Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System-Chapter 8: Tea and Unspoken Words
Tea and Unspoken Words
Bianca De Dominicis offered Julian D’Aurelius tea while her eyes held a quiet edge. He found his way to the chair just as steam curled from the cup. Her hands moved slowly, arranging things without sound. The room stayed still except for the spoon tapping once against porcelain. Though her smile came early, it didn’t reach past her lips. A pause settled between them before she spoke again.
Now it was quiet between them, after so much time apart. Roads split wide back then - only just touched again during that school gathering not long ago, when everything shifted for her. She saw things differently now.
Something heavy stayed behind, long after it should have left. Even now, time hadn’t managed to loosen its grip.
Fate, it seemed, enjoyed irony - news of the match between House D’Aurelius and House Aurevale arrived on precisely this day. Not yesterday, not tomorrow.
Funny how Julian didn’t care about any of it just then. Watching Bianca’s fingers shape each step of the tea ritual held him still - smooth, exact movements flowing like lines in a quiet song. A daily chore became something else entirely under her touch.
Honestly... just watching her make tea feels like seeing art. They say Selene Aurevale is the jewel of the court? To me, Bianca De Dominicis carries herself like quiet fire. Watch how she moves - grace without effort. Selene seems stiff next to her, stuck behind that frown. Then there’s this promised marriage nonsense. Hard to take seriously. Maybe it’s time someone stepped in and let that plan fade away
Out of nowhere, Julian’s quiet thoughts slipped out, catching Bianca off guard. The teacup wavered, close to slipping through her fingers. Wide-eyed, she gripped it tighter, the thin china shaking. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Her eyes locked on him, surprise flashing in her expression. Not a doubt in sight - she knew that sound anywhere. Without uttering a word out loud, his voice still reached her ears just fine.
She stumbled, just slightly. "You okay?" came Julian’s question, light but watching close.
Fine," Bianca said, head jerking sideways fast. Yet beneath her skin, something zipped like lightning. Can he actually pick up what I’m thinking? Then again... does he truly see me as stunning? Pfft... all this time gone by, and he remembers - still plays servant to duty without a word.
A warm rush slipped into her bones, mixed with a spark of something sly. Close she moved, just an inch nearer, words slow like syrup dripping off a spoon. "Word reached me - you’re tying the knot with Selene Aurevale now, isn’t that right? Well then... well then. Got your prize at last."
"Ah? Well... it’s a long story. Anyway, there’s no way I’m getting married." Julian’s words were flat, carefully measured.
Marriage? Not happening. Just Selene again, spinning stories. She leans on me like I’m nothing more than cover, her feelings already given away. Honestly... maybe the writer just doesn’t know how to handle this. Ex-partner? That was never real - just noise, cleared up fast. He gets surrounded by admirers, yet she can’t hold one quiet love? Unfair seems too soft a word
Joy sparked in Bianca’s chest at the sound of that quiet grumble - yet her mind snagged slightly on the words author and antagonist, unsure how they fit.
A quiet moment passed as steam curled from the mug placed gently near Julian. She settled next to him, close but not too close. Warmth began to spread through his fingers where he held it. Into that stillness, her words slipped - calm, unhurried - "Something wrong lately? You seem distant with each other."
Friends only. Not a single emotion involved. His forehead creased at her words, picking up on an unspoken weight beneath them.
Far from the center of attention, he moved quietly through the tale. Survival meant avoiding those who sparkled under the spotlight. Main characters or background figures, it made no difference. Each woman tied to the plot carried risk. Distance became his shield, silence his ally. The ninety-ninth stood just as dangerous as the first.
Ice filled his voice, yet thoughts slipped through. A quiet crack in the mask showed what he tried to hide
Funny how near she sits now. Legs brushing without warning. That smell - something clean, wild almost - fills the air between us. Not perfume, nothing like that, just her. It pulls my thoughts sideways every time I try to look away. Skin smooth under dim light, impossible to ignore. The dress? Fits like it was always meant to be there. Can’t say more without sounding foolish
Bianca sensed it - warmth buzzing beneath his quiet smile, a blend of joy and hesitation. Not once during their time together had he offered her such raw, wordless admiration.
With a playful tilt of her head, she leaned closer. "Nothing much... I just wanted to apologize. I misunderstood you back then."
Who cares, it makes no difference. Yet what brings you near like that? Julian acted put out, even if a small pull at the edge of his mouth showed he was quietly entertained.
I’m frowning hard on purpose... yet you just stand there. You’re supposed to step back, right? Aren’t heroines in happy stories meant to keep some distance? Ugh - but wait. She’s too adorable. Smooth cheeks, bright eyes, that calm way she carries herself, even how she stands - everything fits. Stay where you are. Come nearer and I won’t know what to do
A chuckle caught in Bianca’s throat, held tight by quiet delight as tension curled through the air, laced between sips and silence near the rising tea smoke.
Silence filled the space. Light climbed in through high glass, catching the edge of porcelain, painting soft gold where nerves met. Not quite apart anymore, not yet close - caught instead in a moment older than words. A glance lingered longer than expected.
