The Villain Who Fell In Love

Healing a wounded heart is not as easy as it sounded. If a person helps the wounded heart, a relationship is formed. Where it could be a relationship between friends, family, or lovers.

The next day arrived as if nothing had happened the other day. Emelia held a book in her hand by the window side and looked like she was reading, but her eyes were focused elsewhere.​​

"I heard war is to arise again. There will be a continuation of the war between this empire and the Redodel Empire," Emelia recalls her conversation with Melissa.

According to Melissa, there are soldiers by the borders, and the cousin of Elliot the Archduke was assigned to fend them off. Melissa then continued, "Henry or whatever announced himself as the new emperor, but the people didn't agree because he didn't have the original crown that the royal family only knew off. And I'm sure the Princess knows where it is. Am I right?"

The original crown has been passed down to the next emperor of the Redodel Empire. Without the original crown, the next emperor cannot take over the throne. This might be the reason why Henry wanted Emelia back. To have the crown because she knew where the crown is.

Emelia and Henry are childhood friends. Every single noble in the Redodel knew about it to the point they thought she would marry into the Verida family.

But Emelia didn't like or love Henry. She found him too kind and, worse, dark. She didn't like the fact Henry was always wearing his kind mask in front of her.

When Emelia was younger, she went to the estate where Henry lived. Emelia waited for hours in another room, and Henry didn't show himself up. Bored Emelia was she wandered around the estate. Which she ended up in a greenhouse filled with butterflies.

At first, it looks like a normal greenhouse filled with butterflies, but as she went deeper, she was devastated seeing Herny pulling the wings off the butterfly. To make it worse, surrounding him on the ground were dead butterflies.

That day if Emelia had not seen Henry doing those things, she might think he is a normal guy.

This might make sense the way he acted in front of her that day. Emelia let out a laugh knowing she wasn't wrong. Herny is a twisted person. Even parents were.

"Did you have a good talk with Lady Melissa?" A familiar man asked, leaning his head on the corner of the door. Emelia didn't answer him because he didn't bother knocking, and thanks to him, Emelia forgot what she was supposed to do next.

Emelia closed the book she held, scolding him, "You didn't bother knocking. I doubt you learned anything from your etiquette classes," Emelia changes the topic as she felt this conversation wouldn't go anywhere.

Now that she thought about this, it made more sense why Elliot allowed her to go to Melissa without hesitation. It's nice seeing he still hasn't forgotten her and still trusts her. It's maybe because he knew Melissa didn't believe what the grown-ups told her,

"Melissa told me about your parents…" Emelia blurted by accident when she was supposed to say it in her head. She was simulating on how to tell Elliot. But it took a turn. Idiot, she scolded herself and continued to act tough in front of him.

"You don't need to make that kind of face. Either way, I was planning to tell you but not now. I thought I would tell you once we've become much closer," Elliot rubbed his nape and felt awkward of his own words.

The room went silent, and the two didn't know what to say to each other. Their eyes avoided meeting each other not until Emelia asked, "War…is there going to be another war?" If this war is really going to happen, her life will be in danger.

"So this news finally reached your ears, huh?" So it was true. The fact it's just news going all over the empire, but there are soldiers and knights fighting by the border. Elliot walked towards the couch, took his seat, and brushed his hair backward.

"You know you should stop that habit of yours," Emelia watched Elliot lower his hand as he placed it on his lap. Elliot raised his brow and smirked, "Since when did you realize? Don't tell me I've finally interested you?"

Emelia could see his nose growing longer every single day they interact. But Elliot only shows this kind of side to Emelia, especially if they are together. He felt there was no need to keep up his cold act because Emelia could see right through his mask. Though there are times, his cold act is real.

"Get over your imaginations. You'll need to wait for my death until I've fully become interested in you," Elliot laughed at her statement and boldness. No one would dare to tell him that except Emelia.

"However, I don't mind lending you a hand. For saving me that day," Emelia added because she felt grateful for Elliot. If Henry kidnapped her back to where she belonged, she would feel devastated. It's as if she can't run away from her own fate. Being placed back in that tower.

It's just a feeling, but Emelia never wanted to go back to that tower. That tower is her greatest fear, after all.

"Really? That's a bit surprising," Elliot felt his heart skip a beat and didn't know if his cheeks were flushing a bit of red, "I'm actually surprised. What made you say that?" He wanted to know more and didn't notice how flushed Emelia was to the point she couldn't look into his eyes.

Emelia clears her throat, stands up as she looked out of the window, "It just so happened." Though Elliot didn't understand what she meant, he decided to let ergo for saying such things. Elliot wished Emelia's heart will continue to open up to him.

"Are you that worried about the war?" Elliot asked while Emelia continues to look out of the window and says, "Of course I am. More of worried, I'm afraid, and I'm sure you feel the same thing as I do."

Elliot understood how Emelia felt. He doesn't show it, but he, too, is scared of the war. He needed to be on the battlefield where thousands of bodies are piled. Beneath the dead bodies is a pool of blood.

"We are humans, after all. Even the strongest leaders fear something, whether it's physically or mentally," Emelia turns to look at Elliot and tried to keep her face blank, but she couldn't help but bite her lip.

"Say, Elliot, what are you scared of?" Emelia asked out of nowhere.

"Scared of? You wouldn't want to know." He laughed it off, but Emelia didn't stop there. "Let's make a deal," Emelia proposed. It's about time she stops staying in this palace for free while she does nothing all day. Eat the food they serve, sleep in a luxurious room, and other more.

"What's with the sudden change?" Elliot placed his hand in front of him. Is she planning to do something? Is she planning to take over her empire back? "Is if that's what you're thinking, then you are mistaken," Emelia spoke what Elliot had asked in his head. He raised his brows, sitting back, and Emelia went on saying, "I want to destroy that place as if it never existed. That empire doesn't deserve the sympathy it deserves."

But then, this time, Elliot had to disagree with Emelia. He isn't telling this to Emelia as Elliot but as a ruler who shoulders the responsibility of his empire, "If revenge is what you seek. What makes you a better person than the others? If you do that, you're betraying your people."

"My people? How silly can you get, Elliot? How can I call them my people when they are the ones who mocked me first? Aren't you the same as I?" Emelia spoke coldly as she sees things aren't going well. While his lips formed a straight line. Elliot agreed with Emelia but then if they want to change people, it starts with them.

"That doesn't make us into better people. You know this, Emelia," She knew, yet she didn't want to acknowledge that Elliot was right. The world was unfair to her, then why can't she be the one to turn her backs on them?

In the end, Emelia gave up. She knew this wasn't going to work, and she was just a hypocrite again. She lowers her head and apologizes, "I apologize. It's just frustrating. It's frustrating to become a better person."

Elliot dazed for a while, seeing the expression on Emelia. He never thought he would see Emelia make that face. He got out of his seat and walks towards Emelia, who was clenching her fist. Even if a person doesn't express their feelings as much. On some days, the bottle that keeps being tightened will break into pieces.

It was one of those days where Emelia couldn't handle her own emotions. But for Emelia to show herself in this kind of state to Elliot. It sounds stupid, but he felt a connection between them—a red string.

Elliot patted Emelia's head, saying, "Isn't this life? Where changing is a challenge?"