A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

Chapter 14: 16- First Curse

'Hm, first one should be Empyreal', Sitting on a chair, Avendial had his hands folded and eyelids closed to hide the deep bluish hue of his pupils. As he slowly opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on a white cloaked figure nearby, his intense stare was complemented by the fluttering of his silver hair in the breeze.

His feet continued to tap while his gaze remained fixed on the cloaked figure. The reflection of the golden needle, halting just an inch away from that figure, caused Avendial's pupils to contract in anticipation.

His contracted nerves spurred him to glance at a man standing in a Butler dress at a small distance from him, maintaining an elegant posture to ensure that his actions went unnoticed by others.

'....Really?', His eyebrow raised as his eyes caught sight of the broken watch in the butler's hand, a smile forming on Avendial's face. He knew the significance of that watch to Alfred, a cherished heirloom passed down through generations of his family who had faithfully served the Croceaus family.

Returning his gaze once more to the cloaked figure who had vanished after reading a certain letter, Avendial felt reassured that Alfred had successfully carried out his task of diverting the attention of the Empyreal.

However, he also couldn't help but feel sorry for his loyal butler, who may have suspected that the Empyreal had a defense ability type, as the needle was halted just a few inches away from him.

Not that anyone in Alfred's place would have thought any difference seeing how clearly the presence of blue aura gave away evidence of a shield around figure's body.

'Katheria Arinphiam', Avendial once again reminded himself of the woman who was far more capable of being considered the weakest yet potential candidate of the throne, evident from the incident which occurred here just a moment ago.

Avendial sympathized with his Butler, who also managed the Croceaus family's financial system with skill and intelligence but was now deceived by a facade constructed by that woman. Avendial had to admit that he would have likely fallen for the same deception if he were in his Butler's shoes.

However, with his knowledge of the future, he was able to see things from a different perspective, giving him the ability to understand the thoughts of the seemingly insignificant, weak princess who would soon be one of the few remaining heirs to the throne in a year.

Naturally, anyone, no matter how perceptive they were, may have assumed that the Empyreal who intercepted the needle had a defensive ability after witnessing that reflexive move. However, for Avendial, it only reinforced the impression of that yellow-eyed woman.

It simply because both of the Empyreals under Princess Katheria Arinphiam were attack type.

Unknown to anyone except the Emperor, there was a third Empyreal who possessed the defense-type awakened ability.

After all, why did the Emperor prefer a weak princess with no background or support?

Was it because he had a paternal instinct?

'She must have reached the room', Putting aside thoughts of another Empyreal who was a very obvious figure, Avendial focused on the present moment, where there were clear chances that the princess would head towards the room after receiving news of Sebastian barging into her Palace.

Avendial would typically attempt to intervene at this point, but he was well aware of the circumstances and knew that the princess would inevitably realize that he was not poisoned whether he intervened or not.

Pyrocinum Uephorica—the poison—targeted dopamine, stimulating adrenaline inside the body before finally breaking down the nervous system. However, the aftereffect of adrenaline exhaustion weakens and tires the body.

Put simply, Avendial was confident that when he encountered the Princess the following morning, she would easily recognize that he had not been poisoned due to his continued ability to move.

This was not surprising considering that the effects of the poison should have drained his adrenaline.

So, regardless of whether he prevents her from finding out now or not, she will eventually see through him.

'She would try to confirm it', Avendial closed his eyes and focused on analyzing the situation from beginning to end. The first thought that crossed his mind was the potential for Katheria to validate her suspicions.

Avendial could only think of two ways through which the princess could confirm her suspicion: notice his facial expression by arranging tomorrow's meeting in the same room or directly ask him about the aphrodisiac.

About the intel on aphrodisiac, it was obvious that Count Patric Vrandin would divulge everything, including the name of the Royal behind all this, due to the inhumane torment he would endure.

There were obvious traits and puzzle pieces that, if paid close attention to, could be linked: The presence of aphrodisiac in this case, the room's state being disturbed by a sword user who appeared to have tried to remove some evidence, and the clear view of the garden area from the room being a potential source.

Avendial was sure that Princess Katheria would easily see through him — given he didn't know swordsmanship, everyone was aware of his bodyguard being a sword master, and especially a woman, while he was under the effect of an aphrodisiac, and no one else but him showing up in the garden alone while the room's state was clearly done by a sword expert — it was just a matter of time.

And amusingly, time was the only thing he wanted right now.

'...time', Avendial was reminded of the thing that was never with him, whether in the past or now, as he loosened his hand and glanced at his palm. It appeared normal, but to him, it held memories of the past. It reminded him of a day in his past life when he could only look at his bloodied hand while holding Rivia's dying body, drenched in blood, as she kept mumbling a few words.

Not feeling disheartened in the least or dwelling on that moment that will never come, Avendial only recalled those memories to remember his awakening of his first Curse.

From the day he awakened his first curse, which he himself wasn't aware of until the moment the tower appeared, everything only went downhill.

The very foundation that should have lifted him up was severed due to his first curse.

Avendial remembered how the tower was a gateway to various worlds filled with different kinds of energy, whether it was mana, ether, elemental energy, exorcism, internal energy, and so on.

The presence of several forms of energy was enough to set back anyone to the starting point because they would need to restart with each energy and learn it.

But the tower had a solution, which was a universal energy called Synergy.

This type of energy links all different kinds of energies together, providing a unique form of energy that becomes the foundational energy of the tower and all of its worlds.

And as if destiny were pushing him onto a path that revealed his identity—unfavored and hated by the tower and all the worlds, Avendial awakened his first curse—which was the Curse of Dissonance.

Curse of Dissonance: A curse rendered him incapable of harnessing Synergy, causing his entire body to act as a barrier/nullifier against the energy that was crucial for awakening in others.

Synergy continued to empower others, while Avendial's growth was stagnant and halted due to the First curse—this was just the beginning of the seven curses he would awaken on his journey.