Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

[I would love to disagree.]

Once seated, Nathalie sighed, shaking her head from his claims.

It wasn't about being humble, but it didn't suit her, not one bit.

"Why not?" 

[I only go where I am once at the same place and time; so I'm not omnipresent. Neither am I powerful enough to conquer anyone nor knowledgeable enough most of the time.]

"... Do you believe so?"

[Of course.. Why else?]

Nathalie was rather upfront of what she had in mind, for everything she had deemed true.

Like them, she was also a character that played an important part in society— she still had yet to find out what else she had to do while in deep conflict for her motivations and goals onwards.

With grimoire inaccessible, one of which leverages her, she was too vulnerable and susceptible for any attacks as of the moment— notably the ones that she became unprepared or caught off guard.

She withheld information, a crucial one, to everybody else and vice versa. Her knowledge was too foreign and might've been unknown to them and at the same time, she didn't know that much of the people around her aside from the information she had.

Athan's condition attested to it, and how it affected her plans in the future had she continued to turn a blind eye and ignore the signals that waved almost in front of her.

The word reminded her of the moment she met villainess, and it left a bad taste in her mouth.

"But you're much more knowledgeable than you think."

[Only because I knew what I was going into before I assimilated here.] She then shrugged. [Had I not then I don't know how far I'd go…]

Never did she think that her fanaticism for her craft would end up the greatest boon in the future.

But then, it was only the start of it; for people develop depending on the impact around them.

She impacted so many of them the most, hence the shift of the narrative to what they usually were in the first place.

For that, Athan sighed in defeat. 

He also knew that the potion wasn't fully realized without the help of Arnold, and he was as thankful as he was to her.

"Anyway, I still want to apologize for the actions I've caused—"

[You've apologized for far more than enough…] 

"I don't think it was enough."

[As long as the people are living healthy here, everything is fine with me.]

Athan smiled then glanced at her, who only propped her hand to her chin, close to dozing off from tiredness.

"Don't you want to rest?"

[No, I have so many things to do.]

"In the Western Territory?"

[Maybe not. I see everyone's going well here. Now, we all have to prepare for the incoming banquet, right?]

"Indeed."

Athan started to give an update of what happened since then; with Sylvester taking the lead, the problem coped up well and now they have tried to develop and administer a way to cure the vegetations that also got infected without any dire symptoms occurring along the way.

Since the trafficked citizens were retrieved, they got an additional punishment for manual labor for a couple of years and this was a good way to make use of them.

Regarding the prisoners, they were now captive and waited for the envoy to come back. Most of them already returned with unconditional positive responses before the day finally arrived.

Even then, she knew the Emperor wouldn't show that much mercy, after learning about them scrambling behind the scenes, for sure he'd ask so much enough to make them bleed for a lifetime.

Although this posed a concern on her part.

[Knowing His Majesty, he might've asked more than they could ever give…]

"Isn't that the case? After what they've done?"

[... I feel like it would only raise aggression and take a grave turn…]

"You mean they might plan a last resort?"

However, Arnold narrowed his gaze as he tapped on the table. "The possibility is great. For this isn't the first time they've done it."

Streaks of vein popped in Athan's neck and forehead after his claims. "So they would really dare… A great commotion within the Capital of all places— Right there might be..."

[It's probably when you're desperate but it was worth noting that we mustn't be too complacent.] She then peered in his direction. [I'm sure you'd get it done either way.]

"You can bet on that."

This time, Athan and Arnold talked about the plans needed in the future. Her mind was so tired for today that she wandered off fast.

To distract her from dozing off, she thought about the dress she might advertise during the grand event.

Nathalie then scrolled through her phone and looked at some galleries for the dress she ought to wear.

But with Arnold beside him, he couldn't help but peek at the screen.

From there, he blurted out all of a sudden, "Mysti! What was that?!"

On the other hand, she blinked a few times at him while her phone was there for him to see. [I'm sorry?]

Her confusion became evident, but he paid no mind to it as he scrolled up and prodded to a picture in the gallery.

It was Nathalie, in a red velvet dress, posed within the stairs of the Starbrooke Mansion that she was in— oozing with glamour and high-fashion.

[You mean this dress?]

However, her question missed the mark, especially the surprised look on his face.

Keith was behind her, so he has seen it very clearly; meanwhile, Athan also became curious and moved closer

"My Lady, remember when I first met Lady Mystique for the longest time within the fever dreams?"

Nathalie suddenly had goosebumps when she remembered her words, especially the time when he was astonished to learn the glimpse of the truth.

There were an array of portraits behind Nathalie, of which had Arnold's hand trembled holding onto the phone as he drew his eyes near the screen.

"W— What's the meaning of this?" he breathed while glancing at her. "Those… portraits… Why are they also there?"

Nathalie's eyes and mouth gaped and ended up scrunching her forehead from what awaited her.