Path of the Demonic Villain

After his brief chat with Michael, Dante began making his way to his quarters. He held his flip-top lighter in his hand and just kept flicking the cap open and shut while lost in thought.

When he got to the grand stairs leading up, his ears twitched at the sound of footsteps descending. Slowly, he lifted his head to look up, then saw his Aunt Lucia. The beautiful woman was dressed in a black dress, and for someone who did not work a day in her life, her blue eyes looked exhausted. She held a smoke pipe in her left hand, walking down with slow steps. The moment Dante’s eyes locked onto hers, she smiled.

"You look like you have a lot on your mind," she murmured softy, coming to a stop a step above him so she could cup his face in her hand.

Dante snapped the lid of his lighter shut with a click. Then he exhaled and gave a small, tired smile. "It’s nothing important. Just daydreaming. But actually, is it alright if I join you for a drink?"

He paused, and with an uncertain look, he asked, "You are going out for a drink, right?"

Lucia chuckled softly. "Yes."

She then rested her hands on his shoulders to guide him as she began moving. "You are lucky I enjoy your company."

Along the way, Dante took off his monocle and pocketed it. Then, as they continued to speak about their day, he discreetly took out the Spectacles of Truth and began wiping it.

Eventually, they both got to the atrium-style courtyard and settled on the stone bench there.

Then, Lucia raised her right hand, which had a silver bracelet on it. Dante had discovered earlier that it was a spatial artifact that she had bought some time ago.

He watched as a dark amber bottle of whiskey materialized in her right hand, and when she transferred it to her left, a glass with a few ice cubes already in it appeared in her right palm.

While this was happening, Dante casually put on the Spectacles of Truth like he did his normal glasses.

"I only have one glass, so we’ll share." Lucia paused, then backtracked. "Actually, you’ll use the glass and I’ll drink from the bottle."

"Sounds okay," Dante nodded politely as he took it from her. She then opened the bottle and poured the amber liquid over his ice.

Dante took a slow sip of the chilled liquor, while Lucia took a long, casual swig straight from the neck.

For a moment after, both were silent. Then Dante smiled and crossed one leg over the other before leaning back against the cool stone.

"Guess what?"

Lucia turned to him, though her expression didn’t change. "What?"

Dante looked away and continued. "Back at the academy I ran into a certain fellow today who goes by the name Julian Bellini."

Lucia arched a brow.

Dante gently swirled his glass back and forth, listening to the ice clink against the crystal, before suddenly shrugging in theatrical disappointment. "Eeek. The guy wasn’t even that handsome. I can’t believe you, Aunty, I thought you had good taste in men. Did you really sleep with that big headed Lord Farquaad?"

"Huh? Lord what?" She arched a brow and suddenly smiled. "Wait, are you saying he’s ugly?"

"Yes." He took another sip from his glass, swirling the ice once more. "And he talks like he has problems with his jaw. Please tell me you didn’t actually go there."

Lucia coughed a chuckle, and then, she covered her mouth and began to chortle. After a few seconds, she shook her head, still laughing under her breath. "Yes, I did. And I have good taste in men. It’s you who doesn’t appreciate a refined face.

Dante arched a brow. Then he smirked and looked away. "Why would I appreciate his face? I don’t like men."

Lucia chuckled again.

Dante turned and smiled as he watched her take another swig from her bottle before resting it on her lap.

Her expression contorted a few times in a silent, funny grimace as the harsh burn hit her throat. She scrunched her nose and pressed her lips tight before she finally let out a hot exhale. "Oh, by the way. What’s the deal with the new guy?"

Dante arched a brow before realizing what she meant. "Ah. He’s a friend of mine," he replied as he looked away.

"Hm. That’s what he said when I asked. Though I’m curious. Am I not your best and the only friend you have? Since when did you have friends? I’ve never seen you bring anyone over, or even mention a soul."

Dante took a slow sip from his glass and swallowed as the ice melted over his tongue. "We met a few years ago when he came to visit Ravena. From then on, we did meet a few times and get up to some mishaps. That’s how we got close."

Lucia was quiet for a few seconds. Eventually, she nudged his shoulder with her elbow and smirked. "He’s handsome. I approve."

Dante turned to her and raised two fingers like a gun, then gently flicked the side of her head. "Keep your dangerous hands off him, Aunty."

Lucia chuckled and raised both hands in surrender. "Fair enough. I’ll leave your friend alone."

***

Some time later into the night, Dante walked up to his cabinet to return the Artifacts he took out with him today.

When he was done, he walked over to one of the armchairs in his room by the corner near the shelf of books. There were three armchairs around a small round wooden table, and a floor lamp was softly glowing in the corner right beside the bookshelf.

After settling on a chair, he locked his fingers together and leaned back against the plush velvet upholstery.

After a long beat of quiet reflection, he suddenly frowned and mumbled to himself.

"She lied."

For a few seconds after, the only sound in the room came from the low crackle of the fireplace nearby.

’She never slept with Julian Bellini so why did she lie to Caterina? Could it be to break them up?’

Dante’s thoughts began to wander again as the clock by the mantelpiece ticked over twelve and into the morning.

***

Three days later...

——

After breakfast, both Dante and Caterina began making their way to the carriage waiting for them outside. Dante held a small paper pastry bag containing an apple and a warm bun in his hand as he walked beside his older sister.

Just then, Francesca suddenly hopped down the stairs in a hurry. Like the other two siblings, she was also dressed in the uniform of the academy.

Upon seeing her, Caterina called out, "Are you going to join us?"

Without looking at her, Francesca grunted a sharp, "No."

The footman was already holding her hoverboard for her, so she just hurried over to get it from him. However, before she could turn to step out the door, Dante spoke up. "Wait, Francesca."

She halted and turned to him with a blank stare.

He then extended his arm to hand over the apple. "You didn’t join us for breakfast, so I had this brought out for you."

She looked at the offering, then back at Dante. Then she took it from his grip and turned away, while her voice softened just a fraction.

"Thanks."

Then, she got outside, threw her hoverboard, which caught itself and hovered a few inches off the floor, before she hopped on and zoomed off into the morning light.

Caterina pouted as she nodded to the driver who had opened the carriage, then she crossed her arms and grumbled. "She never joins us and just zooms everywhere on that hoverboard."

After settling down, she turned to Dante who had settled down beside her, then huffed, adjusting her skirt. "You know, it’s not actually a good look for a noble like her to be zooming everywhere on that thing. At first glance, one would think she’s from the Lower District or a random middle class person from the Central District. Plus, she’s gone and made all these adjustments to her uniform."

She paused to watch Dante’s reaction, but he didn’t say anything and just folded his arms, leaning back against the cushioned seat.

She frowned and poked his shoulder. "You should speak to her."

Dante turned to her with a slightly raised eyebrow. "Are you not the older one?"

She crossed her arms again, letting out an annoyed breath. "But she doesn’t listen to me. She listens to you more."

She sighed and looked away as the carriage lurched forward and began to roll down the cobblestone street. "At this point, I won’t be surprised if she suddenly brings home a random man who’s not a blue blood, saying she wants to marry him."

Dante looked at her and suppressed a chuckle. ’Just wait till you find out that she looks at women more than she looks at men.’

After a moment, he closed his eyes to rest, then muttered tiredly, "Just let her be. She doesn’t take kindly to people trying to impose their expectations on her."

He paused before adding, "Wake me when we get to the academy."