Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

I had zero information about what Azrael was like in his prime.

Inna talked cryptically about him, and El never even mentioned him.

And there was no reason for me to believe he was a good guy.

'So, did he really fucked a mermaid?'

It might not be that far-fetched from reality, from what I understood.

'…. Perhaps that what triggered Anastasia's rage on the mermaids.'

Lyssa guided us outside of the palace onto the street of the kingdom.

Wait, should I call it a kingdom?

It was way too small for that.

"Hey, Himmel." Elijah's voice echoed, earning my attention. "…I have a question."

I tilted my head. "Ask away."

"The thing with choosing a wife." He said, rubbing his cheek. "How are you going to explain it to others…."

"I am not choosing anyone." I said, looking away. "Don't think too much."

"….You surely won't let them all die." Aimar chimed in gruffly. "Right?"

"...."

I kept my silence, gazing around the city of mermaids.

Lyssa seemed like someone who had the respect of the civilians.

People came to greet her and bow down wherever she moved.

Though, they gave the same respectful gaze to me as well, albeit they kept their distance.

"I don't understand another thing." Elijah mumbled in a thoughtful voice. "How would Goddess Anastasia descend on Lumina."

I sniffed lightly, because I knew better than anyone how it would happen.

"You know something?" Aimar asked, noticing my reaction.

"….A Primordial God can descend through their Avatars." I mumbled grumpily. "Given a few conditions are fulfilled."

"Wait, so that means…" Aimar caught on to my words in an instant.

"…Yeah."

Christina or Nymeria could become her target.

But only if I didn't choose one of Lyssa's daughters as my bride.

'....'

What a load of bullshit.

Lyssa only stopped when we reached the gate of a place that resembled a garden.

Close to the city, yet I saw no mermaids around.

"This is the Heart Garden," Lyssa said. "Few are allowed here."

She pushed the gate open.

Inside, the noise of the city vanished completely.

Water floated lazily in the air like drifting clouds.

Tall plants swayed even though there was no wind.

At the center of the garden stood a shallow pool, its surface perfectly still, like a mirror.

"What is this?" I asked, glancing at her.

"A historical place for us." She responded with a smile. "…And it's where vows are made."

A wedding place?

Lyssa walked forward, gesturing for us to follow.

"Like all the other mermaids, I have a fascination for lord Azrael." Lyssa said, moving around the garden.

"…But unlike other mermaids, I had the opportunity to read all the books about him passed down only to the head."

I immediately asked. "Can I get those books?"

She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. "Only if you marry my daughter~."

Ah, fuck.

"How was he?" Elijah asked quietly. "Like was he good?"

Lyssa looked forward as she answered. "He was a tyrant." She spoke. "A gentle tyrant."

"There is no such thing like that." Aimar rebuked.

"He ruled with absolute authority," she said calmly.

"He decided what was right and what was wrong, and once he decided… there was no appeal."

"There is nothing gentle about that."

She glanced at me. "When he destroyed something, it was always with conviction."

"....."

Lyssa stopped in front of the pool at the center.

"…The pool was first used for the marriage ceremony of lord Azrael." She whispered softly. "Anastasia destroyed everything but not this."

"…Lyssa." I mumbled softly. "Whom did Azrael loved?"

She turned to glance at me with a smile.

"…Her name was Chione." She responded. "Everything else about her is already destroyed."

I frowned. "Everything?"

Lyssa paused for a second, then slowly turned and walked toward the other end of the garden.

Though confused, I still followed right after her.

She only stopped when she stood in front of a statue.

"...."

It was a beautiful lady wearing an ancient robe.

She wore a veil that covered her face and only left her stoic lips visible.

What caught my attention were the two beings around her, whom she placed her hands on.

….They looked like dogs, but at the same time they were not.

Their bodies were longer, leaner, with tens of tentacles protruding out of them.

Faces longer like an elk, with horns like demons.

"….Is she Anastasia?" I asked, feeling something strange.

Lyssa nodded grimly.

"…And the two creatures around her?" I asked. "They are?"

She turned her face to look into my eyes. "Chione's parents."

"..."

"They say lady Anastasia turned them into her pets." She continued.

"…For as long as she lives, they will be her slaves and suffer for eternity."

"...."

I kept staring at the statue without saying anything else.

There was so much going on in my mind right then.

"…Why did Azrael never did anything?" Aimar asked, folding his arms. "He loved Chione right?"

Lyssa looked at me and just smiled. "A gentle tyrant is still a tyrant."

I tilted my head in confusion. "…What?"

She didn't reply as she began to walk away.

My gaze shifted back to the statue of Anastasia.

"....."

What happened to Chione?

I sighed and moved back toward the pool.

Glancing down, I saw my own reflection staring back at me.

A thought lingered in my mind.

Did Azrael do nothing to save Chione?

---

[Aljanah Castle]

Nora walked down the hallway with a bright smile on her face.

Her daughter-in-law Verena and son Havier walked a few steps behind her.

"…Why did you call them here, mother?" Havier asked, biting his lips. "We shouldn't get involved with the Akasha—."

"Do not give me your opinion, Havier." She spoke softly yet firmly. "I don't like it."

Havier immediately lowered his head. "Yes mother."

Verena desperately stopped herself from showing disgust on her face.

She didn't like how her husband acted in front of Nora.

They reached the main hallway, where a few were already present, sitting on the sofas.

Nora's smile only grew brighter when she saw them.

The first to notice her was Orelena, the demigod head of the Aljanah.

Beside her sat her daughter-in-law, Tyshara.

On the other sofa sat Killian and Avril, the children of Jones and Tyshara.

Orelena stood up when she saw Nora walk inside.

Nora smiled and hugged the woman. "It's been so long since I last saw you~."

Orelena stiffened for just a moment before returning the hug.

"It has," she replied carefully. "You look… well."

"I always am,"

Nora said lightly, pulling back. Her eyes moved across the room, taking in every face without missing a thing.

"You've gathered everyone so quickly. I'm touched."

Tyshara rose next, offering a polite bow. "Lady Nora."

Nora reached out and brushed a finger along Tyshara's cheek. "Still so proper."

Killian and Avril exchanged a glance before standing as well.

Avril dipped her head, while Killian merely nodded, his posture guarded.

"Sit, sit," Nora said, waving her hand as she walked past them. "There's no need for formalities among family."

She took the central seat as if it had always belonged to her.

Havier and Verena moved to stand behind her, like shadows.

"So," Nora began, folding her hands on her lap, "I'll be direct….I have something to tell."

Orelena tilted her head in response. "…What is it?"

"…I have been meaning to ask." She said, glancing at Killian. "He is going to marry a mermaid right?"

Killian sniffed as he looked at her. "…What?"

Nora smiled even more brightly. "You don't plan to reject the tradition like your father, right?"

Killian turned serious as he replied. "I have a lover."

Nora's smile did not falter.

Instead, it softened, as if Killian had said something mildly amusing rather than defiant.

"A lover," she repeated slowly. "How… modern."

Killian straightened his back. "I'm serious."

"Sure you are." She nodded her head. "…But it doesn't really matter."

She turned to look at Orelena. "You know how important it is for a fallen to marry a mermaid right?"

Orelena didn't respond. "…Where is Jacob?"

"He is busy." She said. "…And can you not change the topic."

"..."

Orelena didn't respond as she rubbed her head.

Like always, the more she looked at Nora, the more her mind felt numb.

"…Do you have any girl in mind for him?" Orelena asked, looking at her.

"Mother!?" Tyshara cried. "What are you—."

Orelena raised her hand while rubbing her temples with the other.

Tyshara quieted down, clenching her fist.

"Of course I have." Nora replied with a smile. "Don't worry, I choose a princess for him."

"....."

Killian, who was about to speak, stopped when he looked into Nora's eyes.

"Um." Avril, who had been quiet the whole time, spoke.

"…Killian already has a lover named Cecily then why are you forcing for him to marry another girl?"

Nora smiled sweetly at her. "I am doing it for the safety of all."

Avril tilted her head. "….What?"

"I think Killian should understand." She said with a smile. "That he deserves more than some random girl."

"...."

Killian didn't speak as he stared blankly at Nora.

Finally, Orelena spoke softly. "….We will see the girl first."

Nora smiled brightly. "Sure~."

Apart from Tyshara, who wasn't an Aljanah-born….

….No one else saw anything wrong with the outcome.