Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System

The Guitar and the Smile

Just relax, Julian D’Aurelius remarked, easing the sports car around a corner in Valemont. A light laugh came after his words. Your boss knows what works

He glanced sideways at Liza Voss sitting in the passenger seat.

"Today, I’ll turn you into the most stunning girl in Valemont."

Liza paused, eyes flickering open - was it funny, or should she look away? A quiet moment hung there, unclaimed.

Still grinning like it meant nothing, Julian held a storm behind his eyes. Yet calm stayed on his face while chaos raced beneath.

( You need to be a little bolder... )

( Break out of that old assassin shell. )

( Hmm... maybe a cosplay outfit would actually work. )

He tapped the steering wheel thoughtfully.

( Considering her A-cup... that anime character’s outfit would fit perfectly. )

( And with black stockings... )

( Yeah. Perfect. )

Liza sat quietly beside him, listening to his inner monologue with growing confusion.

Cosplay?

Anime characters?

Stockings?

Those concepts might as well have been written in another language.

Her world had always been simple.

Missions.

Targets.

Survival.

Death.

She had never had time for cartoons or costumes.

Still... hearing Julian talk so casually about these things made her feel strangely curious.

The car soon rolled into the underground parking lot of a massive luxury mall owned by the D’Aurelius household.

Julian parked smoothly and stepped out.

"Come on."

He gestured casually.

"Let’s go."

The mall itself radiated quiet luxury.

Soft lighting.

Polished marble floors.

Elegant glass storefronts displaying designer brands.

This place catered exclusively to wealthy clients, and nearly every store here carried internationally recognized luxury labels.

Upstairs they went, straight to level three - Julian moved like he’d walked that path a hundred times before.

Open went the elevator doors.

Julian didn’t pause before guiding Liza through the door of a store named Melodic Sea.

Right away, she stepped forward when they walked in, head tilted down in greeting.

"Welcome, esteemed guests. What would you like to see today?"

For a moment, her gaze stayed on Julian.

Towering over most, his looks caught eyes without trying. Quiet strength in how he carried himself left little room for being overlooked.

What a handsome customer... she thought quietly.

Julian smiled politely.

"Please show me the guitars."

"Of course."

The sales assistant nodded eagerly and led them toward a beautifully arranged display area filled with instruments.

Rows of guitars rested on wooden stands beneath warm lights.

"May I ask," she said professionally, "what type of guitar you’re interested in? Classical, folk, or electric?"

Julian turned toward Liza.

"Which one do you want?"

His tone was casual, but his eyes were attentive.

Because he knew something.

In the original storyline, Liza Voss had always been someone who secretly longed for an ordinary life.

Living among blades and blood every day...

That kind of life slowly wore down even the strongest people.

Deep down, she loved music.

Especially guitars.

But that dream had never had a place in her life.

So for her birthday...

A guitar felt like the perfect gift.

Liza slowly stepped forward, her attention completely captured by the instruments.

Her fingers brushed across several guitars.

After carefully examining them for a while, she eventually picked up a light yellow handmade classical guitar.

Her eyes sparkled.

"This one."

The moment she held it in her arms, her entire expression changed.

She looked like someone who had just discovered a hidden treasure.

Her smile bloomed gently—bright, pure, and natural.

Like an iris flower quietly blooming in a silent valley.

Julian, standing beside her, froze slightly.

His heartbeat skipped for a moment.

( Why does this silly girl look so beautiful when she smiles? )

Liza’s cheeks warmed slightly.

Hearing those honest thoughts made her feel shy.

It was the kind of praise that came straight from the heart.

And somehow...

It made her happy.

The sales assistant quickly stepped forward with excitement.

"Miss, you have excellent taste!"

She gestured toward the guitar.

"This is the final handmade classical guitar by Smoman in our store. Each one requires nearly two years of careful craftsmanship."

Her smile widened.

Clearly she hoped the sale would go through.

"Can I try it first?" Liza asked softly.

"Of course," the sales assistant replied. "It’s already tuned. Please feel free."

Liza nodded.

She adjusted her grip on the guitar.

Then gently plucked the strings.

The first notes rang out softly.

Soon cheerful music began filling the store.

Clear.

Warm.

Alive.

The melody drifted through the quiet shop like a breeze.

Julian sat nearby, resting his elbow on the armrest of a chair as he watched her.

His golden eyes stayed fixed on her face.

When Liza played the guitar, her expression changed completely.

She looked focused.

Peaceful.

Her usual assassin aura disappeared.

At that moment she didn’t look like a deadly killer.

She looked like a sweet girl next door, lost in music.

After finishing the short piece, Liza looked up with excitement.

Her eyes were shining.

"Young Master Julian," she asked happily, "how was it?"

Julian raised a thumb.

"Pretty impressive."

Inside his mind though—

( Her technique is flawless. )

( Just a tiny mistake. )

He leaned back slightly.

( You should pluck the strings... )

( Not my heartstrings. )

Liza’s face instantly turned red.

This man...

Why did he keep saying things like that in his head?

Couldn’t he just praise her normally?

Trying to hide her embarrassment, she cleared her throat.

Julian stood up casually and pulled out his wallet.

"How much?"

He handed over his credit card.

The sales assistant checked the system and smiled politely.

"Sir, the total comes to 570,000 Euros."

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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!

With love,

Saturn_Virgo_777

Creator of Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System

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