A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

Inside a room, a faint breathing mixed with the humming sound reverberated throughout the space.

Aria lay sprawled on the king-sized bed in the opulent VIP room, her breaths coming in soft, shallow waves.

The golden glow of the chandelier above bathed the room in a warm light, casting shadows that flickered like whispers across the walls.

Everything was still, quiet, except for the occasional, almost imperceptible twitch of her fingers on the silk sheets.

"...mmhm...." Her eyelids fluttered slightly, and her brows drew together, as if she was caught in a dream that wouldn't quite let her go.

There was a warmth spreading through her, subtle at first, but growing stronger, curling like a slow fire in her belly.

Her body shifted ever so slightly, her thighs rubbing together as if seeking something to ease the heat that was building deep within her.

A soft hum escaped her parted lips, her breaths growing heavier.

'Lin...' The name surfaced unbidden, floating in her hazy thoughts.

She couldn't remember the last time he had looked at her the way he used to.

Once upon a time, there had been warmth in his eyes, a smile reserved just for her.

But that had all changed, hadn't it?

'Why did you change, Lin...?' her mind whispered.

She could still see him from those early days—the boy who'd made her heart race with just a glance.

But those memories felt like they belonged to someone else, like they were wrapped in fog, almost out of reach.

Her fingers brushed over her stomach, tracing lower.

The silk of her dress rode up slightly, exposing the soft skin of her thighs.

"...nhh.." Another soft moan slipped out, and her hips lifted slightly off the bed.

She wasn't truly awake, but her body was moving of its own accord, driven by a heat she couldn't name, couldn't control.

'How did it come to this...?' Aria's thoughts swirled, images flashing behind her closed eyelids.

She remembered the way Lin had first smiled at her, how her heart had fluttered when they'd shared those shy, stolen glances.

Though, of course, those were nothing more than a one-sided crush and fake illusions she had formed.

But then her father had gotten involved, pressing for an engagement.

That's when everything had started to fall apart.

Lin had grown colder, more distant.

His once warm eyes had turned icy, his words cutting and cruel.

Her lips parted, and a barely audible murmur filled the quiet room.

"Lin... why...?" she whispered, her voice shaky, almost desperate.

But there was no answer.

There hadn't been an answer for years, just the echo of her own hopes slowly shattering.

drip

A soft teardrop escaped her closed eyes, trickling down her cheek while brushing past her skin and falling onto the cascaded black hair scattered around the bed.

But even as her heart clenched with the pain of lost love, another image pushed its way to the front of her mind—Professor Aven.

The man who had come into her life like a storm, unexpected and relentless.

She could still see him standing there in the academy's corridor, his broad back shielding her from Lin's rage.

The way his silver hair caught the light, his shoulders set like a wall between her and the man she had once thought she loved.

'How did he... get under my skin so quickly...?' she wondered.

The garden scene flashed before her—their stolen kiss, the taste of him still lingering on her lips.

He had taken her by surprise, leaving her breathless, confused, and craving more.

And now, even in her dazed state, the memory of his touch sent a shiver racing down her spine.

"Ahn..." Her hand moved lower, fingers slipping beneath the hem of her dress, as if guided by the memory of Aven's touch.

"Umh...ahn..." Her breaths came faster, hitching in her throat as her body responded to the phantom sensations.

"He was... there... when no one else..." she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper, like a confession to the darkness around her.

The memory of the clinic room in academy came rushing back—the fear, the panic, and then his strong arms wrapping around her, pulling her close.

She could still feel the warmth of his breath against her ear, his steady hands soothing her trembling frame.

'Lin never came... never cared,' her thoughts turned bitter, a pang of hurt twisting in her chest.

The love she had once felt for him had turned into something darker, a resentment that gnawed at her every time she remembered how he had pushed her away.

Yet Aven... Aven had been the one to protect her, to hold her when she thought she was all alone.

Her eyes squeezed tighter, her mind flickering between memories like a broken film reel.

Aven standing tall in that corridor, facing down Lin's fury.

Aven pulling her into his arms in that garden, his lips crushing hers, leaving her breathless and aching for more.

The way he had held her in the hospital, his presence grounding her, making her feel safe for the first time in years.

"Uhng....Umhhn...Ah" Her fingers grazed against the heated skin between her legs, yet separated by tight jeans, her back arching slightly as the sensation sent another wave of warmth flooding through her.

With soft fingers, she brushed against the jeans, the shape of two plush areas clearly standing out against the fabric, the middle part looking like a tiny summit.

"Ah..." Every touch felt wet and inviting, sending jolts of electricity coursing through her, a delicious thrill that made her continue to caress those enticing curves perched beneath the tight-fitting jeans.

She bit her lip, stifling the soft whimper that threatened to escape.

"Professor Aven... why do you... make me feel like this?" she mumbled again, her voice fragile, like she was afraid to admit it even to herself.

The sound of his name on her lips sent a jolt through her, and her heart clenched, torn between the remnants of her past with Lin and the unexpected, undeniable pull she felt toward Aven.

'He... saved me when I thought no one would,' she thought, her mind drifting back to the way he had appeared, almost as if summoned by her despair.

She had been drowning, suffocating under the weight of her father's life, Lin's coldness... but Aven had reached out, pulled her from the abyss.

"Haah...Haah..." Her breaths came faster, her body shifting restlessly on the bed.

She could still feel the ghost of his hands on her skin, the press of his lips against hers, the way his sapphire eyes had softened as he looked down at her.

"I... want..." she mumbled, but the rest of the words died on her lips, lost in a soft gasp as her body trembled.

She didn't even know what she wanted anymore.

The lines had blurred, and all she could feel was the rush of emotions and the heat coursing through her veins.

The past was a tangled mess of regret and longing, but right now, as she lay there with her thoughts consumed by the memory of Aven, she couldn't deny what her heart was whispering.

Lin was the man she had once loved... but Aven was the one who made her feel alive.

.

.

.

.

"It's already been more than an hour?"

Aecilia sat in the back of a Rolls-Royce, her gaze drifting toward the man beside her.

He had silver hair and piercing blue eyes that remained fixed on the road ahead, his composure unflinching as he sat with his hands folded in his lap.

The luxury vehicle had left just minutes ago, following the arrival of the ambulance and a team that was addressing the aftermath of the incident.

"Bring her to my hotel room," Avendial instructed, his eyes still focused straight ahead.

Unbeknownst to Aecilia, his fingers subtly tapped against the fabric of his suit pocket, as if he were ensuring that a handkerchief remained in place, while also concealing the capsule he had obtained from Bordy's lifeless body.

"Again?" Aecilia raised an eyebrow, suspicion flickering to life within her.

She mirrored his posture, elegantly folding her hands and crossing one leg over the other.

A part of her wanted to voice her concerns, but the memory of Avendial mentioning something about waiting a year to act stirred in her mind, prompting her to close her eyes instead.

This gesture shielded the golden hue of her irises, which had been clouded with confusion moments earlier.

It was clear to her that the reason Avendial had left Aria behind in the auction house was likely to enhance her feelings through the use of an aphrodisiac.

However, Aecilia struggled to understand why he insisted on bringing Aria to a hotel room.

She could at least question what Billie had asserted, yet it didn't seem worthwhile to dwell on it now.

"...It's important," Avendial replied calmly.

His focus was unwavering, dedicated to reaching the hotel room first, then addressing Aria's situation, helping her regain awareness, and as quickly as possible delivering the capsule to Croceaus territory.

Initially, his priorities lay with securing Aria and then Margaret Grafia.

However, a shift in plans had emerged.

Given the capsule he had just acquired, his immediate target was now Dr. Etrinia.

Thus, he needed to concentrate on Aria's situation first, and afterward, devise a strategy for dealing with Doctor Etrinia, all while planning a journey back to Croceaus territory.

"Hm, I see," Aecilia replied, even though she longed to ask more questions.

Instead, she nodded, prioritizing his words and placing her trust in him.

She had initially grappled with doubts about his intentions but chose to remain composed, turning her thoughts instead to the intriguing abilities that Aria might possess, especially if she were indeed an Empyreal.

Somehow, Aecilia had sensed that the very powers Aria wielded were what instilled fear in her.

This realization left Aecilia both curious and perplexed—why would someone like Aria, possessing some kind of abilities, be afraid of her?