[Is that your plan?]
Jarvis asked. Why was I feeling like he was looking down at me?
"Yeah."
I said, and looked at the mansion before me. It was obviously not as big as my previous mansion, the Duke Falkrona's mansion, but I didn't care. In my previous life, I lived in an apartment, so this was already too much for me.
Fortunately, the mansion was in the Falkrona dukedom, so I didn't have to walk long. Still, it took me three hours on foot. The proof of that was my entire body was drenched in sweat. People walking around recognized me of course, but they kept their distance with fear-stricken faces while hiding their daughter from me. Some even hid their child who was less than ten years old.
Edward was a scum but he wasn't the lowest trash, attacking children, to God's relief.
I ignored the stares and clicked on a switch that was engraved on a pillar outside the mansion. Right, the game took place in a medieval setting but it was in a futuristic world, so you could see mana trains levitating in the air and a carriage as well. Truthfully, I could have taken the mana train, using my status as the news about me abandoning the house shouldn't have come out, but I didn't want to be the center of attention in the train, so I chose to walk, which did quite good to my podgy body. I was sure that I lost at least a few grams, maybe.
["Who?"]
The voice of a woman came out of the speaker.
"It's me aunty. Edward…"
I brought out my most innocent voice.
["..."]
-Creak!!!
The giant white gates slid on either side and opened the way.
I smiled and took a step forward.
"What are you doing here, dear nephew?"
"!"
Out of thin air, appeared before me a beautiful grey-haired woman. She was Belle Falkrona. Edward's father's younger sister, so Edward's aunt. I chose to take shelter here because I knew that Belle loved her nephew and niece more than anything. Edward the most as he was the first child. She was the one behind the name 'Edward' as well. But right now she was looking at me coldly. Well, she might have heard how I was the worst scum, harassing girls. If I had assaulted a girl, I would never have come here, but since it was 'just' molesting, I thought maybe she would accept me…
[So your idea was to run away to your aunt's home.]
'Yeah, and it's better than living on the streets!'
"My nephew. Probably the only man who would chase after girls like a beast while being engaged to the Royal Princess."
Belle said as she stared at me.
I averted my face from her and put on a sad expression.
Don't say it. I know already, I deserve an Oscar for my performance.
A minute of silence that seemed an hour lasted until Bell spoke.
"Come inside."
I knew it.
She really loved her nephew!
I sighed in relief, as I didn't have any plan B.
[Isn't that pathetic?]
I ignored Jarvis and walked toward Belle. The latter grabbed my arm and I felt a floating sensation. When I opened my eyes again, I was in a large living room.
She might have engraved a magic circle inside the house to teleport us like that.
"What happened, Edward?"
Belle appeared, wearing a black skirt and white shirt. Now that I looked at her, she had a resemblance to Edward's father. I felt strangely nostalgic seeing her.
"I-I abandoned my status as heir and left the mansion."
There was a moment of silence before Belle replied.
"You really did that…?"
"Yes."
I nodded. She seemed really surprised.
"I would never have thought you out of everyone would have thrown your status away."
It was a little hurtful to hear that but she was right. Edward would never have thrown his status, his comfort away.
"Nobody cared about me there and I felt suffocated."
I said. It was the truth after all. Nobody cared about me and with all the people glaring daggers at me, I could only remain in my room.
"And you came here because I care about you?"
"Well…"
I didn't know what to answer. She probably guessed that I came here because I had no choice and not to pay a visit to my aunt. Indeed, Edward, after his mother's death, refused to see Belle because she reminded him too much of his mother.
Was it?
I think.
"..."
Was she feeling hurt because of my selfish reason for coming here?
[You're really as selfish as Edward from the game.]
'Yeah, probably.'
I have to agree that I wasn't a gentle soul transmigrating in a villain's body.
Belle sighed and stroked my head. Not gonna lie, I was surprised.
I looked at her with a surprised face.
Belle smiled sadly as she stared at my face.
"You remind me of your parents...you have the same eyes as your mother, Edward...and the same carelessness as your father..."
She said and patted my cheeks.
"Carelessness, that guy? No way. He's too stuck up."
I sneered inadvertently at Belle's words.
And-
She pinched my cheeks.
"Ouch!"
"But you certainly don't have the same kindness, rascal!"
"Ouch!"
It really hurt!
A minute later, she let go of my cheeks and turned around.
"I have work to do. Take that key, you can enter the house with it and don't lose it, Edward."
I caught the key and nodded tearfully.
"I think she doesn't hate me."
I said, relieved that at least one person cared for 'me' in this world.
[She is spoiling you.]
"Like any aunt."
I said and slumped on the sofa, which shook greatly as my body nearly broke.
"In a month before the entrance ceremony, I will get the body of an athlete."
[I don't think it's pos-]
I ignored Jarvis and started to sort out my thoughts.
***
[Falkrona Mansion]
More than five hours passed since Edward Falkrona, the heir of the Falkrona house, announced abandoning his status as heir and left the house.
Thomen Falkrona decided to put Simon Falkrona as the new heir right after that. The preparations were fast taking place. The most important thing was to inform the King and all the important nobles so the other Dukes of the news.
Thomen Falkrona was in his large workroom, writing at a fast pace official letters before engraving the Hawk emblem on the letter, which was the Falkrona house emblem. He had the same serious expression as he kept writing without wasting time.
-Knock -Knock
"Enter."
Thomen said without raising his eyes from the letter.
"Father."
"Elona."
Thomen was still writing and didn't look at his daughter.
"Father, plea-please."
When he heard sobs, Thomen finally took off his eyes from the paper.
Elona's eyes were moistened and threatened to shed tears.
"Elona…"
Thomen walked toward his daughter and hugged her.
"Bro-Brother is …"
Thomen didn't need to guess which brother she was speaking about. Elona considered both Edward and Simon as her brothers, but Edward even more. Before their mother's death, she had been very close to Edward, then after that, Edward completely changed. Though she acted like she didn't care about him, Elona couldn't help but be worried about him. She hated him for all the things he had done, but she loved him as well.
"He's at your aunt's mansion."
"Really?!"
Elona raised her head. A wave of relief washed over her.
Thomen smiled and patted Elona's head.
"Yes, you don't have to worry anymore."
Then he looked at the ceiling.
'I'm sorry, Lydia, and you too.'
He said and looked at a photo frame hung on a wall on his right.
==================================
*I added a New Chapter in the Auxiliary Volume about the [Heroines and Villainess], check out!
*I also added a few illustrations and updated details about [Edward's family], check out!