The Villainous Family Loves Me Too Much!

He says he doesn’t want to be misunderstood, but he’s openly confessing. What kind of irony is this?

“A confession?”

“…I am Gebino Augusto.”

“What?”

I was overwhelmed by Conrad’s words, and my mind didn’t function properly.

Gebino Augusto?

“Wait a minute. So, you’re telling me that the person I’m talking to right now is not sir Conrad but Gebino Augusto, a priest?”

“No, Your Highness.”

The man, whether Conrad or Gebino, swallowed nervously.

“I am Conrad Augusto, and at the same time, I am also Gebino Augusto.”

“What does that mean?”

“I am currently leading a double life between Felosite and the Julius Altar. I deeply apologize for deceiving Your Highness.”

Conrad, or rather Gebino Augusto, laid out everything that had happened to me. From three years ago, when he suddenly awakened his sacred power as an imperial knight trainee, to how he came to conspire with the Archduke.

“So, the Archduke and the priest, no, the knight… Anyway, those on your side who are unknown, are they deceiving everyone to maintain the balance of magical and sacred powers?”

“Yes, that’s right. Oh, and of course, Commander Sylonne knows about it.”

I was so shocked that I gulped down the water in my cup.

If what Gebino said was true, he had awakened his sacred power right after I was reincarnated.

‘Then, did I, by any chance, cause Gebino to gain sacred power when I was reincarnated into this novel?’

Why did the main antagonist, the Archduke of Felosite, invade the Empire in the original story?

“If the balance is not maintained, what will happen?”

After thinking for a while, Gebino said while pouring water into my cup.

“We will see more demon beasts drawn by strong magic appearing in the world.”

“Then… if not Gebino, how can the balance be maintained?”

“Your Highness, the Archduke needs to disperse his magical power. Ironically, creating new creatures is one way.”

Gebino, or rather, Conrad, gestured for me to come closer to a large tome in the middle of the room.

The sunlight pouring through the hole in the tower’s ceiling illuminated the book like a spotlight.

“This book appeared to me three years ago when my sacred power awakened, Your Highness. It is written in an ancient language that we cannot understand, but there is an interpretation below it. And our names, here, like this. So, only the two of us can see its contents.”

As Gebino said, at the very bottom of the blank pages, both of our names were inscribed side by side.

I approached the book and started flipping through it. Along with illustrations, it recorded important future events in this world.

“But here, there’s one significant event recorded, Your Highness.”

I turned the page to read the next part.

“I apologize for telling you this, but that event… is…”

“I know, it says I’m going to die.”

Gebino’s large eyes widened even further.

“How did Your Highness…?”

“Well, it’s surprisingly easy to read.”

Surprisingly, I could easily read the contents of this prophecy book that no one else in this world could read.

“Th-this is amazing!”

Gebino’s exclamation filled the room.

“Did you study even the unknown ancient language, Your Highness? So, it’s clear that this ancient language is a language taught to all the nobles!”

Ancient language?

Of course, I had been educated in it. It was the language I had studied the hardest, after all.

But I was certain that no one else among the nobles could read it.

“No, probably only I can read it among the nobility.”

Because this so-called prophecy book was… the synopsis of the Korean novel

But I couldn’t explain to Gebino the existence of Korean, because if I did, I might be treated as insane.

In fact, this world was a novel, after all.

“It’s self-taught. There’s nothing I can’t find in the imperial palace library.”

So, I have no choice but to be cautious.

Gebino’s expression relaxed upon hearing my words.

“I’m so relieved that Your Highness knows Ancient Language. No one else recognized this language, no matter how much we inquired. I was so anxious because I couldn’t understand the contents of the book until now.”

“The main text isn’t that detailed. It’s written very simply and plainly.”

“I’m grateful that it’s simple and plain. However, the problem is that the contents of the prophecy keep changing. Of course… the prophecy about the Empire’s downfall has never changed.”

The contents of the prophecy changing? Right, this is an unfinished synopsis that the author scribbled. Since it’s not in its final form, the author can change it anytime.

“For a while, only some parts of the events changed, but… Your Highness, since you came to Felosite, the entire content of the prophecy has changed, and in a terrible direction.”

“What? What does that mean?”

The main characters of this novel was Gabriel and Beatrice, set in the Castien Empire. The antagonist was the Archduke of Felosite.

But if the content has completely changed…

“Until now, the prophecy discussed the downfall of the Castien Empire. Felosite was prophesied to survive. But now, the prophecy is speaking of—”

“Could it be the downfall of Felosite?”

Gebino nodded silently.

“You think there is some connection between the prophetic book and me.”

“That’s right, and perhaps, if we find that connection, we can prevent Felosite’s downfall.”

Now, certain pieces of the puzzle were falling into place for me.

The answer was clear. Perhaps the reason why the female lead of the novel changed from Beatrice Donovan to me, Karena Leblanc, was for the new sad ending where Beatrice becomes an antagonist, plotting the death of the male lead.

Since I became the female lead, I have to embrace the sad ending.

I became the Archduchess of Felosite, so the prophecy of Felosite’s downfall seems almost inevitable.

Then… who will be the new male lead?

* * *

Today, it was undoubtedly Lucian who allowed Gebino and Karena’s meeting. But Lucian was far from feeling relaxed.

He had pushed Karena into such a confined space with a man!

Lucian, usually full of confidence, was berating himself as a fool.

‘That bastard seemed to have dark intentions.’

Despite his calm and composed demeanor, Lucian’s mind was full of anxiety.

He had brought Karena to Felosite after seeing her foretold death in the prophecy, intending to explain it all himself from the beginning. But…

– Wouldn’t it be better for me to reveal my identity and tell Her Highness the truth as a priest?

Due to his gruff personality, he was afraid that he might unintentionally cause misunderstandings. That’s why he had decided it would be better to let Gebino handle it gently and kindly.

‘Why isn’t she coming out? What’s taking them so long to talk?’

Jealousy? Fear? Lucian was filled with complex emotions he couldn’t identify as he kept his eyes on the entrance to the tower.

He had been chewing his lips until they were about to burst, and red blood was oozing from them.

The tower was a secret place given to Lucian by his late father, the Archduke. It was his own space where he could spend time undisturbed in the woods.

In a situation where it wasn’t clear exactly who the Empire’s spy was, he believed this was the most suitable place to disclose the secret.

That’s why he sent them here.

Nevertheless, Lucian was anxiously waiting on the tree where the tower was clearly visible.

After chewing his lips for a long time, Lucian’s lips became swollen and on the verge of breaking when Karena and Gebino appeared.