Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son
Chapter 423 - 423: Inder Sephtis [15]

[Earth.]

"Ahem, Ahem."

A fake cough echoed within the room as a man in his early twenties stood in front of a mirror.

His short black hair was combed neatly and his blue eyes stared into his reflection.

He wore a classic navy blue suit that fit perfectly on him.

Inder extended his hand as he tried to appear confident. "Hello, name my is—."

He bit his lips in frustration.

'Fuck.'

Inder drew in a deep breath as he looked at the time.

It was close to eight forty-five, only a few minutes left before he met with her father.

'Delilah should have given me more time.'

He thought, rubbing his temples in frustration.

Inder didn't understand how things got to this.

He remembered it like yesterday how she recruited him as her employee and now he was dating her.

"It all feels like a dream now."

The door of his room clicked open as a voice echoed. "What dream?"

Inder turned around, only to find Delilah walking inside with a slight smile.

She wore a long loose dress with her raven black hair flowing behind her.

Her eyes twinkled as she looked at him. "Tell me, tell me."

Inder scratched the back of his neck, trying not to look too nervous. "You startled me."

Delilah smirked and leaned against the doorframe. "You're talking to yourself. Practicing your speech for my dad?"

Inder gave a dry chuckle. "Yeah, well… I'd rather fight a bear than have dinner with your father."

She laughed. "My dad's not that scary."

Inder gave her a look.

"Okay, maybe he is," she admitted, walking over and straightening his tie. "But he'll like you. Probably."

"Probably?"

Delilah shrugged, still smiling. "He's not that bad once he gets past the whole 'I'll-kill-anyone-who-hurts-my-daughter' speech."

"That's comforting," Inder muttered, exhaling heavily.

She leaned up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Relax. Just be yourself."

"Being myself is what I'm worried about."

Delilah laughed again and took his hand, tugging him gently toward the door. "Well, too late to back out now."

"Why can't I back out?"

"You'd be surprised what would happen to you if you did." She winked, swinging the door open.

The cool evening air greeted them as they stepped out of the room.

They walked into the main hall where dinner was already placed.

Inder kept checking the time every ten seconds until she gently took his phone and put it on the table.

"You'll do fine," she said again, giving him a reassuring smile.

"I hope so." He paused, glancing sideways at her. "You're sure he's not going to ask how we met?"

She grinned. "Oh, I already told him."

"You what?"

"I said you used to get my coffee order wrong, and I thought that was cute."

Inder stared at her. "That's not even close to what happened!"

She shrugged with an innocent smile. "It's a better story than saying we met on a graveyard."

Inder sighed as he cooled down immediately.

Delilah noticed his sadness which made her rub his back genlty.

"Everything is fine." She whispered. "Don't worry."

Inder smiled, nodding at her.

The bell rang through their house making them both look at the door.

"I will take it." Delilah said as she walked.

Delilah turned the knob and opened it.

"Dad," she greeted with a slightly strained smile.

The man standing at the door was tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in a crisp grey suit that made him look like he had just stepped out of a board meeting.

He had the same features as his daughter with red eyes and black hair.

His face was calm but his sharp eyes swept the room quickly.

The kind of man who noticed everything without needing to say a word.

Inder straightened his back instinctively.

"Delilah," the man said in a deep voice as he stepped inside, "You look lovely."

"Thanks. And this," she turned slightly and motioned toward Inder, "is Inder."

The moment stretched just a little too long as her father turned his gaze to him.

Inder stepped forward, clearing his throat. "It's an honor to meet you, sir Svan."

He extended his hand, trying to keep it from shaking.

Delilah's father looked at him for a moment longer before accepting the handshake.

His grip was firm but not crushing.

"Likewise," he said. "You've got a good suit on. My daughter must have spent good money."

"....."

Inder immediately caught the sarcasm in his voice.

He wasn't even trying to hide his disdain.

"Let's sit."

Delilah quickly motioned toward the table, and the three of them made their way over.

The food was already served, simple, homemade and warm.

They sat down, and for a moment, the clinking of cutlery was the only sound in the room.

"Is Sam not coming?" Delilah asked, looking at the door. "Is he late—"

"Your brother refused to come." Svan said, his voice cold. "It doesn't seem like he wants to acknowledge your little lover."

"…I…I see." She said, chuckling nervously. "I will talk with him later on."

Inder said nothing as he kept on looking at her father.

'…What is this?'

He wondered to himself as he noticed a few strings attached to his body.

For some reason, Inder felt like the man was being controlled by someone.

"So." Svan began, looking at him. "What do you do?"

"I used to work under Delilah. I still do, kind of," he said with a small smile. "I…I help her out."

"Hmm." The man nodded slowly. "Are you working on the game?"

"…Uh, yes." Inder nodded in reply. "You have a great imagination for creating such a game."

"It's no imagination, boy." He replied, his voice amused. "I made what I saw."

Inder blinked in surprise. "Pardon?"

"It's nothing." Svan said, glancing at Delilah. "How are things going on your side?"

"Everything is going good." She replied softly. "We are done with the third game and will release it soon."

Svan looked at Inder. "Have you played the game?"

Inder nodded hesitantly. "I have—"

"What do you think about it?" he asked, tilting his head. "About Arthur."

"Pardon?" Inder blinked in confusion. "I don't think—"

"Answer what I asked." He cut in his words once again. "What do you think?"

Inder looked at him then at Delilah who couldn't meet his eyes.

"It's good." He finally said. "I quite like playing it."

"And what didn't you like?" Svan asked, his voice deep. "There should be something right?"

"Why are you asking that—"

"Answer me."

An awkward silence lingered between them as Inder couldn't understand him.

Why behave like this when you are invited for a dinner?

Still Inder replied softly.

"I don't like how gods were involved in it." He said. "And how Esmeray had things under her control."

Svan leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.

"That's interesting," he said. "Most people either hate her completely or worship her blindly."

Inder hesitated, then replied, "She… felt unreal, like no matter what choices you made, she already had the answers."

"Well, that's kind of the point of her character," Delilah cleared her throat softly, "She's supposed to be a reflection of inevitability."

Svan ignored her.

"And Arthur?" he asked again, staring directly at Inder.

Inder shifted in his seat. "He was… complicated."

"Complicated?" Svan echoed, "Or just weak?"

Inder took his moment to reply.

"Yes, weak." He replied. "In essence there was nothing left of the world except the Avatars and their harem. Everything and everyone was ruined."

Svan leaned futher on his chair as he looked at him.

"Say…" He began. "What would you have done differently to make the world a better place?"

Inder blinked. "What?"

Svan asked once again. "If you were thrown in that World, what would you do?"

"I…I am not so sure." Inder replied, shaking his head. "I wouldn't—"

"Would you kill your parents like you did here?" Svan asked, his voice getting colder. "Kill the gods? Goddess? Maybe your own lover—"

"Father!"

Delilah yelled, making him stop.

Svan stood up from his seat.

"I think we have talked enough." He said, walking towards the door. "We will meet again later."

The door clicked shut behind Svan, leaving behind a silence far heavier than his presence.

Delilah sat frozen, her fingers gripping the edge of the table.

"…What was that?" Inder asked, his voice low.

Delilah shook her head slowly. "I don't know, I never mentioned your past to him."

"So…He found out about it on his own?" Inder asked, looking at her. "Really?"

Delilah opened her mouth but didn't say anything.

Inder sighed as he stood up from his seat.

"Where are you going?"

He didn't reply to her as he walked out of the room.

---

The chilling wind of the night hit Inder on his face as he stood at the terrace.

'Fuck.'

Inder thought as his hand began to tremble.

An anxiety attack once again hit him, making him unable to breathe properly.

Every time the massacre of his family is mentioned, he feels the same way.

He hardly drew in a deep breath as he took out a cigarette from his pocket.

Inder slowly walked towards the terrace wall as he leaned on it.

His eyes slowly began to drift towards the sky, at the stars.

Especially the eight-pointed star.

'I remember, Senara used to talk about it.'

He thought, a bitter feeling crawling under his skin.

The cigarette burned slowly between Inder's fingers.

He stared at the sky without really seeing it.

"Senara always said it watched over the lost," he muttered to himself. "Well, it's been doing a terrible job."

He closed his eyes as he felt footsteps.

"Are you okay?"

Delilah's voice broke the silence, soft and cautious.

He didn't turn around. "You should've told me he was like that."

"I didn't know," she said, stepping closer. "He's always been cold, sure, but tonight… he wasn't himself."

"Wasn't himself?" Inder scoffed quietly. "It felt like he knew more about me than I do."

Delilah walked closer and stopped just beside him.

"Talk to me or else I will throw you off the roof."

"Do it."

"Do you know, I have seen multiple timelines." Delilah suddenly said, her voice soft.

"To be precise it's one billion, eight hundred six million, nine hundred thirty-two thousand, six hundred ninety-five and I have even traveled in a few of them as well."

Inder gave her a look. "Are you drunk?"

Delilah chuckled. "I am kidding." She said. "Well, let's see…do you know I have a sister?"

Inder blinked. "Uh, what?"

"Not an actual sister but I call her that." She said, looking at the stars. "She lives all the way there."

Inder looked at the eight-pointed star she gestured at.

"She lives there?" he repeated, unsure if she was being serious or just trying to distract him.

"Maybe." She replied, vaguely. "Do you know what she told me?"

Inder grew curious. "What?"

"That there is a boy out in the wild that needs love." She said, smiling gently as she stepped closer.

"Not the kind people pretend to give, but the kind that stays even when things get ugly."

"And what did you reply?" Inder asked quietly.

"I said, of course I will love him." She replied, smiling gently. "I would give him all, love him like no other, take care of him…make babies with him so he can get even more love."

Inder blinked, stunned for a moment.

"You what?" he asked, turning his head toward her.

Delilah just laughed, leaning her back against the wall next to him. "You heard me."

"You're insane."

"Maybe but I'm serious." She looked up at the sky again. "Some people want calm lives. I want a storm, a mess, someone who's broken but still trying."

She turned her head and looked at him, her gaze steady.

"I want you."

Inder looked down, suddenly unsure where to keep his eyes.

A part of him wanted to say something sarcastic.

Another part wanted to run but the largest part just chose to stand still.

"I don't think I can be that guy," he said after a long silence. "The one who's worthy of someone like you."

"You already are," Delilah said. "You're still here, aren't you? Still trying. That's enough for me."

He didn't know what to say to that.

The cigarette had burned down to the filter, making him drop it.

"Do you think your… sister… knows me too?" he asked, trying to change the topic.

Delilah smiled faintly. "She told me she liked your name, said it was stubborn."

"Stubborn?"

"Yeah. Like a name that refuses to fade even when the world forgets."

"….Weird girl."

"Very," Delilah nodded. "But she sees things in ways most people can't."

"That's a good thing." Inder mumbled as Delilah walked even closer to him.

She smiled and wrapped her hands around his neck.

"Inder."

"Yes?"

"Always remember." She whispered, her face now inches away. "You have people who support you and you have me…your biggest supporter."

Inder smiled softly. "…I know."

Delilah tiptoed as she kissed his lips softly.

…..The kiss that started everything once again.