Extra's POV: My Obsessive Villainous Fiancee Is The Game's Final Boss-Chapter 111: Invitation To Give Pointers

The long dining table at the heart of Ross Castle was very well illuminated by the light of the lanterns hung on the wall, the scent of roasted meats, seasoned vegetables, and freshly baked bread filling the air.

Maria Ross sat at the right hand side of the table, a smile on her face. She'd made it her mission tonight to gather her entire family for dinner. And somehow, she'd succeeded.

It had been quite easy to persuade her children to come down. All she needed was to smile and make them promise her. They were good kids.

The hardest had been Abram. He'd had some kind of report to go through from one of the ventures he'd started using the money Ren had won at the capital. With the money, things had gotten better and easier for them, and yet, her husband had somehow ended up with more work.

But now, he sat at the head of the table, sitting with his usual stoic expression. She could see from the way his hands twitched that he longed to be in his study, taking care of business. But he'd promised to be here. For her.

At the left hand side of the table, Felix, Darius, and Ren, were eating while quietly bickering over whose sword style was better. Servants moved in and out of the room, refilling goblets and replacing empty trays.

That was another one of the changes Ren's visit to the capital had brought. Others would see it as increasing their standard of living but for Abram, it had been a way to create jobs for his people.

Maria ate slowly, her eyes flicking from one son to another. Their laughter warmed her heart, but her gaze eventually settled on her husband.

He had been quiet throughout the meal, and that shouldn't be the case. She caught his eye across the table.

Say something, Abram. Her eyes urged.

He held her gaze for a moment before his shoulders slumped ever so slightly. Then he cleared his throat, the deep rumble silencing the banter between their sons.

"Darius." Abram said.

The second-born straightened up instantly, surprised. "Yes, Father?"

"How fares the barony?"

Darius blinked. "It's stable. I've left it in the care of my steward while I'm here."

Abram nodded slowly, his tone firm but not unkind. "You've been gone too long. A lord is expected to serve and protect his people."

Darius's face tensed, but he nodded. "I wanted to be nearby in case the barbarians make a move here."

Abram raised an eyebrow. "Then train some soldiers. Send some knights. But don't abandon your post. Loyalty is a two-way bond." He turned back to his food.

Maria hid a smile as she took a sip of her drink. That was Abram's way. He scolded in concern because that's the language he knows intimately.

Felix leaned back in his chair with a smirk. "You know, I might start calling myself Lord Barony if Darius forgets he owns the land."

Ren grinned. "And here I thought you'd just decorate it with fancy statues of yourself in a pose."

Felix flipped a piece of bread toward Ren, who caught it mid-air with his mouth, a huge grin on his face. Maria chuckled at him.

"The day Felix designs his own armor is the day the king's court will have a fashion revolution." Darius muttered, shaking his head.

"Why not?" Felix sniffed. "There's no reason a man shouldn't conquer and look good doing it."

Abram gave a soft grunt that might have been a laugh. At least, Maria chose to interpret it that way.

She set down her cup, her eyes glinting as she had an idea. She leaned forward, not bothering to hide the grin on her face. "You know, your father watched you kids as you sparred earlier in the training yard. He told me afterward he was proud of all of you."

Silence fell.

Three pairs of eyes slowly turned to face Abram, whose face remained stoic. Even Ren, who was usually hard to surprise, looked stunned.

Abram turned to stare at Maria, and for a moment, she thought he might object. But instead, she saw the faintest twitch in his jaw, his only giveaway of his surprise at Maria's words.

Maria laughed, brushing her fingers over her napkin. "He also told me he'd be offering pointers tomorrow morning. Personally."

Three jaws dropped.

"Wait, what?" Felix coughed, setting down the cup in his hand.

Darius just blinked. "Are you sure he said that?"

Abram gave a minute sigh before turning to the children. "Be ready at dawn."

Their reactions were priceless. She wasn't sure she'd seen this mix of disbelief and awe on their faces before. Maria smiled softly as her sons leaned toward one another, whispering in amazement.

"He said it." Maria confirmed. "And I expect all of you to be up and dressed before the sun rises."

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"Yes, mother." Her sons answered in unison, huge grins on their faces.

With her meal done, she stood and kissed each of her sons on the cheek, one after the other. Felix wrinkled his nose. Darius smiled sheepishly. Ren looked genuinely pleased.

She then moved to her husband, pressed a hand to his arm, and whispered. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Abram only grunted in reply.

Maria left the dining hall alone, a smile on her face. Maybe Abram would open to the children more.

As she turned into one of the quieter corridors of the castle, she almost stumbled as a pulse of heat rose within her.

Her breath hitched as a wave of memories crashed into her all at once, hoping to catch her off guard. Her passenger, whom she had kept contained for so long, stirred, fighting against the cage inside her that she had spent years reinforcing.

She stumbled to the wall, bracing herself with one hand.

Visions flickered. A sword cleaving through fire. A hand reaching for hers, only to be engulfed in darkness. Screams—his screams—echoing in her skull.

She pressed a hand to her head, teeth clenched as she fought it back.

Not now. Not here.

Let me out! Let me give the world what it wants! Let me give it blood!

The voice was cold, ancient, seeping insidiously into her mind.

Maria squeezed her eyes shut, gritting her teeth as she began building the mental walls back up, one by one.

But before she could contain it fully again, one memory slipped past her walls. It unfolded like a blooming flower, vivid and undeniable.

Maria gasped, and she was plunged into it.