Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 271  Himmel [1]

[Tamriel Kingdom, Alfheim]

[Year 2982, A.H.W.-III] "Az~."

The glaring sun blazed high above the city of Tamriel.

Its golden rays filtering through the World Tree Yggdrasil, bathing the city in a gentle glow.

"Where are you?"

The voice, filled with amusement rippled through the garden adorned with hundreds of different fragrant flowers.

A woman in her mid-twenties strolled through the garden, her presence regal yet tender.

Her long hair—primarily white with soft pink gradients at the ends—cascaded like a silken waterfall down her back, swaying with each step.

With her hands clasped behind, her warm, ember eyes scanned the garden's tall, colorful plants.

"If you don't come out, I'll be sad."

Her lament voice lingered in the air as she crouched, her flowing blue dress crinkling softly around her.

She covered her face with her hands, her expression morphing into a pout.

"Azariah doesn't like me now~," she whispered, her voice filled with sorrow.

A moment passed. Then another.

The flowers around her rustled, and suddenly, a small boy with roughly combed purple hair darted from the foliage.

His grey shirt and black trousers were slightly dusty from his hiding spot, but his wide, guilty eyes were focused solely on her.

"Don't cry, Yennefer—!"

"Got you!" Yennefer exclaimed, her sadness vanishing as she scooped him into her arms.

She twirled him around, holding him as his small hands clutched at her.

"You cheated again," Azariah huffed, his purple eyes narrowing in annoyance.

"Why were you hiding in the garden?" she asked, feigning innocence as she pinched his soft cheek.

"...Nothing," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze, his hands fidgeting.

"Hm. Did you do something naughty?" Yennefer teased, arching an elegant brow.

"No," he said firmly.

"Tell me, what happened?"

"...No."

"Should I call her?" Yennefer said with a smile, tilting her head.

Azariah's face paled instantly. "Not her—!"

"Then tell me," she urged gently, her voice as soothing as the breeze that rustled the flowers.

"....."

His small shoulders slumped, and he lowered his head, his lips quivering to speak.

Yennefer said nothing, giving him the space he needed while she carried him toward the edge of the garden.

As they stepped into the open, the cheerful sounds of children reached them.

A boy with the same purple hair as Azariah sprinted across the grassy courtyard, his laughter trailing behind him.

Yennefer recognized him immediately.

Killian.

Azariah's older cousin.

Behind him, a group of children followed—Avril, Cecily, Pasithea, and at the very end, her own daughter, Zenith.

Their carefree laughter filled the air, but Yennefer noticed Azariah stiffening in her arms.

Yennefer smiled softly, gazing at Azariah, who looked at them as well.

"Az," she asked softly, her gaze dropping to his sullen expression.

"Did they refuse to let you play with them?"

Azariah shook his head, his lip jutting out in a slight pout. "It's not that."

"Then what is it?"

"I don't want to play with Killian," he muttered, crossing his arms. "He always takes my place."

"Hm?" Yennefer's smile returned as she began walking away from the lively children. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"That's because he's older, Az. And the girls seem to like him more."

Azariah's head drooped further, his purple eyes clouding with frustration.

He couldn't deny it.

Killian had a natural charm, a warmth that drew others effortlessly.

No matter where he went, friends seemed to gather around him like moths to a flame.

"Do you think... people will like me more if I become kind like him?"

Azariah asked hesitantly, his wide, expectant eyes searching her face.

"You don't need to be like anyone else, Azariah," she said, her voice gentle.

"You just need to be you. The right people will love you for that."

Azariah nodded back with a light smile, but her words stuck in his mind.

Yet his light smile faltered as he noticed something—the familiar surroundings of the garden narrowing into a single pathway that led to a resting place in the middle.

"...Where are we going?" he asked hesitantly, his purple eyes darting to the trail ahead.

"Don't you want to see her?" Yennefer replied with a grin, tightening her hold on the squirming boy.

"Leave me, Yennefer," he groaned, wriggling to escape her embrace.

But she didn't let him move.

"Let go—."

"And where do you want to go?"

A calm, authoritative tone cut through his protests as they approached an open, tomb-like structure nestled in the heart of the garden.

Azariah flinched at her voice as she slowly turned back to look at her.

A stunning high elf lay gracefully on a reclining chair, radiating an aura of elegance.

Her long, cascading hair a delicate blend of golden blonde streaked with subtle olive undertones.

Her almond-shaped eyes, a mesmerizing mix of vibrant green and olive, glanced at Azariah.

Her flawless, porcelain-like skin glowed faintly, and pointed ears peeked through her lustrous hair.

She wore emerald-green robes with golden thread-like patterns.

"...Nerissa."

Azariah murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as Yennefer set him down.

He looked back at her abruptly before quickly hiding behind her.

"Why are you hiding?" Nerissa asked, tilting her head.

Azariah shook his head.

"Come here."

Yennefer smiled as she stepped aside.

Azariah looked at her pleadingly.

"Go on," Yennefer urged, ruffling his hair with a teasing smile. "She won't bite."

Azariah meekly walked towards her, eyes fixed on the ground.

As soon as he was within reach, Nerissa grabbed his arm, yanking him closer.

"Did you do what I asked?" she questioned, combing his hair with her hand while cupping his face with another.

"...Yes," Azariah replied, biting his tongue in nervousness.

"What exactly did she ask, Az?" Yennefer interjected, her tone laced with curiosity as she moved closer.

Azariah blinked up at her innocently before responding, "To propose to Queen Rosalie."

"Wait, what!?" Yennefer frowned at his words as she looked at Nerissa.

Nerissa ignored her. Looking at Azariah, she asked, "What did she say?"

"She said it wasn't possible," Azariah muttered, shaking his head. "But... the king was very angry."

"Why?" Nerissa asked as she made sure he looked presentable.

"Because Rosalie was blushing?" he replied, unsure if that was the reason.

"...He said I won't be able to step here again once I leave Alfheim."

Yennefer sighed, rubbing her temples, while Nerissa nodded seriously.

"Good," Nerissa declared with a satisfied smile. "Now I won't have to see his face here again."

Azariah's mood soured further at her words.

Before he could protest, Nerissa pulled him onto her lap, her hands steadying his trembling frame.

"Show me what else you learned," she said calmly, her tone brooking no argument.

Azariah nodded gently before raising both his arms.

A cluster of green energy emerged in his hand, moving from one place to another.

They danced at his will, taking different simple shapes.

"That's good enough. You can learn the next step," Nerissa said, making him gaze up. "How to use Ruah to heal others."

Yennefer leaned in, pinching Azariah's cheek playfully. "Hard to believe a child can control Ruah better than most adults."

"Of course he can," Nerissa scoffed, swatting Yennefer's hand away. "I taught him."

"On a whim," Yennefer rebuked.

"And yet I succeeded," Nerissa retorted, turning her attention back to Azariah.

"And boy, why weren't you born as an elf with a longer life?"

"...I am sorry," Azariah apologized, lowering his head.

"That reminds me." Her eyes flicked to Yennefer.

"Is his mother still pretending he doesn't exist, or are you planning to adopt him?"

"Esmeray will be back soon enough," Yennefer replied with a smile, looking at Azariah, who looked back at her curiously.

"She will take good care of him."

"I see," Nerissa replied dryly, pinching Azariah's cheeks until he whimpered.

"Good. I'm glad I won't have to deal with your foolish face again."

"…I ahm sossry."

Azariah replied, his voice whistling as she kept on stretching his cheeks.

"Uaa Uaa."

Before Nerissa could say more, the soft cry of an infant broke through the conversation.

"Come here," Yennefer said, lifting Azariah into her arms once more.

Nerissa rose gracefully, crossing to a stroller nearby.

"What happened to my baby?" She bent down, cooing softly as she picked up a wailing baby boy.

The boy cried louder while Nerissa tried to calm him down.

"There, there," she murmured, cradling the child against her chest.

"He's a little crybaby, unlike Az," Yennefer teased, planting a kiss on Azariah's cheek.

Azariah squirmed, rubbing his cheek while glaring at her in disgust. "Don't do that."

Yennefer grinned before kissing him repeatedly just to annoy him.

Azariah whined, making her stop.

"Where is your daughter?" Yennefer asked as she glanced back at her.

"She should be playing alone like always," Nerissa replied as she looked around.

"Anyway, what name have you chosen for him?" Yennefer asked, glancing at the now-quiet infant.

"…I want to name him Himmel," Nerissa replied with an uncertain expression. "But Ragnar was against it."

Yennefer nodded thoughtfully. "True. Himmel suits Azariah more."

"Mariam said the same," Nerissa replied with a faint smile. "So I've decided to go with Ragnar's choice."

"Oh?" Yennefer raised a brow. "And what did he choose?"

Nerissa's gaze softened as she looked at the child in her arms.

"Liam."

Dead.