Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System-Chapter 39: Masks at Dawn
Masks at Dawn
Julian D’Aurelius carried Selene Aurevale on his back, his face dark as he stepped into the D’Aurelius estate.
Open were the iron gates. Along the path, lantern light jumped with every gust, stretching dark shapes across trimmed bushes. Rain mixed with grass filled the air just enough to notice. Far off, a rumble of thunder crept through silence like it had nowhere to be.
A faint warmth brushed his collarbone where her breathing landed. Her limbs hung easy at first, then tightened when she stirred without waking. Words slipped out, soft and unclear, as her hands bunched the cloth near his shoulder. Stillness followed just as fast as the movement had come.
A soft breath escaped Julian as she shifted her stance. Red smudges marked his collar, left behind without warning. That thin line of calm - nearly gone.
A moment too late, the entrance swung wide. He stood just short of touching it.
Frozen in the doorway, Gary D’Aurelius folded his arms, tension pulling at his forehead as soon as he saw them. His stare slipped down to Selene, leaning heavily on Julian’s shoulder, before climbing back up to his son’s face - catching on the faded streaks of crimson near his neck and chin.
The moment passed, his face tightening without warning.
Frowning appeared on Gary D’Aurelius’s face the instant they came into view, his voice cutting through the air just as fast
"How much did you make Selene drink? How did she get this drunk?"
From the marble walls came a bounce of his voice.
Fatigue sat heavy on Julian’s face. Not shock. Not remorse. Only weariness remained.
His fingers pressed a little harder, keeping her from sliding, a palm braced on her leg beneath the material of her gown. Not because she asked, but because it felt necessary. Three drinks was all she managed before things went wrong. Spoken without emphasis, just fact - she had tried to drown it alone
Forward he stepped. Three glasses? The sound that came from him wasn’t warm - more like glass breaking underfoot. That’s supposed to be believable?
Julian’s jaw flexed.
"Bullshit!" Gary snapped without hesitation. "Selene never goes to those places to drink. Don’t think I can’t guess what you’re up to, you brat."
Heavy silence followed the claim. It settled like dust after a shout.
A light shifted behind Julian’s stare - no fury there just now, though it hovered near.
"What exactly do you think I’m up to?" he asked, his tone deceptively calm.
Gary gestured vaguely at him, frustration rising. "You take her out late at night. She comes back barely conscious. And you want me to think that’s innocent?"
Selene stirred faintly at the raised voices. "J-Julian... don’t argue..." she mumbled, her cheek brushing against his shoulder.
Julian’s expression softened for half a second. He adjusted her again, more carefully this time.
They were both men.
He didn’t need evidence to suspect motives.
Gary’s gaze sharpened as it dragged once more over the red stains on Julian’s collar. "And what is that supposed to be?" he demanded. "You think I’m blind?"
Julian’s lips twitched.
Did his father not see the lipstick all over his face? Could he have put it there himself for decoration?
Julian let out a slow breath through his nose. "You think I kissed her until she passed out?"
"Don’t test my patience."
"Trust me," Julian replied dryly, "if I had done anything, she wouldn’t be asleep like this. She’d be yelling at me."
For a brief second, Gary already reaches for his belt again.
"... "
Julian swallowed his protest. Explaining would only make things worse.
Inside the house, Veena D’Aurelius stepped forward and gently supported Selene.
"I’ll take Selene to your room to rest. Next time, don’t take her out drinking."
Julian blinked.
"Let her rest in the guest room. Why take her to his room?" Gary said with visible discontent.
His wife was perfect in every way—except she spoiled their son too much.
It was she who had insisted on arranging this marriage alliance. Otherwise, Gary might never have forced it.
Veena smiled knowingly and nodded. She understood her husband’s concerns.
Gary turned back to Julian, his voice firm but calmer now.
"I know you’ve liked her for years. But some things can’t be rushed. It has to be voluntary."
He stepped closer, lowering his tone.
"If you try any funny business again, I’ll break your legs."
Julian raised both hands defensively.
"You’re overthinking it, old man. I’m not interested in her, really."
Gary narrowed his eyes.
"Then who are you interested in? That girl from the De Dominicis family? Or the Valquin family heiress?"
"... "
Julian felt trapped.
Among the four major families of Valemont, besides the D’Aurelius household, the other three all had beauties Evan had already marked as his targets.
That guy practically conquered entire households by seducing their daughters.
The most absurd part of those feel-good novels?
Prestigious families abandoning dignity—letting their daughters revolve around one man while pouring resources into him.
Ridiculous.
After another ten minutes of lecturing, Gary finally let him escape without a beating.
Julian returned to his room, showered, washed the lipstick off his face, and collapsed onto his bed that cost more than some people’s annual salary.
He exhaled slowly.
The life of a rich person is just so plain and boring.
And within minutes—
He fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Meanwhile—
After Veena quietly left the guest room, Selene’s lashes trembled.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Clear.
Awake.
Sober.
Or rather—
She had never been completely drunk.
In the car, she had been dizzy, yes. But not unconscious. There had always been a thread of reason.
She simply didn’t want to hold onto it.
Under the influence of alcohol, she had allowed herself to loosen the reins.
To follow instinct.
To say what she never dared to say.
To do what she always restrained herself from doing.
She had even tried to take off her mask—just like he had.
But now—
With the silence of the guest room pressing gently around her—
Embarrassment crept up her spine.
She rolled onto her side and buried her face in the pillow.
She had only wanted to talk to him.
So how did it turn into... kissing him?
Her fingertips brushed her lips unconsciously.
She could still feel the warmth of his cheek.
The faint scent of his cologne.
The way he had resisted.
Not disgust.
Not rejection.
But restraint.
Her chest tightened slightly.
He didn’t take advantage of her.
He could have.
She had practically offered herself.
Yet he didn’t.
That thought made her heartbeat strangely uneven.
"Oh no... I won’t be able to face anyone tomorrow."
She covered her burning face with both hands and sighed softly.
She shouldn’t have drunk.
But if she hadn’t—
Would she have ever said "I’ll simp for you instead"?
Would she have dared to cling to him like that?
Would she have seen the panic in his eyes... and the flicker of something else?
She turned over again, restless.
For three years, he had chased her openly.
She had stayed cold.
Distant.
Testing him.
Pushing him away.
And tonight—
He pulled back.
Not from indifference.
But from caution.
And somehow, that unsettled her more than if he had surrendered.
Was his affection real?
Or had she already pushed it too far?
The ceiling light cast soft shadows across the room.
Selene stared at it blankly.
Her father, Shan Aurevale, had always been strict.
After her mother passed away, the house grew quieter. Colder.
She learned early how to be strong.
How to win.
How to stand alone.
But tonight—
When she leaned against him—
When she said "Don’t ignore me"—
For a brief moment—
She didn’t want to be strong.
She wanted to be held.
And that frightened her.
She tossed and turned until nearly three in the morning before exhaustion finally dragged her into sleep.
------------
Early the next morning—
A gentle knock sounded on the door.
"Selena, are you up? It’s time for breakfast."
Veena’s warm voice filtered through the wood.
Selene blinked awake, her thoughts instantly returning like a tidal wave.
"Okay, Auntie."
