The Villianess story: A 100 ways to kill your husband
Chapter 466: Unwanted

Chapter 466: Unwanted

The maids stopped before two large doors. From the outside Cedric could already feel multiple strong presences. The maids bowed then excused themselves.

Cedric drew in a deep breath. For the first time, he was nervous. His stomach churned but he still stepped forward. The doors opened on their own and he stepped into the room.

The first thing that welcomed him was the pressure and dominating presence. It was 100 times stronger than what he felt outside. He was almost scared, but still he held his calm expression.

The moment he stepped in, the room went silent, and they noticed him immediately. "You finally showed up." Azrael chimed from the corner, holding a gold cup in his hand. He still had that mischievous look.

"So this was the reason we were called. I knew it was nothing good once I saw all your faces." Another voice sneered from the table. A man with striking features, he possessed pitch black hair and Violet eyes.

They were all watching him judgmentally.. Azrael Sighed and then approached Cedric. "Just ignore them. They weren’t raised right." Azrael sneered. He wasn’t bothered by the piercing gaze coming his way. Azrael’s thick skin was impervious to the daggers they were shooting from their eyes.

He led Cedric to the table and sat beside him. "Try to act more confidently, they can only glare for now." His voice whispered in Cedric’s head, startling Cedric. Cedric glanced at him, surprised. Azrael only smiled.

The room was still tense. Cedric studied the surroundings. There were 5 other men in the room aside from Azrael. They all looked roughly the same age but he was certain they weren’t. So these were Azrael’s brothers. The ones who want him dead.

Their glares said it all. He didn’t want to be here either Cedric wanted to know how to get back to Abrielle. His home.

The lady, or rather, his mother, wasn’t here yet. They were waiting. Cedric continued to observe. He didn’t touch a thing. The rest were busy having side conversations and doing their best to ignore Cedric. Azrael sat quietly beside Cedric casually sipping his wine.

The door creaked open and there was a slight shift in the room’s atmosphere. Everyone gathered at the table, leaving three seats: the head of the table, and the first seats to the left and right of the table.

A group of 3 came in through the door. The air around them was heavy and carried authority. They were dressed exquisitely with the finest linen and adorned with several jewels. In front was Cedric’s mother walking hand in hand with a man Cedric instinctively felt was the strongest here.

They looked like a couple which made Cedric wonder if they were married.

The man was tall, every detail of him was the kind that demanded attention. His skin had a golden undertone, and his eyes were mismatched, one crimson, the other violet. Something about him made it hard to look him in the eyes.

His hair was long, flowing behind him like gold dust and too perfect to be human. He wore a dark robe, jet black with red and silver embroidery that shimmered when he moved. It looked almost alive, like shadows danced around him.

Cedric knew they weren’t ordinary. He didn’t want to rush to a conclusion but he knew the truth would be revealed during this meal

The man didn’t smile, didn’t look to the sides. He only stared forward, and when his eyes met Cedric’s, Cedric felt it cold and sharp, like he could not wait to rip him apart yet the man hid his intention because of Cedric’s mother beside him.

Cedric wasn’t welcomed here, but she brought him here.

Beside him was the woman he believed to be his mother.

Her beauty was unnerving. Her long hair flowed behind her like an endless night and her skin was flawless and pale. She wore a flowing crimson gown with delicate black lace trailing behind her like spilt ink. A crown lay on her head. It was simple but elegant, made of black onyx and thorns. She looked like someone who had seen too much yet still held her chin high.

Who was she? Cedric wondered. They were obviously people of authority. Despite her high and proud appearance, Cedric noticed something amidst. Her fingers trembled slightly where they held the golden-haired man’s hand.

Her gaze shifted quickly scanning the room, flicking to Cedric for a second before turning away. She was nervous. Not scared, but uneasy. Like something heavy was sitting on her heart.

Following behind them was a man who looked as elegant as the rest. They all looked in their youth.

He was calm, too calm. His presence didn’t scream like the other two, it slithered, quiet but sharp. His eyes were crimson like roses and held no warmth. He also possessed similar raven night hair, dark as the midnight. His skin was flawless. They were all flawless.

He walked behind the couple with the kind of grace that said he wasn’t just watching, he was calculating. His eyes met Cedric, and it didn’t linger, but Cedric could sense it. Contempt.

Cedric didn’t need to be told. That was the one Azrael warned him about.

They all took their seats, the golden-haired man at the head of the table, Cedric’s mother on his right, and the last man on his left. The table held 10 people

That’s when Cedric realised something. He didn’t look odd or stand out because of his looks. He blended in like he belonged. The closer he observed the more similarities he found. All seven men, including Azrael, bore similarities to the man at the head of the table and his mother.

His heartbeat slowed. Why was he just realising this? Azrael looked exactly like the man at the table but had Cedric’s mother’s hair and eyes.

A heavy silence returned to the room. The atmosphere was stifling. It felt like the walls were listening.

No one spoke.

His mother’s gaze fell on Cedric again. Longer this time. Her lips parted slightly, like she wanted to speak but didn’t know where to start. Her fingers brushed over the table as if grounding herself.

Something was coming. Cedric could feel it in his bones.

And whatever it was... it was going to change everything. She cleared her throat, then reached out for Cedric’s hand

"Tonight is special because I finally found something I thought I missed. Years ago, we all knew what happened and believed the son I gave birth to died, but he didn’t...." His voice trailed off.

Then her eyes darted all over their faces. She knew they weren’t very pleased. "I know some of you are not very welcoming, but you will have to consider it for my sake." Her hands were trembling.

She was scared, but she had to say it. Enough of the lies and deceit.

"Please welcome Cedric, your youngest brother. The one I was told he didn’t survive birth." She announced. Cedric wasn’t really surprised that he already guessed it.

All seven of them were his brothers, and the man at the head of the table was their father. With the gaze they held, Cedric was certain he was the unwanted stepchild. "Welcome back home the 8th prince of Netheria."