Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 73: Side story:- Christina [2]

She leaned against the shoulder of a purple-haired boy sitting beside her, her small hands carefully sketching a scene.

"Is this all right, Shya?" the boy asked softly, fidgeting with the toy ring he wore on his right hand.

His left hand fingers gently stroked the white-haired girl who slept soundly with her head resting on his lap.

"Yeah." The girl replied nodding her head while smiling at him.

"B-but didn\'t he give it to yo—."

"And I am giving it to you." The girl replied shaking her head before focusing on her drawing.

The boy quietly looked at her before he continued to stroke the white haired girl.

"....Will you ask for it back?" he questioned after a moment of hesitation.

Shyamal paused her drawing, glancing back at him. "Why would I do that?"

"...No, you will not," the boy whispered softly, shaking his head.

"Az," she muttered, looking into his eyes, "you will not leave me, right?"

"...Why would I do that?" he smiled, returning the question making her smile as well.

"....You will not," she replied before shifting her position to show him the sketch she had made. "See, it\'s me and you."

Azariah looked at the rough sketch she made of herself wearing a black gown with her hand holding his hand, who wore a black suit, both smiling happily.

"....It\'s beautiful," he praised earnestly with a bright smile, making Shyamal smile smugly with her chin held high.

"Hey! Arianell!" She exclaimed, shaking the sleeping girl on his lap. "Az praised me!"

"Argh... let me sleep," Arianell grumbled as she forcefully shut her eyes.

"Get up! You\'re sleeping too much," Shyamal complained, shaking her shoulder.

"Let her sleep," Azariah mumbled, looking at her, earning a pout from the silver-haired girl.

"B-but it\'s my turn," she replied meekly.

".....Then lean on me," Azariah offered, extending his shoulder.

"But!—."

"Can you guys shut up," another voice interrupted, making them turn to see Aaliyah glaring at them, pointing at Oliver, who was sleeping peacefully beside her. "Can\'t you see he is sleeping?"

"....Sorry," Azariah apologized before glancing at Shyamal.

"...Fine," she grumbled softly, shifting her body to lean against Azariah until she felt comfortable.

He let her do what she was doing as he looked around before mumbling, "Where did Christina go?"

.....

.....

.....

"What\'s with this place?"

A young sapphire blue-haired girl mumbled to herself as she wandered deeper into the garden, her curious yet confused blue eyes scanning the different flowers adorning the surroundings.

"Az will like it," she murmured with a smile touching her necklace as she bent down and picked up a beautiful white flower.

"....What are you doing, child?"

"Kyaa!!"

Frightened, Christina immediately turned back at the sound, only to find a woman standing right behind her.

She wore a flowing robe of white, her skin seemed to glow softly, while her emerald green hair cascaded down her back, reaching her knees.

Christina felt a sense of peace wash over her in her presence.

".....What are you doing here, child?" the woman questioned again, her voice filled with kindness.

"I... I\'m not sure," Christina stammered, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I was just exploring, and I... I guess I got lost."

"Hmmm?" The woman tilted her head in confusion. "How can you get lost in such a barren place?"

"I... I don\'t know."

"I see." With a thoughtful expression, she replied looking at her necklace before turning back. "Come with me."

"B-but."

"I won\'t do anything to you, child, don\'t worry."

Christina hesitated for a while before she walked behind her, and as she followed, she heard the gentle trickle of water.

She followed the sound to a small clearing, where nestled among the flowers stood a pristine shrine adorned with intricate carvings and delicate offerings of fruits.

The woman walked inside the shrine, and Christina followed closely behind.

"....You look confused, child." With a smile, the woman questioned as she lit up a candle, brightening the place.

Christina looked around the beautiful yet simple shrine before refocusing on the woman. "....Who are you, and where am I?"

"I am Priestess Sana." With a smile, the woman replied before sitting on the floor. "And.... Welcome to the Shrine of Goddess Anastasia."

Christina took a moment to process before exclaiming, "Ahh, the Goddess who got Banishe—."

"....You are in her shrine, child." Sana interrupted with a smile, gesturing for her to sit down.

"...I am sorry." Christina apologized meekly before taking a seat in front of her.

"... Show me your hand." Sana said, looking at her.

"Why?" Christina questioned, furrowing her brows.

"So I can tell who your destined lover is." Smiling gently, Sana responded.

"...I already know that." Christina shook her head.

"...You seem confident." Still smiling slightly, Sana emphasized.

"I am."

"...Still, I can tell you things that you don\'t know." Sana insisted, piquing Christina\'s curiosity.

"Like what?" Christina asked, but Sana simply gestured for her to show her hand.

"Sigh..."

She sighed and extended her right hand towards Sana.

Sana took her hand, gently clasping it in hers, and closed her eyes, focusing solely on Christina\'s hand.

"....We have a problem, child." After a few seconds of silence, Sana murmured.

"...What?"

"...Your destined lover is entangled with more than one girl." She replied, causing Christina\'s expression to harden.

"...What do you mean?"

"...That you will have to share." Sana informed, making Christina glare at her.

"A destined lover should be only one, right?"

"People live more than one life, child." Sana replied with a gentle smile, "...Sometimes the love of a past life still moves on to the next life."

"...I won\'t allow that." Shaking her head, Christina grumbled, "I won\'t allow anyone else to have his heart."

Sana simply smiled at her words before closing her eyes again, focusing back on Christina\'s hand.

"...Hmm?" Her brows furrowed, and a painful expression etched onto Sana\'s face.

"What happened?" Christina asked, her concern growing as she watched blood drain from Sana\'s face.

"A v-vision." Stuttering, Sana replied before squeezing Christina\'s hand.

"Hey! A-are you alright?" Christina\'s concern deepened as she looked at Sana.

"A boy." Sana took a deep breath, her eyes still closed. "I s-see a boy."

Christina fell silent, listening intently as Sana continued to explain what she was seeing in her vision.

"I...see a boy kneeling on the ground....

..A broken crown adorned on his head....

.....I...I..see.. beautiful wings burning down...

A...A trail of blood trickled down his cheek from his closed eyes....

He... gently embraced three maidens in his arms...

....strings of red thread bonded the maidens with him....

... and a few more strings of red threads bound him with someone in the vision beyond....

The maidens...Look slumbering peacefully despite the death looming around them...

But...The boy was also bound with another black string....

....Like a puppet, his every limb was attached with strings that....

.....Were in control of the tall woman behind him....

....Her eyes closed—."

Thud!

With a resonating sound, the priestess\'s body fell helplessly to the ground before she could continue her words, her eyes rolling backward as blood trickled down her nose.

"Hey! Sana! What happened!?" Caught off guard, it took Christina some time before she gently shook her, shouting her name.

"Sana!"

"Haaah...cough..cough...haaah..."

Sana\'s eyes opened wide as consciousness returned to her, her breath coming out in ragged gasps. Coughing, she slowly started to get up.

"What happened!?" Christina asked anxiously, watching her wipe the blood from her nose.

"S-she saw me." Sana\'s entire body trembled as she closed her eyes, desperately trying to calm herself,

"S-She n-noticed me e-even in m-my vision."

"Who are you talking about?" Confused, Christina asked, making Sana focus on her.

"Child." Sana whispered softly as she grabbed Christina\'s shoulders, "....Who did you fall in love with?"

"....Why are you asking that?" Christina replied, feeling the grip on her shoulders tighten.

"... It doesn\'t matter, but from now on, please stay away from him." Shaking her head, Sana earnestly requested.

"...Stay away?" Glaring at her, Christina questioned, "Why should I stay away—."

"Are you mad, child!?" Gripping her shoulders tightly, Sana shouted, "I just said death looms around that boy!!"

"....why should I believe you?" Christina tried to free herself, but that only made Sana\'s grip tighten, "...leave me!!"

"....You are special, child." Sana whispered softly, her eyes tinged with redness, "You are only going to risk your life by being around him."

Christina fell silent, hearing her words, before she closed her eyes and gently opened them. "...I won\'t leave him."

"....Is he worth risking your life for?" Sana asked, glaring at her.

"I..I.. don\'t know." Christina mumbled in reply, "I won\'t know until I try."

"Hahaha." Sana let out a weak chuckle as she loosened her grip on Christina\'s shoulder, "...What did that boy do to you?"

"Nothing."

"... I see," Sana replied weakly. "...My goddess had to cry for her love... I hope the same doesn\'t happen to you."

Christina remained silent, not replying to her words as she gently stood up from the ground.

"....Did you get your answer?"

"...What do you mean?" Christina question while Sana\'s gaze fell on her necklace.

"...How did you get here?" Sana questioned looking deeply into her eyes.

"...I got los—."

"Stop lying to me, child," Sana interrupted her words.

"...I know you didn\'t get lost, in fact, you shouldn\'t be here."

Christina remained silent, making Sana continue her words.

"I will ask again, child...

....Why are you here?"