The Devil is the Villainess

Chapter XX: Falaguerra's Origin

"The person who founded our family was also the first Emperor of this Empire," Vincentius disclosed solemnly. Medea arched a brow with intrigue, her interest piqued as she listened intently. 

"He was regarded as one of those closest to the divine, blessed with its favor. The divine elevated him as the first sun of our Empire, entrusting him with its future, hoping he would lead it to greatness. But unforeseen events changed everything," he paused, his gaze fixated on the painting depicting a man adorned in royal garb. Medea followed his gaze, deducing that this figure must be the individual her brother spoke of.

After a brief silence, Vincentius continued, his voice tinged with gravity. "He committed a grave sin that angered the divine. So when great chaos ensued, the divine punished the Emperor by making him face the consequences alone."

Medea's curiosity deepened, and she couldn't help but ask, "A sin so great that even the divine could not forgive? Did he bite a forbidden fruit or something?"

Vincentius shook his head, uncertainty flickering across his features. "It was never explicitly stated to me. All I know is that everything from that era, including this tale, is chronicled in the Book of Revelation," he revealed. Unconsciously, Medea mused to herself, That book again? Now I understand its significance.

Vincentius returned his gaze to the painting, his expression contemplative as he continued, "Since then, even after the Emperor's passing, the divine continued to view his descendants with suspicion, believing they too bore the stain of their ancestor's original sin."

"The divine chose to anoint another Emperor in response," Vincentius continued, his voice carrying a weight of solemnity and regret. 

"That marked the beginning of change within our Empire. The most troubling aspect, however, is that our subsequent ancestors, who took leadership of our family, instead of redeeming the cursed legacy left by our founder, worsened it. They committed atrocities, using the blood of countless innocents to enrich our family, unwittingly staining it with unforgivable sins that would burden their descendants. It sickened me to learn this truth from our father, who also engaged in unsavory dealings for money and power. It made me contemplate how I could atone for these sins once I became the Duke," he confessed, his gaze intense as he turned to face Medea.

"I aim to cleanse our family's name and transform our legacy," Vincentius declared resolutely. "I want to prove to the divine that their judgment was not entirely misplaced."

Medea found her brother's determination intriguing yet lacking in foresight. She understood now, more than ever, the dark history that plagued their family. 

He can atone for it, Medea thought. But the flaw of their lineage seemed intrinsic, a stain that couldn't simply be washed away. What the Emperor had initiated, she realized, couldn't be purged; instead, it seemed destined to recur.

Perhaps the original disobedience to the divine had branded their ancestor a sinner, passing down that same original sin to his descendants. It could explain why subsequent heads of the family had perpetuated similar sins.

She contemplated the weight of this family's past and the challenges that lay ahead. The notion of cleansing their legacy felt daunting as if fighting against an inevitable tide of fate.

Medea stood with crossed arms, her expression nonchalant as thoughts swirled in her mind. I couldn't care less. This isn't my real family anyway, she thought dismissively. Despite her apparent detachment from the situation, however...

"If you intend to change our family, then do it yourself. Don't burden me with the responsibility as if I'm destined to become the next head," she reluctantly voiced her opinion. Though the idea of offering comfort to a human repulsed her, she felt compelled to spur him on with her words. Perhaps her devilish nature recoiled at the notion of becoming a catalyst for others' salvation and redemption, especially if it meant assuming a role she detested.