The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 47

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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 — Episode 47

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“Young mistress!”
“Linet!”
The Astel Count House, where I’d returned after so long, still radiated vitality and beauty.
Among the servants greeting me with contented smiles, my personal attendant Hana came rushing over with tears glistening in her eyes and threw herself into my arms.
“Did you bring what I asked for?!”
“Of course I brought it…! Wait. You seem more excited about the gift than I am?”
“Oh, no way! Hehe.”
Her words said one thing, but her fidgeting hands said another.
‘There it is. That mixture of nervous tension and my impertinent attendant who acts carelessly every three seconds…… I’d missed this.’
It was comforting that nothing had changed. I smiled and pulled out something I’d set aside, pressing it into Hana’s hands.
“Here—the Imperial Family Crest Brooch you asked for. But why did you want this so badly?”
“Goodness, you brought it without even knowing what it was? This brooch can only be owned by the senior ladies’ maids of the Imperial Palace. You can’t buy it outside for three Gold, no matter what.”
“What? Three Gold?!”
Why was it so expensive? Surely the monthly wage for regular noble house maids was barely one Gold…?
While I reeled at the price, Hana’s eyes gleamed as she carefully caressed the brooch, beaming as if she now owned the entire world.
“Now I can finally hold my head high in front of my friends. Thank you so much, young mistress!”
“…Friends? Don’t tell me you’re still involved with that suspicious maid’s circle?”
“Oh dear, you always say such discouraging things! But it’s all for your sake. Back when those terrible rumors were spreading about you, my friends and I worked hard to keep people’s mouths shut.”
Terrible rumors? There were so many I couldn’t even begin to guess which ones she meant….
I was about to ask what methods she’d used, when my eyes locked with Hana’s surprisingly muscular forearms, which seemed ready to burst through the sleeves of her tight maid’s uniform.
‘Right. I don’t need to ask.’
Seeing understanding dawn on my face, Hana grinned and snickered.
“Young mistress, in this world, there are quite a few people for whom fists are the best medicine.”
“You can just go around beating people like that?”
“My, you know my background. Don’t worry! I always clean up after myself.”
Hana was officially known as the eldest daughter of the Izel Baron House, but in truth, she’d been born in the Back Alley.
Long ago, I’d found the dying child Hana at the mouth of that alley and saved her, registering her into the Baron House.
I’d even bought her a proper station so she could live like a human being, and what came back was this unwavering loyalty—protecting me from the shadows (?) alongside her old alley friends…… I wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or horrified.
“Come now, surely you haven’t eaten yet? Let’s go inside. The master and mistress are waiting with bated breath.”
Arriving at the dining room, an overwhelmingly lavish feast and two beloved faces flooded into view.
“Linet, welcome home. You must be exhausted?”
“Our daughter, come here! We only have two children, and with both of you away, the house feels so empty I can barely stand it.”
My parents rushed over the moment they saw me and embraced me tightly. Glancing up at my mother with a slight smile, I opened my mouth.
“For someone saying that… our dear Aire looks positively radiant. Being at peace without those two troublemakers around must be nice, no?”
“The way you’re talking, it sounds like you had quite the time at the Imperial Palace. Come, sit down and eat. The chef woke up at dawn to prepare everything once you arrived.”
As I sat down and eagerly ate through the mountain of food placed before me, Mother opened her mouth with a worried expression.
“Linet, we received word last night from the Herrit House. They wanted to apologize to you for something that happened at a tea party. Did something occur?”
“……The Herrit House?”
That’s Rosebelle’s family, isn’t it? Since they couldn’t send letters to the Imperial Palace, they must have sent it here instead.
“We heard His Highness has banned the Herrit House from court for a year… saying the Herrit young lady was rude to you. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. It wasn’t anything dangerous.”
“Well, that’s a relief. You really weren’t hurt, were you?”
“If anyone was hurt, it was the other side. Especially here.”
I tapped the area near my heart as I spoke, and Mother clenched her fist with a satisfied expression.
“Linet, if you’re going to fight, make sure you win. With the tenacity you’ve devoted to your research all these years, you have every chance of victory.”
“Well, even so…… there really wasn’t any need to fight…….”
At my carefree words, Mother gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
“I’ve heard rumors that His Highness holds you in unusually high regard, and it seems to be true. The social arena is one of the fiercest battlegrounds there is.”
Mother mentioned with obvious delight that flowers and gifts from the Crown Prince had arrived in abundance early that morning.
“I’m living like a delicate hothouse flower. His Highness shields me from every rumor that circulates.”
“My, how romantic and tender he sounds. It reminds me of when I first met your father…….”
“Our Aire is as beautiful and lovely now as she was then. Well….”
Oh no, here we go. My parents are about to start trading romantic memories from their courting days…! Once this starts, it easily goes on for over an hour!
“Thank you for the meal. I’ll take my leave now….”
Finishing my food just in time, I quietly slipped out of the dining room, leaving my lovebirds of parents behind.
“Hana, any word on my brother? Any news?”
“Well, all I’ve heard is that about half a month ago, one of the mages in Rion’s research division fled in the dead of night with his face completely covered in bruises….”
“Ah, you seem to be doing well.”
Your temperament hasn’t changed one bit, I see.
“That’s right, miss. A letter arrived from the Ravenstein Family just a moment ago. It was sent by Dayad.”
The moment I reached my bedchamber, Hana was waiting, eagerly producing a sheet of writing paper.
“Dayad? I was just thinking of contacting him anyway. Perfect timing.”
Dayad Ravenstein—the eldest son of the Ravenstein Marquessate, he had entered the Imperial Knights Order early on account of his exceptional skill, and now served as an elite knight in the 1st Knights Division, counted among the most select units.
And from our earliest days, he was the benefactor who saved me when I experienced my first hyperventilation, and the childhood friend who gladly became my partner for my debutante presentation.
And more than anything—
Rustling, I unfolded the letter to find exactly what I’d anticipated written there.
[You’re coming home today, right? Wait for me. I’ll be there soon.]
Dayad’s information network was beyond imagination. And no wonder—
“Surely he’s coming now? There must absolutely be a spy from the Ravenstein household planted at the Astel Count House. How else would he possibly know about your leave of absence, something only a handful of people know about?”
Hana ground her teeth, vowing to uncover whatever agent Dayad had hidden away.
Sadly, Hana would never find Dayad’s operative.
Because Dayad belonged to the Black Moon—the most notorious information broker in the Back Alley.
In this Lakis Empire, there was nothing the Black Moon did not know.
…No, wait. Even the Black Moon might not know that the Crown Prince, angelic as he appeared, was truly a demon.
“Hana, I’m going out. Prepare me.”
“You’re going with Dayad, aren’t you? Still, you mustn’t remove your robe under any circumstances.”
A short while later, word came that a carriage bearing the Ravenstein Family’s crest had arrived.
Stepping outside with my black robe drawn low over my head, I found a familiar face leaning against the carriage—someone I hadn’t seen in quite some time.
Beneath periwinkle hair swept back cleanly lay silver-gleaming eyes, slate-gray in hue. And there he stood in a pitch-black dress uniform—anything but the attire of someone heading to a festival.
At the sight of Dayad’s perpetually gloomy countenance unchanged, a laugh escaped me. In that instant, he pushed off from the carriage, the corner of his mouth lifting into a dissolute smirk.
“Linet, you look good.”
“So do you.”
“Really? My one and only childhood friend gets betrothed without a word. And won’t even respond to messages.”
All at once, his voice turned crystalline with hurt, cutting sharp and heavy with resentment.
Oh, right…
‘I was so preoccupied I completely forgot to tell Dayad about the engagement…!’
Damn. This one holds a grudge forever.
“God, I have no idea how long you’ll carry this one.”
“To the grave. Anyway—”
I was just taking his offered hand to board the carriage when—
“What’s that?”
His slate-gray eyes widened strangely as he gestured with his chin toward my shoulder.

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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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