Villainess X Villain: They are obsessed with each other!-Chapter 60 -: 59 Julius’s mess.[1]

In the heart of the Grand Cathedral of Benigore, the famous "Cathedral War" platform stood tall.

It was huge, as big as a large building turned sideways.

The height was like two normal buildings stacked on top of each other.

Right in the middle, a smaller round platform rose up.

This small one was only about two meters wide.

This was the sacred spot where the candidate would face the Saint Trial. No one else was allowed to step even one foot there.

On the big main platform, all the most important people sat in fancy chairs.

There was Elizabeth Augustus Hayes, the Matriarch of the powerful Hayes clan.

Next to her sat Dean Orin Belebright from Royal Arcane Academy.

Two senior professors were also there: Lucian Duskwood and Jaya Balan.

On the other side sat the religious leaders: the Pope herself in her shining white robes, Cardinal Raphael, and even the Emperor of the Holy Empire, dressed in gold and red.

Around them sat rows of bishops, archbishops, and high church devotees, all watching with serious faces.

Far below, about 500 meters away, a massive crowd had gathered.

Thousands of people filled the huge square.

Their shouts, prayers, and cheers of devotion rolled through the air like waves.

You could hear them clearly even from up on the platform.

"Goddess Benigore, give us a Saint!"

"Bless the candidate!"

"Light of hope, shine on us!"

Elizabeth sat straight in her seat, looking calm and elegant. Right beside her was Professor Lucian Duskwood.

Lucian leaned over with a big smile. "Your son is truly amazing, Lady Elizabeth. One of the greatest geniuses I’ve ever seen in my whole life."

Elizabeth laughed softly and covered her mouth with her hand.

"Oh my, you flatter me too much. He’s good, but not that good yet."

"No, no," Lucian said right away, shaking his head.

"I’m serious. He casts spells so easily, like it’s nothing. And get this, he even created a brand-new spell in just a few minutes!"

Elizabeth’s eyes went a little wider. She tried to stay calm, but you could see pride glowing on her face.

"Really? He made a new spell that fast?"

Lucian nodded excitedly. "Yes! I watched it happen. His mind works so fast, it was incredible."

Elizabeth smiled wider now, unable to hide how happy she felt.

"What kind of spell was it?" she asked, her voice soft but full of curiosity.

The moment Elizabeth asked about the spell, Lucian suddenly froze.

A voice echoed in his head: ’Should I tell her?’

The Hayes and Valentina families had been enemies for generations, old grudges, rival clans, the whole dramatic history.

One wrong word could start a war right here on the sacred platform.

But then Lucian shrugged inside. ’Ahh, whatever. She’s going to find out eventually.’

He took a deep breath and leaned in closer.

"Well, Lady Elizabeth... you see, I think... no, I’m sure of it. Your son has definitely fallen in love."

Elizabeth’s eyes went round for a second.

"Oh?"

That was all she said. Just a soft "Oh?"

Inside her head, though, her thoughts raced: ’I knew it. I sent her to the academy myself. But I didn’t think he’d fall for her this fast...’

A proud, haughty little smile crept onto her face.

’My choice really is perfect.’

Lucian blinked at her calm reaction. "You... knew?" He looked shocked.

Elizabeth snapped out of her happy thoughts and chuckled lightly. "Well, of course I know. She’s Sera—"

"Rosalina..."

They both said the names at the exact same time.

Then they stopped.

They stared at each other, completely dumbfounded.

"Sera..." Lucian tried again slowly.

"Rosa..." Elizabeth said at the same moment.

They both froze again.

"Okay!" Lucian raised both hands like he was surrendering.

Sweat was starting to appear on his forehead. "Lady Elizabeth, may I finish, please?"

Elizabeth gave an awkward smile. "Please... go on."

Lucian swallowed hard and started over.

"I think you’re mistaken."

Elizabeth raised one perfect eyebrow. "How so?"

Lucian took a deep breath. "Your son, Julius... he’s fallen for Rosalina Valentina. The daughter of the Valentina patriar....."

"What?!"

Before Lucian could even finish his sentence, Elizabeth shot up from her seat like someone had lit a fire under her.

"Rosalina Valentina!!!"

"Hmm?"

"Mmm?"

The sudden movement made heads turn. Bishops paused mid-prayer.

The Pope raised an elegant eyebrow. Even the Emperor glanced over with mild curiosity.

But no one heard a single word of what she said.

Lucian reacted fast, he flicked his fingers, and a thin, shimmering barrier of pale blue light snapped up around them.

It was small, just enough to cover their two seats like a private bubble. Sound stayed inside; outside, everything looked normal.

Elizabeth quickly looked left and right, cheeks turning pink. She coughed awkwardly.

"Ahem... my apologies, everyone."

She sat back down as gracefully as she could, smoothing her dress.

Then she leaned toward Lucian and whispered fiercely through gritted teeth.

"What do you mean he fell for that girl from the Valentina clan? Wasn’t he supposed to fall for the girl I chose?!"

Lucian gave her a bitter, helpless smile.

He wasn’t sure anymore if telling her had been a good idea.

Still, he kept his voice low. "Well... you see, it’s definitely Rosalina Valentina.

"And I heard he even proposed to her on the very first day he arrived at the academy. Something like... ’Marry me, Rose’ or whatever dramatic line he used."

Elizabeth’s eyes went so wide they looked ready to pop out.

She bit down hard on her thumbnail, a habit she hadn’t done since she was a teenager.

"How... how serious is he?" she whispered, voice shaking a little.

Lucian leaned in closer, even though the barrier was already hiding their words.

"Pretty serious, I’d say. He’s always stuck right behind her like glue. And... I’m sorry to say this, Lady Elizabeth, but your son has become a complete simp."

Elizabeth blinked. "A what?"

"You know... head over heels. Lovesick puppy. The full package."

She stared at him like he had grown a second head.

Lucian kept going, lowering his voice even more.

"And remember the spell we talked about? The one he created in a few minutes?"

"Yeah?" Elizabeth leaned in so close their shoulders almost touched.

"Yeah... that was for Rosalina. He turned the whole training arena into a giant cotton field just so she wouldn’t get hurt during a spar."

"Cotton. Everywhere. Soft fluffy cotton. The students were picking bits out of their hair for days."

They gossiped like two neighborhood aunties swapping the juiciest scandal over tea.

Heads close, whispers fast, eyes wide.

When Lucian finally finished, Elizabeth sank deep into her seat. Her perfect posture was gone.

She looked exactly like a mother who had just found out her golden-boy son secretly smoked, drank, and got a tattoo all in one weekend.

"You son of a..." she muttered under her breath, staring up at the open sky through the cathedral ceiling.

"How am I supposed to tell this to your father..."

She covered her face with one hand.

"What have you done, Julius?"