Villain : Nonchalant Greedy-Chapter 12: What Exactly?-

"I would've loved to talk about the third stage of Magic Promotion, but we're out of time. The bell could ring at any moment—and we've strayed far from the actual lesson."

Viviana glanced meaningfully at the front rows of the class.

"Of course, we know who we have to thank for that," she added with a sly tone.

Right on cue—Diiing!

"You're dismissed."

The room instantly turned into a frenzy. Students scrambled to leave before the cafeteria filled up. If they didn't make it fast, they wouldn't just lose seats—they wouldn't even reach the food line.

The moment hunger kicked in, the stress they'd felt in class vanished. It became every man for himself in the rush.

Arsene was among the last to leave, as usual. There were always a few students who lingered, hoping to get some face time with a professor and strengthen their connection.

Today was no different. But Viviana turned down every student who approached her—no questions, no greetings.

As Arsene walked past her desk, he heard a tap—her fingers against the wooden surface. He looked up, only to find her eyes already locked onto him. She'd done it deliberately, to catch his attention.

"Teachers are usually given strict instructions—one of which is to not entertain questions outside the prepared lesson material—"

Arsene cut her off with a calm reply, "But there are always exceptions. Especially when it comes to Singulars. The Academy would rather sacrifice the learning of an entire class just to answer one Singular's doubts."

Viviana smiled, amused. "True. But not just any Singular. Only those ranked Grade 0... like you, Arsene Vaille."

The last student, poor thing, had waited patiently to speak with her—only to be rejected again. Viviana had "urgent matters," after all.

She rose gracefully from behind her desk, all elegance and allure, her eyes studying Arsene closely. He looked like he had a dozen questions swirling in his head. But what left the deepest impression on her were his eyes—black eyes.

Black eyes that looked at her, Professor Viviana. Not at her curves, not her body.

Black eyes that didn't want to devour her.

Black eyes that simply... were.

"You have beautiful eyes," she said softly.

Arsene offered a polite thanks.

"Do you have time to join me for breakfast in my office?" she asked.

Arsene didn't have anything scheduled after class. And even if he did, joining Viviana could only benefit him—better than wandering the halls or wasting time chatting with Sarl and Klem.

As they walked shoulder to shoulder, they chatted about trivial things. She teased him for using a fake name in class and forming a false sense of familiarity. But she understood—she knew enough about him to expect it.

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The rumors about him weren't wrong—he was no fool.

Viviana's office? Exactly what you'd expect. A soft, feminine scent lingered in the air—amber and roses. It was tidy, elegant, and filled with architectural blueprints and geometric scrolls.

He hadn't pegged her for someone interested in architecture, but now that he saw the place, it made sense.

They sat on a plush couch, a luxurious breakfast spread before them. It was enough to stir anyone's appetite—and Viviana's mere presence heightened it further.

Arsene sipped from a hot drink she'd poured him. His eyes lingered on the cup. A few small sips.

Then, Viviana's voice beside him, watching him intently, "It's Lineth herb tea—mixed with lemon and honey. Works like a powerful sedative."

She studied his reaction. But he calmly took another sip anyway.

She smiled, picked up something from the table—it looked like velvety cake, still warm, topped with melting butter and honey. She moved closer, offering it to him directly from her hands.

Arsene wasn't the shy type. He didn't even understand what shyness meant. If Viviana wanted to feed him by hand, so be it.

"Mystaya cake," she said as he took a bite. "It counters the Lineth herb. The mix creates a tingling sensation—warm, pleasant. Almost euphoric."

Viviana watched him chew, fascinated. He didn't flinch. Didn't question. Just accepted it.

They ate together for a while, and then she said, "I've been observing you. As a Singular with your level of insight, you show no signs of lacking—even your psychological state seems... exceptionally stable."

Arsene raised a brow, a faint smile forming. "Oh? I thought you'd say I was broken. That I was... off. After all this time around me, getting close, watching me never act 'normal.'"

She laughed quietly. Her hands cupped his face, fingers sliding through his thick black hair, playing with it as if searching for something—or maybe just enjoying how soft and clean it was.

"No. This is exactly how you should be," she said softly. "We women... we're boring creatures. Strip away our bodies, our appeal in bed... and what do we really have to offer?

"That's why so many of us—myself included—train to become strong. To carve out meaning in this world.

"But you know the truth, Arsene? Even now, people see us the same way they always have. They fear strong women like me. That's why they cling to old thoughts.

"And not just men. Even other women."

She sighed. "Maybe that's our purpose—breeding? Family? Raising kids? The eternal cycle to keep the world turning."

Her tone grew darker.

"But do you know what's truly cruel about being a woman, Arsene? It's when someone takes you—fucks you—and you accept it like it's your duty. Like you're happy to.

"Only to realize, deep down, your partner just sees you as a pastime. Someone to breathe on, to play with, to dominate in the name of 'love.'

"Someone he might chase for years—then discard the night after he finally has you."

She leaned in. Sticky honey clung to her fingers. She smeared it near Arsene's lips.

Warm breath escaped her parted lips as she leaned even closer, her tongue gently reaching out to lick away the honey.

But it wasn't just honey anymore—now, there was a clear, reddish mix... her saliva blended with lipstick.

Her hands traced his neck, nails gently scratching. She began unbuttoning his shirt, pressing kisses to his chest, then pushed him onto the couch with a playful smirk and mounted him.

With a breathy, heated voice, she whispered, "Aaah, Arsene... answer me—I want to understand how to—"

Arsene's eyes snapped open.

"What exactly... is this supposed to mean?"