and shielded whom I could.

All this time, I have been doing things...

I let out a sigh, unable to think more about it.

It felt like my reality was shifting just by thinking about it.

I let out a sigh. "What should I do then?"

Epione blinked like I asked a stupid question... which I think I did.

"Live for yourself," she replied, looking at me. "Not for the sake of others but for only yourself."

She raised her hand on the table. Curious, I mimicked her movement.

"Don’t do things that make others happy," she continued, her voice soft. "Do what makes you happy."

Our hands intervened subconsciously, as she looked into my eyes.

"Be what you want to be," she added with a smile.

Finally, she noticed our hand and jerked her own away.

"Tweet!"

The stupid bird pecked me once again as she stood up.

"Don’t peck him," Epione said, nudging her pet away. "He is already miserable."

I chuckled as the bird moved back to her shoulder.

"Tell me if you need anything," Epione said, smiling gently. "I will help if needed."

"...."

Only then did I notice.

Her personality as Echo was the one who was talking with me.

The one who is cheerful and positive like any idol.

"Hey, Epione," I said, making her stop. "...Do you mind singing for me?"

Epione blinked in surprise, like she wasn’t expecting such a request.

But she smiled anyway. "Sure, tell me when."

I nodded as she began to walk out of the library.

"...."

Left alone by myself, I placed my hand over my eyes.

’...To live for myself, huh?’

As weird as this may sound...

...I want to try it.

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