[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-37":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","THE VILLAIN'S POV",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},336824,598,"Chapter 37 37: Aegon Valerion (2)","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-37",37,"\u003Cp>Eventually, we arrived at a secluded balcony, where a pristine table and two comfortable chairs had been arranged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man in black servant attire stood nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everything has been prepared, my lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant bowed, and Aegon gave a satisfied smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good work, Albert. Bring the usual for me and my esteemed guest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you wish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Albert left, leaving me alone with the prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't be shy. Have a seat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegon gestured toward the chair across from him as he sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded and did as he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, Albert returned, carrying two cups and an assortment of appetizers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were placed elegantly on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prince… He had planned this in advance, down to the smallest detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My apologies. I wasn't sure about your preferences, so I ordered what I usually drink.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fine. I can go with anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I picked up the cup of tea placed before me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitated for a moment before taking a sip—but realistically, there was no benefit for him in poisoning me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The taste was exquisite. As expected from the royal family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegon swirled his cup before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me, Frey Starlight, do you know why you're here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I met his gaze, hesitating for a moment before deciding to be direct. There was no point in playing dumb before someone like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I assume it has something to do with your conflict with the princess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm glad… You're not a complete idiot after all~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excuse me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he just call me an idiot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegon didn't seem to care about my reaction as he idly played with his teacup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You see, Frey… don't you think everyone has their own story?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you talking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't understand his point at first, but he continued anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've always loved stories, you know… They were far more entertaining than those idiotic bedtime tales I was told as a child.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took another sip of tea before gesturing toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And yours, Lord Frey… your story in particular intrigued me~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It started with a despised noble causing trouble here and there… I especially enjoyed hearing about how you tormented the maids.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned forward slightly, resting my arms on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So the prince has been watching me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't even bother denying it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need to worry, Frey… After all, I watch everyone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I must say, that incident with the girl from the Moonlight family was my favorite. I still remember the commotion it caused.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegon laughed, but his words struck a nerve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew exactly which incident he was referring to—the one that made Frey Starlight infamous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It happened years ago when he dared to use a Seduction skill on Seris Moonlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never wrote much detail about that event. Even I didn't know exactly what had happened that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All I knew was that Frey had barely escaped with his life, and when the incident leaked to the public, it caused an enormous uproar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was how the world came to know Frey Starlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The prince certainly knows a lot about me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I humored Aegon, who finally set his cup down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, I do. But you see, Frey… your story was boring.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just another third-rate villain, consumed by lust. It wasn't interesting in the slightest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that how you see me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, Aegon chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not at all… because your story took a turn—one I never expected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A year ago, you vanished completely. Do you have any idea how unsettling it was when one of my precious pieces suddenly disappeared? I searched for you everywhere… but you were nowhere to be found.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What an interesting way to phrase it. Pieces? Is that how you see me? How you see everyone around you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's right, Frey… I told you already. Everything is a story, and you—my precious pieces—are the ones who shape it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a small laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it really wise to show your true colors so openly? Who would have thought the esteemed prince refers to everyone else as pieces?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His confident smile never wavered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fine. After all… you're different. You're special~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Special?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. The young man who returned from death after an entire year in the Nightmare Lands… The one who caused Leonaidas Starlight, the Immortal Lion, an endless headache… Isn't that fascinating!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words sent a chill through me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just how far does Aegon's reach extend to know about the affairs of House Starlight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carefully, I played along, gathering as much information from him as I could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you really believe the story of my survival for an entire year in the Nightmare Lands?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do... Don't underestimate me, Frey. There's nowhere to hide from me in this empire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's terrifying, Your Highness...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response to my words, he continued laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No point in pretending to be scared… Now tell me, how did a young man survive in that hell for so long? Your story has truly become an obsession of mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a blank expression, I replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was lucky.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Luck, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegon idly played with his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter… That mystery is what makes you so interesting, Frey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up his cup before asking,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me… in your opinion, what's the most important thing in a story?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned back, considering my answer. Was he expecting something specific from me? Or was he testing me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, I simply spoke the first thing that came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't know. Your question has too many possible answers… After all, many factors determine whether a story succeeds or not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegon chuckled at my response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"An interesting answer… but you're wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, I found myself on high alert as his smile vanished completely, replaced by something unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is only one correct answer, Frey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let the cup slip from his grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The porcelain shattered into dozens of fragments upon impact with the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The most important thing in a story… is the ending.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegon slammed his fist against the table as he continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The ending is all that matters. And my sister's story… was supposed to end in death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his sudden shift in demeanor, I couldn't help but ask,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you talking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She was supposed to die, Frey… Sansa.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the pieces started coming together, and I found myself instinctively rejecting the conclusion forming in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ever since she was kidnapped along with her mother… they were both meant to die. But somehow, she returned… She ruined the ending that was supposed to happen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, I felt true fear toward the person sitting across from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Aegon Valeryon somehow involved in Sansa's abduction?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what was even more terrifying… was the way he spoke about it so casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if he was telling me, Even if you know the truth… it won't change anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Completely unfazed by my silent turmoil, Aegon continued speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She was supposed to die… Yet she still lives. She returned to stand in my way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew they weren't full siblings, born from different mothers but sharing the same father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to think that he would actually try to kill her…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, what am I thinking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is Aegon Valeryon… He'll do anything to get what he wants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter… no matter… all I have to do now is create a new ending. A proper one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegon's lips curled into a twisted smile as he extended a hand toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will bring everything to its rightful conclusion, Frey… So join me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Join you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. I have a good eye, Frey Starlight… You're the most important piece in this puzzle. The one who will bring everything crashing down. So swear your loyalty to me… I can give you anything you desire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his last words, I laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had become a habit of mine—to laugh whenever I heard something absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anything I desire? Sorry… but you can't. After all, what I truly want… is to return to my own world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry, but I'd rather stay out of this succession war as much as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after hearing my rejection, he didn't seem bothered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't pretend, Frey… You're an opportunist. There's no such thing as a person who wants nothing in this world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smiling, I shook my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I'll have to take back my previous statement…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rose from my chair at that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because you don't know me at all, Aegon Valeryon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He frowned slightly before quickly regaining his usual composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could it be… that you've sworn allegiance to Sansa? You were childhood friends, after all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shoved my hands into my pockets as I turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not at all. Even if she was my childhood friend… as I said, I want nothing to do with this succession war.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reaching the balcony door, I bid him farewell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Goodbye… and thanks for the tea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had just stepped outside when his voice stopped me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then how about we become friends?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned around instinctively, caught off guard by those words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Friends?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. After all… how many people have ever dared to speak to me the way you do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He laughed as he stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I like that arrogance of yours, Frey… That enigma that surrounds you. You're one of a kind. So… be my friend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, my smile faltered slightly, unable to fully conceal my unease under Aegon Valeryon's piercing golden gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But somehow, I managed to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It would be an honor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excellent!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved at me with one hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, I'll see you later~ my friend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded before walking away from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cursed under my breath as I reflected on what had just transpired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've just gained the most dangerous friend possible…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From someone with no friends… to the friend of a mad prince who sees everything as mere pieces on a board.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a development…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'd have to play along… at least for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was still deep in thought when my entire body screamed in warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything happened in an instant—an eerie chill ran down my spine as I realized what had just occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning my head, I saw a pale-skinned boy with a slender frame and a gloomy demeanor walking past me. His jet-black hair contrasted starkly against his ghostly complexion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he passed by, he lifted his sharp eyes to glance at me before continuing on his way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stood still, watching him disappear into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I felt nothing…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment he approached to the second he was right next to me…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't feel a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had wanted to kill me just now, I would have struggled to even react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a quiet chuckle before resuming my path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, I recognized him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the main characters—Ghost Umbra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The son of the most lethal assassin, Mist Umbra, the man with a thousand faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This won't be easy…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'd be a fool to think that Snow, the story's protagonist, was the only obstacle standing between me and victory in the Victoriad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all… this place was filled with monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter. It doesn't matter who stands in my way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A prince or a hero… an assassin or anyone else…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I will crush everything in my path.\u003C\u002Fp>",1891,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.067Z","2026-06-01T04:30:13.202Z",1,"novelbin.me","482db080178e28f5c14fde0beb7dbdb169b0855ac664de2868a6295026231f85","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-38","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-36",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]