The Return Of The Exiled Villain

Maelis didn’t wait for an invitation.

Without a word, she walked straight to their table and pulled out the chair beside Gray, sitting down gracefully yet possessively.

Her long black hair swayed as she scooted her chair closer to his, almost pressing her side against him.

”Brother~” she called sweetly, her voice carrying that familiar spoiled tone she only used with him.

She leaned in and wrapped both arms around his left arm, hugging it tightly against her chest.

”I’ve been looking for you everywhere. You didn’t tell me you were going on a date.”

Her eyes flicked toward Seraph with a clear, cold sneer, though her smile remained perfectly sweet when she looked back at Gray.

Seraph stiffened slightly, her hand still holding Gray’s under the table. She maintained her elegant composure, but a faint trace of discomfort appeared in her eyes.

Maelis noticed it immediately and smiled wider, pressing herself even closer to Gray.

”Princess Seraph,” she said politely, though her tone was clearly anything but polite.

”What a surprise to see you here with my dear brother. I thought you were busy preparing for your upcoming... engagement.”

The word ”engagement” was said with clear mockery.

Gray remained calm, though the corner of his lips twitched faintly in amusement at Maelis’s obvious jealousy.

He didn’t pull his arm away, letting her cling to him as she wished.

Maelis rested her chin on his shoulder, looking up at him with sparkling eyes.

”Brother, you should have told me you were coming here. I would have joined you sooner. We haven’t spent nearly enough time together since you moved to this academy.” She pouted cutely, rubbing her cheek against his arm.

”Are you tired of me already? That would make me very sad...”

Seraph’s grip on Gray’s hand tightened slightly under the table, but she stayed silent, choosing not to escalate the situation.

Maelis glanced at her again, her smile turning sharper for a split second before returning to its spoiled sweetness as she looked back at Gray.

”Brother, let’s order something together. I want the same thing you’re having. And maybe some desserts? You always liked sharing sweets with me when we were younger, remember?”

She hugged his arm even tighter, deliberately pressing her chest against him while shooting another subtle, cold glance at Seraph, as if marking her territory.

Then, she rested her chin on his shoulder, smiling sweetly while her eyes kept darting toward Seraph with clear hostility.

”Brother, you’ve been so busy lately,” Maelis said in a spoiled, pouty voice, loud enough for Seraph to hear every word.

”I barely see you anymore. And now you’re here having a nice little date with the princess? Without even telling your little sister? That makes me feel so lonely...”

She rubbed her cheek against his arm affectionately, then shot another sharp glance at Seraph.

Seraph remained composed on the surface, but her fingers tightened slightly around Gray’s hand under the table.

She took a slow sip of her tea, refusing to rise to the bait.

Maelis wasn’t satisfied. She leaned in closer to Gray, her voice dripping with sweetness while her words were clearly aimed at Seraph.

”You know, Brother... some people just don’t understand boundaries. They think because they have a fancy title, they can take whatever they want.” She sighed dramatically.

”But you’ve always been kind-hearted. That’s why so many girls try to get close to you. It must be exhausting, right?”

Seraph’s eyes narrowed just a fraction, but she stayed silent.

Maelis smiled victoriously and continued, her tone turning even more saccharine.

”Still... I’m glad I found you. We should spend more time together from now on. Just the two of us. Like when we were younger. Remember how you used to let me sleep in your room when I had nightmares? Those were such good times...”

She hugged his arm even tighter, deliberately pressing her chest against him while giving Seraph a smug, mocking look.

Seraph finally spoke, her voice calm and elegant, though there was a slight edge to it.

”Maelis, Gray, and I were simply having a quiet conversation. There’s no need to act so... territorial.”

Maelis tilted her head innocently, but her eyes were cold.

”Territorial? Oh dear, Princess. I’m just worried about my big brother. He’s too nice for his own good. People keep trying to take advantage of him.” She smiled sweetly.

”Especially those who already have fiancés waiting for them.”

The atmosphere at the table grew tense.

Gray, meanwhile, simply drank his coffee, his expression calm as if he were watching an entertaining play.

Then, Seraph, who had been maintaining her elegant composure, suddenly spoke first. Her voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge beneath the politeness.

”By the way, Maelis... I heard your father passed away recently. My condolences.”

The words were delivered with perfect noble etiquette, but the intent was anything but kind.

Maelis didn’t even flinch. She simply smiled sweetly, tightening her hold on Gray’s arm as if the news meant nothing to her.

”Oh? Thank you for your concern, Princess,” she replied lightly. ”But Father’s death changes very little for me. He was never much of a father anyway.”

Seraph’s eyes narrowed slightly. She wasn’t done.

”Still... with the Duke gone, the D’Aurélion family might lose its status as a ducal house. Without a proper head, the Emperor could easily strip the title and redistribute the lands. It would be quite the fall from grace.”

Maelis’s smile didn’t waver. Instead, it grew sharper, almost predatory.

”You seem to have forgotten something important, Princess,” she said, her voice dripping with mock pity.

”My elder sister, Alina, is still very much alive and well. She has already reached the Sovereign Realm. Do you really think the Emperor would dare strip our family of its power while she stands at the head?”

Seraph froze.

She had indeed forgotten about Alina Von D’Aurélion, Gray and Maelis’s eldest sister. The woman who had become a living legend in the empire at a shockingly young age.

One of the strongest humans alive.

With Alina present, the D’Aurélion Family’s power was more secure than ever. No one, not even the Emperor, would casually provoke her.

Seraph’s lips pressed into a thin line. She had no immediate comeback as the mention of Alina had completely shut down her line of attack.

Maelis smiled victoriously, leaning even more against Gray as she gently rubbed her cheek against his shoulder.

”See? You shouldn’t worry about our family, Princess. We’re doing just fine. Better than fine, actually.”

Gray listened quietly to their exchange, his black eyes calm but thoughtful. After a moment, he turned to Maelis.

”Are you participating in the upcoming Royal Banquet?”

Maelis nodded lightly, still clinging to his arm.

”I’ll be accompanying Elder Sister to represent the D’Aurélion Family, or what remains of it,” she replied.

”I also heard there are going to be two grand announcements there...”

Her gaze shifted meaningfully toward Seraph, the implication clear. One of those announcements was almost certainly the princess’s engagement to the Elven Prince.

Gray gave a small nod, then turned to Seraph.

”Can you take me to the banquet, Seraph?”

”Huh?” Seraph’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.

”Why... and even how would I take you there?”

Gray tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a teasing smile.

”Didn’t we discuss this just a few minutes ago? Of course, as your partner...”

The words hung in the air.

Maelis froze for half a second before her entire demeanor changed. Her grip on Gray’s arm tightened possessively as jealousy flared wildly in her eyes.

”Partner?! What do you mean by partner, Brother?!” Maelis exclaimed, her voice rising sharply.

She pulled his arm even closer to her chest, glaring at Seraph with open hostility.

”Why would you need to go with her? I’m right here! I can take you! Elder Sister is going too, we can all go together as a family! There’s no need for you to be anyone’s partner, especially not hers!”

She shot Seraph a venomous look before turning back to Gray with a spoiled, almost desperate pout.

”Brother, you can’t be serious. She’s already engaged to some elf prince! Are you really going to be her escort? What will people say? They’ll think you’re trying to steal her away or something! And even if you were... why her? I’ve been by your side longer! I’m your sister! I should be the one standing next to you at important events like this!”

Maelis’s cheeks were flushed with a mix of anger and jealousy as she continued her tirade, refusing to let go of his arm.

”You know how the nobles gossip. If you show up with the First Princess as her partner right before her engagement is announced, it’ll cause a huge scandal! Do you want that? Because I don’t! I won’t allow my little brother to be dragged into some messy royal love triangle! If you need a partner, take me! I’ll wear the prettiest dress, I’ll stay by your side the whole night, I’ll even dance with you if you want! Just... don’t go with her!”