The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Within the castle, deep in the heart of the royal wing, Queen Aurelia Thalassia Arctaris Regaria sat upon her throne, a magnificent seat carved from the finest marble and inlaid with gold.

The throne room itself was a marvel of design, with high vaulted ceilings adorned with murals depicting the kingdom's glorious history, and tall windows that allowed the morning sun to bathe the room in a soft, golden light. Tapestries lined the walls, each one telling stories of battles won, alliances forged, and the divine right of the Regarian bloodline.

Aurelia was a sight to behold, her wavy golden hair cascading down her back like a river of sunlight. Her piercing blue eyes, as sharp as the finest blade, surveyed the room with an air of authority that demanded respect. She was dressed in a gown of deep crimson, the color of the royal house, with intricate patterns of gold woven into the fabric.

Despite her regal appearance, there was an undeniable laziness in her posture as she leaned back in her throne, one leg casually draped over the other, her chin resting on her hand.

The atmosphere in the throne room was heavy with anticipation as the royal knight knelt before her, his armor gleaming in the sunlight. He had just returned from the northern front, where the battle against the goblin king had raged for days. The tension in the room was palpable, with ministers and nobles alike waiting with bated breath for the knight's report.

"Rise," Aurelia commanded, her voice carrying a note of boredom despite the gravity of the situation. The knight stood, his head bowed in respect.

"Your Majesty," the knight began, his voice steady but respectful. "I bring news from the northern front. The battle with the goblin king has been concluded."

Aurelia raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Concluded?" she echoed, her voice carrying a hint of surprise. "And what of Lady Sophie and the Duke of Icevern?"

The knight hesitated for a moment before continuing. "There was… a disruption, Your Majesty. It appears that there was a certain miscommunication between Lady Sophie and the Duke. The request for reinforcements was obstructed."

Aurelia's eyes narrowed, and the room seemed to grow colder as she fixed her gaze on the knight. "Obstructed?" she repeated, her voice dangerously soft. "By whom?"

The knight swallowed nervously. "A noble within the Icevern court, Your Majesty. The intention was to prevent the Duke from sending aid to Lady Sophie, but the noble did not anticipate that she would also send a message directly to the royal castle."

The queen's expression darkened, her lips curving into a slight frown. "A noble obstructing the call for aid? Who would dare?"

Before the knight could respond, one of the ministers, a man with a gaunt face and an air of self-importance, stepped forward. "Your Majesty," he said, his voice laced with contempt. "This is an act of insolence. The Earl of Drakhan has no authority to interfere in such matters without the express permission of the crown. His actions are a breach of protocol, and—"

"Silence," Aurelia snapped, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. The minister's words died in his throat, and he recoiled as if struck. The queen's eyes flashed with anger as she turned her gaze upon him, her expression one of barely restrained fury. "You will not lecture me on protocol, Minister," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous.

"The Earl of Drakhan acted in the interest of the kingdom, and I will not have his actions questioned by a coward who hides behind the veil of propriety."

The minister paled, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. He took a step back, his head bowed in submission, as Aurelia turned her attention back to the knight. "Continue," she commanded, her tone icy.
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The knight nodded, relief evident on his face as he continued his report. "Your Majesty, the situation was swiftly handled by Earl Drakhan. He identified the obstructing noble and dealt with the situation decisively. Lady Sophie was able to receive the reinforcements she needed, and the battle was won."

Aurelia leaned back in her throne, her fingers drumming lightly on the armrest. "And the goblin king?" she asked, her tone now more curious than angry.

The knight's expression brightened slightly as he delivered the news. "The goblin king was slain, Your Majesty. Earl Drakhan himself delivered the final blow. The northern front is secure."

A murmur of approval rippled through the throne room, the nobles and ministers exchanging glances and nodding in agreement. For all the fear and suspicion that surrounded the Drakhan name, none could deny the effectiveness of the Earl's actions.

Some of the older nobles, who harbored old grudges against the Drakhan house, grumbled under their breath, but their voices were drowned out by the general sense of relief.

Aurelia, however, was not so easily impressed. She observed the room with a keen eye, noting the subtle shifts in expression and posture among her court. She saw the resentment, the jealousy, the fear—and it disgusted her.

"If any of you have a problem with the Earl of Drakhan," she said suddenly, her voice carrying a dangerous edge, "then speak up now. If you're too afraid to voice your concerns openly, then I suggest you keep your mouths shut and stop muttering like a bunch of old women. I have no tolerance for cowards."

The room fell into an uneasy silence, the murmurs dying away as quickly as they had begun. Aurelia's gaze swept over the gathered nobles and ministers, her eyes cold and unyielding. She had always been a woman of action, and she had little patience for those who hid behind their titles and whispered behind closed doors.

Satisfied that she had made her point, Aurelia turned her attention back to the knight. "Relay a message to Earl Drakhan," she instructed, her tone now calm and authoritative. "I want him to come to the castle at once. I wish to commend him personally for his service to the kingdom.

And," she added, a sly smile playing on her lips, "I would also like to discuss the matter of the incident at the royal banquet. It seems there is much to be said."

As she spoke, her younger brother, Caelum Aurelian Drakonis Regaria, who had been sitting quietly at her side, perked up with interest. Caelum was a boy of no more than fourteen, with tousled blond hair and bright blue eyes that sparkled with intelligence and curiosity.

He had the same regal bearing as his sister, but there was a warmth in his demeanor that set him apart from the rest of the royal family.

"That's a splendid idea, sister!" Caelum exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. "I've been following some of his lectures in secret, you know. The Earl is truly remarkable! It's a shame he's been on leave because of his injuries. I'd love to hear more from him."

Aurelia glanced at her brother, her expression softening slightly. "You've been sneaking into his lectures, have you?" she teased, a hint of affection in her voice.

Caelum grinned, unabashed. "Of course! I couldn't resist. He has a way of explaining things that makes even the most complex topics seem simple. It's no wonder the students admire him so much."

The queen chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You're too curious for your own good, Caelum. But I suppose that's not a bad thing. Perhaps you'll be able to convince the Earl to take on another student."

Caelum's eyes lit up at the prospect, but he quickly composed himself, remembering the gravity of the situation. "Do you think he'll come, sister? After everything that's happened?"

Aurelia's smile faded, replaced by a more thoughtful expression. "He will come," she said firmly, though there was a note of uncertainty in her voice. "The Earl of Drakhan is many things, but a coward is not one of them. He knows the importance of loyalty to the crown, and he understands the value of his own reputation. He will come."

The young prince nodded, his admiration for Draven clear in his eyes. "I hope so. There's so much more I want to learn from him."

The queen watched her brother for a moment, her gaze softening with affection. Despite her often harsh demeanor, Aurelia had a deep love for her younger brother. Caelum was the only person who could bring out the softer side of her, the side that she kept hidden from the rest of the world.

Her eyes then once again became sharp when her gaze shifted to the ministers and the nobles before her.

"I want to hear that the journey of Earl Drakhan to the capital is uneventful. He has plenty of achievements to boast to get this kind of treatment, and he is my brother's savior," She rose. "Send him half of my royal knights to escort him. Know that obstructing the royal knights mean dealing with me personally!"