The Villain Professor's Second Chance

For a moment, she couldn't move, couldn't think. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps as the weight of his words settled over her. The revelation that Draven had tested her, had deliberately obstructed her message to her brother, sending countless knights and adventurers to their deaths as a result—it was too much to comprehend.

Rage and disbelief warred within her, but beneath it all was a deep sense of betrayal. She had fought so hard, had given everything to protect her people, and in the end, it had all been a cruel game to him.

Yet, as she struggled to process the full impact of his actions, another emotion crept in—relief. The idea of never seeing Draven again, of being free from the engagement she had never wanted, brought a small measure of comfort. But that comfort was quickly overshadowed by confusion and a gnawing sense of loss.

She had never asked for this engagement, never desired to be tied to someone like him, but now that it was being taken away, she found herself questioning why it hurt so much.
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Slowly, Sophie turned away from the spot where Draven had left her, her gaze drifting towards the horizon. She could see the remnants of the goblin horde retreating, their ranks broken and scattered. The battle was over, for now, but the victory felt hollow. Too many lives had been lost, too many sacrifices made, all for a test that she had unwittingly failed.

She needed answers, but more than that, she needed reassurance. She found her sister Annalise, standing nearby, her expression unreadable as she observed the aftermath of the battle. Sophie approached her slowly, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Anna… do you think what Draven said is true? That he really doesn't see any worth in me?"

Annalise's gaze flicked towards Sophie, her usual calm demeanor replaced with a flicker of uncertainty. "It makes sense," she said slowly, her voice measured. "Draven has always been… pragmatic. If he said those things, it's likely because he believes them. He wouldn't have tested you otherwise."

Sophie's heart sank at her sister's words, but before she could respond, Sharon, her loyal adjutant, stormed over, her eyes blazing with fury. "That bastard! How dare he treat you like that after everything you've done? Testing you? Obstructing the message? He's the one who should be held accountable, not you!"

But as Sharon's tirade continued, Sophie noticed something strange in Annalise's expression—a momentary hesitation, a flicker of something that looked almost like doubt. It was unlike her sister, who was usually so composed and unwavering. Sophie wanted to question her further, to ask what she was really thinking, but the words wouldn't come.

Instead, she forced herself to smile, to push aside her own doubts.

"It's fine, Sharon," Sophie said quietly, cutting off her adjutant's angry words. "There's nothing we can do about it now. At least the goblins are gone, and we've managed to hold the line. That's what matters."

But even as she said the words, a part of her couldn't help but feel conflicted. Should she really be relieved? Or was she simply trying to justify the emptiness that Draven's rejection had left behind?

She didn't have an answer, and as she turned away from her sister and Sharon, the uncertainty gnawed at her. The engagement had been a burden she had never wanted, but the thought of it being broken, of Draven's cold dismissal, left her feeling strangely adrift. She couldn't help but wonder if there had been something more beneath his words, something she hadn't seen or understood.

But as the night fell and the battlefield grew quiet, Sophie knew that for now, she would have to put those thoughts aside. The battle was over, but the war was far from won, and there was still much to do.

___

The grand mansion of the Icevern Dukedom loomed ahead, its imposing structure shrouded in the cold mist of the northern landscape. Draven strode through the front gates with a purpose, his presence commanding and cold. The guards at the entrance barely had time to register his arrival before he was already inside, his steps echoing through the vast halls.

He was a man on a mission, his mind focused solely on the task at hand. He moved with the efficiency and precision of a soldier, his thoughts already ahead of him as he made his way towards the duke's office. The servants and guards who crossed his path quickly stepped aside, sensing the urgency in his movements.

There was no time for pleasantries or explanations—this was a matter of utmost importance.

As he reached the large oak doors of the duke's office, Draven pushed them open without hesitation. Inside, Lancefroz, the Duke of Icevern, was seated behind his desk, his expression stern and focused. The duke was a man of few words, his knightly demeanor evident in the way he held himself, even in the midst of the administrative duties that came with his title.

"Draven," Lancefroz greeted him, his tone neutral but with an underlying note of respect. "I was informed that you had something urgent to discuss."

Draven nodded, his eyes sharp as he stepped forward. "Sophie is in danger, she's in a pinch. I would need you to ready your forces as soon as possible, Lancefroz,"

"A pinch?" Lancefroz's question came together with an icy gaze as the room temperature started to drop. "What happened to her,"

Without talking, Draven gave him an envelope, which he immediately recognize as the queen's message.

"It's a message commanding me to give support to the Iceverns to face the goblins and stop the rising of the goblin king. Sophie was supposed to give you a message, but the message you were supposed to receive from Sophie was obstructed," he said without preamble. "I have identified the culprit and dealt with the situation, but we must act quickly.

Reinforcements are needed immediately to support Sophie and secure the region."

Lancefroz's expression darkened, his hand clenching around the quill he had been holding. "Obstructed? Who would dare interfere with such an important message?"

Draven met his gaze, his voice cold and unwavering. "The details are irrelevant now. What matters is that we move swiftly. The goblin forces are more organized than anticipated, and without reinforcements, Sophie's position will be compromised."

The duke stood, his posture rigid as he processed the information. There was no room for hesitation or doubt—his daughter's safety and the security of the region were at stake. "I will mobilize the knights immediately," he declared, his voice filled with resolve. "We will ride out within the hour."

Draven inclined his head, his expression unreadable. "Good. I will be joining the reinforcements. We cannot afford any mistakes."

Lancefroz nodded, already moving towards the door to issue his orders. But as he passed Draven, the duke paused for a brief moment, his eyes meeting Draven's with a flicker of something unspoken—gratitude, perhaps, or respect for the man who had taken charge in such a critical situation.

"Thank you, Draven," Lancefroz said quietly. "For everything."

Draven simply nodded, his expression as cold and distant as ever. "I'm only doing what needs to be done."

With that, the duke left the room, his footsteps echoing through the hallway as he went to prepare his knights for the coming battle.

Draven remained in the office for a moment, his thoughts already turning to the next steps. He had expected resistance, questions, perhaps even anger from Lancefroz, but the duke's response had been exactly as he had anticipated—swift and decisive.

But as the silence settled over the room, Draven's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar presence. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was—he could sense her, as he always could.

"I believe you're there, Annalise," Draven said calmly, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

There was a brief pause before Annalise stepped out from the shadows, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "Draven," she greeted him, her voice soft but steady. "Is it true? Is Sophie really in danger?"

Draven's gaze remained fixed ahead, his expression unreadable. "It's true. She's been holding the line against the goblins, but their forces are stronger than we anticipated. Without reinforcements, she won't be able to hold out for much longer."

Annalise's brow furrowed, her eyes searching his face for any sign of deception. "Is there any possibility that you're the one who did this to her? That you put her in this position deliberately?"

There is always a possibility that Draven does this so that he could appear just like a white knight, a white prince that saved Sophie from trouble.

Perhaps it's his plan, she thought.

Draven turned to face her, his eyes cold and unwavering. "Yes. There is a chance that I was the one who obstructed the message. And I hope that you affirm this as a fact for her as well,"

"Huh" Annalise's eyes widened in shock, her hand flying to her mouth. "Why? Why would you do such a thing?"

Draven's expression didn't change. "Because this engagement has been a burden on both of us for far too long. Sophie has always been against it, and frankly, so have I. This was an opportunity to put an end to it once and for all."

Annalise's shock turned to confusion, her mind racing to understand his motives. "But… but why now?"

Without answering, Draven stood. "I hope you'll have your act well, for Sophie's sake, later on. Annalise," And left.

Looking at his back, Annalise could only utter one word.

"Why?"

When he barged in and went immediately to Lancefroz's study, she knew that it must be something urgent, and a thing very Draven-like as she knows he tends to forget everything when it comes to Sophie.

She could feel his worry, impatience, concern, and his passion for her, but why?

Why does he want to frame himself and end the engagement when he could be the one who saves her instead?

"At the very least, I should prepare as I'm following brother to help sis,"