The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 8

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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 — Episode 8
“You’re here…!”
“I’ve only just become engaged today. The public doesn’t know yet, but when His Majesty returns, it will be officially announced then.”
Moreover, when she laughed lightly, saying that she still had both blood and tears intact, Ate’s water-blue pupils began to waver back and forth.
Well, the rumors certainly had spread in a strange way.
It seemed he was confused because the vicious image from the rumors didn’t match the person he was meeting directly.
“Just when did you brush off his proposal, and what wind is blowing now….”
A terrifying threat was appended sharply—that if she were after power, he wouldn’t stand idle. Wow, that’s truly frightening.
Now that I thought about it, Ate seemed to respect Evan quite a bit.
‘That devil fooled even the child completely… I might need to learn a thing or two from his image management.’
For some reason, Evan seemed impressive. There’s a limit to keeping a straight face, but to fool an entire family like that.
“After talking with him, he turned out to be a good person.”
“Then, where else would you find a man as cool as our brother? By the way… are you really okay?”
“Pardon?”
What did he mean by okay? When I tilted my head in confusion, Ate cleared his throat and began to stumble over his words in a small voice.
“There are… nobles outside the Imperial Palace targeting you….”
The end of his sentence was unclear, but I could guess what he meant. That all the nobles were watching for their chance against me.
‘In a way, it’s only natural.’
Publicly, I had been ignoring the Crown Prince’s proposal for several weeks.
That alone was an eyesore, and if I were to accept his proposal, everyone who had their eyes on the position of Crown Princess for so long would lose it in an instant.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve already signed the engagement documents, so there’s no one who would dare treat me carelessly as the future Crown Princess.”
“That’s not what I meant… Ah, never mind. My brother will handle it.”
“You were worried about me, weren’t you? Thank you, Prince Ate.”
Smiling softly, I gently tapped Ate’s rigid nose, and his jelly-soft white cheeks flushed in an instant.
Despite his rough temperament, he was still a child. Just as I was beginning to feel the urge to pull him into my arms tightly, Ate suddenly broke into a painful cough.
Cough, cough! The sound of him harshly scraping his throat continued for a while before fresh crimson blood glimmered between his pale lips.
‘So it’s because of that incurable disease.’
Such a young child—it’s heartbreaking.
There was a significant difference between reading about Ate’s illness in text and witnessing it directly before my eyes. It suddenly spurred the impulse to help.
The reason Shana couldn’t cure Ate’s illness was simply that the time had passed. So wouldn’t the chances of a complete recovery be high if we acted now?
‘I can’t carelessly speak of the prince’s illness and ask for help… so I’ll have to naturally guide Shana into learning about Ate’s condition.’
Thinking that I must strengthen my relationship with Shana once we go to the Temple, I pulled out a handkerchief from my breast and offered it to Ate.
I wanted to wipe it for him, but Ate seemed perfectly capable of doing it himself.
“…What is this?”
“You need to wipe away the blood. Otherwise your white shirt will get stained.”
Ate simply stared at the handkerchief I offered. His gaze seemed softer than before.
Soon after, Ate took the handkerchief and with a familiar gesture, indifferently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
“I like that you’re not making a fuss. There are plenty of people who act like I’m dying just from a single cough.”
“Everyone shows their concern in different ways. But the desire to wish for your recovery is the same for all of them.”
“I know that much. It’s just… I’m still alive, yet everyone looks at me like I’m already dead.”
Given the situation, the attendant couldn’t enter the library together, so it seemed he was deliberately staying here. That way, he could escape those pitying gazes.
‘I think I understand now how he came to read all those difficult magical tomes.’
I had found the book I wanted, so it was time to leave. After gathering my book, I bade Ate a simple farewell.
“Well then, Prince Ate, I’ll see you again next time.”
“Hmph, why would I see you again?”
Ugh. He’s turned prickly again so quickly.
For having just been cold to me, Ate was glancing after me with eyes full of reluctance. Yes, children really are cute.
“That handkerchief, you see, is incredibly precious to me? So I absolutely must have it returned, which means you have to wash it thoroughly and give it back to me, okay?”
“Huh? Uh, um….”
As I spoke with exaggerated gestures, stretching my hands wide, Ate blinked and nodded his head. Mission complete on coaxing the sharp-tongued prince. Ahem.
Satisfied, I left the Library and headed straight for the Research Laboratory. The preparation of magical medicine seemed like it wouldn’t take long since it was relatively simple work.
‘So his words about being considerate weren’t empty after all.’
The Research Laboratory that Evan had arranged so quickly was using the space that the previous Imperial Palace mages had occupied, so it had everything necessary and was quite suitable.
In fact, it was even wider and cleaner than expected, so it was close to my taste.
“Wow, is that Rastul’s Beard? That’s a material that’s difficult to obtain on the open market!”
After leisurely taking in the glory of wielding power and finishing my tour of the Laboratory, I pulled out the Magical Tome I had brought and quickly mixed the ingredients for Memory Magic according to the recipe, producing the reagent in no time.
After conducting various additional experiments, I finally succeeded in creating a magical potion that could restore memories.
Of course, it wasn’t easy work. If someone else were to accomplish something easily, it would mean that person is a master craftsman in their field. Yes, like me. Hmm.
“All those years spent cooped up in the Laboratory since childhood, making a hundred reagents at a time, have finally paid off.”
All thousands of incomplete reagents I had made back then went into the hands of my older brother Leon. I have no idea what he intended to use them for, but….
“Well then.”
Gulp.
I drank the reagent while thinking of the parts I wanted to remember, and shortly afterward, the forgotten details of the original story began surfacing vividly, one after another.
‘…Ah, right. That’s how it was.’
The original work, “The Doll of the Monster Duke”—or “Monster Duke,” as it was commonly known—was still being serialized, so I couldn’t have known the ending. But having regained all my memories of the time when I’d possessed this body right up to the most recent chapters before the conclusion, I slumped on the sofa with a groan.
The plot had progressed further than I’d anticipated. I’d thought we were still in the early stages….
“So the current timeline is just before the story crosses into its midpoint. In terms of the dramatic structure—introduction, rising action, climax, resolution—we’re in the thick of the rising action? It’s the moment when the Slaughterer, who’d been raging wildly, suddenly goes quiet.”
The Slaughterer—Evan—stops hunting monsters entirely, and for a brief period, the victims cease.
The reason: he’ll soon attend the Foundation Day Festival, a celebration commemorating the founding, where he falls head over heels for Shana at first sight.
“He promised to act like a devoted lover who sees only me, but as long as the original plot is fixed, Evan has no choice either….”
Regardless of his true nature, the fact that Evan is the Sub Male Lead in the story remains unchanged.
After sorting through the original plot, I realized it was nearly time for Shana to emerge from her secluded life at the Temple.
Shana, whose abilities had been exploited at the Temple, would eventually be able to venture outside with the help of Barath, the Male Lead Duke.
‘I should visit the Temple before the Foundation Day Festival and meet Shana.’
After the festival, many would be calling for her, and it would become difficult to see her. It seemed wise to establish a connection beforehand.
There was Ate’s illness to consider, and I also wanted to ask Shana for guidance about my own power—this “Filthr” as it was called.
As I stepped into my bedroom while thinking I should schedule a Temple visit soon, Sys hurried over to me, as if she’d been waiting for my return, and brought up something rather shocking.
“Sir Leon, this just came in—His Majesty returns tomorrow! There’s a Victory Celebration planned, and you absolutely must attend!”
“…Tomorrow? I was under the impression His Majesty’s return was a week away.”
I’d expected the original plot to deviate, but this too?
The Emperor was supposed to come back a week later… what could have happened?
“I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince sent a letter to His Majesty. I’m not sure what it said, but… apparently the return date was moved up because of it.”
Evan sent a letter?
What in the world did he write to make the laid-back Emperor rush back a full week early?
‘It can’t be about the Engagement. The original Emperor tended to let Evan do whatever he wanted anyway. Even if it involved an engagement.’
…I couldn’t say for sure, but something told me a devil had simply done what devils do.

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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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