The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 21

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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 21

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Before Liene’s resolve to keep Evan unaware of Chahil’s existence had even finished settling, the carriage filled with news of the prisoners that Baniel was relaying.
From Tarant to Lakis, the escort convoy had suffered an unprecedented number of attacks during their journey, which had caused delays, and now the Merit Ceremony was finally being held.
“To think they would attack a carriage bearing the Imperial seal… It appears that as Demonic Beasts have been appearing more frequently near the borders, banditry has become rampant.”
Baniel expressed his doubts, noting that even so, such incidents were rare.
That made sense—the Lakis Empire was counted among the continent’s considerable powers, so being attacked was nearly unheard of.
But Liene grasped the cause at once.
‘It’s because of Chahil…!’
According to the original story, the prisoner escort that departed from Tarant only barely managed to enter the Empire after enduring all manner of mishaps.
Sudden attacks, unexpected plagues, and unforeseen weather disasters.
All of it stemmed from Chahil, a Dark Magic user who commanded death and misfortune, being among the prisoners.
‘He couldn’t even escape that misfortune himself, so he arrived at the capital in completely tattered condition….’
Even Chahil couldn’t accomplish much with his hands and feet bound.
Managing the raw, unrefined Chahil would require care as meticulous as what Shana had given him. Liene steadied her resolve and carefully turned her eyes toward Evan.
‘He doesn’t seem interested at all.’
Evan showed no sign of agitation while listening to the report. In fact, one could doubt he was even listening.
It wasn’t particularly strange. As the Crown Prince, Evan occupied a position where he lacked nothing, so he had no interest in spoils that the Emperor might bestow—whether they were people or treasures.
‘The Evan of the original story attended the ceremony for Shana’s sake.’
Normally, it was a privilege granted to only a select few for the Emperor to bestow spoils directly, and it was considered tremendously honorable. So Evan had brought Shana as his partner to the ceremony so she could settle more comfortably into high society.
But currently, since he had no connection with Shana, the likelihood of him attending the ceremony was low.
‘This might actually go more smoothly than I thought… I could get Chahil easily…?’
If he were absent, there would be nothing she couldn’t obtain as the designated future Crown Princess attending the ceremony.
While Liene hoped things would proceed smoothly, Baniel, confirming the carriage had stopped, hurriedly gathered the luggage.
“It seems we’ve arrived at the Imperial Palace.”
As the door opened, Baniel and Evan descended in turn.
“Liene, your hand.”
Liene grasped the hand Evan offered and stepped down from the carriage, the cool breeze that blew helping her gather her wits. After a brief moment, Baniel, catching his breath quickly, spoke up.
“Lady Liene, shortly His Majesty will summon you to attend the ceremony.”
“There’s no need to go. The attendants will bring the gifts to me.”
Without relinquishing his grip on Liene’s hand, Evan squeezed it as he spoke, saying it didn’t matter if she refused.
“A ceremony, you say, but in essence it’s little more than lining up those who have favor and distributing gifts according to rank. A rather vulgar parlor game, really.”
Though it was dressed up in talk of praising merit, it was ultimately a form of power play. His critique, coming as it did from a demon, was rather cutting.
Liene, who had been listening quietly to the explanation, tilted her head with a composed expression.
“Then, neither of you will go?”
“No. It’s hardly worth seeing in the first place. Most of the forcibly brought prisoners are in poor condition.”
Yet Baniel subtly added that if she wanted a prisoner, she would need to attend, all while carefully observing Liene’s expression. He remembered that she had shown peculiar interest when the subject of prisoners first came up.
“Ah, I see.”
But to Baniel’s casually dropped remark, Liene showed no particular reaction. Soon, as her personal attendant Sis approached, Liene turned without another word and headed straight toward Marin Palace.
‘…Did I misread that?’
Baniel watched Liene’s retreating figure as she walked away without hesitation, then after a moment turned his head.
“Sis, I’ll be attending the ceremony.”
“Yes, I’ll prepare you.”
‘I can slip away unnoticed!’
Once she had put sufficient distance between herself and Evan, the corners of Liene’s mouth lifted slightly.
‘That was a close call pretending not to care…!’
In truth, earning Chahil’s favor wasn’t particularly difficult. In the original story, Shana had won his heart by tending carefully to his wounds during the long and treacherous escort journey.
‘I can manage that much.’
It would have been difficult if special abilities as a Saint were required or if there were unusual conditions, but that was truly all there was to it.
While Liene made ready to depart for the ceremony, Evan and Baniel, who had arrived at Ruby Palace, entered the office.
“Everyone withdraw.”
Once the door closed with a thud and Baniel confirmed that all attendants nearby had left, he slowly approached Evan, who was taking his seat before the desk.
It was time for a ‘real’ report, different from the prisoner talk they’d discussed in the carriage.
“Your Highness, I sent shadows throughout the main building as you commanded to investigate, but—”
Baniel set down a blueprint marked with red X’s in various places upon the table.
It was classified material detailed with remarkable precision, covering everything from the Main Temple’s main building to its annex, the Library, the Apothecary, and even the dormitory where apprentice priests stayed.
“It was all a dead end. The only place left now is….”
“The basement, and any hidden chambers. Ones that appear on no map.”
At Evan’s words, Baniel released a short breath and shrugged his shoulders.
The official blueprints were far too simple, so I had been attempting to obtain the covert classified versions instead.
Yet even that had come to nothing… I’d anticipated it, but the disappointment was impossible to hide.
The fugitives from the Demon Realm were certainly hiding somewhere within the Temple, but without the freedom to search as I pleased, the investigation proved difficult.
“Yes. However, as you know, without pinpointing the location, approaching via Shadow Art becomes impossible.”
Baniel, a demon who commanded Shadow Art, could only send his agents into places he himself had perceived—so without confirming their exact position, he couldn’t make a careless move.
Especially since the target was the Temple, the enemy’s stronghold. One slip, and the valuable agents I’d brought with such effort from the Demon Realm would be annihilated on the spot.
“What if we made contact with one of the Temple priests? If we found one with weak faith, Shadow Art would entangle him easily.”
A host whose mind had been devoured by shadow could be manipulated however Baniel wished. Once the task was done, the host would remember nothing of the possession—clean work all around.
“Anyone weak enough to fall for that sorcery wouldn’t be cleared to venture into the inner sanctum anyway. We need someone who can move freely through the Temple without suspicion.”
Dismissing Baniel’s suggestion, I found my thoughts drifting to the woman standing hand in hand with Liene.
Certainly… she could wander anywhere within the Temple without drawing a hint of doubt.
“The Saint would be ideal.”
“If you mean Shana Perita… she would clash with Karahan at every turn. He accompanies her constantly as the official patron of the Perita Noble Family.”
“No matter. It won’t be me making contact with the Saint—it’ll be Liene.”
Saint or not, at the end of the day she was human. For a demon, beguiling a mortal’s heart was easier than breathing—no difficulty there.
“Baniel, investigate the Saint’s schedule. Now that she’s recovered, she’ll be resuming official duties soon.”
“Very well, then….”
Knock, knock.
Just as Baniel was about to continue his report, a knock echoed from beyond the door.
“Your Highness, His Majesty commands your attendance at the Merit Ceremony.”
As the door opened and the attendant’s voice reached me, I narrowed my eyes in annoyance.
“I refuse every time, yet they never learn.”
I almost wish Liene had become Emperor instead.
I closed my eyes, weary—then snapped them open again. A chill had run down my spine. The demon’s instinct, that uncanny sense, often proved disturbingly accurate about ill fortune.
As it did now, perhaps.
“What is Liene doing?”
“The Crown Prince is attending the ceremony.”
“What? She said she wasn’t going earlier.”
At this unexpected answer, my eyes widened visibly. Baniel seemed to be recalling what had transpired moments before, then shook his head quickly.
“She never said she wasn’t attending, sir.”
“Nor did she say she was.”
“Hmm. Now that I think of it, there’s been quite the rumor about these prisoners being rather beautiful. The chatter’s been rife among the handmaids, so perhaps Liene too….”
The men of the Tarant Kingdom with their rich chocolate skin and striking features are said to be so beautiful that even the beggars sleeping in the streets apparently have ten lovers each….
As Baniel’s venomous little whisper rippled forth like flowing water, my green eyes grew cold.
Liene, who always reported her movements without fail, had been silent this time—so naturally I’d assumed she wasn’t going.
But her silence had been a deliberate veil to slip in unnoticed….
Her intentions were suspect.
“Should I send word that you won’t be attending…?”
Hearing the attendant’s trembling question, I smiled gently as always and spoke with measured calm.
“I’m going now.”

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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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