I Am The Game's Villain

"What exactly am I doing here?" I asked.

I had barely returned to Sancta Vedelia when I was immediately summoned to Central Vedelia. Not even a moment to rest. A week had passed since Durathiel's death, and a lot had happened in that short time.

Still, I hadn't planned to linger in Utopia forever. Once I ensured that Freyja could handle things there—both the governance and the Tree's well-being—I left without hesitation.

And yet, the moment I set foot back in Sancta Vedelia…

Well, let's just say the welcome wasn't exactly warm.

The knights, officials, and practically everyone else regarded me with open hostility—cold gazes filled with pure contempt. It was as if I were some irreprehensible traitor, the kind of scum that didn't even deserve to breathe the same air as them.

I didn't bother asking why. I wasn't naïve—I knew the consequences of my actions.

But I didn't regret them.

I did what I had to do to ensure no wars would erupt in the coming years. That was the price I paid, and if they hated me for it, so be it.

Eventually, I was inside one of the grand chambers of the tower, a meeting room reserved for the Heads—the ruling figures who controlled the fate of Sancta Vedelia.

All of them were there except Tanya Teraquin.

Christina was there too.

She was seated where my mother should have been. I hadn't seen her in months.

But when our eyes met, she held my gaze for a moment—just a moment. But then, her composure wavered. A flicker of emotion, a tremble in her expression, before she quickly looked away, flinching as if burned.

I frowned slightly but didn't dwell on it. Instead, I shifted my focus to the others, whose expressions ranged from cold displeasure to outright fury.

"Do you know why you have been summoned, boy?"

The speaker was Alector, the Guardian of the Holy Tree of Eden.

I tilted my head slightly, considering my response. "I wonder."

A second later—

-BAM!

The wooden table in front of us exploded into splinters, shattered under the force of Reiner Dolphis' fist as he shot up from his seat.

"You dare to take that tone with us after betraying us?!" He shouted.

"Betrayal?" I raised a brow, feigning ignorance. "When exactly did I betray you?"

"You brat—!"

Reiner lunged toward me, fingers curled into a threatening grasp, but before he could reach me—

Alector raised his staff.

"Calm down."

"How am I supposed to calm down?!" Reiner roared, clenching his fists. "This brat—he gifted Utopia our Seed of Eden! And on top of that, he forged an alliance with them without our consent!"

I let out a scoff. "Since when do I need your consent to form an alliance with my own family?"

"You—!"

Reiner was on the verge of lunging at me again, pure rage twisting his features.

But before he could act, someone else spoke up.

"Are you even aware of what you've done?"

The speaker was Evan Indi Zestella, his eyes fixed on me with something between coldness and disappointment.

I met his gaze and answered without hesitation. "I am aware."

"No, you aren't," Evan said icily. "Every move you made was to block us. You've crippled our influence. We won the war, yet we have nothing to show for it. No territory. No wealth. No power. Just a footnote in history." His eyes darkened. "How do you expect us to rebuild Sancta Vedelia with nothing?"

I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. "So that was your plan? To bleed Utopia dry? To strip them of everything so we could fund our own 'glorious recovery'? Are we really that poor?"

"There is no 'we.'"

I turned toward Claudia, who had been silent up until now. Her glare bored into me, filled with the same familiar contempt she had always carried for me. But this time… there was something else.

Raw emotion. Something close to hatred—yet not quite.

Was that… fear?

What the hell?

"Indeed, there is no 'we,'. You betrayed your own nation. You turned your back on all the neighboring kingdoms. You even betrayed your own mother and sister."

A slow, mocking chuckle followed her words.

Lazarus Raven.

Seated with his usual composed air, he regarded me with an unreadable expression—his lips curved into a small smile.

"How ironic, coming from you," I snorted.

His smile didn't falter at all but I could feel his hidden murderous intent.

"And yet, you still dare to act arrogantly?"

The voice this time belonged to Aerinwyn.

She sat in her seat, taking her mother's position for now it seems. She was looking at me cold disdain as well.

"You didn't just betray Sancta Vedelia," she continued, her voice tinged with venom. "You turned your back on all those who suffered at Utopia's hands. How will you face the ones who were enslaved? The ones who were violated and broken by them?"

"Do you all seriously believe the Knights of Sancta Vedelia are angels? That you're somehow above betrayal?"

I scoffed, my lips curling into something between amusement and disgust. "You're all throwing the word 'betrayal' around like it means something—so let me remind you of who you really are."

My eyes locked onto Reiner Dolphis, who was still seething from our earlier exchange. "Navas Dolphis of Behemoth. If it weren't for me, he'd still be alive. I was the one who took care of him, the one who cleared your House's name. Without me, you'd still be shackled to his crimes."

Reiner's glare burned hotter, but I had no interest in humoring his anger. I turned next to Evan Indi Zestella.

"Dereck Zestella," I said, my voice turning ice-cold. "He collaborated with Manuel Hylkren Anta-Eden to murder his own daughter-in-law."

"...!"

Evan's eyes widened in pure shock. He had no idea.

I had no intentions to reveal it but I was pissed off.

But the way the others stiffened… they did.

Liars. Every single one of them.

I didn't give Evan time to recover before shifting my gaze to Aerinwyn.

"Rolaem and Edea Elaryon betrayed their own country. And you—" I jabbed a finger at her. "You were one of the fools who trusted them completely, weren't you? So much for being as smart as you think you are."

Aerinwyn's face twisted, her mismatched green eyes narrowing dangerously, but I didn't stop.

I turned next to Jefer Moonfang. "Braham Moonfang is the current Head of Behemoth. Tell me, Head of the Mooning House, how many assassins under his command took the lives of innocent civilians in Sancta Vedelia?"

"..."

Jefer didn't answer. He didn't even try.

I let the moment hang before shifting my focus to Lazarus Raven, who still sat there, calm and composed—until I spoke again.

"And then we have Lazarus Raven, sitting comfortably among you despite his blatant, indirect support for Utopia. He never lifted a single finger to help you. And yet, here you all are, seated beside him without a shred of shame."

Lazarus's smirk faded.

Good.

Finally, my gaze landed on Duncan Tepes, who had been silent the entire time. And then, slowly, I turned to Claudia.

"The Tepes," I laughed before my expression darkened. "Nikolas Tepes, your husband's younger brother, is one of Behemoth's Executives. He was directly involved in the murder of your son and daughter in law. But I guess that doesn't count, does it, Prophetess?"

Claudia's face froze, her lips pressing into a thin line.

As my words sank in, the entire room bristled with hostility. Scowls, narrowed eyes, barely restrained fury—all aimed at me.

All except for one.

Christina.

Unlike the others, she hadn't spoken. Hadn't glared. Hadn't looked at me with scorn.

She just sat there, watching, her mind occupied by something else entirely.

"Where have your tongues gone now?" I asked with a snort.

I already knew the things they had assumed I was ignorant of. The so-called hidden truths, the whispered betrayals—none of it had escaped me thanks to the Game I played. But it was time to drag it all into the light.

"Enough!"

-Thud!

Alector slammed his staff against the ground with a sharp crack that echoed through the room. His narrowed eyes burned with anger, but I refused to look away.

"What?" I scoffed. "Should I start listing the crimes of the Raonpherys as well?"

Alector ignored my provocation, his gaze shifting toward the gathered Heads. There was something resolute in his expression. He had made his decision.

"In accordance with my title as the Guardian of the Holy Tree of Eden," he spoke. "I am calling for a vote." Then, his gaze settled on me. "A vote for the definitive banishment of Amael—Edward Falkrona—from the grounds of Sancta Vedelia."

"What?" I breathed, unable to mask my shock.

Definitive banishment. That meant I wouldn't just be cast out temporarily. It meant I would never be allowed to set foot in Sancta Vedelia again.

"Who votes in favor?" Alector asked, scanning the room.

Without hesitation, Reiner raised his hand first.

"The Dolphian Kingdom prohibits Edward Falkrona from stepping into our territories," he said without hesitation.

Lazarus Raven let out a low chuckle before speaking. "Ravenia as well."

"Elaryon," Aerinwyn added coldly.

"Fangoria votes in favor," Jefer followed suit, lifting his hand without an ounce of hesitation.

Claudia turned toward Duncan. "Cancel the engagement."

Duncan hesitated for the briefest of moments, his gaze meeting mine. But then, he shook his head, his voice devoid of emotion. "You are prohibited from setting foot in our kingdom as well."

Claudia asked with a scowl. "And the engagement?"

Duncan merely shook his head again, giving me my answer in silence.

From the side, Evan, who had finally recovered from his initial shock, slowly raised his hand. "Zestella also prohibits you from entering our lands."

Finally, Alector spoke once more, sealing my fate. "Central Vedelia and the Holy Tree of Eden are no longer places you are permitted to approach." Then, as if to twist the knife deeper, he added, "Not that you need them anymore." His gaze flickered toward my right arm, hidden beneath my sleeve, where the emblem of the Guardian of the Tree of Ymir was engraved.

All eyes turned toward Christina, awaiting her decision. But instead of an answer, she offered them nothing but a cold glare.

"It seems you still have your Kingdom's acceptance. We will wait for the Teraquin Kingdom. But that is all," Alector said.

My fingers curled into tight fists. I could feel the heat rushing to my head.

"After everything I've done for Sancta Vedelia," I growled. "You have no fucking idea the lengths I've gone to. Even now—Durathiel, I was the one who killed him. I am the reason this war ended." My voice rose as I scanned their indifferent faces, my anger spilling over. "And yet you stand there, casting judgment like the hypocrites you are. You are the same ones who stood motionless when the Queen of the Olphean Kingdom had been kidnapped so I did what was necessary."

"Necessary? Even killing your own people?" Reiner scoffed in contempt. "You're that Loki everyone in Utopia worships, aren't you? Karl told me about you. You fought against him to protect Elyen Kiora. You were also responsible for the fall of Valachia's walls."

Claudia's eyes burned an even deeper shade of red, as if remembering it.

"The prisoners you freed in Elyen Kiora told us everything," Reiner continued, his glare only intensifying. "How many of our people did you kill for Utopia? Was that your plan all along?"

"I did what was necessary to save my mother, whereas you sat on your ass and did nothing," I retorted.

"Enough," Alector interrupted us. His gaze swept over the room before settling on me. "The sentence has been decided by the majority. However, as you are still a student at Trinity Eden Academy, you have one month. That is all. When the month ends, your banishment will take full effect."

They all gave silent nods.

I met their gazes, one by one.

"Fine," I said." But mark my words again—one day, you will all come crawling back to me. And when that day comes," all emotions vanished from my face. "I hope you remember the words you spoke today."