A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

"I must say, you are quite different from what I had imagined, Sir Croceaus," Etrinia remarked as she took her seat, her gaze firmly fixed on the man before her.

Contrary to her expectations of a middle-aged gentleman, he was strikingly handsome—if not among the top five, he was certainly in the top ten of the most attractive men she had ever encountered.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Same goes for you; I anticipated a true beauty at this meeting," Avendial replied, his eyes closed and a teasing smile playing on his lips.

However, his tone quickly dulled the light in Etrinia's eyes, her expression shifting as she absorbed his words.

"I apologize for not fitting your standard of beauty, Sir Croceaus," Etrinia responded, her voice laced with disappointment.

It was evident that his comment had unsettled her, marking the first time someone had implied she wasn't beautiful.

The seriousness that marked his demeanor only compounded her discontent, as it appeared he genuinely expected her to meet his elevated standards.

:: Her heart rate displayed notable irregularities. ::

At that moment, a sound emanated from the earbuds Avendial wore, prompting him to smile despite the unexpected interruption.

The sound was from Aria, who was seated at a corner table, discreetly observing the interaction between Etrinia and Avendial.

Aria was diligently monitoring Etrinia's heart rate, relaying the vital information to Avendial, who seemed more intrigued by the dynamics unfolding before him than by the conversation itself.

He had intentionally spoken those words to Etrinia, knowing that people typically approach a first formal meeting with a positive attitude, expecting pleasantries.

By making such a remark, he most likely removed her expectations, causing her to unconsciously lower her guard.

This was precisely what he intended; he wanted to build a barrier that he could later dismantle.

"It's fine; I didn't have any expectations to begin with," Avendial replied calmly, a smile still on his lips as he observed her reaction, which was both amusing and revealing.

Each detail of her physical condition, each fluctuation in her heartbeat, gave him insight into how his words were affecting her.

This made it easier for him to manipulate the way she perceived him, ensuring that he lingered in her thoughts.

"...I see..." Etrinia replied, though she was unclear about why, she was unmistakably annoyed by his words, as evidenced by the twitch of her mouth.

Yet, she composed herself, understanding that she had encountered a variety of people, and perhaps it was simply his own preference where she didn't measure up to his definition of beauty.

While she was used to such sentiments, hearing it for the first time was undeniably a rare experience for her.

It seemed this encounter was far from over, particularly given the sudden shift in the man's demeanor.

Avendial adjusted the cuffs of his coat, casually assessing Etrinia with a relaxed yet confident air.

"Dr. Etrinia," he began, his voice smooth and deliberate.

"I must say, you possess a striking presence—it's as if your quietness is completely intentional."

Etrinia blinked, momentarily thrown off by his compliment interspersed with elaborate phrasing.

Considering she had braced herself for more taunts instead of this unexpected pleasantry, it took her mind a few moments to recalibrate.

"Thanks… I think," she responded cautiously, still attempting to decipher his true intentions.

He tilted his head slightly, a playful smirk hovering at the corners of his lips.

"I'm serious. You don't meet many individuals with such intellect and grace. It's a rare combination."

Etrinia fought to maintain her composure, though the faint blush creeping up her neck betrayed her.

"It's the same for you, Sir Croceaus, and you're indulging in flattery," she replied, her tone firm but not dismissive.

"Flattery?" Avendial echoed, feigning surprise.

"I believe you've misunderstood. I don't engage in flattery; I merely observe—and you, Doctor, are certainly worth observing."

His words lingered in the air, making it feel almost heavy with unsaid implications.

Etrinia cleared her throat, determined to steer the conversation back onto professional ground.

"I assume you didn't summon me here just for idle chit-chat. What is the real purpose of this meeting?"

He leaned in slightly, sharpening his gaze and drawing her attention in a way that was hard to ignore.

"Straight to the point—I appreciate that."

His tone lowered, adding intensity to the moment.

"So, Dr. Etrinia, what's so... unique about Diego's wife's situation?"

Etrinia stiffened, her professional instincts kicking in.

"I can't disclose any patient information, Sir Croceaus. You are certainly aware of that policy."

"Dr. Wen is currently in Croceaus territory," Avendial interjected calmly, out of the blue, offering a composed smile.

The statement prompted Etrinia to narrow her gaze at him, visibly startled.

She felt a slight flinch at the mention, yet managed to remain composed.

It dawned on her that she had already been informed of this by her father, who had called her prior to leaving for the territory.

"Are you threatening me, Sir Croceaus?" Etrinia's eyes turned icy as she asked, clearly taken aback to find someone like him wielding such intimidation, especially over a mere inquiry about a patient.

The fact that he would stoop to those lengths was something she would never have imagined, not even in her wildest dreams.

To put it plainly, the rumors circulating around the free cities about this man and his accomplishments, carefully curated by the media, portrayed him as a figure of public significance with a largely positive impact.

Thus, it was hard for her to digest the reality that he could resort to such tactics.

"What? Why on earth would I?" Avendial raised an eyebrow, his smile fading, leaving an air of incredulity hanging between them.

His demeanor had shifted sharply, amplifying the confusion Etrinia felt since the conversation started.

He had commenced by appreciating her features, then expressing interest, and now suggesting a threat concerning her father, all while maintaining an unsettlingly charming facade.

"I am having difficulty understanding your words clearly, Sir Croceaus," Etrinia admitted, struggling to grasp his intentions, especially given how he had seemed genuinely non-threatening only moments before.

"Do you know why I have summoned you here today, Miss Etrinia?" Avendial began, cutting to the chase.

He noted that most of his previous words had likely drifted over her head, leaving her understandably agitated, her emotions ripe for him to exploit.

"...." Etrinia remained silent, confused about why someone of his stature would seek her out when he had countless doctors like her beneath him.

She simply regarded him with eager anticipation for his answer.

"Someone is after your father's life," Avendial declared, his voice as smooth as the tea that the waiter had just served.

He took a deliberate sip, molding a calm expression as he observed the trainee before him.

Etrinia's eyes widened, her composure shattered as she processed his claim.

Initially intimidated by him, she now found herself grappling with the stark reality of his words.

It was perplexing; surely, the government would act as the first line of defense in such a situation, especially given her family's status as one of the esteemed medical families in the field.

Who could possibly be an enemy to a doctor?

"I don't understand, Sir Croceaus," Etrinia said, her voice shaky.

She felt on edge, unable to decipher what he truly meant.

His composed demeanor and the calculated way he spoke left little room for her to discern any falsehood in his claims.

"So, Dr. Etrinia," Avendial continued, "I recently took Dr. Wen to the Croceaus territory to gather information about patients I had brought in territory's hospitals.

It was tied to the mother of one of my subordinates.

I had planned to release him, but then my intelligence department unearthed several threats and attempts at infiltration in the area.

When we investigated further, it was revealed that these threats originated from the Ravan family."

He watched Etrinia's eyes grow wider with each revelation, sensing that he had struck the right chord as he spun his tale, cleverly crafting a narrative while maintaining a keen observation of her expressions.

"Wh-what?" Etrinia's voice trembled as she recalled the words of that woman from just a moment ago.

Croceaus had sought information about the potential threat from the Ravan family, especially since she had been warned that in such cases, she must not divulge any information and should reach out to her immediately.

At that moment, when she had mentioned choosing her, it had not felt strange to Etrinia.

It was well known that, regardless of who her patients were, her principles meant she would never betray a trust, even at the cost of her own life.

However, now, faced with the dangerous reality of her father's safety being jeopardized, a sense of unease crept in.

She couldn't help but continue glancing anxiously at the Marquess.