Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

The place went dead silent as soon as Mystique emerged, and in Keith's heart, it seemed like it dropped on the ground alongside his gut when she had to hear the ruthless words that came from Veronica's mouth.

While it caught Veronica and Athan off guard as they turned their glances at her, the former had severe guilt in her eyes but in nowhere did the truth that came along with it never faded away.

A bitter truth, so to speak.

Withal, Keith glanced at Ashtra. While he thought he had no chance standing against him, let alone fighting him, perhaps he would just go along and even take his words with a grain of salt.

He ended up clenching his chest, from immediate tightening, as his ears rang with nothing but the slow tempo on the sharp clacks of her heel.

Compared to them all, who donned a large fur coat and cape on them, she was in a white silk robe, enough to hide her voluptuous assets that everyone would've gotten a taste or covet.

She might be in front of the guests in the castle, but she didn't bother wearing it at all as she seemed to like it was still her home regardless.

"Did my… Father… suggested it?" Mystique breathed as she trudged slowly to them, and enough for Keith to glance at her heart-wrenching visage from the side. Her eyes went red, almost at the brink of tears as he darted at Athan. "Is this… What did you have me come here for, Athan?"

"I swear by my name and honor." Veronica gulped hard as it was the moment to come clean and be upfront about it. "His Grace, your Father, thought that it was too late for him to change what he had done to you, and to everyone else." 

"...So, You took this opportunity to take down my Father?"

"...Indeed. That too… Like what Athan planned the first time around. Only later on, His Grace revealed it was the time with the 'Frost Wyrm' would've been back any time soon, and claim the lives within the  Blackwell Household, one by one—"

[I know…]

When Veronica's silver eyes and her mouth went agape, Mystique raised a finger, scribbling midair while quivering.

[The Eternal Pact.]

From her grimoire, she flipped through the pages until a single sheet went upright with a golden glow, and its words flashed before them.

In Keith's eyes reflected off the words, one after another.

'To protect the Dysnomia Empire, the Head of the Blackwell Household must provide a kin to satiate the 'Frost Wyrm's' hunger for a period of time—depending on how promising the life of an individual—to refrain from the havoc the creature might have caused.'

Soon as she flashed it, every single one of them had their eyes fall out of their sockets.

Even Keith, who might've come late to their lives yet he had always been with either Arnold or Mystique since this was the first time he had ever known; the revelation was too much for him to bear.

...And he could never fathom, not thought worth a single speck of dust as he gazed at Mystique's eyes.

To him, he couldn't help but glimpse at Ashtra, watching at his claws while he breathed out a frosty smoke for a glimmering effect on his nails.

"You're shocked too? I suppose you're too naive or Arnold hid it far too much, and would gladly take it to the grave."

Instead of anger and utter frustration smothering him, a sense of dread and fear of wanting to scurry away with tail tuck behind his legs from his ruthlessness. Then again, he neither could even move a single step nor lay a finger.

"Don't be too scared now. It might change now." Ashtra squinted his eyes with a subtle grin. "Hmm, I still can't read her thoughts." 

It didn't change the fact that Arnold took this opportunity to conceal himself as 'righteous way' for his punishment according to the imperial decree for his misdeeds rather than what it truly was then.

Yet Mystique knew…

[While it's one of the various reasons as well; I don't think it's anyone's business. Don't we think so?"]

Athan's lips trembled, stammering as he was in disbelief, "Was this… Why— You're— Desperate?"

[... I have no reason to tell you other than me willing to take part in our collaboration.] Mystique's hand started to fidget before she wrote again. [What shocked me was your overt sabotage even during the tribute.]

"...It was all part of our plan with Athan! I was only there to buy time; though I did enjoy it while it lasted. Perhaps Athan had this premonition you've really changed, but it's hard to tell… If he knew what he wanted to do, regardless if you're there or not, then why did you have to be there with him?" Veronica's chest heaved up and down after talking for a long time. 

[Are you done?]

Veronica, until now, stood in front of them as though she took responsibility for the things she'd done thus far. She gritted her teeth, uttering everything she had to say in one go.

"No. So, if you're pressed about it, then it would've been your Father to address, as I'm doing what I had to do, with this man here not even cooperating so well!"

On the other hand, Athan couldn't even look at Mystique properly.

The thought of killing two birds in one stone was an understatement, and they knew they could reap massive benefits from it whether Mystique was present or not.

Yet they still crossed the line.

In her indigo eyes had myriad of emotions brimmed to it: anger, forlorn, and hopelessness seen.

[I understand it at the end of the day; we're not even friends, to begin with…]

Amidst it, Ashtra harrumphed as he blabbered, "I know that much; exactly why I had her perform the encore alone, that is if she could make it until the end. Now, what will she do, the villainous starlet?"

[But when tribute fails, everyone suffers right? Even you, and not only my Father, would perish alone.] 

After which, Mystique went close to Veronica.

Despite a glimpse, the next thing Keith knew his ears twitched from the loud slap that crisped the air.

Veronica looked to the side, face trembling with disheveled hair, as she covered her burning cheek.

Then, Mystique's voice quaked, "What part of it do you not understand?"

"That is why she is my first pick!" Ashtra was in awe.