Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

The melody from the serene voice of Nathalie alone ventured far and wide as she went on with her song. This time, she belted high and out of it with such control.

In only one breath of the last line of the chorus, she went through a range that swooned the hearts of listeners therein.

Coming to an end, in such a slower tempo, she dropped her voice to the usually breathy sound. 

Then, after opening her eyes found Jonathan and Arnold, barging the door wide open, with so many people behind them, peeking through the door frame.

Nathalie's eyes went agape when she noticed how they entered without her knowing. She peered sideways and noticed Keith wasn't able to move with fist clenched, almost bleeding with a deadly gaze at Ashtra, who had a mischievous grin.

'This damn—' But before she could get angry any further at him, he started to clap aloud.

Which then, everyone followed, reverberating the room with a kind of joy as well as cheer.

'Wasn't this place soundproof?'

Nathalie jolted upright, brisking her way to the door. When she closed it, their loud cheers muffled them to dead silence.

Yet when she thought it was over, it never failed to surprise what came after.

It wasn't all that when echoes of the same thing emerged behind her, and it was from the balcony, and so many of them clumped beneath.

'Oh no!'

She wanted to close it, when Arnold reached for her wrist, stopping her from running.

"My Mysti, we need to talk." His voice became too grave, and with his usual stern gaze, it was hard to ignore what he would tell her. 

Nathalie pressed her lips thin as she nodded.

After which, Arnold looked at Jonathan, then glared at Ashtra. After which, the latter sighed, and sealed the windows shut with a bang.

Even if it was just a moment, he grabbed her to the divider. His grasp was firm, but not enough to hurt her or in any way of the discomfort.

She followed like she was a little girl holding onto her father so tightly.

With a little privacy, he held her by the dainty shoulders, and an ounce of cautiousness felt with his every touch like she was too fragile enough with his big, calloused hands.

"You need to stop singing, even if it's for Ashtra."

At this point, Nathalie groaned inwardly as they had already talked about it. With her voice, she wouldn't be able to use it as freely as she thought, and the compensation needed wasn't taken too lightly for the matter. 

All of it she knew, even without his warning. Although, her assurance that she would only use it when deemed necessary was evident.

So she wondered what it could be this time around. Only to find out, of all things she had to stop, not from the one she had an agreement with already.

[Father, we've talked about this...]

"Mysti, the world is cruel. Now, they're coming after you again… Even that damn son of Lawrence— I—I can't…" Arnold hung his head low, trembling, then bobbed up to meet her gaze. "Is this your act of revenge to him?"

Meanwhile, Nathalie shook her head. Her purpose of using her voice was only for Ashtra's entertainment.

She held onto that, and it seemed her father wasn't buying any of her claims. For numerous times, she cleared that her feelings for the Crown Prince were long gone.

[Father, I know my future—it's cruel enough, all the more I am with him… I thought we'd get past this.]

"I know but… With Lawrence's attention…"

[Please believe in me, His Majesty won't harm me. Not with Ashtra on my side. Isn't that why I got him with me?] she reasoned out and made up an excuse partially.

Helpless, Arnold hugged her sole daughter with tightness, and she reciprocated back—her soft hugs bore deep contrast to his large, firm embrace—which then his sudden tremble took notice of her.

Pulling away, she wrote, [Have I never got to tell you? Do you want to know the future that awaits us?]

"The Downfall of Blackwell, you told me that even before, numerous times, and I believe you…" Arnold answered with a click of his tongue. "Surely, it's no different as we'd be knocking on death's door with Ashtra, that fiend is worse!"

[No, Father…]

Out of frustration, he let out a loud groan, "Your voice and that stupid curse… I'm sorry, I just wish the secret would've been kept any longer."

'Is he talking about… my origin?' Then, Nathalie rubbed his broad back after another round of a hug, the very least she could do. 

[Father, I have Keith with me… So why are you worried? At least I should do my part for our Empire, right?]

Arnold harrumphed, "You call that least? No other daughter of a noble could pull off such as yours!"

A smile quirked on her lips.

Either way, she knew, and the only thing she had in mind was the same storyline, except the death of Arnold and the tragic fate that awaited her. But Athan, knowing the future, got compromised with Ashtra's cunning ability.

It was already her mishap, and there she gauged that he really knew just as much as she did.

[This here…] She placed her hand on her neck. [Out of curiosity, Father; I searched for answers far south, and I was able to learn a lot about myself, and eventually led answers to Ashtra.]

His face turned rather pale in seconds, hesitating; but a tinge in his indigo eyes craved for a bit of truth.

"... Is that why you've gone close to that Grand Duke of Forsberg."

Nathalie gave a curt nod, lying to him with such a straight face.

"I don't trust that wicked—"

She then prodded his lips to silence. Then, she wrote again, [But, do you trust me though?]

"Of course!" he chimed with utmost joy.

[You'll always be there for me, right?] When he affirmed, she then replied, [You're the best.]

"This might not be the last. I Just don't know what would make you stay."

[How about after all 'this is over?]

"Alright…"

[So, how was the meeting?]

"Your accomplishment is acknowledged with a long list of prizes, soon to be sent to the 'Northern Territory' and more of the benefits are in here for you to read later." 

Arnold went on, speaking so grand about it like how much of a proud father he was to her.

It was time to go back, and when he excused himself, she was all alone.

Soon, she retrieved her manuscript.

When she thought everything went according to her plan. Almost her gut fell to a bottomless pit.