Why Are You Becoming a Villain Again?-Chapter 123

Chapter 123

From atop the fortress walls, I looked down upon the open plains where armies, each bearing flags of various colors, were assembled.

The families under us, along with our allied families, had brought their soldiers.

It was not a clash between great houses, but rather a war in the form of us imposing punishment, so the scale was not particularly large.

Yet, it was sufficient. With an army of this size, it seemed there would be no problem in suppressing the Payne family.

"Lord Cayden."

Lawrence, clad in clanking full-plate armor, ascended the fortress walls.

He stood behind me, observing the gathered soldiers alongside me.

"Lawrence."

My mentor and the knight representing the Pryster family, Lawrence pulled out a small piece of paper from his pocket.

"....Our messenger has reached the domain of Payne. By now, they would have officially declared war."

I nodded.

Of course, it was merely a formality since Payne was certainly aware of our movements... But still, the war had finally begun.

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"....Right. It starts now."

Tomorrow, we will depart for Payne's domain. It might seem sudden, but we could not keep such a large army stationed in the Pryster lands.

"Lord Cayden."

Helen followed Lawrence soon after and spoke to me.

"The heads of the Trant, Marin, Gribel, and Lins family are waiting."

"...... All of the heads? Every one of them?"

"Yes, all of them."

It was quite unexpected. Although not all the families had arrived yet, every head had come in person. Despite this not being a major war, and it being acceptable to send delegated knights, they had all chosen to reveal themselves.

What could be the reason? Fear of Asena, loyalty to the Pryster family, or perhaps to size me up.

".....Let's go see them."

It seemed we would only find out by meeting them.

*****

The dinner with the clan heads went smoothly, without even a minor issue.

Given that I had taken on the role of clan head in proxy, there was a brief inquiry about Asena's condition, but I managed to deftly navigate through with a prepared lie.

Even though there was an odd undercurrent as if they were scrutinizing me, I didn't try to stand out unnecessarily.

I simply performed the duties assigned to me.

Not a Pryster, but like a Pryster.

Not a clan head, but as if I were.

We exchanged formalities and greetings.

Surprisingly, I got the impression they viewed me positively.

But this, too, I couldn't be certain of.

After finishing the meal with the clan heads, I made a final inspection of the army and even met with Judy, Daisy, and Grandma.

So, after returning to my room to rest, I could have departed the next morning, but my steps did not lead me to my own room, but to a place just as familiar.

It was a natural yet unexpected course of action for me.

After a walk with Keirsey, something seemed to have changed inside me.

-Knock, knock.

As I lightly tapped on the door, a gentle reply came as if expected.

"....Come in."

It was as if she knew I would come.

As I opened the door and entered, there sat Asena, who had just finished a hefty amount of paperwork and was now resting.

She was dressed casually, looking out the window, not even turning to look at me in the strange atmosphere.

".....Are you all prepared?"

The true head of the Pryster family, momentarily setting aside her political guise, asked me.

......Yes."

".....Have you met with the clan heads?"

"Yes."

Asena paused, then let out a long sigh.

I asked what that sigh meant.

"Why?"

"........I hate it."

"What do you hate?"

"That you have to go to war. The thought that something might happen to you... it makes my heart ache."

It was not unusual for her to express her emotions so clearly to me, even though she would never show them to others.

.Does it make sense to think we'd lose the war or I'd die?"

The difference in scale was vast. In reality, we might even start with negotiations for surrender upon reaching the domain of Payne.

"...I know. It's absurd. But I still hate it."

Only after saying that did Asena turn to look at me.

"....Sorry. I promised not to talk about this."

"....Yes, you did."

Sometimes, I wonder how twins can be so different. Keirsey is fragile and innocent, but Asena is the opposite.

"....Asena. I'll win and come back-"

"-Wait, Oppa. Just a moment."

Asena abruptly cut me off and took a deep breath. She glanced over my shoulder to make sure the door was properly shut, then she spoke.

".....I'm trying not to make the same mistakes as last time. Last time, I cursed and... but this time...."

She then pressed her lips together tightly and tapped the bed beside her a couple of times.

It was a signal for me to sit next to her.

Following her gesture, I sat down beside her. I didn't think anything would happen to me, but this kind of farewell seemed better.

As I took my place beside her, she began to speak.

Asena, sitting closer now, her hand touching the seat next to me, bridged the gap between us slowly.

"Having you has made me happy."

"Having you... helped me overcome the despair I felt when we lost our parents as children. Losing parents isn't that uncommon, but I didn't know that then. Oppa was afraid too... Oppa grew up in the Hexter orphanage. But back then, I didn't know. I was too scared. Without our parents... I didn't know what to do."

She had assumed a heavy responsibility for the family, fearful she might not perform well, and terrified of our grandmother's scolding. But then I came. Despite also having lost my parents, I looked after them with a smile.

As she had resolved, Asena continued to express her feelings. Knowing her heart was not new to me, but hearing it like this made pushing her away even harder.

I might even give up. Gradually, I couldn't understand why I had to keep distancing myself from her.

"...So, it seems like without you, I still go back to those times. No matter how much I act or try... it seems I just can't do it without you."

“...Asen-”

Just as I began to speak, Asena's finger touched my lips, a gesture for silence.

"...Oppa... I have a few questions to ask."

"...Don't answer. I'll just ask."

Her body moved closer to mine, and I did not pull away. Like with Keirsey the day before, I allowed Asena the same proximity as in the past.

Asena sat astride my thighs, her legs spread wide, so close that her navel pressed against mine. She wrapped her arms around my neck and looked into my eyes without any hesitation.

".........I know you grew up in Hexter orphanage, and since the start of our academy days, you were drawn to Daisy. Judy had many similarities to you, and I can understand how a friendship could turn into something more."

With a desperate expression, Asena asked her next question.

"......If you could nurture love like that..........can't you love me too?"

Whatever her question, I might have answered if I could, but my lips were sealed, unable to respond.

Indeed, the claim she had made a few days ago about giving up on me was false. Given the chance, she again revealed her love for me.

........There was never any deceit in my love for you. Just as you grew to like Daisy... Just as you came to like Judy... Can't you do the same for me?"

Her piercing eyes continued to gaze into mine as if she were extracting the answers through my eyes.

Even though I hadn't spoken, it felt like we were communicating.

"....It's my last wish, Oppa... Just once.."

Asena's hand slowly moved, tenderly holding my face.

"......Do you find me so repulsive...?"

She suddenly asked. My eyes flickered.

I couldn't tell what she saw in my eyes, but her words were progressively escalating.

"......If you don't find me repulsive, Oppa... If it doesn't drive you mad with disgust... Then...”

She took a deep breath, then firmly stated.

"Then, just stay still. This might be our last time."

Her head then began to inch closer to me. Within two breaths, our distance had closed.

At the same time, her body trembled. The strong Asena who maintained her appearance while doing paperwork over the past few days was now quivering.

Watching her fragile form, I questioned myself briefly with her query.

Do I find her repulsive?

.....In the end, my body couldn't push her away. I no longer had the strength to do so.

Her lips layered over mine.

With our lips closed, only our skin touched.

Her touch was incredibly gentle as if I were about to break.

Asena stayed like that for a long time.

In the quiet of the night, just the two of us.

In a room flickering with candlelight, Asena continued to kiss me while sitting on my lap.

The following evening.

****

Our army was observing the domain of the Payne family from a distance.

They didn't have many options.

With ample siege weapons at our disposal, the low walls of the Payne family's fortress were bound to crumble easily.

The outcome was inevitable.

The Payne family was destined for extinction.

It was just a matter of how.

"Surrender?"

I asked Lawrence.

"It doesn't seem like they will. They appear to be trying to hold out."

I had anticipated that the Paynes wouldn't surrender. Whether they did or not, they were doomed.

"What about defensive weapons?"

"None in sight."

It seemed the Payne family had also failed to prepare defensive weapons. Perhaps that was to be expected.

Just then, Judy appeared riding Goldie and joined me.

"So, we just use our siege weapons from outside their range."

I nodded.

"Yes. That seems to be the plan."

Suddenly, a murmur among the soldiers grew louder. Our gaze, which had been observing the silent battlefield, was drawn to the source of the noise.

"....Huh?"

I too discerned the reason for the murmuring and expressed my curiosity.

The gates of the Payne family's fortress were opening, and numerous soldiers were pouring out.

".......Perhaps they're trying to force a decision before they fall to our siege weapons... or maybe they intend to sabotage them."

Lawrence commented from beside me.

While I could understand their choice, it was foolhardy.

Confronting us on the open plains was a strategic error on their part.

"Order the protection of the siege weapons."

"Yes."

"Let's go, Lawrence."

"Yes."

I took the reins of Storm and lowered the visor of my helmet.

"Wait!"

However, midway, Judy caught my reins.

"Where are you going, Cayden?"

Confusion swirled in her eyes.

"You can command from the back. Why do you have to go to the front when they are already coming out?"

Lawrence and I exchanged glances briefly.

Lawrence then said to me.

"...I'll go ahead first."

"Alright, wait just a moment."

Beside Lawrence, two squires raised the banner of Pryster, adorned with a serpent, and spurred their horses forward.

I turned to look at Judy, who had remained behind.

Raising my helmet's visor again, I faced her.

"Judy. I need to be at the front."

"What are you saying, Cayden..!"

"This war happened because of me. As long as there are soldiers risking their lives, I can't hide in the back."

I smiled and gently stroked Judy's cheek.

"And if our subordinate or allied clans are not to take me lightly... it has to be this way. If I lead from the front, they will respect me, and they will more readily follow my commands. I'm

not rushing forward without thought, Judy. This is a decision made after much contemplation, so please, support it."

As our conversation lengthened, more and more soldiers from the Payne family emerged from the fortress.

-Thump! Thump! Thump!

The sound of Payne's drums reached us. Simultaneously, the enemy began their charge towards us.

"I must go now, Judy. See you later."

As I turned to leave, Judy once again stopped me.

"Ju-"

"-I'll be with you."

The words to dissuade her rose to my throat but then subsided.

Given the circumstances... Judy's expression was resolute. I didn't have time to persuade her otherwise.

Moreover, if it was Judy... I could trust her. She would be fine.

".....Be careful," I said.

"You too."

I nodded and spurred my horse forward.

The soldiers parted, clearing a path for us. As I galloped across the front lines of the Pryster soldiers, their cheers began to lift the morale.

Soon, Lawrence, who had been waiting ahead, turned to look at me. Beside him, the banner of Pryster with its serpent fluttered in the wind.

My heart pounded as if it would burst. Seeing the enemy rushing toward us from the front made my blood boil and my limbs tingle.

I firmly and decisively drew my sword.

-Swish!

My newly forged sword reflected the light.

"Lawrence! Sound the horn!"

At my command, Pryster's horn shook the battlefield. The sound of Payne's drums was drowned out.

-Buuuuuuuuu..... Buuuuuuuuu.....

"Let's go, Storm."

Simultaneously, the Pryster army I led charged forward at the vanguard.