The Villain’s Ending

Chapter 33

Coloring (15)

Only the next evening did Estelle return.

I was idly gazing at the stained-glass windows in front of the altar on the first floor.

The glass, devoid of light, was merely a dark and blurry picture.

Creak, the sound of the church door opening was heard.

It was like the sound of rusty hinges straining and screaming.

I didn't turn my head.

The footsteps were quiet.

They were so soft, the sound of them brushing against the stone floor was almost inaudible.

"I'm back."Estelle's voice was as usual.

There was no hint of fatigue, nor excitement.

It was as if she had just popped out to the neighborhood store to buy cigarettes.

She came and stood beside me.

Her neat priest's robes, which she had worn when leaving, were gone, replaced by what looked like comfortable everyday clothes.

From her, I caught a faint scent of dust and dry grass.

Only then did I turn my head and look at her.

Even in the darkness, her red eyes were clear.

"I heard you had visitors yesterday."

The nuance in her voice was more of confirmation than a question.

"How did you know?"

"Turns out, most people tend to answer when the Saintess asks something."

She sat astride the altar, swinging her legs.

It was a childish action.

The tip of her shoe lightly cut through the air.

"So, what did they babble about?"

"It was nothing much. They asked what I did at Perion's mansion."

I turned my gaze back to the stained-glass windows.

"And?"

Estelle's voice was still light.

"I said I wouldn't know, since I was offering prayers of repentance all night long with the Saintess that day.

We were, after all, praying very devoutly."

At my words, Estelle chuckled.

Her laughter echoed softly in the empty church.

"Your former fiancée even came looking for you?"

Her voice tone dropped ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"Just gloss over that."

"...Ah, um. Was I being rude?"

Estelle showed a slightly troubled expression.

I hadn't expected her to react like this.

I'd thought she would mock me even more, if anything.

She gently touched her lips for a moment, then opened her mouth again.

"I didn’t really know."

"Do you still love her?"

"Yes."

The answer came out more easily than I expected.

"It shows."

She sat down beside me.

The altar was cold, but her body heat was felt beside me.

We sat in silence for a while, gazing at the stained-glass windows as they became submerged in darkness.

The sound of wind was heard from outside the window.

"I'm still not good enough, am I?"

I opened my mouth to answer.

Just then, Estelle brought her index finger to my lips.

It was a soft, cold touch.

"No, don't. Don't say it. Maybe it will happen.

But I won't listen yet, because I'm not confident. So don't say it.

I know very well that things like this are solved by time.

Because it's me who's living just with you."

She chuckled and rested her head on my shoulder.

A faint apple scent emanated from her hair.

"Anyway, they don't know anything.

They don't even know I was there. Don't worry."

"I'm not worried."

"I know. You don't care about things like that."

"What about you?"

"The old men told me to go catch some heretics.

When the day comes, I'll be away for a few days. You know you shouldn't pine away and die of loneliness just because I'm not here, right?"

I casually let her nonsense words pass.

I got up and headed to a small cupboard behind the altar.

"It's night, so coffee might not be good. Shall I brew some tea?"

I said, taking out a small tin of tea leaves from the cupboard.

She nodded silently.

We sat side by side for a long time, holding warm teacups.

After finishing her tea, Estelle silently took my hand.

Her hand was small and warm.

From some point on, this had become our daily routine.

'If things continue like this... what's the point of the ending, or going back?'

The next day, I went to class with Estelle.

As always, we walked together, and the gazes of those around us followed.

It was now a familiar sight.

Not long after, when lunchtime arrived, the hallway became noisy with students.

The laughter of students, the sound of footsteps running through the hallway, the distant ringing of a bell.

I was leaning against the hallway window, looking outside and waiting for Estelle.

Just then, someone approached me.

It was a male student in a neat school uniform.

A silver badge, indicating his student council affiliation, gleamed on his chest.

"Lavin Edelgard, student."

Instead of answering, I sighed.

He continued speaking, unperturbed.

"The student council president is looking for you. She asked you to come to the student council office."

"Tell her I'm busy."

"..."

He hesitated for a moment.

For a brief instant, a flicker of bewilderment crossed his expressionless face.

"President Levina said that if I relayed that she would let the 'salad bowl incident' slide with this, you would come."

He relayed the message like a machine.

At the same time, Levina's image came to mind, still bleeding from her head yet continuing to speak in what she considered mercy.

I didn't say anything.

The student bowed politely and turned away.

I slowly headed to the student council office.

The student council office door was at the end of the hallway.

A heavy, dark brown wooden door.

Creak

The student council office door opened with an old, creaking sound.

Levina was alone in the room.

She was sitting at a large desk, looking through documents.

The student who had brought me bowed silently at the door and disappeared.

Thud

When the door closed, silence filled the room.

Only the occasional sound of papers being turned was heard.

I stood still, watching her.

The room smelled of ink, old paper, and Levina's faint perfume.

How much time had passed?

She put down the documents she was holding and raised her head.

Our gazes met in the air.

"Sit."

Her voice was calm.

I silently sat in the chair opposite, which she had indicated.

The leather chair was plush, but not comfortable.

"Why did you call me?"

"You're staying at the church these days, aren't you? You're living with Estelle, right?"

"So what."

"And someone supposedly found you at the house of that priest who died recently, after you went out at night.

Perion or something, I don't remember the name."

"I know nothing about that."

"I know. That you didn't commit the act."

Levina spoke calmly.

"I know Kyle's group got it wrong."

Her tone of voice was as if only she could understand me.

Perhaps if I hadn't been kicked out of the family, I might have been swayed.

"...What is it you want to talk about?"

"The incident at Perion's mansion, and even the archbishop being beaten to death.

That crazy bitch Estelle did all of it.

This time, it probably happened because she was parading you around."

She tapped the desk with her fingers.

"Not many people know that the Saintess is actually a worthless, crazy person.

Even if Estelle did it, it might become your doing.

So, I can cover it up appropriately. If you want."

"If I want?"

"Yes. Separate yourself from Estelle.

I'll find you a suitable room.

And I'll give you enough living expenses to use freely."

Levina's words felt as if she believed I should naturally comply.

"You've lived next to Estelle, so you must know she's not in her right mind.

And that crazy bitch truly sees you as her dead brother, and..."

"I clearly told you last time that it doesn't matter."

"What?"

Levina's brows subtly furrowed.

"Lavin. Right now, one wrong move and you'll die.

That's not a metaphor or a threat, but the literal meaning."

"What can I do about it?

Just like I was kicked out of the family no matter what I did, I can just accept this as one of those things."

"I told you, I can even give you an annex."

"I don't need it."

"Do you think Estelle can protect you?

That idiotic woman who just relies on her own power and runs wild?

She has no power within the Church, so what could she do if you were framed?"

"I don't know if she can protect me.

But she'll at least try to protect me. Unlike you."

"I!"

Levina tried to say something, then closed her mouth.

Her face twisted for a moment.

Levina got up from her seat and walked to the window.

With her back turned, she remained silent for a while.

Her shoulders were subtly trembling.

Only her ragged breathing filled the room.

She turned back around, massaged her forehead, glared at me for a long time, and then opened her mouth again.

Her voice was much sharper and more unstable than before.

"It's always like this when I'm with you.

Why can't you just accept my help?

We just have these stupid arguments.

Just do as I say! Is that so difficult?"

She finally shouted.

Slam!

Her fist slammed down on the desk.

"I don't care where you live.

But just don't be next to Estelle, that bitch. Please.

It's dangerous. You'll be in danger too."

Pens tumbled and scattered across the desk.

"At least, at least because we're blood relatives!

Isn't it because we're family that I'm doing this!

If it were anyone else, I would have long since...!"

She spoke, panting.

Her voice was mixed with desperation and anger.

She seemed to expect me to be swayed by these words, or at least show some reaction.

"Since when were we family?"

I stood up from the chair.

And slowly approached Levina.

I recalled the memory of choking Levina here before.

Why did I choke her?

I took the revolver.

Perhaps dying right before her eyes was quite impressive.

To the extent that I would suddenly resort to theft.

'Lavin' had never hated Levina, no matter how she treated him.

At least not as much as I did.

He had merely been envious.

He naturally accepted his situation.

In a slightly twisted way.

I stood in front of her desk.

I picked up a pen that had fallen to the floor and placed it on the desk.

"Sister."

Levina's expression instantly went blank.

It was as if time had stopped.

"...Ah."

A meaningless sound escaped her lips.

She just stared blankly at me, then looked at the pen on the floor, and then back at my face.

And then she came closer to me, slowly reaching out her hand.

It was a trembling hand.

"You, you. What you just said. Say it again..."

I gently gripped her wrist and moved it away from me.

Right now, I didn't want to be caught up in 'Lavin's' emotions or memories.

"Why did you do that to me?"

I walked past her, heading for the door.

Levina called my name in a very small voice.

Her voice was trembling.

I paused for a moment, gripping the doorknob.

But I didn't look back.

Without a word, I opened the door and walked out.

I didn't need to be afraid.

Why was I always so afraid?

I missed Estelle.

The hallway was still quiet.

I leaned against the window, reached for a cigarette, then put it back into my pocket.