I, The Villainess, Will Seduce All The Heroines Instead
Chapter 117: Late Character Development?

Chapter 117: Late Character Development?

It was undeniably idiotic to throw herself under the carriage like this, but really, what other option did she have?

If Evelyn took the fall, if she died or got punished, things would spiral even further out of control.

"I told her to kill him for me because..." Verena hesitated, then met their gazes. "He kidnapped me."

"NONSENSE!" Perasius roared, practically lunging before the others restrained him. "YOU DARE TO SOW MORE SEEDS OF CHAOS, CONDUITOR—NO... ABOMINATION?!"

"Do you understand what this means, Verena? This isn’t just a school tragedy—it’s the spark of a political civil war between noble houses," Helio warned, his voice grave.

She did understand. All too well.

[SYSTEM ALERT][ERROR CODE: 13-OPH-FLUX]

[UNAUTHORIZED PATH DETECTED]

[SCRIPT DEVIATION CRITICAL]

[PLOT STABILITY COMPROMISED]

[Death Flags Increased!]

[Narrative Integrity Fracturing]

["You weren’t supposed to survive this long..."]

[SYSTEM RECALIBRATING][...FAILED][...FAILED][...ERROR LOOP INITIATED]

God, I’m so tired right now...

"Let the law decide your fate," he continued. "As for the academy, we will no longer welcome your presence."

Why was she the one being punished, and not that damn Norvan?!

Even in death, he was practically alive—still haunting her, still finding new ways to piss her off!

How many times would she be interrogated, chained up, and thrown to the snakes... all for the sake of a so-called "good ending"?

They didn’t even bother questioning the fact that she’d been missing for an entire week.

Wait...

A chilling thought crept in.

Could it be that people wanted this to happen? That half the academy had been quietly waiting and plotting for her downfall all along?

There was no doubt about it now.

When she glanced at Perasius, a faint, satisfied smirk curled on his lips.

It all started to make sense. Every subtle attempt to push her out, every accusation—it mirrored how Ophiuchus was cast out of the astrological wheel.

"She’s not the culprit," a voice suddenly cut through the tension.

Raphael?

What was he doing here? Was he part of the scheme? No, that didn’t add up. If he were, then why would he be defending her?

"It’s not them," Raphael said coolly, folding his arms. "Verena’s magic leaves a distinct astral signature, and that shard? It reeks of mimicry, not her. And Evelyn? Please. The girl can barely lie without tearing up. If this was their doing, it’d be the sloppiest conspiracy in Academy history."

"Raphael," Helio said as he rose from his seat. "This was your father’s demand."

Raphael winced. He had almost convinced the others, but even he couldn’t defy his father.

His support was supposed to lend credibility to the accusation, especially as Norvan’s brother.

But let’s be honest: most people saw Raphael as more brawn than brain.

His reputation wasn’t exactly stellar—especially after that glorious moment of idiocy when he dumped Verena the day he returned from war.

"Fine. For now, the punishment for Verena will be a House Arrest and constant monitoring," Helio said, his tone leaving no room for protest.

Verena was now under house arrest, meaning she was confined to the dorm for the foreseeable future. Naturally, the teachers began watching her every move with increasing wariness.

"Wait! Verena!" Raphael called out, chasing after her.

She didn’t even turn around. "What do you want?"

She had no patience for a redemption arc today—especially not his.

"I’m serious. Are you really just going to walk away like this?"

"I don’t need your concern, Raphael," she sighed. "And I’m not in the mood to celebrate your sudden burst of empathy."

Raphael hesitated, guilt flickering across his face. "I’m sorry... I know I’ve done a lot to hurt you. And I don’t know what happened to you, either. You used to be more... fiery. But come on, cut me some slack. I’m not the only one who’s changed."

She raised a brow. "I’m listening."

"It’s just... the things you said before—they stuck with me. Ever since then, I’ve been quiet. Reflecting."

Wait, what?

Raphael? Reflecting? Using actual brain cells instead of hurling dumb choices like spears at a battlefield?

Now that was a plot twist she didn’t expect. And honestly... it was kind of nice to know some of her efforts hadn’t gone to waste.

Everyone in this world was a certified asshole—yes, even the heroines. No one deserved forgiveness just yet. Still, somehow, she and Raphael walked back to the academy together. A strange sight, sure, but he actually seemed... decent now.

In the Atrium, her friends had gathered. Even Penelope was there, which instantly made the atmosphere awkward enough to chew.

"Wow... the main cast of a soap opera has arrived," Sera muttered under her breath.

"I... I’m sorry, Penelope..." he apologized, leaving everyone stunned.

"N-No! I’m sorry too!" Penelope quickly bowed.

What in the world was this character development?

Seriously, what’s going on behind the scenes here?

...

...

***

Raphael’s P.O.V

"Don’t be weak."

Those words, carved into his very soul by his father, echoed in his mind like an unrelenting drumbeat.

Weakness was not an option.

To show vulnerability was to betray the very core of what it meant to be a man in the Huliet Family—a family forged in the fires of battle, a lineage destined to command armies and rule with iron resolve.

Since childhood, his path was laid before him, unyielding and certain: He would be the heir, the warrior.

He had to be unshakable.

Had to be ruthless, as fierce and bloodied as a warrior born of barbarism—except in his mother’s arms.

"Woman! You will make him weak!" his father’s voice thundered as he tore him away from her gentle embrace.

There was a harsh belief among them, boys grew into men under their fathers’ steely eyes, but under their mothers, they risked becoming something softer, something that did not belong in the world of battle.

He was meant to sit at the helm of power, yet in every endeavor, he found himself powerless.

For even in matters of the heart, he was denied the choice of what to love.

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