I Am a Villain, So What?

"Your duel was nowhere near the level of first-years. You summoned a silver moon. Kael summoned the sun. You destroyed the shielding barrier," she recounted, her voice rising slightly. "I saw the faces of the spectators, Lucien. The recruiters were looking at you like you were a piece of prime steak. I bet you and that Kael guy will be drowning in invitations from Knight Orders before breakfast."

I smiled, listening to her ramble. She was cute when she was worried about my social calendar.

I pulled on her hand, tugging her forward.

"I don't care about any of them," I whispered.

Ariana gasped softly as she fell forward, landing against my chest. My arms wrapped around her waist instantly, locking her in place.

"L-Lucien?" she stammered, her face inches from mine.

"Let them send their invitations," I murmured, looking deep into her eyes. "I just want to know one thing. Since I performed so well… don't I deserve a reward?"

Ariana's face went from pink to a deep crimson. The intimacy of the position—her body pressed against mine, my legs tangling with hers—made her breath hitch.

"W-What are you talking about?" she fumbled, her gaze darting to my lips and back up. "You… you already got dinner."

I smirked, leaning up slightly.

"So you're playing hard to get, huh? Then I think I'll have to take my reward on my own."

"Wait, I—"

Before she could finish her protest, I closed the gap.

My lips locked onto hers.

It wasn't soft like the bridge. It was hungry. It was the release of all the adrenaline, the fear of death, and the sheer relief of being alive.

Ariana stiffened for a split second, then melted. Her arms wound around my neck, her fingers tangling in my hair, pulling me closer.

"Mmm…"

She let out a soft sound against my mouth as I deepened the kiss, our tongues meeting in a heated dance. The taste of her—sweet, warm, and alive—was better than any potion.

I shifted, pulling her higher so she was straddling my lap. My hands roamed down her back, tracing the curve of her spine, before settling firmly on her waist.

I broke the kiss, trailing down to her jawline.

"Lucien…" she breathed, her head tilting back to give me access.

I nipped gently at the sensitive skin of her neck.

"You talk too much," I whispered against her skin, causing her to shiver.

My hand moved up from her waist, thumb brushing the side of her breast through the thin fabric of her dress.

"Ah!"

She gasped, her nails digging into my shoulders. The air in the room was heavy, electric. We were lost in it. The pain in my ribs was forgotten; the only thing that mattered was her skin, her scent, her heat.

Knock. Knock.

The sound was like a gunshot in a library.

Ariana froze. I froze.

Ariana scrambled off me like she had been electrocuted.

"Oh god!" she whispered, her hands flying to her hair, trying to smooth the mess I had made. She jumped off the bed, smoothing her rumpled dress, turning her back to the door to hide her flushed face.

I quickly leaned back against the pillows, trying to look like a patient and not a teenager caught making out.

But it was too late.

The door clicked open.

"We brought dinner! I hope you like stew because Alicia made extra—"

Lily, bounced into the room carrying a large paper bag. Behind her walked Alicia, looking elegant as always.

Lily's cheerful voice died in her throat.

She stood there, blinking.

She looked at Ariana, who was aggressively smoothing a crease in her skirt, her face glowing like a red lantern.

She looked at me, sitting innocently in bed… with a distinct, smear of pink lipstick on my cheek and neck.

And the heavy, unmistakable tension in the air.

Lily's mouth formed a perfect 'O'.

Alicia stopped beside Lily, her sharp eyes scanning the room. She took in the disheveled bedsheets, the flustered girl aggressively smoothing her skirt, and the guilty boy wiping his cheek.

She let out a long, dry sigh, shaking her head.

"It seems," Alicia said, her voice dripping with amusement, "we have come at the very wrong time."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose to hide my embarrassment.

"You know," I grumbled, "the social contract of a knock implies waiting for a response. What's the point of knocking if you're just going to barge in anyway?"

Alicia smirked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Well, we knocked and waited five whole seconds. We figured that was enough time to stop 'whatever' you were doing. Unless, of course, you were too… tangled up to hear us."

"Alicia!"

Lily reached up and pinched Alicia's ear, twisting it firmly like a stern older sister correcting a bratty sibling.

"Ow! Ow! Okay, I yield!" Alicia yelped.

"Behave yourself," Lily scolded, though her eyes were twinkling. She turned to me and bowed slightly. "Sorry, Master. We will keep that in mind for next time."

"Should we come back another time then?" Alicia added, rubbing her reddened ear but still grinning mischievously. "Maybe give you another ten minutes to… finish up?"

"Just put the food down, Alicia," I said, clearing my throat loudly to dispel the awkwardness. "I was getting hungry anyway. What did you bring?"

"The special," Lily beamed, walking over to the small table and unpacking the containers. "Beef stew, fresh bread, and your favorite berry tart."

The rich aroma of savory meat and herbs filled the room, instantly overpowering the sterile smell of the infirmary. Ariana, seemingly composed now (though her ears were still pink), helped Lily set the table.

We pulled up chairs—me sitting on the edge of the bed—and dug in.

As we ate, the awkward tension melted away, replaced by the warm, chaotic comfort of a family dinner.

"So," I asked, dipping bread into the stew. "How is the shop? Did it survive without me?"

"Survive?" Alicia laughed. "It's a warzone out there, Boss. But in a good way."

"Everywhere you go, people are talking," Lily added, her eyes wide. "About the duel. About you, Master. And about Miss Ariana, too."

Ariana blinked, pausing with her spoon halfway to her mouth.

"Me?" She pointed to herself, puzzled. "And not Kael? Why?"

"Isn't that natural?" Lily said, tilting her head.

"But… Kael is the strongest," Ariana argued. "He summoned the sun. He won."

"That's exactly why," Lily explained, gesturing with a fork. "Mr. Kael is already well known for his strength. He's the Golden Boy. Though he showed much more power than anyone expected, people were just… impressed. They weren't shocked."

She turned to look at me.

"But you, Master, are different. From what the rumors say… you were the dead last in your class. You were considered weak, arrogant, and incompetent."

"He even got suspended and cut off from his own House," Alicia added helpfully.

"Hey," I interrupted, pointing a spoon at her. "That hurts. I'm right here."

"Sorry, Master," Lily giggled. "But isn't it the truth?"

She continued, her voice taking on a tone of admiration.

"My point is, the cadet who was dead last—the 'Trash of the Academy'—reached the Final Round. You fought the Princess, the Hero, and the Instructors. And you didn't just survive; you nearly won."

Lily leaned forward.

"No one can say it was a fluke. You used a weapon no one understood and tactics no one expected. That's why everyone is talking about you. Everyone loves an underdog story."

I chewed my bread thoughtfully. 'An underdog, huh? I suppose that's better than being a villain.'

"And the same goes for you, Lady Ariana," Lily said, turning to the silver-haired girl.

"Me?"

"If Master was last, you weren't far ahead in the rankings," Lily said gently. "Your introverted nature was known to everyone. The rumors were cruel… saying the youngest daughter of the Solmere Ducal House was talentless. A mute doll."

Ariana lowered her gaze to her stew.

"But," Lily said firmly, "you came out as an Alchemy Genius."

Alicia nodded in agreement.

"Your use of those potions during the duel? It opened a new world for a lot of people. No one had ever thought of using alchemy offensively like that in a live battle. Acid bombs, paralysis mist, buffs… usually, potions are just for healing after the fight."

"You proved that Alchemy isn't just a support class," I added, nudging Ariana's shoulder. "You proved it's a weapon."

Ariana looked around the table—at Lily's admiration, Alicia's nod, and my proud smile.

A shy, genuine smile bloomed on her face.

"I… I just wanted to be useful," she whispered.

"You were more than useful," I said softly. "You were terrifying. In a good way."

We laughed, finishing the meal in high spirits. For an hour, the pressure of the Academy, the looming threat of the cultists, and the politics of the Empire felt very far away.

Click.

The door opened again.

A stern-faced nurse stepped in, checking her pocket watch.

"Visiting hours are over," she announced, brooking no argument. "The patient needs rest. His mana core is still unstable."

Lily and Alicia immediately stood up, packing the empty containers.

"We're going!" Lily chirped. "Get well soon, Master!"

"Don't do anything naughty once we leave," Alicia whispered to me with a wink as she passed.

I ignored her.

Ariana lingered for a second. She squeezed my hand one last time.

"I'll come by tomorrow morning to walk you out," she promised.

"I'll be waiting."

She smiled, released my hand, and followed the others out.

The door clicked shut, leaving me alone in the silence of the infirmary.

I laid back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling. My body ached, but my mind was clear.

I had lost the duel. But looking at the empty chair where Ariana had sat, and the empty food containers from my friends…

I felt like I had won something much more important.