The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 16

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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 Villain — Chapter 16
He pretended to know, so I thought he actually did! Stunned into silence, I simply stared at him when Carahan opened his mouth again.
“The Saintess mentioned that an honored guest would be arriving.”
“How did you know that honored guest was me?”
Carahan hadn’t set foot anywhere near the Imperial Palace, let alone attended a victory celebration—there was no way he’d seen my face before. Of course, he might have heard rumors about the Crown Princess, but that didn’t mean he’d recognize me standing right in front of him.
…Probably.
“The Priests avoid approaching the Annex when I’m present. Furthermore, the Temple currently prohibits outside visitors due to Foundation Day preparations.”
In other words, since no one else would come and yet I had, he’d simply pieced it together.
Hmm. Fair enough—logically speaking, I was the only possibility.
“I’ll show you inside.”
“You’ll escort me personally, Your Grace?”
“The Annex operates with minimal staff for security reasons.”
An outsider might have believed him, but I’d read the original work—I knew Carahan had driven out every competent servant from the Annex.
‘He said he didn’t trust those Temple people, so he swept them all out and filled the place with his own men instead.’
He’d been so particular in his selections that the Annex held barely anyone besides Shana’s personal attendants. Which left him no choice but to greet guests himself.
‘Seeing him in person, he’s even more taciturn than the original described. Complete opposite of Evan.’
Evan had sharp features but presented himself warmly and kindly to the public; Carahan’s gentle, warm appearance radiated an unapproachable coldness.
No wonder even high-minded priests didn’t dare venture near him.
Following his guidance to a door, Carahan stepped aside without entering.
After a light knock on the partially open door, I stepped inside to find Shana propped up in bed, greeting me between fits of coughing.
“Welcome, Your Highness. *Cough.* I’m ashamed to receive you in such a state….”
Shana, her hair the color of starlight and gold, regarded me with eyes as blue as a mountain lake, and for a moment her gaze seemed to shimmer. An almost blinding radiance seemed to emanate from behind her.
So this was the female lead effect…? She was beautiful beyond words—almost sacred. I nearly found myself bowing in reverence.
“Did you know I’d come?”
“Not many are permitted to enter the Temple during Foundation Day preparations.”
Wait—if Shana knew, that meant Carahan knew too.
‘I suspected as much, so he was deliberately pretending not to know!’
Though the Barat Duke House was a founding contributor, its head, Carahan, apparently didn’t hold the Imperial Court in high regard.
Since the original work was still serializing, I didn’t know the exact reason—but it seemed he’d learned I was the Crown Princess and had kept his distance.
I sat on the stool beside Shana’s bed and offered my hand with a gentle smile. First impressions mattered, after all.
“I’m Rene Astel. I’m not here to meet you as the Crown Princess, so feel free to relax. How are you feeling?”
At my offer of comfort, the tension that had clouded Shana’s pale face lifted slightly. She grasped my hand lightly, then released it just as quickly, aware of her own fever-warm skin.
“Thank you for your consideration. I’m Shana Perita. Fortunately, I’m doing relatively well today, though… *cough.*”
An ailing Saintess was hardly good news, so word of Shana’s illness hadn’t reached the outside world. The Imperial Court—already in a merely nominal alliance with the Temple—would be even more reluctant to learn what lay beneath the surface.
The Priest who’d guided me here must have certainly known Carahan was in the Annex.
‘He thought I wouldn’t be allowed inside anyway, so he led me willingly enough.’
Carahan was currently blocking even the Priests and Cardinals—there was no way he’d let in someone who wasn’t yet officially the Crown Princess.
‘He’ll be frustrated when he realizes I got through.’
Shana pressed a handkerchief to her mouth and descended into a prolonged coughing fit. The painful sounds continued only briefly before her labored breathing gradually subsided.
“How long have you been ill?”
“A month now. The Temple has tried various methods to heal me, but nothing’s helped at all.”
Of course not. This wasn’t an ordinary illness—it was Awakening Pain.
According to the original work, Shana would endure tremendous suffering and hardship before eventually achieving her awakening.
Once she did, she would transform from a provisional Saintess into a true one at last.
‘I can’t wait for all that time to pass.’
I couldn’t bring Athel—whose faith was already shattered—back to the Temple twice. Today was my only chance.
“Shana, what if we made a deal?”
“A… deal?”
“I can take away that pain. In exchange, I’d like you to grant me a favor.”
At my words, Shana forgot to breathe, staring at me in stunned silence. She was visibly shocked, and even her intermittent coughing stopped.
“Y-you can cure the illness? But even His Holiness couldn’t heal it.”
The Temple had been without a Saintess for so long, and until now had never encountered one with Holy Power as strong as Shana’s. That’s why they didn’t recognize this as Awakening Pain.
Awakening Pain manifested only in those who possessed exceptionally rare power, after all.
The ancient scriptures might hold answers if properly deciphered, but unfortunately decoding them completely required the Saintess’s own power. Even the High Priestess was helpless.
‘Here we go—possession booster mode, activating.’
I pulled a small vial from my pocket and held it out to Shana. I’d managed to bring it safely after spending all night crafting it.
“What is this, Rene?”
Shana took the vial, its blue liquid sloshing gently inside, and blinked at me with curious eyes.
“Drink it when the world feels too harsh to bear.”
In other words: take it when you’re in pain.
‘When you’re hawking dubious wares, sentiment is the cheapest commodity.’
The smooth marketing pitches I’d crafted had moved countless Magical Potions since childhood—thousands of them by now.
There was a reason my creations commanded such exorbitant prices the moment they hit the black market. Ahem.
‘In any world, there’s no business without a little showmanship.’
Of course, the effects were overwhelmingly fast and precise—so brutally effective that no counterfeit dared claim the same speed. A few seconds was all it took to tell genuine from fake.
“Ah, what I’m asking for isn’t anything grand, so please don’t worry.”
I added a light aside to ease Shana’s hesitation, and she slowly drank down the Magical Potion, eyes shut.
With the expression of someone who had nothing left to lose, she drained it entirely, then suddenly seized her chest with a sharp gasp.
“Haah—!”
Clutching at her heart, Shana bent forward, then slowly raised her head a moment later.
“It’s… it’s gone! That strangling sensation around my heart—just like that, all at once…!”
Her voice tumbled out in wonder as she ran her fingers over her body, searching, before her gaze shifted to meet mine.
In those luminous blue eyes, a thick vein of trust shone clear as crystal.
‘Those bright, almost feverish eyes—I’ve seen something like them before…’
For some reason, Banel suddenly came to mind.
“Rene, the pain is truly gone! I’ve tried all manner of medicines, but I’ve never felt anything work this well……!”
Mm-hmm. Well, of course—who do you think made it?
With gratitude shining on her face, Shana gripped my hand tightly and expressed her thanks over and over.
But why did Arnosel tell Shana I would come looking for her? I’m no believer, and I barely know anything about the goddess.
…I’ll have to ask about that later.
“I’m glad the potion worked. If you need anything more, just say the word and I’ll make it for you.”
“I don’t know how to repay such kindness… Oh, but you mentioned you had a request earlier, didn’t you? If it’s something I can do, I’ll do my very best.”
Just as planned, I had secured Shana’s cooperation. I’d meant to ask about Filth next, but first I needed to recall Evan’s advice.
Just before, when the carriage had nearly reached the Temple and began to slow, Evan had broached the subject carefully.
‘Rene, pay particular attention to operational security. It would serve no one for the Temple to learn that you are Filth.’
‘I understand. Shana was confined to the Temple the moment the Saintess’s power manifested, after all….’
‘Arnosel’s dogs are all drowning in greed. Worse than demons, I tell you.’
When I nodded in agreement, Evan replied with an expression that suggested there was a story there. Watching him, I couldn’t help but ask.
‘Evan, what if I’m exposed and imprisoned?’
‘Then I’ll come get you.’
‘How? There must be a great many Priests at the Temple.’
Evan listened to my question, his cool green eyes dropping, and a smile curved his lips—silent but unmistakable.
A sudden chill, like frost-edged steel, grazed my neck, and my head bowed of its own accord.
That was answer enough.
‘No matter what, I mustn’t be discovered. I mustn’t be trapped.’
For everyone’s sake….

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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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