The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Male Lead’s True Identity Is the Hidden Mastermind — Episode 10

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“That’s right. Sys, could you contact my house and ask them to bring some of my things from the laboratory in my room? I’m missing my usual tools and materials—it’s really inconvenient without them.”
As I organized the gift I’d received from the Emperor in my bedroom, I asked Sys to reach out to my family. The new laboratory was spacious and pleasant, but nothing beat the familiar tools I’d grown accustomed to using.
“Ah, Miss Rene. I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince asked the Count of Astel yesterday to have your belongings sent over. They should arrive this afternoon.”
“Evan did? I had no idea he didn’t mention it.”
“His Highness said that since you treasure your materials, you’re bound to look for them soon, so he decided to contact you directly himself.”
He reached out beforehand because he knew I’d come looking for them?
I’d noticed it before, but his attentiveness seemed to be his genuine nature. Evan’s public image was so meticulously constructed that it was difficult to tell which of his faces was the real one.
Though I suppose even a devil can be thoughtful.
“My family didn’t say anything unusual? If Evan contacted them, they must have known about the betrothal….”
“Yes. They only asked me to pass along their regards to the future Crown Princess.”
Sys laughed a little shyly, saying that since it was a family matter, she’d planned to tell them once the party ended and things became less hectic. I could easily imagine the atmosphere at home—they’d probably thrown a celebration. They’d been thrilled even when the scandal broke, so of course….
‘It’s understandable, really.’
I should have stayed hidden from society in the first place.
I’d lived a reclusive life—no social activities, rarely even leaving the house, spending entire days barricaded in my laboratory. My parents and even the servants had worried about me constantly.
‘Better than having them openly oppose it with both hands raised.’
If my parents approved, the only one left to deal with was… Leon Astel. My brother.
Like true siblings, Leon had a tendency to get absorbed in research at the Mage Tower and lose all sense of what was happening in the world. It was difficult to even catch a glimpse of him.
I could only confirm he was still alive whenever some poor junior mage finally managed to escape the laboratory, wailing that “he’s lost his mind.”
‘It’s actually a relief that Leon doesn’t know yet. If he found out, he’d object without hearing a single explanation. I just hope he stays in the dark until this Contract Betrothal ends….’
There were about two hours until the Victory Celebration Party began. I had to arrive early and wait since I couldn’t possibly be late to anything the Emperor attended. But before that, there was somewhere I needed to go.
“Sys, has there been any word back from Caret Palace yet?”
“No, I sent the message quite a while ago… It’s strange. I’ve sent another messenger, so please wait just a bit longer?”
I’d sent word of my visit to Caret Palace—where Ate was staying—to give him the gift and check on his condition. For some reason, no response had come back despite the time that had passed.
If Ate had been asleep, his attendant would have relayed that fact. The absence of any word at all troubled me.
“I’ll just go directly. It’s strange that he hasn’t responded at all.”
“I’ve also finished wrapping the gift for the Prince!”
I’d asked her to wrap the Artifact the Emperor had permitted me to give. A nice presentation always put the recipient in a better mood.
So we hurried toward Caret Palace, but as we drew closer, I grew puzzled by how quiet the surroundings had become.
Of course, Caret Palace wasn’t particularly close to Dia Palace where the party would be held, so there was no reason for it to be bustling. Still, as the residence of a prince, I’d expected to see more activity.
“Why is it so quiet?”
“I don’t see any servants either. Are they all inside the palace?”
“…Let’s go faster. I have a bad feeling about this.”
If the prince had been ill, word would have spread by now. But the silence was unsettling.
I soon entered Caret Palace and spotted a passing servant, quickly catching hold of them.
“Excuse me, where is His Highness the Prince? Is he very ill?”
“Gasp— Oh, aren’t you the Young Lady of Astel? His Highness is in his bedchamber.”
The attendant stammered nervously. But they seemed to be holding back more, with a clear suggestion that something was being concealed.
I hurried to the bedchamber entrance, where the maid stationed outside looked thoroughly flustered at our sudden arrival.
It was natural for her to be uncomfortable—we’d arrived without any prior appointment. But this seemed like more than mere social awkwardness.
“Would you tell His Highness that I’ve come to visit?”
“I… Miss Astel, I’m terribly sorry, but His Highness is not in a condition to receive visitors. Please forgive us and return later.”
Then Sys, gesturing to the gift she was holding, spoke again. “Miss Rene has only come to deliver a gift bestowed by His Majesty. If he isn’t sleeping, surely we can check on the Prince’s condition.”
At the mention of the Emperor, the maid—who had been fidgeting—hesitated for a moment before slowly opening the door.
“In short, please don’t speak loudly. His Highness has been unwell since early this morning and is quite sensitive right now.”
So Ate wasn’t simply ill in an ordinary way. Sys’s face darkened as she spoke. “Why wasn’t this reported?”
“His Majesty said that on such an auspicious day, bringing news of his illness would only be a burden. He insisted so firmly that we had no choice but to obey.”
The maid explained quietly with a troubled expression. Now I understood why everything had been so quiet. Inside, there was no one but Ate lying in bed.
Sys handed me the gift and said she’d wait outside, then left the room.
In the silence, as I approached the bed, I saw Ate gasping heavily, clearly in distress.
“Not again? I told you to get out. Medicine won’t help anyway.”
Sensing my presence, Ate irritably waved his hand without opening his eyes. When I said nothing, his blue eyes slowly opened.
“…You. How did you get here?”
The moment Ate saw me, his eyes widened, then a long sigh escaped him.
“Isn’t the party about to start? You don’t have time to loiter around here.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure why a ten-year-old insists on acting so grown-up.”

“What… what…?”
Ate’s face pinched with disbelief at such bluntness. With no one around, I decided to drop the act for a moment and speak like an adult.
“If something hurts, just say it hurts. Children are allowed to do that. Soon enough, you’ll be grown and there will be far more days when you have to bear pain in silence.”
“…You don’t know, then. I can’t become an adult. Every physician said I’d die before I reached manhood.”
A dark shadow fell across Ate’s pale face. I watched the child in silence for a moment, then pressed the gift package I’d brought into his arms.
“What is this?”
“A gift from His Majesty. He brought it back from the western provinces.”
“Father…?”
Ate hesitated before carefully unwrapping the package, and when he saw the brilliantly gleaming Diamond Necklace, his eyes narrowed slowly.
“Ugh, that’s ugly. Who wears something like that these days?”
“Oh? If you don’t like it, give it back then.”
“N-no, I didn’t say I didn’t like it!”
As I reached out my hand, Ate pulled the necklace close to his chest. The boy was clearly smitten with it. Noted.
When I mentioned that the Artifact had Protective Magic woven into it, Ate’s expression brightened noticeably. He seemed delighted that the Emperor knew what interested him.
“So you came to give me this? I’ve accepted it graciously—now go.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Why not…?”
No matter how I looked at it, that spectacular gown hanging in the corner of the room was clearly meant for a party. In other words, Ate had been preparing this outfit for a long time, wanting to attend.
“You want to go to the party, don’t you?”
At my words, Ate’s lips pressed shut. He needed time to think.
I could wait a moment.
“But…if I coughed up blood there, I’d ruin the whole party. Besides, it’s too late to prepare now…….”
After a pause, Ate laid bare his honest thoughts. Here I’d thought he’d keep up his composed act until his last breath, but it seemed the gift had softened his resolve a little.
Now he looked every bit of ten years old.
“Well then, shall I help?”
…What?
Startled by a voice that suddenly came from behind me, I turned to find Evan leaning against the wall—though I couldn’t say when he’d arrived.
His neatly swept black hair and composed teal uniform were disarmingly fitting.
“…Brother?”
“Evan? How long have you been there?”
“Just a moment ago. But it’s not too late yet.”
Evan smiled and opened the door, and the attendants waiting outside entered with resolute expressions on their faces.
“Let’s hurry. The party will start soon.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
As Ate was surrounded by the attendants, Evan, now at my side, took my hand with a rather stiff expression.
“Rene, could we talk for a moment?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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