Chapter 88: Chapter 86: Protognist past
[ "The path of strength is forged not by desire, but by despair." ]
Lu Xio’s fists tightened as he watched Selena walking beside Leo. The faint smile on her face felt like a dagger twisting into his chest. His jaw clenched so tightly that his teeth ground against each other. Every inch of his expression screamed frustration, anger, and a quiet, burning humiliation that refused to fade.
The courtyard lights shimmered faintly against his shadowed figure. His eyes glowed with a trace of hatred, yet beneath that hatred was something else — resolve.
He did not shout. He did not glare at Leo openly. He turned around and walked away silently, his steps echoing on the marble floor like slow beats of an awakening beast’s heart.
Inwardly, his mind screamed, I need to get stronger. I need power. Only then will I be able to change everything.
The moonlight bathed his back as he disappeared into the distance, his aura trembling with barely contained emotion. He wanted strength — not for glory, but for the ability to stand tall before those who looked down on him.
"Even an ant, when cornered, can bite a dragon," he muttered under his breath, a faint smirk appearing on his lips before fading away into the night.
As Lu Xio’s figure vanished, Selena happily hugged Leo’s arm. Her eyes sparkled with unfiltered joy, her delicate features bright with childlike warmth.
Leo, however, remained completely expressionless. His gaze was distant, his calm demeanor unshaken by her presence. He neither pushed her away nor returned the affection — he simply allowed her to cling to him as they walked through the bustling academy grounds.
After a few steps, Selena tilted her head and asked softly, "Leo... can I stay with you forever?"
Her voice carried a faint hope, trembling slightly like a candle in the wind.
Leo stopped walking for a moment and glanced at her. His eyes, cold and tranquil, seemed to pierce right through her heart. He sighed lightly before replying in a quiet tone, "No, you can’t stay with me."
The words hit Selena like a sudden downpour. Her expression fell, her smile fading into silence. For a moment, she lowered her head, the joy in her eyes replaced by uncertainty.
But before her heart could sink completely, Leo’s next words came — sharp, firm, and completely unexpected.
"Because you’re my maid," he continued. "You have to live below me, not with me."
His tone was calm, almost casual, as if stating an unchangeable fact. Then, without looking at her again, Leo resumed walking, his coat fluttering slightly behind him.
Selena blinked. For a heartbeat, confusion clouded her face. Then, as realization dawned, her sadness was instantly replaced by joy.
A small smile crept onto her lips. At least... he won’t throw me away, she thought happily. To her, Leo’s words were not rejection but acknowledgment.
Quickly, she rushed up beside him again, hugging his arm with renewed cheer. "Leo! You know what happened in class today?" she asked, her voice bubbling with excitement.
Leo didn’t answer — his expression remained calm — but he didn’t stop her either.
Selena took that as encouragement and began talking endlessly. She told him everything — from how the instructor praised her handwriting to how one of the students accidentally spilled ink on the teacher’s desk.
Her voice filled the path, light and bright like the ringing of wind chimes in summer.
Then, her tone shifted slightly. "Oh, and Alex... that disgusting person. You should have seen his face today. Serves him right for showing off too much," she said proudly.
Leo listened quietly, a faint glimmer of amusement hidden deep within his cold eyes.
Selena continued, "And then that Lu Xio... he thinks too highly of himself. How could he ask for my contact information? I told him in such a way that he’ll definitely never bother me again!"
Her laughter rang sweet and confident.
Leo’s gaze flickered with subtle curiosity. "What do you think of Lu Xio?" he asked, his tone light, almost teasing.
Selena blinked and paused for a moment. The image of Lu Xio’s crooked smile flashed across her mind — that strange, self-assured grin that had sent shivers down her spine earlier that day.
Her shoulders tensed slightly as she muttered, "He’s... disgusting. Especially that smile. Whack! What a disgusting smile."
Leo’s composure almost broke. For a moment, the corners of his lips twitched, a faint laugh threatening to escape. But he quickly controlled himself, hiding it behind his usual cold demeanor.
Inwardly, however, amusement danced in his mind. Even she can’t stand it, he thought, slightly entertained.
He remembered the countless times he’d seen such "crooked smiles" — the typical arrogant grins of so-called protagonists who believed fate revolved around them. Those smiles that charmed women, inspired underdogs, and proclaimed destiny’s favor — to Leo, they were nothing more than masks of delusion.
"A hero’s smile is the most dangerous weapon in a story," he mused silently. "But perhaps... the female lead beside me is the only one who can resist it."
Selena was still pouting beside him, mumbling small complaints about how annoying Lu Xio was. Leo glanced at her, the faintest hint of softness flickering behind his eyes.
He didn’t show it outwardly, but deep down, he acknowledged it — Selena’s reactions, her honesty, her unfiltered way of expressing disgust or joy — these made her different from the others.
He didn’t need a perfect girl beside him; he needed one who understood her place and adapted quickly.
"Adaptation," Leo thought, "is the first law of survival."
The faint sound of wind rustled through the leaves as they continued walking side by side.
Leo’s mind, however, was not entirely on Selena. Deep beneath his calm exterior, thoughts churned — about power, control, and the strange coincidences beginning to form around him.
He had seen it before — the same pattern. The weak growing stronger after humiliation, the underdog transforming into a hero, the rich villain’s downfall written in poetic justice.
But he was no fool.
"The script may favor the protagonist," Leo thought coldly, "but I’m the one holding the pen."
His gaze briefly turned toward the direction Lu Xio had left earlier. A faint chill crossed his eyes.
Every so-called "hero" began their journey with a reason — a dead family, a broken past, or betrayal. Leo had seen that trope in every world and story.
But this time, he wasn’t part of someone else’s narrative. He was the author of his own fate.
The moonlight followed him as he and Selena made their way through the streets toward home. Her chatter didn’t stop — stories of classmates, gossip about teachers, even how the cafeteria’s soup had too much salt — she talked endlessly, as though trying to fill every silence Leo left behind.
He didn’t respond much, yet every now and then, a subtle smirk threatened to appear whenever her expressions became overly dramatic.
"Even the dullest moment," Leo recalled an old quote, "becomes gold when the heart beside you shines with sincerity."
Though he wouldn’t admit it aloud, Selena’s presence made the otherwise monotonous walk a little less cold.
Still, Leo’s thoughts drifted back to Lu Xio. He could feel the faint tremor in destiny — as if an unseen thread had begun weaving an inevitable conflict between them.
He had read enough to know how this story might unfold.
The protagonist, wronged and humiliated, would soon train, rise from the ashes, and come for revenge — righteous, powerful, and confident. And behind him, a harem of heroines and a convenient system guiding his every step.
Leo’s lips curved faintly.
He had faced countless such "chosen ones" before. Each one thought they were the center of fate, only to discover that fate had already been rewritten long before they ever took their first step.
"A storm may think itself mighty," Leo thought, "but the mountain remains unmoved."
As Selena tugged his arm again, asking if he was listening, Leo simply gave a faint nod and continued walking.
The quiet night wrapped around them like a silk shroud. Somewhere behind that tranquility, fate stirred — and Leo could already sense the storm that would one day come.
But for now, he let the peace linger.
And in that moment, even a cold-hearted villain like Leo allowed himself to enjoy the sound of a girl’s cheerful voice beside him.
[ "Behind every hero’s light burns the shadow of someone who refused to kneel." ]
The night had grown calm when Leo and Selena finally arrived home. The Aetherwind mansion stood like a silent fortress beneath the moonlight — vast, elegant, and intimidating.
The iron gates opened quietly as they stepped through, and the moment Leo crossed the threshold, Butler Wang was already there, waiting respectfully near the grand staircase.
"Welcome home, Young Master," the butler said, bowing slightly.
His voice carried the tone of someone who had seen much, learned much, and yet never dared to speak more than necessary.
Selena noticed the butler’s expression and quickly understood that he wanted to speak privately with Leo. Without hesitation, she smiled and said cheerfully, "I’ll bring snacks for you, Leo!"
Before anyone could respond, she hurried off toward the kitchen with light steps, her silver hair swaying behind her.
Leo watched her go with calm eyes. A faint, unspoken thought passed through his mind. At least she’s learning to adapt quickly. That’s good.
Adaptation — that was what separated survivors from corpses in this world.
Once Selena was gone, Leo turned toward Butler Wang and said coolly, "Speak."
The butler straightened his posture, his expression grave. "Young Master, we’ve completed the deeper background investigation on that person, Lu Xio."
Leo leaned back slightly, settling into the nearest chair. His movements were slow, deliberate — every action carrying the unshakable authority of someone who had long since learned to control both himself and others.
"Go on," he said, his tone faint but firm.
Butler Wang nodded. "According to our reports, the Lu Family was once quite wealthy and influential in a foreign country. They were a rising power, expanding rapidly in trade, industry, and influence. In fact, their rise became so remarkable that they eventually became strong competitors to Madam’s business empire in that region."
Leo’s eyes flickered slightly — Madam, of course, referred to his mother.
The butler continued, "At that time, Madam took action. The Lu family’s expansion was sharp and aggressive, but they underestimated the Aetherwind Group’s reach. Within a few years, Madam’s operations quietly destroyed the Lu Family’s overseas business foundations. Their trading partners withdrew, their supply lines were cut, and soon... their empire collapsed."
He paused for a moment, his voice lowering. "After that, the other powerful families in that region turned against the weakened Lu Family. They tried to devour whatever was left of their influence. Eventually, the Lu Family... was wiped out entirely."
The candlelight flickered in the quiet room, casting long shadows across Leo’s face.
He didn’t look shocked. Instead, a faint, unreadable smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "So... they fell because they stood against my family," he murmured softly.
Butler Wang nodded again. "Yes, Young Master. According to our intelligence, the entire incident was cleaned up thoroughly. However, one detail caught our attention. There was a girl — Lu Ruolan. She was not part of the Lu family by blood. She was... adopted."
"Adopted?" Leo repeated, his gaze sharpening slightly.
"Yes. She was taken in a few years before the family’s fall. The reports suggest she was treated as the Lu Family’s daughter. But her background remains unclear — possibly an orphan or someone abandoned from a smaller noble household."
Butler Wang bowed slightly and concluded, "That’s all we’ve gathered for now."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Leo sat there, fingers lightly tapping the armrest. His eyes were calm, but his mind was anything but.
So this is how it begins.
The classic story structure — he could see it already forming in front of him.
The protagonist’s family destroyed by a powerful clan. The lone survivor, burning with hatred, hiding in obscurity until one day fate offers him power, guidance, and allies. Then he rises, strikes back, and takes everything from the villain family that wronged him.
Leo almost chuckled. A tale as old as every cheap reincarnation novel.
He leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on one hand, his silver eyes gleaming faintly.
"Lu Xio..." he muttered quietly. "A boy whose family was ruined by my mother. A survivor with a tragic past and a step-sister to complete the protagonist’s emotional arc."
His lips curled into an amused smirk. "How... predictable."
He had read this story a thousand times in different worlds.
The protagonist loses everything. Then fate, pitying his despair, grants him strength — a mysterious teacher, a secret inheritance, or perhaps an awakening bloodline.
He trains, grows, gathers allies — and finally, when the time is right, returns to destroy those who caused his suffering.
And of course, along the way, he wins the affection of multiple heroines — each representing virtue, devotion, or temptation.
Leo’s eyes narrowed slightly as a faint chuckle escaped him. "He’ll probably even fall for that adopted sister of his," he said, amused.
Butler Wang blinked slightly, unsure whether to respond or remain silent.
Leo waved his hand dismissively. "It’s nothing."
He rose from his chair and walked toward the window, gazing out into the dimly lit garden.
The cold night wind brushed against his face as he murmured softly, "A classic protagonist’s tale. A family’s fall. A path of vengeance. The rise of the hero."
He paused, his voice dropping lower. "And standing in his way... the villain — me."
A faint smile played upon his lips, neither cruel nor kind — simply indifferent.
He knew the rhythm of this world too well.
Every hero needed an obstacle — someone powerful, untouchable, and seemingly invincible. Someone whose fall would symbolize the hero’s triumph.
But Leo had no intention of fulfilling that role.
"The hero rises when the villain sleeps," he thought coldly. "So I’ll never give him the chance."
He turned around slowly, his coat swaying with the motion. "Butler Wang," he said calmly.
"Yes, Young Master?"
"If this Lu Xio is meant to become an obstacle, I’ll destroy him before he can move."
The butler froze for a moment. There was no anger in Leo’s tone — only calm, quiet certainty.
It wasn’t spoken as a threat, but as a declaration of fact.
Leo’s gaze sharpened, his voice steady as ever. "In stories, the hero needs time to grow. The world always waits for him to become strong. But in reality..." — he smirked faintly — "reality doesn’t wait."
He turned back toward the window again. The moonlight framed his silhouette, giving him an almost ethereal aura — neither purely human nor purely divine.
"The protagonist may think destiny favors him," he murmured. "But destiny itself bends before those who rewrite it."
A quote surfaced in his mind — one he had read long ago in an ancient Eastern scripture:
"The wise do not fight fate; they forge it into their blade."
That was the difference between him and the so-called chosen ones.
He didn’t crave destiny’s favor. He commanded it.
Outside, the wind carried the faint rustle of the trees. Somewhere in the dark, the threads of fate trembled slightly — as if acknowledging the silent declaration of the man who stood before the window.
Leo remained there for a while, lost in thought.
He could already see the pattern forming — Lu Xio’s rise, his tragic awakening, his journey of vengeance. It was only a matter of time before he found a mysterious artifact, awakened a bloodline, or met a "system" that would guide him to greatness.
But this time, Leo Aetherwind would not wait.
If fate intended to make him the villain, then he would become a villain that even fate itself feared to touch.
His reflection in the window looked back at him — calm eyes, cold smile, and a presence that radiated quiet dominance.
"Let the protagonist rise," he whispered. "I’ll make sure he never reaches the peak."
The candlelight behind him flickered once more, and the night deepened.
Somewhere far away, perhaps Lu Xio himself was awakening a spark of destiny — but Leo’s shadow had already begun to stretch toward him.
And in that moment, a new line was carved into the story of the world — not by fate, but by the hands of a man who refused to bow to it.
"Heroes are born from tragedy," Leo thought as his eyes hardened. "But villains... villains are forged from awareness."
The room grew silent again. Only the faint sound of Selena humming in the kitchen could be heard, her cheerful voice unaware of the storm her master had just set into motion.
Leo closed his eyes briefly, then whispered to himself, "Since you will arrive and block my path, Lu Xio... I’ll destroy you before you move."
A soft smile touched his lips — serene, merciless, and absolute.
And just like that, the first thread of the next great conflict began to weave silently under the moonlight.
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End of Chapter
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