The Villainess is coming home

Chapter 22

A/n: I'm finally at college... so yeah kinda slow update. Also because I'm running out of ideas how to transition this shit smoothly so this is a rough draft. But yeah.... Enjoy I guess.

"Make room! He needs some space!" The world was flickering back to life as Leo slowly opened his eyes. He turned from side to side, confused as to what was happening. What the? Why am I lying down? Why is everyone looking at me funny?

"Sir Leo can you hear me??" A voice suddenly boomed as Leo frowned in discomfort. I'm fine. Stop shouting. What is happening? "It's alright sir Leo. You've done amazingly well, sir Kyrie as well. It was a spectacular duel." Duel? What duel?... wait...!!!

Leo suddenly snapped his eyes wide open as he hurriedly stands upright. My blade where is my blade?! Leo hurriedly looked from side to side, looking for his weapon as the tension rises. There! Leo stomped at the end of his blade as he snatched it in midair.

Where is she?! I've only lost her for a- "Sir Leo calm yourself! The duel is already over!" Leo blinked as the hand of his attendant snapped him back to reality. "J-James?" Leo asked vaguely as the familiar brown eyes met his.

"W-what are you doing here? The duel is-" "The duel is over sir Leo! It's over!" James responds as Leo stared back confusedly. "That can't be right. I've yet to-" "Lady André took the chance when you were blinded, it was over in a second. You've lost sire." James responds as he could not meet his master's gaze.

"Lost? What do you mean lost?? That can't be right. We were winning!" Leo protested as he wildly scanned his surroundings, looking for proof he was right. Except there was none. Wherever his gaze landed, the others avoided it as if they could not say it to him.

"N-no way... did it really happened?" Leo whispered as if he was begging he was wrong. "...You were winning sire... she was just... she was just far better. She had won sire. I'm sorry." Alas, James had to shatter his hopeful denial as Leo freezes.

"I... I see..." Leo slowly sagged back from his stance as if exhaustion had finally come to collect its toll. "We've really lost... didn't we?" Leo turned his gaze to the side as if he could not meet the eyes of others when he saw it.

The unconscious and bloodied body of Kyrie. Whatever semblance of denial he retained; it went up in smoke when he saw the state of his brother. "Kyrie!" Leo shouted as he hurriedly rushes to his brother's side. His body protested in pain but Leo ignored their plea as he move.

"How is he?! Is he-" "Calm down sir Leo. While he is severely injured, nothing significant seemed to happen. His body is already recovering by the time we've arrived." One of the healers said as Leo let out a sigh of relief.

The reprieve was short however when Leo remembered what happened. "...James." "Yes sire?" Leo struggled to say the words without losing dignity, but there were no words in the entire imperial lexicon that would describe what he wanted. He had to say it.

"...Just how did we lost?" The healers seemed to freeze for a moment before returning back to their duties. "We can discuss this later sire, for now we-" "Just give it to me straight." Leo cut off as he prepared his pride.

"...As you were about to land the killing blow, a speck of dust seemed to have blinded you for a moment. You hesitated likely due to exhaustion and... lady André did not miss the opportunity and landed a hard counter. It knocked you off cold."

Leo trembled as his nails dug deep in his hands. "You mean to tell me I- no, we have lost to a dust?" Leo whispered harshly as if he could never accept such a reason. Losing to a girl was one thing but losing to a dust was entirely another.