Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

Though as much as she wanted to focus on her tracks, she sprung up when knocks were coming through the wooden door with a low call.

"I'm here…" 

'Finally, Keith's back.'

On her fingertips, she let out a clinking crystal aglow and flicked the rusty metal knob. A subtle clink and the door creak, moving jarringly against the matted floor. 

In the same heavy cotton and leather cloak as hers, Keith had taken off his hood as hers that donned him. The long disheveled fringes covered up to his eyes, but his ears were slightly drooped.

[It's hard, isn't it?]

Many revered him for being a valiant and astute knight on top of his outstanding talent, but he was completely different when he was alone with her. 

Though, she had already expected it. Athan was also cunning, and even with the curse she had cast upon him wouldn't stop from what he wanted.

Yet her silence became an utter shame for Keith as he grunted, dropping on his knees to grovel before her. Perhaps unable to complete the task at hand was only a disappointment. Withal, his gestures had her put up a bitter smile. 

"I have failed yet again, Your Grace."

[No, no!] She hurriedly got to his side and pulled him enough to get him back on his feet, but he was too heavy. [It's alright—]

Even with the power, she had to lift, it was of no use.

'I feel like I'm going to regret that I taught him something for my own benefit.'

With her help, Keith became stronger by several leaps and bounds. 

All she had done was give the training manual that deemed fit to him and carefully followed the instructions, alongside her concoctions that became his supplements.

After proving Arnold his capabilities—being able to multi-task as a commander and her bodyguard—it was still his decision to follow her. At first, she insisted on staying in the castle, but when they learned she would venture forth, even when people are against her at the time, there was no stopping her. 

Which is why, what, and where they were now.

'He's such an overly adorable father; dare I say I miss him so much.'

[I saw it coming; you've worked hard.] Nathalie patted his head a couple of times. Through her fingers brushed the hair to a kempt style and revealed his fair face yet sullen eyes. 

There found a wide smile on her face as she was proud of his perseverance.

When his muscles began to relax, and his ears perked, she added, [I suppose brewing me a cup of tea would be much better.]

He gave a curt nod and stood up. "I shall grab some refreshments and for our breakfast as well."

[I know I can rely on you.] She raised with thumbs up, winking. [Now get going, I'll be over there.] While her hand now pointed at the small wooden table—that was simple and seats good for a couple—was right beside the windows.

Now that they parted ways, Nathalie strutted towards one of the chairs, and through a little nudge, she took a seat, glancing her way to the beautiful streets. Through the rays of the dawn glanced the frontage of the buildings and the streets that slowly swarmed with many people—playful children and adults moving like busy bees—moving back and forth to who knew where they would go.

Admiring the bustling scenery afore her eyes was another thing as it didn't outlast what she obtained meeting Athan once more. 

'That should do a sweet revenge for activating the curse that I have to bear for my entire life.' She eyed sideways, flipping her hair to the side, and harrumphed. 'Well, not that it was special though, he can just fuck anyone as he so desires when he's in heat—'

Then, a pang hit her heart when she pondered about it. She mumbled inaudibly in a wince. 

'Bitch please, not that I have feelings for him...' 

She propped her hand on her left cheek, moaning in silence.

Nothing good would turn out with this. 

'I thought he had other motives—well, he did but just around my expectation, that is…' She smirked, giggling, 'I have to thank Athan for giving me this card.'

To find the rest of the ladies for her objective, Nathalie had given a task for Keith to accomplish—even if Marianne wasn't present. 

.

Athan acted too quickly and was almost a step closer to his objective.

Which, still, made her suspicious of how he surrendered so quickly.

He has few tricks up on his sleeves, but there's no way she would never guess it right off the bat. 

But it wasn't much of a problem; for the author of the book, she got what it takes to achieve the same result.

A while later, Nathalie snapped out of her thoughts when Keith came back with a food trolley he was pushing after opening the door. 

[Welcome back.]

"Yes," Keith replied with a wide grin. "I have brought several dishes that you deeply love." He then opened the cloche and gaped at the marvelous dishes stacked in a trolley. It was already an allure in her eyes, and the savory aroma only made it worse for her.

With a slight drool and a stomach grumble, she sat upright and glanced at him sheepishly.

A deep chuckle was Keith's response, and he moved the dish to the table so they could eat together.

Right in the middle of it, Nathalie placed her utensils down and asked, "Keith, uhh, do you know Nathan Kiel Forsberg?"

The fork in his hands almost slipped from his grasp as he gaped and shuddered at her. His eyes screamed such horror, which had her taken aback.

'Uhmmm…. Did I ask the wrong question?'

No way she would use ice at the moment, not in the presence of delicious, hot food laid in front of her, but Keith was on cold feet. 

"Nevermind then…" Nathalie then pressed her lips thin and focused on the delicious steak on her plate.

The silence became eerie, even with the muffled gates and chatters from outside the window; seeing how worse his reaction got, it might not be the right time to ask.

Keith still uttered otherwise, "You did tell me to avoid him, and when I found out he was a creep, I got weirded out and wouldn't approach him."

"I did?" Her eyes flickered, contemplating for a while. "So, he was into me?"

"No?" Keith replied, forehead scrunched up in confusion. "That Grand Duke was into me."