The Extra's Advent: My Villainess Fiancée is a Yandere-Chapter 20: Everchanging Tides

Cael stood up from his seat and followed Seraphina.

On the way, he dispelled the clones stationed at his estate.

He did not want to take any unnecessary risks.

It unfolded exactly as he had guessed. Seraphina brought him to his estate.

More precisely, she wanted to speak with Martha before making any final decision.

...

Martha, Seraphina, and Cael sat facing one another in silence.

Martha was the first to break it.

"What you’re saying is that Cael’s second awakening class is SSS? That’s unbelievable."

Seraphina nodded slightly.

"Indeed. I was shocked as well when I discovered it."

Martha held Seraphina’s gaze and asked softly,

"So... what now?"

Seraphina glanced at Cael before turning back to Martha.

"I will take him under my wing. Or rather, supervise him. I will inform the Council that I have found an SSS-class holder and that the student will be trained under me."

She paused briefly.

"And no, I will not disclose his identity. Is that acceptable?"

Martha nodded, then asked,

"By taking him under your wing... You mean you will personally teach him?"

Seraphina did not answer immediately. She considered the implications for a moment before replying,

"I will. I have no intention of giving the Council a reason to mock my judgment. So, kid, you had better be prepared."

Cael was left speechless.

Today had officially become the worst day since his transmigration.

This was not how things were supposed to unfold.

He was supposed to hide his power.

Grow in secret.

Forge a false identity.

Farm aura by appearing at critical moments to save the main characters.

Then, once he reached the pinnacle, reveal himself as the hidden benefactor who had carried them all along.

That was the plan.

And now?

It felt as though his journey had been derailed before it had even begun.

Worse still, the one who indirectly exposed him was none other than his own mother.

Cael wanted to complain.

But there was no one he could complain to.

He exhaled quietly and accepted reality.

At the very least, his mother and Seraphina seemed to know each other well.

A thought surfaced in his mind.

How many people actually knew about his awakening?

Martha. David. And David’s wife, Elena.

But David and his wife did not know it was SSS.

Which meant only two people truly knew.

Martha and Seraphina.

Cael looked at both women and spoke seriously.

"Please don’t tell anyone about my class awakening. Let it remain a secret for now."

Then he turned to Martha.

"Let others believe my awakened class is S-rank. And inform the Council that you found an SSS-class holder three months later."

That way, David and his wife would not immediately connect the dots and suspect him.

Martha smiled gently.

"Alright."

Seraphina gave a small nod as well.

"Very well. I will notify the Council three months from now."

...

That very day, Cael’s Council profile was updated from A-rank to S-rank.

With David’s connections, the process did not take long.

Yes, he used David to make the S-rank status legitimate. That way, when Seraphina informed the Council about discovering an SSS-class holder three months later, David would not immediately suspect him.

Martha also moved into the academy grounds.

However, she would be staying in Seraphina’s private residence.

Cael had no objections to that. If anything, he felt slightly relieved. Martha would receive better care there.

Now, there was something else he needed to address.

He turned to his mother.

"We need to talk."

Specifically, about why she had exposed him.

"It was David’s idea," Martha said calmly as she looked at Cael.

"What?"

"Originally, we only wanted you and Seraphina to become acquainted. I personally asked her to keep an eye on you."

She sighed softly.

"But it turns out my son is an SSS-class holder with plans of his own."

Cael gave a small, awkward cough and looked away.

Martha’s eyes softened.

"I’m sorry, Cael. I just wanted you to be safe under Seraphina’s protection, but I—"

"It’s okay, Mom," he interrupted gently. "I’m fine. And... thank you for worrying about me."

He meant it.

Although Martha and David’s arrangement had disrupted his carefully laid plans, their intentions were clear.

They wanted him safe.

That alone spoke volumes about how much they trusted Seraphina.

Cael lifted his gaze toward the rising moon outside the window.

So...

Perhaps it was time for him to try trusting his new mentor as well.

...

On the other side of the academy grounds,

Lucian Vayne stepped onto his assigned dormitory floor.

He entered his room, removed his belongings from his space pouch, and arranged them neatly.

Once everything was in place, he walked out onto the balcony.

Below, students ran across the courtyard, laughing and calling out to their newly made friends.

’In my past life, I used to be like them,’ he thought. ’Running around. Playing pranks. Acting carefree.’

Luke exhaled slowly.

’I thought regressing would allow me to change everything.’

His gaze darkened.

’But time... isn’t something we can toy with.’

He had anticipated changes the moment he regressed.

That much was inevitable.

’But not like this.’

’Cael should still be [Iron 2].’

’Elowyn should remain at [Silver 3] for several more months.’

So what caused this deviation?

The book he had given to Elowyn.

Yes. That explained her sudden growth.

But what about Cael?

And their engagement...

It felt wrong.

Why was it arranged so suddenly?

To prevent political pressure on David?

Luke shook his head.

That reasoning didn’t sit right.

David Strix was not a man who yielded to pressure. If someone tried to corner him, he would eliminate them quietly in the shadows.

Luke’s mind replayed the moment he saw Elowyn during the engagement.

She had smiled.

It was a simple smile.

A happy one.

And yet,

For a split second, he thought he saw something else.

A faint shade of red in her eyes.

Luke’s hands trembled slightly.

Those red eyes belonged to someone who should not exist in this timeline.

"Sovereign of Red Heart."

The name echoed in his thoughts.

"Did she use that book as a medium to travel back as well?"

He frowned.

"No... that shouldn’t be possible."

Luke lifted his gaze toward the moon hanging above the academy.

"I just hope this Elowyn never becomes the Sovereign of Red Heart."

His jaw tightened.

"No. I will make sure she never does."

He closed his eyes briefly.

"Fate... you truly enjoy mocking me, don’t you?"

For the future. For the people he cared about.

He would find a way. No matter the cost.

...

Meanwhile,

Elowyn had long since finished arranging her belongings and was now training.

Each swing of her blade was precise.

Every movement was clean.

Every strike was lethal.

Her mind held no distractions, fully immersed in the rhythm of her swordplay.

As she continued practicing, something began to change.

She did not notice it.

The corners of her sealed, composed lips slowly curved upward.

Her icy blue eyes gradually shifted, their color deepening into a crimson ruby hue.

Strands of her black hair lightened, turning faintly snow white.

Her smile widened.

"Hehehe~"

A soft giggle escaped her lips as she danced, and she began humming to herself.

"La la~ lalala~ la~"

Her steps grew lighter, almost graceful, yet each carried terrifying precision.

Her swordplay was no longer merely refined.

It was overwhelming.

The pinnacle of humanity.

Or perhaps her swordplay had long since surpassed it.

Then she suddenly stopped.

As if her strings had been cut.

Her crimson eyes lifted toward the moon.

"For Cael... for dear Cael... for my lovely Cael."

She whispered his name again. And again. And again.

She is... Elowyn Strix, who failed to save her love.

She is... the Villainess Tyrant who slaughtered millions of Vampires and thousands of humans just to kill a single Vampire.

She is... the Sovereign of Red Heart who sent Luke back in time, and the one Luke fears the most.

But now...

She is nothing more than an obsession that crossed time to find Caelir Vayne.

Slowly, the crimson faded.

Her eyes returned to their usual blue.

Her white strands darkened back to black.

"Haa... haa... haa..."

Elowyn took several long, steady breaths.

"Did I overdo it...? I’m exhausted."

She glanced at the clock.

"Sigh... did I lose track of time again?"

_____

—End of Introduction Arc—

Next Arc: Hunt for the Old Legend

_____

Author’s Note:

I originally planned to wrap up this arc in ten Chapters, but it ended up becoming twenty.

That said, how do you all feel about the pacing so far? Should I speed things up moving forward, or maintain the current tempo?

Also, one more important question:

Harem or single female lead?

I personally prefer a single lead.

Leave your thoughts below. I’ll make a final decision by the end of Volume 2.