Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

Alas, the mist dispersed, and everyone had an astonishing glance for the five of them, coming altogether.

'You guys….' 

Nathalie looked around, and had a bitter smile; she had yet to take the road in full recovery, as her chest and throat were still in a condition she shouldn't tire herself out.

It could've gone haywire if not for them coming in such a timely and cooperative fashion.

Somehow, it got her heart to flutter.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!" Lawrence clapped his hands and stared at them with an ounce of pride despite his stoic visage. "Truly a bewitching performance, I'd say…"

Soon after the commotion died out, hundreds of Imperial Guards rushed in, getting into formation to protect Lawrence. 

Ashtra looked around, though his face screamed as much as he appreciated the effort of Nathalie, he still roamed his gaze and frowned at hundreds of soldiers that became vigilant.

"So, is this what you want, Lawrence?" 

His voice was rather frigid, and on what seemed the floor now cleared out of his prowess, now emerged a thin sheet of ice that sprawled out from his feet.

"You're mistaken," Lawrence responded with a hearty laugh. After which, he raised his hand, gesturing to halt their aggressive advances, and pressed for a retreat. No second guesses and they all dispersed back to their posts.

For Nathalie, she couldn't help but squint her eyes, of what seemed this unpredictable man was thinking of, taking what dire situation too lightly. 

Ashtra scoffed, "Is it not? Then, what is?" 

This time, she narrowed her eyes and didn't look away as he sat comfortably on his throne. For what seemed almost a fiasco, she wouldn't let this matter slide.

"I simply probed a few things, and I got what I wanted..." He placed his chin on the back of his hand and smirked. "So it was but a song, and even the ancient language sang like a retrieved long-lost art, hmm?"

Her ears perked up, listening to his words. But the more she kept at it, her beating heart would turn out erratic.

"This young maiden here is talented." Ashtra then placed his hands on his back, huffing. "She could do the job even if she were alone."

"I suppose so; I've heard so much about you, Lady of Blackwell, for undertaking the job well done."

Lawrence went on how Athan shared beforehand that Marianne's death was a stunt, and she wanted none of the life that was deemed to predetermine to hers, as she wanted the path she so chose. 

Yet Mystique was there to do her the favor, that time. Only then it resurfaced that she took the opportunity of the desperate Lady Salvatore under her wing, and to shine, even if it's not such a stereotype among noblewomen.

Marianne did it with justice.

Not only that, even despite the tension of making the objective close to a failure, Nathalie weighed her decisions, even if it cost sacrificing herself for all of the lives in the Frozen Gorge.

The list went on and on, and the audience gasped, murmuring amongst themselves of what was the truth behind it.

"Perhaps Mystique had a few more tricks up her sleeve." Soon as Lawrence opened his mouth, a ghastly breath came after he let out a deep, rumbling laugh. "So I decided to pull a couple of pranks here and there… Right, my son?"

Athan seemed caught off guard; eventually, he took a curt nod as he cleared his throat. "If I may speak about this, I never thought this had to be the way, father."

"Oh? Like the one we witnessed, is that it?" Lawrence peered at Ashtra, who almost went out of control from his shenanigans.

"Indeed, for he mustn't be trifled with…'

'... So, that was his initial reaction.' 

Apart from her wanted to be angry; the monstrous man in front of her could've asked to see for himself, where Ashtra's favor was, and even her hidden voice, where all of the people thought she was a mute lady, preferably lurking in the shadows.

To the side, Nathalie noticed the subtle tremble of Arnold, who kept a solemn glance yet his face went firm and rigid, jaws clenching for some time now.

Her heart ached for how much humiliation she and her father had to take from the farce.

Now thinking about it, she wasn't that angry at Athan— much after he had a grave expression on the latter— as much as to Lawrence, who was willing to go for an extreme.

"Also, that ancient language you sang just now; such a beautiful voice to pair with something so sacred was beyond blissful to my ears."

'So, he's complimenting now—?'

Arnold stepped forward, then flashed a wide smile at her. "I've taught her well, Your Majesty."

"Interesting…" Lawrence trailed off his voice, now rubbing his chin. "Since you managed to pique Ashtra's interest. Does that mean I won our bet?"

"You won nothing," Ashtra spat.

'Do they have a history that I might not know of? Like Keith's past?'

While she knew there was always a hidden, covert discussion between this cunning imperial father and son; she had no idea and only later she found quite a connection between the emperor and the 'Frost Wyrm' and more likely a chance which she might find out today.

"Oh? You aren't one to honor a word, is it?"

"Forget it. Like I've said, she should've taken all of the credit. Yet, you misconstrued it the other way." Ashtra's eyes gleamed, and everyone shivered endlessly. "I should've killed them all."

'... Ashtra, don't! Please don't make this any harder.'

He snapped his head at her, talking through telepathy, "After what he said to you? Can you stop being selfless? You're no saint."

'I'm not but everyone I hold dear will suffer, and that includes you—!' His face got dumbfounded but got cuff off when Lawrence avowed something else.

"Well, that's fine by me. It's come to my attention where this noble lady's loyalty lies." He stood up and then swung his arm with his cape. "For that, with the power bestowed upon me, I shall reward Lady Mystique Violette Blackwell that she so deserves, and a title only belongs to her—The Frost Wyrm Rider!'

With that, everyone went for a standing ovation, trying to celebrate the unexpected turn of what needed to be salvaged in this wrecked conferment day.

In that instance, Mystique's eyes widened as she glimpsed at Marianne, who was genuinely happy for her.

Her emotions riled up, and it wasn't over when Lawrence dared to shock everyone else with words coming out of his mouth.