The Return Of The Exiled Villain

[———✵ Status Panel ✵———]

Name: Gray Vireux D’Aurélion [2]

Titles: Vessel of Beauty & Destruction, Exiled Noble

Race: Human (?)

Class: [✧ Clown (Intermediate) ✧]

Rank: Late Advanced Realm

Unique Skill: [✧Swap✧]

Active Skills: Puppet Strings (Class), Madman’s Mirror (Class), Nine Illusionary Dream Steps [Minor Mastery - 2% (1st Step)], Dimensional Storage

Passive Skills: Blessing of Beauty (Vessel Skill), Laughing Veil (Class), Combat Intuition

Ultimate Skills: Final Masquerade (Class)

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”Not too bad...” Gray looked at his status window.

The only weird thing about his status was the interrogation mark on his race. He didn’t know if it was because he was some kind of soul or not.

But as always, he ignored it.

”...She’s still asleep, huh...”

Lyra was still curled against his chest, her hair messy and shining faintly in the light, one arm draped lazily over him.

But just as he said those words, her eyelashes fluttered, and after a moment she peeked up at him with half-lidded eyes.

”Mm... Gray?” Her voice was soft, still coated with sleep.

He tilted his head slightly.

”Morning, sleepyhead.”

Lyra blinked a few times, her face still half-buried against his chest.

”You’re awake early again...” she murmured, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.

Gray’s hand moved automatically, brushing a lock of hair away from her face.

”I don’t really sleep much.”

Lyra yawned softly, her fingers brushing against his shirt.

”That’s not healthy, you know...”

”Are you worried?”

”A little.” She pouted, rubbing her eyes.

Gray chuckled, leaning down just enough to whisper near her ear.

”That’s cute.”

”You always say that...” Lyra’s cheeks turned pink immediately.

”Because it’s always true,” he teased back with a small smile.

She huffed, glancing toward the window.

”It’s... already morning. We should get up.”

”Mm.” He didn’t move.

Lyra blinked.

”Gray...”

”What?” he asked lazily, still staring at her.

”You’re not moving.”

”I know,” he said simply, a hint of mischief in his tone.

”You’re warm.”

She stared at him for a moment before hiding her face in her pillow, voice muffled.

”You’re impossible...”

Slowly, she pushed herself up slightly, sitting cross-legged on the bed as she stretched, her white shirt slipping off one shoulder.

The sunlight hit her skin, making it glow faintly, and Gray’s eyes followed her movements before he chuckled under his breath.

”What are you staring at?” she asked, glancing back at him, cheeks turning pink.

”You,” he said honestly.

”You’re supposed to say something nice after that!” Lyra’s blush deepened.

”I just did,” he replied, sitting up as well, his voice carrying that lazy calmness that made her heart skip a beat.

She huffed softly, pretending to be annoyed as she got off the bed and padded toward the small table near the window.

”You should stop saying things like that so casually...”

”Why? You blush every time, it’s cute.” Gray leaned back on one arm, watching her move.

She shot him a glare over her shoulder, though her lips twitched upward.

”You’re teasing me again.”

”Maybe.”

Lyra sighed, brushing her hair back before glancing out the window.

”The sky’s clear today... Looks nice.”

Gray hummed in agreement, but didn’t look outside.

His eyes stayed on her instead.

Lyra felt his gaze and turned back, her expression softening.

”You’re still staring at me.”

”Habit,” he said simply.

”Bad habit.”

”Can’t help it.”

She giggled quietly, shaking her head as she picked up a comb and began brushing her hair.

”You’re hopeless...”

”Indeed... so you should take care of me.”

Her hands stilled for a moment before she smiled faintly, lowering her head to hide it. ”Don’t say things like that so early in the morning...”

”Why not? It’s the best time to say sweet things when your defenses are down.”

Lyra turned around, her cheeks slightly pink.

”Then maybe I should say something too...”

”Oh?”

She walked closer until she was standing beside the bed.

”You look... softer in the morning,” she said quietly, her fingers brushing a bit of his hair from his forehead.

”Not scary at all.”

”So I’m scary the rest of the time?” Gray raised an eyebrow.

”Sometimes,” she admitted honestly, smiling.

”But not now.”

He caught her hand gently before she could pull it away, pressing it lightly against his cheek.

”Then I’ll try to keep this version around a little longer.”

Lyra’s heart thudded softly in her chest, and for a moment, they just stared at each other,

Then, with a small laugh, she pulled her hand away. ”We should get ready. If we stay like this, we’ll never leave the room.”

Gray leaned back again, grinning lazily.

”I don’t see a problem with that.”

”Gray,” she warned playfully, trying not to smile.

”Fine, fine.” He raised his hands in surrender.

Lyra huffed softly and turned away, heading to the closet where she’d neatly folded her clothes for the day.

She picked up her outfit and walked toward the bathroom, her steps light and humming softly under her breath.

The door clicked shut behind her.

And just like that, Gray’s smile faded.

The warmth in his eyes dimmed until only that cold emptiness remained.

[...Are you really thinking of killing her?]

Jasmine curiously asked.

Gray’s gaze dropped to the floor.

’...If I need to...’

Hearing his words, Jasmine’s eyes shone with delight, although Gray couldn’t see them. But... it was exactly going as she planned.

During the time they spent together, Jasmine had already understood how Gray acted, so she knew exactly what to say to influence Gray’s thoughts.

And for now, it was going exactly as she planned.

”...What should I even do today?” Gray ran a hand through his messy hair and sighed.

[Go eat. You always forget breakfast.]

He gave a quiet grunt.

”Maybe Lyra already has something to do. I’ll just head to the cafeteria first...”

He pushed himself up from the bed, stretching his shoulders before opening the small wooden closet.

The clothes inside were plain as always, dark pants, a light shirt, nothing special. He dressed halfway, pulling the pants on and reaching for his shirt.

But before he could slip it over his head...

Click.

The bathroom door opened.

Steam drifted out as Lyra stepped through, her damp hair clinging softly to her shoulders. She smiled, humming lightly.

”Gray, how about we go to the—”

Her voice stopped.

Her gaze landed on him, or more precisely, on the bare lines of his torso.

Her breath caught, her cheeks instantly turning pink.

”Oh... damn...”

”What?” Gray blinked, raising an eyebrow.

Lyra bit her lip, her eyes not quite leaving him.

The light from the window traced the long scars across his body, deep marks, faded but still sharp reminders of pain he had endured during his childhood.

”I... could already tell you were ripped,” she murmured, stepping closer, ”but I didn’t think you’d look like that under all those layers.”

Her hand lifted before she could stop herself, fingertips brushing along the scar that ran diagonally across his chest.

”These scars...” she whispered.

”They make you look... really appealing...”

Looking directly into his black eyes, Lyra couldn’t hold herself and tiptoed, kissing his lips softly before pulling back.

Her cheeks were burning when she pulled back.

”Get dressed,” she said quickly, trying to sound normal but failing to hide her fluster.

”We should go get breakfast. I’m starving.”

She winked at him and slipped out of the room before he could say anything.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Gray stood still for a moment, staring at the spot where she’d been. His hand slowly rose to his chest, pressing lightly over the faint thump of his heart.

”...This is annoying,” he muttered under his breath.

He put on his shirt and headed out.

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Meanwhile...

At the D’Aurélion Manor, the morning was calm.

Alina sat at the grand dining table, her movements precise and elegant as she cut through her food. The faint clinking of silver echoed softly through the hall.

Across from her sat Caelis, her father, eating in silence.

Or at least, pretending to.

Sweat rolled slowly down his temple. His hands trembled ever so slightly as he tried to keep his composure under her gaze.

Just a little.

”...Get out,” Alina said calmly, dabbing the corner of her mouth with a silk handkerchief.

”Y–yes!”

He nearly jumped out of his seat, bowing once before hurrying toward the door. The heavy oak door shut gently behind him, leaving Alina alone.

”Mhm...”

Fshhhk!

The air twisted around her as a serpentkin appeared, kneeling at Alina’s side.

”Report,” Alina ordered softly, her tone polite yet commanding as she lifted her fork and took another delicate bite of the perfectly seared beef.

”Master Gray is currently attending Gloria Academy,” the serpentkin began.

”He is considered the ’scariest’ student among the first years. Based on our observations, his power has reached the Early Master Realm. However... there are no traces of him using the technique you gave him.”

Alina nodded lightly.

”I see.”

The fork clinked softly against her plate.

”What about his relationships?” she asked without looking up. ”And... did you kill Jess, as I ordered?”

”I did,” the serpentkin replied flatly.

”As for his current connections... Master Gray appears to have entered a romantic relationship with Lyra — the Vessel of the Five Main Gods. He also maintains a close, possibly intimate, bond with Selene, daughter of the Northern Duchess. There are other women he interacts with... but these two seem to hold the strongest ties.”

Alina’s hand paused mid-air.

For just a moment, her shoulders stiffened. Her fork pressed against the plate, making a faint scraping sound.

And then... she suddenly smiled.

”...Alright,” she murmured. ”Now I have another order for you.”

The serpentkin bowed its head. ”What is it, my Queen?”

Alina leaned back slightly, her gaze drifting toward the tall window beside her.

”During the upcoming midterms...” her voice trailed off slighly, as her lips curved upward, the faintest trace of satisfaction curling at the edges.

”Make all of his friends betray him.”

”Yes, my Queen.”

The serpentkin’s body dissolved into black wisps, scattering into the air until only silence remained.

Alina sat alone once more, the handkerchief resting between her fingers.

”Hopefully,” she whispered ’lovingly’, eyes lowering to her plate, ”that will finally break your trust in people, my sweet little brother...”