I will not die a Villainess's death

Despite everything having gone to normal, the atmosphere at the Akatsuki palace remained tense and not very harmonious. Especially since everyone could see that the emperor and Lord Lucas were having a small dispute.

There had never been any real fight between the pair so it was the first time everyone was seeing this cold war brewing between them.

Even those who wanted to take advantage of this gap hesitated to do so because of Lucas Dirac's heavy gaze and his terrifying aura.

On the other hand, Chrome looked like he did not care about any of it and was busy messing around as usual. Elysia Dirac was also busy entertaining the guests from the empire so she was out for the count as well.

This atmosphere lasted for a few days and then Lucas Dirac collapsed in the middle of the hallway.

Then the whispers began and everyone was hushed into silence by the imperial order.

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"Your brother would be alright this time but be careful with Lucas Dirac. The curse he is under is spreading in his body and it would be difficult for him to endure another attack."

The doctor sounded relieved once he looked all over Lucas's condition. Elysia sighed in relief once she was told that her brother was alright.

Her heart had jumped into her throat when she heard that Lucas had collapsed like this and her mind had stopped working.

But her complexion seemed to be getting better now that she knew that her brother was going to make it this time. Elysia's mind was finally beginning to work properly.

Elysia grasped Lucas's hand as soon as she collapsed in relief. Her eyes were tender when she looked at her suffering brother. It was all her fault that he was in this situation anyway.

"I am so glad that you are alright. I thought you were dead when I saw you out there, collapsed on the ground like this."

There were tears in Elysia's eyes as she held her brother's hand. She did not even notice Adam's hand on her shoulder.

"Everything will be alright Elysia. But you should not let your brother's condition get to you. No one could have predicted this to happen."

Eve consoled Elysia as she watched her lover break down in front of her eyes. Elysia seemed to be going through some troublesome times and Eve's heart hurt to see her like this.

She felt bad that she could not help Elysia even with her current powers. She was not able to heal Lucas Dirac because of his dark nature.

"I know my brother will be alright. I believe in him and his will to live. But now that things have come to this, I cannot respond to your feelings right now."

This was the worst. Eve and Adam exchanged looks with each other, their eyes communicating with each other right above Elysia's head.

Adam frowned as Eve shook her head at not disturbing Elysia right now. She was in a fragile state of mind.

"You should stay with your brother for now. We will not force you to come back with us. But please, at least spend your birthday with us this time."

Eve's voice was sweet like a forbidden fruit. Elysia wanted to deny her request but she was currently together because of the support she had from Adam and Eve. she was not able to deny them.

But some people had problems with Elysia's leaving.

"I don't think it is a good idea for Elysia to get out of Akatsuki for now. You will not be able to provide her with protection in your current state. Besides, I promised Lucas that I will protect Elysia forever."

Chrome entered the room, his eyes glaring at Adam and Eve. Elysia was relieved to hear his voice since it seemed like Chrome was no longer angry at Lucas.

It relieved her to see that Chrome was in her brother's room and was even protecting him. It was humbling to see but terrifying at the same time.

"Excuse me. What right do you have to interfere with Elysia's-"

"I am her current guardian as signed by Lucas before he collapsed. So I would appreciate it if you do not butt your head into our matter."

Sparks were flying among the other people in the room and Elysia felt the tension rise in the air. Even breathing was difficult for any normal human being if they entered the room.

Luckily, no one entered the room before the atmosphere began to clear out. Elysia sighed in relief as she watched her brother's calm face. He seemed to have finally fallen into a deep sleep.

"Anyway, this decision is up to Elysia and not you. You have no right to stop her if she wanted to come back. Getting Lord Dirac checked out in the empire by experts might not also be a bad choice, right?"

Chrome was gritting his teeth at the obvious challenge Adam was providing him with. It was a sore spot that the level of expertise in the Akatsuki kingdom was lower than the empire.

But Chrome did not let it show on his face as he sighed at finally accepting that he had lost this round. It was up to Elysia to decide what to do next.

"It will be better for Elysia to take a lead on this topic. But I know that you are right in saying that Lucas can be better looked after in the empire."

Chrome's voice was bitter when he admitted that and Elysia wanted to comfort him.

Chrome had gone through a lot to get Elysia and Lucas to this point of safety. He had suffered incidents he had no business suffering through. And he had also lost a lot.

But despite all this, Elysia wanted to go back home and face the consequences of what was happening all on her own.

There was one way for Lucas to be saved from this curse but Elysia was terrified to even attempt it. It would require her to transfer the curse on herself and hope that her magic was enough to subdue it.

But it was a gamble only the Head Priest could make work.

"I…don't know what to do."

Elysia felt hopeless, caught between need and desire. The more she thought about this topic, the more she felt like she was making a mistake by choosing to follow her heart.

"Don't think too much about everything. Just entrust yourself to us and we will take care of everything. I promise that your brother will get better."

Eve's words sounded hollow but Elysia decided to believe in them. It served her no purpose to not believe those words and cultivate hollow hope.

After all, she had already decided to let Lucas live even if it meant that she would not be able to live out her life.

"I promise to cherish you and the life that is growing inside your body. Our kid will never lack anything."

All of Elysia's plans came crashing down as Adam whispered those words in her ear. Her body was in shock and her eyes were wide.

She looked at Adam with a terrified expression, wanting him to repeat those words but she was unable to say anything. She had nothing to say to him.

"Don't be scared, Elysia. I can smell it on you, the smell of carrying a new life. I hope you believe me and do not do anything rash and endanger yourself for the next seven months."

Elysia's plans to sacrifice herself were collapsing in front of her eyes. And so were her chances of seeing Lucas waking up again.

She was not sure if her brother would be able to last for the next seven months in his current condition but Elysia could no longer think of taking over his curse.

Especially since she knew that she would do anything for the kid in her belly. It had what kept her going in that illusion and made her break apart after it was over.

"I…can I get some time alone with my brother before we head back for the empire? I want to think over some stuff in private."

Adam and Eve looked worried and taken aback by Elysia's request. She was sure that she was worrying them with her listlessness but she could not bring herself to make any solid move.

Especially when she knew what was at stake here. Elysia could not think of gambling her child's life away at this point.

'Seven months. I need to wait around for seven months before I can take Lucas's place. I hope my brother would be able to endure for that long.'

Elysia's heart was full of painful longing but now she had a reason to survive for the next seven months. And that reason just happened to be the kid in her stomach.

"Let's leave tomorrow. It will get tough to leave later on for us. We have to secure the route and allow no monsters to come near Elysia."