I Am The Game's Villain

"Then came the Raven House," Sirius continued, "with my older brother, Cyril, who was in his second year at that time. The Raven House had less influence compared to this year, mainly because Connor was always the primary figure in the Academy."

He then added with a hint of amusement, "Actually, did you know that the person Cyril despised the most among everyone else was Connor?"

"Huh?"

"Yeah," Sirius nodded in affirmation. "Cyril despised Connor more than anything in the world. I'm his brother, and I knew how he felt all those years."

The notion of Cyril, who appeared so calm and composed, harboring such intense feelings of hatred toward Connor was difficult to fathom. Connor had always been portrayed as a bastard rarely showing blatant hatred even toward Victor.

"Why did he hate him so much?" I couldn't help but inquire, sharing my curiosity with Sephira.

Sirius' expression twitched slightly. "I actually don't know. He never confided in me about it. And honestly, I'm hesitant to ask him. There are some things you just don't want to pry into, you know?"

Things were getting more and more mysterious. My already blurry knowledge of the Second Game seemed to be getting more and more useless.

"Anyway, moving on to the third House with the most influence—" 

"Teraquin, right?" I said in an obvious tone.

But Sirius interrupted with a mischievous smirk. "Nope, it wasn't Teraquin."

My eyes widened in surprise. "What? But Alvara and Kendel must have been there, right?" 

Those two had enough influence by their mere presence.

"Yes, they were," Sirius confirmed, "but because of Connor, all their planned discrimination against Halves was quashed."

Curiosity piqued, I pressed for the name of the third influential House.

"A little shame she's not here to talk about it," Sirius muttered and scanned the area behind me. I turned, and my gaze met his, filled with realization.

"You mean...?" I started to ask.

"Yes, the Tepes Family was really powerful and influential last year," Sirius confirmed.

I was taken aback. Selene and Elizabeth had only been first-year students last year. How could they have achieved such influence in such a short time? Had I missed someone regarding the Tepes' branch families?

Before Sirius could explain further, a commotion erupted behind me, drawing my attention.

"What's happening?" I asked, my eyes widening.

Suddenly, I saw her—Blaire, Christina's handmaid—on the ground, her cheeks reddened from a slap. And standing nearby was a familiar figure, Rodolf Moonfang, a [Pretender].

***

A short while ago...

The cashier blinked, momentarily captivated by Elizabeth's ethereal beauty. After a momentary pause, he stammered out, "Ah, yes," and accepted her card as she paid in advance for table number seven.

Once she retrieved her card, Elizabeth turned to return to her table. However, her attention was swiftly drawn to another table nearby, and her eyes widened with recognition. Her friends were seated there, though they attempted to be inconspicuous, sporting sunglasses and odd behavior. But there was no mistaking the familiar faces.

A faint smile graced Elizabeth's lips as she approached their table. "Hey, what are you up to?"

"Kya-!" Celeste's surprised exclamation was quickly muffled as Amelia placed a finger on her lips, urging silence.

"Shh, Eli. We're undercover here," Amelia whispered.

Celeste nodded, her embarrassment evident as she gently pushed away Amelia's hand. "Y-Yes..."

Elizabeth appeared puzzled. "But why? We've been here countless times before, and you've never minded the attention."

"T-That's..." Celeste glanced at Amelia, seeking assistance.

Amelia sighed, relenting. "Look over there." She gestured toward a table at a distance.

"..." Recognition struck Elizabeth like a bolt of lightning.

Cylien and Rodolf, friends of the trio, sat there, sharing an intimate moment.

"This is..."

Amelia reacted swiftly, pulling Elizabeth down into her seat, warding off the possibility of further unwanted attention.

"You were there, right? Today is their date," Celeste whispered, her excitement barely contained.

"Today..." Elizabeth muttered softly, her gaze fixated on the couple. Then, comprehension dawned upon her. "Wait, are you spying on them?"

"W-Well, we're just concerned for Cyli!" Amelia attempted to conceal her curiosity with a veil of worry.

"I-Indeed," Celesta chimed in, supporting Amelia's stance.

Unfortunately for them, Elizabeth wasn't easily fooled.

"Is Cylien aware of this?" Elizabeth inquired.

"No..." Celeste shook her head.

"In that case, this is not good," Elizabeth asserted, preparing to stand. However, Amelia firmly pulled her back down.

"Aren't you worried about your friend, Eli? How can you leave like this?" Amelia asked, employing a guilt-inducing tactic.

Elizabeth was fully aware of her concern for Cylien, but she couldn't help but glance at the pair one more time before reluctantly agreeing. "Alright."

"Yes!" Celeste beamed with satisfaction.

Amelia's curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn't resist asking, "By the way, Elizabeth, what brings you here? Could it be that you're on a date as well?"

Elizabeth shook her head firmly. "Of course not. I'm here with my Craftsmanship group. We were supposed to grab a bite before working on our project for a bit."

"You are hardworking as usual," Amelia smiled.

"Yes, unlike both of you slacking off here," Elizabeth replied with a chuckle.

"Hey! It's day-off!" Celeste retorted.

"Girls, they are starting!" Amelia brought her friends' attention to the duo.

***

Rodolf had always embodied the essence of a carefree spirit, living life to the fullest, following his heart's whims. But today was different. Today, he was a bundle of nerves in the presence of a girl.

For their date, he had carefully selected a renowned restaurant, wanting it to be just right for Cylien. As he sat at their table, awaiting her arrival, he couldn't help but be astounded by her breathtaking beauty. Watching her approach with such elegance, he was transported back to a moment two years ago, the moment he fell for her.

It had been during a grand party attended by all the great noble families. Rodolf, like the other scions of his class, had been invited. After a few years of not seeing her, he had suddenly beheld a grown-up Cylien in a resplendent traditional elven dress. Her confident, kind demeanor as she mingled with the guests had captivated him, and he fell under her spell. Now, as he watched her, he couldn't help but recall that enchanting smile she had worn that night.

With her striking and unmistakable presence, Cylien drew the attention of everyone in the restaurant as she made her way to their table. Rodolf promptly rose to his feet, a true gentleman, and assisted her in taking her seat.

"Thank you," Cylien expressed with a gracious smile.

Rodolf had to admit, Cylien looked stunning, and the gentlemanly demeanor he was putting on today seemed to have its own charm.

"You've grown even more beautiful with time, Cylien," Rodolf complimented with a grin.

"As have you, Rodolf," Cylien replied, her eyes twinkling as she perused the menu.

To her surprise, their food arrived in just ten minutes. Unbeknownst to her, Rodolf had used his status to hasten the kitchen's efforts, although in reality, they would have been just as prompt without the need for such influence, given his standing as a Great Noble.

"What prompted the change of heart, Cylien? I was genuinely taken aback when you agreed so readily," Rodolf inquired, curiosity piqued.

"I noticed," Cylien chuckled. "But it wouldn't be fair if I continued to turn you down for two whole years, would it?"

"Two years is nothing if it means having you," Rodolf quipped, laughing heartily.

"You certainly have a way with words," Cylien commented, sipping her water.

"Absolutely," Rodolf replied with a grin, biting into a succulent piece of meat. "In Fangoria, I'm the most sought-after bachelor. Every girl wants me, but I turn them all down."

"Oh? What about Monarch Jefer Moonfang, your older brother? He's quite the heartthrob throughout Sancta Vedelia, isn't he?" Cylien teased, a playful hand on her cheek.

Rodolf sighed in response, less than thrilled to hear his brother's name. The truth was, Jefer was even more popular than him.

"Do you prefer him to me, then?" Rodolf inquired, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

"No." Cylien's reply was swift and direct, bringing a grin of delight to Rodolf's face.

"I've always known that I'm better than him and Percy when it comes to personality. They're both so stuck-up, they'll probably never get a girlfriend," Rodolf chuckled, not holding back his laughter.

"You do seem to have a good relationship with your brother and nephew," Cylien observed, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.

Rodolf felt a bead of sweat forming, worried that Cylien might not approve. In a bit of a panic, he quickly continued, "Y-Yes, but my niece, Roda, is exceptional. She's much better than both of them, Cylien."

"Roda... it's been a while since I spoke to her," Cylien reminisced with a gentle smile, her thoughts drifting to her junior at the Academy.

"I'll give her a call, don't worry," Rodolf assured her, reaching for his phone to dial his niece's number. However, before he could press any buttons, Cylien's hand stopped him.

"Cylien?" Rodolf looked at her with a perplexed expression.

Cylien met his gaze with a disapproving look. "This is our date."

Rodolf was momentarily taken aback, his thoughts briefly slipping into disarray. Then, he couldn't help but think to himself, 'She's too hot.'