The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 9

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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 Is the Mastermind, and Only I Know It — Episode 9
Evan’s busyness had its reasons. An all-out war, personally commanded by the Emperor himself, was raging across the Western Border, which bordered the Tarant Kingdom closely.
In truth, there was no real need for the Emperor to intervene, but having been a war-lover since his days as Crown Prince, he still participated in battles from time to time.
Remarkably, whenever he did, he returned without fail bearing victory—a hundred times out of a hundred—so no one dared protest the Emperor’s deployment.
Save one: the Crown Prince, Evan, who had shouldered every administrative duty in his stead.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, they say you’re a demon and don’t need sleep—is that true?”
I’d heard that the palace staff had been rushing about all night preparing a hastily arranged victory celebration, but Evan seemed to be in no better shape than they were.
The fatigue and irritability etched across his face made it painfully clear that he hadn’t slept a wink the night before due to overwhelming work.
He looked far more exhausted than I did, having woken before dawn, bathed, and spent the morning in a blur fitting through dozens of dresses one after another.
“You seem to have forgotten—I’m still human, after all. Lene.”
…Lene?
At the suddenly intimate name, my body stiffened with a start. When I turned to look at him with confusion in my eyes, Evan’s mouth curved into a rather mischievous smile.
“If you keep calling me so formally, the entire empire will learn of our betrothal.”
In other words, he wanted us to act like lovers. Strange—he hadn’t said anything yesterday, but now that there’s an official function looming, he’s suddenly concerned?
“I was planning to call you by your name anyway.”
“To lie to me so brazenly—I admire your nerve.”
“Well, I did betroth myself to a demon, after all.”
I answered back without missing a beat, and Evan covered his mouth, stifling a laugh. I couldn’t fathom what he found so amusing, but he looked quite pleased.
“So I don’t frighten you anymore, it seems.”
“Not really. For a demon, you’re far too human. What kind of demon gets dark circles under his eyes?”
“I told you—I’m still human.”
Now that we were betrothed, I was no longer afraid of him.
…Of course, I wasn’t completely unafraid, but I no longer trembled the way I had before. And sensing that he regarded me quite favorably only reinforced that ease.
“Evan, but—”
Just as I was about to ask what on earth he’d written to the Emperor in his letter, the loud voices of knights erupted through the palace halls.
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”
Three hours before the victory celebration was to begin, a carriage pulled up to Dia Palace right on schedule. The nobles were meant to receive the Emperor at the party itself, so only Evan, I, and the palace servants remained.
‘Ate said he wasn’t feeling well? If I have time later, I should stop by and check on him.’
Ate should have been here as well, but I’d heard from an attendant that he’d fallen ill that morning and hadn’t been able to attend.
Ate seemed quite fond of the Emperor—it was unfortunate he’d miss this.
“Lene, what were you just saying?”
“I was curious what you wrote to His Majesty to make him arrive so quickly. The scheduled return date was supposed to be a week from now, wasn’t it?”
Thanks to Evan turning to face me and somehow catching my voice, I was able to ask what was puzzling me. When he heard my question, his expression suddenly softened.
“Ah, that.”
…Just as I suspected, something felt wrong. Somehow I had a bad feeling it wasn’t good news. At least, not for me.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
The moment he finished speaking, a shadow fell across the entrance of Dia Palace. Then a booming voice shattered the air of the hall.
“Evan—!!”
This wasn’t an arrival—this was a crash. The Emperor truly burst into the hall with overwhelming force and presence.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! You can’t just rush in like this! Protocol demands you be announced for the victory—!”
“Your Majesty, propriety must be observed, Your Majesty—!”
What appeared to be his advisors tumbled after him in disarray, shouting protests, but not a single one of them managed to stop the Emperor.
Having shaken off all interference, the Emperor caught sight of Evan and, knitting his brows, strode toward him in great purposeful strides.
Along with words I couldn’t begin to comprehend.
“Where is the child!”
…Where is what?
“My grandchild!”
……What?
“You said there was a grandchild! This cursed son of mine—you have no idea how far I ran from the Cliff the moment I laid eyes on that letter!”
The Emperor, venting his indignation, exhaled deeply, muttering that he’d caught too much of a cold wind and had a splitting headache.
“……There’s a child?”
There was a child I didn’t know about? I’m betrothed to him, but the child is with another woman—is this some kind of melodrama?!
‘Good heavens, Evan. I never would have guessed that of you—!’
No, wait. It’s not so strange for a demon to do demonic things, is it? Suddenly it almost made sense.
“Come now, Lene. When you look at me like that, my feelings get hurt.”
My thoughts must have been written all over my face, because the moment our eyes met, Evan let out a hollow laugh and loosely drew me against his shoulder.
“Once we are formally betrothed, you’ll see for yourself before long.”
What did that mean?
While I stared at Evan in bewilderment, the Emperor’s gaze finally fell upon me. Those burning green eyes were unmistakably the same color as Evan’s, yet the feeling they gave off was entirely different.
Where Evan’s were like the cool, verdant shade of early summer, the Emperor’s burned with a passionate deep green—the final life kindled as winter approached.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone with “passion” written all over their face…….’
No wonder he can march off to war without end. They called him a warmonger and I expected to be terrified, but watching him now, he just seemed like a good-natured neighborhood uncle who loved to meddle in everyone’s business.
“…Ah, now I understand. I’ve heard the rumors that you’ve been clinging rather pathetically to some young lady.”
P-pathetically? I mean, he’s still the Crown Prince, so his word choice is…but then again, he’s not wrong…!
“Your Majesty, it is an honor to meet you. I am Lene Astel.”
Standing before an emperor with such an aggressively martial temperament, my heart hammered in my chest.
How on earth did someone like Evan grow up to be so composed under an emperor with such a nature?
“Astel? Did that house have a daughter? In any case, the poor young lady’s fallen into the wrong hands and has suffered greatly. Now that I’m here, we’ll have to hold the Betrothal ceremony, yes indeed. The Foundation Day Festival approaches, so we’d best hurry.”
…Wait, the Foundation Day Festival?
As I realized something and turned to look at Evan, he was already grinning at me as if to say ‘Took you long enough to figure it out.’
The Foundation Day Festival of the Lakis Empire would be upon us soon. During this period, no events of any kind could be held by external parties.
Thus, save for matters of imperial significance such as the death of the emperor himself, nearly everything was either postponed or moved forward.
Consequently, a Betrothal—which was not a marriage and could be altered at any time—would naturally not qualify as a matter of such significance, so it would either be pushed forward or delayed indefinitely if not acted upon.
‘So that’s why he summoned the emperor. A direct summons probably wouldn’t have brought him, so he invented a grandchild that doesn’t exist…….’
But even so, mentioning a grandchild! If I were the emperor, I’d flip out and come running too!
Who in the world gave Evan the title of an angel?
……Was it me?
“Lene, was it? Come here, child.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The emperor had attendants bring something into the hall, then pressed one of the boxes into my hands.
“I brought back all sorts of things from the Western Region for my grandson. Well, I figured out roughly what trap Evan had laid, so honestly there’s not much that would suit the children—I think it’s better if you use these.”
The Western Region held many curious goods, so items imported from there commanded high prices. Having unexpectedly received such precious things in a box, I asked permission and peered inside.
“Wow, this is….”
Among numerous Accessories and Jewels, an artifact imbued with Magical Power caught my eye. Within a Diamond Pendant in the form of a necklace lay a powerful-looking one-time use Defensive Magic.
“Your Majesty, I think His Imperial Highness would like this—would it be all right if I gave it to him?”
“You mean Ate? Now that I think of it, I haven’t seen that boy.”
At that, an advisor beside the emperor whispered something in his ear. The emperor’s expression darkened instantly. It seemed he’d just heard that Ate was unwell.
“…Yes, I recall hearing that boy is fond of magic. Do as you wish.”
“Thank you. His Imperial Highness will be delighted.”
“Tsk, the trouble is that boy is far too weak…….”
His tone was reproachful, yet worry clouded his features.
‘It’s fortunate this household doesn’t seem to neglect their children emotionally. I was secretly worried they might be like those parents in web novels who abandon their kids, but it seems otherwise.’
Rather than neglecting their children, the truth was more that the emperor was constantly off to war, so the entire empire simply drifted along without proper oversight.
‘Equal negligence for all…….’
I wondered what future awaited this empire.

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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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