Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess-Chapter 191 - 190- The only wish

Rudolph was working out at his home. It has been over a week since he returned, and until now, other than the battles with his father and the food his mother cooks, nothing was interesting happening around him.

He sent a letter to Rhea a few days ago but hasn't received any response.

He would have visited her hometown to surprise her but there was not much time left. In about a week, the classes would resume, so they would meet there anyway.

"Dinner's ready!"

At the sound of his mother's voice, Rudolph released his grip from the steel bar fixed to the wall, letting himself drop cleanly onto his palms before rising to his feet. He set the metal plates on the ground, washed his hands and face, and made his way to the living room.

Just as he entered, he saw his father stepping inside from the main door, looking unusually tense.

"Father?" Rudolph called out, his voice sharp with concern.

His question reached his mother as well. She approached quickly, wiping her hands, her expression already tight with worry. "What did you hear at the royal palace?"

They both knew he had been summoned urgently by the King. The matter couldn't be trivial.

The older man gave a heavy sigh. "Duke Corwon has been kidnapped… by demons. His Majesty has tasked me with going to the Dukedom to oversee its security while he's gone."

His wife gasped in shock, and Rudolph's brows furrowed deeply.

"Sir Adam? That's hard to believe. He's not someone a handful of demons could take down." Rudolph had heard the stories—how the Duke had stood firm against waves of enemies, how he'd emerged victorious from wars where others would've fallen.

His father's next words were grim. "It wasn't a handful. An army of demons marched in. Over a thousand citizens died. And the Demon General himself took the Duke away."

Rudolph's voice was low but certain. "They're doing this to lure Valerie."

It made sense. Kidnapping her father would be the most effective way to force her hand. And if Valerie crossed the border to rescue him... there might be no coming back.

"I'm leaving for the Dukedom now," his father said firmly.

But his wife reached out, distressed. "At least leave tomorrow—it's already dark outside."

"No, Mary," he replied softly but with finality. "The Dukedom is exposed without its ruler. I need to go now."

There was no room for protest. He had made up his mind.

"I'll come too," Rudolph declared suddenly.

Both parents looked at him.

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"My friends are there... and I have a bad feeling about all of this. I need to be there in case anything goes wrong."

Something heavy sat in Rudolph's chest—a silent warning, a shadow creeping over the horizon.

And he couldn't ignore it.

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"What did you wish for, dear?" Adam asked gently, watching as Anastasia opened her eyes almost immediately after closing them in prayer before the sculpture of God.

She turned to him with a soft smile and said, "I wished to leave this world before you."

Adam blinked, visibly startled. "Why would you wish for something like that?"

Anastasia stepped closer, her eyes lifting to meet his. There was warmth in her gaze, but also a quiet ache. "Because I can't imagine a day without seeing you. I don't want to live in a world where you're not there… That's why I wished to go first."

That moment... that simple, heartfelt exchange... had happened seven years ago.

And it hadn't been the first or the last time she had made that wish.

Now, Anastasia stood alone at the mansion's entrance, the wind cold against her skin as she stared down the dark, empty road.

She was waiting—hoping Adam would somehow escape his captors and come back to her.

She wanted to be the first to see him. The first to hold him. She didn't care what it took—even if it meant becoming the captive in his place.

She just wanted him to come back safely.

Yet, deep in her heart, she knew...

It was nothing more than a fragile, desperate dream.

"Mother," A hand rested on her shoulder and Anastasia's eyes began to turn moist.

She turned toward her daughter and hugged her, "Valerie!"

Valerie embraced her mother and softly rubbed her back.

She was wailing, and shoulders trembling. Her cries echoed through the mansion. Her tears exposed the grief and anxiety she was feeling at the moment.

Austin stood at a side, watching the duo with a look of concern in his eyes.

He was aware of how much Adam mattered to these two ladies.

"Valerie...your father...I told him to not go...but he didn't listen *hicc*...Valerie..." She was barely breathing because of her sobs and the words that followed.

Valerie glanced at Austin and after nodding the blond one went inside the mansion and brought a glass of water

"Mom, first calm down and drink this. Dad won't come back if you cry like this, so first, stop crying."

Hearing those words, Anastasia turned silent and nodded obediently.

She took the glass and sipped water.

Once she calmed down a little, Valerie brought her inside the house and urged her to sit down.

Anastasia sat down before Valerie crouched before her.

Holding her hand, she said, "First tell me how you received the message?"

The lady slowly relayed, "It was written on a demon's body...I wrote whatever was written in the letter."

Valerie nodded, "I understand. What about follow-up? Did you receive any report for any ambush?"

Anastasia shook her head, "No...other than the citizens from the town where your father was abducted, no one else has been attacked."

"But why did the father go there in the first place?" Valerie asked soon after.

"Several missing reports were arriving...so he went to check himself...even though I told him not to go..." Tears welled up in her eyes again.

Valerie glanced at Austin before the blond wordlessly told her to first calm down her mother.

Valerie nodded before she told her mother, "Mom, rest for a few hours. The Knight Commander will arrive tomorrow, and when he arrives, we will discuss what we should do."

Anastasia knew that she wouldn't be able to rest with her current mental state but she didn't stay there for long and got up. She also wanted to stay alone for now...

Seeing her walking toward her room slowly, with her shoulders dropped Austin told Valerie, "Don't leave her alone for long. Be with her."

Valerie anxiously asked back, "What are we going to do?"

Austin heaved a sigh, but before he could tell her what he had thought of, which Valerie surely wouldn't like, a familiar voice interrupted them,

"I think I can help you two."

They turned towards the person instantly, and their eyes widened upon seeing the lady here.

It was the advisor of the Council and the only person who could actually help them in this situation.

Selner.

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