The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Aurelia leaned back in her chair, letting out a snort of amusement. "That was too easy," she said, waving dismissively at the board. "This game might be more useful for thinking ahead, but it's not nearly enough to prepare me for what I have in mind."

She rose from her seat, walking around the table as the other players averted their gazes, clearly still trying to comprehend the level of play she had just demonstrated. Aurelia was never one to show humility in victory—especially not when her mind was set on a greater prize.

"All of you together," she continued, almost tauntingly, "and you still couldn't put up a real challenge." She eyed the boards where she had played against multiple opponents simultaneously, her fingers tracing the edge of the table as she moved. Each match had been won, though one of the players had managed to force her into a corner before she'd turned the game around.

"I expected more," Aurelia mused. "But, it seems I was wrong."

The Go masters shifted uncomfortably in their seats, a few daring to look up at her with a mixture of awe and discomfort. None of them dared to challenge her words. Even the one who had come closest to beating her looked thoroughly defeated.

"Thank you for your time," she added, with just the faintest edge of sarcasm. "But I don't think this is enough to beat him."

Aurelia couldn't help but let a small chuckle escape her lips as she thought of Professor Draven. That cold, calculating bastard. She could already picture the look on his face when she beat him at his own game. He might be a genius, but she had never met an opponent she couldn't overcome. Draven might have been the one to issue the challenge, but Aurelia was determined to end it with her victory.

He had no idea what he was up against.

As the thought of his inevitable defeat fueled her confidence, a figure appeared at the door. One of her guards stepped in, bowing deeply before handing her an envelope. Aurelia's sharp eyes caught the royal seal, and she arched an eyebrow.

Without a word, she took the envelope and tore it open, her fingers deftly unfolding the letter inside. She scanned the contents quickly, her eyes narrowing slightly as she read the familiar handwriting. A snort of amusement escaped her lips.

"So that bastard really did it, huh?" she muttered under her breath, almost laughing as she looked at the letter. "What a piece of work."

The Go players, still seated around the table, exchanged confused looks but remained silent. Aurelia, ignoring them, continued reading the letter with a gleam of mischief in her eyes. She'd heard rumors about Draven's personal affairs, but this—this was something else entirely.

The content of the letter was a formal declaration from Draven himself, stating that the engagement between him, the Earl of Drakhan, and Lady Sophie of the Icevern family had officially been broken. It was written with the same cold precision that Draven applied to everything he did, though there was an undercurrent of something more.

"Lady Sophie and I have mutually agreed to dissolve our engagement, effective immediately," the letter read. "This decision was made in the interest of both parties, and we request that no further inquiries be made into the matter."

Aurelia couldn't help but snicker at the formality of the letter. "Mutually agreed, my foot," she muttered, her amusement barely contained. "I'll bet Lady Sophie didn't have much of a choice in this."

She knew the rumors well enough. Draven, for all his brilliance, had been obsessed with Sophie Icevern for years. Everyone in court had speculated on the reason behind their engagement, some whispering that it was a strategic alliance, others suggesting that Draven's cold exterior hid a more personal attachment.

Whatever the truth, the announcement of their broken engagement was bound to send shockwaves through the noble circles. It wasn't the kind of scandal that would stay quiet for long.

Aurelia folded the letter, shaking her head. "Well, well... Looks like the Iceverns are going to be in quite the frenzy after this." Her tone was almost gleeful, though there was a hint of genuine surprise. "I thought Draven was more obsessed with her than this. Guess I was wrong."

She leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment as she let the situation sink in. It wasn't just that the engagement was broken—it was that Draven, the most calculating man she had ever met, had chosen to do this now. The timing was interesting, to say the least. Was it a distraction? Or was this part of some larger plan of his?

She couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the story than what the letter implied.

After a moment, she chuckled to herself, imagining how the Icevern family was likely scrambling to manage the fallout of this announcement. Lady Sophie was from a prestigious Duke's house, and an engagement to someone like Draven had been seen as a power move.

Now, with that gone, there would be political ramifications—rumors would fly, alliances would shift, and the entire court would be buzzing with speculation.

"Poor Sophie," Aurelia said, smirking. "I almost feel bad for her. Almost."

One of her ministers, standing nearby, cleared his throat hesitantly. "Your Majesty, should we—"

Aurelia waved her hand dismissively. "No need to worry about them. The Iceverns will manage their own mess. I've got enough on my plate without dealing with their hysterics."

She paused for a moment, her fingers drumming against the armrest of her floating chair. "Though... this could be an opportunity."

The minister raised an eyebrow. "An opportunity, Your Majesty?"

Aurelia's eyes gleamed. "Oh, don't worry about it. Draven's not the type to be troubled by a broken engagement. He's probably already moved on to whatever he's planning next. It's the Iceverns who'll be in a panic, and that might work in our favor."

The minister nodded, though he seemed uncertain of what exactly the queen meant. Aurelia, however, wasn't inclined to explain. Her mind was already moving ahead, thinking about how this sudden turn of events could play into her larger plans. Draven might have broken off the engagement for his own reasons, but she had no doubt that there was more at play than what was on the surface.

And if there was one thing Aurelia loved, it was figuring out what made people tick.

She stood up from her chair, her confidence brimming once again. "Prepare a response," she ordered, her voice firm and decisive. "Make it clear that the crown acknowledges the dissolution of the engagement, but we won't be getting involved. Let the Iceverns and Draven sort it out themselves."

The minister quickly bowed and hurried off to carry out her orders, leaving Aurelia alone with her thoughts once more.

She smiled to herself, imagining Draven's cold, calculating face as he dealt with the aftermath of his decision. "So, you finally cut ties with Sophie," she muttered. "What's your next move, Draven? I wonder..."

Aurelia's mind returned to the challenge Draven had issued her. Whatever game he was playing, she was determined to win. And now, with the breaking of his engagement hanging in the air like fresh gossip, she couldn't help but feel that the stakes had just been raised.

"Let's see what you've got, you cold-hearted bastard," she whispered with a grin. "I'm ready."

With that, she left the chamber, her steps full of purpose, her thoughts already on the next challenge.