Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

I leaned back on the chair, clenching the glass of wine in my hand tightly.

The air within the office room felt cold and detached from the chaos outside.

My eyes, though tired, remained glued to the glass.

"I still don't understand."

A voice echoed in the room, taking my attention.

I looked up, finding a blonde elf sitting opposite me with her hand massaging her head.

"What is it?" I asked Diana, taking a sip of the wine.

She looked up at me before she let out a sigh.

"How did they get inside the palace?"

She whispered softly.

"It's like they know the place thoroughly."

"..."

I kept my silence as I gulped the wine at once.

'It's probably Yennefer.'

I thought, leaning further into the chair.

It's already night in Alfheim and I have been staying in the guest house.

The funeral for Pasithea's parents will happen in the morning.

But…

'Not before she is crowned as the new queen.'

It's weird.

There has been no opposition to the decision.

Almost all have accepted her as the new queen and are ready to serve her.

'She is too young for this.'

Immature, inexperienced and most of all… she is emotionally unstable.

'One wrong move and she won't have any elves to rule this world.'

Diana stood up and walked to the window, staring at the dark sky that loomed over Alfheim.

"She's just a child," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "She shouldn't have to carry all this."

I didn't reply.

There was nothing I could say that would fix the weight already crushing Pasithea.

Outside, the rain had stopped.

But the smell of ash and blood still lingered in the air.

A reminder of what had happened… and what was coming.

Diana turned around. "Do you think she can do it?"

I met her gaze. "I don't know."

In all honesty, I think she will break.

I poured some more wine into the bottle. "Have you talked with Mariam?"

Diana fully turned towards me, leaning close to the window.

"…I tried but she isn't responding," she whispered softly. "She might be deep in her consciousness."

I nodded before I let out a chuckle. "It's funny how she told you where she would be but not me."

Diana let out a tired sigh. "It's not like tha—"

"I know she doesn't trust me," I cut in her words. "You don't have to sugarcoat it."

Diana didn't speak right away.

She just stared out the window, her reflection faint in the glass.

"I don't think it's about trust," she finally said. "She just… sees you differently."

"How so?" I asked, swirling the wine in my glass.

"Like someone who always leaves before things fall apart."

I blinked.

That one stung more than I expected.

I leaned back again, letting the silence return.

My grip on the glass loosened.

"…Maybe she's right," I said after a while.

Diana didn't argue.

She just walked back to her seat and sat down across from me again.

Tiredness was clear in her eyes but she still returned to her work.

"She still asked me to protect you," she added. "Despite everything."

"..."

I stared at her as she looked into my eyes as well.

Diana said quietly, "That's because, deep down, Lady Mariam cares a lot about you."

"..."

I remained silent for a while, gulping down the wine.

There was nothing but silence broken by the sound of her pen.

"We should be prepared for the war," I said softly. "This will be tough with how broken we are."

Diana's pen stopped as she slowly looked up at me.

She let out a sigh before her eyes softened.

"You don't have to worry about it," she said. "It would be better if you focus on the academy—"

"Are you stupid?" I frowned, glaring at her. "You are asking one of your strongest—"

"This isn't your war, Himmel."

Diana said, staring dead into my eyes.

"Don't involve yourself in this."

I slowly stood up from my seat.

"Have you really lost your mind?" I said really slowly. "The war will go for years if I didn't—"

"You have lived through enough tragedy, Himmel."

She whispered, her trembling voice barely audible.

"Don't push yourself anymore."

"..."

I stared blankly at her.

A bitter taste of wine was starting to form on my lips, which shouldn't be.

A soft knock came at the door.

Neither of us moved at first.

Then it opened slowly, and a girl walked inside.

Siersha's crimson eyes fell on Diana before on me.

"Can we talk?" she whispered. "Alone?"

Diana looked at the vampire with disgust.

"Don't roam around," she said. "You might get executed for being a problem."

Siersha tilted her head. "Is that a threat?"

"Whatever you think, princess."

"Oh, are you—"

"Let's just go."

I said, grabbing Siersha's head and pulling her out.

Closing the door behind me as I looked at Siersha.

"What was that?"

Her crimson eyes met mine. "She started it."

I sighed, rubbing my temples as I began to walk.

She followed me, and just to be on the safe side, I made a soundproof barrier around us.

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked, looking at her.

Siersha looked at the barrier made of Void curiously.

She then looked back at me. "Let's go to my room."

I frowned. "I am not in the mood."

She blinked then shook her head. "It's not for that—"

"I know you well enough, mosquito," I cut in her words, already walking away. "We never end up well—"

My words halted as she grabbed my hand.

I looked back at her.

"Demiurge aren't the only ones elves are up against," she said, staring into my eyes. "Edwin has started moving as well."

I slowly turned to face her fully. "…What?"

"If a war does happen," she said, "then the vampires will attack at their weakest."

"..."

I quietly looked at her.

Slowly, I gestured to her. "To your room."

---

[The Next Morning.]

The throne room was silent but not quiet.

The shuffling of robes, the low whispers of elven nobles, and the clinking of ceremonial weapons created a distinct noise.

Pasithea stood just outside of the room with nothing but a simple white robe on her body.

No earrings or necklace that she liked to wear.

There was nothing left of the previous kind girl in her… only a shell she once was.

'Don't cry, don't cry.'

She scolded herself as she felt tears returning to her eyes.

The tiredness and the weight of her own body made her legs wobble.

But…

She kept her back straight.

'I can't appear weak in front of everyone.'

She thought to herself.

'If I break now then there won't be any kingdom left.'

Her body began to calm down as she drew in trembling breaths.

Despite how everything turned out…

Her parents must believe that she was safe in Akasha.

For that very fact alone, she needed to make sure that she didn't throw their efforts… and lives away in vain.

The door opened up slowly, making her look up.

Pasithea controlled her trembling legs as she slowly walked inside.

The throne room felt massive.

Like a beast swallowing her whole.

Dozens of eyes turned to her, each gaze sharp and heavy.

But Pasithea didn't falter. She stepped forward, her bare feet silent on the polished floor.

The new elders that were assigned in one night were seated on either side, dressed in ceremonial robes.

Each representing the great houses of Alfheim.

Elife stood at the end of the hall, next to the empty throne.

'...'

That throne had never looked so large.

Or so empty.

Her father always used to occupy it, and her heart trembled at the thought of sitting there.

Pasithea stopped at the base of the steps. She didn't bow to anyone nor did she speak to anyone.

She just waited.

Elife walked forward until she stood in front of her.

"Pasithea Teal Tamriel," her voice rang out. "Daughter of late Queen Rosalie and King Narcos, you stand here today, not as a girl… but as the last surviving heir of Alfheim."

The room was still.

"You come before the people to take the crown, not for glory, but for duty."

There was a murmur within the place but it hushed down in an instant.

Pasithea said nothing. Her hands were clenched, her nails digging into her palms.

Elife raised a slender hand, and one of the knights stepped forward, holding a velvet cushion.

Resting on it was a delicate crown of silver thorns and soft moonstones.

Pasithea stared at it.

It looked so light but she knew it would be heavy the moment it touched her head.

"Do you accept the weight of Alfheim?" the guardian of the world tree asked.

Pasithea raised her head. Her voice, though soft, carried across the room.

"I do."

The priestess lifted the crown and gently placed it upon Pasithea's head.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the bells in the hall rang once, long and clear.

A signal.

The coronation was complete.

Pasithea turned around to face the court.

The nobles rose to their feet.

Not all bowed.

But many did.

And that was enough.

Pasithea stayed there for a while before she looked at one of the knights.

The man bowed and brought a mic-looking thing towards her.

The mic floated just close to her face.

Pasithea drew in a deep breath.

"Citizens of Tamriel," her soft, honeyed voice rang within the entire kingdom. "I am Pasithea, the new queen."

It wasn't loud but everyone stilled when they heard it.

The kingdom waited for her next words, curious as to what she had to say.

"Our kingdom is in a dire situation."

Her soft voice echoed within the kingdom once again.

"Our king is no more. The royal knights have been purged and there is nothing left for me to say is my own."

She let her voice settle in their minds before she continued.

"Except… this kingdom and its people."

There was silence all over the kingdom.

Pasithea's hands shook slightly, but she didn't hide them.

"I will not pretend to be strong," she said, voice steady despite the heaviness in her chest.

"I am not my father or my mother. I do not stand here as a warrior or a legend."

She paused, her eyes scanning the nobles and elders.

"I am simply their daughter… and your queen."

"I cannot undo what has been lost. I cannot promise peace tomorrow or victory next week. But I can promise this…" her eyes sharpened, her spine straightened once more.

"I will not run. I will not hide. And I will not let Alfheim fall."

The nobles glanced at one another, surprised by the firmness in her voice.

Pasithea's eyes briefly met those of a boy with white hair standing among the elves.

He looked so out of place.

She stared at him for a moment.

"As the new queen, I announce this to the world."

Himmel shook his head, but Pasithea didn't stop.

"The Elves are waging war against the Demiurge."

Her gaze never left Himmel.

"May the goddess Anumet look after their souls."

Her voice echoed throughout the kingdom.

"Because I will not rest until every last one of them is dead."