Transmigrated as a Fat villain: All heroines are after me

73  Chapter 73 - Thalia's Intuition

In the ethereal Saint Realm, a landscape of radiant tranquility stretches as far as the eye can see.

The ground, a shimmering path of translucent white marble, leads to a massive, opulent mansion that commands attention.

Its architecture defies earthly bounds, with spires that reach toward the heavens and walls adorned with intricate, glowing symbols.

As we step inside the grand hall of the mansion, the air is filled with a soothing, golden light that seems to emanate from the very walls themselves.

Massive stained glass windows depict scenes of celestial beauty, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the marble floor.

In the heart of this resplendent hall, three figures walk in hushed conversation. The first is a venerable sage, draped in flowing robes of pure white and a crown of stars resting on their head, radiating wisdom and grace.

Beside the sage, a warrior in gleaming armor, their presence exuding strength and unwavering dedication to protecting this sacred realm.

And, In the centre of them walked a man radiating an overwhelming pressure fading these two figures who were in their own league.

"Did you find the Emperor?"

The ethereal voice resounded from the man at the center of attention, causing both of the individuals to shake their heads before continuing, "Forgive me, Lord, we were not able to find the whereabouts of the Emperor."

The man sighed, thinking about the recent disappearance of the leader of the Saint Realm some days ago, before he looked towards the warrior and inquired, "How is Alex?"

The warrior responded, "Young Master is a prodigy. He is learning efficiently. It's just that he—"

The man stopped understanding the warrior's words continued  "Haa, tell him he can go to the Human Realm. I will personally talk to the Adriannel"

Normally, due to the rules of the Academy, it was impossible for anyone to intervene with its system, primarily due to the presence of the Hidden Director of the Academy.

However, there was an exception to this rule—what if the strongest beings attempted to amend those rules?

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Inside the sanctum, Zeph exited the room, his wrist marked with a sword symbol that signified his accomplishment of obtaining the first artifact he sought.

As he moved down the silent hallway, he knew that the artifact he now carried was of the highest tier on the second floor.

His path led him to a particular direction where a unique earring adorned the walls, its black design standing out in stark contrast.

The earring seemed to shiver, sensing Seraphina's presence nearby.

This reaction was due to Seraphina's strong aversion to anything with a demonic aura, and the artifact, Guinier, emanated precisely that.

Guinier was the name of the earring, and for Zeph, it was an essential item at this moment.

It possessed the power to block mind attacks, but there was a significant reason why it was placed on the second floor of the sanctum hierarchy.

Guinier had a significant drawback: it contained a demonic aura that could corrupt the mind of its bearer.

This corruption was why no one had ever used it, and the artifact had been relegated to a remote corner of the second floor.

However, Zeph saw a way around this issue. He had Seraphina, and her divine presence could counter the demonic aura of Guinier. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

This was one of the reasons he had chosen her as his companion before obtaining the earring.

As Zeph approached Guinier, he heard a trembling voice, laden with fear.

It was a child's voice, and it was afraid not only of the divine aura emanating from Zeph but also of the possibility that the earring's demonic influence might taint his divinity, causing him to descend to the first floor.

With a knowing smile, Zeph reached for the earring, understanding that time was of the essence, and he had much more work to do.

Zeph's hand was shrouded in mana, and the divine energy that Seraphina radiated accompanied it.

The « Sword » had two significant passive abilities: the automatic generation of divine energy that granted its owner an aura of holiness and the preservation of the owner's chastity.

While the first ability was valuable, it was the second one that held Zeph's attention.

In this world with awakened abilities, some of them were remarkably potent, including ones that could reveal the truth about a person.

To maintain a facade of his innocence and avoid any such complications while dealing with multiple targets, Zeph needed a guarantee, So he can freely venture in his journey.

With determination, Zeph's hand firmly grasped the earring. A shroud of dark aura surrounded it, compressed by the power of Zeph's mana.

The earring could hardly believe what it was experiencing. While divine energy had the ability to compress corrupted mana, it had never seen such a potent display of it.

Zeph's grip felt as though his sheer physical strength alone could suppress the aura of Guinier.

Despite the pain it caused, Zeph did not hesitate to pierce the earring into his ear, allowing it to hang there.

The mana within his body promptly healed the minor injuries from the piercing, and he remained unfazed by the process.

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{Thalia's Illustration in comment}

In Viscount Crimwell's territory, there stood a grandiose mansion. Inside one of its rooms, a young woman lay on a bed, her face hidden within the pillow, her thoughts wandering.

"Ha... Zeph, there are still five days left until the academy opens," Thalia muttered to herself, her desire to meet the golden-eyed boy growing stronger with each passing moment.

knock knock

A gentle knock on her door brought her back to reality. She responded, "Yes..."

The maid who had knocked stood by the door and spoke, "Young miss, the Lord is requesting an audience with you."

Thalia nodded and followed the maid through the elegant hallways of their mansion, her mind still preoccupied with thoughts of the approaching academy.

The grand door to her father's study was carved with intricate designs, and the heavy wood seemed imposing.

Thalia hesitated for a moment before the maid gently pushed the door open, revealing Viscount Crimwell sitting at his desk, engrossed in his work.

The viscount was a stern man with a reputation for being calculating and ruthless. He was known for his ambitions, and Thalia had always strived to meet his expectations and become like him — reach the higher position with her own efforts. "Father, you wanted to see me?" Thalia spoke, trying to keep her voice steady. The viscount glanced up from his work, his piercing gaze focused on his daughter.

"Thalia, please, come in," her father said, gesturing to a chair in front of his desk.

She quickly obeyed, taking a seat, her heart racing even faster now. Her father had never called her into his study without a reason.

"Thalia, I've called you here today because there is an important matter we need to discuss," Viscount Crimwell began, folding his hands in front of him. Thalia couldn't help but notice the serious tone in his voice.

21:55

Her father leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment. "You should have been in good relationship with Zephyr in the academy, correct?"

Thalia nodded, her cheeks tinged with a blush. Her affection for Zeph was evident to her father, Viscount Crimwell.

Her father noticed Thalia's change of demeanor but paid little attention to it. He continued with a calculated tone, "I've heard that his mother has also accepted him as the heir. This is the right moment for you to use him as a stepping stone to secure your own position, you understood what I mean right?,Thalia."

Thalia's words carried a mix of emotions. While she had initially considered using Zeph to improve her status, her time with him at the academy had transformed her perspective. He had become more than just a means to an end.

"Father, what about love and compatibility?" Thalia's voice quivered as she dared to voice her concerns.

Her father's gaze remained unwavering. "In the world of nobility, love and compatibility are not always the highest priorities, Thalia. Our duty is to our family and our status."

She looked towards her father, her eyes didn't waver like it usually did, surprising viscount too "And what about my feelings, Father?"

Viscount Crimwell sighed. "Your feelings are important, Thalia, but there are sacrifices we must make for the sake of our family's future. You have a duty to our name, and that duty often requires sacrifices."

Thalia's emotions were in turmoil, but she suddenly felt her ability «Insight» which urged her not to reveal anything sensitive at the moment.

Sensing a hidden presence nearby, she directed her words toward her father, playing the part he wanted her to play.

"You're absolutely right, Father, I was being foolish," Thalia said while tapping her head as if berating herself.

She continued, "I guess it's just that he saved my life once, which is why I felt a bit sorry for him. But it's alright. Once I marry him and achieve the desired status, I'll discard him."

Deep down, her anger simmered, but her instincts told her to maintain this charade.

She didn't fully understand why, but she trusted her «Insight» and decided to keep speaking ill of Zeph.

Thalia stood, bowed, and then took her leave.

....

"What do you think, didn't I tell you she wouldn't fall in love, Alexios?"

Viscount Crimwell's face showed a hint of desperation, breaking his facade of strength.

A few days ago, a person from the Demon realm had shown up at his door, claiming to be his son.

At first, he had doubts, but after hearing the offer the young man presented, he reluctantly accepted it.

With Alexios's assistance, he could rise to a high-ranking noble position in the human realm. However, Alexios saw this as a meaningless endeavor.

He kept his gaze fixed on the path his sister had taken, and his eyes gleamed with determination.

'Sister, your acting won't fool me. I guess I have to pay a visit to this Zephyr guy.'

Reborn Heroines, OP Villain 😈