Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 236  [Festival Of Love] [4] [Guess Your Love]

"Yo."

Walking closer to the chair, Azariah slapped Aimar's back as he took the seat beside him.

"Stop doing that," Aimar snarled, glaring at him, anger clearly visible in his eyes. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Did something happen?" Azariah asked, frowning as he noticed it immediately.

Aimar looked a lot more pissed than usual.

"It's nothing important," he replied, letting out a tired sigh.

Even though doubtful of his words, Azariah silently nodded his head as he looked forward.

They sat at the very back of the arranged chairs, but the stage was still clear to them.

The murmurs of students filled the entire place as Azariah tried to find familiar faces within the crowd.

But he could hardly find anyone.

Giving up on that, he turned to look at Aimar. "Are you sure you won't be participating?" he asked.

Aimar shook his head in response. "I don't want to, and please don't force me, Azariah."

His lips parted to rebuke, but he held it in as he remembered something.

...Oliver and Aaliyah.

"Sigh."

He let out a tired sigh as he gently leaned back in the chair, waiting for the festival to start.

And it didn't take long for the distinct amplified voice of the mic to echo.

"Hello, dear students." A beautiful lady walked calmly onto the stage, a smile etched on her face.

Her bright amber hair fell behind her back while her beautiful eyes looked at the students sitting below.

"...My name is Layna, a graduated student from our academy," the lady said, her voice echoing. "...And I will be the one hosting this year's 'guess your love' competition."

A round of applause echoed, students clearly excited for the upcoming ceremony.

"If someone doesn't know, let me refresh their memories," she said with a bright smile as she slowly walked on the stage.

"Since the year our academy was established, there's been a tradition of proposing to your loved ones at the festival."

Her words brought the interest of all the students, including those who already knew it.

"But some asshole thought, why not make it more interesting?" Her words echoed, making students chuckle. "...So we have the 'guess your love' ceremony, in which a boy is blindfolded and has to guess everything about the girl who is interested in him. If he guesses correctly, he can propose, and she has to accept."

A different lady brought a decorative tray in which a blindfold was placed. "Do note that the girls change their dresses before participating, so if you're thinking of an easy win, you're wrong."

Placing the blindfold in her hand, she showed it to everyone. "So who is going to be first?"

A boy from second year stood up, walking towards the stage.

A round of applause echoed as most students were happy he became the scapegoat for everyone.

"What's your name?" Layna asked with a smile as a mic was handed to him.

"Bell," the boy replied.

She nodded with a smile, passing the blindfold to him. "Please."

Bell wore the blindfold as he stood facing our direction, and even though he tried, he couldn't hide his smile.

"So, the girl who is interested in Bell, please come forward."

A few moments of silence lingered before a lady walked from the side of the stage, standing right beside him with a mic in her hand.

"First question: guess the name of the girl."

"Tina." Bell responded excitedly.

The expression of the girl who stood beside him immediately turned sour as she replied, "Wrong answer."

Bell's smile vanished.

"Oh, please take off the blindfold," Layna instructed, giving the boy a pitying look.

Bell removed the blindfold and turned to look at the girl, his eyes widening as he whispered, "...Lara?"

With tearful eyes, she glared at him as she walked closer and…

Slap!

She slapped him hard.

"Tina is my little sister, you monster." She choked out those words before running away.

A low murmur echoed among the students as Bell stepped down, his shoulders slumped.

"Do you think that Bell guy is a pedo?" Azariah asked, munching on popcorn and passing some to Aimar.

"There's a high chance of it," Aimar replied, accepting the popcorn.

"Heh, fucking stupid." Azariah gloated at Bell's misfortune. "Serves him right."

"Are you sure you should be happy about this?" Aimar commented, looking at him. "Who knows, you might be the next Bell—"

"Shut up, fucker," Azariah grumbled, glaring at him. "What kind of friend talks like this?"

Aimar shrugged as he looked forward.

A few more boys tried their luck, but none of them succeeded.

And at last, someone familiar walked onto the stage.

Layna looked at the boy with a smile while a mic was passed to him. "What's your name?"

"Ethan," he replied, taking the blindfold from her.

Wearing it, he stood facing the students.

And without waiting for Layna's words, a girl walked onto the stage.

"First question—"

"Ruby," Ethan cut in before Layna could complete her sentence.

"Correct," Ruby replied, standing behind him.

"Second question: What is she wearing and which color?" Layna asked.

"A dark blue one-piece," Ethan replied immediately.

"Correct."

"Third question: One of her accessories?"

"She's wearing a pendant," Ethan replied, and Layna looked back at the girl.

"Correct," Ruby replied with a bright smile.

Layna walked towards Ruby as she whispered something in her ear while passing her a notebook and pen.

Ruby nodded as she wrote something down.

"Last question: What does she love the most about you?" Layna asked, walking back towards him.

"My courage," Ethan replied with utmost confidence.

"Correct," Layna replied with a bright smile, showing the notebook where Ruby had written the same words.

A round of applause echoed, some students clearly happy for them while some didn't hide their jealousy.

"You think they planned this before?" Aimar asked, looking beside him.

"I don't think so," Azariah replied, munching on the popcorn.

"What do you think about them?" Aimar asked quietly, taking the popcorn from him. "About the new couple?"

"Frankly, I don't care," Azariah replied, shrugging his shoulders. "If Ethan can just stay out of my way and doesn't do anything stupid, they both have my blessings."

"And what if he did try to come in your way?" Aimar asked, making Azariah halt.

He turned to look at Aimar, his voice low. "...Then I will kill both of them."

Aimar nodded his head as he looked back at the stage.

"Now, go, Ethan boy," Layna said, patting his back as she stepped back.

The whole place went quiet as they looked at them curiously.

Taking a deep breath, Ethan walked towards her, who smiled, looking at him.

Standing in front of her, he reached out, grabbing her hand and placing it on his chest.

"...I know you've been with me all this time, even when I had nothing, and I know you'll be with me at my worst," he whispered, his voice honest as he looked at her.

Ruby nodded her head gently, her smile bashful as she couldn't hold back her tears.

"I know things will be difficult from now on," Ethan continued, touching her forehead with his, "...But even if things turn upside down, please stay with me."

"....I will," Ruby choked out those words, nodding her head gently.

Grabbing her face, Ethan gently raised it before kissing her softly on the lips.

They separated after a few moments as they both walked down, their hands intertwined.

Layna smiled as she picked up the mic again. "So, who is going to be next?"

Aimar grabbed Azariah's hand, who wasn't paying attention, raising it up.

"Sir Azariah, please," Layna quickly picked up on it as she invited him.

Azariah slowly turned to look at Aimar, who grinned widely.

"Go get them," he said with a bright smile, taking the pack of popcorn from Azariah's hand.

"I will fuck you up hard someday," Azariah grumbled as he stood up.

With a tired sigh, he walked towards the stage.