Into the World of Twisted Wonderland Pt 2

👑 The Beautiful Tyrant: Chapter 73 👑

"...What?" Vil asks in confusion. "What do you mean, you're the one most deserving of my ire?"

"Well, you see..." Rook says as he hands Vil his phone. "Here."

Vil looks at his phone, eyes wide in shock at the sight on his phone. "...n-no..." He stumbles.

"Whoa! Vil, hold it together!" Kalim states in shock as everyone hurries over to his side.

"Steady, sir!" Deuce says as he stands by him. "Here, hold onto my shoulder."

"Are you nuts, Rook?!" Ace glares at him. "Why did you vote for Royal Sword Academy?!"

"I don't believe you!" Epel adds. "Why'd ya do somethin' so boneheaded?!"

"I told you: I simply couldn't lie to myself," he admits. "Neige's group believed in themselves and each other when they danced and sang. When I saw them up there, they struck me as powerful...and as the fairest of all in that exact moment."

"This is just..." Vil slowly says, still in shock. "I can't..."

"Vil," he calls out. "Nobody should believe in your beauty more than you yourself," he states. "It is most becoming, the way you maintain such rigid self-restraint when polishing yourself to triumph over your rival. But as long as you lack conviction...No amount of validation from the rest of the world will ever leave you fulfilled." Vil's eyes went wide at the statement, remembering what Angel said about him. "Even if you wind up old, emaciated, grimy, and stooped over...If you were to truly believe that you are the fairest of all despite that, even the Magic Mirror of legend wouldn't contest your claim," he smiles. "The strength and pride to believe in yourself is what marks the true fairest one of all. Roi du Poison. Fair Vil. I implore you to believe in yourself more than anyone else. Beauty is always with you. At this exact moment, you are the fairest one of all." Vil quietly listens to the words, tears starting to prick his eyes. He quietly sniffles, making Rook smile at him fondly at the sight, knowing that his words actually struck a chord with him.

"Viiii!" A voice calls out, getting his attention as he spots Neige heading towards him.

"N-Neige?" Vil sniffles.

Neige looks at him in shock and gasps. "Vi, I've never seen you cry outside of an acting role before, he quietly says.

Vil rubs his eyes. "Well, you caught me at a bad time," he states with a small smile. "Heh...I'm always second to you."

"Maybe that's what the numbers said," Neige states. "But you guys gave an amazing performance that nobody else could have pulled off," he says in awe. "Sure, I took first at the competition...But your group is number one in the hearts of everybody who voted for you."

"Neige..."

"So c'mon, Vi. Don't cry!" Neige smiles at him.

"Heh," Rook chuckles. "The Roi des Neiges is right. Your smile is far more becoming than your tears, Vil. Here. Take my hankerchief," he hands him the square cloth.

Vil hesitantly takes it, dabbing his eyes. "...Thanks."

Neige looks at Rook for a moment, realization in his eyes. "Ah, you're the one who flagged me down before opening time," he says with a smile, getting his attention. "Your name is Rook, right?"

"Oui. My apologies for rushing you," he says apologetically.

"You're 'R', aren't you? The one who comes to every single one of my meet-and-greets and writes me letters?"

"WHAT?!" Everyone exclaims in shock.

"Meet-and-greets?!" Vil adds

"Letters?!" Epel adds.