I, The Villainess, Will Seduce All The Heroines Instead
Chapter 45: Allied Rivalry (1)

Chapter 45: Allied Rivalry (1)

It was almost midnight when Verena sent the letter, entrusting it to a guard with a sense of urgency.

There was something she had realized: if she truly wanted to survive, her magic wasn’t going to be enough.

It wasn’t combat-based. It was reality-based, a power capable of shaping outcomes rather than fighting them.

To truly change the course of her fate, she needed something more.

She needed to understand this world’s mechanics.

The House Training Grounds, the Arena of Ardentis, was where all the students practiced, but it wasn’t just a place for combat.

It was a battleground for strategy, strength, and alliances.

Some might call it a glorified playground for the rich and powerful, but it was where Verena would begin to piece together the puzzle of her survival.

And so, she came to Raphael.

The moment she stepped into the courtyard, his voice echoed, smooth and condescending.

"Well, well, have you invited me here to beg for my forgiveness?"

Raphael.

His voice never failed to ignite her disgust.

She had invited him here to teach her about swordsmanship.

No better way than to learn from the youngest Duke in history, the future warlord who had already slain thousands on the battlefield.

In the first volume of the novel, he wasn’t the warlord yet.

He was still grinding through the Warden Department, where only the best could graduate

Graduates become soldiers, part of the Imperial Guards, or even commanders in the field.

Verena had a plan, and Raphael’s character held the key to it.

"Nice try. But I’m here for your lessons."

"Why me?" His tone was laced with arrogance. "Why not some instructor?"

"Because," Verena met his gaze with a knowing smirk, "in a dream, I saw you as a warlord."

His frown deepened. He didn’t seem to take her lightly anymore. "Is that so?"

"Have you not heard?" she leaned in slightly, her words dripping with challenge. "I can manipulate fate. I can see things, things that haven’t happened yet. I’m weak right now now, but I’ve seen your future."

Raphael was silent, staring at her as if trying to read the truth in her eyes.

"So, you’re using me?" he asked, his voice hardening.

"Shouldn’t you be relieved I’m telling you that your dream will come true?" Verena’s smile widened. "I’m not using you, Raphael. I’m offering you a future. You always wanted to be like your father, didn’t you? Strong. Invincible. No weaknesses."

He stiffened at the mention of his father.

"Of course," she added, her voice now colder, "that means I can’t afford to be weak either. And that’s why I need you."

Raphael’s gaze darkened, a mixture of pride and ambition clashing in his eyes.

"I’ll train you," he muttered, his tone clipped. "But don’t think for a second that you’re in control here."

Verena’s smile remained, knowing she had planted the seed.

Now, it was just a matter of letting it grow.

Beneath the anger, there was fear.

He had always been expected to be something.

Someone unyielding, someone constant.

Change, unpredictability, they terrified him.

It was easier to dominate, to control everything around him, than to confront the chaos inside.

That’s why he ruled with an iron grip.

Because if he didn’t, everything could slip through his fingers.

As much as she despised him, she couldn’t ignore the deep, pitiful fear that lurked within him.

Raphael couldn’t bring himself to doubt her. After all, she was the conduit of the enigmatic Zodiac, a force beyond his understanding.

"In return," he said, his voice laced with curiosity, "you have to tell me more about these dreams of yours."

"Easy," she smirked, her gaze sharp. "Let this be the beginning of an allied rivalry. Nothing more, nothing less."

The truth was, she hadn’t actually dreamt it.

Most of her ’visions’ were simply based on the knowledge of the novel - the future she already knew.

Of course I wouldn’t tell him that...

"Alright, start with the basics," Raphael said, his voice laced with an almost mocking drawl. "You’ll need to learn how to swing a sword before you can even think about fighting."

"I can swing a sword just fine."

"Can you? Show me."

Verena took hold of the training sword, the weight slightly unfamiliar in her hands.

She swung it through the air with a practiced movement, but it felt off.

The blade felt too light, the motion too stiff.

Raphael barely reacted, his eyes scanning her movements with indifference. "Well, that was... an attempt," He smirked. "Let’s start with the basics then. Stance."

With a flourish, Raphael demonstrated a proper stance

Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, weight evenly distributed.

His posture was flawless. "Like this. If you don’t have a solid foundation, you’ll be knocked over faster than you can blink."

Verena mimicked him, her stance a little awkward at first, but she steadied herself.

He circled her, examining her carefully, and she could almost feel his eyes calculating.

"Better," he muttered, stepping behind her. He gently placed a hand on her back and nudged her to adjust her posture. "But you’re still too tense. Relax your shoulders. You’re holding your sword like you’re about to break it."

"I’m not trying to break it. I just want to do it right."

Before she could respond, Raphael lunged at her with lightning speed.

His sword flashed through the air, aimed at her side. Verena instinctively stepped back, narrowly avoiding the strike.

Her heart raced, but she quickly regained her composure.

"You reacted," Raphael observed, stepping back to assess her. "You didn’t anticipate. You need to feel the flow of the fight, not just respond."

As much of an insufferable asshole as Raphael was, Verena had to admit that he took training seriously.

There was no hint of mockery in his stance, no arrogance in his focus. Just pure discipline.

She couldn’t help herself, the words slipping out before she could stop them. "Maybe you should become an imperial knight instead."

"That would mean my manhood would get chopped off to serve the imperial family."

"Exactly. It would make you less of a dick."

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