The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 57

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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 Identity Is the Mastermind, but Only I Know — Episode 57
Making no effort to hide my bewilderment, I stared at him, and Evan met my gaze with an unflappable expression. His eyes narrowed slightly as he continued in an unhurried drawl.
“You were hoping for a different method, perhaps? Are you disappointed?”
“Not at all.”
I answered curtly, and he let out a soft, amused chuckle.
“There are many ways. The prerequisite is contact—that’s all. The easiest is simply holding hands. Though the speed is somewhat slower.”
In other words, simple skin contact was possible, but….
‘The deeper the connection, the faster the magical energy transfers. Like when he bit my neck before.’
He suggested he could explain a more difficult method if I was curious, his gaze fixed on me with an impish gleam.
‘I have no idea what he’s thinking—”no idea” whatsoever—but I have no taste for consuming humans, so don’t worry.’
In that moment, words he’d spoken when he bit my neck before offering me his power flashed through my mind.
Now that I thought about it, he’d been smiling mischievously then too….
‘…Why does it feel like only I’m taking this seriously? It’s oddly infuriating.’
Wanting to needle him a little, I released the hand he was holding and leaned closer, narrowing the distance between us.
In that breath-held instant, with our breathing scattering across each other’s lips so perilously close, I held his gaze steady and slowly curved my mouth into a smile.
“Wouldn’t the magical energy be absorbed faster this way?”
Perhaps because I’d never approached him first before, the amusement vanished from Evan’s usually composed face.
‘Hm. Better effect than expected.’
Though only for a moment, I witnessed his pupils flicker faintly, and I flashed a triumphant smile.
“……Ha.”
Evan gave a soft laugh, as if conceding the hit. The room spun for an instant before his large hand suddenly hooked around my waist, pulling me down.
“Ah…!”
Before I could resist, I was dragged across his firm thigh, my nose colliding squarely with the Military Uniform Shoulder Insignia on his broad shoulder.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose with a wince, and he snickered, flicking my forehead lightly with a casual gesture.
“You dare tease a Demon? Rene, you’re not just fearless—you’re foolhardy.”
“Well, I’ve learned to land where I can rest. Besides, you can’t kill me anyway. You need me.”
It was just as my bold declaration left my lips that I heard it—a soft, tentative knock on the Waiting Room door.
The Waiting Room was situated inside the platform on the Grand Temple’s grounds, so entry was restricted to officials and dignitaries.
“I wouldn’t mind receiving our guest like this, Rene.”
“Well, I would.”
I answered with feigned innocence, gently removing Evan’s hand from my waist. Rising from his lap, I settled onto the seat beside him and smoothed down my disheveled clothing.
“Your Highness, it’s Shana Perita.”
“Come in.”
At the sound of Shana’s voice filtering through the doorway, Evan—dropping any hint of his earlier playfulness—ushered her inside with a composed smile.
Having had to conduct the blessing alone before the assembled crowds while Evan absconded without notice, Shana’s neat cheeks were flushed a deep crimson.
“I have something to discuss with Rene…. Would now be convenient?”
At Evan’s nod, Shana entered and made her way directly to me, sitting at my side before grasping my hand eagerly.
“Rene, are you alright? It looked like you collapsed earlier…!”
Shana studied me with worried eyes, offering to examine my condition using Holy Power if I wished.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry your blessing was interrupted so abruptly—you must have been startled.”
It was precisely Shana, the Original Work’s heroine, making her first public appearance to the imperial people, which made my conscience particularly heavy.
Of course I hadn’t done it deliberately, but that somehow made the guilt prick more sharply.
“Oh, don’t give it another thought. Thanks to that, all the attention fell on me alone, and we’ve had reports of an explosive surge in the number of believers.”
Having orchestrated the whole thing precisely for that effect anyway, Shana flashed a satisfied smile—one that was remarkably capitalistic in its calculation.
“……I see.”
Even in all this, such a result…. Well, if I saw a golden-haired, innocent-looking doe-eyed beauty pleading with me to believe in the divine, I’d probably lose all reason and become a fanatic too.
“By the way, Rene—were you with Duke Karahan earlier? I thought I caught a glimpse of you together, though with so many people around, I might have been mistaken….”
Shana added the caveat that she might have seen wrong, but I could only gape in astonishment at her question.
‘Oh gods…! I completely forgot about Karahan…!’
I’d been so frazzled, and the moment I entered the Waiting Room, Evan had interrogated me so thoroughly that I’d never had a chance to think of him. I still hadn’t even thanked him for standing guard!
“Saint, if it’s Duke Karahan you’re concerned about, he’s likely already returning to the Temple under my orders by now. Have no worry.”
Evan, who had been leaning back against the sofa and watching our exchange in silence, finally spoke up. A quiet addition followed.
“More interestingly, he’s been conducting quite the amusing mission without the Palace’s knowledge…. Did you assign it to him?”
“…….”
Shana didn’t answer Evan’s question. Now that he mentioned it, Karahan had indeed said Shana asked him to conduct “patrols” because of the recent disappearances of children.
“That’s—”
Just as Shana began to speak, a priest knocked carefully on the door from outside.
“Your Highness, Your Holiness. The sun is setting. It’s time to proceed with the Prayer Ceremony’s first lamp-lighting.”
Ah, right—this was the episode where the Original Work’s Evan falls for Shana at first sight….
‘He first sees her smile on the platform and falls for her, but later, when they light the lamps together alone, his feelings deepen further….’
…Did I really look like someone who would just leave those two alone?!
“Evan, take care. Shana, you too.”
Yes, I’ll let them go. What else could I do? It’s not like I’m responsible for both of them.
I waved them off coolly, as if I didn’t have a single regret, telling them to hurry back.
Hmm. But usually in situations like this, one of them would stay behind and refuse to leave with me. That’s how it always goes…
“All right.”
“Yeah! I’ll be back soon, Rene.”
The trope had betrayed me.
“We’ll be going now, Your Holiness.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
I watched the two of them as they bowed, their eyes glistening with moisture.
Right, go on, both of you… no, wait. What is this situation?
Shana rose alone and smoothed out her disheveled dress.
Unlike Evan, who remained at my side, still leaning back against the sofa.
“Evan, aren’t you going? What are you doing?”
“I’m going. The priestess goes alone.”
When I stared at him with a questioning look, Evan let out a hollow laugh and poked me firmly on the cheek.
“I’m not going anywhere. Not when you’re here.”
The moment Evan finished speaking, Shana tilted her head and looked at me.
“Rene. My goal is to become a popular priestess who receives attention just like before, and to receive donations—no, to be loved. So cheer me on!”
…Did she just say donations? I could have sworn I heard that.
“Wait, Shana. Hold on—!”
Before I could even finish speaking, Shana left the room with the escort priests who followed her. From down the corridor came the sound of her humming, and from the brightness of it, she seemed rather pleased with the whole affair.
…A money-grubbing priestess heroine? Is this even allowed?
I was staring out the door, tracing the lingering afterimage of Shana’s sudden departure, when I felt Evan suddenly rest his forehead against my shoulder.
His low, raspy voice sent a warm flush creeping across my ear.
“So then, Rene—shouldn’t we finish what we were doing earlier?”

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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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