1 – The Villain Dislikes Betrayal

“Are you kidding me?”

Archduke Esiton’s chilling voice filled the assembly hall. As his blue eyes, filled with murderous intent, swept over the ministers, the air in the hall instantly froze.

“Do you all think I’m easy to deal with now?”

His gaze, which sent a warning with a slight tilt of his head, was filled with the Imperial Family’s unique dignity that pressed down on people.

The aura of an absolute being, one that only those who have reached the pinnacle of this nation can possess.

The fear that had been learned over time tightened the relaxed atmosphere.

“Just because I’m leaving the Imperial Palace doesn’t mean my eyes and ears disappear.”

A clear warning.

He, who had submitted his resignation just before the Emperor’s death, was someone who would soon leave the Imperial Palace.

The reason given was illness, but no one believed him.

‘I thought he might even start a rebellion.’

The confrontation between the Emperor and the First Prince.

Archduke Esiton, who had carved out power amidst that conflict, was a person who could be said to be the Imperial Family itself.

A figure who graduated at the top of the Imperial Academy at the young age of thirteen, entered politics, and achieved numerous accomplishments.

Was that all?

At the age of fifteen, he was recommended as the commander of the Imperial Guard and seized military power as well.

Although it was the result of complex power struggles, no one was unaware that the deputy commander, Jade Rustas, was Archduke Esiton’s dog.

Furthermore, there were widespread rumors that the Phantom, the nation’s top information guild, and Solid Bank, which held the most money, were also his.

It was not unreasonable for him, who held power, information, and money, to seize imperial authority if he moved.

‘But why is he suddenly retiring?’

It was a suspicious move, but it was also true that everyone rejoiced.

How much had they suffered under Archduke Esiton’s reign of terror?

Everyone trembled and shed tears at his relentless progress, having risen to the position of Minister of Finance at the young age of nineteen.

This was because before that, unimaginable exploitation had occurred, as if everything done until then was for this purpose.

For this reason, the nobles truly gritted their teeth and tried to bring down the Archduke.

However.

‘The results were all crushing defeats.’

Archduke Esiton spoke in a menacing voice, as if he could not tolerate even a moment of relaxed atmosphere.

“Submit revised budget reports for the next ten years for each department, immediately.”

Everyone’s jaws dropped at the threatening remark, especially the emphasis on the number ‘ten years’.

The Archduke was someone who would be gone by tomorrow. Yet, he was suddenly demanding ten-year budget reports?

“The deadline is 6 AM tomorrow.”

Everyone openly showed their astonishment. Then, Archduke Esiton spoke slowly in a lower voice.

“Departments that fail to submit…”

Gulp.

Dry saliva was involuntarily swallowed. The ministers waited, trembling, for his pronouncement.

Archduke Esiton twisted the corner of his lips like a grim reaper and conveyed his will.

“I’ll leave it to your imagination.”

The ministers’ faces turned ashen. They naturally recalled what had happened to those who had defied him. They were alive, yes. The problem was that they were only alive.

Their families were ruined, and debts that could never be repaid, even over a lifetime, continued to accumulate. They couldn’t even die until all the debts were paid.

They didn’t know what kind of leverage he held to make them unable to die, but that made the ministers even more terrified.

A life where you can’t even die if you want to? How horrific was that?

Archduke Esiton was someone who could create weaknesses where none existed and exploit them, and there was nothing such a person couldn’t do.

The ministers realized they had forgotten a crucial fact in their joy. And what they needed to do from now on.

“Damn it.”

“Run!”

Watching them sprint as if their feet were on fire, the Archduke calmly walked away.

This was the day before Elian Eshton, the Archduke, was kidnapped.

‘Is it really that hard to keep up the villain act?’

Elian, walking down the corridor, recalled what had just happened.

It had been 27 years since he started living as a villain in this world.

People, dulled by peace, often forgot unless he reminded them, like he had just done, ‘Ah, that’s the villain.’

‘They are so carefree.’

How could they only remember when they were told?

It wasn’t difficult to wear a mask anymore, but maintaining a sharp edge to pressure people required a lot of energy.

‘But it’s almost over now.’

This tiresome role would end if he could just endure a little longer.

To be precise, the time was approaching when his intense villainous life would end, and he could live as a villain who merely existed.

‘I want to retire quickly and live peacefully.’

How did he end up reincarnated as a villain from a novel he read before dying?

He wasn’t even the main villain, but a one-line villain appearing in the protagonist’s past.

[The reason Kirendis became king was because Archduke Esiton’s beloved mother was killed.]

Archduke Esiton, who colluded with foreign powers and launched a rebellion to become king.

The protagonist Kirendis, who lost his beloved mother in that incident.

He became king after killing Archduke Esiton with those who wanted to reclaim their country.

However, Kirendis’s heart was already devastated, and he lost his way, closing himself off. It was then that the heroine appeared before the protagonist.

‘…Right. It was a romance novel from my perspective, but it was serious.’

How irritating it was when he realized that.

A villain who existed only in the setting to portray the protagonist’s trauma.

That was Elian Eshton, and the novel’s main villain was Marius Arpen, who was about to be crowned Emperor.

‘The plot has changed quite a bit, though.’

The first thing he decided to do when he realized this world was a novel was to become a villain who did not rebel.

If he rebelled, he would be purged and killed by the protagonist, and if he didn’t, the peace-loving nation would be swallowed by a foreign power.

Either way, it was a death sentence. But if he remained a villain without rebelling, the story would be different.

‘This country needs a villain to instill a sense of crisis.’

The reason the nation, on the verge of ruin, revived was because Elian awakened the protagonist, Kirendis, by rebelling.

They were able to become stronger because everyone fought with one heart and mind to overthrow Elian Eshton.

Therefore, the best course of action was to exist as a villain, but not to rebel.

Not as a villain who only flashed out at the end, but one who constantly created a sense of crisis by his side.

‘It’s fortunate that the blood of the Imperial Family runs through me.’

This entire plan was possible because Elian Eshton was not foolish.

It was extremely difficult to grow into a powerful villain in the brutal Imperial Palace, where a single misstep could lead to death.

He couldn’t understand why the novel had him borrow foreign power when he possessed such a genius intellect.

‘Or maybe I was just a genius?’

Perhaps his talent hadn’t blossomed because he was born in the wrong place.

‘I was born in the right place, and my talent has finally bloomed.’

Archduke Esiton, remembered by everyone as a figure of terror, was actually a person who thought many useless thoughts like this.

Thanks to practicing closing his mouth and maintaining a blank expression, it wasn’t noticeable, but he always dreamed of the day he could speak his mind freely.

‘At least by tomorrow, it will be somewhat possible.’

He had to appear periodically and play the role of a villain, but that was better than nothing.

Elian was satisfied just by leaving the Imperial Palace, which had been nothing but a fierce battlefield.

“You’ve arrived.”

Upon reaching the training grounds, Jade, Elian’s right-hand man and deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, bowed his head respectfully.

“Training?”

“It’s proceeding without a hitch. However…”

“However?”

He scrunched up his face and walked on, noticing the knights who seemed somewhat excited.

‘I’ll have to crack down on them too.’

Many things were needed to protect the nation, but the most important was military strength.

However, he couldn’t raise the level of all the knights by himself. So, he chose the method of beating one unit to death.

‘It’s faster to learn by getting beaten.’

Of course, he didn’t beat them himself. He would push them to the brink of death through various means and then offer personalized advice.

Even that alone led to rapid growth in the knights’ skills, which stimulated the competitiveness of other units, leading to an overall improvement in skill.

“Everyone assemble!”

Jade called the knights together. They, who had gathered with bewildered faces, turned ashen the moment they spotted Elian.

Although he didn’t frequent the Knights Order, the days he appeared were the days they would become corpses.

“You’re too complacent. You’ve gotten too comfortable, haven’t you?”

His chilling voice announced the beginning of hell.

Lac Chen, the commander of the Imperial Palace Knights, watched the carriage that was just leaving the palace with a complex expression.

“Why the long face?”

The knight beside him, noticing Lac’s strange demeanor, asked.

“What do you think of Archduke Esiton’s retirement?”

“…Yes?”

It was a very dangerous statement. The carriage that had just departed was Archduke Esiton’s, but there were still people in the Imperial Palace who served as his eyes and ears.

Moreover, the next emperor, who harbored rivalry towards the Archduke, could not be ignored.

He was a figure who should be avoided in many ways, so why was he bringing this up?

“I sometimes wonder. What exactly is inside that man’s head?”

He spoke quietly, as if lost in old memories.

“The future of this nation that he dreams of is truly beyond imagination.”

“Yes?”

The knight tilted his head, unable to comprehend Lac’s words. However, it didn’t seem like he was expecting an answer, as Lac continued.

“It means he’s moving with a goal so high it’s unimaginable. That makes life very difficult, but the terrifying thing about the Archduke is that he seems to enjoy it.”

“…I see.”

Archduke Esiton, with such high aspirations?

The image of the Archduke he had seen and heard of until now was that of a man obsessed with money.

Money breeds power, and power breeds money, so it was safe to say the Archduke had nowhere higher to climb. He possessed everything in this world.

For such a person to look for a higher goal? Did such a thing even exist…

‘Wait.’

An absurd hypothesis flashed through the knight’s mind.

There was one thing the man at the pinnacle of power did not yet possess. Wasn’t there just one thing left?

‘….’

The knight fell silent for a moment, organizing his thoughts. Then, realizing what he had just thought, his face turned ashen.

“If the Archduke’s retirement is just a temporary step back, then that’s fortunate…”

“C-Commander!!”

The startled knight shouted involuntarily. The meaning of his words was too obvious.

The Knight Commander was calmly uttering the words that no one should ever speak.

But Lac merely replied with a laugh, as if amused.

“If that’s not the case, then we should start looking into exile as soon as possible, shouldn’t we?”

“W-What are you saying…”

Lac continued to laugh calmly. He even clicked his tongue, as if wondering why they didn’t understand such obvious logic.

“If the Archduke’s retirement is truly a normal retirement…”

Lac paused for a moment.

He looked up at the sun in the sky and said with a serious expression, “This nation will fall.”

Lac Chen, the commander of the Imperial Palace Knights.

He, who alone grasped the meaning behind Archduke Esiton’s actions, calmly predicted the future.

Elian, who had driven the ministers and knights to the brink of exhaustion, was leaving the palace.

‘I feel so light-hearted.’

He felt a pang of regret leaving Jade behind, but it was time to get used to it.

‘I can’t rely on him forever.’

Jade Rustas.

A man who became a mercenary after his family was utterly ruined, wandering the streets.

He was a mercenary hired when Kirendis attacked Archduke Esiton.

His talent was so exceptional that he eventually earned the title of Mercenary King and rose to the ranks of Sword Master.

‘I put in quite an effort to make such a great man my Guardian Knight.’

A person with upright conviction.

To make such a person his Guardian Knight, he had shown his true self.

Not a mask, but his genuine inner feelings.

It wasn’t easy for Elian, who had many enemies. But he was confident that if he could make him his own, he would never betray him.

He had also preached the necessity of villains since childhood, as if brainwashing them, and told them that his actions were essential for the nation.

Sometimes, he even showed vulnerability, saying that sacrifices had to be made for the greater good and that he wasn’t doing these things out of enjoyment.

As a result, Jade had become the person he relied on most in this desolate Imperial Palace.

‘When will I see him again?’

For now, he would be under Marius’s scrutiny, making it difficult to move. But he thought it would be fine since Jade was so capable.

‘Speaking of which…’

Where on earth was Kirendis doing?

Elian strangely thought of the protagonist whose whereabouts were unknown.

He wondered if he had gone on a knight’s training, but even so, it was strange that he couldn’t be tracked.

‘If I were to dig, I could find him, but…’

The reason he wasn’t doing so was that Kirendis was no longer a threat.

The reason he killed Elian was because his mother was killed during the rebellion, but since he hadn’t done any of that now, it should be fine.

‘He’d probably have gained favor, not dislike.’

Thinking of Kirendis’s sharp-tongued childhood, he felt inexplicably good.

It was because the protagonist, true to his nature, possessed extraordinary beauty.

‘Beauty is a wonderful thing. It makes me feel good just looking at it.’

It was perhaps Elian’s only pleasure in a life devoid of joy.

Besides, teasing the sharp-tongued brat was one of the small joys he could only experience back then.

‘He must have grown a lot.’

He would be an adult now, so the childhood appearance wouldn’t remain. He was curious about how he had grown, but decided not to be impatient, as they would meet someday.

‘Finally, I’ve left the capital.’

He opened the window slightly and looked outside to see a vast, open green field stretching out.

His peaceful retirement journey had truly begun.

It would take several more days to reach his destination, but his mood was the best it could be.

‘Separately, I am tired.’

His body, which had stayed up all night, was complaining of fatigue.

No matter what, staying up all night the day before retirement seemed to have been too much.

‘I’ll just close my eyes.’

Even though he had reliable knights escorting him, he couldn’t feel safe until the carriage stopped.

But perhaps because he thought it was all over.

Elian soon fell into a deep sleep. He slept so soundly that he didn’t wake up until sunset.

If there hadn’t been any commotion, he probably would have slept until morning.

“Attack! Attack! Protect the Archduke!”

Flash.

Elian woke up at the cry of an attack and quickly drew his dagger.

He was accustomed to assassination threats, so his body moved instinctively.

‘Who is it?’

He had made so many enemies that it was difficult to identify the attacker.

‘They are skilled.’

He heard the sounds of the Imperial Guard soldiers he had trained so diligently falling one by one.

‘Five? Three? No…’

As he tried to gauge the number of enemies, he realized the footsteps were monotonous.

Elian bit his lip and approached the door.

‘It’s one person.’

One person was more dangerous than multiple attackers. It meant the opponent was a strong individual with a significant skill gap.

‘I’m confident in my running.’

If he could just get outside, he was confident about the rest. He had overcome countless dangers with these legs.

However, luck seemed to be against him this time.

As soon as the door burst open, a large hand grabbed Elian.

“Mmph!”

“Shhh.”

His dagger fell to the floor, and his mouth was instantly covered.

Elian quickly scanned the man, who was armed in all black. He saw a familiar crest patch on his left shoulder.

‘That’s…’

As his eyes widened in surprise, he heard a soft murmur.

“I’m sorry. A variable has occurred.”

He raised his head at the unusual voice and checked the man’s face.

‘Gasp.’

Black hair and red eyes that seemed to captivate people.

Although his lower face was covered, his beauty was extraordinary.

‘This person…’

A familiar image flashed through his mind.

He tried to examine the face more closely, but the man’s strike to his neck was faster.

“Ugh.”

Thud.*

Elian collapsed into the man’s arms.

He disappeared quietly, a satisfied smile on his lips.

The emblem Elian saw before losing consciousness was that of the Rebel Army, Letus.

It was an organization that stood against Marius, the next Emperor, so he hadn’t paid it much mind.

‘Why me, from there….’

Elian slowly lifted his eyelids and got to his feet.

Clang.

The cold metallic sound from his wrists served as a stark reminder of reality.

If he had to summarize this situation in one word…

“Kidnapped…?”

The reason the question ended with a question mark was that he couldn’t understand why he had been kidnapped.

Elian Eshton was someone who would only bring harm to Marius, never help.

He had no value as a hostage, and Marius would have been grateful, perhaps even bowed, if he were dealt with.

‘What is this?’

And the man who kidnapped him.

‘This is absurd.’

Elian laughed it off. While black hair and red eyes weren’t common, they weren’t entirely unheard of.

It must have been someone similar.

“Right. I must have mistaken him. What reason would he have to care about me?”

The absurd misconception drained his strength. First, he needed to assess the situation.

‘Where am I….’

Looking around, he realized the room was luxurious.

The bed was plush and clearly high-quality, and the furniture was not the kind the Rebel Army would typically possess.

It looked like a room specially decorated to host a distinguished guest.

‘At least it doesn’t seem like they kidnapped me by mistake.’

It appeared the kidnapper knew well the identity of the person they had abducted. Judging by his treatment, they didn’t seem to harbor immense hostility.

‘Then, what’s the objective?’

Clang.

He pulled at the handcuffs, wondering if they would break if he applied more force. However, it seemed impossible to move even an inch unless he could lift the entire bed.

‘Ah, I don’t know. Jade will come to rescue me, surely.’

Elian trusted his capable knight. Jade was the type to meticulously check if he had arrived at his destination safely, so he would surely realize Elian had been kidnapped soon.

‘After that, it’ll be smooth sailing.’

No matter how formidable an organization, they couldn’t be perfect. They were bound to leave a trace somewhere.

So, as long as his life wasn’t in immediate danger, there was no need to worry.

‘Footsteps.’

Elian immediately sat up again.

Even so, he couldn’t just lie there idly while his kidnapper was about to enter.

—Click.

The door opened, and a familiar man walked in. It was the man with black hair and red eyes.

‘Damn. He’s incredibly handsome?’

Elian was aghast. He had thought the man was unusual, but his truly stunning face was right before him.

His pale face appeared even whiter against his black hair, and his beautifully curved red eyes still sparkled as if to seduce anyone.

He was a soft-type handsome man who could charm people. However, his tall stature, upright posture, and solid physique added a strong sense of masculinity.

‘My eyes are truly being treated.’

With a somewhat frivolous thought, Elian composed his expression. It was difficult to control his face after seeing such a surprisingly handsome man after so long.

However, the man shattered Elian’s composure with a single sentence.

“It’s been a while, Elian.”

“Huh…?”

Elian’s eyes widened.

Though it was a simple greeting, that one sentence reminded him of the reality he had been trying to deny.

“Kiren…dis?”

He whispered, a sliver of doubt in his voice. He responded with a bright smile that enveloped Elian.

“I missed you.”

“Ugh!”

As he collapsed onto the bed, a ticklish sensation flooded his neck.

He pressed down with his large, dog-like weight, rubbing his face against Elian’s neck.

“J-just a moment.”

He could feel the softness of his skin, not just his hair, and it felt strange.

Elian’s face flushed as he struggled. Then, a voice, like a petulant complaint, poured into his ear.

“Just a little. Just a little longer.”

His voice sounded strangely ticklish.

A sense of inexplicable crisis washed over Elian, and he pushed him away, conveying his bewilderment.

“Wh-why are you here?”

Yes. Why was Kirendis here? More importantly…

“Are you… a Rebel?”

Kirendis’s eyes widened at the direct question. But soon, a clear answer came with a bright smile.

“Yes. I am a Rebel.”

“….”

…Elian was speechless for a moment.

‘Right… he’s a Rebel…’

Countless words flashed through his mind, but the first one that surfaced was this: “Are you insane?!”

Elian shouted, his voice laced with anger.

“What are you lacking that you would start a rebellion?!”

Why would the protagonist, who had everything set for a comfortable life, dream of rebellion?

But Kirendis still answered with a bright smile.

“Because I fell for you.”

His eyes were beautifully curved.

“….”

Elian stared blankly, unable to speak.

‘What did I just hear?’

All memory of their previous conversation vanished. Only the last words he heard floated in his mind.

So, this situation was…

“Are you really insane?”

Elian scrunched up his face. One would have to be insane to utter such words.

‘More importantly, was he always this casual with such words?’

Elian recalled Kirendis from the novel.

He was cold and taciturn, but affectionate only towards the female lead. Yet, his expression was so blank that it was hard to tell. That was Kirendis.

But what about now?

“Haa. I’m hurt. It’s been a while, and you’re being so harsh. Though, that makes it even better.”

He scattered a radiant smile, appearing far from the cold male lead.

“Are you… really Kirendis?”

Elian narrowed his eyes. He was even more suspicious because he hadn’t been such a cheerful child when they were younger.

Even if he spoke a lot, wasn’t that just because he was young?

“Why? Don’t I seem like myself?”

“….”

Elian reduced his words. Honestly, he wanted to say yes, but that would feel like admitting he was Kirendis, so he remained silent.

“It really seems so. Success, then.”

“Success?”

“Don’t you remember? You said you liked people who smile a lot.”

“I did?”

This was the first he’d heard of it. Growing more suspicious, he narrowed his eyes, and Kirendis let out a sigh with a dejected expression.

“Haa… you don’t remember, I guess.”

He looked so forlorn.

Elian felt like he had committed a terrible sin.

“You said you liked older men who smile a lot and are kind.”

Uh…

Elian wracked his memory for a moment. Then, a memory surfaced. But that was…

“An older man might be too much, but doesn’t this count as smiling a lot and being kind?”

“What?!”

Startled, Elian’s eyes widened. The same emotion he felt in the past appeared on his face.

Elian, who instantly understood what had happened, began to sweat profusely.

‘Is karma coming back to bite me like this?’

The karma he had carelessly dismissed had returned like a snowball.

‘R-right. For now….’

It was time to play dumb. But Kirendis’s lips moved faster.

“It’s okay if you forgot. I wasn’t expecting much anyway.”

Kirendis smiled brightly again.

…Elian felt uneasy. He instinctively tried to distance himself. But there wasn’t much space to escape on the bed.

Kirendis took Elian’s hand and clasped it, saying,

“Do you remember? You said it.”

What on earth…

“Live for tomorrow.”

He said that too?!

What on earth was his past self saying and doing?

Just hearing those words now, they could easily be mistaken for the lines of a chuunibyou patient.

However, the words that followed were even more shocking.

“From that moment on, my tomorrow was you.”

This is insane.

Elian’s face turned ashen.

“So it doesn’t matter. Because since that day, I haven’t wanted to create a tomorrow that isn’t you.”

Kirendis gently kissed the back of Elian’s hand and continued.

“Please become my king.”

“….”

“My tomorrow… and my sky.”

“….”

An indescribable atmosphere enveloped Kirendis. It felt desperate, earnest, and yet sublime.

‘This is….’

Elian couldn’t say anything. The atmosphere felt so different from just moments ago.

‘Ah, right….’

It was the same atmosphere as when Jade had sworn his knightly oath. The feeling of one’s beliefs clashing head-on.

But that was only for a moment.

‘Wait. Didn’t he just call himself king?’

What brought Elian back to reality was a word that didn’t fit the situation.

—Please become my king.

The request to become king.

The organization Kirendis belonged to.

The Rebel Army.

King.

“So, that means….”

Elian, pale, trembled.

It felt like something impossible, something that shouldn’t happen, was happening right now.

“Yes. The Rebel Army, Letus….”

Gulp.

“Was created for you.”

Kirendis smiled faintly. His face held strong conviction and the image of a protagonist moving forward.

The problem was that the target of that conviction was Elian Eshton himself.

“Elian. My king… no, become our king.”

Elian Eshton, born with a destiny to be purged through rebellion.

A Rebel Army organization that gathered for him.

And the protagonist.

A jumble of information mixed chaotically. It already seemed far removed from the novel’s content, but one thing was certain.

Archduke Elian Eshton must not start a rebellion.

He mustered all his remaining strength and shouted.

“No!”

Where did it all go wrong?

Yes. It seemed like things had gone this twisted right from the moment he first met Kirendis.

He first met Kirendis the year Elian turned seventeen.

It was the second year since Elian became the captain of the Imperial Guard, and the day he truly gained military authority.

“We won! We beat the Royal Guard!!”

“Wooooah!!”

Even an army with mediocre skill and mediocre organization had skill differences. The Imperial Guard, led by Elian, was one of the least skilled.

Furthermore, they were a place that had become thoroughly complacent, having no intention or desire to try.

If war broke out, they would be lucky if they didn’t flee before the Imperial Family, let alone protect them.

“…What exactly are you smiling about, that you think you’ve done so well?”

The first victory in such a place.

And to have defeated the supposedly strongest, the Royal Guard, it was perhaps natural to be intoxicated by victory.

However…

“I’m asking what you’ve done so well to be smiling about.”

A narrow victory.

Elian, with a terrifying expression, apprehended the Imperial Guard as if they were mice.

The knights, who had undergone hundreds of deaths and resurrections under Elian’s command, couldn’t move an inch.

Seeing this, the nobles gained a profound realization.

‘I thought he was just a figurehead captain!’

The increasing influence in regular meetings. Coupled with the appearance of someone who seemed to have truly grasped military authority.

The nobles realized Elian’s movements were unusual and began to act.

‘It’s proceeding according to plan.’

Of course, it wasn’t by chance. It was the result of meticulous planning and steady progress since childhood.

Entering the academy quickly and graduating, jumping into politics immediately after graduation, and leading the Imperial Guard.

All of it had been achieved under a detailed plan.

‘Now I can throw bait to the nobles. I can also save the protagonist who is in the arena.’

Kirendis Riphen.

He was a person who had lived as a commoner because his father, who pursued a free life, had abandoned the Duchy’s castle and fled.

Kirendis, who lived peacefully in a small rural village with his beautiful mother and father, had his life drastically change starting the year he turned seven.

His father lost his life fighting a monster that devastated the village.

To make matters worse, he was kidnapped by arena factions and became a slave.

Thus, Kirendis endured for six years, unable to resist as his mother was held hostage.

‘I could save him now, but considering efficiency, it’s better to postpone.’

Kirendis was discovered by Duke Lipen around the age of thirteen. He would be around ten now, so there were three more years left.

His goal was to help Kirendis at his worst moment, leaving a not-unfavorable impression.

Since he had decided to live as an antagonist, that was the perfect approach.

‘Still, it feels a bit… to just leave him suffering when I know about it.’

Life in the arena awakened the boy’s talent for poison and swordsmanship.

The accumulation of those experiences, his discovery by Duke Lipen, and his becoming complete was the life of Kirendis in the novel.

Therefore, from the perspective of national strength, it was more beneficial to let him hone his swordsmanship in the arena.

‘Still… should I just check if he’s doing okay?’

He had already found out where he was. He was just unable to act because he had to save him personally.

He could have saved him secretly, but that would defeat the purpose of saving him, and he needed a pretext to act directly.

That’s why he had obtained military authority, as a dual purpose.

‘Alright. Let’s just check if he’s okay.’

But life doesn’t always go smoothly.

The scene at the illegal arena, which he visited secretly with Jade, was more horrific than he had imagined.

“This place is worse than where beasts live.”

Filthy waste.

The faint smell of blood.

People cheering, howling for death.

The space, consumed by madness, was absolutely not an environment for a child to be in. It would be strange if he hadn’t gone mad.

‘He has an extraordinary mentality. As expected of the protagonist.’

His admiration lasted only a moment.

Elian was speechless upon seeing the child living in a cage worse than that of beasts.

‘That…’

His eyes were blackened and dead.

The despair that permeated them.

Despair, pain, frustration.

And loneliness.

Things that Elian himself had lived with in the past.

‘Haa…’

This was the moment Elian’s life plan began to go awry.

For the first time in a long while, Elian’s heart softened.

Perhaps he couldn’t turn away because he had been running fiercely, fueled by resentment.

The reason he maintained his life despite being mired in all sorts of negative emotions was not hope for a better future.

It was the sheer desire to live.

‘I can’t help it. If I turn away, it feels like I’m turning away from myself.’

He too had struggled, living only with the desire to survive. Therefore, it was difficult to be solely focused on efficiency.

‘Right. For my own mental health, let’s move a little faster.’

Since he didn’t possess a mentality as strong as the protagonist’s, he occasionally needed a change of pace.

Elian immediately proposed the agenda and launched an operation to crack down on the illegal arena.

Because it had been so widely tolerated and prevalent, the Imperial Guard was mobilized for a large-scale operation.

Elian had no hesitation, as this was why he had secured military authority.

“Arrest them all without exception!”

“Yes!!”

“Yes!!”

And now.

Elian, who had personally arrived at the scene, shone alone.

His dazzling silver hair and cold, deep blue eyes.

A beautiful face that resembled his mother, said to be the most beautiful woman in the country.

He exuded an unparalleled presence, harmonizing with his white uniform, unlike a knight, and not fitting in with this grim place.

Yet, Elian blended in more naturally than anyone else.

This was the power he possessed, earning him the epithet ‘Iron Blood Archduke’.

The ability to subjugate everything beneath him with absolute charisma.

Therefore, his solitary, radiant figure stood out against the backdrop, like a painting.

“Jade. Follow me.”

“Yes. Your Highness.”

Leading Jade, he began searching for Kirendis. The first place he found him was empty.

Elian immediately began searching the surroundings. Fortunately, he was not far away.

He was in front of the room where his mother was being held captive.

“D-don’t come any closer!”

The child pointed a worn sword at the two of them. He seemed to think the knights’ intrusion was not for his benefit.

His fierce eyes were filled with the will to protect his mother and survive.

It was both admirable and foolish.

“One must also possess the crucial skill of calmly assessing the situation and using it to survive.”

Elian walked slowly and stood before the child.

He was pinned by the aura Elian exuded and couldn’t move.

In terms of swordsmanship, Kirendis’s skill was far superior, but he didn’t realize it, having lost his will to fight.

No matter how much he had been through in the arena, the child was still a child.

In contrast, Elian was someone who had endured and survived for 17 years in the Imperial Palace, always cloaked in the scent of death.

It was not even comparable at this point.

“If it seems like it will help me, one must even grasp the devil’s hand.”

The reason he could say such a thing was because he was the protagonist.

The belief that he wouldn’t be corrupted.

He was saying that if necessary, one must know how to grasp the hand of the villain named Elian Eshton.

“Take it.”

Elian extended his hand. The worn sword still trembled, its blade sharpened, but he paid it no mind.

Because Jade would block it faster than Kirendis could swing his sword.

All actions stemming from a meticulously crafted plan.

But from the perspective of an observer, it would not seem so.

“I will become your devil’s hand.”

This hand was indeed the devil’s hand.

Because he could not be sure that his remaining life would be better than this place.

But he would take it.

‘Because I am making it so.’

The power to capture people’s attention. A special ability that only those of the Royal Family were born with.

Elian was currently the person who used that power best among the existing members of the Royal Family.

“Hngg…”

Tears began to pour from the eyes of the relieved child.

The worn sword fell to the floor, and the messy hands grasped Elian’s.

Elian, for the first and last time, stroked the child’s head and said, “You endured well. Little one.”

The arena began to disappear at a rapid pace.

In its place, performance and cultural facilities were established. This was to create jobs and prevent illegal facilities like arenas from appearing.

After all, the reason such facilities appeared was the lack of cultural facilities and jobs.

‘In that sense, building cultural facilities has many advantages.’

It might feel a little empty at first, but people would gradually fill the empty spaces with ideas.

Brilliant ideas would attract people, and stars would emerge from within them.

Stars would attract even more people, and commercial districts would begin to form around them, creating jobs.

In addition, if the streets were taken care of a little, the dark atmosphere would disappear and be replaced by a vibrant one.

‘It would be nice if tourism revenue increased through this, but…’

It was still a distant dream, difficult to hope for.

Elian rose from his seat, imagining that day when it would eventually come.

“Are you going to the Rippen Ducal Family? I will escort you.”

Jade followed him as usual, escorting Elian.

The reason he was heading to the Rippen Ducal Family was Kirendis.

After the arena incident, Elian had secretly approached Duke Lipen and informed him of Kirendis’s existence.

He had heard that the second son died in the war a year ago, and the eldest son had recently collapsed.

With the situation as it was, if the eldest son also perished, the Ducal Family would be left without an heir to succeed the lineage.

The second son had never married, and the eldest son had no children.

‘Then, eventually, the eldest son would die, and while searching for a third son, they would discover Kirendis.’

Now, the discovery had been brought forward, and the person who discovered him was different, so he had quietly sent Kirendis to the Ducal Family.

Up to this point, there were no problems. The issue began when Duke Lipen asked him to educate the child.

‘What a bold person. To ask me to educate the next heir.’

He claimed it was because there was no one he could trust, but that wasn’t the only reason.

Elian’s current unhindered progress.

It was highly likely that he intended to establish a connection, even a small one.

‘It doesn’t matter to me, as I can better entice nobles.’

Archduke Eshton, for reasons unknown, frequently visits the Ducal Family?

This could easily be interpreted as a signal that the balance of power would shift.

Then, the minor nobles would gradually begin to side with Elian.

‘My goal is to become the Minister of Finance before I turn twenty.’

From then on, it would be time to truly make a name for himself as a villain.

Until then, he had no choice but to live cautiously.

“Then, I will escort you back this evening.”

After escorting him to the Rippen Ducal Family, Jade returned to the Imperial Palace.

As the Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard, he had to fulfill the role of Commander in Elian’s stead.

“I will escort you.”

The butler of the Ducal Family guided Elian.

He was led to the Duke’s reception room, and after a brief conversation with him, he was able to head to Kirendis’s study.

‘Where should I start teaching?’

What the Duke had requested was for Kirendis to appear as a noble. In other words, very basic demeanor or basic knowledge.

‘Isn’t that the hardest part?’

The child had not only grown up as a commoner but had also lived in the arena. And they wanted him to be transformed into a noble.

‘I have no intention of doing a half-hearted job now that I’ve agreed.’

One concern was that if he taught him directly, the image he had painstakingly created might go in the wrong direction.

For Elian, the option of teaching kindly did not exist.

‘There’s no other way. I’ll just have to use the method of occasionally throwing a carrot.’

When teaching, he would push them fiercely in a Spartan manner, then give them an appropriate carrot.

This method was often used when managing the Imperial Guard.

Even if he lacked talent in swordsmanship, which required physical exertion, he possessed exceptional talent in identifying and pointing out problems.

Even if he was disliked, after pushing them to their limits, if he pointed out their flaws, their skills would definitely improve.

They improved so noticeably that they followed him without complaint, even when cursed.

‘Yes. As long as the image isn’t bad, what more could I ask for?’

The important thing is the carrot!

Elian opened the door and entered. The study came into view.

A desk placed before a large window and a bookshelf filling one wall. A sofa and table were in the center, and one side was left empty without any furniture.

‘Perfect.’

Elian, having organized what he would teach in his mind, finally turned his gaze to Kirendis.

The child stood with a stiff face, head bowed.

Unlike their first meeting when he knew nothing, he now seemed to know who the person before him was.

‘Not bad.’

Having fear was not bad. The important thing was how to hide it.

These were the things Elian would have to teach him going forward.

“How long will you keep your head down?”

As he delivered a sharp remark as usual, the child flinched and his shoulders trembled.

“Lift your head. I permit you to meet my eyes.”

He said this, wondering if the child had learned the etiquette of not meeting the eyes of royalty, and only then did his face cautiously lift.

‘Oh.’

Elian let out a short exclamation. The child’s appearance was extraordinary.

His neatly trimmed hair flowed, and his once dark face had turned pale.

What was truly breathtaking were his eyes.

His red eyes, gazing directly at Elian, sparkled transparently. They were like jewels, almost eliciting an exclamation from him.

‘This…’

An unexpected discovery.

The child’s appearance alone was that of a noble. And that appearance instantly captivated Elian’s heart.

‘It won’t be boring.’

Elian let out a satisfied smile.

If there was a hell, Kirendis thought, it would probably be this place.

A place filled with the ugly desires of people.

An arena where people urged you to die, pushing you forward.

‘I’m sick of it.’

Dying in the arena was very easy, and surviving was very difficult.

In that place, Kirendis endured and endured with the single desire to live.

His hands were stained with blood and reeked, but day after day, he fell asleep with relief, thinking, ‘I lived today.’

He endured day after day, and that is how Kirendis became who he was today.

‘My mother seems unwell, I wonder if she’s okay?’

As he adapted to the arena, he realized his emotions were becoming dulled.

Yet, the emotion that remained strong was his worry for his mother.

How long would he have to stay here?

Could he escape when he got a little older?

He endured to escape with his mother, but he often felt afraid.

What if she passed away like his father before he could do anything?

‘Alone… I don’t want that.’

He longed for a warm embrace. The embrace of family, who would hold him warmly, comfort him, and smile at him.

Why did it become like this?

Kirendis despaired. But he rose again and fought. He fought and fought within despair.

Then, there were days when he would lie sick for days. He would be suddenly afraid, thinking he might die like this.

It was ironic that he feared death when life was so difficult.

That day was like any other.

It was a day of exceptionally bad luck. His whole body screamed, and there was no part of him that didn’t hurt.

“You’ll have to perform in tonight’s show.”

He was disgusted by the people who called the life-or-death matches a ‘show’ and enjoyed them.

‘And I, who am fulfilling their desires.’

Thinking today might be his last day to die, he headed towards his mother’s room. He would be beaten severely if he was caught sneaking out, but since it might be the end, he moved without hesitation.

Just then.

“Arrest every single one of them!”

From afar, the sound of clashing steel and swords echoed.

He ran wildly at the unusual sound.

‘Mother…!’

The screams of the arena people, who had toyed with him so easily, reached his ears.

He thought he might die a little sooner than he expected for tonight.

And then, the moment he arrived at his mother’s location.

‘Ah…’

Kirendis was discovered by the protagonists of the commotion.

He tried to aim his sword with trembling hands, but it was useless. The moment their eyes met, a deep sense of defeat washed over his entire body.

Before him stood a person so white and dazzling that they didn’t belong here. However, their haughty blue eyes suited this place well.

The gaze of a strong person who commanded countless people underfoot.

‘I thought this was hell…’

It felt like a deeper hell was before him.

“D-Don’t come any closer!”

Nevertheless, he shouted. He had to protect his mother, so he couldn’t break down.

‘I have to do something.’

He wanted to live.

He didn’t want to die.

He wanted to return to a peaceful world with his mother.

That was all…

“Coolly assessing the situation and utilizing it is also an important skill for survival,”

The man muttered softly and stepped forward.

One step.

One step.

One step.

As he got closer, Kirendis felt breathless. The heavy aura surrounding him pressed down on him.

It felt like he would be swallowed by the momentum he exuded if he moved even slightly.

‘I-I have to move.’

Kirendis tried to regain his composure. Then, his senses slowly began to awaken.

As his vision cleared, he saw dazzling silver hair and blue eyes. As his sense of smell returned, he felt a refreshing mint scent.

Swish—

At that moment, a breeze blew.

“If it seems like it will help me, one must even grasp the devil’s hand.”

The cool breeze blew away the humid air.

“Take it.”

A white, neat hand appeared before his eyes.

“I will become your devil’s hand.”

Ah…

Kirendis felt something within him crumble. The solid walls he had built up collapsed, revealing his vulnerable inner self.

Could he take this hand?

What would happen if he did?

Could it be more painful than now?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but only one remained.

‘The devil’s… hand.’

The man who called the hand he offered the devil’s hand.

Yet, the advice, “If necessary, you must take it,” captivated his heart.

It told him that taking this hand was necessary for survival.

Having struggled and endured alone, the path led by someone else offered immense comfort.

Even if that path was a thorny one…

“Hngg…”

Tears poured out. The blocked breath finally escaped.

Only then did Kirendis realize he hadn’t been breathing properly.

The breath, released more comfortably than ever before, swept through his heart as refreshingly as his blue eyes.

—Clang.

Kirendis dropped his worn sword and took his hand. The touch on his head, not like a devil’s, also happened simultaneously.

“You endured well. Little one.”

It was… warm.

Kirendis realized.

At this moment, he had become captivated by this devil.

The lessons with Kirendis brought Elian a small pleasure.

To be precise, he was having the most enjoyable time of his life in this world.

The protagonist’s beauty was immense, and each day was new.

As he was in a growth spurt, he was surprised every time he saw him, and he struggled to hide his expression.

‘The protagonist buff is terrifying, truly terrifying.’

He wasn’t sure if he should say this to a man, but if he continued to grow like this, he would become a peerless beauty.

If he was this radiant now, how beautiful would he be when he grew up?

‘But that’s probably not right?’

He didn’t recall any descriptions of the male protagonist growing into a peerless beauty in the novel.

Elian felt great regret.

‘If not now, I won’t see this face again.’

He considered preserving it somehow, like stuffing it, but he suppressed the urge, fearing it would ruin Archduke Eshton’s image.

“How many minutes are left?”

“5 minutes. Hurry up and finish.”

“Ughhh.”

The sight of him burying his face in the paper and frantically writing down his answers was fatally cute.

Now thirteen years old, he had grown to the point where he could treat Elian casually.

More accurately, it was because the protagonist’s overwhelming beauty had made him fail to maintain distance.

‘I can’t help it. I need to breathe sometimes too.’

He was in a busy period lately, and the Imperial Palace felt suffocating.

The nobles, whose senses had sharpened, had begun to notice that Elian’s actions were unusual.

‘See, they shouldn’t have given him the Minister of Finance position so easily.’

They were people who only had greed and invited trouble.

Of course, while it was trouble from the nobles’ perspective, it was a good thing for the country.

“Finished.”

“Ughhh. Wait. Just a little more…!”

As Elian coldly snatched away the exam paper, Kirendis reached out pleadingly.

He looked like an ordinary student agonizing over an exam, but due to the face buff, he appeared as if he carried all the sadness in the world.

‘Even crying, that face is pretty.’

A face he wanted to see properly cry.

Elian continued his wicked thoughts and began grading the paper ostentatiously.

Despite his desperate plea, he received a rather high score, proving he was indeed the protagonist.

Three years, a time that could be considered short or long, was not enough to completely change a person.

However, the boy before him had been transformed perfectly, not only in his demeanor but also in the knowledge he possessed, into that of a noble.

“Passed… I guess.”

“Then, are you going to grant my wish now?”

The child’s face lit up with joy. His appearance was so dazzling that Elian almost smiled involuntarily.

“Yes. Tell me.”

He wondered what kind of wish he was taking so long to make.

He was willing to reluctantly grant it, as long as it wasn’t something absurd.

“Um… Then I have one question, and I’d like you to answer honestly.”

“Hmm.”

A question.

It was a surprisingly difficult wish. For Elian Eshton himself was the one who held the most secrets in this country.

Moreover, being asked to speak honestly was the part he found most difficult.

This was because he lived his life always wearing a mask and telling lies.

However, he was also curious about what he would ask, so he calmly lied.

“Tell me. I will answer anything.”

“Then…”

The child paused for a moment. His face flushed slightly with a small tension, wondering what great thing he was about to ask.

“Three years ago. Can I ask why you… saved me?”

“……?”

Confusion appeared on Elian’s face. Wasn’t that too trivial a question to use a wish coupon on?

It was also strange that he was asking about something from three years ago now.

The child, knowing this, quickly offered an excuse with a flustered expression.

“I wanted to ask all this time, but I thought you wouldn’t answer.”

That was the correct answer.

While it was a trivial question from the child’s perspective, it was far from trivial for Elian.

The reason for saving Kirendis three years ago?

Wasn’t it to prevent him from being purged in the future by leaving a not-bad impression on him?

It was natural they wouldn’t believe me even if I told the truth, and the scale of what was involved was too great.

‘I’m sorry, but I can’t help it.’

Breaking just one promise wouldn’t collapse everything I’d built up.

After all, I’d maintained a not-so-bad relationship while teaching classes.

“Why did I save you?”

As the atmosphere suggested he might answer, Kirendis swallowed hard.

However, Elian spoke confidently, a sly smile on his face.

“Naturally, it’s because of adult reasons you don’t need to know.”

“What?”

Kirendis looked at Elian with a bewildered expression. But Elian was resolute.

“Wish coupon, over.”

“Wait! What kind of rule is that? You said you’d tell me honestly!”

Kirendis, flustered, shouted indignantly, but Elian had a point too.

“That’s not something we agreed on, is it?”

“That’s… unbelievable…”

Kirendis protested, but there was no fault in his words. Elian had said he would answer anything, not that he would tell the truth.

Unspoken agreement.

It was simply overlooked because the flow of conversation implied it.

“Ah, what kind of rule is that!”

Kirendis, realizing this, protested strongly. His face, puffing with indignation, was quite endearing.

“In noble society, you must be careful with every word. You still have much to learn.”

As he chided Kirendis for his lack of understanding and dictated the scope of the assignment, Kirendis, though frustrated, quickly jotted it down.

Regardless of his mood, the fact that he did what he had to do made Elian feel proud.

‘He’s grown well.’

Elian was satisfied, knowing Kirendis was now a child who could hold his own anywhere.

‘Now, this life won’t last much longer.’

Though it was regrettable, both the child and he had their own paths to walk. Their connection could not continue.

“Then, that’s all for today.”

“Are you really leaving without telling me?”

As Elian walked out the door with cold indifference, Kirendis quickly followed, expressing his disappointment.

“Why are you curious about such things?”

“Umm…”

Seeing him blush slightly and avert his gaze, as if the answer was too difficult to give, Elian understood.

Whatever the reason, his flushed cheeks looked like peach-flavored mochi, softening Elian’s heart.

“Alright. I’ll tell you briefly, then.”

“Really?”

Kirendis’s face lit up again.

Elian, lifting the corner of his lips without anyone noticing, said, “The reason I saved you is because I am someone who always assumes the worst and prepares for the best.”

“The best? What does that mean?”

“You don’t even know the word ‘best’? You need to study more.”

Knowing the question wasn’t about the literal meaning, he teased Kirendis by pretending ignorance. The child then indignantly shouted, “That’s not what I meant!”

“This is all I can tell you, kid.”

“Can’t you tell me in more detail?”

“Question and answer time is over. Go back now.”

“Ah, seriously!”

Seeing him stomp his foot in frustration, so typical of his age, a laugh escaped Elian.

He had thrown away all the noble bearing he had taught him, but Elian didn’t mind.

He knew Kirendis acted the noble only when necessary.

‘You don’t need to change everything about yourself. It’s enough if you can act perfectly when needed.’

Elian had said that, and the child had followed his words diligently.

To ask someone to change everything they were born with was an unreasonable demand, so being able to act when needed was sufficient.

It was an incredibly difficult task, but the child had spent three years to perfect it.

‘I didn’t expect to end up in a situation where I wouldn’t need to act.’

At some point, Kirendis stopped treating Elian with deference and began acting according to etiquette only when he had to.

Elian guessed that Kirendis might have wanted a space where he could breathe freely within this desolate Duchy.

‘In that regard, I’m glad I have Jade.’

Just as Jade’s silent presence had allowed Elian to endure until now, Elian wanted to be a space where Kirendis could breathe for a moment.

Even if he couldn’t stay forever, just being by his side during the most difficult times would be enough for the protagonist with a strong mentality to endure.

‘Right. It’s only for a very short while.’

That, too, would soon come to an end.

Both Elian and Kirendis knew this, so they cherished the remaining time.

But was it because the end had come?

Or was it because this world did not allow for peace?

Or perhaps… was it a warning that fate, once set, could not be changed?

‘Things turned out like this.’

Elian’s eyes grew deeply somber. He had thought everything would be fine if he didn’t rebel.

But on the day Archduke Esiton had turned the Duchy into a mess, the very day Kirendis’s mother had died.

She had passed away after a long illness.

Even after moving his residence to the Duchy, Kirendis had to live with a suffocating sensation.

From the moment he woke up until he fell asleep again, his every move was monitored.

This placed another kind of pressure on Kirendis.

It felt like being trapped and crushed in an empty world.

Yet, he could endure because he could meet his mother if he achieved certain results, and because of his weekly lessons with Elian.

‘He sees me as myself.’

A man as steadfast and cold as the Duke.

Yet, his gaze was always directed squarely at Kirendis.

This became his breathing room amidst his suffocating daily life.

Then, one day.

It was a day when he let out a small sigh because he was so weary.

Having been taught not to show weakness, he looked up with a startled face. He expected sharp reprimands.

But what came from his lips was entirely different.

“You can be at ease when you’re with me.”

“…”

Kirendis was speechless. He couldn’t understand why Elian would say such a thing.

Wasn’t this the person who had always pressured him with his sharp gaze?

Through their lessons, he had keenly realized that the hand extended in the arena was truly the hand of a devil.

It was that harsh and merciless. That’s why it was even harder to believe.

“I know very well what it’s like to live like you. A life where you just finish today’s tasks with all your might, and then tomorrow arrives.”

It was the first time Elian had shared a personal story.

“So, at least by my side, you can be at ease. I’ll grant you special permission.”

He said it in a tone as if bestowing a favor, but it contained genuine kindness.

“Life is like that. You have to live fiercely to survive.”

For what reason was he living so fiercely?

For the first time, Elian became a subject of curiosity. What kind of life did he lead, what were his thoughts, why did he say these things?

“You’re already doing well enough.”

It seemed to be from that moment on that Kirendis began to feel comfortable and look forward to his time with Elian.

He wasn’t as cold a person as he seemed.

He was living with a mask on, the mask of the cold, rational Iron Blood Archduke Elian Eshton.

‘Elian is a kind person.’

He was someone who would praise you when you did well.

But if you failed, he would push you twice, three times harder until you succeeded.

It was incredibly difficult at first, but now Kirendis understood.

That was Elian’s unique way of being kind.

What he taught was the life Kirendis would have to carry for the rest of his days, so he pushed him relentlessly without letting anything slide.

‘I don’t want to disappoint him.’

Those moments accumulated, and their relationship had evolved to the point where Kirendis could now complain comfortably.

Kirendis liked Elian.

He was glad to have him by his side, with his prickly yet kind nature.

He liked that Elian would make space for him when needed and scold him sharply if he strayed from the right path.

It was the same on that day.

‘Mother…’

The day his mother passed away from illness.

‘What was I enduring all this for…?’

It felt like the foundation that had supported him had vanished.

He thought there would be no more warm smiles or gentle touches, and he couldn’t do anything.

His life, having lost its direction, no longer held meaning.

‘Now… what should I do?’

The fact that he was left alone in the world pressed down on him like a great weight. It felt as if the world was crushing him.

He was… suffocating.

‘I don’t want to do anything.’

He spent days and nights like a corpse. Like a doll with its strings cut, he waited for death.

He thought he would be alright if he just stayed like this. But…

“Don’t run away.”

A cold voice pierced his heart. He looked up and saw blue eyes, seemingly angry.

Elian.

Why was he here?

“It might sound cruel, but listen.”

Elian cupped Kirendis’s face in his hands, preventing him from looking away.

“Don’t dwell on what has already passed. You are someone who will live tomorrow. How long will you remain in the past?”

It was truly cruel. The words, which seemed to give him no time to grieve, made him feel betrayed.

He truly felt that he was left all alone.

‘I really am alone now.’

As soon as he realized that, a gentler voice reached him.

“Still… if you’re too overwhelmed and want to cry, come to me. I’ll allow that much.”

Worry was etched on his face as he said it. If one didn’t look closely, they might miss it, but Kirendis saw it.

That was Elian’s unique kindness.

Get up and walk again. It’s okay to fall, just get up again. And if it’s too hard, you can cry. I’ll be by your side.

“Hooeeeeng.”

Only then could Kirendis finally burst into tears. Because there were many eyes watching, he couldn’t cry even after his mother’s death, so the tears finally came now.

“It’s alright. Being able to cry when you need to is something only strong people can do.”

Elian kept whispering that it was okay. That he wasn’t weak, that he could do well in the future. He was guiding him, illuminating a dark path.

My savior.

My guide.

My refuge.

Only then could he breathe. The pressure disappeared, leaving a refreshing mint scent in his chest.

“I… I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Even the slightest movement made me gasp for air, so I couldn’t do anything. That’s why… that’s why…”

In his embrace, filled with the scent of mint, he cried for a long time, releasing his pent-up feelings.

Then, his mind, body, and heart gradually felt lighter.

Elian asked Kirendis,

“Is it still like that?”

“…A little.”

Wanting to indulge himself a little longer, he lied. Perhaps sensing this, Elian narrowed his eyes and pulled away.

It was a shame, but after crying for so long, he felt shy and remained still.

It was then.

“Gulp.”

A wave of minty fragrance filled Kirendis’s mouth. It was the scent that always emanated from Elian.

“How is it? Does it clear your head?”

The candy was too big for Kirendis. It felt strange, like holding him entirely in his mouth.

The sharp yet sweet taste and scent seemed to penetrate his entire body.

“My eyes… feel like they’re clearing too.”

As he made a pained face at the strange sensation, Elian, for the first time, smiled, his blue eyes crinkling beautifully.

“It’s my special remedy. I’ll give it to you specially.”

Ah…

Kirendis’s eyes widened without his realizing it. Elian’s smile, seen for the first time…

It was so beautiful.

Fortunately, Kirendis regained his spirits.

Elian, who had worried the protagonist might turn out crooked, let out a sigh of relief.

‘It’s easier to predict someone you’ve soothed than someone unpredictable.’

He wondered if the major events happening to the protagonist were following the novel’s plot.

‘Otherwise, how could the timing be so perfect?’

For Kirendis, his mother’s death was the starting point of everything. It was the most important event for him.

‘Then…’

Would Elian Eshton’s death also be a major event for him?

‘It’s important.’

Kirendis had grown up fighting on countless battlefields to kill Archduke Esiton. As a result, he became king and met the female protagonist.

The biggest event for him was meeting the female protagonist.

Therefore, the story of him becoming king had a high probability of continuing.

If so, Elian had only one thing to do.

‘Not becoming king.’

Becoming king in this world meant risking his life. With the added credibility, there was no need to say more.

‘War…’

He felt a bitter taste, thinking that it would happen at least once, whether from within or without.

‘I can’t help it. I’ll just have to prepare well until then.’

Organizing his thoughts, Elian opened his eyes. The Duchy’s garden sparkled beautifully under the dazzling sunlight.

The weather was so fine, it blended with the clear blue sky and refreshed his heart.

A peace he couldn’t feel in the Imperial Palace. Elian, lost in that tranquility, turned his head.

“Hup!”

A child with red eyes looked away, startled.

He still held a half-eaten sandwich in his hand.

How long was he going to hold onto it?

“I agreed to a picnic, but what are you doing not eating?”

It was Kirendis’s last lesson day.

Using the excuse of it being the last day, he had asked Elian to accompany him on a picnic, calling it his lifelong wish.

Knowing that Kirendis would have to live as a high-ranking noble named Kirendis Riphen from now on, Elian had reluctantly agreed.

As a result, they ended up spreading a mat and enjoying a picnic. It was something he had never imagined doing in his life.

‘To make Archduke Esiton sit on the ground. The protagonist is truly amazing.’

If the ministers had seen this, they would have been horrified, but there was no one else here.

Elian liked that fact.

“I, I was going to eat it.”

Kirendis, with a flustered expression, took a bite of the sandwich. His way of eating it, due to the etiquette he was now accustomed to, looked noble.

As Elian felt proud of this, he felt a furtive glance again.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Ah, no? There’s no reason for that.”

Elian found his reaction, which was unlike him, strange.

‘Why is his face turning red?’

Whatever the reason, he kept glancing sideways with a flushed face.

Whenever their eyes met, he would quickly look away, only to glance again.

As a result, Kirendis’s sandwich remained untouched.

‘Is he hesitant because he wants more?’

Reassured by the plausible guess, Elian spoke.

“You can eat that, and I’ll stay a bit longer, so hurry up and eat.”

“Huh?”

Kirendis’s eyes widened in surprise.

The sight, combined with the background, looked fresh and lovely.

‘Is it because it’s the last time? He looks even prettier.’

Thinking that this small happiness would also end today, Elian felt a pang of regret.

“Th-that’s not it.”

“It’s not? Then, shall we end the picnic here?”

As Elian pretended to get up nonchalantly, he felt a hand grasp his clothes in a hurry.

Turning his head, he saw Kirendis muttering with a displeased expression.

“…You’re mean.”

The sight was so cute that Elian couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“You’re quite cute?”

He hadn’t realized he had laughed, but his intention to tease was clear. He wanted to see Kirendis’s sulky face, provoked by his meanness.

However, Kirendis’s reaction took an unexpected turn.

‘Huh?’

His face, as their eyes met, turned bright red and drooped downwards.

Elian blinked at the reaction, which he had never seen before.

His fists were clenched tightly, unmistakably the posture of someone feeling shy.

‘Has he never been called cute before?’

For a boy his age, being called cute was usually a reason to get indignant, not shy.

So, it wasn’t unreasonable for Elian to think that. Even though the reason for his blush was entirely different.

He realized this because of Kirendis’s subsequent words.

“Um… Elian.”

Kirendis cautiously raised his head, his lips moving as if hesitating.

He looked like he had something to say.

‘Did he get curious again?’

Since he had invalidated the wish coupon not long ago, Elian thought it would be fine to show some leniency this time.

So, he waited for Kirendis to continue, but an entirely unexpected question came out.

“What kind of person do you like, Elian?”

His expression was so serious it was almost solemn.

‘What kind of person do I like?’

Well…

“I like people who are good at their jobs.”

The answer came out instantly, without a second’s hesitation.

He had become even more resolute lately, as he was currently teaching numerous incompetent workers one by one.

However, it seemed it wasn’t the answer Kirendis was hoping for, as he added a clarification with a bewildered expression.

“I don’t mean that… I mean your ideal type!”

‘Ideal type,’ he emphasized the word, and his face fell. His face was redder than before, refusing to return to normal.

‘Huh…?’

Only then did Elian grasp the situation.

The way he kept glancing at me.

His face blushing at unexpected moments.

Even the question about his ideal type.

Wasn’t this the typical behavior of someone in love?

‘Wait! He’s the protagonist? He has a heroine. Why….’

Me…?

That was the extent of Elian’s confusion. Then, he remembered an incident from a few days ago.

The day he had pushed and comforted Kirendis, who was lost in despair.

‘Could it be because of that day?’

What happened that day seemed to have been quite a significant event for Kirendis. Enough for his gaze to change so drastically overnight.

‘Still, you have a heroine.’

Nevertheless, he supposed such behavior was understandable, perhaps because Elian had become the sole object of affection for someone who had no one else to rely on in this place.

Thinking of it that way, it wasn’t that strange. Just inconvenient.

‘For a kid.’

Elian narrowed his eyes. He thought it was too much for a kid to try such things.

He also mused that kids these days were fast, and it was a little amusing that he was the target.

‘Cute. So cute.’

His heart lightened. He dismissed Kirendis’s feelings as insignificant.

It would have been stranger to take it seriously. After all, there was a seven-year age gap between them.

An emotion that would eventually fade and grow dim. But something to look back on and say, ‘Ah, that was how it was then.’

Elian chuckled and opened his mouth.

“My ideal type?”

Kirendis’s ears perked up. It was so obvious what he was thinking that Elian could barely suppress his laughter.

However, he thought that laughing immediately would hurt the child, who was clearly experiencing his first love, so he spoke as calmly as possible.

“Hmm… As for me.”

Still, wanting to tease him a little, he paused. Kirendis, looking extremely tense, swallowed audibly.

“First, I’d like them to be taller than me.”

“Taller? Taller?”

Kirendis’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes. Given my situation, it’s hard for me to protect anyone, so I think someone taller and more dependable would be good.”

“Depend…able…”

A word far removed from a child who was only thirteen.

“And I want them to be strong enough to protect me. Someone like a Sword Master or an Archmage, perhaps.”

“Uh… Huh?”

Kirendis grew more and more flustered. Not only dependable but also a Sword Master or an Archmage.

His mouth fell open at the absurd conditions.

“I’d also like them to be quick-witted and have a sharp tongue that won’t back down anywhere…”

The conditions kept piling up.

What Elian was listing were all conditions for the aides he needed.

A list of talents intended for multiple people, not just one.

As such, Kirendis also realized that Elian’s conditions were absurd.

“Where can anyone find someone like that! Just tell me three simple things.”

Simple things…

His face, full of dissatisfaction, showed a determination to become the ideal type, even if it meant changing some things.

‘He’s so easy to read.’

The childish thought was simply cute. Elian let out the wicked impulse that was slowly rising within him.

“Then my ideal type is…”

Gulp.

Tense eyes followed him.

Elian began to list simple conditions that Kirendis could never fulfill.

“Someone who smiles often.”

“……”

“And kind.”

“……”

“And older.”

For the first time, Elian deliberately smiled.

Despite his radiant smile, Kirendis stared blankly into space.

After all, Kirendis wasn’t someone who smiled often, nor was he kind, and he certainly couldn’t be older.

“How is it? Are your questions answered?”

“Yes…”

Would it be mean of me to say his dejected face was too cute?

Elian considered the time spent with Kirendis as a lighthearted anecdote.

After his last lesson with Elian, Kirendis headed to the academy.

He had learned much from Elian over three years, but it was still insufficient to become the heir of the Ducal Family.

The Duke had long given up on his ailing eldest son and wished for Kirendis to take his place.

However, Kirendis had no reason to accept the Duke’s offer. His mother, the sole reason for his existence, had passed away.

Yet, Kirendis accepted the proposal. A newly formed goal made him move again.

‘I want to become someone worthy of Elian.’

Kirendis liked Elian. He had liked him before, but from that day on, he felt his feelings change.

The world that had revolved around him began to revolve around Elian.

Wherever he was, whatever he did, he thought of it in relation to Elian. His world became filled with Elian.

Kirendis could no longer deny his feelings.

‘This is love.’

Yes. The emotional downpour he was experiencing now was called love.

He had never imagined his target would be someone seven years his senior, but it had already happened.

‘Elian is amazing.’

So, what did the age difference matter?

In terms of ability, in terms of appearance. And on top of that, his kind personality.

He thought it was nonsensical not to like such a perfect person.

Once he recognized his feelings, he became curious about what kind of person Elian liked.

That’s why he had asked about his ideal type.

‘Sigh…’

Kirendis sighed. He regretted asking if he had known how high his ideal type’s bar was.

But he couldn’t turn back time. Kirendis decided he had to change what he could.

‘Someone who smiles often and is kind… and older.’

He could try his best to be someone who smiled often and was kind. The problem was being older.

The seven-year age gap felt too vast.

He felt he wouldn’t be able to stand before Elian confidently until he was at least Elian’s current age.

‘What should I do…’

Kirendis pondered. Then, a thought struck him.

‘Isn’t it enough if I just look older?’

Hope filled Kirendis’s heart. He planned how to spend the next six years at the academy.

His goal was to become a magnificent man who surpassed Elian.

He believed that if he surpassed Elian, he would appear older.

‘Good.’

Kirendis worked hard. He also strove to become someone who smiled often and was kind, as Elian had described.

It was incredibly difficult to smile when he couldn’t. Maintaining kindness was the same.

In this world, being able to genuinely smile and be kind meant that person was a ‘strong one.’

Kirendis diligently honed himself wherever he was, striving to equip himself with a kindness that allowed him to smile at any time.

Thus, six years passed.

Kirendis achieved the unprecedented feat of graduating as valedictorian in all subjects in the academy’s history. He had also achieved most of his goals.

‘I can see him soon.’

He wanted to go see him immediately, but the time wasn’t right yet. He needed to prepare to meet him.

Another year passed.

The night before he was to meet Elian, a comrade who shared his aspirations asked him.

“What was the reason you came to like him?”

“Reason?”

Kirendis recalled the past.

Quite some time had passed, and it felt somewhat distant.

“At first, I think it was admiration.”

Someone who always shone brilliantly.

Someone who became a solid support.

Someone who willingly extended a hand when he was lost and wandering.

What began as admiration gradually turned into love. It felt like a natural progression.

But looking back now, the emotions at that time felt incredibly shallow.

How deep could a child’s love be?

A fresh, first love.

But it was different now.

“Now…”

Kirendis realized as he grew.

Elian’s true life.

The truth hidden behind the dazzling light.

The vulnerability hidden behind his strength.

The foolishness of teaching the right path but not finding his own.

Elian was desperately living a life constantly pushed to the brink.

So…

“I want to protect him.”

Now, he wanted to be the support. He wanted to be a solid pillar, just as Elian had been for him in his childhood.

“He’s someone who has never once rested.”

He wanted to be the sole… sanctuary in a fierce world.

Elian’s desperate cry was immediately denied.

“Nothing is impossible. We’ve already made our decision.”

Kirendis smiled faintly and got up. His face was filled with ease.

He looked like he was enjoying the situation more than anyone else.

Elian, his face still pale, quickly pressed.

“Who decided that without my consent? My will?!”

“You’ve already been kidnapped, so why ask such a thing?”

“……”

Yes. What answer could he expect when he had already been kidnapped?

They had decided not to ask for his consent. If they had wanted his opinion, they would have contacted him separately, not kidnapped him.

“You don’t need to do anything. We’ll handle it.”

“……”

What exactly were they going to handle…

Elian’s mind conjured an image of himself as king. A future where his head was swiftly severed also flashed by.

The person who would do it was right in front of him, but one never knew what life might bring.

Even if they intended to make him king now, he couldn’t be sure how the novel’s plot would guide him.

Just as Kirendis’s mother couldn’t escape the novel’s timeline, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t.

“You’re insane. Truly, utterly insane. What on earth were you thinking to do something like this? Are there others besides you who have such foolish thoughts?”

What was surprising was that people who thought like Kirendis existed.

He had believed without a doubt that he had faithfully played his role as the villain. Then why was this happening!

“There are so many righteous people in the world. It’s still a world worth living in.”

“……”

It seemed he had learned something strange at the academy. Had a Department of Delusions been established?

He wondered if he had even excelled in such a bizarre field, being the valedictorian in all subjects.

‘I’m ruined. I’m ruined.’

He wanted to disband this organization immediately. But there were many things holding him back.

The fact that he was the next heir of a ducal family, one of the nation’s leading families.

With his eldest son dead and him officially recognized as the heir, he couldn’t be sure the Ducal Family wasn’t involved with the Rebel Army.

If it were just a gathering of riff-raff, it would be one thing, but if the Ducal Family was involved, and the protagonist was involved, the problem became complicated.

‘If I do nothing, I might actually become king…’

No matter how much he had built a reputation for wickedness, Elian possessed the power he had accumulated.

Enough power to appropriately check Marius and instill a sense of crisis in the nation.

And if the Ducal Family were added to that…

‘Crazy.’

The nation would be thrown into chaos.

“Are you hungry? I’ll bring something edible.”

“Food right now…”

Grumble.

“…….”

“I’ll bring something delicious.”

“Yes.”

Elian meekly nodded. Come to think of it, he hadn’t eaten anything during the journey because he had been sleeping.

Being kidnapped and knocked unconscious in the meantime, it was no wonder his stomach was making noise.

‘My image…’

He could hear the image of the Iron Blood Archduke crumbling. How had he built that image…

‘Does it not matter here?’

A small realization struck Elian.

The image of Elian Eshton held by Kirendis, and by the fools he hadn’t even seen yet.

If he could just break that, wouldn’t they realize it too?

The image Elian had projected until now was that of a cool, perfect absolute being, anytime, anywhere.

The ability to lead and pressure people with outstanding leadership, obtaining everything he desired.

Truly the image of a perfect Royal.

‘Yes. If I just break that, won’t they naturally disperse?’

Marius, who had ascended the throne, was objectively not a bad king.

His maternal family was the Duke Cheston family, which stood shoulder to shoulder with the Rippen Ducal Family, and he possessed the necessary qualities for a king.

Elian was simply an extraordinary genius.

‘Good. I’m retiring anyway, so why bother managing my image?’

Besides, there was no need to worry about rumors leaking out here. Who would believe the Rebel Army’s words!

And given his established image, they wouldn’t believe it unless they saw it themselves.

“It wasn’t a big deal, was it?”

Relieved, Elian lay back comfortably on the bed. He felt he could live a decadent life until Jade looked for him.

‘Still, if they don’t realize…’

Should I run away?

To be in a position where I have to run away because I don’t want to be king. It was so absurd that he let out a hollow laugh.

“Elian. I’m here.”

After a little while, Kirendis reappeared with a tray of elaborate food.

However, despite the perfectly fine dining table, he brought the tray to the bed and sat down.

“…Why are you bringing it here?”

“Elian, your hands aren’t free, so I’m here to help.”

His tone was as if he were tending to someone with an injured arm.

He let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity, and Kirendis offered him a spoonful of soup.

“Here. Ahh.”

“……”

Elian was speechless and stared at Kirendis.

What did this kid just say? Did he mishear?

“Hurry up. You must be hungry.”

He seemed unfazed, as if asking what the problem was. Elian wondered if he was the only one who found this situation strange.

But the conclusion was the same. So, right now…

“You’re going to feed me…?”

“Yes.”

“……”

At the bright yet firm answer, he was once again lost for words.

Why had he grown into such a brazen adult? Elian pointed out the problem and shouted.

“I have hands too!”

Yes. Although one hand was not free, the other was perfectly fine, so there was no impediment to eating.

Of course, it would be difficult to maintain etiquette, but hadn’t he already decided to throw that away?

However, Kirendis was a formidable opponent.

He took out another pair of handcuffs from his pocket, secured Elian’s hand to the opposite bedpost, and said.

“This way, there’s no problem, right?”

“……”

“Now, open wide.”

…Elian had no choice but to obediently open his mouth.

As he wolfed down the food Kirendis fed him, a question arose.

‘But how did he end up joining the Rebel Army?’

The story was going off the rails. Why had Kirendis suddenly turned into a rebel?

“Why?”

As if sensing his questioning gaze, Kirendis tilted his head. He looked so kind, as if he would answer anything.

But given his past evasiveness, he wondered if he would give a proper answer.

‘Still, there’s no harm in asking repeatedly.’

There was plenty of time. He had nothing else to do, so it seemed wise to gather information bit by bit to understand the situation.

“You.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

He answered well, but would he answer this question properly too?

“How on earth did you end up joining the Rebel Army?”

“I told you. It’s because I fell for Elian.”

“Stop joking.”

When he dismissed it as a joke, he heard a voice asking why he didn’t believe him.

“It’s true. I fell for Elian, and that’s why I joined the Rebel Army. Because you are precious to me.”

Precious?

It became even more incomprehensible. Who on earth would start a rebellion for such a trivial reason?

“You don’t believe me. Then how about this?”

Kirendis put down his spoon and said.

“Someone told me. That Marius Arpen has a fatal flaw.”

A fatal flaw.

Elian’s face stiffened for a moment.

He was indeed an emperor who seemed unremarkable on the surface. However, he possessed a fatal flaw that would be problematic for an emperor, or rather, could develop into a major issue.

“That turned out to be true. That’s why I became uneasy. I wondered what would happen if he became Emperor. But he did become Emperor.”

Having said that much, Kirendis looked at Elian seriously and said.

“You know it. The fact that he will surely kill you.”

Elian could say nothing. It was because it was as he said.

Marius’s fatal flaw.

It was his pathological inferiority complex towards Elian. You might say, ‘What’s the big deal about that?’, but it became a big problem when he became Emperor.

A person who could decide the rise and fall of a nation with a single choice. That was the Emperor.

Marius always made the wrong choice at crucial moments, and it was always due to his inferiority complex towards Elian.

The price it brought was immense. Sometimes it was paid with countless lives, sometimes with financial crises that shook the nation.

While such mistakes could have solidified his power, power beyond necessity held no meaning for Elian. He was not someone who should have become Emperor.

That’s why he chose the option of retirement.

Hoping that Marius’s pathological inferiority complex would improve even a little after becoming Emperor.

“You joined the Rebel Army just for something like that? I can protect my own life.”

Elian retorted as if it were absurd. Regardless of the intention, it was unnecessary meddling. He already possessed the strength to protect himself.

However, Kirendis did not seem to think so.

“Someone like that gets kidnapped so easily?”

“……”

This time too, he could say nothing. Despite speaking confidently, he was left speechless.

By what means was he kidnapped?

It was highly likely due to thorough preparation and the protagonist’s buff of insane skill, but it wouldn’t be accepted even if he said it.

“Haa.”

Elian let out a small sigh. Things had become complicated.

Seeing his expression, Kirendis seemed to think he had pushed Elian too hard, and said with a slightly softened face.

“I didn’t intend to say this much……”

He seemed to regret it slightly. It was a reunion after a long time. A meeting he had long awaited, and he seemed bothered by clashing like this.

“But since the topic has come up, I’ll say it.”

However, he did not back down. He seemed unwilling to back down on this point.

“The biggest reason I joined the Rebel Army is because I want you to live a comfortable life in a safe and bright place.”

Those words carried great meaning. With that single sentence, Elian understood much.

“So please become King. Please live in a place no one can touch. So that I… can be at ease.”

Numerous emotions flickered across Kirendis’s face.

Fear.

Anxiety.

Impatience.

And determination.

Elian realized the reason Kirendis had joined the Rebel Army.

His father, who lost his life in a Monster attack, and his mother, who passed away after a long illness.

Having lost his most precious people at a young age, he had become afraid. Afraid that someone he newly cherished would leave his side again.

That anxiety had brought Kirendis here and twisted the story.

‘This is troublesome.’

How should he fix this? He shouldn’t have let his guard down from the start; he had made the wrong first move.

But it was already irreversible. Rather than regretting it, he needed to find something he could do right now.

“Alright. I understand what you want to say.”

“Huh? Then……”

Kirendis’s face brightened instantly. But Elian shook his head and countered.

“Understanding is one thing. Rebellion is another matter.”

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue playfully and turned his head. It seemed he wanted to lighten the mood.

Elian also did not want to face him with a heavy atmosphere after meeting him for the first time in a while, so he decided to put the troublesome issue aside for now.

“Give me more of that for now.”

He was still hungry. He couldn’t think properly unless he ate his fill first, could he?

“Yes!”

Kirendis nodded with a bright face. But Elian could only regret it again.

“Here, say ‘ah’ again.”

“……”

He felt like he shouldn’t have brought it up.