Corporate Villainy: Trample Protagonists as a Minor Villain's Dad

The academy's autumn festival preparations had transformed the eastern courtyard into a maze of colorful banners and half-assembled stalls. Students moved in coordinated clusters, hauling decorations and testing spirit-powered displays that flickered with unstable energy.

Rina knelt beside a wooden crate, carefully arranging paper lanterns that would line the main pathway. Her movements were precise, methodical—the kind of focus that came from needing something to occupy restless hands.

"You're very thorough," came a familiar voice.

She looked up to find Liam approaching, carrying what appeared to be his assigned load of festival supplies. His eyes lingered on her for a moment—the way she knelt, the curve of her neck as she worked—before he forced his gaze to remain respectfully on her face.

"Someone has to make sure they don't fall," she replied, returning to her task.

Liam set his crate down at a polite distance, though internally he wished he could move closer. "I've been thinking about our conversation the other night."

"Oh?" She didn't look up, but her hands stilled.

"About your family. The library." He crouched beside her, careful to maintain appropriate space even as he imagined what it would be like to brush his fingers against hers. "I'm glad I could help. Your father sounded so relieved when you told me about the call."

The words hit exactly as intended. Gratitude bloomed in her chest, warm and overwhelming.

"I still can't believe you did that," she murmured. "The amount must have been..."

"Don't worry about the money." Liam's voice was gentle, sincere. He wanted to reach out, to touch her hand, but he kept his hands clasped respectfully. "Seeing you happy is worth more than any amount."

Rina looked up then, meeting his eyes. There was something in his gaze—an intensity that made her heart flutter pleasantly.

"I think we could be good together," he continued, his voice dropping to an intimate tone. "Really good. Don't you feel it?"

"Maybe we could... spend some time together?" she asked, surprising herself with her forwardness.

Liam's heart leaped. "I'd love that. Maybe we could walk through the gardens this weekend?"

"I think I'd like that," Rina said, and smiled—really smiled.

🔔 System Notification

▶ Rina Favorability toward Liam: +7 → 77

▶ Liam LP: +20 ▶ Vincent LP: -20

Day Three

The rumors had started circulating by morning, growing more elaborate with each telling.

"Did you hear about Liam Darrow? Apparently he just dropped enough money to buy half the civilian quarter on some girl's family library."

"My roommate heard it was enough to purchase three entire districts. Who has that kind of casual wealth?"

"Think his family's been hiding their true power? Maybe he's the secret heir to one of the mega-corporations."

"I heard he didn't even blink at the amount. Just signed the contract like it was pocket change."

Kaliya found Liam after morning classes, his eyes bright with curiosity and something like awe.

"So the rumors are true?" he asked, falling into step beside him. "You really dropped a fortune that could buy entire city blocks for Rina's family?"

Liam felt a surge of pride at the admiration in Kaliya's voice. "I really think people are exaggerating. It wasn't anything like that."

Kaliya waved off the comment with a grin. "See? So humble. That's exactly what someone with a secret empire would say. Most guys would be bragging about having that kind of generational wealth. No wonder everyone's saying you must be from some ultra-powerful family. Secret crown prince vibes, you know? Like, your family probably owns half the research patents in the region or something."

The words fed something hungry in Liam's chest. Let them think what they wanted. Since yesterday his mind feels clearer than ever. Even the meals which tasted normal once are now something he craves. Only if he could eat with Rina instead of Kaliya, who wouldn't leave him alone.

When he found Rina later that day, his confidence had transformed. Instead of the careful distance he'd maintained before, he moved closer, his presence more assertive.

"Rina," he said warmly, reaching for her hand without asking.

She gently pulled her hand back, surprised but not startled. "Liam, what—"

"Sorry, I just..." He smiled, but there was something different in his eyes now. Something that expected compliance. "I've been thinking about you all day."

"That's sweet, but..." She glanced around at the other students nearby. "Maybe we shouldn't be so public about—"

"About what? That I care about you?" His hand hovered at her waist, then brushed it lightly in what he probably thought was a natural gesture. "After everything we've shared?"

Rina tensed slightly and shifted just enough for his hand to slip away. "I think we should take things slowly, Liam. We've only just started... whatever this is."

For a moment, his expression flickered with something like annoyance. But he quickly covered it with understanding patience.

"Of course. I don't want to rush you." Though his thoughts were less charitable—after what he'd done for her family, surely she could show a little more appreciation?

🔔 System Notification – 

▶ Rina Favorability toward Liam: +4 → 81

▶ Liam LP: +10 ▶ Vincent LP: -10

Day Six

The pattern continued. Liam's newfound confidence, fed by whispers and admiring glances from classmates who believed he was some kind of hidden corporate royalty, made him bolder with each interaction. His mind felt clearer and his meals tasted particularly great. It's just Kaliya has become like his personal dog ever since the rumor and wouldn't leave him alone.

"Everyone's talking about the festival," he said, finding Rina in the library. Without warning, he slid into the seat beside her, close enough that their shoulders touched.

"Are they?" She shifted slightly, creating space.

"About us, actually." His hand covered hers on the table. "About how lucky I am to have someone like you."

"Liam..." She tried to pull her hand away, but he held on.

"What's wrong? I thought after everything..." His voice carried a subtle edge now, a reminder of what he'd supposedly done for her.

"It's not about that," she said firmly, finally extracting her hand. "I just think we should be more careful about how we act in public."

His jaw tightened slightly. The girl should be grateful, should be eager for his attention. Instead, she was acting like some kind of prize he had to keep earning.

"Fine," he said, though his tone suggested it wasn't fine at all. "

That evening, as Rina packed for the holiday break, she reflected on Liam's behavior over the past few days. While some of his confidence made her uncomfortable, other moments had genuinely warmed her—his smile, the way he listened when she talked about her family. She cared about him. And maybe, she thought, he just needed time to figure out how to express himself. After all, they'd only just started whatever this was. She wanted to believe he meant well.

A few days later

*The Ferry Home*

The ferry rocked gently as it carried students back to the mainland for the three-day festival break. Rina stood at the rail, watching Celestial Academy grow smaller in the distance, its towers and courtyards shrinking until they were just glints of light on the private island.

The autumn air was crisp, carrying the salt scent of the sea and the promise of home. Around her, other students chattered excitedly about their plans—family dinners, festival celebrations, brief escapes from the intensity of academy life.

But Rina's thoughts were still a little tangled. Despite a few uneasy moments, Liam had shown her attention, kindness, and what seemed like genuine care. He had helped her family, or at least she believed he had, and part of her wanted to believe the best about him. She sighed as she packed the gift Liam had given her—a small plush rabbit, soft and slightly worn. With that, she prepared to disembark.

The ferry docked with a gentle bump, and students began filing off toward the waiting buses that would carry them to various districts across Autumnvale. Rina shouldered her travel bag and joined the queue, still lost in thought.

Maybe I'm overthinking this, she told herself as she settled into a window seat on the bus bound for the civilian quarters. Maybe he's just excited about us. Maybe this is what relationships are supposed to feel like.

But as the bus pulled away from the harbor and began winding through the city streets, past the gleaming towers of the corporate districts and down into the more modest neighborhoods where real people lived real lives, Rina couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had shifted.

She was going home to parents who thought their prayers had been answered, to a library saved by what they believed was the kindness of their daughter's suitor. She was carrying the weight of their gratitude, their joy, their assumption that she'd found someone wonderful.

And maybe she had. Maybe Liam really was wonderful, and she was just being overly cautious, overly sensitive to changes that were probably normal in any developing relationship.

The bus rumbled through familiar streets as the sun began to set, painting the civilian quarter in warm golden light. Soon she'd be home, wrapped in her parents' excitement and pride, listening to her father's plans for the library and her mother's questions about the mysterious benefactor who'd changed their lives.

Soon she'd have to smile and act like the happy daughter they expected her to be.

But for now, watching the city scroll past her window, Rina allowed herself a moment of uncertainty. A moment to wonder if the person she thought she was falling for was really who he seemed to be.