Transmigrated as the Villainess Princess - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: VPAA (6)

Two days later, the Academy held a grand ball to celebrate the president’s birthday.

The halls were alive with opulence and splendor, illuminated by crystal chandeliers and the muted glow of golden lanterns.

Distinguished military figures, influential politicians, and members of the royal family had gathered, their conversations a symphony of power and politics.

Among the attendees were Ahcehera’s brothers, their imposing presence drawing attention as they moved through the crowd.

Yet, amidst the grandeur, Ahcehera found herself seeking solace far from the suffocating formalities.

She wandered into the Academy’s garden, where the cool night air carried the faint scent of blooming flowers.

The stars above formed a glittering tapestry, their beauty offering a brief reprieve from the weight of her responsibilities.

She held a glass of wine delicately in her hand, her thoughts adrift as she gazed upward.

How wonderful it would be to leave this all behind and retreat to my quarters, she mused, her shoulders heavy with exhaustion. Official duties, endless small talk, how draining it all is.

Just as she lifted the glass to her lips, a firm hand snatched it away.

“Who…” Ahcehera turned, her words sharp with irritation, but the sight of the intruder froze her mid-sentence.

Standing before her was Major General Richmond Mors, his towering frame and stoic demeanor unmistakable.

“You’re still recovering from your injuries,” he said, his voice calm but edged with authority. “Alcohol isn’t good for you.”

Ahcehera avoided meeting his piercing violet gaze, her eyes settling instead on the glass of wine now in his hand.

Her heart tightened, though she forced her expression to remain neutral.

Why do you care, Major Mors? Do you remember that I am your enemy?

“To what do I owe your presence, Major?” she asked, her tone cold and measured.

“I don’t care if you destroy yourself,” Richmond replied, his words as cutting as a blade, “but don’t trouble those around you. What do you think people will say if they catch you drinking alone in a place like this?”

Ahcehera’s lips curled into a faint, bitter smile. Stop lying, Major Mors. If you truly didn’t care, you wouldn’t be here.

“They won’t,” she answered simply, her voice devoid of emotion. She took a step back, intending to leave the garden and the man who had so abruptly disrupted her solitude.

But something in the way Richmond’s eyes followed her made her pause.

It wasn’t disdain or indifference she saw, it was something far more complicated, something that made her heart uneasy.

Without another word, she turned away, the soft rustle of her gown blending with the whispers of the night as she disappeared into the shadows.

–

I should head back early.

On her way back to her quarters, Ahcehera noticed a shadow lingering in the dimly lit hallway. Someone was waiting for her, someone she hadn’t expected to see.

“How have you been, Your Highness?”

The voice was calm yet laced with a hint of mockery. Though the young man stood shrouded in darkness, Ahcehera would never mistake his identity.

Those rare, piercing purple eyes glinted with an unsettling intensity, eyes that stared at her with something bordering on madness.

“Why are you here, Mr. Mors?” she asked, her tone sharp and unyielding.

Richard Mors stepped forward, his figure becoming clearer under the faint glow of the corridor lights.

His lips curved into a crooked smile, his expression teetering between amusement and something more volatile.

“It seems you had a pleasant conversation with my brother,” he said, his words laced with disdain.

“Are you eavesdropping or following me?” Ahcehera shot back, her gaze unwavering.

“I happened to pass by,” Richard replied, his smile widening as he feigned nonchalance.

“And what a wonderful scene it was. But let me give you a piece of advice, Your Highness, you should stay away from my brother.”

Ahcehera’s eyes narrowed, unshaken by his sudden warning.

However, the possessiveness in his voice was impossible to ignore. What exactly did he mean by this? What game was he playing?

Without breaking eye contact, Ahcehera stepped closer, the tension between them palpable. Her calm demeanor only sharpened the edge of her words.

“If you’re so concerned, tell your brother yourself,” she said icily. “I have no interest in meeting people I dislike halfway. He should know that by now.”

She moved to bypass Richard, but his sudden shift stopped her in her tracks.

A manic grin spread across his face, and before she could react, his hand shot out, grasping her wrist with a strength that belied his youthful appearance.

“Ahcehera,” he murmured, his voice quieter but charged with an intensity that made her heart jolt.

His purple eyes seemed to glow, illuminated by an otherworldly light, as if a fire burned just beneath their surface.

For a fleeting moment, the corridor felt suffocatingly small, the air thick with unspoken words and emotions neither of them could define.

Ahcehera’s gaze locked with his, and for a heartbeat, the world seemed to hold its breath.

“What is it you’re trying to prove, Mr. Mors?” she asked, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions brewing in his gaze.

Richard’s grip tightened ever so slightly, his smile faltering as something raw and unguarded flickered across his face.

But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by his usual veneer of arrogance and mischief.

“That remains to be seen,” he said, his tone enigmatic, before releasing her hand and stepping aside. “Goodnight, Your Highness. Sweet dreams.”

Ahcehera didn’t wait for another word. She walked past him, her composure unbroken, though her mind raced with questions she wasn’t sure she wanted answers to.

Behind her, Richard watched her retreating figure, his smile fading as shadows swallowed him once again.

Ahcehera locked the door of her room with trembling hands and pressed her back against it.

The moment the latch clicked into place, her legs gave way, and she sank to the cold marble floor.

A sharp, searing pain blossomed in her chest, radiating outward like wildfire. She clutched at her heart, her breaths coming in shallow, uneven gasps.

“What… what is this?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roaring in her ears.

Her body felt heavy, as though an invisible force was dragging her down. The burning sensation intensified, spreading through her veins like molten lava.

Tears welled up in her eyes, unbidden and unstoppable.