The Redo of a Novel's Villain: Moira - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

"Tell me what you know." Melissa demanded, arms crossed over her chest as she peered down on Huey. He sat on the edge of the bed, shoulders slumped, mask off, and bloody. The wane fatigue grafted into his body was laid out all over his face.
He felt bad in a physical sense. It was a sensation of the body being unaccustomed to action after being fed anesthetic or the immune system being expended. It was the exact feeling his body was plagued with after getting a medical shot: tired, weak, sleepy, but sober enough to manage day to day tasks (except this time instead of medicinal substances it was from poison).
He sighed, a long drawn out breath that stretched the tense atmosphere further. His sanguine eyes flickered up at Melissa's face. Despite the dimitity of the room, she found the shade impossibly bright.
"Lady Melissa, your father ordered for the Astaseul Duchy—and by extension, others, to leave this case alone." Huey uttered flatly. He knew his words hardly had any sway; it wasn't uncommon knowledge that the prime minister was a doting (too doting) father.
As expected the young lady dismissed her father's orders. "The case is different since you are a direct victim. And drop the formalities, you were fine calling me just Melissa a minute ago."
He shrugged. "The intent is neutral then." Huey's gaze softened before disappearing behind pale lids, they opened to reveal calculation. "I don't know much if that's what you think, but I do have theories." He languidly laid out a palm.
Melissa narrowed her eyes at it then reconnected eye contact. "...Entertain me."
He leaned back with his head tilted to the side. "To start, the poison used was basilrith, a poison that comes from a plant that exclusively grows in monsoon-prone areas. Because of limited supply and cumbersome manufacturing processes it's difficult to obtain a single packet of it. Basically, it's expensive." He sucked the side of his cheek. "So any financially troubled or even moderate person wouldn't bother using this method of assassination especially not entrust it in the hands of a clumsy youthful servant. Which leads me to think, whoever is targeting you is someone with wealth."
"Furthermore, it'd be best to extract as much information as you can from that servant now. Although I highly doubt you'd be able to get anything of value considering the poor boy's been drugged and likely wouldn't make it. Whether he had succeeded or not, he was meant to die. So unless the perpetrator's stupid or cocky I doubt they'd tell a scapegoat anything of substance." That is if the 'master' was even the mastermind behind it all. As grand and powerful as the Roseri family is its enemies also stretches far and wide, even its own roots may rot and act as a parasite.
Melissa scowled, deep in thought. Nevertheless, despite the questions swimming in her mind she remained quiet and gestured for the other to continue.
Huey hummed, "I'm sure you heard the servant crying out for his master, meaning someone responsible belonged to one of the guests. And amongst the guests the only ones that can benefit from having you removed would be rivaling nobles or..." He prompted with a subtle grin.
The girl clenched her fists, brows stitched together grimly. "Relatives..."
Huey laughed, "Ding ding~ you got it!" He cheered ironically, clapping much to Melissa's irritance.
She bristled, cutting the clapping off. "There's more isn't there. I can tell you still have something to say, so spit it out."
Red eyes blinked owlishly. "Ever the perspective." Huey smiled, piecing his palms together as he muttered, voice low, "I don't think it's as simple as a succession feud."
Melissa sucked her teeth at those words. A foreboding feeling making the mask on her delicate features feel clammy and the accessories used to pin her hair too tight. She seethed, "What do you mean?"
He scratched his head, voice raising by a notch. "I mean there's a bigger plot brewing in your Roseri Family. Because don't get me wrong, although it's possible the servant just messed the dosage up wrong but that amount of basilrith wouldn't be enough to kill an adolescence. The most it could've been used for was as a distraction, so while you recovered and your family scrambles around like headless chickens the culprit would've taken that moment to act." Unfortunately, he couldn't be sure. Whether it was a clumsy assassination attempt, a distraction, or if the culprit really acted or not was either never mentioned in the book or it was trivial enough to forget.
With that in mind Huey added, "But of course that's just a possibility. Please don't take my words as fact."
Melissa massaged her chin. "I see.. I will relay your theories to my father. It seems we might have to conduct a thorough weeding of vermin." She sneered, expression darkening and instantly Huey felt goosebumps rise up his arm.
'All's well that ends well.' He concluded, it seems the matter was safely settled originally as well. All Huey hoped was that this doesn't affect the state of order and politics too much.
Just as he was about to ask Melissa to leave so he can rest, she spoke again.
"By the way, it might be presumptuous of me to ask but,, are you okay? You seem a bit... out of it."
??
"Eh?"
"Earlier you said some kind of stimulant meeting with the poison can induce mania... you consumed it alongside the beverage that has sugar. Do you need me to call a physician?"
Huey paused, recalling his words. "Hm? Oh, it's fine. It's true the stimulant does make someone more impulsive and have less self restraint but the mania part was exaggerated. The most it'll do is make me more emotional. I'll be fine after the effects wear off." He waved it off, no wonder he felt so refreshed.
Melissa still seemed a bit skeptical but dismissed it. She sighed, "If you insist." Pushing down her dress she nodded her head. "I'll be taking my leave now. If you require anything just ring that bell and a servant will come." She pointed to a silver one sitting on the edge of the shelf.
"Alright, bye Melissa."
"Bye Huey." She said, testing the name on her tongue without any honorifics before shutting the door.
Click
Following that sound Huey immediately fell back onto the bed, arms spread out to the side like a starfish. He exhaled loudly, stomach lowering as the breath pushed out of him.
"..."
After staring at the cieling and scanning every nook and cranny, design, and the entirety of it for a good couple minutes, Huey groaned.
"...I'm bored."
What can he do? Sleep?
"..."
For a second Huey debated that option but eventually decided against it. The effects of the poison only lingered in modicum amounts and mental fatigue had yet to affect him. Sleeping now would only make him restless, not to mention the clothes he was wearing would make it uncomfortable.
He rolled his head to the left, barely being able to catch sight of his mask neatly sitting on the bed-side cabinet.
'Lein must have put it there.' His brain supplied and after a moment he heaved himself upright (groaning as though it was an arduous task). He grabbed the mask and brought it close to his face. Huey began to inspect it for no reason other than a means to kill time.
It was white, with the right rims of the mask resembling the edges of peony petals. They encircled the hole for his eyes like a fake monocle, the illusion complete by the thin gold chain extending from the side. He gingerly held the material in (still bloodstained) gloves. He played with the material tenderly as though with the slightest force it'd come undone: pulled out just to be discarded.
After twining the chain between his fingers a second longer Huey set the mask back down and stood up, stretching.
Walking towards the window he swept open the curtains in one motion, revealing the glass paned door behind. He let the curtain drape back behind him, encasing him behind their thick blinds as he held the copper handle freezing from the winter night. Twisting it, he swung the glass door open which led to a small balcony.
He stepped through and as though breaching a barrier the indoor warmth was instantaneously swept away and replaced by a biting cold. But he welcomed it. It was a relishing kind of bite, a relaxing numb. Huey breathed in the frigid air freezing his lungs with the inhale. The cold was therapeutic, ironic considering he preferred heat.
He stared at the glimmer of frost and ice blinking back at him amidst the night. On most days he didn't like winter. Winter brought back too many memories, most of which he'd rather spend reminiscing in the future while drunk in his forties. At least in that way he (thinks he'd) be more prepared for the onslaught of emotions that'd plague him. But silence was a virus as much as it was a cure. His mind spun without his consent, fishing out one thing after another in the pool of his memories.
Come to think of it, it was his birthday soon wasn't it? The Eleventh of Hiemu(12). This knowledge wasn't included in the books for obvious reasons—heck Elijah's birthday was a full month ahead: Autur(11) eleventh. This date should not have much significance if any at all to him. Just a not-so-fun fact he was force-fed alongside all the other bullshit that came with recovering his memories.
It should've been something on the very back of his mind that'd randomly resurface and bug him before disappearing for who knows how long. He shouldn't have celebrated his birthday as Elijah's while also thinking of the other date. He should not have secretly whispered a happy birthday to him on that date. It should've been insignificant. It should've been nothing compared to the rest of the baggage. He hardly should've remembered it at all.
And yet, after recovering his memories this insignificant date stuck with him. Then with it came sepulchral evocation. Clearly, so clearly. So clear he wished to cry.
But perhaps it was exactly because of the memories associated with the date that it rings clear in his mind even now.
"Huey, it's time to wake up." A soothing voice awoke him from his slumber. Getting up with his eyes still closed, Huey vaguely registered the woman's hands patting his head.
"Are we here?" He yawned, small hands belonging to a young child covering his mouth.
Delilah Chrysanthine—his mother—chuckled. She sing-songed, "Yes my dear, we're here."
That immediately grasped his attention. Any remaining sleep in his system vanished as he jumped up to peer outside the carriage window. There he could see the back of his father conversing with one of the head butlers. Quickly unlocking the door Huey leaped out as he ran forwards excitedly, snow crunching beneath his feet. His father—Harold Astaseul—turned around with a smile as he bent down to catch his son in his arms. Scooping Huey up into his arms he dismissed the butler.
"Father! We're here!" He cheered, nose and ears red as little puffs of air came out of his mouth. The scarf he wore providing warmth.
His father laughed, "Haha yes Huey, we're here." He turned his body, allowing Huey to see the view before them in full. A forest of winter: the weeping willow-like trees had icy dewdrops for leaves and a chime-like melody resounded out with each brush of wind. The snow was thick and soft, glazing the ground like a blanket and icicles hung from crystal branches. An aura of mastique filled the air surrounding the forest. Everwinter's Boon was inhumane, mystical, fae, and one of the natural wonders of Evendale. It was a space stuck in an eternal winter high up in a secluded area of a mountain range. Surrounded and protected by towering peaks. It was a wonder for many rare inhabitants.
Creatures found nowhere else such as the Zither Deer resided here. Many other species of animals and critters such as the crystal butterflies thrived and depended on this lone forest. Thus making Everwinter's Boon a national treasure that only a select few can access with the permission from the king.
Huey's parents took him there for his birthday then. Just the three of them.
But it was also the last birthday they had together.
Huey's mood dampened and he chose to not acknowledge the burning around his eyes. Because he knew if he did, it'd all come loose.
It was years after the 'incident' then. His eighth birthday, spent the same way as the ones before and all the ones after. The scratch of utensils against plate, the only sound being heard as he ate (a fancier meal than normal) alone, inspecting the letter sent by his uncle asking for what he wanted. He'd merely jot down books and be done with the whole ordeal, exhaustedly leaving the table with a half empty stomach and a lost appetite. Huey shut himself in his room, the only thing worth anticipating being the gifts Maxim would send.
He massaged his head. Stopping his line of thought before they could tresspass on territories he'd much rather not think about while at someone else's house. Such as that time by the small pond near his mother's favorite pavilion for tea. The winter was ever so harsher that year, the year after his parent's untimely deaths. The first birthday he had without them.
Huey sobbed, warm salty tears sliding down his cheeks puffy from the cold as he shook. Huddled in a ball by a small curved tree, he wept. Because no matter how much he wished, his parents won't come back. He clutched his arms, the snow fall bearing down on his small frame. He most likely would've frozen to death out there if not for
...
For what?
"...I can't remember." Huey frowned at the gap in his (albeit mostly unpleasant) memories. But then again it was when he was like what, five? Six? Makes sense. Huey soon dismissed it, although it bugged him it was probably nothing important.
"Ahh, I hate this." Huey buried his face in his palms which smelled metallic. He hated this situation, he hated this world, and he hated whatever force it was that sent him and Kayson here. Perhaps it's the author? What was the creator of Castelle of Lux's user again?
Huey racked his worn out brain until finally the answer appeared.
Jiu Niang Yuanzi.
✦
✧
✦
Or Yuanzi for short.
Was it possible that whoever Yuanzi was had the power to send people's souls across dimensions? And if so, why? Why him? Why pull Kayson into this mess too? Were they a god? A demon? Some sort of entity? Huey sniffled, opting to go inside first.
Now inside and sitting on a couch, Huey tapped his thigh in thought.
To start, it's plausible to assume that whatever this entity wants by sending him to and fro dimensions means they want him to change something. Be it his own actions, the plot, or whatever. Perhaps it's an experiment of sorts and that he's just a test rat for his creator's designs. Or mayhaps a variable will occur in the future that'll affect the mysterious ending. Could his duty be to change the 'ending?' But he doesn't even know what it is!
Groaning loudly, Huey decided to share his newfound realization to Kayson later. For now though, this kind of philosophical and mystical topic was too much for his brain. Especially when there's far too little evidence for a concrete theory. But if this is truly a matter of the gods, maybe it's time for a little visit to the church.
But that can be left for later. Huey's main focus now was on something much more pressing and urgent. Because immediately after the break ends, the Winter Showcase begins.
"It's the start of everything." He leaned back on the couch. In a couple days the first deck is set and the first pawn is moved. He breathed shakily, hands lacing together on his thighs.
"The game begins."