THE VILLAIN I LOVED

THE WRONG PERSON

CHAPTER FIVE:

Evan had made a decision. He was going to investigate Dorian Veyne. Alone.

Adrian was already suspicious enough. Evan didn't need him following every move he made, asking questions he couldn't answer.

Besides, there was something about Dorian that bothered him. He couldn't remember him. Not properly.

Evan sat at his desk that morning, staring at the name he had written across a sheet of paper.

*Dorian Veyne.*

He tapped his pen against the desk.

In *The Black Crown*, Dorian had been mentioned several times, but never enough to make him important. He was a nobleman. Charming. Intelligent. Well-connected. That was all Evan remembered.

No dramatic betrayal. No major romance. No death. Nothing.

And that was exactly what frightened him. Evan had remembered characters who had appeared for only a few chapters, yet Dorian—someone supposedly close to the central conflict—was almost a blank space in his memory.

Something wasn't right.

He folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket.

Today, he would find out why.

---

Aurelia Royal Academy was already crowded when Evan arrived. Students moved through the marble corridors in groups, talking and laughing while servants carried books and professors hurried between classrooms.

Evan kept his head down. He didn't want attention. Unfortunately, being Lucian Vale made that impossible.

Whispers followed him wherever he went.

"Is that Lucian?"

"I heard he rejected Lord Blackwood."

"Apparently, he doesn't even speak to him anymore."

"Something must have happened."

Evan ignored them. He had more important things to worry about.

Dorian Veyne.

He found him in the eastern courtyard. Dorian stood beneath an enormous tree, speaking with two other students.

Evan stopped at a distance. He studied him carefully.

Dorian looked exactly as Evan remembered. Tall. Elegant. Dark brown hair neatly styled. A calm smile that made him appear harmless. He laughed at something one of the students said.

Nothing about him looked suspicious.

Evan narrowed his eyes. *That's probably the problem.* People who looked dangerous were easy to avoid. People who looked harmless were not.

Evan took one step toward him. Then another. He was almost halfway across the courtyard when—

"Lord Lucian?"

Evan stopped. He turned.

A young woman stood behind him. He recognized her immediately.

Elise Marlowe. The heroine.

She held several books against her chest and looked slightly nervous.

Evan's stomach tightened. Oh. This was bad. Very bad.

In the original story, Lucian hated Elise. She was the person who received Adrian's attention, and Lucian had made her life miserable because of it.

Evan quickly forced himself to smile. "Elise."

Her eyebrows lifted. She had clearly expected something else.

"Did you just smile at me?"

Evan blinked. "Was I not supposed to?"

"No." She looked genuinely confused. "You usually don't."

Evan sighed internally. Right. He needed to remember that everyone here knew the old Lucian.

"I've changed."

"So I've heard." Her tone was cautious.

Evan couldn't blame her. He glanced briefly toward the courtyard. Dorian was gone.

Of course. He had missed his chance.

"Are you all right?" Elise asked.

"I'm fine."

"You've been acting strange lately."

"So everyone keeps telling me."

She smiled slightly. "I suppose that's a good thing."

Evan laughed softly. "Maybe."

Elise looked at him for another moment, unsure if he was being honest.

"I heard about what happened with Lord Blackwood."

Evan's smile disappeared. "What exactly did you hear?"

"That you don't want anything to do with him anymore."

"That is true."

She looked surprised. "Why?"

Evan shrugged. "I realized chasing someone who doesn't want me isn't exactly healthy."

Elise stared at him. Then, unexpectedly, she smiled. "That's probably the wisest thing you've ever said."

Evan smiled back. "Thank you."

For a moment, everything felt normal.

Then a voice came from behind them.

"Well, this is interesting."

Evan's shoulders stiffened. Several students were approaching. One of them, a young nobleman named Caelum, smiled mockingly.

"I never thought I'd see the day Lucian Vale and Elise Marlowe standing together without one of them starting a fight."

The others laughed.

Evan ignored them. Caelum wasn't finished.

"So, Lord Lucian, have you finally given up on Lord Blackwood?"

Evan's expression remained calm. "That's none of your business."

Caelum laughed. "Oh, come on. Everyone knows you were obsessed with him."

Someone else snickered. "You used to follow him everywhere."

"Didn't he send him flowers every week?"

"Letters too."

Evan felt his jaw tighten. He remembered. The original Lucian would have exploded. He would have insulted them. Probably thrown a glass. Maybe even challenged him to a duel.

Evan wasn't giving them that satisfaction. He simply picked up his bag. "Are you finished?"

Caelum stepped in front of him. "Not quite." He smiled. "I'm just curious. What changed? Did Adrian finally tell you he would never love you?"

Silence.

Evan's fingers tightened around his bag. That one hurt. Not because of Adrian. Because it reminded him that he was living inside a story where his future had already been written.

He took a breath. "Move."

Caelum laughed. "Or what?"

Before Evan could answer, another voice cut through the courtyard.

"Or I'll make you."

Everyone went silent.

Evan turned. Adrian stood several feet away. His expression was cold. Dangerously cold.

Caelum immediately straightened. "Lord Blackwood."

Adrian walked toward them. "You seem to have forgotten your manners."

"I was only joking."

"Then learn better jokes."

Caelum lowered his head. "My apologies."

Adrian didn't even look at him. "Leave."

Caelum and the others immediately walked away.

Evan watched them disappear. Then he turned to Adrian.

"You didn't have to do that."

"I know."

"Then why did you?"

Adrian's eyes settled on him. "Because I wanted to."

Evan didn't know what to say.

Adrian glanced at Elise and gave her a nod. He looked back at Evan. "You're coming with me."

Evan frowned. "Where?"

"I need to speak with you."

"About what?"

Adrian didn't answer. He simply turned and walked away.

Evan stared after him. Then he sighed and followed.

As they walked through the corridor, he glanced back toward the courtyard. Dorian was nowhere to be seen. He had lost his opportunity again. But somehow, Evan had a feeling that wouldn't be the last time their paths crossed.

---

Adrian led him toward the quieter wing of the academy.

Evan finally stopped. "Adrian."

Adrian turned. "What?"

"You're being strange."

He didn't reply.

Evan stared at him. Adrian's lips curved into the faintest smile. Then he stepped closer.

"I want you to help me do something."

Evan frowned. "Help you?"

Adrian nodded. His eyes held Evan's.

Then came the words that made Evan's stomach drop.

"I want you to help me do something... Lucian."

Evan froze.

Adrian smiled.