The Villain Professor's Second Chance

"So, you've come, Draven."

Queen Aurelia's voice echoed through the grand chamber as Draven stepped forward, his black cloak barely making a sound against the polished marble floors. The queen, seated on her high throne, draped in flowing emerald robes, watched him with a gaze that held both authority and curiosity.

Her long, gorgeous platinum blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her crown gleamed in the soft light of the throne room. Around her stood the heads of the noble families of Regaria, each in their own silent corner, watching the proceedings with varying degrees of interest.

"I remember clearly assigning this matter to you," the queen continued, her eyes flickering between Draven and the gathered nobles. "But it seems you ended up bringing all the heads of Regaria's great families together as well. It's quite rare for me to see them so… synchronized." She tilted her head slightly, a bemused smile playing on her lips.

"Good to see you all becoming more friendly with each other. I believe you were quite at odds before, weren't you?"

There was a murmur from the gathered nobles, but no one spoke directly. Duchess Malesya Blackthorn hid her expression behind her fan, the feathers twitching slightly as her eyes glinted with suspicion. Lord Falken, with his air of calm, merely inclined his head in acknowledgement, while Duke Icevern stood quietly, his icy gaze fixed on Draven.

Count Valen, as composed as ever, watched the interaction carefully, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something unspoken.

Queen Aurelia turned her attention back to Draven, her tone shifting to one of mild amusement. "Good job dealing with the situation at the Magic Tower University. But before we delve into any further discussions, I believe you have something to report to me directly, Draven."

Draven inclined his head, his expression unreadable. "Yes, your majesty," he replied, his voice cold but respectful. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing, his words precise and measured.

"Upon arriving at the Magic Tower University, I found the entire structure veiled under a magic barrier—one I believe to be a form of advanced illusion magic known as 'Dimensional Veil.' It distorted the true state of the tower, hiding the extent of the dungeonification. However, we successfully identified a weak point in the barrier and were able to breach it."

The queen listened intently, her sharp eyes never leaving him as he continued.

"Once inside, we dispersed across the tower, navigating the various floors to rescue any survivors," Draven said. "The casualties, fortunately, were not as high as initially feared. Rather than slaughtering the professors and the Chancellor outright, the culprit chose to trap them in their own offices.

They were sealed away, their magic slowly drained to fuel the dungeonification and maintain the barrier that kept them imprisoned."

Queen Aurelia's lips pressed into a thin line, her fingers lightly tapping the arm of her throne. "Miserable," she murmured, her voice laced with disdain. "These are the professors of the Magic Tower University—masters of their craft—and yet, they didn't even realize what was happening until it was too late. To think they couldn't save themselves…"

Draven's eyes narrowed slightly as he stepped forward. "Your majesty, the magic barrier that trapped them was no ordinary spell. It was highly specific, designed to entrap each individual with tailored enchantments based on deep research into their personal weaknesses and fears. The culprit had conducted extensive studies on each professor, using their knowledge and magic against them.

This wasn't something that could be easily resolved, even for those well-versed in the arcane arts."

The queen considered his words carefully, her gaze softening slightly. "And if it were you, Draven?" she asked, her voice a little more pointed. "Could you have broken free of such a barrier yourself?"

For a moment, there was silence in the room. Draven's expression remained impassive, but the brief pause before he answered was enough to draw the attention of the gathered nobles. Valen and Blackthorn exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable, while Falken's lips twitched in amusement. Duke Icevern watched quietly, his icy demeanor never faltering.

"Of course, your majesty," Draven finally replied, his voice steady. There was no arrogance in his tone, only certainty. He knew the weight of his words, and he spoke them with absolute confidence.

A quiet snort escaped Duchess Blackthorn's lips, though she quickly hid it behind her fan. Count Valen glanced sideways at her, his expression neutral, though there was a flicker of disapproval in his eyes. Falken allowed himself a small smile, while Icevern's gaze remained fixed on Draven, as if gauging the truth of his statement.

Queen Aurelia's lips quirked into a faint smile. "I see. Then, tell me, Draven—who is the culprit? I assume you've dealt with them by now?"

Draven nodded, his sharp eyes gleaming. "Indeed, your majesty. The culprit was a half-elf who had been living among us, disguising herself as a human through the use of high-level illusion magic. She had infiltrated the Magic Tower University under the alias 'Professor Armandra.'"

The queen's expression darkened slightly at the mention of the half-elf's identity, but she remained silent as Draven continued.

"I confronted her in the depths of the tower," Draven said, his voice cold and measured. "Her goal was to use the university's professors as conduits for her own twisted magic, feeding off their power to strengthen the dungeonification and unleash chaos upon the kingdom. She fought well, but in the end, she was no match."

Draven reached into his coat and produced a small, twisted plant—the remains of Armandra's body, now reduced to little more than a withered corpse-flower. He held it up for the queen to see. "This is all that remains of her. Upon her death, her body transformed into this plant, a byproduct of the dark magic she wielded."

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Queen Aurelia leaned forward slightly, her gaze fixed on the plant in Draven's hand. For a long moment, she said nothing, her expression unreadable. The silence in the room grew heavier, the tension palpable as the other nobles looked on. Duchess Blackthorn's fan stilled, and even Valen, who had maintained his calm demeanor, seemed to stiffen slightly.

Finally, the queen spoke, her voice soft but firm. "A half-elf, hiding among the professors of the Magic Tower University…" She shook her head slowly, her expression one of quiet disbelief. "How could such a deception go unnoticed for so long?"

"The illusion magic she used was of the highest caliber," Draven explained. "It was woven so intricately that it bypassed even the university's magical defenses. She was skilled, your majesty—perhaps one of the most skilled illusionists I've encountered. But in the end, her arrogance was her undoing."

Queen Aurelia's gaze shifted from the plant to Draven, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And you're certain she acted alone? No accomplices? No greater conspiracy?"

Draven's voice, steady as ever, filled the chamber. "No, your majesty, she did not act alone. Armandra was part of a larger group within the university—a circle of professors and students who were drawn into her schemes. Most of them were unaware of the true extent of her plans, having been brainwashed by her illusions and manipulations.

However, their complicity, intentional or not, cannot be overlooked. My knights are currently detaining those involved. They will be delivered to the royal castle shortly for questioning and judgment."

The queen's expression darkened further, her fingers tapping the arm of her throne as she processed Draven's words. After a moment, she spoke, her voice laced with quiet authority. "Good. I suppose I have been too complacent lately. I trusted the Magic Tower University to stand as a bastion of knowledge and power, yet it allowed such deception to fester within its walls.

This kingdom cannot afford to be weak, not with the threats that surround us."

Her gaze swept across the room, landing on the gathered nobles before settling on the soldiers stationed near the edges of the chamber. Her eyes sharpened, and she raised her voice, addressing the royal knights who stood at attention. "Knight! Come forward." Her tone was commanding, brooking no delay. "Let this be a reminder to all of you. Do not allow your vigilance to waver.

The enemies we face will exploit any weakness. You must not let your guard down, nor let your heads drift above your duties. Your role is to protect the kingdom, and I expect you to uphold that with every fiber of your being."

From the ranks of the royal knights, a young woman stepped forward. Her armor gleamed under the light, and her long, silver hair flowed behind her like a banner. Her posture was straight, composed, though her blue eyes held a flicker of hesitation as she approached the throne.

The queen's eyes softened with recognition. "Ah, Lady Sophie of Icevern," she said, a faint smile gracing her lips. "I remember now. You're on post today, representing the royal knights."

Sophie bowed deeply, her expression poised but clearly uneasy under the weight of the queen's words. "Yes, your majesty," she replied, her voice calm though there was an undercurrent of nervousness.

Queen Aurelia's smile grew a touch more curious. "And if I'm not mistaken, Lady Sophie… aren't you the fiancée of Lord Draven?"

The room seemed to still at the queen's question, the nobles exchanging glances, their attention now fully focused on Sophie. Her mouth opened as if to respond, but she hesitated. The weight of the question, the implications of it, hung heavy in the air. Just as she gathered herself to speak, her breath hitched as Draven's cold voice cut through the silence.

"Yes, it was, your majesty,"