All three of them looked at Lathel with strange expressions—especially Alex, whose face looked as though he'd just swallowed a fly.
Lathel raised an eyebrow, curling his lips. "What's wrong? You don't want to? Fine then, I won't force you. But when Arina falls hopelessly in love with that man, your engagement won't matter anymore."
At those words, Alex snapped back to his senses. His brow furrowed, jaw clenched so tightly that his teeth made an audible crack.
He trembled for a moment, then steadied himself. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Lathel, struggling for several seconds before forcing out a single word: "Father!"
"Huh?" Lathel frowned, pretending not to hear. He smirked and asked, "What was that you just said?"
Alex gritted his teeth, fists clenching until his knuckles turned white. "Lathel, don't push it."
"Ah!" Lathel sighed dramatically, sounding almost sorrowful. "If you can't even do something this simple, how do you expect to accomplish anything greater?"
Alex's mind flashed back to something his master had once told him:
'In this world, don't be too rigid. Sometimes, lowering your head and taking a step back can lead you further ahead.'
Taking a deep breath, Alex shouted, "Father!"
"Hahaha! My good son!" Lathel laughed heartily, taking Catrina's hand and speaking softly, "Catrina, what do you think of our son? Isn't he obedient?"
Alex: "..."
Catrina's face flushed red—she wanted to laugh but forced herself to hold it in, stammering, "My dear husband, he's indeed very obedient. Not only can he do housework, but he can also drive the carriage."
Veins bulged on Alex's forehead. Wasn't this basically treating him like a servant?!
Catrina, however, showed no fear. From the memories she'd inherited, she knew that in the original path of fate, Alex would one day drive Lathel to his death.
Even if Alex never touched her or Arina in that life, he'd dared to kill the man she loved most—and for that, she would never let him have peace.
She didn't know what Lathel's true plan was, but she'd already decided—whatever he said, she would follow. She would protect him with everything she had.
Lathel smiled. "Alright then, Alex—are you planning to attend Carol Magic Academy?"
"Magic Academy?" Alex blinked, genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected Lathel to bring that up.
Lathel continued, "The man Arina loves most is there. Ah! But if you're afraid, you don't have to go. After all, he's the Vice Dean—and compared to him, you're nothing but an ant."
At those words, Alex stiffened—like a dog whose tail had been stepped on. He immediately flared up. "Afraid of him? He's just a petty Vice Dean!"
"Good!" Lathel said with a grin. "Then tomorrow, you'll go to the Magic Academy with Arina. Whatever you choose to do next, I'll support you. But remember—your one and only goal is to win Arina's heart, understand?"
Alex stared at him, puzzled. "You really support me and Arina? You don't love her anymore?"
"Are you joking?" Lathel asked, looping an arm around Catrina's waist and pulling her close.
"Uhm!" Catrina gasped softly, a faintly seductive sound escaping her lips.
"I already have Catrina," Lathel said with a sly smile. "Why would I wag my tail after Arina like some dog? Besides, I'm her stepfather now. Do you really think I'd be interested in her?"
Seeing Lathel and Catrina so openly affectionate, Alex's chest tightened with lingering anger—but not as much as before.
Still, what Lathel said... made sense.
Alex nodded. "Fine. I'll go."
Lathel waved his hand, and Valoria nodded as well, sheathing her sword.
Alex let out a deep breath. Yet as he glanced at Catrina, there was still a faint trace of longing in his eyes—reluctance to let go of the beautiful woman whose curves tested the limits of a man's sanity.
But when he remembered that Catrina had once slept with another man and given birth to Arina—yet now was being intimate with Lathel—disgust churned in Alex's heart.
Lathel, of course, understood exactly what kind of man Alex was.
His women could only be touched by him.
If anyone else had touched them, then to him, they were "second-hand goods," no longer worthy of receiving his love.
No—calling it love was wrong.
It was pure possession.
Alex only wanted to possess the best of everything.
Catrina was beautiful, yes—but after listening to Lathel's explanation and letting his imagination run wild, Alex suddenly felt as though she were a piece of cloth used to wipe something filthy.
He would never want a dirty rag.
Alex let out a weary sigh, and whatever regret he had began slowly fading away. Even when he looked at Valoria, the fierce desire from before had diminished.
He stood up, intending to leave.
"Wait!" Catrina suddenly spoke. "You're leaving without saying a word?"
Alex gritted his teeth but managed to suppress his anger. He lowered his head slightly and said, "Father, Mother, I'll take my leave."
Catrina glanced at Lathel, her eyes shining like a little puppy waiting for praise.
Lathel could only give a wry smile. "Mm. Tomorrow, I'll send someone to escort you and Arina to the Magic Academy."
Alex nodded and left.
Lathel reached over and gently patted Catrina's head. "You did very well."
Seeing this scene, Valoria felt a stab of discomfort—and a growing surge of jealousy that tightened around her heart.
She turned away and walked out of the room.
Catrina quickly called out, "Valoria."
Valoria stopped, but didn't turn around. Her voice trembled slightly. "I... I have work to do. I must return to the Royal Palace."
"Can we sit together for a bit?" Catrina asked softly.
She knew exactly what Valoria was feeling—they'd been friends for years. She could read Valoria's emotions as easily as breathing.
Valoria's shoulders shook, but she firmly shook her head. "No need. I'm truly very busy."
Without another word, she left—her steps hurried, almost desperate, as if she couldn't bear to remain there another second.
Lathel sighed deeply. It felt like his mother was avoiding him.
But in truth, he didn't mind.
'If she distances herself from me now, then when the day comes for me to leave this world... it'll hurt her less.'
[Host, why did you do that?] the System asked.
Lathel didn't answer immediately. Instead, he spoke to Catrina: "Catrina, check every business branch. I suspect sabotage."
Catrina knew he'd mentioned this before—that another kingdom might be pulling strings behind the scenes.
The memories she'd received were incomplete—mostly emotions she'd felt for Lathel, without details regarding business or political matters.
She wanted to stay with Lathel longer, but business could not be neglected. She understood well how the economic network of the Montaline Family influenced the Empire.
She stood up, smiling gently. Then she leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Lathel, I'll go now. But be careful. Tonight... I'll come to find you."
Her face was flushed red as she hurried out of the room.
Lathel sucked in a deep breath, his heart pounding.
'Damn... with this kind of gentleness, what man could withstand it?!'
[Host!!]
"I heard you!" Lathel snapped irritably. "You said I only need to complete the scenario, right? The ending can't be changed—but the process can be adjusted. Correct?"
[...Hm... yes.]
Hearing the System's answer, Lathel smiled.
"In that case, it's simple. Alex wants to win Arina's love, but his journey is far too roundabout. So—I'll just shorten it for him."
"According to the scenario you gave me, that Vice Dean is currently seen as a pitiful man—a textbook 'green tea bastard.'"
"To get rid of him, only the protagonist, Alex, can do it. I help Alex, Alex completes the scenario—a simple problem."
[Host, you truly are choosing a method no one else would dare use.]
"I don't exactly have a choice." Lathel shrugged and sighed. "Other transmigrators who become villains at least get some kind of leveling system or an overpowered cheat so they can defeat the protagonist."
"What do you give me besides spoilers and a few ridiculous choices? If I don't become Alex's ally, what percentage do you think I have of defeating him in a direct clash?"
[Close to 0%.]
Lathel: "..."
"Damn it! You knew it was impossible, yet you still forced me to fight the protagonist over women." Lathel let out a long breath, then said, "Fine! Catrina is the only one—the sole exception. There won't be another case like her."
And he wasn't wrong.
In this novel, a small-time villain like him was never meant to be loved.
Maybe... the author wanted extra drama and tension, which was why Catrina fell for him.
That way, once Alex conquered Catrina later, the story would have even more emotional impact.
[Ding! Fate Choice activated.]
"Heh?!" Lathel stiffened as the notification appeared.
...
Choice 1: Stay in this kingdom with Catrina and ignore all upcoming events at the Magic Academy.
Reward: 1,000,000 gold coins, being forced by the Empress to join the Northern battlefield.
Choice 2: Run away with Catrina.
Reward: Execution by the Empress, and Catrina being taken by Alex as a concubine.
Choice 3: Go to Carol Magic Academy, participate in the event, and help Arina escape from the Vice Dean.
Reward: After completing the scenario, you may bring one person with you to another world.
...
Lathel stared at the three options, eyes so wide they were on the verge of popping out of their sockets.
"Motherfucker! System, are you kidding me?!"