The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 39

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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 Behind Everything — Chapter 38
“Iban, did you come back early because of me?”
“Don’t worry about it. Everything’s fine.”
To my careful question, he answered lightly, as if it were nothing.
Hmm… now that I think about it, where is Banel? He was usually somewhere nearby, whether I noticed or not.
‘Is Banel handling Iban’s duties in his place?’
I think I understand. How he managed to come back early…
“Thank you for today. Thanks to you, I was able to finish the tea party without any trouble.”
The ending was a bit disappointing due to the unexpected injury, but we’d accomplished what needed to be done—truly a flawless gathering.
At my words, Iban’s gaze narrowed like a serpent’s. He rose from where he’d been sitting across from me and approached slowly.
“If you’re grateful, grant me one request.”
“What is it?”
“Will you agree to it?”
Wait, hold on. If he leans in like this while speaking…!
‘Well, I suppose I should hear what it is first.’
“If it’s something I can do…”
I found myself answering in an embarrassed, flustered voice.
No, this isn’t… this isn’t what I meant to say.
‘This situation feels oddly familiar…’
My dialogue box may have glitched, but if it was his request, I was genuinely willing to oblige. I’d received his help, so returning the favor seemed only fair.
Satisfied with my quick agreement, he slowly bent at the waist.
Our eyes soon met at the same level, and as our breaths mingled delicately in the narrowing space, he spoke.
“I’d like to inscribe my Demonic Power upon your body.”
“…I’m sorry?”
“If you carry my strength, no ordinary Demon Beast will dare approach you.”
Wait… just a moment. He wants to inscribe what on my body?
His words were calm, yet their meaning caught my breath. The slow, deliberate touch of his hand brushing back my hair felt dangerously suggestive.
“Think of it as a dog bite, if you will.”
Iban tilted his head slightly, as if it were trivial. His fathomless green gaze descended to rest upon my collarbone.
A dog bite? Some dogs are worse than others! Inscribing a demon’s Demonic Power into my body—there’s no way that’s normal!
“Is this because I’m from Filthe?”
If it were purely for Filthe’s sake, I might be able to make sense of it somehow.
‘But if not… I might misunderstand something dangerous.’
At my somewhat desperate question, the corner of Iban’s mouth curved into a smile.
“No.”
Ha… this demon really is insane. What am I supposed to do if he says no here?
I frantically pressed my hand against his approaching lips, and feeling my own mouth go dry, I asked carefully.
“Wh… what’s your purpose?”
“To protect you.”
Iban didn’t push me away, instead mumbling his answer against my palm. Through my hand, I felt every shift of his soft lips as he spoke.
“That sounds like you’d have done it even if I weren’t from Filthe, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Then why…!
‘Why would a man who’s only ever viewed me as a means to an end suddenly act like this?’
He had tried to make me Empress to protect Filthe. He’d even forced my abilities to awaken by holding the Saint’s life as collateral.
‘And that’s not all—the reason he confined me to the Imperial Palace wasn’t really out of fear I’d expose his identity, but rather fear of losing Filthe.’
Would anyone believe me if I, a person of no consequence, ran around shouting “The Crown Prince is a demon!”? They’d all think I was mad. Iban would know this as well as anyone.
‘…Though Karahan might believe me.’
In any case, Iban has always gauged his actions not by who I am, but by what I can do.
So why is he saying this now—that it’s for me? Something doesn’t add up at all!
“Your eyes betray quite a lot of thought.”
Before I could respond, he covered my eyes with his hand. As if telling me to stop with pointless speculation, the world went dark in an instant.
“Wh… what are you doing?!”
The moment my sight was cut off, fear rushed in. Come to think of it, he only said he’d inscribe his Demonic Power into my body—he never explained how or what he’d actually do.
“Don’t move, Linet, or you’ll get hurt.”
“…!”
At his sweet voice brushing against my ear, my breath caught unbidden. I’m certain I transmigrated into an all-ages novel, so why are lines like that appearing…?
‘Demon Beasts typically determine their ranks by emitting Demonic Power, so if I carry Iban’s strength, I should indeed be protected.’
In a sense, there was nothing to refuse. He’s offering to share his power—I should be the one grateful here.
The only problem is the method by which he’ll inscribe this power…
‘Is this… okay?’
Even so, it’s hard to say. How could you do something like that in an all-ages novel…?
Lost in these tangled thoughts, I suddenly noticed how quiet Iban had gone. When I carefully lowered the hand that had been shielding my eyes, he gazed down at me with an impassive expression.
“Can I go on now?”
His drowsy question came as he closed the distance between us again. His ebony hair brushed against my face, and my cheeks tingled.
“Wait, hold on…!”
Without thinking, I’d reached up and grabbed his hair. Caught off guard, Iban fixed me with a chilling stare.
‘He’s cursing me with his eyes…….’
I looked away from that menacing gaze, swallowed hard, and asked carefully.
“How are you going to mark me? This is actually pretty important to me.”
“….”
After a moment of silence, Iban slowly lowered himself onto one knee. Then, as if restraining my hand that had been threading through his hair, he gently closed his fingers around it and drew it downward.
And then.
“─!”
A brazenly deliberate kiss fell upon the soft skin of my palm. Something warm and supple traced languidly across the sensitive flesh.
Startled by the unfamiliar sensation, I instinctively tried to pull my hand away, but he held firm, keeping me in place. All the while, his eyes never left mine.
Between his parted lips, where he’d taken in my fingers, he scraped them gently with his sharp teeth, then carefully bit down on the fleshy pad of one.
“Ah….”
The sharp sensation made my eyes narrow, but it was a pain I could endure.
Soon, those relaxed green eyes swept over me as if to devour me whole.
“Like this.”
“Don’t talk while you’ve got my hand in your mouth……. It makes me feel like I’ve done something terrible.”
What is this sense of shame? I’m the one who’s experiencing this, so why do I feel this way…?
Maybe I should have kept my eyes covered. Now that I’ve seen it, inexplicable chills are creeping up my spine.
“Let go.”
I pulled my hand away with more force, and Iban chuckled softly, releasing me without resistance.
“I have ‘absolutely’ no idea what you’re thinking, but don’t worry—I have no taste for intoxicated humans.”
……But his eyes know perfectly well what I was thinking.
“Well, that’s a relief then….”
The process was just a little rough, but it’s just a light bite, right? Thinking it’s nothing serious, I exhaled the breath I’d been holding, when a strange unease washed over me.
‘Wait… was I actually disappointed?’
No, that can’t be. There’s no way. My humanity can’t be on the same level as that perverted demon!
With my eyes squeezed shut, I sat in silent resignation, when Iban carefully took hold of my chin.
“Linet, this isn’t permanent.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s something I’ll need to do periodically.”
“What? Why are you only telling me this now─”
That was when a sharp, entirely different pain cut through me like a honed blade.

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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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