The Villain Who Fell In Love

Emelia sliced the beef on her plate into smaller pieces and took it into her mouth. As she chewed, the silence in the dining hall grew only to be filled with the sound of the knives and forks clicking onto the plate. 

Sitting right across her was a man she has never seen before. But one thing she can say is that he looks like Elliot. The only difference they had was their eye color and the way they acted. She didn't know who that man is and all she can is he looks weak. 

When Elliot lowered his utensils down, he cleared his throat and looks at Emelia. "This is man over here is Edward. My younger brother," said Elliot. The last sentence sounded harder than the first, which made Emelia cautious. 

This wasn't shocking news to Emelia because she trusted Elliot that Edward, his younger brother isn't alive anymore. Emelia bowed her head at Edward and greeted, "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Emelia Beaumont. I hope we get along."

Emelia gave him a smile, and Edward smiled back saying, "I hope so too. You have a beautiful name, Miss Emelia." Elliot didn't look bothered, but he was. His fists here clenching onto the tablecloth as his eyes shift to whoever is talking. 

"Thank you. Elliot has talked about you. But I personally wish to know more about you," Emelia shyly laughs, tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. 

Is this the Emelia he knew? Elliot asked himself as he watches Emelia. He knew she could act, but this is his first time seeing her act so hostile. It's rather hilarious for him to watch her, knowing Emelia wants him to stop looking at her. 

"Are you my brother's lover?" whispered out loud Edward and Emelia gazes at Elliot for a few seconds then back at him. She covered her mouth with her hand, blinking a few times. 

"Y-you d-don't have to say it out loud," Emelia stuttered. 

Edward got the hint in her tone and lowers his utensils on the table. "Don't be shy. I never knew older brother would find a person he loves, and it's a beauty," Edward gave her a wink while Emelia just smiled at him and laughs uncomfortably. 

Emelia makes eye contact with Elliot, begging for help. She wouldn't be able to keep up her friendly act. She doesn't know how Edward acts, but the man, sitting across her felt like a total stranger. It's as if he was impersonating Edward. 

When Emelia observed Elliot's gestures. He didn't look excited or what. He was very calm, and his business smile forms on his lips. This gave Emelia a clue that Edward isn't the Edward, Elliot knew of.

"Edward, eat more of those shrimps," Elliot said, peeling the skin of the shrimp then placing it onto his plate. 

Edward smiles, looking at the shrimps piled on his plate and Elliot nods his head like a father, watching his son eat.

"It's delicious, isn't it?" Elliot asked Edward, who nods his head, eyes set on the food in his plate. It's funny to watch his younger brother eat so many shrimps despite being allergic to it. 

"It must be nice living here every day." Edward said as his lips curled, frowning, "When the fire spreader into my room. I ran out of the hallways and ran for my life. I was scared that someone was going to kill me. In the middle of the way of escaping, I was cut short in-breath and fainted in the forest."

When Edward notices the gloomy atmosphere, building up, he tries cheering them both up by, making silly faces. 

"You…must have suffered a lot. I no matter how hard I tried searching for you. I couldn't find you. Just where were you hiding?" Elliot asked, placing his elbows on the table and lowers his head. But his lips were not drowning but smiling. 

This man impersonating as Edward is a fool. Just by the way he acts, he isn't a noble but a commoner. The question now is who paid him to impersonate his younger brother? Stealing of identity is a crime and everyone knew about that. 

"Edward, do you remember the promise we made?" Elliot asked while Edward shook his head and gulps. 

"I…I don't really remember much of when we were younger," Edward said.

"It's alright." Elliot shook his head, "It's understandable since it's been how many years."

It's not a simple promise they made. It's more to that and knowing his younger brother would keep his word. He wouldn't forget about this easily. 

After Edward took the last piece of shrimp into his mouth. He dapped his lips with a piece of cloth and asked, "Miss Emelia doesn't eat shrimp?" Emelia shook her head. 

"I can't eat shrimp. I'm allergic," answered Emelia, taking a sip of water after. 

Edward mutters something then gave a smile to her. Emelia smiles back at him and felt like her cheeks were going to be swollen after, smiling to much. Edward covered his mouth and yawned softly.

"You should get some sleep now. I want to ask tons of questions tomorrow. Especially since I couldn't find you now matter how hard I tried," Elliot said while Edward had a calm expression on his face, nodding his head. 

Edward stood up, "Then I will take my leave now. Thank you for the delicious meal, brother." He left the dining hall and was escorted by a few servants back to his room. 

While Emelia and Elliot stayed in the dining hall. Elliot dismissed the servants who were in the room, leaving them both alone. 

"Just like you Edward cannot eat shrimps. Yet He ate so much and didn't know about his own condition," scoffs Elliot, crossing his arms together. 

"It's just me, but I don't feel comfortable around him," Emelia spoke up. Just by seeing Edward smile, even if it looked genuine. Emelia felt that his smile is dark. It's a smile just like Henry's.

"I am sure that he is not my younger brother," Elliot said as his fist were clenched. He felt angry that there is someone impersonating his dead younger brother. Who would dare to do that. But there is only one who would boldly do so, and that was the temple. 

If the same thing that happened to his parents will happen to him. Then this means that it's the temples' doing. Who would be bold enough to bring down the great emperor of the empire? Who would have such hatred towards the royal family none other than them?

"It's the temple's doing."

Emelia pondered about it and had nothing to say about it. She can't judge even if she knew how they work. There isn't much to convince her. She stood up and walked towards Elliot. Right now the only way to comfort Elliot was to stay silent. She cups her hand on his face, looking at his eyes deeply. 

"What?" Elliot asked gently, confused to why Emelia was acting like this. She shook her head and stayed quiet. "Are you trying to comfort me?" Elliot asked and followed a chuckle after. "You don't really have to. But thank you," Elliot said, placing his hand on hers. 

"What are you going to do next. Now that you are sure he is just an impostor?" Emelia asked. 

"We need to gather more information on his motives. He is working with the temple, but I'm suspecting that he is the next victim of the temple."

"The next victim? This early?" Emelia questioned. 

"The temple moves however they want to. They are a bunch of old men who thinks the world is theirs."

"Are…you going to kill him once you've gotten information?" Emelia asked. 

"Who knows? Or we can let him be our scapegoat. Since he might know more about the temple. He has contact with the head priest after all."

"The head priest is a lot feisty than I had thought."

Elliot chuckles but Emelia is not wrong. The head priest is a feisty man. He doesn't give up until he gets what he wants. The first incident should have ended as it is, but it kept continuing each year. It's all about the money. 

"This will be the first time that the royal family would have to involve themselves with the temple," sighed Elliot. 

"But they are the ones who made their moves first. It's just that we don't have much evidence to expose their evil doings."

"They clean after the fight. It's so clean that it almost seem so unrealistic. Unless there are nobles backing them up."

"It might be possible especially that the two empires merged into one. There might be those who oppose it. Haven't you heard of the two factions?" Emelia asked Elliot, who shook his head. Nothing reached his ear about this, and Air hasn't told him anything about that. 

"One faction opposes to the merge, and the other accepts the merge, separating the nobles from each other."

"Do you know the names of the leaders?" 

"Viscount Chel Fernan and Viscountess Layla Merinda."