I met the villainess at the academy - CH2 (Original Fiction) (Patreon)

Ten years later.

A church stood on the outskirts of a certain town. It was surrounded by grasslands and scattered farms, connected to the nearby settlement by a single dirt road.

Where it split, a wheel-tracked branch meandering toward the cracked stone building, a wagon was drawn. A man sat in the driver’s seat; his hat pulled low to ward off the summer sun. Fiddling with the reins, he sent glances toward the church’s open doors and the figures standing there.

One was a woman, in her late forties, with a lined face and greying hair. Her attire identified her as a nun or something similar.

The other person was a youth, around sixteen years old. He had a medium build, not too short or tall, and brown hair with a freckled face. His features were a bit immature, giving him a baby-faced look.

He was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, with the sleeves rolled up and buttoned. It fit him a little strangely, giving the impression of a boy trying on his father’s clothes. He wasn’t wearing a belt, keeping his large brown trousers up with the hand in one pocket. The picture of sloppiness, his shoelaces weren’t tied either.

The nun raked him over with her eyes, displeasure evident on her face. However, she didn’t voice it, only sighing quietly.

When the atmosphere between them grew more uncomfortable, the boy opened his mouth.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

Giving her a last look, he gripped his suitcase, turned around and headed toward the wagon. Despite what one might assume from his appearance, his gait was even and confident.

The nun looked at his straight back with a complicated expression. Her lips moved, wanting to say something, but seemingly unable to decide on what. When he’d already stowed his suitcase under the tarp, clambering onto the cart, she shook her head resignedly.

“Edmund...”

Hearing his name, the boy’s feet stopped, but he didn’t turn around.

The woman breathed slowly, collecting herself.

“…take care.”

Edmund hesitated, his hand hovering over the wooden framework and one foot on the wagon’s step. Moistening his dry lips, his fingers twitched in the air. However, his hesitation only lasted a moment. Heaving himself onto his seat, he turned his head and spoke to the driver.

“Let’s go, uncle. Daylight’s burning.”

The man looked at the nun standing some distance away. Seeing her downcast expression and slumped posture, a frown appeared on his face.

“You should say a proper goodbye to the person who raised you.”

Despite his strict tone, even sounding somewhat threatening, the boy’s features remained lax. Adjusting himself in his seat, Edmund nudged the driver with an elbow.

“It’s not polite to stick your nose into other people’s business. Come on, get those oxen moving.”

His insolent response stoked the driver’s anger.  A vein pulsing near his temple, the man’s hand reached for the woven switch across his lap. Though the kid was on the cusp of adulthood, he was still a child in the driver’s eyes, young enough to be disciplined.

However, catching movement out of the corner of his eye, he stopped. The nun had turned around, heading back into the church. Soon, she disappeared amongst the wooden pews.

The driver’s gaze lingered a second or two before sighing. Sending a glance toward Edmund and seeing him leaning nonchalantly against the frame, he swallowed his anger and flicked the reins. He still had business in the next town over and couldn’t afford to be late.

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Inside the church, the nun stared out of a small window, her face half-hidden in shadow. The cart had already grown small, almost disappearing behind the swaying grasses and twisting roads. While she stood there glassy-eyed, someone approached from behind, their steps even and measured.

“Do you think he’ll be alright?”

The speaker’s voice was that of a man, deep and rich.

The nun shrugged limply.

“Light willing.”

There was a pause.

“It’s been six years. Young people get over things quickly.”

The nun laughed dryly, not sounding very optimistic.

“When it comes to those two, I’m not so sure...”

“Then why let him go?”

The nun sighed.

“What choice did I have? It’s our duty to recommend the best. He was one of them.”

The man’s reply was slightly concerned.

“But Ed has no background. Frankly, it’s strange he even wound up here. Speaking of, you never explained the matter to me.”

Hearing the slight anger in his voice, the nun turned around, meeting the man’s eyes. He was a tall fellow with a grizzled face, slightly younger than her. Notably, he was dressed in leather with a sword at his waist—certainly no monk.

“We’re an orphanage. What other explanation were you expecting?”

The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, his eyebrows lowering.

“I’ve been here long enough to get a sense of what’s going on. There’s no point in continuing to pretend.”

The nun looked at him for a moment, her expression somewhat thoughtful.

“Nobody was trying to fool you, Victor, nor any of the other staff. It’s simply better to handle matters like these with discretion.”

Victor nodded easily, but the intensity in his gaze didn’t disappear.

“Never the less, I’d like to know.”

The nun seemed somewhat surprised by his attitude.

“I don’t remember you and Edmund being particularly close. Why all of a sudden?”

“We aren’t, Mildred. But his ordinary background is curious, as well as the boy himself.”

Mildred, pursed her lips, her face slightly absent-minded. His words were certainly true. Edmund was a curious boy. She wasn’t surprised by Victor wanting to dig a little deeper.

“…there’s not much to say, to be honest. While we don’t usually take normal orphans off the street, exceptions are made now and then. Edmund was one of them.”

Victor didn’t seem satisfied by her explanation.

“That tells me nothing about how he ended up here.”

Mildred sighed, her expression turning melancholic.

“I found when he was three years old. He almost stole my purse while I was running errands in Habsburg.”

Victors eyes widened, seemingly amused.

“Haha, that sounds like him! You caught him and gave him a good hiding, I hope?”

The nun chuckled.

“Of course. Then I brought him here. I could hardly ignore the plight of such a young child.”

Victor cleared his throat, the levity fading from his face.

“…but three years old and already stealing. That’s unusual. Children that age aren’t able to do much aside from walk and string basic sentences together.”

Mildred nodded.

“Yes, he’s been a cunning little devil since I found him. I dare say I haven’t met a child as quick on the uptake.”

Despite the content of her words, her tone didn’t exactly seem to be praising him.

Victor rubbed his chin, breaking eye contact to stare out of the window behind her.

“He certainly took to his education and training like a fish to water. If only he was half as good at making friends. And again, his background…”

She couldn’t help sighing again.

“Indeed.”

Silence stretched between them, the atmosphere slightly sombre. Eventually, Victor spoke, still staring over her shoulder.

“Like I said. It’s been six years. Their anger probably already faded. And even if it hasn’t, neither will be able to stir trouble at the Academy-…”

Seeing Mildred’s expression change out of the corner of his eye, Victor stopped. His eyes moved to look at her, finding her deathly serious.

“…you’re right, I was being too optimistic.”

They stared at each other for a while before Mildred’s shoulders slumped. Biting her lips, she pushed on the window frame, walking past Victor.

She lingered at the doorframe, worry clear in her voice.

“We can only pray the worst doesn’t come to pass.”

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