A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

The cars roared down the highway, cutting through the hazy glow of the late afternoon sun.

Up front, a glossy black Rolls-Royce Phantom glided smoothly, its shiny surface glinting like a dark gem in the mellow light.

Inside, the vibe was a mix of tension and chill, with the engine's purr serving as a constant backdrop to the chatter happening inside.

Aria, seated on the far-right side of the luxurious back seat, shifted her gaze to the two people sitting across from her.

Avendial reclined with an air of quiet confidence, his tailored navy-blue suit immaculate, complemented by a dark burgundy tie.

His expression was composed, seated there with his eyes closed as if contemplating something, appearing focused and thoughtful.

Beside him, Aecilia wore her nightgown, clearly nonchalant, with her gaze directed outside the window, appearing relaxed while her mind replayed the information she had just received moments ago.

Given the complexity and literally fantastical notion of a world being destroyed in a year, this was something that was indigestible for her.

But one could not ignore the fact that there were people with awakened abilities called Imperials under the royal family. There were definitely individuals possessing powers that could only be considered fantasy, even in this modern time.

This prompted her to reconsider the situation, as there were chances to inform and discuss this matter with her mother and other members of the Sertsul family, given that this was a situation that could point to their very existence.

"Where exactly are we heading?" Aria finally asked, her voice steady, though her fingers fidgeted on the fabric of her jeans, with clear hints of hickeys visible near her neck area, which seemed to be intentionally ignored by Aecilia.

Aria looked back and forth between the two as though seeking reassurance.

Avendial's eyes did not reveal themselves, but still, with his voice calm, he replied, "To the Kingdom of Thaloris."

"Is it forever?" she questioned, uncertainty lacing her tone. Aria blinked, her expression revealing surprise, a slight trace of anxiety creeping in.

"No," Avendial stated firmly. "We'll return. There is still much to be addressed in the Free Cities. This is merely a visit."

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His words seemed to ease her immediate concern, although a lingering apprehension remained in her red eyes.

She opened her mouth as if to ask more, but his steady gaze silenced her.

Instead, she shifted her attention to the passing landscape, her face a portrait of contemplation.

"...I see," was the only faint voice that escaped her lips.

Avendial could clearly understand that it would be confusing for Aria to be visiting Croceaus territory, but he needed to do so in hopes of seeing if she would be able to harness a sufficient amount of Synergy with the help of Rivia, and until Aecilia's awakening condition.

Indeed, after getting the information from Aria regarding Aesilea's status, he knew there were many things he needed to discuss with her to reassure her loyalty, but given the circumstances, it would be unwise to talk with her in front of Aria. Here, Aria had freshly assumed that he and she would be in love in the future.

So, how would she feel when she heard that Aecilia and he were also in love with each other?

Initially, his intentions were to tell Aecilia the same thing he told Aria, but he took it calmly and did not rush it.

Now, he was visiting Croceaus territory to check upon its condition. Several people would have missed him too much over the past few days while also handing over the capsule he had recovered from Bordy's dead body to the research department in the directorate.

Just behind them, two other vehicles maintained their speed.

In one, Billie sat with a stoic expression, keenly monitoring their progress.

While in the other, Leo reclined, his jaw set with anticipation given he was informed by his new master that his mother had been taken to a good hospital where Leo wanted to check on her condition to see if she was fine.

It was already too much for him to expect her in a better condition, given she had fourth-stage cancer, clearly meaning it was probably her last few moments of life.

But he was also told by Marquess that he had the way to save his mother, though it would take time until she needed to be placed in the care of the medical facility.

And Leo believed him 100%. Given that, if that man had the power to make him alive, then he also had the ability to save his mother.

However, Marquess mentioned that it would be at a cost, and Leo was clearly accepting his situation. Leo had decided to fulfill whatever the condition may be to save his mother and prove himself.

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In the kingdom of Thaloris, inside the Northern province of Croceaus territory, a crowd had gathered in the town center, which was usually popular among visitors during holidays. However, today it seemed that even without a holiday, several people were leaving their jobs to assemble here, holding banners that conveyed several messages.

::Down with the Tyrants!::

::No Blood for Power!::

::Rise Against Oppression!::

::Justice for the Fallen!::

::Stop the Slaughter!::

::Enough of the Bloodshed!::

Many people held these signboards, all appearing well educated. Most of them seemed eager to take a stand against the tyranny that had arisen in the absence of the Marquess.

None of them were screaming or yelling; rather, they maintained discipline.

They sat together in the square, having taken leave from their jobs due to the news circulating for the past three days about a massacre in the territory, allegedly perpetrated by one of the loyal guards under the head of the main family.

Without creating any problems for others in the territory and to keep the system functioning, work shifts had been organized so that a group of employees took leave on alternate days. This meant that yesterday's protesters were now fulfilling the work obligations of those present today.

Although the workload had become more demanding for everyone, it was the same for both groups since they had each done their share of work the day before.

This unique method of protest clearly seemed based on non-violence, discipline, and adherence to the law, even though the opposition was the most formidable force in the entire territory. No government, no laws—nothing could be heard.

However, none could deny the fact that there were two potential perspectives regarding the situation.

The first possibility was that perhaps the loyal guards had betrayed the Marquess and were killing people without his permission.

The second was that there might have been a valid reason for the Marquess to order the killing of so many high-ranking individuals.

Regardless of the truth, those engaged in the protest appeared much calmer than those seen in free cities or other countries. They seemed to be accustomed to expressing their dissatisfaction with the governing body in this manner. One person leading the group had received a call from the main family.

Naturally, everyone expected this, given that they had been protesting for two or three days. It was well-known that regardless of the citizen, they would certainly pay attention if there was a display of public disapproval against such recklessness, particularly with reports of a purple-haired demon causing chaos.

"Hello, is this Sir Alfred? I apologize for such an inconvenient display, but we from the northern province would like to receive an explanation regarding the killings of the mayor and several other high-ranking individuals," the man speaking on the call said, standing firmly as others kept their eyes fixed on him. He appeared to be the chief of guards in the northern province.

Having heard about what happened in the northeastern province from two guards who witnessed the woman—Dominic Rivia Aurelia—the chief understood the severity of the situation, knowing no one currently in the territory was strong enough to confront her.

If it had only been her on a rampage, the process would have been slow, but it appeared that well-trained guards under her command were going around killing other officials. The entire territory had descended into a bloodbath from the outset.

However, given its vast landmass, the extent of the murders was not immediately evident, but they were actively occurring. As chief, he had been aware of this reality, allowing him to inform the public, and now he finally had the opportunity to address the head administration directly.

// You are summoned to the palace; the Marquess himself wants to have a conversation with you //

'!?!'

The moment he heard the voice belonging to the butler of the main family on the phone, his whole body seemed to stop performing its bodily functions in that moment. His heartbeat had skipped, as even though in the service as the chief, he had never once met or seen the head of the family. But out of nowhere, he was being summoned.

This was the same as if a normal citizen serving inside the police were summoned by the President or Prime Minister. It was something they couldn't even imagine in their dreams.

But even more concerning was the issue that right now they were protesting, and calling him at this moment only meant that he wanted to discuss the reason behind the protest, clearly dissatisfied with him for gathering so many people.

"I—I understand," his voice trembled, stammering, with a slight sheen forming as the call was cut from the other side. His hands trembled as he placed them inside his pocket, noticing two of the people taking charge of the protest standing and approaching him before inquiring about the reason.

"What happened?" Both of them were juniors, and while presently not on duty, they had a good friendship with their chief. Seeing his reaction in such a way, they understood the severity of the situation and calmly inquired.

"We need to visit the palace; the Marquess has summoned me."