Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

Adam let out a long sigh as he sat alone in his office.

It had been this way ever since Valerie and Austin left.

Back when they were around, Adam didn't pay much attention to work. Most of his time was spent with the two of them—laughing, talking, just being together. Now, the silence felt heavier than ever.

It had been a long time since he'd had a chance to truly be with his family.

He heard everything from Valerie—what she'd gone through, the things she'd achieved, and even the struggles she tried to hide. And every time she spoke, he could feel how much he had missed.

To be honest, after what happened back at the academy, Adam had nearly lost hope of making things right with his daughter. The distance between them felt too wide, the wounds too fresh. But Austin… Austin made it possible.

He talked to Valerie and helped her understand Adam's side—and slowly, the wall between them began to crumble.

And the quiet worry Adam carried about Austin's feelings for his daughter? That vanished too. One day, without hesitation, Austin looked him in the eye and said he couldn't bear being apart from Valerie.

From that moment on, Adam knew. He had someone who truly loved his daughter by her side—and somehow, that made everything feel a little easier.

"Next year," Adam thought to himself, "I'll ask them to get married."

They would be graduating from the academy by then. It felt right—before the world plunged into the chaos of war with the demon race before uncertainty stole any more moments from their lives.

He had seen too many promises broken, too many dreams shattered in times of turmoil. He didn't want that for Valerie and Austin. Not when they had something so rare—so real.

Before the storm arrived, Adam wanted to secure the one thing that mattered: their happiness.

Knock.

The sound pulled him from his thoughts.

"Come in," he called without lifting his head.

The door creaked open, revealing the familiar figure of the Knight Commander.

Clad in gleaming silver armor, the crest of Corwon shining proudly on his chest, the man stood tall and spoke with clear reverence, "The carriage has been prepared, Your Grace."

Adam gave a soft hum, closed the file in front of him, and rose from his chair.

Lately, troubling reports had been pouring in—people vanishing from a small western town under his jurisdiction. He'd already sent soldiers to investigate, but none had returned.

That's why he was going himself, leading a battalion to find answers.

"Let's go, Nathan," he said, walking toward the door. But just as he stepped out, he halted.

His wife stood there.

Her eyes searched his face with worry, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "Are you leaving?" she asked softly.

Adam motioned for the knight to walk ahead and turned to her. "Yes. Why do you ask?"

Anastasia hesitated. Her eyes couldn't hide the fear that weighed on her heart. "I don't know… I just have a bad feeling. Could you not go? Just this once?"

He exhaled gently, stepping closer. With both hands, he cupped her cheeks, his thumbs brushing her soft skin.

"You know I have to, dear. It's my duty," he whispered. "And it's that time of the month—you always get uneasy around now."

He leaned in, pressing a tender kiss on her forehead. "I'll be back in a few hours. Rest well, and ask the maids to bring you something warm and sweet, alright?"

She gave a quiet hum in reply, unable to form the words she wanted to say. Lately, she had been clinging to him more than usual, worrying more than she should. But with the looming war, she knew she couldn't keep doing this.

Adam stepped past her, heading down the corridor, his figure slowly fading into the distance.

Anastasia turned to watch him go, her heart heavy.

And then, in a voice no louder than a breath, she whispered, "Please… let my fears be unneeded."

°°°°°°°

In the palace nestled within the capital, Austin sat quietly on the edge of his sister's bed, her arms wrapped gently around him in a peaceful embrace.

She was asleep—breathing steadily, as if the weight she had been carrying had finally eased. The anger that had once clouded her face was now gone, replaced by a calm that softened her features.

Soon, two figures stepped quietly into the room, moving slowly toward the pair.

"How is she?" Valerie asked softly, careful not to disturb the silence.

It had been a long time since she'd seen Averis, and she could immediately tell—the girl had grown, not just in looks, but in presence. She looked beautiful.

Sebastian, standing beside her, let out a quiet sigh as he watched the siblings. There was something deeply touching about the way Averis clung to Austin, even in her sleep.

"She's… hurt," Austin said gently. "She has a lot to say. And fortunately… she's ready to talk."

There was relief in his voice—real, honest relief. He had been bracing himself for her to push him away, or worse. But instead, she held him. She could have hurt him badly—he knew her strength—but she didn't. She had chosen not to.

That choice… it meant everything.

He nodded toward the corner of the room. "Look," he said, his eyes guiding Valerie and Sebastian to a tall bookshelf.

They followed his gaze and stepped closer.

Their eyes widened when they saw it. Each shelf was packed with books about Shard—about how to evolve it, improve it, understand it. The pages were worn, the covers bent from being opened again and again. She had read them—countless times.

Austin's shoulders sank slightly as he let out a breath, heavy with guilt and quiet sorrow. "Even after everything I said… even after locking herself away because of me… she never stopped thinking about me."

His voice cracked a little. "She wanted to help him. She still wanted to help."

The only person who had ever truly hated Austin… was Aiden. That hate had pushed Austin into a corner, made him pull away from everyone who cared about him.

But this—Averis—was proof that someone still cared. That even when he tried to push her away, she hadn't let go.

Valerie inched closer to her hand gently rested her hand on her head as she said, "You have suffered a lot, Avy. But now, you are not alone."

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- No comments from me.