Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

Apparently, Athan and Mystique sat on the spacious couch, facing each other while Arnold was at his desk and busied himself with the paperwork he had to do for the day.

From the stifling silence, the Grand Duke sighed.

"So," Arnold trailed off his voice; the chair cracked as he pulled away and stood near the curtain. "Perhaps it's true that Lady Marianne was here; why have I not known it all along?"

His stern gaze landed on Mystique. The stoic face she bore never changed as she also looked at him.

[I thought it would be cumbersome as you have other matters to deal with; moreover, I started this; definitely, I'd finish where this all began.]

He simply watched the interaction of father and daughter.

Arnold, meanwhile, turned around and glanced at her daughter—deep lines furrowed on his forehead with concerns he had with her.

"Mysti, how do you plan to resolve this. We're not to welcome his presence and then off his head with the Emperor's insignia in him, is it?"

[There's no need for that, Father. Nothing will gain from doing so…] Mystique then peered at Athan, who sat without an ounce of nervousness on his back. [However, it seems that he has other things to discuss with you.]

"Is that so?" He rubbed his chin and sized the prince once more.

[For that, I shall take my leave—]

"No, Violette, you stay here." Athan raised his palm as soon as Mystique stood and bid farewell. Both the father and daughter had the same reaction, but they decided to go with the flow. "You need to hear this out as well."

[Oh, really?]

With his nod now had they lent their ears, he then took a deep breath and said, "I want that satchel bag that you took from Nero."

Alas, his utterance caused a subtle shift on Mystique's visage, almost how her usual mask fell off right away.

'So, there's really something I don't know…' Then he gazed at Arnold, who became all worried about her reaction.

The silence loomed, getting heavier with every second the clock ticked. Both of them had yet to speak despite their reaction.

But Athan wasn't able to probe further when Arnold sighed and kneaded his forehead.

"I didn't think you would even want the gift I gave to Mystique." He laid down his reading glasses and leered at him, arms crossing. "Your pettiness knows no bounds and is beyond my comprehension, Your Highness."

Mystique and Athan glanced at him; although a sudden glint could be seen in her eyes, his jaws almost dropped on the floor from his claims.

'Lies! This has to be a lie!' Athan assured himself as his thoughts wandered for a little while.

It was such a random item, after all.

Due to him wallowing in regret, as years and decades went by, his obsession with Mystique grew so deep that he didn't know what to do as he was so empty inside.

Every item, every belonging, and everything that deemed belonging of hers was appropriately kept and treasured under his reign.

None of which bore into him about such an elegant satchel bag, it marked him such an impression.

Also, he began to scrutinize Mystique's gesture and went back to Arnold's, but he couldn't read it as well—aside from the gut feeling that he was protecting her from him—there was nothing else to tell.

But the sudden boggle in his mind became Mystique's opportunity when he noticed the sudden shift of atmosphere.

It was too late for him to act.

Mystique was already in her acting phase.

"Father, this wasn't the first time I had such humiliation from him when it had nothing to do with everyone else but mine alone." Mystique clutched her chest, and her indigo eyes began to glisten from the tears that moistened her eyes.

Somewhere deep in Athan's heart ached at the sight of her because even if it was some sort of an act, it affected him by a notch.

"Your Highness, is it really that important?" Arnold almost let out a growl from clenching his teeth; it was hard for him to hide his emotions, especially since they were in a private setting, to begin with…

However, Athan remained stubborn as he could be; he didn't want to let their reaction sway him when he needed to know something.

"Do you think you would be able to give me the same thing? I suppose it would be a great royal tribute to His Majesty—"

"Then, how about I surrender all of my properties?"

'Huh?'

It was as though a large block of ice molded his feet from the sudden declaration, of which he just sat frozen.

The determination in his eyes had caused distress in his train of thoughts.

Never did he think that Arnold, as the one who deeply valued all of his resources—for all the things he worked hard for—would let them go without a hitch.

He peered sideways, noticing Mystique; she wasn't able to hold it in any longer and shrieked in horror.

"Father—!"

"Mysti, give me a moment, please?" Arnold raised his hand and halted her; seeing how serious he became, she bit her lip and glared at the ground.

'So it wasn't an act?' he thought again. 'Am I missing something else here?'

"With great power comes with great responsibility…."

Athan shot up his head as the familiar phrase rang him with such familiarity. From the look of the Grand Duke's smile, it was rather forced and pitiful; sudden goosebumps surged in every inch of his limestone skin.

It was a line he greatly used to tell before.

"I have lived for as long as I could, and in this highest position I could ever have, I watched my kids die, one after another, right before my eyes—none were saved, none were spared. I couldn't even save my daughter nor our future as the remaining members of the Blackwell Household."

Arnold strode slowly and approached in front of the desk with intimidating steps.

"I already vowed to myself that all of this wealth that I have to give it to anyone who could accomplish one last wish of mine. I have already accomplished what I could, and there seemed to be a lot of nobles who hunger for such a position of power." With a stop, he said again, "Perhaps you shall be the one to take this."

Athan felt his throat ran dry, uttering, "What made you think this way?"

Arnold's words caused him a major setback.