The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 71

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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 Secret is the Mastermind, and Only I Know It — Chapter 71
Sis’s pupils dilated in shock as she absorbed my resolve.
It made sense—I’d never before stepped forward into crowds on my own initiative.
“Miss Rene, His Majesty will be opening the Foundation Festival in his capacity as the Emperor’s attendant, so there will be quite a crowd. Since it’s outdoors, the Mask Art won’t be of any use like it was at the previous parties.”
“I know. But I can’t keep avoiding these kinds of events forever.”
Since becoming the Crown Prince’s fiancée, I had never once stood beside him at an official function.
‘At best, I’ve only attended a few parties with some nobles gathered. Even then, Evan was always with me.’
It was all the result of Evan deliberately excluding me from every engagement for the sake of my safety.
‘He said mid-tier magical beasts were targeting me, which means common folk naturally know who I am too….’
Evan’s strategy of keeping me hidden like this wasn’t bad per se, but it would turn into a prolonged war that way. I couldn’t just stand by and watch.
“If you’re so determined… very well. Still, please don’t overexert yourself.”
Sis nodded slowly, resigned. Then she conveyed word to another maid nearby to announce my attendance.
After that, I completed my preparations for the outing with the maids’ assistance. The pearl-adorned lilac dress, glittering with lustrous pearls and adorned with various jeweled ornaments, was breathtakingly elaborate.
— Chirp.
As I stepped out of Marin Palace and boarded the carriage, Dust, who had been sleeping soundly in the crook of my sleeve, popped out his round body and looked up at me.
“Oh, you’re awake?”
When I first brought him, he’d chatter away and tickle my ears, but lately he’d taken to sleeping—these days he did nothing but sleep.
— Coo.
As I stroked his head, Dust’s eyes drooped as if he wanted to go back to sleep. I opened my mouth toward Sis, who sat across from me.
“What’s your take on it, Sis? You said once that you’d read some books on magical beasts. I’ve been noticing Dust sleeping constantly lately.”
“According to ancient magical beast records, there are cases where individuals approaching secondary growth entered sleep phases lasting nearly two weeks.”
“Hmm. What on earth is he going to become… he’s not going to turn into a person, is he?”
It was a joke tossed off lightly, but Sis’s composed gaze wavered for a moment.
…What was that look? Why did it waver? She shouldn’t be wavering at this point.
As I stared at her ominously, Sis hesitated before slowly speaking up.
“…There were records of highly intelligent magical beasts evolving into human form.”
“No way…”
As I let out a hollow laugh and denied it, the carriage arrived behind the massive platform erected before the Imperial Capital, where the Foundation Festival was being held.
As the carriage bearing the Golden Lion Insignia of the Erzet Imperial Family came to a halt, Banel, who had been standing by, slowly approached and bowed, opening the carriage door for me.
“Miss Rene, His Majesty is currently delivering his opening remarks. You may ascend using the stairs prepared below the platform.”
“Where’s Evan?”
“He’s waiting in the prepared seating. But… are you truly certain about this? It will be quite different from the parties you’ve attended before.”
At Banel’s careful question, I gave a small nod with a composed expression and accepted his escort out of the carriage.
“I’m fine. Worst case, I can just bow my head and take a deep breath. I came prepared.”
I couldn’t keep sending Evan alone to these official events indefinitely. I could already predict the high society’s reaction. They’d be talking about how the Crown Prince keeps attending alone—what was his fiancée doing?
‘Evan keeps it thoroughly under wraps so I don’t hear it directly, but I can tell just from the expressions of the nobles I pass by what they’re saying.’
Hearing my firm resolve, Banel made a silent bow and guided me up toward the platform.
Then, turning back to me for a moment, he spoke in a more solemn tone.
“His Majesty may be uncertain about many things, but when it comes to your safety, he has always been sincere.”
Banel’s blue eyes gazed at me without a shred of falsehood. The phrase “uncertain about many things” nagged at me oddly in this moment, but….
“I know that too.”
As I gave a soft assent, Banel’s expression softened considerably. Soon after, I took a small breath and stepped onto the platform.
The Emperor’s congratulatory speech had just concluded, and the roar of the crowd washed over me like a distant tide.
“Well, you actually came.”
Evan, who had been sitting in the prepared seating behind the platform, gazing ahead with boredom, cast a glance at me with an expression of surprise.
At the same moment, the Emperor’s deep green eyes, now finished with his speech, fell upon me. With a hearty laugh and a radiant expression, he seemed delighted to see me.
“There you are, girl. Seeing you here!”
“I greet the sun of the empire. Since it’s such a fine day, I wanted very much to attend.”
“That’s the spirit! Since you’ve come this far, rest as much as you’d like. The festival is only just beginning.”
The Emperor, satisfied with my words, smiled and descended the platform. It seemed he was moving to the next event now that his speech was finished.
However, Evan had to remain at least until the next event began.
The Foundation Festival was essentially an extravagant display of imperial might, and the Crown Prince, celebrated by the masses, was little more than the finest ornament to display before it.
“Testing my patience isn’t a wise move.”
As I willingly became a second ornament and took the seat prepared beside him, his deep green eyes pinned me down with intensity.
“Who did you dress up for? Is this a gift for me…?”
His gaze was unabashedly thorough—from my clothing to my expression, my breath, my every movement—sharp and suffocating.
“Not bad.”
After scrutinizing me thoroughly, Evan’s lips curved into a languid smile. He pressed his lips firmly against the back of my hand, fixing me with a complex gaze.
“Do you hear it? The countless eyes upon you.”
As I deliberately turned away from the crowds below the platform to look at him instead, Evan grinned with devilish amusement and gripped my chin, turning my face back toward the masses below.
“Enjoy it, Rene. This is the hell you chose, after all. I’m more than happy to stand beside you.”
My vision, wrenched forcibly forward, took in the vast crowd below the platform watching us all at once.
‘This devil… is he testing me right now?’
Evan continued his cruel words and actions as though measuring how long I could endure, as though trying to drive me out from this place I’d stepped into of my own accord.
“Why not wave your hand? For all those poor souls who’ve lost themselves at the sight of you.”
Though Evan’s words were brutal, this was my first appearance before the public, and I simply couldn’t stand idle.
‘Fine. I’ll wave to them just to prove I can. Did he really think I wouldn’t?’
If I backed down now, Evan would surely think he’d been right all along and would cut me from the next schedule without hesitation.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
When I rose from my seat with a determined expression, my figure finally became visible below the platform in its full clarity.
“That’s the spirit. If you’ve come this far, you should show that kind of resolve.”
Evan seized my shoulder as though he’d been waiting for exactly this, drawing me into his embrace while flashing a gentle smile and waving to the crowd.
For all that he’d driven me to the brink, his arms around me were infinitely tender and careful.
In that delicate tension, my throat went dry—and then the crowd, catching sight of Evan and me standing side by side, erupted in fervent cheers that sent the festival fever surging higher still.
“How does it feel? Is your breath catching again?”
“Evan, right now… you’re like a real devil.”
“I like the sound of that.”
I shot him a glare, and Evan laughed with clear satisfaction.

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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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