Rebirth of the Villain

The first man paled, immediately dropping to one knee. "My lord! Forgive me—I didn't recognize you without your... I mean, alone in the forest..."

"Rise," Arthur commanded, hiding his amusement. "You were doing your duty. What's your name?"

"Gareth, my lord. Royal Forester. This is my apprentice, Tomas."

"My lord," Tomas said, bowing deeply, "why are you here? Is there danger? Should we summon reinforcements?"

Arthur waved away their concern. "Nothing so dramatic. I came to have some fun, that's all." The lie came easily, his true intention—scouting a location away from prying eyes—better kept to himself.

The foresters exchanged glances, clearly uncertain how to proceed. Finally, Gareth cleared his throat. "Would you... like an escort, my lord? There's a beautiful clearing about half a mile ahead with a hot spring. Good hunting in the area too."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "A hot spring? Show me."

The foresters led him through the ancient trees, eventually emerging into a clearing that took Arthur's breath away. A small waterfall cascaded down moss-covered rocks into a series of natural pools, steam rising gently from their surface. The clearing was ringed by massive trees that formed a natural privacy screen, and the afternoon sun filtered through the canopy in dappled patterns across the forest floor.

"The locals say these waters have healing properties," Tomas explained eagerly. "Something about the minerals. Animals come from miles around to drink here."

Arthur approached the nearest pool, dipping his fingers into the water. It was perfectly hot—not scalding, but warm enough to soothe tired muscles. As his hand broke the surface, he felt a curious tingle, almost like the water was responding to his touch.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: NATURAL ENERGY SOURCE DETECTED]

[VOID RESONANCE: MINIMAL, STABLE]

Interesting. The place had its own magical properties, subtle but present. And it responded well to his void energy rather than conflicting with it.

"This is perfect," Arthur murmured, his mind already racing with possibilities. A private retreat, away from the castle's prying eyes and listening walls. A place where he could bring his queens—or Nara—without fear of discovery. The natural acoustics of the clearing would muffle sounds, while the surrounding forest would warn of any approach.

"You're granted access to move freely in this area," Arthur told the foresters. "But tell no one of my visit today."

"Of course, my lord," Gareth said, bowing again. "Shall we leave you to... enjoy the springs?"

"Yes. I'll find my way back."

Once the foresters had departed, Arthur explored the clearing thoroughly. Besides the hot springs, he discovered a small cave behind the waterfall, its interior dry and surprisingly spacious. The trees surrounding the clearing were positioned almost too perfectly, as if they had been planted deliberately centuries ago to create this private sanctuary.

The cave particularly intrigued him. Its main chamber was roughly circular, with a high ceiling that prevented the space from feeling claustrophobic. Natural shelves and alcoves in the rock walls could easily hold lanterns or other necessities. The floor was surprisingly level, covered with fine sand that would be soft underfoot. Most importantly, the cave maintained a pleasant temperature—cool enough to be refreshing after the hot springs, but not cold.

Arthur ran his hand along the smooth stone wall, his mind filling the space with images—plush furs covering the sandy floor, silken pillows piled in the corners, perhaps chains or restraints anchored to the stronger rock formations. The perfect place for more... adventurous activities that might raise eyebrows even among his queens.

Outside, he examined the hot springs more carefully. There were five distinct pools, each at a slightly different temperature, connected by small, natural channels. The largest could easily accommodate six or seven people, while the smallest offered more intimate privacy for two. The minerals in the water left his skin feeling unusually sensitive where he had dipped his hand, an effect that had obvious potential for enhancing pleasure.

The trees surrounding the clearing were another marvel. Massive, ancient things with thick, gnarled trunks and branches that intertwined overhead to create a natural canopy. Their positioning created perfect sight lines from the center of the clearing—anyone approaching would be visible long before they reached the springs, while those within would remain hidden from casual observation.

By the time Arthur returned to his horse, his plans were fully formed. This would be his private domain—a place where he could indulge his desires away from the political pressures of the castle. A place where his queens could be themselves without fear of judgment or gossip.

And perhaps, a place where a beast clan princess could visit without raising suspicion.

---

"A hunting lodge?" the royal financial advisor repeated, his quill poised over his ledger. "In the Old Growth forest?"

"Not just a hunting lodge," Arthur corrected, leaning over the plans he'd sketched. "A royal retreat. Private, secure, and built to my exact specifications."

They were in Arthur's study, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the detailed drawings Arthur had prepared. The advisor—a thin, precise man named Cedric—studied the plans with professional interest, though his raised eyebrow suggested he understood the true purpose of such an isolated, luxurious structure.

"These bedchambers are... quite spacious, my lord," Cedric noted, his tone carefully neutral. "And you require... seven of them?"

"Eight," Arthur corrected. "The master suite should be large enough for... diplomatic discussions that might run late into the night."

"Of course, my lord." Cedric made a notation in his ledger. "And these bathing pools connected to the hot spring?"

"Essential for relaxation after a long day of hunting," Arthur said, his expression giving nothing away. "The natural minerals have therapeutic properties."

"Naturally." Cedric's quill scratched across the parchment. "And the, ah, specialized furniture you've indicated here?"

Arthur smiled thinly. "For the comfort of my guests."

To his credit, Cedric maintained his professional demeanor, though a slight flush colored his cheeks. "I'll arrange for the most discreet craftsmen, my lord. Construction can begin within the week, with completion perhaps within a month, if we prioritize the project."

"Do so," Arthur commanded. "And Cedric? This project doesn't appear in the public accounts. Fund it from my personal treasury."

"As you wish, my lord." Cedric gathered the plans, carefully rolling them into a leather case. "Will there be anything else?"

Arthur dismissed him with a wave, turning his attention to the dungeon reports spread across another section of his desk. The scouts had returned with disturbing news—strange time distortions around the dungeon entrance, animals fleeing the area, and local villagers reporting dreams of "a child with ancient eyes."

Most concerning was the scout who'd been found wandering in a daze, claiming to have seen "the void between worlds." The man had recovered physically but refused to speak of what he'd witnessed inside the dungeon.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: DUNGEON ANALYSIS INCOMPLETE]

[VOID RESONANCE DETECTED: MATCHING PATTERNS]

The notification confirmed Arthur's suspicion—this dungeon was somehow connected to his void evolution. Gizmo's test, designed specifically for him. But what was its true purpose? To help him control his evolution, or to accelerate it toward some unknown end?

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. "Enter," he called, not looking up from the reports.

A servant bowed at the threshold. "My lord, Lady Beatrice requests your presence in the east tower. She says the preparations are complete."

Arthur nodded, gathering the dungeon reports into a secure drawer. "Tell her I'll be there shortly."

As the servant departed, Arthur felt a familiar hunger stirring—not the void's appetite for power, but his own desire for connection, for release. The assassination attempt, the forest discovery, the planning—all had left him tense and focused. Now he needed balance, needed to feed the System that granted him power.

And Beatrice, with her divine energy and eager submission, would be the perfect partner for what he had in mind.

---

Beatrice was waiting in her private chambers in the east tower, surrounded by ritual components and magical texts. Her eyes lit up as Arthur entered, a blush immediately coloring her cheeks.

"My king," she greeted him, dropping into a curtsy that emphasized her petite form. "I've prepared everything as you requested."

Arthur locked the door behind him, his gaze traveling over her appreciatively. "Show me."

Beatrice led him to a table covered with magical implements—crystals, herbs, and a detailed map of the area surrounding the dungeon. "I've been scrying the location," she explained, her voice taking on the confident tone she used when discussing magic. "The energy patterns are unlike anything I've seen before. It's as if the dungeon exists partially in our world and partially... elsewhere."

Arthur studied the map, noting the areas she had marked with various colored inks. "Can you determine what's inside?"

"No," she admitted, frustration evident in her voice. "Something blocks my sight beyond the entrance. But I've prepared a ritual that might help us understand more about its nature."