I Am The Game's Villain Chapter 882: Family Talk With Alicia And Levina

After the intimate moment they had shared, neither Edward nor Alicia moved immediately.

To be more precise, Alicia had been overwhelmed by the closeness of tasting Edward’s blood, feeling his hand against her bare back, and realizing that Edward himself had not been unaffected by her reaction.

Yet even after the intensity faded, she remained clinging to him.

Or rather, Alicia was the one who did.

Edward had told her more than once that she should move, but each time she only became more embarrassed. It was almost ridiculous. She was still straddling his lap, close enough that there was hardly any distance between them, yet she seemed terrified of lifting her head and meeting his eyes.

Her crimson eyes remained lowered.

Her cheeks had not lost their color.

Eventually, however, she had no choice.

If she stayed there any longer, Levina would never be able to return to the room without walking into an even more awkward situation.

Alicia slowly pulled away from Edward.

She returned to her place beside him on the bench, sitting far more carefully than before. The warmth of her body left Edward’s lap, and he briefly glanced downward before leaning back again.

By then, the most obvious sign of his own reaction, his erection, had already faded. However Alicia’s own release had trickled down and wet slightly darkening further the dark fabric of his pants.

Alicia, meanwhile, seemed to be doing everything she could to recover her composure. She hurriedly picked up a few tissues from the table and discreetly adjusted herself beneath the edge of her skirt, refusing to look anywhere near Edward.

But she could feel his gaze.

"Senior."

Alicia gave him a flushed glare.

Edward only relaxed against the bench, too calm for someone who had just caused her to lose all of her dignity.

After several more minutes, Levina finally returned.

The moment she entered, Alicia’s posture changed.

The embarrassment did not disappear entirely, but she quickly gathered herself and returned to the mature, composed manner she always preferred to show in front of Levina.

They soon began their meal together.

Despite the strange tension that had filled the room earlier, the atmosphere gradually became warmer. Levina’s presence made it easier. She spoke happily about small things, asked Edward questions, and occasionally smiled whenever Alicia tried a little too hard to appear perfectly calm.

Edward did not seem bothered by what had happened.

If anything, he looked faintly amused whenever Alicia avoided his gaze.

It was a very late dinner.

A vampire-like meal, held at an hour when most humans would already be asleep.

Edward was not someone who tired easily, but after spending the entire day in Lioren, the mannequin-treatment by Layla, dealing with the overall shopping trip, Barbara’s outburst, the unexpected reunion with Eric and Rubina, and everything else, he would have preferred to rest.

Still, being there with Alicia and Levina felt good.

It was quieter than being with the group in Lioren for sure.

The evening had its own charm.

A calmer one.

Unfortunately, the topic that came up next quickly put Edward and Alicia on opposite sides.

"I would rather she does not stay here," Edward said.

Alicia looked toward him.

"I want Vina by my side."

The subject was Levina.

More specifically, it was about where she would live while attending the Holy Academy.

Alicia wanted Levina to remain in Edenis Raphiel, close to her in Ophirion. She wanted her daughter nearby, wanted to see her regularly, and wanted Levina to have the chance to experience a more normal life rather than continuing to hide from the world.

Edward, however, was not convinced.

He was just as protective of Levina as he was of Tihana and Orlin.

Levina might be an Enigma Beast, but she was no ordinary one, not even among others of her kind. For centuries, she had remained hidden from the outside world. She would appear briefly, then disappear so completely that many people could have believed she had never existed at all.

And Edward preferred it that way.

He did not want Levina living in Edenis Raphiel.

More specifically, he did not want her living in Ophirion.

Ophirion was the worst possible place for someone like Levina to attract attention. The Holy Academy would be the center of attention right from the opening.

"Senior," Alicia said, her voice calm but pointed, "Levina lived for five hundred years without your protection. I believe she can survive another year or two."

Edward grimaced slightly.

That was a direct strike.

But the circumstances were not comparable.

"She lived hidden in the sea," he replied. "She was not living openly beside a royal princess of Sancta Vedelia."

His silver eyes narrowed.

"No one knows who the suspicious girl that looks exactly like you is."

"The suspicious girl is my daughter," Alicia replied.

"And what do James and Leora think of that?"

Alicia paused.

Edward’s point was obvious.

She could not simply announce to the world that Levina was her daughter. It would cause an enormous scandal. Alicia had never publicly had a child, and the matter would immediately raise questions about Levina’s father, her origins, and why a girl who resembled Alicia so closely had suddenly appeared at her side.

Alicia loved Levina.

Edward did not doubt that for a second.

But publicly claiming Levina as her daughter would create more problems than it solved, for both of them.

Alicia raised her fork to her lips, taking a small bite of meat as she considered his words.

Then she replied, "I will keep her by my side as my sister."

Edward looked at her.

"Mother wanted that from the beginning," Alicia continued. "She wished to officially bring Levina into House Raven as her second daughter. If Levina is introduced as my younger sister, no issue will arise."

That was better.

Much better.

Edward had to admit that.

With House Raven’s support, Levina could be given a place in the family without exposing the truth of her connection to Edward and Alicia. She would have legal protection, a respected name, and a believable reason to remain close to Alicia.

But even so, Edward did not like the thought of leaving Levina in Ophirion.

Not with so many eyes watching.

"I will not take her to the academy," Alicia said. "But she can stay with me at home. I will also send her to Sancta Vedelia often."

Edward listened without interrupting.

Leora loved Levina deeply.

To her, Levina was not merely a girl she had taken into her household, nor simply someone connected to Alicia. She loved Levina as though she were truly her own daughter.

If both Alicia and Levina remained away from Sancta Vedelia for long periods, Leora would definitely become lonely.

"It hardly matters," Edward said. "I am sending both Tihana and Orlin to Celesta because I do not want them here."

Alicia gave him a stare.

"They are children compared to Levina."

"I wonder about that."

Edward’s eyes moved toward Levina.

She sat quietly across from them, looking increasingly uncomfortable as the discussion continued. She had been happy only minutes ago, sitting beside them and enjoying the warm dinner they were sharing.

Now she looked like a child trapped between two parents arguing over her future.

The fragile girl who had rushed into Edward’s arms earlier, trembling and crying because she had believed she would never see him again, did not look like a grown woman.

Not to Edward.

"How about you ask Vina instead, Senior?"

Alicia’s words made Edward look back at her.

"You seem eager to send her away again only moments after reuniting with her," Alicia continued. "But you have not asked what she wants."

Edward fell silent.

Then he turned toward Levina.

"I..."

Levina’s hands rested together on her lap.

She looked down at them, hesitant to meet his eyes.

"I do not want to bother you," she said quietly. "I am already happy."

Edward sighed.

If she said something like that while looking so uncertain, there was no way he could simply send her away without another thought.

It was not as though Levina would certainly transform in Ophirion and expose herself. Yet all Enigma Beasts, and any creature capable of taking human form, eventually needed to release their true form.

Otherwise, remaining in a human body for too long would become suffocating because in the end, they weren’t humans or any other humanoid race.

Edward was not trying to infantilize her.

Alicia was right about that.

Levina had lived for a long time. Perhaps not truly five hundred years in the way most people would understand it, because of the long slumbers she had taken to preserve her mind, but she had still survived long enough to understand danger.

She was not stupid.

She was not na?ve.

She could make her own choices.

Yet Edward could not stop worrying.

Still, Alicia was right about one thing.

Levina’s situation was different from Tihana and Orlin’s.

"Fine," Edward said at last.

Levina lifted her gaze.

"But you will keep moving between here and Sancta Vedelia," Edward added. "You will not remain in Ophirion all the time."

Levina’s face brightened.

She smiled, the happiness in her expression making it clear that she had been worried Edward would refuse completely.

"Okay," she said.

In truth, Levina would have preferred to attend the academy with both Edward and Alicia.

But she understood why that was not possible.

It would bring too much attention. A mysterious blonde girl who resembled Alicia Raven too closely, appearing beside a princess of Sancta Vedelia and the newly revealed Utopian King, would immediately become the subject of rumors.

For now, staying near Alicia while traveling regularly to Sancta Vedelia was enough.

Once that matter had been settled, Edward turned his thoughts toward the real reason Alicia and Levina had come to Redfield.

Of course, vampires often visited Redfield. That much was obvious.

But Edward did not believe Alicia had brought Levina all the way there simply because the island was popular among vampires.

"Why did you really come here?" He asked.

Alicia hesitated.

Then she lowered her fork.

"My mother’s family is here," she said. "We came to meet them."

"Bloodspire," Edward said.

Alicia nodded.

"My mother’s family."

Her expression grew more reserved.

"They were not pleased about what happened with the Seed of Eden."

"They did not know Leora had it," Edward said.

"I don’t think so."

Alicia’s gaze lowered slightly.

"They only learned later that my grandmother gave it to her."

Leora herself had never fully understood the true value of the Seed of Eden.

To her, it had been a family heirloom. A powerful object, certainly, and perhaps something worth protecting, but not something she believed could change the course of the world.

The idea of using it to give birth to a Holy Tree belonged to myths and ancient legends.

It was not supposed to be real, or simply they didn’t believe it.

Well, maybe Leora did know more, but even if Leora had known more, she would not have known what to do with an artifact carrying such weight. The Seed of Eden was not only powerful, it was dangerous. Possessing it would make someone a target, and the possibility of what it could bring was frightening enough.

So Leora had given it to Alicia.

Not as a weapon.

Not as some grand political inheritance.

But as a form of protection.

A talisman she believed might keep her daughter safe or simply bless her.

She could never have expected Edward to recognize its importance.

She certainly could not have expected him to take it from Alicia and give it to Freya, a woman who understood exactly how to use the Seed and had already given birth to the Holy Tree of Eden, along with others before it.

The consequences had been enormous.

The scandal had not only struck Sancta Vedelia.

Leora had endured accusations and insults from people within Sancta Vedelia, but the anger had also reached her mother’s family: House Bloodspire.

And over the past years, it seemed the tension between Leora and her relatives had only grown worse.

"They blame you for what happened," Edward said.

Alicia nodded again.

"Me and my mother especially," she said. "They believe we gave the Seed away willingly. They will never accept that a certain man stole it from me and I didn’t give it willingly because I wasn’t aware of what it was either."

"A truly horrible man," Edward said seriously. "Tell them to blame him instead."

Alicia’s expression became frosty.

Levina, sitting beside them, could not stop herself from giggling.

Edward only shrugged under Alicia’s stare.

"Do you want me to speak with them?" Edward asked.

Although he could not care less a bit about Sancta Vedelia’s anger, Alicia was different.

And if Levina was going to be formally welcomed into House Raven, then that House mattered a bit more than Edward wished to admit.

He had taken the Seed after deceiving Alicia, knowing exactly what it was.

Perhaps he should do something about it.

"You, Senior?"

Alicia gave Edward a dead stare at his offer

Then she immediately shook her head.

"Please do not."

She could already imagine the conversation.

Edward standing before House Bloodspire with that cold, unreadable expression. Speaking without apologies. Responding to every accusation with sarcasm, thinly veiled insults, and perhaps one or two remarks that would leave the family furious enough to create a new scandal.

The Edward she had known before might have handled the conversation badly already.

But the man sitting in front of her now; inside his original body, with his complete memories and no reason to tolerate anyone he disliked, Alicia feared the result would be far worse.

"My mother is not worried," Alicia said. "And neither am I. We will be fine. Even now, we came here to soften the tension between us."

"How did it go?"

Edward’s gaze shifted toward Levina.

He expected Alicia to insist that everything had gone perfectly well. Levina, however, was more likely to speak honestly.

Levina hesitated for a brief moment.

Then she answered, "Terribly."

Alicia’s eyes moved toward her.

"Leora’s sister and her daughter were quite mean to us," Levina continued. "They kept saying things to insult us."

"It is fine," Alicia said quickly. "It is only a family problem."

Edward did not reply.

If Alicia said she could handle it, he would not force himself into the situation.

Still, he remembered the name Bloodspire.

It was a Federate House of Edenis Raphiel, so in an independent alliance with them.

Alicia seemed to recognize that Edward was not going to simply forget it, so she quickly changed the subject.

Edward did not object.

They continued their dinner for another ten minutes, speaking of smaller things.

Eventually, their meal ended.

The three of them left the Crimson Table together and stepped out into the night.

"So," Alicia said as they walked, "Vina will stay with you until the entrance ceremony?"

"I would rather she does," Edward replied. "Tihana and Orlin want to spend time with her. They are leaving before the ceremony."

Alicia nodded.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

She was genuinely happy that Levina would have the chance to meet people who could become like siblings to her. Tihana and Orlin were Enigma Beasts as well, which made the connection between them even more meaningful.

For most of her life, Levina had been alone.

Now, slowly, she was beginning to have something closer to a family.

When it was time for them to part, Alicia stopped.

She turned toward Levina and gently pulled her into a hug.

"Enjoy your time there," Alicia said.

"Yes," Levina replied, smiling as she hugged her back. "I will."

Edward remained quietly to the side, watching them.

Alicia had become much closer to Levina over the past two years.

Even though Edward had not been able to stay near them, even though he had been absent for reasons Alicia and Levina could not fully understand, he was grateful Alicia had been there for Levina.

Not merely as a protector.

But as family.

As someone Levina could rely on when Edward could not be there.

Alicia finally released Levina.

Then she turned toward Edward.

"Then, Senior," she said, "we will see each other again at the entrance ceremony."

"We will."

Alicia took a quick step closer.

She rose slightly onto her toes and pressed a gentle kiss against Edward’s cheek.

"Look forward to it, Senior," she whispered.

Then she stepped back.

Before Edward could answer, Alicia turned on her heel and began walking away. Her golden-blond hair moved softly behind her as she disappeared into the crimson-lit street.

Levina watched her leave with a warm smile.

"She loves you a lot."

"It seems so," Edward replied.

Then he turned toward Levina.

Before she could ask what he meant, Edward pulled her gently into his arms and rose from the ground.

Levina let out a small sound of surprise as the city suddenly fell away beneath them.

But she relaxed quickly.

Held securely against Edward’s chest, she looked down at Redfield’s glowing streets with wide, delighted eyes.

When she had been younger, Edward had held her like this many times.

Even then, she had always felt safe in his arms.

But now that she had grown older, now that she understood how long she had waited for him and how much she had feared losing him again, that feeling had become even stronger.

She rested more comfortably against him.

"When will you officially be with Mother?" Levina asked.

Edward looked down at her.

"She should grow a little more first," he replied.

His tone was not mocking.

He simply meant that there was no reason to rush.

Alicia’s situation was special. Their lives had been separated for long, and only now would they finally have the chance to spend proper time together again. There were things they still needed to understand, feelings they needed to sort through, and a future neither of them should decide in a moment of emotion.

Levina puffed her cheeks slightly.

"Do not take too long," she said. "Many people are asking for her hand."

"Do you want us together that much?" Edward asked, faint amusement in his voice.

"Obviously."

Levina shrugged as though the answer should have been obvious.

"I want my father