[{"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-234":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},1366133,1806,"Chapter 234  [Festival Of Love] [2] [Stairs Of Blessing]","reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-chapter-234",234,"\u003Cp>\"So, you like it gently?\" Christina asked with a smile, staring at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When did you come back?\" I asked, ignoring her question as I walked toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just today,\" she replied, her hand reaching out to pinch my face. \"I couldn't miss the festival with you, after all. It's been so long since we could stay together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see,\" I replied, nodding in response. \"Avril didn't come with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hand stopped pinching my cheek as she looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She didn't,\" Christina replied, shaking her head. \"...I don't think she will come back now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, she chose to run away, huh?\" I replied with a light shrug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not the right person to tell you,\" she replied cryptically, looking at me. \"When you see her again, calmly listen to what she has to say.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without replying, I just looked at her, and she didn't shy away from my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds passed as she changed the topic. \"Anyway, how do I look?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She twirled around once to show me her lavender off-shoulder gown that lightly clung to her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seriously, is it just me, or does she get more beautiful every time I see her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You look ridiculous,\" I replied, and her expectant face crumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without replying, she started pinching my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled at her just to irritate her more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Papa!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our heads turned as Iffa started running toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bending slightly, I picked her up as she giggled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What have you done to your face?\" Grumbling, I took out my handkerchief as I wiped her face, which had traces of sweets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your daughter?\" Christina asked as she walked closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yep, you haven't met her,\" I replied, turning to let Iffa look at her. \"She's Iffa.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christina smiled as she stretched her hands wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Christy?\" Iffa asked, turning her head toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, she's the one I talk about,\" I replied with a light smile as I passed her to Christina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How many daughters you gonna have?\" Christina asked with a bright smile as she hugged Iffa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As many as I can,\" I replied, shrugging as Olivia also walked toward me, gently holding my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Willis also arrived beside me, holding a bowl of ice cream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Noted,\" she replied, pressing Iffa's cheek with hers, making her giggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Noted, what exactly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept those words to myself as I looked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bell rang, making her look toward the exit of the place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go,\" she said, grabbing my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where?\" I asked, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To the commoners' festival,\" she replied with a bright smile, dragging me away. \"And change your hair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed as I looked at her blue hair turning into black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I did the same, forming a small magic circle in my hand before touching my hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it fine now?\" I asked, making her glance back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why green?\" she asked, looking at me weirdly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's easy to use wind affinity for me,\" I replied, not explaining too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exiting the academy festival grounds, we moved toward the left, where the commoners' festival was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike before, we were met with a far larger crowd with the voices of people drowning everything out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grabbing both Olivia and Willis, I held them on either side of my hand as we navigated through the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where are we going?\" I asked, raising my voice to make sure she heard it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait a second!\" she replied, dragging me toward a more open area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd slowly thinned, giving us a lot more room to walk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...And now I could only see couples roaming around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this?\" I whispered softly, looking at something that looked like a starting line with a wooden staircase in front of us with no endpoint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squinting my eyes, I placed both Olivia and Willis down while I observed the stairs, only to notice small runes engraved on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you heard about the Stairs of Blessing?\" she asked, making me look at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I vaguely remember it, why?\" I replied, tilting my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See, there is a story about a man that's quite famous among commoners,\" Christina said, looking at the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How he climbed a mountain to visit Goddess Anastasia's shrine carrying his sick wife in his arms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Ah, right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I remember it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every year during the festival, a competition is held,\" she continued, pointing at the end of the staircase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Carry your bride to the top of the mountain to prove your love and get Anastasia's blessings to always remain together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's easy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can't use mana.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have a strong body.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The gravity increases with every step.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Still doable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are only twelve hundred steps.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned to look at her with an absurd expression on my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Twelve hundred?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Won't we reach heaven at a thousand?\" I grumbled, looking up at the winding staircase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry,\" she consoled while gently patting my back. \"I'll be happy if you don't drop me before a hundred.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That's some confidence you have in me,\" I grumbled, looking around as couples slowly started to stand in front of the staircase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled. \"Just don't stress yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Children, get back,\" I said as I glanced at the three children quietly listening to us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all replied simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Fine, I'll drop you all together,\" I grumbled, picking up Willis and placing him on my shoulder while giving Olivia to Christina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took her along with Iffa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huff...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drawing in a deep breath, I gently placed my hand around her waist and behind her knees as I picked her up, carrying her like a princess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her body felt fragile and abnormally soft, like it would melt away; my fingers dug deeply into her waist, making her squirm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Olivia and Iffa sat on Christina's stomach while Willis sat on my shoulder, his legs touching my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Hmm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're lighter than I expected,\" I complimented, looking at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's that supposed to mean?\" she replied, her voice laced with annoyance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I mean you look... healthy,\" I replied while she wrapped her hand around my neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you calling me fat?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, you're fat in the right places.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blinked innocently before her face turned rosy with embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Maybe I shouldn't have said that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you guys ready?\" an old man standing beside the staircase said with a gentle smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then begin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone started to step on the stairs, including me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Hmm, not too much pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought as I felt a minute increase in the gravity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I started ascending without much problem while glancing around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are a lot fewer participants than I expected,\" I mumbled, noticing only ten or so pairs along with us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"People don't usually take part in it,\" she replied, looking at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Some are afraid of not reaching the end, while most just want to tie down together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I see,\" I mumbled with a slight nod. \"...How many have even reached the end?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Last time someone reached the end was thirty years ago,\" she replied, taking me by surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on second thought, it's reasonable as the gravity slowly started to increase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Papa!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Daughter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When will we reach the top?\" Iffa asked, gently slapping my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We just started; wait for a while,\" I replied as I looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thick forest was weirdly arranged around the stairs, making it hard for me to see further up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stairs were made to loop around the hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, we need to return before two hours,\" Christina informed, making me glance at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Right, the Academic Festival,\" I mumbled in reply, nodding my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm~.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I adjusted Christina a little, she let out a weird noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keep your hands in control, mister,\" she whined, grabbing my hand around her waist and guiding it lower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Wait, that wasn't her waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I muttered to myself, looking away from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyone counting the steps?\" I asked, trying to change the topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fifty,\" Willis exclaimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's sixty, idiot brother,\" Olivia corrected him while she looked at me. \"Sixty-two, father.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded gently as I focused on reaching the top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the hundredth step, we had already lost all the other people who were participating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And up to this point, I had no problem moving while carrying all of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the main problem came at the five hundredth step as my body started to take a toll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat poured down my back and face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Willis and Iffa had already returned because they felt too sleepy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What?\" I asked, glancing down at Christina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing,\" Christina replied as she gently wiped sweat from my face. \"I'm just admiring you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I see,\" I whispered as I looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without wasting much time, I continued to ascend further up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, we reached heaven,\" Christina commented, leaning her head on my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two hundred more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed as I steeled myself, my body already drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren't you going to sleep as well?\" Christina asked, looking at Olivia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I would like to stay with my father,\" she replied, her voice monotone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christina silently looked at her while pinching her cheek. \"I sometimes forget we aren't on the same team.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored them as I moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after a half hour of struggle and a drained body, I finally reached the top.\u003C\u002Fp>",1549,"2026-06-05T21:29:08.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","dcf5417477ceef075e1446ef4082b3ac5e0c91f6b12647540e61693eed04855a","reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-chapter-235","reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-chapter-233",556,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-cover.jpg"]