Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

For the first time, Keith witnessed that they broke out of their facade, especially Veronica, who was very composed and not one of the ladies to unleash her anger in this way.

Ashtra towered himself on Keith's right shoulder as he made a steeple on his claws, clinking them with an evil snicker.

'If only I could've fought this—'

"Which you can't and won't even lay a finger on me, let alone defeat me. Dream on, youngling." Ashtra huffed a white smoke at him and cut off his ponders. 

He kneaded his temple from the sudden brain freeze; it has been a while since he hissed at this degree of coldness.

"Listen carefully and watch, the show's about to start."

But then, he snapped out of it when Athan and Veronica got into a heated argument in the private courtyard.

"If anyone would have ruined the plan, it was you!" She pointed at him.

"How?!" He leaned forward, eyes aghast and now bloodshot as he spread his arms. "We could've gotten the 'Frost Wyrm's' good graces. Until now, we still have no idea what was the result aside from an urgent matter for a strategic retreat!"

In the meantime, Athan paced himself back and forth while Veronica clasped her hands, trembling, as she glared at the stone pavements.

Keith noticed that Ashtra peered at him, and as they met their gaze, the latter only scratched its snout, shrugging from their rebuttals.

Only through Nathan, they got the information that the idea of an 'encore' was deemed a successful mission. But what happened afterward cut off short when Mystique collapsed and was in critical condition.

The Grand Duke of Forsberg made the call to cease at once and retreated regardless of the outcome. To him, it was the last chance to impress Ashtra—even Athan agreed, out of all people who vouched for Mystique—and now it slipped right through their fingertips from mishandling the situation.

'But you said…'

"I did, and I'm still waiting for her entrance."  Ashtra suddenly glinted from his eyes, suggesting he had no idea what it was then.

But before he could contemplate the aftermath, Athan went on as he whispered to her, clenching his teeth out of frustration he had.

"We lost it; we lost it…" He then snapped at her afterward. "None! We're beyond ruined at this point!"

"But you don't get to see my point!" However, Veronica wasn't the one to back down as her silver eyes started to gleam at him with every retort, "Why now? You put so much trust in her after she made your life and mine a living hell!"

'That's not true!'

Keith wanted to pounce out from the blatant slander, but it was much harder to move even a single step with immense weight on his feet. 

"Shh, you simpleton. Always get swayed by your emotions—listen to them." Ashtra gestured a shushing gesture.

Helpless, Keith stared daggers at them. Her choice of words irked him, curling his hands to a fist as he was in retrospect. Mystique had her fair share—almost no different from her against the world.

Thinking about it, Keith had no reason to trust either of them as well since the feeling was mutual. Everything happened to Mystique from their relentless assaults, he was there, and the two different parties have been nothing but a pain in each other.

When the tension dropped a little notch from the awkward silence, she whispered with an ounce of quaver in it. "You said you were confident about this… Because I thought you'd manage it…. You had an amazing plan that night."

'A plan?' While Keith thought, a foreboding chill crept his heart.

"After you sent Sylvester to stop His Grace, Arnold, as much as possible. You sent a letter that you would seize everyone in Starbrooke Castle in the name of His Majesty. So you can carry on with your plan to curry favor the 'Frost Wyrm' as you proclaimed."

Alas, Keith lost it. He let out a growl, eyes glowed as his neck and hands had streaks of pulsing veins. But under Ashtra's watch, he was kept hidden.

"Let me out!" 

"Sit your ass down, kitty boy."

But Athan's response didn't fail to surprise Keith when he fired back.

"I did! But when I came here! The atmosphere was different! Even she changed into a different person—for the better at that!"

"This might be one of her ruses!"

"Even if she was, I read, and signed the contract! None of which were out of my favor!"  Athan went close, grabbing her by the shoulder. "Even Nathan—we both have the same goal! The three of us! But the unlucky one was only her!"

From his grasp trembled, and almost wanted to squeeze out of her as she hissed, trying to pull herself away from him.

"You-You're— hurting— me—" 

"...I'm sorry." Athan was quick to let go and averted his gaze as soon as he dropped an apology. "I got swayed by my emotions…"

Meanwhile, Veronica panted deep, hugging herself as though to comfort her from what he did.

The sudden quietness sent Keith's mind adrift to his sea of thoughts; and of all worth racking his brains upon, perhaps he stepped on a landmine.

Ashtra somehow piqued his interest, musing, "Oh?"

The Crown Prince's words reminded him about the sudden changes of Mystique, for the most of it, especially the name.

"Hmm? Miss Quinn?" 

Keith almost flinched out when the cunning 'Frost Wyrm' hadn't kept his nose out of his, in which he thought about Nathan's words that it won't make any difference, it was still the Mystique, that he gladly swore his fealty to her.

Even on the brighter note, to be the better lady that she ought to be…

"My, I haven't been this upset..." With that, Ashtra puffed out of the smoke, crossing his forearms. "Don't be so uptight. Your secret is safe with me." He then beamed a horrifying smile, which every inch of his skin tingled.

"Whatever floats your boat, Athan," Veronica muttered, looking away. "You dismissed the plan, went on with her. Just when I thought things went south… It was as though divine providence came to us! With His Grace came and sought our help!"

Keith found it hard to believe that even at the expense of Arnold's life would he be able to atone for his sins and give his daughter the peaceful life she always wanted. Like only then he realized the path Blackwells made wasn't what his daughter pursued.

"That can't be…" Athan mumbled.

Although, what seemed beyond the walls was a sultry voice, of which she was appalled and astonished like Keith at the moment.

"...W—What did you mean?" Mystique uttered out of nowhere.

Meanwhile, Ashtra got elated. "Oh my… The potential starlet has come to the stage!"