When I Finished Playing the Terminally-Ill Villainous Omega C26

Chapter 26

Near the end of luncheon, Father summoned me to his study. As I stepped inside, I saw him seated behind his desk, his expression dark as he pressed his fingers to his brow, as though burdened by a splitting headache.

He instructed me to recount in full everything I had witnessed thus far. I revealed all—save for the matter of my manifestation and the kiss. Throughout my account, Father remained silent, his face shadowed. Only after a long while did he finally speak.

His expression was complicated.

“The name of Hestian must bear not even the slightest stain of disgrace. That is to say, every word you have spoken must be the truth.”

“I swear upon His Majesty the Emperor and beneath the sun itself—there is not a single falsehood in what I have told you, Father.”

“You may go.”

The moment I stepped out, the breath I had been holding burst free. Though I had now lived Cedric’s life twice over, the existence of a father remained as difficult to face as ever. In my previous life, my father had drowned himself in drink, hurling both fists and curses whenever he was intoxicated—until the day he fled, leaving his debts upon me. Because of that, even now, the mere sight of a middle-aged man of similar age made me shrink, unable to meet his gaze. It was, no doubt, a trauma deeply etched into the core of my being. The world had changed, and so had I—yet the wounds he left behind had not healed in the slightest.

Returning to my chamber, I leaned back against the bed.

Judging by the fact that Father had not questioned me about Locke, it seemed the rumors entangling the two of us had not yet reached his ears. Still, I could not help but worry how I might respond should he learn of them later. With unease gnawing at me, I waited for news of Cassian.

Toward evening, Anna entered with my medicine, and I asked her about the situation outside.

“They are both still in the study. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Count raise his voice like that.”

Even after asking several more times, nothing had changed.

Thus, time passed in anxious suspense. Only at dawn, when Anna returned with my medicine once more, did I hear new developments regarding Cassian.

“They only came out at daybreak. As soon as he entered his chamber, I heard that he began shouting at the top of his lungs and smashing things without pause.”

“Thank you, Anna.”

From that moment on, I did not leave my room.

Cassian was capable of harming others. Being family did not make him safe. After that meeting, he would surely have realized that I had handed Father decisive evidence against him in order to defend Locke. There was no guarantee he would not seek retaliation—tampering with my food or harming my body. I refused to touch any meals or medicine brought to me. When hunger became unbearable, I would sneak down to the kitchen in the dead of night and sustain myself on bread and fruit.

❖ ❖ ❖

About a week after the incident, Cassian’s punishment was finally decreed.

He was to spend a period of time in Laurel, where relatives resided—a northern country far removed from the territory of the Castan Empire.

Such was the nature of noble society. Unless one’s rank differed, even if a life had been taken, matters were often concluded with internal reprimands or superficial punishment at the level of the family. In many cases, influence and connections were enough to secure complete exoneration.

Moreover, in this case, no body remained. Officially charging him with murder was difficult. Even so, the evidence I had presented was too damning to ignore, and some form of punishment had to be issued—if only to prevent unrest within the household.

Above all, my father, Count Hestian, was renowned for his integrity and righteousness. To preserve that reputation, even a performative punishment was necessary.

It was a bitter outcome.

Only the dead are wronged…

Had the body been found, imprisonment rather than exile might have been possible. The thought that such a crime could be buried weighed heavily on me.

It was a cool morning, fresh after the rain. From early dawn, the sound of horses echoed.

Opening the window, I saw a carriage bearing the Hestian crest waiting before the entrance. Cassian was preparing to depart.

I went down to the lobby to see him off. We were not bound by affection, but at least I could observe the proprieties of a brother. That way, the servants would not suspect that I had manipulated the events out of personal resentment.

Though, of course, the man himself clearly suspected me.

As I waited at the entrance, Anna emerged, dragging a large trunk. I moved to hold the door for her—only to see Cassian approach behind her, his expression foul, as though he had bitten into something rotten. The moment he spotted me, his eyes flared with killing intent.

Hoping he would exit this “novel” of a life as swiftly as possible, I greeted him politely.

“Please take care on your journey, Brother.”

“Spare me the ridiculous act. Why not be honest and say you wish for my carriage to overturn so I might die on the road?”

“Good heavens… how could you utter such dreadful words?”

I forced every ounce of feeling I could muster into my expression, feigning concern.

“I’ll return within a year. And when I do, I’ll tear that bastard to pieces before your very eyes.”

Cassian stepped close, invading my space. Had I ever looked at his face so closely before? The fury blazing in his eyes seemed to radiate heat. I instinctively leaned back—but he seized my shoulder, pulling me forward, a twisted smile curling his lips.

“When that day comes… I wonder what I should do with you. I’ll have plenty of time in Laurel to think it over.”

With a shove, he released my shoulder and turned away, boarding the carriage. The curtain snapped shut with a sharp whip.

Before he returned, I had to become the head of the family.

Not only to protect Locke—but to preserve my own life. And beyond that, for the safety of my parents, my sister, and every soul within this household, I had to seize the authority of the family. So that when he returned, there would be no one left for him to control.

When that time came, I would reopen this investigation. Only then could the dead be properly avenged.

Perhaps… only now had I truly become the youngest son of House Hestian.

As I steeled my resolve, the sound of hooves faded into the distance.

Cassian had left the estate.

I let out a long, heavy breath, my shoulders rising and falling.

The urgent matter was resolved—for now. All that remained was for Locke to return to me. With his name cleared, his reinstatement was all but certain. Filled with anticipation of the days we would spend together, I returned to my chamber.

But events did not unfold as I had expected.

That evening, at the time for my medicine, I sat upon the bed, waiting for Locke to enter with water and the prescribed dose.

Instead, it was Anna who opened the door.

She set the tray upon the table and bowed.

“From today onward, I will be in charge of attending to you, Young Master Cedric. Please allow me to formally introduce myself—Anna Peltre.”

I stared at her, unable to hide my astonishment.

It seemed this wretched story had no intention of allowing its villain to abandon his role and build a bond of friendship with the protagonist.

It was disheartening.

“Then… where is Locke?”

“He has been assigned to handle the miscellaneous duties of Lady Ciel.”

“…Was that Father’s order?”

My heart tightened.

“No. It was the Madam’s instruction.”

In truth, I wished to reclaim Locke immediately. But now was the time to step back. Mother was attempting to quell the rumors by separating us—without Father’s knowledge. For now, I had to consider it a stroke of fortune that the rumors had not yet reached him and accept her decision obediently. If I pressed the matter, it might only confirm suspicions that something truly existed between Locke and me.

“Thank you for telling me, Anna.”

“It’s nothing. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask at any time. Also… the Madam instructed that fresh flowers be placed in your room each day. Shall I bring the same kind of roses as before?”

“No… flowers are unnecessary.”

I wanted that space to remain Locke’s.

As I answered with a faint smile, Anna bowed and withdrew.

Left alone, I stared blankly ahead, then crushed the medicine on the plate and tossed it out the window.

This damned story refused to grant me the one thing I truly desired.

❖ ❖ ❖

The servants of House Hestian were busy from early morning, sorting the goods ordered from the market.

As they unloaded the contents of wooden crates and carried them to their proper places, they groaned upon seeing one enormous box packed tightly with books. It was far too heavy to carry at once, yet moving it in smaller portions would take too much time in their already busy schedule.

At that moment, Locke happened to pass by.

Seizing the opportunity, the head servant called out.

“Locke!”

“Yes.”

“I hear you’ve been assigned to Lady Ciel’s errands starting today? All the books in this crate were ordered by her. Carry every last one to her study.”

“My apologies, but I am scheduled to assist with fieldwork today. Summer fruits must be harvested on time, or they will spoil—”

“If you carry those books quickly, won’t you be able to help in the fields sooner?”

“….”

Locke offered no further protest. Arguing would only prolong his time within the estate.

Deciding to finish it in one go, he hoisted the crate—containing nearly two hundred books—onto his shoulder in a single motion.

Many were thick volumes with hard covers—far too heavy for one person, meant to be carried by several or transported in multiple trips. Yet he bore the entire load alone without so much as a flicker of strain and turned away.

“…Damn. That’s no man—that’s a monster.”

Watching Locke stride toward Ciel’s chambers, the head servant shook his head in disbelief.