The Return Of The Exiled Villain

Their lips slowly parted.

The cheers around them died down little by little, turning back into laughter, murmurs, and clinking cups, as if the tea house itself was gently returning to normal.

Lyra stayed still for a moment longer.

Her face was burning.

She lowered her head slightly, her eyes fixed on the table, as her fingers curled together in front of her as if she didn’t quite know what to do with them anymore.

Her heartbeat refused to calm down.

Gray, on the other hand, looked perfectly composed, satisfied even.

He smiled and turned back to his seat. Then, he slowly picked up his fork, cut another small piece of cake, and placed it into his mouth.

”...Delicious~”

Lyra froze.

Her head snapped up.

”...?!”

Her face went from red to scarlet in an instant as she realized exactly what he was implying.

”G–Gray!!” she sputtered, completely flustered.

”T-that’s not what you should be saying right now!”

Gray glanced at her, feigning innocence as he chewed.

”Hmm?” he hummed lightly, giving her a confused look.

”I’m just enjoying dessert.”

She instantly looked away again, hands flying up to cover her face.

”...You’re terrible,” she muttered embrassingly.

Gray curled up his lips at her reaction, taking another bite of the cake while looking at Lyra’s blushing expression.

[...Hey. When are you going to try and get divinity for me to awaken my powers?]

Out of nowhere, Jasmine asked lightly.

At her words, Gray took another bite of cake before replying to her casually.

’Relax... we have a lot of time in our hands. As I promised, when I find a target that... isn’t a beautiful woman, I’ll kill him and give you his divinity.’

[...]

’Just be patient.’

Jasmine felt completely silent at his words.

However, Gray didn’t think that it was strange for her to be quiet, so he simply ignored her and continued eating his cake while chatting with Lyra.

But on the other hand, Jasmine, who was already more than disappointed with Gray, now had confirmed which side to choose.

She wouldn’t stay with someone who only cared about his own desires. Before, she actually liked him quite a bit because of his pure rage for revenge... and how he was actually looking for ways to help her, but now, that little liking had completely disappeared.

He only cares about himself, so why should she care about him?

...He might as well disappear.

”Ahh, I’m stuffed, the food was really delicious!” Gray exclaimed, leaning back slightly as he set his fork down.

”...It really was.” Lyra smiled softly, nodding as she placed her own plate aside.

Her cheeks were still faintly pink, the warmth from earlier refusing to fade completely, but her expression was much more relaxed now.

They stood up together and made their way out of the tea house, the door chiming lightly behind them as the cool afternoon air greeted their faces.

The sun was already beginning to sink, painting the streets in soft gold and orange hues. Lanterns were being lit one by one, their flames flickering gently as merchants prepared for the evening crowd.

Lyra suddenly stopped.

”...Oh.”

Gray turned.

”What is it?”

She pointed ahead, eyes lighting up.

”There’s a circus today.”

Sure enough, at the edge of the plaza stood a large striped tent, red and cream fabric stretched high, ropes tied to thick wooden stakes.

Colorful banners fluttered above it, bells chiming faintly as performers moved about. The distant sound of drums and laughter drifted through the air.

Gray raised an eyebrow.

”A circus, huh...”

Lyra looked at him expectantly, hands clasped together just a little too tightly.

”I’ve only seen one once,” she admitted.

”When I was younger.”

He studied her for a second and then smiled lightly

”Let’s go inside then,” he said casually, stepping forward and offering his hand.

Her eyes widened.

”...Really?”

”Really.”

She hesitated for half a second, then placed her hand in his.

They walked toward the tent together, the striped fabric looming closer with every step.

Up close, it was even larger than it had looked from afar, thick ropes stretched tight, lanterns hanging from wooden posts and swaying gently in the evening breeze.

The muffled hum of voices, laughter, and instruments leaked from inside, warm and inviting.

As they entered, the air changed.

It smelled of hay and oil, of metal and smoke, mixed with something sweet.

Rows of seats curved around the circular stage, already crowded with people talking excitedly, children tugging at their parents’ sleeves, vendors weaving through the aisles.

Lyra looked around, eyes shining.

”It’s... bigger than I imagined,” she whispered.

”It indeed is....”

Fwoop!

The lights dimmed slowly, and the chatter slowly softened into anticipation.

However... as the minutes passed, no one stepped onto the stage.

Murmurs started spreading through the crowd as people shifted in their seats.

Finally, a man stepped onto the edge of the stage, dressed plainly, clearly not part of the act. He cleared his throat.

”L-ladies and gentlemen... we sincerely apologize, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the main performer, our clown, will not be appearing tonight...”

The reaction was immediate.

”What do you mean, not appearing?!”

”We waited all day!”

”This was the highlight!”

People began to stand, shaking their heads, some already filing toward the exits. The lively air drained away, replaced by irritation and letdown.

Lyra stood as well, her shoulders drooping slightly.

”...That’s unfortunate,” she said softly.

”I was really looking forward to it.”

Gray watched her for a second, his gaze drifting to the empty stage.

And suddenly, a memory surfaced... but it wasn’t obviously his memories.

The other Gray.

Standing awkwardly, pretending to be something he wasn’t. Smiling when it didn’t come naturally. Acting, performing, just to make Maelis laugh. Just to see her eyes light up, even for a moment.

Gray’s fingers tightened instantly as he got an idea that didn’t come from his own brain, but from Gray’s memories.

”...Tsk.”

Before Lyra could turn back to him, he squeezed her hand once.

”Wait here,” he said quietly.

”Huh—?”

She didn’t even have time to ask before.

”[✧Swap✧]”

In the blink of an eye, Gray vanished.

At the center of the stage, where a single grain of sand lay unnoticed, someone suddenly appeared.

The showcaser’s eyes widened in shock as Gray’s form solidified out of thin air. His clothes shifted instantly, fabric twisting and reshaping, colors blooming across them.

A painted clown’s face spread over his own, clean lines, sharp contrast, yet somehow, impossibly, he still looked handsome.

Gray straightened, rolling his shoulders once.

Then he looked up and winked at the crowd.

”Ladies and gentlemen!” he exclaimed loudly, his voice echoing through the tent. ”Apologies for the delay, sometimes, the star takes a bit longer to arrive!”

The crowd froze.

And near the exit, Lyra turned almost immediately.

Her eyes widened completely, breath catching in her throat as her heart began to race uncontrollably.

”...Gray...?”

She stared at the stage, unable to look away, her gaze locked onto him.

For half a second, the tent remained frozen in stunned silence.

Then Gray moved.

He leapt forward with an exaggerated hop, nearly tripping over his own feet before catching himself at the last moment, arms flailing wildly.

”—Woah! See?” he said loudly, patting his chest.

”That’s what happens when you arrive fashionably late!”

A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd.

Gray grinned wider.

”Now, now,” he continued, pointing at the exits where people had started leaving, ”don’t go just yet. You’ve already paid, and I haven’t embarrassed myself enough to justify the price!”

That did it.

Laughter burst out in earnest as people stopped and started returning back ot their seats. The children giggled loudly.

Gray rolled with it, spinning once, then bowing deeply.

”Welcome, welcome! I’m today’s clown, a substitute, understudy, emergency replacement, and emotional support performer!”

The showcaser near the stage blinked several times, then hurried closer, whispering frantically.

”W–what are you doing?! You’re not on the list!”

Gray leaned in, whispering back without dropping his smile.

”Relax,” he muttered. ”What’s the clown’s role?”

”...Entertain. Keep the crowd alive. Jokes, tricks, magic, if possible.” The man swallowed.

”Don’t worry about it... just tell me what the other clown was supposed to do, this way, your business won’t lose much, as I’ll probably even be better than your performer.”

The man was taken aback by his words, but before he could speak up, Gray straightened and clapped his hands loudly.

”Alright, everyone! Let’s start simple!”

He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a red ball.

Then another.

Another one...

Far too many at once!

They spilled from his arms, rolling across the stage, bouncing toward the audience. Children squealed, reaching for them as Gray pretended to panic, chasing the balls in chaotic circles.

”Wait, n-no! Those weren’t supposed to escape!”

He suddenly vanished.

Gasps erupted.

”Behind you!”

Gray reappeared behind a man in the front row, peeking over his shoulder upside down.

”AAHHHHHH!”

The man yelped.

”HAHAHAHHA!!”

”THIS CLOWN IS SO DAMN FUNNY!”

”THAT GUY ALMOST PASSED OUT, PWAHAHA!”

The tent exploded with laughter and applause.