I Am The Game's Villain

"Wow! Cylien, your hair is like pure silk," Amelia exclaimed as her fingers delicately brushed through Cylien's flowing golden-blond locks.

"I can't help but be envious," Celeste chimed in, her smile radiant.

The trio occupied a salon on the fourth floor, nestled within the women's section of a bustling shopping mall in Central Vedelia. Cylien had initially considered hiring a professional makeup artist for the occasion, but Amelia and Celeste had insisted on pampering their friend. They had made themselves at home amid the salon's furnishings, skillfully recreating a relaxed atmosphere.

"Why did both of you decide to accompany me?" Cylien inquired, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

"Because, dear friend, we were genuinely concerned for you," Amelia replied, her tone conveying sincerity that could touch any heart, though Cylien's remained steadfast.

"Or perhaps it's because you couldn't resist your curiosity about how this date might unfold?" Cylien ventured, her words hitting the mark. Celeste, in response, turned away slightly, her inability to lie apparent to her friends.

Yet, curiosity did play a part in their decision. Both Amelia and Celeste had never experienced romantic dates before and were eager to witness one firsthand.

"Of course, curiosity got the better of us, but we also feared that Rodolf might play tricks or suddenly become aggressive," Amelia defended their intentions, her voice laced with apprehension.

"Why would he resort to such behavior?" Cylien asked, with an exasperated sigh.

"Because he's deeply in love with you, and you're wearing a rather daring outfit for your first date with him," Amelia pointed out, emphasizing her concern. She then glanced at Celeste, seeking her agreement.

Celeste, however, was lost in admiration. Cylien's attire was a far cry from her usual regal wardrobe. She wore an elegant white off-shoulder blouse revealing her delicate shoulders, paired with a flowing, emerald-green skirt that accentuated her graceful form. Delicate leaf-shaped earrings dangled enticingly from her elongated, pointed ears, further enhancing her enchanting allure.

"How do I look?" Standing up and giving herself a once-over, Cylien asked. She ran her fingers through her recently styled hair, appreciating the smoothness that Amelia had coaxed into it.

"I believe you look splendid now!" Amelia nodded excitedly. 

"It's more than splendid, Cyli! Rodolf won't be able to take his eyes off you!" Celeste grinned, placing her hands supportively on Cylien's shoulders from behind.

"Ahem," Cylien cleared her throat, feeling a slight blush creep onto her cheeks at the compliments. "Well, I must be on my way now. I appreciate your help, but it's time for you both to leave."

"Of course, we won't keep you any longer," Amelia assured her, raising her hand to pledge their commitment.

With a gentle smile, Cylien departed, her heart and mind preoccupied with the impending date.

As she watched Cylien's retreating figure, Amelia's smile faded. "I'm sorry, Cylien, but it seems our curiosity got the best of us."

"Indeed," Celeste concurred with an exaggerated sigh, nodding at Amelia before discreetly following their friend, curiosity and concern intertwined.

***

"I thought we were here to exchange our homework?" I questioned, arching an eyebrow.

Before me stood Elizabeth, elegantly dressed in a white summer maxi dress adorned with red floral patterns. A fashionable shoulder bag, distinct from her usual school bag, was slung stylishly across her body.

"We are," Elizabeth responded with a soft smile. "But Sephira and Sirius might be running a little late."

"Sephira and Sirius? Late?" I echoed in disbelief. Despite only knowing them for just over a week, I was well aware that punctuality was a virtue they both upheld. If anything, they were usually early, especially in Sephira's case.

"Yes," Elizabeth affirmed, her smile taking on a gentle, knowing quality. She then scanned her surroundings. "I'll be exploring a bit, Amael. We can meet up when they arrive."

"Wait," I hastily interjected, my words coming out awkwardly. "I'll come with you."

Elizabeth looked at me in surprise. "Eh?"

"I mean...may I?" I hastily corrected myself, concerned that I might have sounded too forceful.

[<You're always so forceful, Amael. Can't change that, can you? >]

I'm not!

The truth was, I simply didn't want to risk getting lost in this colossal shopping mall. It was more like a small city than a traditional mall. With the labyrinthine layout, even a smartphone map might not be sufficient. It was far safer to tag along with Elizabeth.

Elizabeth seemed taken aback for a moment but eventually offered a warm smile. "Of course, Amael."

"Thanks," I replied, grateful for her understanding.

"You've never been here before, have you?" Elizabeth inquired, noting my curious gaze as I looked around.

It was a bit embarrassing.

She seemed to grasp why I wanted to stick close to her, like a lost child.

"This place is pretty overwhelming," I confessed.

Elizabeth nodded in understanding. "Do you have anything in mind you'd like to buy?"

Buy something?

"Hmm..." I pondered for a moment before nodding. "Something for Christina and my... Aunt Lydia."

It had been two weeks since I'd reunited with them, and I hadn't bought them a gift yet. This was the perfect place to find something special.

"Oh, for Senior Christina and Professor Lydia?" Elizabeth asked, a hint of recognition in her voice.

I nodded. "You know them?"

"Yes," Elizabeth replied, her hands clasped behind her back as she smiled. "Senior Christina and Senior Connor helped me a lot last year. And Professor Lydia was my teacher."

That gaze again...

I was itching to inquire further about her relationship with Christina and Connor, but I held back. I had only known Elizabeth for a little over a week, and we weren't exactly friends.

"Something on your mind?" Elizabeth asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Well," I began, struggling to find the right words. "It's just that I find it a bit challenging because you're so much like Selene, but you're also so different from her."

In truth, my mind often grappled with their strikingly different personalities and expressions. Most of my class time was spent with the reserved and cold Selene, so interacting with her lively twin felt somewhat disorienting at times.

"Oh, I understand," Elizabeth responded, her smile brightening a bit. "But with time, you'll get better at telling us apart. My sister is much more reserved than I am, while I tend to be more open. Grandmother always scolds me for that, but I can't help it. I can't be like Selene," she added with a soft giggle.

The protective nature of the old prophetess towards the twins was quite understandable. Selene and Elizabeth were the Tepes Princesses, hailing from the most influential House in Sancta Vedelia. As such, they had to be exceptionally cautious in their interactions with others. Selene adhered to this with meticulous precision, except when it came to Victor, though he was a Prince from another Great House, which made things different. Elizabeth, on the other hand, had a more outgoing personality, akin to Celeste's. Celeste, though, was even more extroverted, often meddling in everyone's affairs, regardless of their status, occasionally leading to misunderstandings with boys. Yet, her friendly nature made her the most popular girl at the Academy.

"Come, Amael," Elizabeth brought me out of my contemplation, leading me to a specific store. "This place has some really nice clothes for girls. You might find something suitable for Senior Christina and Professor Lydia."

"Alright," I replied, following her into the store. Our entrance naturally attracted attention, as one might expect, given our conspicuous presence. Some hushed and awkward comments about us were made, but we both chose to ignore them. It was likely considered inappropriate for a Great Noble to be seen in such a way, alone with a member of the opposite sex, as it could easily spark unnecessary and potentially scandalous rumors—particularly concerning a Great Noble.

Perhaps it would have been wiser to hang out in a group.

Well, that thought had slipped my mind. Elizabeth probably had considered it but didn't seem to mind. Perhaps she figured that we would soon be joined by Sephira and Sirius.

Of course, not everyone recognized Elizabeth as a Tepes Princess. It was unreasonable to assume that everyone would be familiar with the faces of the Sancta Vedelia Princesses. However, some undoubtedly recognized her.

In any case, I found myself faced with an array of women's clothing, a realm with which I was entirely unfamiliar. I turned to Elizabeth with a sheepish smile. "Could you help me with this?"