How an Omega Villain Survive chapter 80

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Count Ariat felt a pang of loneliness in his one-on-one lesson with Edwin.

He’d been informed in advance that Henry couldn’t attend today’s class, so he knew he’d only be with Edwin.

But as they went through the lesson, he acutely felt Henry’s absence.

Without Henry’s eagerness—his attentive gaze, thoughtful answers, and constant questions whenever he was curious—the lesson felt desolate.

“I do hope Young Master Henry attends tomorrow.”

Closing the book, Count Ariat expressed his disappointment at Henry’s absence.

“By the way, now that we’re nearing the end of the curriculum, when will you tell me?”

Count Ariat agreed to Edwin’s proposal for lessons, partly out of curiosity about seeing the two young masters together.

But Ariat was not one to be moved by mere curiosity—certainly not enough to take on such a bothersome task.

Then, Edwin added one more incentive.

If Ariat would teach, he promised to provide information about the Grand Mage, Marquis Carian. That offer became the decisive factor.

With Henry absent and the two of them alone, Count Ariat asked bluntly, “What do you know about Carian?”

Rather than answer immediately, Edwin rose from his seat, intending to go to the Count himself since Henry hadn’t come to class today.

Count Ariat sighed, assuming he wouldn’t get an answer this time either. Just as Edwin passed by him, he said something cryptic.

“The same thing is happening to me now.”

Leaving those words hanging, Edwin exited the room, indifferent to however Ariat might interpret them.

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The look on Henry’s face as he left yesterday still lingered in Edwin’s mind.

Henry had fled after Edwin revealed his true feelings.

Though Edwin wanted to hold him back, he couldn’t bring himself to take even a step.

He had let Henry go, hoping it would give him a final chance, but fearing that if he forced the issue, Henry might turn away completely.

If only he’d been able to understand Henry’s heart a bit sooner… maybe things wouldn’t have come to this. It was all his fault.

Arriving at the Duke Timothy’s estate, Edwin dismounted and immediately sought signs of Henry.

The faint trace of Henry’s pheromones pricked at his senses.

Edwin addressed the butler who appeared before him.

“Where’s Henry?”

“He’s in his room. I can lead you to the reception room.”

“No, I’ll go to his room.”

Ignoring the butler’s offer, Edwin headed directly to Henry’s room.

He didn’t have the patience to wait in the reception room.

Quickening his steps so the butler couldn’t follow, Edwin hesitated as he reached the door.

He wondered what expression Henry might wear when he saw him.

Steeling himself, Edwin knocked on the door, calling out to Henry.

Even if Henry looked at him with disdain, he had to see him now.

“Anything else… huh?”

Henry opened the door, surprised to see Edwin, and tilted his head in confusion, unable to guess why Edwin was standing there.

“What are you doing here?”

Edwin held back a bitter smile at Henry’s innocent expression.

It was as though what happened between them yesterday hadn’t left any impression on him.

“You didn’t come to class today.”

“You came because of that?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, I was caught up with something… I only informed Count Ariat and forgot to tell you.”

Henry avoided Edwin’s gaze, looking somewhat flustered.

“You didn’t avoid telling me on purpose?”

“Well…”

Edwin was right.

When Henry had notified Count Ariat, he could have easily sent word to Edwin as well.

But he’d thought it was only a day and hadn’t expected Edwin to come looking for him right away.

“I guess you didn’t think I’d come to find you.”

“Normally, no.”

“How long were you planning to stay away?”

“I was going to be there tomorrow.”

Despite Edwin’s sudden arrival, Henry soon regained his composure.

He had only planned to miss one day and never intended to skip it entirely.

After all, those lessons were as important to him as they were to Edwin.

However, something about Henry’s reply deepened the look in Edwin’s eyes.

“The idea that you could resolve everything in a day—it’s just like you.”

Edwin wasn’t sure if he should be glad or saddened that his confession hadn’t troubled Henry for days on end.

The quicker answer meant less frustration but also suggested that Henry hadn’t given his feelings much thought.

“So… after skipping a lesson, what conclusion have you reached?”

“Conclusion? Wait, are you thinking that I missed class because of…?”

Realizing the misunderstanding, Henry waved his hands.

Edwin seemed to believe Henry was avoiding him to process the confession and decide how to respond.

Henry was about to explain that there was another reason entirely when someone’s voice interrupted them.

“Henry?”

At the familiar voice, Edwin’s attention shifted behind Henry, where he noticed another person for the first time.

Returning his gaze to Henry, Edwin spoke in a tone tinged with realization.

“So, this is why you missed class.”

With a sigh, Henry cleared up Edwin’s misunderstanding.

His absence wasn’t due to Edwin’s confession.

Not that he hadn’t wanted time to think, but he hadn’t felt compelled to avoid Edwin over it.

“You both know each other, so introductions aren’t necessary, right?”

Leaving them to introduce themselves as they saw fit, Henry looked back at Edwin.

“When I came home last night, Kayla was waiting for me. He happened to be in the Empire and… came to see me.”

Truthfully, Henry wasn’t sure if Kayla had come solely to see him.

It was possible she intended to use him as a bridge to Edwin.

But since she had arrived at Timothy Manor, he explained it that way. With nothing more to add, Henry stood in silence, watching the two.

As neither of them spoke, it seemed like they would remain standing indefinitely.

“Would you like to come in?”

Henry stepped aside, letting Edwin enter as his response.

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Henry glanced between Kayla, who sat next to him, and Edwin, who was seated across from them.

After Kayla’s arrival last night, his mind had been preoccupied with him, so he hadn’t had much time to process his encounter with Edwin.

No wonder that when he’d first seen Edwin earlier, he’d wondered why he was there.

In any case, Edwin’s visit had now brought them all together.

‘Why do I feel like I’m intruding here?’

This was the Duke Timothy’s estate and his own room, yet Henry couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling that he was somehow in the way.

It was a strange sensation, knowing that the two people before him would one day develop a deeper connection.

Even though he knew that their emotions hadn’t yet intertwined in the way they eventually would, he remembered how in the original story, they had always held each other in mind—even from the beginning.

Recalling those scenes from the original work made his position in the room feel even more awkward.

‘Maybe I should just leave.’

Even if he left, it wouldn’t mean he could completely ignore the two of them, but it felt better than just sitting here.

“I’ll bring out fresh tea since this one’s gone cold.”

Henry glanced around and pointed at the now-cold tea in front of him, using it as an excuse.

He’d been sharing it with Kayla before Edwin arrived, so it was an easy cover.

He picked up the teapot with the intention of leaving the room with it, but just as he did, a pale hand covered his own.

Henry looked up at the owner of the white hand.

It was Kayla, whose clear, fair skin only enhanced her beauty.

“It’s fine. It’s nearly time for dinner anyway.”

At Kayla’s lovely smile, Henry slowly withdrew his hand from the teapot.

There was no longer a good excuse to leave because the tea had gone cold.

“Let go of his hand.”

Henry turned, surprised by Edwin’s sharp tone as he was thinking of another excuse.

Edwin wasn’t looking at Henry but staring pointedly at Kayla’s hand, still touching his.

Noticing Edwin’s disapproving expression, Henry looked down at their hands, belatedly realizing Kayla’s hand was still resting on his.

“Can’t friends hold hands?” Kayla’s gentle, smiling voice broke through Henry’s thoughts, making him forget about pulling his hand away.

What’s more, Kayla was now subtly tightening his grip, causing Henry’s fingers to fidget awkwardly.

“Friends…” Edwin’s voice trailed off, and the unfinished words increased Henry’s unease.

“Come to think of it, you two are friends, right?” Kayla, keeping his signature smile, looked at Henry, apparently oblivious to Edwin’s tense expression.

That calm, kind gaze made Edwin’s tense demeanor feel all the more obvious.

“Well, we are friends, but…”

Henry’s voice faded as he hesitated.

They were indeed friends, but there were too many complications to say that so easily.

After all, he and Edwin had shared some intense moments, a recent kiss, and Edwin had even confessed to him just the other day…

“So, if I’m a friend too, does that mean I can also warn others to let go of Henry’s hand?” Kayla’s question was softened with a smile but carried a pointed undertone, leaving Henry at a loss for words.

“Henry, come here.”

Seeing the uncomfortable dynamic, Edwin finally called out to Henry, reaching out a hand for him while keeping a sharp eye on Kayla.

“Edwin, I just need to step out for a moment…”

With the tension in the air, Henry half-rose from the sofa.

It wasn’t that he wanted to go to Edwin; he just wanted to escape the strange atmosphere.

But as soon as Edwin reached over and took hold of his arm, Henry felt himself pulled off balance.

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