The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 12

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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 Mastermind, and Only I Know It — Chapter 12
After exchanging brief greetings with the nobles from the dais, we descended to the main hall, and soon the Emperor made his entrance.
Wearing a mask emblazoned with the golden lion that symbolized the Erzet Imperial Household, he raised the Golden Chalice high and raised his voice.
“The enemy nation has fallen, and the glory of Lakis has touched the heavens. This is a sign heralding the Empire’s immortality—let all rejoice!”
After announcing the overwhelming victory against Tarant in formal ceremony, he gazed down at us while soaking in the nobles’ cheers.
‘…Hm?’
I think I just made eye contact with the Emperor. And it doesn’t feel like my imagination.
No, surely not. It couldn’t be.
Even as I tried to deny it, the Emperor’s booming voice rang out once more.
“Furthermore, hear this: under the blessing of the goddess Arnosil, I announce the betrothal of Crown Prince Iban Pel Erzet and Rene Astel, second daughter of the Astel Family!”
…Did he really just announce the victory of war and our engagement news together?
As if that weren’t enough, the Emperor looked our way and winked with a satisfied expression. What was that cute wink supposed to mean…?
‘I’m finished.’
This was essentially the same as eliminating any possibility of a betrothal dissolution. There was no way such a momentous engagement—announced alongside an imperial triumph that would be recorded in history—could be broken off by something as trivial as a change of heart.
A betrothal dissolution was absolutely impossible unless one of us suffered a fatal accident.
“Iban, this wasn’t in the plan. If this happens, we can’t dissolve the betrothal!”
I thought we were going to announce it normally, just between ourselves. What is this?
As I whispered in distress, Iban opened his lips with a composed expression.
“There are two solutions.”
“What are they?”
With hopeful eyes, I stepped closer at his beckoning gesture.
Iban then lowered his head and whispered something softly near my ear.
“Either marry me as is, or become the Emperor yourself.”
“…What?”
“I’m fine with either.”
“This devil, I swear…”
No, absolutely not. Not happening.
When I glared at him, warning him to stop joking, Iban shrugged and stepped back.
Meanwhile, the Emperor—who had thoroughly stirred my insides into chaos—finished his business and exited quickly with a satisfied expression, calling out for everyone to enjoy themselves.
From what I heard, he was heading off to share celebratory drinks with the Imperial Knights who had fought alongside him on the battlefield.
Certainly, the Emperor seemed more the beer type than wine.
As I swallowed a complicated sigh, watching the Emperor fade from view, Iban added a quiet remark.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. There’s something more important right now.”
Iban smiled slowly, his expression far from reassuring, then extended his hand and bowed slightly.
“Grant me the honor of sharing the first dance with you, my Rene.”
…When did we end up at the center of the hall?
Whether because of the betrothal news just announced or something else, I felt intensely focused gazes piercing through our masks.
There was no way to refuse in such a situation. I had no choice but to take his hand.
“My, my…”
“You two really are well-matched, even with masks on, aren’t you?”
“I wonder if that lady is a mage too? There were rumors that His Highness pursued the connection because of magic created by the Astel Family…”
“I’ve also heard rumors that he used some miracle drug that’s been circulating in back alleys.”
“Well, seeing how tender His Highness is being, maybe he really did fall for her at first sight!”
“The veiled Crown Princess entering the quiet Imperial Palace…”
The whispers around us grew steadily louder.
That the Empire’s most eligible bachelor—whose very existence shook high society—had finally brought back, after a long courtship, a woman with zero presence: it was pure melodrama. The ratings would be through the roof.
“Iban, I think I’m going to faint.”
“When?”
“In about a minute.”
At my surprisingly precise timeline, Iban seemed to consider it for a moment, his furrowed brow relaxing slightly.
“If you wish, I can make sure people can’t see you.”
“How?”
“Simply take away their sight.”
…What kind of madness is that? I was only thinking of adjusting dance moves or dimming the lights!
How does a man arrive at such demonic logic? Ah, this man is a demon.
“You’re joking, right?”
“I could return it to them afterward, couldn’t I?”
“As if that would work.”
At my cold response, Iban sighed with regret and tightened his grip on my hand. The touch of his arms pulling me close felt not just cold but biting.
With a body temperature like that, he really shouldn’t keep pretending to be human.
“Rene, you won’t need to faint.”
“I’m sorry? What do you—”
I was looking up at him with confusion when it happened.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
“Help, someone help! No, no, no!”
Piercing screams tore through the air from outside. In an instant, the festive atmosphere of the ballroom descended into chaos.
“Everyone, evacuate at once!”
“A Demonic Beast! A Demonic Beast has appeared!”
“Protect the Crown Prince!”
The knights who’d announced the intrusion swiftly took control of the surroundings. Panicked guests scrambled toward the exits, and the sound of breaking glass mixed with screams of terror only deepened the confusion.
It was utter disaster. I was thinking it might have been better to just dance and faint after all when, cutting through the din, I heard Iban’s finger-snap with perfect clarity.
“Banel, get Ate to safety.”
“Understood.”
“Brother! Wait, what’s happening—!”
Banel appeared from nowhere and swept Ate up in his arms before she could even grasp the situation.
As Ate’s voice receded swiftly into the distance, the Imperial Knights arrived in timely fashion and rushed toward us.
“Your Highness, we’ll escort you and the Princess to a secure location at once!”
“That won’t be necessary. Go assist the others. If anyone dies on your watch, I’ll hold you accountable.”
“Y-yes, your command!”
Iban’s refusal was utterly decisive, and the knights, who’d hesitated only a moment, turned on their heels and rushed back outside.
Given the circumstances, one might have expected them to insist on protecting us regardless, but they obeyed without a word of protest—a rather striking sight.
‘According to the original story, Iban being a demon and able to use magic would be unknown to everyone, but his swordcraft must be extraordinary.’
In any case, their trust in Iban’s abilities was evident. They couldn’t have withdrawn so cleanly otherwise.
“Rene, I sense what seems to be a Demonic Beast’s aura, but there are too many humans to pinpoint it precisely. Can you locate it for me?”
“Oh, just a moment.”
Iban set me safely in a corner of the ballroom away from the fleeing crowds, and watched over me with sharp, vigilant eyes.
Recalling his quiet instruction to remember the sensation I’d used to find him last time, I closed my eyes quickly. There—threading through the occasional cries of Demonic Beasts, I sensed the same faint revulsion I’d experienced at Count Anastasia’s estate.
“I can feel it… it’s a bit hazy, but it’s to the west. I think there’s more than one.”
“Near the Back Gate, then. I’ll be back.”
He added that Kan and Sis were nearby, so I shouldn’t worry. So that’s why I hadn’t seen them—they’d been providing covert protection all along.
Without thinking, I grabbed his arm as he turned to leave.
“You’re going alone?”
“Your Purification Ability isn’t reliable enough yet. It’s too dangerous for you.”
Iban stated the truth without mercy. He was right, but… staying here alone in this chaos seemed far worse than going with him.
“Let me come with you. I might be able to help.”
This time I offered him my hand. But Iban fell silent, his expression conflicted, before finally speaking in a more measured tone.
“They may be Demonic Beasts at their core, but it will look like they’re killing humans—just as before.”
Then he studied my expression carefully.
Oh. Don’t tell me.
“They wear human skin, so calling it murder wouldn’t be wrong, would it? So stay here, Rene. It won’t be a pleasant sight.”
Was he hesitating because he feared I might become afraid of him again?
When a Demonic Beast parasitizes a human body, it dies the moment its host’s breath stops.
So after the Beast is destroyed, only an ordinary human corpse remains—which to the uninformed looks like nothing but a brutal murder scene.
“If I only wanted to see pleasant things, I wouldn’t have accepted a betrothal to you.”
“…That’s quite persuasive.”
“You’re taking me with you, aren’t you?”
At last, Iban took the hand I’d offered. My argument seemed to have worked after all.
“But Rene, you’re already trembling. Are you really sure about this?”
To be honest, I could still see a man’s head rolling beneath my feet. The thought of witnessing that brutality again made my hands and feet shake involuntarily.
“I know what I’m doing. Besides, I’ve been raised so delicately that to a Demonic Beast, I probably look like a delicious treat.”
“…You’re driving me insane.”
With a strange expression, Iban let out a dry laugh and suddenly scooped me into his arms.

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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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