I Became the Master of the Villain

It seemed he had recognized me as well. I smiled awkwardly and offered a greeting.
“Olivia Ashford greets Your Highness, the Second Prince.”

I raised my head slightly and added,
“Thank you for the other day. I didn’t expect you to be a prince.”
Alexis replied as if it were nothing.

“It’s fine. There aren’t many people who remember my face.”
Olivia had seen the Second Prince once when she was young, but it had been so long ago that her memory was fuzzy.
Well, even the palace guards hadn’t recognized this man’s face.

Then Alexis suddenly asked,
“Are you not going to dance?”
“I haven’t found a partner.”

“Then… if you don’t mind, would you care for a dance with me?”
Alexis added lightly,
“You can decline if you don’t feel up to it.”

I mulled over what to do and took a sip of wine.
It’s not like I had anything better to do… Maybe just one dance?
“All right.”

At my answer, Alexis’s eyes widened slightly.
He looked like he hadn’t expected me to actually agree.
I glanced over at the many men and women who had stepped onto the dance floor.

“Shall we, Your Highness? If we don’t hurry, the music will begin.”
Alexis gave a small nod.
“Very well.”
Ignoring the glances from onlookers, I stood facing Alexis.

Thankfully, we weren’t late. The moment I placed my hand in his, an elegant minuet began to play.
As I stepped into the rhythm, I glanced sideways at Alexis.
I had worried whether someone who’d spent his life fighting in the North would remember how to dance…

But surprisingly, he danced well. He guided me gently as he spoke.
“Are you unbothered?”
“About what?”

“Dancing with me, I mean. Most people seem to avoid me.”
“Ah…”
So that’s what he meant.

The nobles avoided him, calling him a heretic, but I knew the truth from reading the original novel.
He was innocent.
The Crown Prince framed Alexis to keep him in check.

Others might not know the full story, but at the very least, I knew he wasn’t guilty.
There was no reason for me to look down on him.
“A charge of heresy isn’t that big of a deal. I don’t care about that stuff.”

Alexis’s hand faltered for a moment. After a brief silence, he let out a small chuckle.
“You’re quite unusual.”
He stepped in rhythm as he continued,

“But will you be all right? The Crown Prince probably won’t be pleased to see you dancing with me.”
“I’m not in such a desperate position that I need to care about His Highness’s opinion.”
Alexis chuckled in amusement.

“Does that confidence come from your family’s name?”
The Ashford Duchy was the wealthiest house in the Empire. They weren’t in a position to cater to the whims of the royal family.
“I know well how wealthy your family is. They say you spent 100 billion gallons on a slave without batting an eye.”

“Where did you hear that?”
“People talk.”
So that matter was still a topic of gossip…

Maybe it had resurfaced because Kian awakened as a mage.
The crowd moved in circles as Alexis glided toward the center of the floor.
“By the way, did Sir Kian not attend the ball?”

“He said he’d be late due to a mission.”
“I see.”
While we talked, the song neared its end.

After one final turn, the first dance came to a close.
As the music stopped, the onlookers applauded.
I bowed slightly, bending my knees. Alexis lifted his head and said,

“Thanks to you, I wasn’t bored.”
“Same here.”
I smiled as I adjusted the hem of my dress.

That’s when the murmuring began.
“Look who’s here!”
“Oh my, isn’t that Sir Kian?”

“He must’ve come straight from his mission.”
Kian came?
I turned my head toward the entrance.

Wearing a pale blue °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° evening suit, Kian crossed the hall under the gaze of everyone present.
“Lady Olivia.”
Kian called me with a gentle smile.

Perhaps because he felt sorry for being late, his elegantly shaped brows tilted downward.
“My apologies for keeping you waiting.”
I thought he wouldn’t be able to make it…

But I was glad he came, even if late. I shook my head to show it was fine.
“It’s only the first dance that’s finished.”
“Is that so?”

Saying that, Kian turned to look at Alexis.
Come to think of it, this must be their first time meeting.
I quickly spoke up.

“Kian, this is His Highness Alexis—the Second Prince.”
At that, Alexis looked at Kian with interest. He was the first to speak.
“So you’re Sir Kian. I’ve heard much about you.”

Kian bowed his head lightly and replied,
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
“I’m pleased as well to meet the renowned mage. I heard your feats in the Barony of Raindorf were impressive?”

“I wouldn’t call them feats. But…”
He smiled politely as he addressed Alexis.
“Was it Your Highness who danced the first number with Lady Olivia?”

“I did…”
In that instant, the temperature around us dropped.
At the same time, the air grew heavy. Breathing became oddly suffocating.

Over in one corner of the hall, the court musicians hurried about.
The intermission ended, and the second piece was about to begin.
Kian gently pulled me—who had been standing near Alexis—closer to his side.

“Then if you’ll excuse us.”
He still wore a smiling face as he said it. But his eyes weren’t smiling, which gave me a strange feeling.
Alexis chuckled as if amused and said,

“Very well. I hope you enjoy yourselves.”
With that, Alexis turned away.
The chill in the air disappeared as soon as he was gone. The suffocating pressure was gone too, like it had never existed.

What was that? Just my imagination?
Kian, still wearing a gentle smile, extended his hand politely.
“Lady Olivia. May I have this dance?”

I placed my hand lightly in his pale one and answered,
“Yes, gladly.”
The moment I replied, a lively tune began to play.

Unlike the first, this piece had a faster tempo.
But… could Kian dance?
I wondered if he’d ever had a chance to learn.

Yet my worries proved unfounded—Kian guided me with practiced ease. As I let him lead, I asked,
“Be honest with me, Kian.”
“Yes?”

“What can’t you do?”
Magic aside, I really hadn’t expected him to be this good at dancing too.
Kian smiled softly and wrapped his arm around my waist.

“Please just understand that it’s the result of practice.”
Had he been practicing little by little since becoming a noble?
I looked into his face as I followed his lead. Kian exhaled like a sigh.

“A week felt far too long.”
I knew Kian was strong, but adapting to military life might’ve been hard on him.
It was probably his first time fighting magical beasts in the field too. Did he struggle more than expected?

I asked with concern,
“Was the mission that rough?”
“No, it wasn’t.”

The answer came immediately. As expected, normal beasts were no match for him.
I chuckled and teased,
“Or maybe… you just missed me?”

“Yes.”
He answered so sincerely that I was taken aback.
Kian pulled my waist close.

His face was right in front of mine. Close enough that I could see the flutter of his long lashes.
My heart thumped from the lack of space between us.
I barely managed to keep my steps and muttered,

“Isn’t this a bit too close?”
Kian’s eyes curved into a soft smile as he replied,
“I was taught that this is how one dances the waltz.”

“Well, yes, but still…”
I thought I’d gotten used to his looks, but for some reason, my heart kept racing.
Dancing this close, I became aware of something I hadn’t noticed before.

I’d thought of him as just beautiful, but his body was made of firm muscle.
His shoulders and back were broad, and his arm around my waist didn’t waver.
Feeling something unfamiliar, I looked up at Kian. He held my waist—

And the next moment, he lifted me lightly.
The full skirt of my dress flared as we spun in an arc.
Gasps rose from the crowd.

Kian gently set me down and said,
“It’s my first ball, so I’m not sure if I’m doing well.”
“You couldn’t have done better.”

“Lady Olivia always gives me such generous praise.”
“Wait, are you saying I’m just flattering you?”
“You may evaluate me honestly.”

“Then…”
I grinned mischievously and said,
“Everything was perfect—except for arriving late.”

Kian didn’t make excuses about his mission. He simply smiled and replied obediently,
“That was my fault. Please issue any punishment you wish.”
I teased,

“You don’t know what I might ask for.”
“If it’s your command, Lady Olivia, anything is fine. Because…”
Kian suddenly pulled my waist in tight. He whispered in a low voice by my ear,

“There’s no way you’d treat me harshly.”
“…”
His choice of words was strangely embarrassing.

I’d meant to tease him, but now I felt like I’d lost the upper hand.
I leaned back with an awkward laugh.
“I was joking. Forget I said anything…”

Kian curved his eyes sweetly and replied,
“What a shame. I was curious what punishment you might choose.”