The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 75

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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, But Only I Know It — Episode 75
“Mm……”
As if in answer, Rene, who had been burrowed beneath the blankets, stirred and let out a soft murmur at precisely that moment. She seemed to have sunk deeper into sleep rather than awakening.
Ibane, who had been quietly taking in the sight, turned to Banel standing behind him and broke the silence.
“What’s become of Lion Astel?”
“He confirmed just moments ago that the research has concluded, and he’s currently in the process of disposing of all materials and equipment from the Secret Research Lab. I’ve already sent word through a Communication Orb, so we should expect a response shortly……”
The moment Banel withdrew the small Communication Orb from his breast, a response arrived—the sphere pulsed with brilliant blue light.
“Convenient timing.”
Ibane took the Communication Orb from Banel’s hand and accepted the transmission. A transparent hologram unfurled above the sphere, revealing Lion standing alone in an otherwise empty white laboratory, everything disposed of.
His expression was unmistakably different from the meticulous one he’d worn the day before.
“What is it? Some urgent matter? I’ve already handed over all the Demon Beast Classification Equipment to the Imperial Knight Order.”
His face was deeply furrowed—frustrated at being prevented from going home. If Rene struggled to manage her expressions, Lion simply didn’t bother.
The sheer force of his bearing suggested he wouldn’t tolerate needless chatter from a prince or anyone else.
“Fearless, aren’t you? All that fawning over you as a genius of the age.”
“State your business, then.”
Lion answered Ibane’s cool mockery with a scoff, sharp and cutting. This candid underbelly of kinship was something Rene would never know.
It was plain that Lion still resented Ibane’s familiarity with Rene.
Ibane’s interest sharpened slightly at the thought of what Lion’s reaction would be when he learned that Rene and Ibane were betrothed.
“I’ll say this upfront: after this research, I won’t be taking commissions for Demon Beast Classification Equipment again. Thanks to all this, I haven’t seen the princess in two months.”
“How unfortunate.”
At Ibane’s thin smile, unmistakably registering the hostility, Lion’s eyes grew colder and more drawn.
“Cut to the point. Tell me everything you know about the Auction House from thirteen years ago.”
“……!”
Lion’s face visibly hardened, his brow furrowed in concentration the entire time.
The leg that had been tapping anxiously against the floor—eager to leave and see Rene—went rigid.
“……I’m not sure what you mean.”
A moment passed before a voice emerged from the hologram—neither angry nor flustered, but utterly submerged, cold as stone scraping against a wall.
Lion met the inscrutable verdant gaze of the Crown Prince through the Communication Orb’s hologram, unblinking.
Crown Prince Ibane Pel Erjet of the Laki Empire. Among all the crown princes the Erjet dynasty had produced, he was renowned for possessing the finest Swordsmanship and a brilliant mind.
More than that, he was a mysterious and dangerous man—adept at manipulating the hearts of others.
One or two descriptors were insufficient to capture Ibane.
Though he calculated profit and loss ruthlessly in human relations, he never betrayed it outwardly. The world lauded him as a reincarnation of an angel, his image that of a flawless first-choice suitor.
‘The most important thing is that he’s a mage, yet he’s never revealed that fact. Suspicious in every way.’
For various reasons, Lion found Ibane disagreeable. Even yesterday, when Ibane had come to the Magic Tower with Rene, the subtle ease between them had irritated him enormously.
Rene was guarded and didn’t open her heart to just anyone—yet with this wretch, she seemed to lower her defenses, which Lion found deeply objectionable.
But now, to hear him demand: tell me everything you know about the Auction House.
Though Lion had feigned ignorance, the keenly perceptive Crown Prince couldn’t have missed the momentary crack in his composure.
And even if he had, his trusted friend Banel beside him would surely have caught it.
“Let me make something clear: it’s not a time for you to play dumb. A demon touched Rene’s memories. As a result, she recalled a past that seemed to have been forgotten long ago. Quite vividly, at that.”
“What?”
At the unobstructed revelation, Lion’s world stopped. She had recalled that time? Rene?
Caught in a foggy sense of unraveling time, his mind swept helplessly along as he found himself lurching to his feet without knowing why.
“Rene…… Where is she right now?”
“My chambers. The forced Memory Unsealing left her in poor condition, so I’ve put her to rest.”
“……I’m coming now.”
Lion severed the Communication Orb immediately and bolted from the laboratory. Rene was in the Imperial Palace—something he’d never thought possible. And in the Crown Prince’s residence, no less.
Questions clawed at him endlessly, but Rene’s safety took precedence.
“Your Highness, are you truly bringing Lion into the palace?”
“It’s the only way to get answers.”
The Communication Orb, abruptly severed, flickered black in the silence. Banel stared at that darkness for a moment before exhaling in resignation.
Among a plethora of humans, Lion was the only genius of the age with whom one could reason about Magic. And for that reason alone, he was the sole human to whom Banel had extended genuine regard.
Thus he knew well: Lion was currently, in earnest, furious.
“……As you know, Lion Astel is the first human I have ever described as ‘fascinating.'”
“Now that you mention it, every human you’ve called fascinating has turned out to be mad. You were the first to teach me that.”
The moment Ibane nodded with cool indifference, a small commotion erupted at the entrance of Ruby Palace below.
The high mage of the Magic Tower had shattered the Imperial Palace’s ward and warped directly in front of Ruby Palace—naturally, the servants were aghast.
Even though it was a ward of his own making, to be breached so easily. As Ibane clicked his tongue, Banel moved.
“I shall attend to it.”
Not long after Banel descended, the bedroom door burst open.
“Princess……!”
Lion paid Ibane no mind and immediately assessed the sleeping Rene’s complexion.
Once Lion confirmed that the various protective spells were functioning without issue, he finally turned his attention back to Ibane.
“What is it you wish to know?”
“I told you already. Tell me everything you know about the Auction House. Rene seemed confused—whether it was a dream or reality. But seeing your reaction, it appears to be the latter.”
At Ibane’s calm words that followed, Lion exhaled heavily and dropped onto the stool beside the bed.
“…I erased Rene’s memory of it. The experience was far too traumatic for a child to endure, so I took the measure as a form of protection. I never thought it would come to light like this.”
Realizing that further concealment was futile, Lion admitted the truth with candor, releasing a sigh tinged with worry.
“When you rescued Rene, didn’t she tell you something? I’ve been quite curious about that.”
“Rene… doesn’t remember that?”
“Would I ask if I knew?”
Ibane countered with a rueful smile, leaving Lion momentarily at a loss for words as he let out a hollow laugh.
But only for a moment. Soon his expression darkened, and he shook his head.
“I cannot speak of that. It’s something far too important to Rene….”
“Don’t tell me—a Possessor? Someone who came from another dimension?”
At Ibane’s casually thrown words, Lion sprang from the stool.
Tap, rattle-rattle. The small, round stool rolled haphazardly across the floor.
“H-how did you know that? Rene isn’t the sort to tell just anyone…!”
“We’re engaged.”
At his straightforward reply, Lion quickly nodded in understanding. Right—that made sense.
“Ah. Well then…. Who does this bastard think he is?”

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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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