Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 282  First Anomaly [1]

The heavy air breezed past my face, the kind that seeps into one's bones and stirs a sense of unease as I stood in front of a mansion.

A silence lingered in the place as I walked towards the main gate, parking my bike outside.

The main gate opened with an eerie voice.

The mansion loomed in the distance, a brooding silhouette against the oppressive gray sky.

An old mansion, adorned with intricate stonework and arched windows.

Barren trees framed the estate along with beautiful roses that were being cared for by the maids.

I crossed the bridge, above a still waterway, which mirrored the mansion's imposing figure, the reflection rippling faintly in the cold breeze.

My steps slowed as I stared at the eerie mansion, uneasiness crawling up my spine.

'...On second thought, maybe I should visit some other time.'

I thought as I turned to leave, my feet carrying me back to the gate before—

[<Coward.>]

'Who are you calling a coward?'

[<Who else is here?>]

'I am no coward.'

I groaned as I turned back towards the mansion.

Fuck my life.

This place gives me chills.

I already hate the ones living inside without even meeting them.

What if they capture me and start drinking my blood?

[<Now that you mentioned it, just to be on the safe side, don't let any vampire drink your blood.>]

'Hm? Why?'

[<Just listen to me.>]

'Okay.'

I shrugged as I steadied my steps, walking forward.

It's not like I would offer my blood to them on a silver plate.

I don't want AIDS.

As I neared the mansion, the massive doors creaked open, revealing a woman in a maid's uniform.

Her skin was unnervingly pale.

She bowed slightly, her voice soft yet formal. "Please, come in."

I nodded as I took the lead, walking further inside.

We arrived at the main hall, with a staircase at the heart of the mansion.

They led to the second floor, while dim light illuminated the place.

On the ornate sofa that sprawled in the hall, two people sat, their eyes crucifying me.

The one on the left was a tall, handsome man with short black hair and crimson eyes. He had a stern look on his face, while his skin was as pale as marble.

Beside him sat a beautiful lady with long black hair cascading behind her back, her skin pale just like the man, her eyes glowing with a greenish hue.

Unlike the man, she had a smile that didn't quite reach her gaze.

The man stood up, walking towards me, his eyes keeping watch.

"Himmel, I presume?" he said, his voice deep as he extended his hand. "New heir of Segyal highbloods?"

"Ah, yes," I replied, shaking his hand. "And you are?"

"Ledgar Twilight Valantine," he replied, his gaze landing on the handcuff around my wrist.

"Nice to meet you," I smiled slightly, brushing off the threatening look he was giving me.

"I am against it!" the lady exclaimed abruptly, standing up. "How can we let our baby marry him!?"

"Aynomi," Ledgar said with a sigh, turning toward her. "Father decided this. We have no say—"

"How could he?" she snapped, her glare cutting toward me.

 "Of all people, why a wannabe Segyal? What does Father see in this random boy from Lumina?"

"How would I know?" he replied, rubbing his temples in exhaustion. "I am as much in the dark about the engagement as you."

Aynomi glared at her husband before her gaze shifted towards me.

She quickly walked toward me and, like her husband, she was quite tall with an imposing presence.

"Who are you?" she asked, squinting her eyes in suspicion. "And how did you emerge from nowhere and become an heir?"

"Himmel," I replied, forcing a smile. "And well, my identity is quite complicated."

"Are you a human?" she asked, stepping into my personal space. "You don't seem like one."

"...I would like to keep that a secret," I replied calmly, taking a step back.

"See?" she exclaimed, whirling on her husband. "He doesn't even trust his supposed mother-in-law!"

"Father explicitly told us not to ask about his origins," Ledgar said, his gaze flicking back to me. "Perhaps it's something we shouldn't know."

"But why my daughter?" Aynomi murmured, slumping back onto the sofa. Her anger had faded into something softer—sorrow, perhaps.

 "I wanted her to choose her own husband, not be used as a tool for our family's ambitions."

"..."

I quietly looked at her without replying.

From what I know, she also had an arranged marriage without her consent.

...Maybe that's why she clung to the hope of a different future for her daughter.

"Have a seat, Himmel," Ledgar gestured toward the sofa with a smile. "And please don't mind my wife."

I nodded slightly before taking the seat opposite them.

"Is she not here?" I asked. "Your daughter?"

"...She is with her friends," Ledgar replied with a tired sigh.

"You didn't inform her about my arrival?" I asked, tilting my head.

"We did, and that's precisely why she isn't here," Aynomi replied in his stead. "She doesn't want to see you."

I nodded. "I see."

[<You are taking their distance surprisingly well.>]

'You have no idea how much I want to sprawl out of this place.'

[<Then why are you not doing it?>]

'I don't want my emotions to control me...not anymore.'

If it can ruin even a fraction of Esmeray's plans, then I'd gladly break the engagement.

But....

I want a better view of her place first.

What, how, and why is she doing this?

And the best way to know it is by being a part of her plan.

"Do you know Ragnar?" Ledgar suddenly asked, taking me by surprise. "The previous heir of Segyal."

"I do," I replied, looking at him. "Who doesn't know the greatest genius Lumina has ever seen?"

"Are you aware of his situation?" His tone turned serious. "He will come after you as well."

"I know," I replied, calmly looking at him. "He won't spare my life for taking his place."

"Then why are you here?" he asked, frowning. "Being Segyal's heir is like asking for inevitable death—"

"I want him to target me," I cut in, leaning forward, placing my elbow on my knees, staring dead into his eyes. "I want him to come after me, try to kill me."

Aynomi chimed in. "And why is that?"

"So I can kill him," I said with a smile. "And give him the worst death he could imagine."

Aynomi blinked before turning to her husband. "Congratulations, dear. Your future son-in-law is mentally challenged."

"..."

I hate this woman.

"Bring us something to drink," Ledgar ignored her words as he said to a maid.

"What else do you do, Himmel?" Aynomi asked, crossing her legs. "Apart from daydreaming that is."

"I sing as well," I replied, ignoring her jab.

[<Ew. Don't lie like that.>]

'Huh? I can sing, Inna.'

[<A dying cat can sing better than you.>]

I felt a pang of pain in my heart as I heard her words.

'...That's so rude, how can you say that?'

[<Wait, I didn't mean—okay, maybe I did, but I'm sorry.>]

'....'

"I see," Aynomi replied, clearly unimpressed, while a maid walked toward us with a tray. "How old are you again?"

"Seventeen. Turned a few months back," I replied, taking her by surprise.

She turned to her husband. "He is younger than our daughter?"

"...Yeah," Ledgar replied with a weird face. "I did not know that."

The maid set down an ornate bottle filled with a dark red liquid and three glasses.

The bottle caught my attention immediately.

"Is that...blood?" I blurted, staring at the bottle.

"It's wine, kid," Aynomi retorted, glaring at me. "Why do you think we will serve you wine?"

"I mean, you guys are blood—vampires."

I bit my tongue mid-way, but my blunder wasn't gone unnoticed.

Aynomi turned to look at her husband. "Did he just call us the BS-word?"

"We only drink blood during bloodlust phases," Ledgar said, ignoring her seething irritation. He poured the wine into each glass with ease.

"And even then, it's pre-packed blood bags. We don't feed directly from the neck."

"Why not?" I asked, taking the offered glass.

"Our saliva is quite special," he replied with a slight smile. "Drinking blood directly is an act of dominance."

"Like in a fight?" I asked, taking a sip of the tasteless wine. "You drink blood to subdue your enemies?"

Aynomi turned to look at her husband. "Is he dumb?"

And, to my dismay, Ledgar gave a subtle nod.

"...."

I swallowed the rest of the wine in one large gulp.

Let's just get out of here.

"So," Ledgar began, continuing the conversation.

"You're the warrior type, then? The first thing that came to your mind with 'dominate' was a fight."

Wait, was he talking about that dominate?

[<He was, you dumbo>]

'How can they talk about that with their son-in-law?'

"Ah, yes," I said, clearing my throat awkwardly. "I do think I'm good at fighting."

"You mean below average?" Aynomi said sarcastically. "No offense, but today's the first I've ever heard of you."

"Good fighters at a young age are often famous," Ledgar replied, trying to explain his wife.

I just smiled, rubbing my brow with my thumb.

"My son could've wiped the floor with you," she boasted with a proud smile.

I tilted my head, confused. "Your dead son?"

"What!?" she exclaimed abruptly, standing up.

"What?" I mumbled, confused.

Isn't he dead?

She turned toward her husband. "Did he just say that?"

Ledgar's gaze hardened as it met mine. "Don't joke about things like that, kid." n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"...???"

I could only nod in confusion.

The fuck is happening?

A roar of an engine echoed from the outside, making us look at the front gate.

Aynomi smiled as a car parked right in front of the mansion gate.

I slowly stood up as a handsome young man walked out of the car.

With broad shoulders and a lean, athletic body, he had black hair and crimson eyes just like Ledgar.

...Eyes that glared at me furiously.

Thousands of questions ran through my mind as he walked inside.

But only one remained dominant.

"Why is he alive?"