I Became The Novel's Biggest Antagonist

Today marked the last day off before classes resumed at Ocryphia Academy.

Nestled within a sprawling private field large enough to host several football matches lay the opulent Starlight Estate, owned by Reynold Starlight. The estate was so vast it could accommodate an entire village, yet it housed only a handful of residents.

Reynold, a Guild Master of a prestigious 6-Star Guild, and his wife, Sina, the esteemed Head Scientist of Horizon, were rarely home. Their demanding roles left little time for family life, leaving their only daughter, Cattleya Starlight, to navigate her days in the grand estate mostly alone, surrounded by maids and private guards—a company she openly despised.

To escape the stifling solitude, Cattleya often went outdoors, spending time with her so-called 'friends', though she privately questioned whether they were truly friends or mere followers. Today was no different; her parents were away, and she strolled with her companions, attracting every passerby's gaze with her striking beauty.

"Lady Cattleya, you look absolutely stunning today!" One of her followers exclaimed in admiration.

Dressed in an elegant off-shoulder blouse paired with a flowing long skirt, Cattleya's golden hair was swept back, held in place by her signature white hairband. A touch of light makeup enhanced her already flawless features, elevating her natural beauty to near-perfection.

"Indeed, Milady, you are undoubtedly the fairest lady in all of Ocryphia," another chimed in.

"Is there even a need to say it aloud?" Another one teased, prompting soft giggles from the group.

Though they laughed, Cattleya walked ahead of them with an air of indifference. What once flattered her ego now barely sparked any joy. For two months, she had endured their endless compliments, and what had once been thrilling had grown dull.

The only flicker of excitement in her life came from Lucas Whiteford, her classmate and the man she was destined to marry as per her parents' arrangement. But even this spark was dim. To her dismay, Lucas seemed far more interested in Ludivine Richmont, an infuriatingly plain girl who, by Cattleya's standards, paled in every comparison.

'How could he possibly prefer Ludivine over me?' She thought irritated. It was a profound disappointment, one that hurt her pride.

To make matters worse, Cattleya had gone out of her way to capture Lucas's attention, striving to win him over despite her disdain for his apparent lack of taste. After all, her fate was sealed—it was her parents' wish that she marry him. And though she couldn't yet see herself truly loving him after how he treated her these last months, she clung to the hope that perhaps, someday, she might.

'I should have stayed home.'

Cattleya already regretted stepping out. Perhaps reading a book or binge-watching movies, as her mother had suggested, would have been a better use of her day. Since her 'kidnapping', her mother had been insistent that she stay home as much as possible. While the concern was touching, Cattleya found it suffocating. She knew there was no real danger. The whole incident had been a farce.

A comedy, a poorly staged drama—one masterminded by none other than James Arnold Grayling.

'Shameless,' she thought, her face twisting into a visible grimace as she recalled his smug smile while boasting about his 'brilliant' plan to use her as hostage in exchange for Holy Coins.

'What was he even thinking?'

Her train of thought was interrupted by a commotion nearby.

"Hey! You didn't pay me! Thief!"

"I'm a pirate, dumbass. I don't pay; I take what I want!"

"That's stealing! What do you mean you're a pirate?! Are you from New Earth? Tell me your address—I'll make sure your parents hear about this!"

"My home are the endless seas themselves."

"This brat! Someone, catch him!"

Cattleya stood frozen, speechless as her attention shifted to the chaos unfolding in the streets below. A blond-haired man, his movements nimble and almost monkey-like, was leaping from rooftop to rooftop, dodging the Ocryphia Government's forces with quite ease. A loaf of bread clamped between his teeth, he smirked defiantly at his pursuers, including the furious baker sprinting after him.

There was no mistaking him.

Even from this distance, Cattleya could recognize the eccentric figure. He was the only weirdo who would wear antiquated pirate attire—a long coat, two sabers strapped to his waist—and yet, he looked inexplicably good in it. Some men extremely handsome could make anything they wore seem fashionable, and he was undoubtedly one of them.

"Wow, who's that hottie?"

"I wonder~"

The dreamy voices of her followers broke her reverie, pulling her attention back to the present. Their swooning admiration for the pirate grated on her nerves, though she could only muster mild annoyance in response.

Only Cattleya knew the truth.

James Arnold Grayling was the greediest man alive—a true pirate, as improbable as it sounded. And to make matters worse, he was also a Devil. Her sworn archenemy.

Yet there he was, jumping around rooftops as if the laws of gravity didn't apply to him.

Even Cattleya couldn't bring herself to treat him with the enmity he deserved. For all his faults, he seemed almost too human—his eccentricities, his cocky grin, the way he carried himself like a true pirate of some absurd adventure tale. It made it hard to see him as the enemy, even if his behavior screamed weirdo.

And yet, this 'weirdo' was someone she had in her contacts—a result of him forcing his number on her after she had promised a litany of things to secure her freedom during her hostage ordeal.

Since then, their interactions had been limited to brief, cryptic messages. There had been no face-to-face meetings until now. And as Cattleya watched him leap and tumble through the city, she wondered briefly: 'Is this a coincidence? Or something planned?'

Her thoughts were interrupted as James's gaze suddenly locked onto her. His striking red eyes glimmered as they narrowed in recognition.

"Oh, God…" Cattleya muttered under her breath, dreading what was about to come.

"Ainch that Mish Cattleya Shtarlight?" James called out, his grin widening despite the loaf of bread still clamped between his teeth. Without hesitation, he stabbed one of his sabers into a nearby building, the blade slicing through the marble façade as though it were butter. Using the sword as leverage, he slid down the structure, carving a long, jagged line before landing gracefully on the ground.

The crowd around her gasped, forming a curious circle as James casually sheathed his saber and sauntered toward her. Excited whispers spread like wildfire.

"Lady Starlight, do you know him?" One of her followers asked, astonished.

James ignored the murmurs, pulling the bread from his mouth as he munched on it. "Starlight," he said, but his gaze flicking to the ornate pendant hanging around her neck immediately with quite interest. "Still prancing around in all your fancy, expensive things, I see."

Noticing his gaze, Cattleya instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him. "Don't look, you miscreant!"

"'Miscreant.' Now that's a fitting title," James chuckled. "But I have no interested in your bosoms, Starlight. Unless they are made of Gold, are they?"

"..."

Something snapped inside Cattleya as her brow furrowed and her lips tightened. "Catch him!" She ordered. Her guards, who had remained still until now, sprang into action.

The four of them charged at James, but he moved like a blur. He sidestepped the first one with ease, then delivered a powerful kick to the second, sending him crashing into the third. Before the third could recover, James leapt over him and landed a swift roundhouse kick to the last guard's temple.

Everything happened in mere seconds.

Cattleya's companions stood in stunned silence, mirroring her own disbelief. She knew James was strong, but this... How had he taken them down so easily?

The answer was clear—James was far too fast, and his attacks, though precise and controlled, didn't hold back their impact. A subtle energy coursed through his strikes, ensuring that his blows incapacitated without crossing the line into fatality.

Without acknowledging the shocked stares around him, James calmly seated himself atop the pile of unconscious guards, deftly stacking their bodies as if they were furniture. He took another bite of his bread and locked eyes with Cattleya.

"..."

"..."

The air grew quickly awkward for Cattleya as his gaze lingered.

"What do you want…" Cattleya finally asked, her voice faltering as she looked away.

"I want you," James said simply.

"..."

"Follow me," he added as he rose and began walking away.

Cattleya's friends turned to her in disbelief.

Cattleya's body trembled, not with fear, but with barely contained anger born out of embarrassment as everyone had started taking pictures and clips of what happened.

-BAM

Her heel slammed into the ground in frustration before she grudgingly followed him. Her companions scrambled to rouse the guards, who groggily got to their feet, exchanging uneasy glances before trailing after the pair.

Once more, Cattleya asked, "What do you want?"

James didn't even turn his head. "I told you—I want you."

"Enough with these misleading words!" She snapped. "What do you really want from me?"

James finally stopped and turned to face her, his expression deadpan. "I need you to convince your parents to let me join your academy," he said, as casually as if he were asking for spare change.

For a moment, Cattleya was speechless. Then, an incredulous laugh escaped her. "A Devil joining an academy for Exorcists? That's the most ridiculous joke I've ever heard!"

James smirked. "Not as ridiculous as the one about you and Whiteford having a—"

"Shut it!" Cattleya retorted, her cheeks reddening.

"You started it, Cattleya Starlight," James replied with a sigh. "I'm just asking to join your academy."

As he spoke, his hand moved with agility, slipping a wallet from a passing stranger's bag without missing a beat. Opening it, he peeked inside. "Credit cards. Nice."

Cattleya clenched her fists.

James then pointed toward a Ferris wheel in the distance. "Let's talk there," he said, already making his way toward the ride.

Cattleya steeled herself, forcing her emotions back into check. Turning to her friends and the guards trailing discreetly behind, she spoke. "I will speak with him alone."

A flurry of reactions erupted at her words.

"Lady Cattleya, finally…"

"I… I am overjoyed for you!"

"The Lord is going to kill us all…"

"I am more afraid of Lady Sina…"

Cattleya's annoyance flared. Her followers and guards had immediately misconstrued the situation. Grimacing, she turned away, resolving to deal with their misinterpretations later.