The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 53

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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 53

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Except for special tasks like reconnaissance, whenever Evan ventured outside, he’d always brought me along. I was needed to sense distant threats from a distance, and if necessary, I could perform Purification.
Because his movements were essentially part of my daily routine, I thought I knew most of his engagements—so learning there was an external schedule I wasn’t aware of threw me for a loop.
‘Why didn’t he tell me? The Foundation Day Ceremony is a fairly major event.’
And it was strange that it was happening now. In the original work, the Foundation Day Ceremony was scheduled to take place after the Founding Day Festival.
‘The timeline has moved up considerably from the source material… What’s the reason?’
The Foundation Day Ceremony was an official event where the Crown Prince and the Saintess—both revered by all as symbols of the empire’s wellbeing—would appear together before the people to pray for the empire’s peace and prosperity.
In the original work, it had been a romantic episode where Evan’s feelings for Shana deepened.
“Of course… I knew about it. I’ve been so scattered lately that it slipped my mind.”
Sensing Dayad’s piercing gaze, I forced a belated recollection and offered him a composed smile. At that, he let out a derisive laugh and tightened his grip on my hand.
“Right. Even if others don’t need to know, you should. Your fiancé—the one you became as good as strangers with overnight—is going to walk out there hand in hand with another woman.”
“W-well, yes…”
If it were just holding hands, that’d be a mercy. In the original work, he’d embraced her waist, touched their foreheads together, done every romantic gesture imaginable. And the people had cheered, saying how perfectly matched they were!
‘When I was just a reader, I was happy to watch my favorite character find happiness. But now I’m not a reader anymore…!’
I swallowed down a bitter laugh and found myself engulfed by a tangle of complex emotions.
If this were happening with Shana, it would’ve been arranged between the Temple and the Imperial Palace long ago—a decision made ages past. Yet I’d known nothing about it until now.
‘Did he deliberately hide it from me? Why? Because it’s something he’s doing alone with Shana?’
He shares everything else with me, but hiding this one thing made my feelings twist uncomfortably.
Of course, I understood perfectly well that he and I were barely acquainted, certainly not in a position to air grievances over such matters. I understood that.
‘Still, I thought we’d grown somewhat close. This feels like he’s drawing a line.’
“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”
Dayad suddenly seized my shoulder and leaned in close, his face near mine. He raised the back of his hand to my forehead and studied me carefully.
“D-don’t startle me like that. What are you doing?”
“You always catch a cold when winter comes. Just checking, is all. Be careful.”
I jerked away in embarrassment, and Dayad released me without complaint. He glanced somewhere for a moment, then let out a quiet laugh.
“Dayad, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing much. Your reactions have just been rather entertaining.”
Dayad glossed over his answer and swept me through the remaining two shops at impressive speed, barely giving me time to catch my breath.
Though I was practically being dragged along, it at least meant I could gather all the materials I needed in no time.
As we loaded our purchases into the carriage’s storage, Dayad suddenly nodded toward something.
“We meet again, Lord Karahan.”
…Lord Karahan?
At the familiar title, I turned to see Karahan in full dress uniform, regarding Dayad intently.
It had been a long time since I’d last seen him—not since our meeting at the Temple. The brilliant yellow Topaz Brooch pinned to his slate-gray uniform gleamed with radiance as dazzling as its wearer.
‘Of course the original male lead carries an aura about him. It’s practically radiating off him.’
Beneath hair that shone like freshly fallen snow, golden eyes glittered as they briefly swept over my raised robe hem before passing on.
“Lord Lebengstein. It has been a while.”
“I’d heard rumors that you’ve been secluded at the Temple since the last subjugation, but it appears to be true. Did the Saintess bestow some blessing upon you? You look positively radiant.”
Dayad chuckled and waved his hand in front of his face, prompting Karahan to let out a small, genuine laugh before turning his attention to me.
“Are you acquainted with Lady Astel?”
“Rene and I are childhood friends. Sadly, I seem to be the only one who thinks so.”
Dayad glanced at me with a wry smile and shrugged. He was clearly making a jab about my failure to mention the betrothal.
Right—I’d wondered why he wasn’t bringing it up more.
“Ahem. We meet again, Lord Karahan.”
“I’m relieved to see you well. I’d been waiting, and when you didn’t come, I grew concerned.”
I prodded Dayad in the ribs and offered an awkward greeting. Karahan responded with an expressionless face, delivering a response that stung more than it should have.
…This is definitely about that time I gave him Holy Water and told him to visit me, isn’t it?
‘Was he serious about that…?’
Dayad, listening to our exchange, tilted his head with curious interest.
“Hey, how do you know Lord Karahan? Seeing as he’s in seclusion with the Imperial Palace, there shouldn’t have been any reason for you two to cross paths.”
“…It’s not quite that extreme.”
“It’s been over a year since his last visit to the palace. People call that seclusion, Lord Karahan.”
Let’s see… wasn’t His Majesty’s birthday last year the last time he’d entered the palace? As Dayad launched into his explanation, Karahan’s expression grew awkward and he gave a light cough, closing his mouth.
‘What? Since when does Karahan make that kind of face…? They seem to get along better than I thought.’
When he was around Evan, the tension was so thick it felt like something might explode at any moment. This was entirely different.
It was all the more striking because even Shana, who’d been under his protection, didn’t seem particularly close to Karahan.
“How do you two know each other?”
“We trained together for a time.”
“Even now, we cross swords from time to time.”
Dayad and Karahan answered simultaneously. A moment later, Karahan, having watched the coachman in the rear loading luggage onto the carriage, spoke with measured care.
“Young Lady Astel, are you taking a leave of absence? I understand outings are uncommon for you.”
“That’s right. Only two days, but it feels quite different. The outside air is something I haven’t had in a while.”
“It seems you received permission thanks to the Foundation Day Ceremony.”
“……Well, I suppose so.”
As I gave my lukewarm assent, Karahan turned to Dayad and furrowed his brow.
“But Dayad, why are you still here? There should have been a full Knights Order summons for patrol duties in the city just a moment ago.”
Karahan rebuked him in a blunt tone for having time to wander about leisurely. Wait, what?
“A summons…? Hey, why didn’t you say anything! Are you planning to blame me later when you get disciplined? Go, quickly.”
Startled by the unexpected news, I gave Dayad a hard push in the back, and he clicked his tongue with a troubled expression.
“I can’t just leave you here. Discipline or not, it’s just a bit of extra training.”
“This time it won’t end with just extra training. Tio recently appeared in the guard patrol of the Outer City.”
Karahan delivered the truth with a look that brooked no argument, and Dayad closed his eyes tightly before opening them again with a groan.
“Ah, why of all places there…… Still, I can’t leave her behind. She requires more attention than she appears to.”
Karahan gazed intently at Dayad, who was ruffling my hair without restraint, and then spoke an unexpected proposal.
“I’ll stay by the Young Lady’s side.”
The moment his words ended, both Dayad and I turned our heads in unison.
“…Pardon?”
“Excuse me?”
Receiving the full weight of our gazes, Karahan blinked calmly as if asking what the problem was. But why you……?
“Well, if it’s the Duke, then, um….”
In the meantime, Dayad quickly shed his surprise and offered a positive response, saying it should be fine.
I’m already regretting entanglement with the supporting male character, and now the main male lead too? A chill runs through me. The catastrophe alarm screams and plants itself deep…….
No, wait. This won’t do. Turn back.
“Wait, just a moment, Duke! I’m perfectly fine on my own. There’s really no need to worry about─”
“That’s a lie, so I won’t believe it.”
“I don’t believe words without foundation.”
Dayad’s cutting remark, which neatly interrupted my protest, earned Karahan’s agreement as he drew his chin in. But these men, honestly.

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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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