The Return Of The Exiled Villain

Seraph stayed silent for a long moment, her face still burning with embarrassment.

She poked at her food absentmindedly before finally gathering the courage to speak again in a small whisper that only he could hear.

”Gray... could your plan really work? The elves are very sensitive about purity. If they truly believe I’m no longer... pure, they might withdraw the proposal entirely.”

Gray looked at her calmly, then gave a slow, deliberate nod.

”It would work,” he said confidently.

”And if they need concrete proof... we can make it real. After all, the person you lost your virginity to was none other than me.”

Seraph froze completely.

Her golden hair swayed as her head snapped up, eyes wide with shock.

The blush that had barely started to fade exploded across her face again, turning her ears and neck bright red.

”G-Gray?!” she squeaked, voice cracking in a mix of embarrassment, surprise, and something else entirely.

Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the edge of the table.

”Y-You can’t just say something like that so casually...!”

Gray leaned back in his chair, his black eyes narrowing in complete amusement as he watched her flustered reaction.

”Why not?” he asked innocently.

”It’s the truth in this scenario. If we need to make the illusion convincing, we can make it real. I don’t mind taking responsibility.”

Seraph covered her face with both hands again, peeking at him through her fingers. Her heart was beating so loudly she was sure the entire cafeteria could hear it.

”You... you’re really teasing me today...” she mumbled in a muffled voice.

”This isn’t fair...”

Gray’s lips curved into a faint smirk.

”I’m not teasing. I’m offering a solution. If you want to avoid the marriage, this is the cleanest way. The elves won’t accept a non-virgin princess as their future consort. They’re extremely strict about bloodline purity. One well-placed rumor, or a real event, and the engagement collapses without diplomatic fallout.”

Seraph slowly lowered her hands, still blushing furiously as she stared at him.

”And you... you would really do that with me?” she whispered with a shaky voice.

”Just to help me escape the marriage?”

Gray met her gaze steadily, his expression calm but carrying a hint of something deeper.

”If that’s what you want,” he replied simply.

”I told you before. I don’t mind.”

Seraph looked down at her plate again, biting her lower lip hard as her mind raced.

The idea of Gray being the one to... take her purity, even as part of a plan, made her heart pound wildly in her chest.

She didn’t know whether to feel embarrassed, relieved, or strangely happy.

She remained quiet for a long time after Gray’s offer, her long hair partially hiding her flushed face as she stared down at her barely touched meal.

Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her napkin, twisting it nervously.

After several minutes, she finally lifted her head, her cheeks still tinged with pink as she looked at him with a mix of hesitation and resolve.

”...Alright,” she whispered softly.

”If that’s truly the only way... then I agree.”

Gray raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised that she had accepted so quickly.

But his expression quickly returned to calm... after all, he had been telling the truth, he really didn’t mind helping her this way.

Seraph noticed his reaction and quickly looked away again, embarrassed.

”I... I trust you,” she added softly.

”If you say it can work, then... I believe you.”

They continued eating in a somewhat awkward but not entirely uncomfortable silence. The cafeteria noise around them felt distant, as if the two of them were in their own little world.

Gray took a few more bites of his steak, chewing thoughtfully. After pondering for a while, he suddenly asked in a low voice that only she could hear:

”...If the Royal Family one day were destroyed... would you mind? Or even have thoughts of revenge on the one who did it?”

Seraph froze mid-bite, her fork hovering in the air.

She slowly lowered it, turning to look at him with wide eyes. The question was unexpected, almost dangerous, but she answered honestly after a slight moment of hesitation.

”I have no real love towards the rest of my family,” she stated quietly, almost in an indifferent tone.

”If they die, that’s their problem, not mine. If anything... I’d be glad if my father died. After what he did to my mother, I cannot forgive him the slightest.”

Gray’s eyes narrowed slighly.

Truthfully, he had never heard about Seraph’s mother, nor was she mentioned in the novel by Dante.

”Your mom...?”

Seraph’s expression darkened slightly, a trace of old pain flashing in her eyes.

”She was exiled... just like you. I don’t know where she is now... but she’s probably doing fine, considering her talent. She was always stronger than my father gave her credit for.”

Hearing her words, Gray got his confirmation.

He could destroy the Royal Family, and no one close to him would be affected. Seraph wouldn’t resent him. In fact, she might even be relieved.

He just needed... to gather a bit more power.

He was confident he could wipe them out with the Authority of Destruction, but everyone would need to be in the same place at the same moment so he could end them in a single move.

’...Organized by the Royal Family, huh? Maybe I can get started from the Inter-Academy Competition then.’

After finishing their meal in a somewhat heavier but not uncomfortable silence, Gray and Seraph stood up together and left the bustling cafeteria.

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the academy grounds as they walked side by side along the wide, tree-lined path.

Gray glanced at Seraph, who was walking gracefully beside him, her golden hair swaying gently with each step.

For a moment, he considered his rather empty schedule for the rest of the day.

Then, without much thought, he spoke casually:

”Seraph, do you want to go on a date with me?”

Seraph’s footsteps halted abruptly.

She froze completely, her mind going blank for several long seconds.

Her face rapidly flushed a deep shade of red as memories of his earlier teasing flooded back, the casual offer to ”elope,” the mention of taking her virginity, the way he had looked at her while saying it so nonchalantly.

”G-Gray...?” she stammered, voice barely audible, her golden hair partially hiding her burning cheeks.

Gray stopped walking and turned to face her, his black eyes calm but carrying a faint trace of amusement.

Seraph took a few deep breaths, trying desperately to calm herself. She pressed her hands to her cheeks, willing the blush to fade.

After almost half a minute of internal struggle, she managed to regain some of her usual composure, though faint traces of pink still lingered on her skin.

She looked up at him, her expression a mix of shyness and quiet happiness.

”...Yes,” she whispered, nodding softly.

”I’d like that.”

The moment she agreed, Gray reached out without hesitation and gently took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers.

Seraph’s composure shattered instantly once more.

Her eyes widened, and a fresh wave of blush exploded across her face as she felt the warmth of his palm against hers.

Her heart hammered wildly in her chest.

”G-Gray...!” she squeaked again, voice higher than usual, but she didn’t pull her hand away. Instead, her fingers tightened slightly around his, as if afraid he might let go.

Gray’s lips curved into a faint, satisfied smile as he began walking again, gently pulling her along.

”Let’s go then.”

He pulled her through the academy’s beautiful outer district, holding her hand gently. This kind of reminded him of his childhood.

He used to pull her like this back then.

Her hand was quite warm and soft, and though she was still a little flustered, she didn’t pull away.

Instead, she walked closer to him, making their shoulders occasionally brush against each other

Eventually arrived at a charming café nestled near the edge of the academy grounds, Starlit Brew, a popular spot among students for its quiet atmosphere and excellent beverages.

The outdoor seating area was shaded by flowering trees, with small round tables and comfortable chairs.

Gray led her to a secluded table in the corner.

They sat down, and a friendly waitress quickly brought them menus.

Seraph ordered a delicate rose petal tea with honey crystals, while Gray chose a strong black coffee with a hint of thunderberry essence.

As they waited for their drinks, the conversation flowed easily.

Seraph, still a bit shy but clearly happy, spoke about her recent training and how the upcoming competition was making everyone nervous.

”I’ve been practicing my Spirit Eyes more,” she said softly, stirring her tea once it arrived.

”But it’s still difficult to control perfectly in battle. What about you? You seem... even stronger than before the break.”

Gray took a sip of his coffee, the rich, slightly electric flavor spreading across his tongue.

”I’ve been training with Aurora,” he replied simply.

”The Soul Chasing Extremities... I’ve learned quite a bit.”

Seraph’s eyes sparkled with interest as they continued chatting.

She laughed softly when Gray casually mentioned how Elárien had started sneaking into his room again, and Gray found himself smiling faintly at her reactions.

For a while, they were quite peaceful.

That was, until a cold, familiar voice suddenly reached their ears.

”So you were here after all... Brother.”

Gray and Seraph both turned at the same time.

Maelis stood a few meters away, arms crossed under her chest, her long black hair swaying slightly in the breeze.