A Psychopath Reborn as a Third-rate Villain

The gentle melody of the waltz continued to drift through the magnificent ballroom.

Beneath the warm glow of countless crystal chandeliers, Andras and Seraphina glided effortlessly across the polished marble floor.

Every movement was perfectly synchronized.

Each step flowed seamlessly into the next, as though they had practiced together for years. Neither needed to speak. A subtle shift of the hand, the slightest movement of the shoulders, or a brief meeting of their eyes was enough for the other to understand.

For a fleeting moment...

The grand ballroom seemed to disappear.

Only the music remained.

Only the dance.

Only the quiet harmony between two people moving as one.

Then—

Echo Resonance stirred.

A faint ripple spread through Andras’s senses.

Someone...

Was watching him.

Not with admiration.

Not with curiosity.

But with unmistakable hostility.

Without disrupting the rhythm of the dance, Andras casually shifted his gaze toward the source.

Several meters away stood a young noble dressed in the formal attire of a Count’s household.

He appeared to be around Andras’s age.

After a brief moment of thought, recognition surfaced.

Romio Ravenhart.

The eldest son of Count Ravenhart.

The young noble’s eyes never left him.

Jealousy.

Resentment.

Frustration.

He made no attempt to conceal any of it.

Andras briefly glanced at Seraphina before everything became clear.

So...

Another admirer.

Love without strength...

Is merely another form of tragedy.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

It seems Seraphina has unknowingly broken more than a few hearts.

The thought amused him.

Still...

He wasn’t concerned.

Anyone with even the slightest bit of intelligence would bury those emotions and walk away.

House Darkmoor was not a family one challenged over wounded pride.

And if, by some miracle, the fool chose otherwise...

The smile on Andras’s face became almost imperceptibly colder.

Empires rarely fall overnight.

Noble houses do.

All it takes...

Is one foolish heir.

If he truly lacks the wisdom to let this end here...

Neither he nor the house behind him will survive the mistake.

His attention drifted away as naturally as it had settled upon the young noble.

Some people simply weren’t worth another glance.

The melody continued.

Several elegant turns later, the music gradually slowed before reaching its graceful conclusion.

Andras gently released Seraphina’s hand before offering a courteous bow.

”Thank you for the dance.”

Seraphina returned the gesture with a smile filled with genuine warmth.

”The pleasure was mine.”

As they stepped away from the dance floor, Andras’s gaze naturally found Evelyne standing nearby.

She had watched the entire dance with a quiet, satisfied smile.

Many nobles stole occasional glances toward her.

Several gentlemen clearly wished to invite the beautiful Duchess onto the ballroom floor.

Yet none possessed the courage to take the first step.

Andras understood why.

Evelyne Darkmoor’s beauty was legendary.

So was her reputation.

Stories of the Ice Duchess had spread throughout the Empire for years.

Some spoke of the noble houses she had crushed through political brilliance.

Others remembered battlefields frozen beneath endless ice at her command.

Whether those tales had grown with time hardly mattered anymore.

Fear had become inseparable from her name.

Very few people dared approach her.

Andras smiled to himself.

He walked toward Evelyne before stopping before her.

With flawless courtesy, he extended one hand.

”My lady...”

A hint of amusement shone within his violet eyes.

”May I have this dance?”

For the briefest moment, surprise flickered across Evelyne’s beautiful face.

Then a warm smile blossomed upon her lips.

”It would be my pleasure...”

She placed her slender hand in his.

”...handsome young man.”

A few nearby nobles couldn’t help smiling at the exchange.

Mother and son stepped gracefully onto the ballroom floor.

The musicians had already begun another melody.

As the music filled the hall once more, Andras placed one hand lightly upon Evelyne’s waist while she rested hers upon his shoulder.

Their dance began.

Unlike his dance with Seraphina...

This one felt effortless.

Comfortable.

There was no pressure to impress.

No uncertainty.

Only the quiet understanding forged through years spent together.

Not far away...

Seraphina quietly made her way toward Seris.

The two young women watched the dancers while exchanging casual conversation.

After a few moments, Seraphina’s gaze drifted back toward the ballroom.

She watched Andras and Evelyne dancing together.

A thoughtful expression crossed her beautiful face.

”I still find it difficult to believe,” she admitted softly.

”The infamous Andras... and Duchess Evelyne...”

”...share such a close relationship.”

Seris followed her gaze.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

”Mother has always adored Andras.”

There wasn’t bitterness in her voice.

Only a trace of lingering jealousy.

”When we were children...”

”I used to envy him.”

She laughed quietly at herself.

”No matter how hard I trained or how well I performed...”

”I always felt Mother gave him just a little more attention.”

Her eyes softened as she watched the two dancing.

”Although...”

She hesitated.

”Something has changed recently.”

”Their relationship was always good...”

”But after recently...”

”They have became even closer.”

”I’ve noticed it too.”

Seraphina listened silently.

”So...”

She asked with genuine curiosity,

”Her Grace truly favors one child over the other?”

Seris smiled helplessly.

”I honestly don’t know.”

”Perhaps.”

”Or perhaps...”

She looked toward Andras with a thoughtful expression.

”Brother simply understands Mother better than I ever did.”

The two young women fell silent once more.

Their attention returned to the ballroom.

At its center...

Andras and Evelyne continued dancing beneath the glittering crystal chandeliers, completely unaware that countless eyes were quietly watching them.

Some looked on with admiration.

Some with curiosity.

And at least one...

With growing hatred.

The melody continued and approached its final notes.

Mother and son completed one final elegant turn before the melody faded into silence.

Polite applause echoed throughout the ballroom.

Andras and Evelyne returned to where Seris, Seraphina, Duke Hadrian, and Duchess Elara were waiting.

Just then—

An Imperial herald took a step forward, his clear voice resonating throughout the magnificent hall.

”Your Excellencies...”

”Honored guests...”

”The waltz has now concluded.”

”We kindly invite everyone to gather for Her Imperial Highness Princess Aurelia Aurelmont’s birthday ceremony.”

A gentle murmur spread through the banquet hall as nobles slowly made their way toward the center.

Within moments, everyone had taken their places.

The atmosphere grew noticeably quieter.

Soon...

Several royal maids entered through the enormous golden doors.

Together, they carefully wheeled an enormous birthday cake into the center of the ballroom.

The cake itself was a masterpiece worthy of the Imperial Palace.

It stood nearly as tall as an adult, arranged across several elegant tiers. Smooth white cream covered its surface, while intricate golden sugar decorations formed blooming lilies—the symbol of the Imperial Family.

Fresh fruits gathered from every corner of the Empire adorned its lower layers, while delicate sculptures crafted from enchanted sugar sparkled beneath the crystal chandeliers.

At its summit rested eighteen slender golden candles, their gentle flames dancing softly in the still air.

A quiet wave of admiration spread among the assembled nobles.

”As expected of the Imperial Palace...”

”What craftsmanship...”

”It almost looks too beautiful to cut.”

Princess Aurelia stepped gracefully toward the magnificent cake.

A royal maid respectfully presented her with an exquisitely crafted ceremonial knife, its silver blade engraved with the Imperial crest.

Aurelia accepted it with an elegant smile.

She closed her eyes briefly.

Whether making a silent wish or simply savoring the moment, no one could tell.

After a few heartbeats...

She opened her eyes once more.

With a graceful motion, she lowered the blade.

The first slice was cut.

Polite applause immediately filled the magnificent banquet hall.

”Happy Birthday, Your Highness!”

”May the Empire prosper under the blessings of the Imperial Family!”

The voices of countless nobles echoed together as warm smiles appeared throughout the hall.

Aurelia smiled graciously before handing the ceremonial knife back to the waiting maid.

Moments later, dozens of servants moved with remarkable efficiency.

The enormous cake was carefully divided into hundreds of perfectly equal portions before being carried away on elegant silver trays to be served to the guests.