Isn’t the wannabe Villain too cute?

Inside the reception hall built inside the premise of Eden Academy stood three prominent figures of the Empire with varying expressions spread over their faces.

The second prince and probable next Emperor of Gram, Mikhail, had a frightening look on his face as he coldly looked at a bastard named his brother, Cain.

Those who closely knew Mikhail would have been shocked to see the all-time serene and calm-headed prince being in such an agitated state, like he might burn an ice pillar with his mere emotional flux.

On the other end, Cain's expression was a blend of terrified and repulsive as he never thought of someone intruding at this hour when all the preparation was already done.

The chicken-brained First Prince wasn't able to discern that a single person did this whole game plan, and that person was the only one who could ditch Cain at such a point.

Cain, indeed, was strong enough to obliterate a Unique class Demons horde single-handedly, but in comparison to Mikhail....he was far below.

"Don't you interrupt Mikhail! This is my personal matter. You stay out of it!"

Cain growled in a high pitch while trying to put a bold front and, if possible, get things under his control.

Hearing the words Mikhail wasn't expecting after so many things happened, the blond prince's face contoured to an even darker shade as his anger reached its boiling point.

But before he could take action, another voice but this time feminine, resonated from Cain's side.

"Yeah, why are you interrupting, Prince Mikhail!? I was about to make this idiot blabber the important intel!"

Luna's annoyed voice made the previous furious Mikhail blink in perplexion, and it was the same for Cain, too, as he turned his head to see the person.

"Lu-Luna-san...are you alright now?" (Mikhail)

"No...am dead."

With fake amusement, Luna replied as her previous miserable condition had vanished like she had never been thrown into such a state. Unlike before, her skin has regained its natural tone with no sign of her being struggling even to stand.

"H-How this can be..."

Cain's eyes were at their widest point as he concluded that all this time, Luna was playing around to make him confess about the person who helped him in this whole situation.

Mikhail had a resigned expression as he somehow could digest Luna overpowering the demonic artifact, but her acting skills indeed made his heart move previously.

"No... No... No... No! This can't be happening!"

"Hey, do you wanna live?"

Amidst his self-mumbling, Luna spoke in a low tone to Cain, upon which the latter blinked in utter disbelief.

"If you tell me who gave you this artifact, I will ensure that you leave this place alive today."

There was a reason why Luna wasn't resorting to the brutal way to know the information she had been eager to find for a while.

So what was left was only the game of words. She said she would let him escape safely, but what would happen after running away would be uncertain.

Mikhail's raging mind thought for a long minute as Mikhail also waited for this development since he trusted Luna's wits and sense of reasoning.

He had ways to restrain Cain outside the hall, so he was pretty much calm about the things happening.

"I will speak...but in return...can you... Can you step on me, please!?"

With his voice mending in an utmost plead, Cain bowed in front of Luna, making the latter's mind blank for several seconds.

Mikhail facepalmed on such a shameful display of a high noble. Still, there wasn't anything he could say between them when he pretended to be oblivion about Luna's proposal.

Luna was wholly weirded out, but she didn't think it was too much to grant, so she nodded and urged the man to speak.

Cain was delighted to the core as his dream to see Luna from that point of view seemed near reality. Standing back, he breathed heavily before he began to speak.

"Th-The being who got me this artifact and the one who has interfered various times in the school affairs in the past is the same person. Like the labyrinth, which was unsealed, and the two high-ranked demons during the war were also sent by that being."

From start to end, Cain's expression shifted quite a lot as he muttered while reminiscing probably about the person he was talking about.

Mikhail and Luna didn't interrupt him as they awaited to know more about this person who had been playing cards from the background for who knows how long.

"I don't know his name, but if you want to fi-KHAKK!!"

Suddenly all natural color from Cain's face faded as a red runic spell circled his neck, seemingly choking him from talking any further.

**Cough**Cough**

Cain dropped to the ground while coughing violently as the bind didn't kill him, but it seemed he wouldn't be talking any time soon.

**SLING**

With a frightening speed, Mikhail launched a mana rope, which tied around Cain's arms and legs before he stepped forward. Amidst choking, Cain fell unconscious due to the effect of binding twine.

"Luna-san, for whatever problem my brother has caused, I beg your forgiveness. Tomorrow, an official apology, along with compensation, will be delivered to you, and I will make sure Prince Cain gets the treatment that a criminal should."

Mikhail bowed deeply as he pleaded for forgiveness which he knew was impossible to attain for what his brother had done. But contrary to his expectation, Luna gave a completely unpredictable answer.

"It's alright; I have gained from his foolishness to try to touch me. And about that official apology. If possible, send some lemon tea leaves as compensation."

Her voice was strangely serene since she knew, from the start, Cain had no control over the situation, and she came with him because she knew there would be something useful she could discover.

"I will send the best quality of tea. Uh... Luna-san. I also have a request to make. I know it's imprudent of me to-."

"Just say it."

Luna's mood became light as she heard about her favorite beverage, so hearing the request became a little bearable.

Mikhail inhaled deeply before he spoke in a meek tone.

"If possible....can you not tell me about this matter to Austin-san for the time being?"

Luna's eyes rounded in perplexion before she looked at Mikhail's expression and saw that he genuinely was worried about Austin's awareness of the matter.

"Well, I must disappoint you since I don't hide things from my husband, but can I ask why you are so worried about his knowledge on the matter?"

Mikhail smiled bitterly as he replied with a defeated sigh.

"When it's about you, Luna-san, Austin practically loses his cool. Were you sheltered at the time of war right? Because of being weakened by the demon? What you missed was the wrath Austin-san bestowed on the battlefield and showed me what strength a human could harbor. If he suddenly turns like that toward Gram... I don't know what would.. "

Mikhail still couldn't believe what he saw that day through the device, which was projecting the live scenario of war grounds.

The look in Austin's gaze and the way he dominated the other side, which comprised of Terror Rank demons, too, made Mikhail realize what asset Gram was overlooked until now.

"Is that so~Fufu...I didn't know he would get that angry~."

Amidst his recollection, Mikhail heard small giggles before his eyes fell on the blushing Luna who was fidgeting at her place while muttering something he probably shouldn't hear.

Looking at such a display from an all-time cold-faced maiden, Mikhail realized that the emotion called love was still early for him to learn.

___________________...

A/N: - There is a critical conversation part of Sophia and Austin. Should I write it down in the next chap or show it through Austin's talk to Luna?

Comment down~