A World Where You All Are The Villains [Novel] Chapter 87

The bastard babbled on while leisurely sipping his wine.

His tone was as casual as if he were announcing a surprise party.

That was why I didn't immediately process his words.

"…!"

My eyes flew open a beat late.

I slowly turned to him with a shocked expression.

"H-how… did you know that?"

"Because I've experienced it."

He answered indifferently, then shot me a sidelong glance.

"And how did you know?"

Because I've experienced it too.

I swallowed the words hovering on the tip of my tongue and barely managed to deny it.

"…I didn't know."

"Really?"

He didn't look convinced at all, but Serge didn't press the matter further.

"Judging by the wavelength, it doesn't seem to be that large of a scale."

"You can even feel that?"

"Can you not even feel that?"

"…"

I mentally traced the character for patience three times.

"…Isn't it still dangerous though? This island is on the smaller side."

"Well, whoever's hosting it will figure something out."

Serge snorted as if it wasn't his problem.

Then he went right back to sipping his wine, so I sprang up from my seat.

"Then I'll be on my way."

When I bowed politely, he raised one eyebrow.

"Where to?"

"To run away."

"Is there anywhere to run on this tiny island?"

"There's the ship the orphans arrived on."

I told him the truth without thinking much of it.

Even if he was a psychopath with garbage personality, he wouldn't stop someone who was just running for their life, right?

But then I realized I might have acted too casual and felt a pang of regret.

"Thank you for giving me a heads-up. I won't forget this favor."

I gave a polite farewell and hurriedly tried to turn around when…

Suddenly, the bastard set his wine glass down on the table and leisurely began brushing himself off and standing up.

I stared at him blankly and asked with a puzzled look…

"Why… are you getting up?"

"I should go with you."

"Where?"

"To run away."

At his calm answer, my mind went blank for a second.

"Why… would Your Highness do that?"

"Why? Am I not allowed to run away? So I should just sit here sucking my thumb and die?"

"I don't mean that… You have to participate in the expedition!"

"What kind of expedition when a Gate is about to burst open right in our faces?"

At my shout, he let out a sharp, scoffing laugh.

Then he looked me up and down and babbled,

"You plan to survive all on your own? I didn't think of you like that… You're incredibly cruel and selfish. Truly befitting the empire's greatest villainess."

I was clenching my fists and trembling with anger when he just walked right past me.

I hastily blocked his path.

"N-no, you can't!"

"Why not?"

"B-because…!"

Because you have to buy us time while we escape!

I was flustered and pacing back and forth, unsure whether his bizarre behavior was a joke or serious, when…

The ground began to shake without warning once more.

As expected, the magnitude was far stronger.

Unlike earlier, when just a few water glasses broke, people who were standing lost their balance and eventually fell over.

Those who were sitting grabbed onto tables that were slowly sliding away and screamed.

I was no different.

"Ah, ah…!"

Staggering helplessly, I must have stepped wrong, because my left ankle gave out.
Just as I was about to fall…

"Careful."

With a low voice, a thick arm wrapped around my waist and back.

Before I could even realize what was happening, I was pulled into a rock-hard embrace.

"Ack!"

Having slammed my forehead squarely into a chest that felt like stone, I reflexively yelled out.

It hurt so much that tears pricked my eyes.

But amidst it all, the ground vibrating violently beneath my feet made it impossible to gather my senses.

"Don't squirm and just stay still, Lady Blake. Do you think you'll ever get an honor like this again?"

I raised my hand to check my forehead, wondering if it was bleeding, when a testy reprimand fell from above my head.

He caught me from falling and was even acting as a solid pillar of support, but I didn't feel thankful in the slightest.

If this was how it was going to be, it might have been better to just fall and plaster myself to the floor…

However, that thought didn't last long.

The earthquake continued for nearly five minutes.

As if he had fixed his feet to the ground with telekinesis, Serge stood firmly without swaying even slightly.

I practically hung onto his collar and endured.

If he hadn't supported my waist with his arm, I would have already been rolling around disgracefully on the floor like the others.

"Hah…"

By the time the shaking finally stopped, my soul had half left my body.

Of course, it wasn't just me, but everyone else was the same.

Some large pieces of furniture, like tables, had dangerously tipped over.

"Huff, huff… is it over now?"

"Aaah! P-please help! My leg is under the table…!"

"Your Highness! Shouldn't we leave the island immediately?!"

People clamored from all sides.

The banquet hall, which had been filled with gentle music, had instantly turned into a chaotic mess.

Just then.

"Everyone, please evacuate!"

A small figure suddenly sprang out from somewhere.

"These are the signs of a Gate opening! If we stay here, everyone will be sucked into the Gate!"

Llewellyn, who had returned at some point, stood in the middle of the hall and shouted.

"Isn't that the Purifier?"

"A-a Gate?! But the Gate Wave is active, how could this be…"

"Has a Gate ever even occurred on Equinis Island before?!"

The nobles murmured in shock at her shout.

It was such unbelievable news that everyone seemed flustered and confused.

But all I could feel looking at Llewellyn was absolute dread.

Contrary to her seemingly anxious and urgent voice, her face was completely devoid of expression.

Her large green eyes also lacked any vitality, looking as if glass eyes had been shoved into their sockets.

At first glance, it might have seemed like she was simply frozen from the emergency, but having already experienced her once, I realized it immediately.

That was an expression devoid of any regret or concern.

Just like when she was repeating the same lines to me earlier.

"What the… even a myna bird would speak with more sincerity than that."

Fortunately, I wasn't the only one who noticed.

As I slightly lifted my head at the breath tickling my forehead, I saw Male Lead No. 4 frowning in disbelief.

Seeing the man's handsome features right in front of my nose, my body flinched and stiffened without me realizing it.

Was it because this was the first time I had seen him up this close?

Or maybe my mind had gone completely blank because I couldn't believe this situation where I was being held in his arms…

I needed to push him away and run quickly.

Yet, oddly enough, my body wouldn't move.

"I will try my best to purify the demonic energy and minimize the damage! So please, everyone, evacuate without worry!"

At that moment, the female lead, who had been running all over the venue shouting for people to evacuate, suddenly dashed toward the observatory.

"Llewellyn!"

"It's dangerous!"

Some people frantically chased after her.

Male Leads No. 2 and 3. Vincent and Dylan.

It all happened so fast that my mind couldn't keep up.

The moment I saw them, I should have realized…

"Edith Blake."

…that there was one more follower of the female lead left behind.

"What… are you doing right now?"

A voice so cold it sent shivers down my spine pierced my ears.

I turned my head toward the sound, feeling as stiff as a rusty machine.

Sky-blue pupils dilated as if they were going to tear apart, a face fiercely distorted in anger.

Standing a short distance away, Ethan was glaring right this way.