The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 15

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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 Is Actually the Mastermind, and Only I Know It — Episode 15
Ugh. That expression…!
‘He absolutely won’t answer if I ask.’
Seeing how thoroughly he’d armored his face for public consumption, it was clear he intended to deflect any question with a plausible answer and move on.
It was disappointing, but then again—no matter who you’re dealing with, prying into someone else’s past isn’t an easy thing to do.
Living alongside him, I might come to understand it naturally over time. Evan doesn’t seem inclined to reveal much, but still.
What can you do? He’s a demon!
“Wait, just a moment!”
As the attendant was closing the carriage door, a voice from the distance made it swing open again.
It was Ate. He must have happened to pass by and spotted us boarding the carriage, calling out urgently.
Ate hurried over and thrust something into my hands without preamble.
This is… a handkerchief?
“You said it was precious, right? I’ve been meaning to return it, but the opportunity never came up….”
Ate, looking somewhat awkward, scratched his cheek and pressed the handkerchief into my hands.
“Oh, thank you. You’ve been carrying it this whole time?”
“Well, yes. I was going to give it back yesterday, but then that accident happened.”
The cloth, now pristinely clean, carried the same soft, sun-dried fragrance that clung to Ate.
“And thank you for yesterday, brother. Because of you, I’m alive!”
The fact that Evan hadn’t forgotten him and had protected him in that crisis seemed to have moved Ate deeply—he smiled shyly and expressed his gratitude.
The strange expression that had crossed Evan’s face for a moment vanished instantly, replaced by his usual kindly demeanor.
“I’m relieved to hear you’re unharmed. Any injuries?”
“None, brother!”
“Just to be safe, don’t forget to have a physician examine you.”
“Yes, brother!”
Perfectly concealing any displeasure, he stroked Ate’s hair with the same gentle gesture he’d use with anyone else.
With his seemingly indifferent yet meticulous manner, he’d won Ate’s favor once again—and there was no trace of the cold dismissal he’d shown when telling him to ignore his own brother.
‘Wait, if Ate is going to the Grand Temple anyway, maybe Shana can check on his condition.’
It seemed like a good opportunity to go to the Grand Temple together with Ate while he was here.
The problem was that according to the original story, Ate hated the Grand Temple intensely….
“Ate, would you like to come to the Grand Temple with us?”
“I don’t believe in God.”
Ate refused firmly, as expected. But I couldn’t back down now. This was a golden opportunity to drag the stubborn boy to the Grand Temple!
I leaned in and whispered to Ate conspiratorially.
“It’s a secret, but… there are supposedly quite a lot of hidden gems in the Grand Temple that haven’t been discovered yet. Wouldn’t you like to see them?”
“That’s just a rumor the priests spread to lure in young novice clergy. Tsk, and you call yourself an adult who doesn’t know that?”
Ate clicked his tongue as if he found me hopeless, chiding me—though not quite seriously—about falling for lies like that.
Damn, it didn’t work.
But there was a reason behind Ate’s resistance.
From a young age, Ate had attended the Grand Temple and prayed steadily for his illness to be cured. Yet instead of improving, it had only grown worse—so there was no faith left in him to speak of.
‘If his trust is completely shattered and he’s just avoiding it… then I need to try a different approach.’
From observing Ate up to now, I’d figured out how to handle a rather tsundere type.
“If you were by my side, I think I could make my first official engagement as the Crown Princess a success… but if it’s too difficult, then I suppose I can’t help it.”
Sniff, sniff.
Let me add one tear drop here.
I produced a somewhat artificial sorrow, but fortunately Ate didn’t seem to notice. His blue eyes widened in surprise at my fake tears.
“Me… what help could I possibly be?”
“It’s my first time at the Grand Temple, so having someone who’s been there before would make me feel so much more assured. But if it’s inconvenient for you, it’s truly all right….”
Cha-lara-rak. A faint shimmer seemed to fall around me—at least, that’s how it would have looked to Ate’s eyes.
As it happened, Evan rarely visited the Grand Temple either, so my claim was well-grounded.
Being a demon, he’d have no reason to go willingly—except for obligatory attendance at state ceremonies now and then.
“Fine, I’ll go, I’ll go….”
In the end, Ate sighed and boarded the carriage. He grumbled about being accosted during his walk, but with Evan there, it was only a moment before he quieted down.
“Even a demon could do better acting than that.”
A moment later, after confirming that Ate, who’d been drowsing fitfully, had fallen completely asleep, Evan chuckled and opened his mouth.
He laughed at my performance as if impressed, but it was thoroughly mocking laughter.
“How could I possibly compete when the real demon is sitting right here?”
“If you have any ideas, tell me. I welcome them.”
“Don’t say things like that on the way to the Grand Temple. You’ll bring a defilement upon us.”
I waved my hand through the air to drive away the bad omen, and Evan burst into laughter again.
“If it’s a defilement, I picked one up long ago, so don’t worry.”
Evan offered a gentle smile, remarking that the defilement must have settled into her the moment she agreed to go with him.
“I… I can’t tell if that’s an insult or a comfort.”
It was a cruel thing to say in such a mild-mannered tone. Perhaps because I’d grown accustomed to it, the dissonance no longer bothered me.
Sigh… I’m actually adapting to this.
“But aren’t you curious why you’re bringing Ate to the Grand Temple?”
“To show him to the Saint, obviously.”
“Right.”
When I nodded, Evan gave a low laugh. He seemed to think it meant nothing in particular.
In truth, that assumption wasn’t wrong—given how things had gone so far.
‘But that was before Shana, the heroine, arrived.’
Shana had only been serving as a Saint at the Grand Temple for half a year now. She had been imprisoned within its walls by the Pope, and was currently waiting for an opportunity to escape with help from Karahan, the male lead—a plan still in motion.
“This time will be different. Ate can live.”
“You won’t be able to see them, but there are already Death Messengers around Ate.”
“Death Messengers?”
“Ah. Humans call them Emissaries too.”
He was speaking of underworld messengers. Sure enough, this K-romance world had faithfully imported even that culture…
“How many are there?”
In Korea, there’s a saying that people die when three underworld messengers arrive. I wasn’t sure if that held true here.
“Two.”
“We—we have to save him today, no matter what…!”
At Evan’s words, my blood ran cold. Two messengers—at this rate, I might not even get to celebrate Ate’s birthday, which was coming soon.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”
The carriage came to a stop as the coachman’s voice rang out, and as the door opened, Banel carefully lifted the sleeping Ate into his arms.
“Welcome. Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Princess. May blessings accompany both of your futures.”
The High Priest and Cardinal, who had come out to greet us, bowed their heads slightly in welcome as we descended.
“And who might this be…?”
“He is a Prince, Your Eminence. He fell asleep on the journey.”
“We shall escort the young Prince to a chamber suitable for his rest.”
At Banel’s words, the priests exchanged glances before leading us deeper into the Grand Temple.
Evan excused himself to speak with the Cardinal, leaving only Banel—still holding Ate—and me.
“I would like to meet the Saint. Is that possible?”
“Ah, I’m afraid that would require confirmation first, and may take some time…”
“Would it be all right if I came along?”
“Of course. Please follow me.”
After asking Banel to watch over Ate, I followed the priest toward the Annex where Shana was staying.
When we arrived, I found a small manor-like building situated near the main temple, with someone standing at its entrance.
‘Karahan Barath…? That’s the male lead! I finally met him.’
But the priest, seeing him, turned to me with an embarrassed expression.
“Your Highness, I’m afraid a meeting will be difficult today.”
“Why is that?”
“The Saint is currently under the protection of House Barath. In other words, they are her patrons. When the Duke of House Barath is in the Annex, no one—regardless of station—is permitted entry.”
The priest added, with a troubled sigh, that even the Cardinal’s visits have been turned away before.
“To think they would purchase the Saint with mere money…!”
House Barath, with Karahan as its head, was one of the three pillars that had stood with the Lakis Empire since its founding, and was called the foremost of the three noble houses in existence—a house of swordmasters not to be treated carelessly.
Even if this was the Grand Temple.
‘So that’s why they’re unhappy but can’t complain, and simply handed over the Annex as Karahan demanded.’
If Karahan hadn’t intervened, Shana would still be confined deep within the Grand Temple. And no wonder—the temple wouldn’t let go of a Saint who had appeared after fifty years.
“I’ll speak to him directly. Thank you for showing me the way.”
“Not at all. I shall remain nearby. Please call if there is any trouble.”
As the priest withdrew, I turned to face Karahan. Silver hair gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight and golden eyes bright as molten gold filled my vision with dazzling wonder.
‘A completely different presence from Evan, who radiates danger….’
He was like the very embodiment of sun and gold itself. I nearly lost myself in the sight, but a passing breeze snapped me back, and I stepped toward him.
“Excuse me, Duke Barath.”
“Welcome. I have been expecting you.”
The moment I spoke, Karahan greeted me with perfect courtesy, saying he had been waiting.
A knight’s flawless face—no, body. No, his manners were absolutely impeccable….
Wait, that’s not right. He was waiting for me? How could he possibly…?
“…For me?”
“Yes.”
“You know who I am?”
“I don’t know.”
……What on earth is this?

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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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