Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

"What do you mean?" Marianne clutched to her chest and slowly took steps backward.

'I haven't done anything yet. She's already backing out.' Athan narrowed his eyes.

"Why are you here then? In this cold, ruthless dungeon of hers with my one and only familiar, no less?" He looked around again and then went to the spare chair for him to sit with comfort.

"Her Grace, Lady Mystique, issued an emergency meeting."

A twitch from the corner of his lips came while he kept his gaze. 'Is it about me? I shall take this opportunity then.'

"I see." Athan rubbed his chin as he tried to give it a thought. "Rest assured. I'm capable enough to help you, even more than she could."

"...How can I trust you?"

It was time to lay out the cards on the table.

"How's your performance going?"

Just from a simple probe had her aquamarine eyes glistened. Her reaction had his scalp tingle in excitement—swarming over him from a spot-on response.

'It seems Mystique worked this out for a long time already. Just how much time and effort she poured out to do such preparations?' He pondered while watching her gestures in caution.

One of the regrets Athan had was, even after all that he did, he wasn't able to save the only daughter of the Salvatore family. Moreover, she was also Matthew's favorite; her supposedly death caused distress of his best friend—changing him into much of a bastard ways, like him despite his overtly gentle and chivalrous air he gave off and pleasing noblewomen in the circle.

But there was no appropriate evidence, and it became too late for Athan against the scheme, leaving justice not served.

Her death was revealed as a publicity stunt—as they had another agenda, which unfurled during the war— had him deeply ashamed and also Matthew in so many ways.

After knowing the truth, he assured himself that the sole Lady of the Salvatore would become stronger, under Mystique's wing and not the little, innocent woman that she was then.

As of the current timeline, Matthew got blinded by anger and vengeance, which was understandable to his case in his previous life and Mystique's as to Arnold. A part of him wanted to tell the truth to Matthew so badly, but it would change the course of the future.

'Not until I get the objective that I want and also made Marriane the powerful werewolf that she would turn out in the future, I have to keep this to myself.' Athan shut his eyes, jaws clenched from the thought of changing the dire future, even if it meant weighing himself for better and for worse.

Just like Mystique.

"I—I don't know what you're talking about." Marianne averted her gaze towards Nero, flickering them, while her hands went to fiddle around the mineral ores.

"I forgot to tell you something. Mystique and I have many things to disagree with, but I assure you that we have some kind of arrangement as we work for one objective."

Athan, as of the moment, knew he had to rope her in. There were lots of things to do in Starbrooke Mansion, but this one was the most important. Once this mission would turn out to be successful, he would reap the benefits and advance further.

"I don't believe you. You may be—the main candidate for the throne now, but I'm not scared of you—after what you did to Lady Mystique was unforgivable."

"I could say the same thing for you," he retorted with a slight shrug. "Should I remind you of your selfish request to put an act was grave misconduct, and you could be punished for doing so?"

She gasped out of horror, almost had the ore slipped through her fingertips from the sudden flinch.

Later on, Marriane admitted that she used Mystique's mysterious and villainous reputation to get away from the societal norms built for noble ladies. Yet the latter didn't mind doing so, as the cunning witch she was could also benefit from it.

Daughters of the noble family were subjected to an arranged marriage to another noble, or and of much a stronger household to maintain heritage and prestige.

Before, he never cared about it as he had the same mindset that women were no different from livestock and commodities—trading goods that would benefit the future. Exceptions of these were Empresses and Queens of the nation.

If not for Mystique being an eye-opener that women could change and be an equal footing among men, then he would've still held on to that belief.

Still, it didn't change the fact he didn't like the methods Mystique had to undertake.

"I wonder what would be Matthew's reaction the moment he found out—"

"Don't you dare!" she shrieked on top of her lungs, causing Nero to squirm from his rest.

Marianne's eyes aglow, with her fangs protrude and claws ready to pounce at him. She had yet to transform, but the aura she gave off was terrifying enough to intimidate her enemies.

"You leave me no choice." However, Athan crossed his arms; He was the least affected as Matthew was stronger than hers and could get away with ease. "That's right; I'm now the heir apparent to the throne. Wouldn't it be better to make a name for yourself, especially under my tutelage?"

The brightness in her eyes gradually dimmed to normal as her claws and fangs retracted. Though she never adequately disregarded her vigilance.

"It was also a stunt, to be fair." He reasoned out vaguely. "As I mentioned, I have talked to Mystique; apparently, her hands are full, so I thought I should lend her a hand." Lips of Athan now plastered into a wide smile, brimming with lies from the words he uttered.

There was no turning back.

His eyes glanced at the door to the left, which led to another spare room. Ever since he stepped in the room, several doors linked to adjacent rooms of who knew what was in it as he could no longer detect them through his supernatural senses.

Only to find out engraved runes with several magic stones embedded on the walls, he knew that it was a complex barrier, enough to withstand the likes of him.

But this also led to another problem that arose in no time.

When a sudden chill wind blew his back, rattling the glassware and several metal works from her sultry voice filled with dread.

"It seems I have an uninvited guest."