A Villainess Should Be Strong

"Who knows?" Aleksei broke his silence, replying to the woman. "Only time will tell. It's just the beginning, she just arrived,"

Inside his mind, he replayed the scene of his meeting with Estelle. At first glance, she was just a talented little girl, but something he picked up during their encounter ticked him off.

He was starting to grow suspicions against the girl, but he hid it well inside.

Shirley broke into a light round of laughter.

"Indeed.. Only time will tell. If she is the key to solving our problems, then..." Shirley narrowed her eyes. "I might have to take some measures. If it's to protect our country, I can do a lot of things,"

Her gaze conveyed that her intention was serious and devoid of any lies.

"You little devil, what are you thinking about?" Aleksei came over and flicked Shirley's forehead.

"I'm not joking. If Estelle is what it takes to recover our family's ancestry, then she must be with us at all costs. Don't you think so as well? Why would we leave her with the humans, when they clearly don't realize her worth?" Shirley questioned.

Ever since she met Estelle, she already realized the gist of just how far her magic spread towards. The strength, the familiarity with the Elven Royals' power, and her talent.

Even if she wasn't what they sought for the Royals' revival, Estelle was a great asset. A desirable addition to their country.

"Rather than just powerful, I'd say that Estelle's peculiarity stems more towards how she managed to produce an element outside of the known ones," Aleksei debated. "It is strange.. The power she wields,"

"Is it not a Unique Magic?" Shirley asked.

"I suppose not. Do you think it's that simple? Considering her background, the news about her, and not to mention.. the fact that she is our sister's granddaughter," Aleksei questioned back.

"But Alan never received Silvanna's gift. Not to mention, Alan, who is already half human, married another human. I was even skeptical at first before I met Estelle face to face. Even though our bloodline is resilient, after being diluted that much.. I startedt to wonder if the girl even possessed anything,"

"What prevents the gift from being lost? With Estelle's arrival, could you really confidently say that she is not going to be the second Silvanna? You know how crazy she was,"

The tension was rising with each second.

Their memories of their own sibling, Silvanna Villarante arrived.

Their reasons to support what she did and not obstruct her.

In this grey world, how could they be so selfless as to support Silvanna without their own important ideas?

"Do you think something is odd?" Shirley massaged her temples, thinking deeply.

Aleksei smirked. "Who knows?"

"The Goddess raised her hand up to the air, and with a single flick, summoned hundreds of spears covered in a dazzling lustre. Her spears, each containing the power of a battalion, rained down upon those who dared to antagonize the weakened Elves. From then on, it was a clean slate. The situation was resolved in mere minutes, because as soon as the rain of spears ended, the battlefield was covered in a pool of crimson blood, with no survivors within the cruel enemies. The Goddess' light fell upon the world as bright as the Sun, but gentle like the Moon. The skies were dark as the crusade happened late in the night. Her graceful poise descended upon the ancestors, granting them a peculiar power that made them stronger. Hence, she was later titled the Moon Goddess and instated as the Elves' protector, their deity and benefactor," Aleksei told the story every Elf was familiar with.

The Moon Goddess whose name was unknown, and yet, her existence was so prevalent in the history.

"..What are you trying to say?" Shirley looked at her brother with an odd gaze.

"What if Estelle is not just a stronger version of our Ancestors, but rather the incarnation of the Goddess herself?" Aleksei proposed.

Hearing that, Shirley finally broke down.

"Stop your crude assumptions. She might look similar to our Almighty One, but that doesn't act as a warranty for her identity.. How outrageous of you, Aleksei Villarante!" Shirley glared at the man.

She was sensitive towards matters concerning the Goddess and what it entailed.

Because it would ultimately concern her as the Elven Queen, whether directly or indirectly.

She, as someone who has been raised as the 'replacement' of the original successor that was Silvanna, who could confidently say that she does not feel any moments of grievance during her ruling time?

Insulting the Goddess and the legacy triggered her quite a lot because of the meaning it held to her.

The fact that over the course of her replacing Silvanna and eventually rising up to the throne, she was repeatedly told that she would have no meaning if it wasn't for the Goddess' grace residing inside her.

The fact that her position was not hers to begin with.

It was frustrating. Even after ruling for so many years, after knowing that Silvanna Villarante would not come back to snatch her worth, it was still frustrating.

The fact that her ministers and the court members all simultaneously knew the truth and who the original throne holder truly was.

In response, Aleksei only shrugged. "I am simply telling what I extracted from my encounter with her. Don't you think she is strange?"

"Stop. Stop, you must be confused because you haven't been keeping touch with the castle's matters. Aleksei, I have my boundaries too. If you cross it, I will not hesitate to enact my own actions," Shirley banged on the nearby wall, creating a loud thump.

Her hands were shaking as she struggled to calm herself down.

"Big sister," Aleksei stretched out his hand and gently placed it over Shirley's shoulder.

Slowly, he drew nearer to Shirley.

"There are a lot of things we are unaware of in this world. Me and you, we both know that," Aleksei said with a small voice, giving a meaningful smile to Shirley.

"..Retreat. I do not wish to deal with you right now," Shirley turned around and started walking the opposite way from Aleksei.

"There are many things.. Yes, too much to discover. But you know what, my dearest sister? The truth is not always appealing. It might be.. something that opposes your own beliefs. What if our truth-"

"RETREAT!" Shirley shouted, casting her magic and letting out a large blast of wind against Aleksei.

Aleksei was slightly taken aback, but he quickly dodged and repelled the strike, dispelling it into nothingness.

"There, there. It's dangerous, my sister," Aleksei tidied up his clothes, which has been disrupted by the strong gust.

"Aleksei, you brat, don't test my patience," Shirley manifested her weapon, which was in the shape of a wind trident. She brandished it against Aleksei, absolutely prepared to attack.

Aleksei chuckled. This time, he decided to rest his case and retreat.

After all, his true purpose was just to instigate the ideas. The fact that Estelle's identity was much more complex than what was revealed to the public.

If his sister still insists on being blind, then he would just fight on his own.

To discover and unravel the truth.

He left the room, leaving Shirley alone.

Inside the area, Shirley clenched her fists in frustration.

Her eyes were tightly locked onto the closed door.

Aleksei carried a light minty scent with him, a fresh scent that would certainly be pleasant if not for the pretenses Shirley knew he always showed.

She was irritated. The man got into close quarters with her, so she could faintly smell the minty residue fluttering about thanks to her strong sense of smell.

"Fucking bastard," Shirley cursed, clearing herself of the dubious fragrance that would forever remind her of the man if left untouched.

That man was her younger brother, Aleksei Villarante.

However, not once has she thought of him as her younger brother. Not once. Ever since she was introduced to him.

Everything about him was unclear. Whether or not his intentions was to serve the country or pull it down to the deepest parts of Hell.

She hated it. She hated dealing with snakes and lizards the most, after all.

Alfheim, the Elven country. The country she sought to protect because she was instated as the Queen.

The country that should've been her pride and joy, should've brought her happiness.

But why was the truth the complete opposite?

Until when did she have to bear the restraints of being the Elven Queen, the position that was slowly being bleached with duplicity?

Because of their ancestors making up this hierarchy, she was praised and revered as the Esteemed Goddess' kin.

But soon, everyone would know. They would realize that it wasn't the case at all.

At that time, what must she do?

What can she do?

In this entire Kingdom, who on Earth was her ally?

Leaning against the wall, she lamented. Even though she had pent up stress brimming inside of her, she suppressed it.

For she was the Elven Queen, Shirley Villarante.

Her position, no one could take it away from her.