[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son":3,"chapter-reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-chapter-224":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1366123,1806,"Chapter 224  [Hollow Town] [6] [Family]","reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-chapter-224",224,"\u003Cp>[Arianell's POV]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gulped down the water to calm my burning throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warmth of the morning sun peeking through the dense clouds helped relax my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes barely opened after not having proper sleep all night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a crazy night, but oddly enough, it ended quietly after that creepy child ran away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stretched my arms lazily, placing them on the bench I was sitting on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking around, I noticed children still playing, unaffected by what had happened last night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...Children, huh?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought as I watched them play with pure innocence, without any tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That reminded me of my own childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't all giggles and happiness—I was depressed for almost half of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rightfully so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who wouldn't be after knowing your mother abandoned you and left you to die when you were hardly five years old?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thrown away from being a real princess to a shell of one in an empire you knew nothing of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...It was torture for a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Sword maiden, huh?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a fancy name for someone who is nothing but a watchdog, guarding a door to hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to believe, of all the people, I was the one who had to do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until I will take my last breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...And just as I had accepted my fate, a commotion brought me back to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shifted my focus to my side as I saw two boys walking toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But my gaze remained on the boy with pristine white hair like him and mismatched eye colors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...He's grown a lot.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't know why, but unlike before, now he looks like a boy who could come straight out of some maiden's dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looks much better than the emo guy he used to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How are you doing?\" As he walked closer, he asked, placing a plate full of pancakes beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need more sleep,\" I grumbled, taking the plate and starting to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do that later,\" he replied, sitting beside me while Aimar stood close. \"We need to check the house near the graveyard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\" The half-eaten pancake fell from my hand back onto the plate as I heard him. \"...W-wait, what? No, I'm not goin—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not asking,\" he cut in with a sweet smile. \"Like it or not, you're coming with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hell no!\" I yelled, glaring at him. \"I'm not going anywhere near that creepy—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eat faster. We don't have much time,\" he interjected sharply before standing up and walking away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, you can't do this to me!\" I protested, but my words seemed to have no effect on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without looking back, he walked toward the director's office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grumbling to myself, I continued eating the pancakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who made them anyway?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They're not bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, who are you?\" I shifted my focus toward Aimar as he asked, sitting beside me at a slight distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nella—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, the real you,\" he cut in, his voice sharp. \"Behind that fake mask.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't know what you mean by that,\" I replied curtly, munching on the pancakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Azariah isn't close with many girls,\" he said, glancing at me. \"He wouldn't talk so freely with you without knowing you well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does it change anything?\" I asked back, looking at him. \"With or without the mask, I'm nothing but a passerby in his life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I see,\" he whispered softly, nodding in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Were you protecting the orphanage last night?\" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Azariah asked me to,\" he replied with a gentle nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He was sure this place would be targeted because of the children, but for some reason, nobody attacked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That's odd,\" I mumbled, finishing the last of the pancake. \"It's weird they left this place alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yeah,\" he replied before falling silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't have anything else to say either. And even though I wanted to comfort him about Oliver...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...I couldn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'm not good at comforting others; it's hard for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hardly have people in my life who I care about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heck, I really don't have anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't know how it feels to lose someone close to you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...I'm just—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nella!\" A voice yelled, and I looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azariah stood at the gate, urging me to come toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a book in his hand that he quickly placed in his bracelet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a tired sigh, I got up, passing the plate to Aimar. \"Please keep it inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded, taking it, while I rushed toward Azariah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do I really have to go?\" I asked, my voice pleading. \"Can't I just look after the kids?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you, a housewife?\" He scoffed, pulling out a handkerchief. \"And wipe your face after eating.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, father,\" I replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He halted, pointing a finger at me, lips parted, but turned around without saying anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't help but grin at his reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's hard to make him speechless, and I definitely enjoy it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, thanks for guarding me last night while I was sleeping,\" I said, passing the handkerchief back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I couldn't sleep much, it was still reassuring to have him close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fine,\" he replied, looking at me. \"And yeah, be careful with the children at that house.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I flinched, my stomach twisted like I was going to throw up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wouldn't it be better if I stayed here?\" I mumbled quietly, looking at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why, are you scared?\" he asked, smiling sweetly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I don't like that smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...It makes me feel weird.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not,\" I replied, straightening my back as we reached the village's edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just stay behind me, and everything will be alright,\" he said as he walked on the unpaved road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You sure like to act mature,\" I mumbled, following behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am mature,\" he replied, glancing back at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too mature, I'd say,\" I replied, and he nodded happily. \"Even your stamina is affected by your maturity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped, glaring back at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly averted my gaze until he started walking again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the farther we walked, the quieter the surroundings became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this the right choice?\" I softly mumbled, stepping closer to him. \"...I don't feel like we should be here alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Nothing will happen,\" Azariah reassured me. \"...You'll be fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded as we quickly moved through the tall, dried grasses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weirdly enough, I felt like someone was watching us from afar but still so close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But fortunately or not, we arrived at the place quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the old, barren house made of wood and mud, the laughter of children echoed even from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azariah walked toward the house, the front gate barely tall enough to stop anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two children danced around an oak tree, and a bull was tied to the tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children stopped and looked at us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I finally saw them properly—they seemed like twins, one boy and one girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rough blonde hair and brown eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...And I recognized the boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the same boy we saw last night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a step back as they both smiled, an innocent yet unsettling smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where's your mother?\" Azariah asked, standing at the edge of the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hehehe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children didn't reply but just giggled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A-Az,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stammered, grabbing his shirt as he opened the small gate and walked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He signaled me to stay in place while he walked further in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you tell me where your mother is?\" Azariah asked again, voice serious, standing a few yards away from them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahahaha!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both children laughed eerily, pointing at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azariah sighed, rubbing his temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he took another step, the sound of something falling made us turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"M-my lord?\" A middle-aged lady walked toward Azariah from inside the house, wearing ragged, worn-out clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azariah stepped back, walking closer to me as he stood in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you need anything?\" the lady asked, bowing, her rough blonde hair flowing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where was your child last night?\" Azariah asked, glancing at the now-silent children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sleeping, my lord,\" the lady replied, confusion filling her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you sure?\" Azariah asked doubtfully, looking at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, my lord,\" she replied, nodding submissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can I take your son to the town?\" he asked curtly, looking at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before she could reply, the children started yelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ran and hid behind the black bull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go away!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Picking up small pebbles, they threw them toward Azariah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"D-did h-he do something?\" the lady asked, a frightened look on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azariah gently nodded, ignoring the children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm sorry on his behalf,\" the lady immediately knelt in front of him. \"I-I will pay for his sins.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will pay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azariah's words cut off as the lady mumbled like a broken puppet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And without a second thought, she started undressing herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey! Stop it!\" Azariah yelled as she removed her upper garments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her chest lay bare for us to see, while her children shouted behind the bull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Azariah, let's go,\" I softly whispered, grabbing his hand as the lady started to remove the rest of her clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha, I will pay for his sins!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as we turned, the lady laughed heartily.\u003C\u002Fp>",1527,"2026-06-05T21:29:08.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","0931b814c9cc537e5375aef98762fc70684c072960968dd55509a0a72c76bf20","reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-chapter-225","reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-chapter-223",556,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-cover.jpg"]