I Became the Master of the Villain

When Kian, having sorted out his thoughts, tried to stand, Nicholas grabbed his arm with a look of regret.
“You’ve hardly had anything to drink, and you’re already leaving?”

“……”
Kian didn’t answer and instead stared silently at the empty glasses before them.
Saying he hadn’t drunk much wasn’t exactly accurate, given how many empty glasses there were.

Perhaps by Nicholas’s standards, it wasn’t even enough to warm the liver.
“Wouldn’t it be better for your health to drink in moderation?”
“I appreciate the concern, but my liver is in excellent condition. Nine out of ten doctors have told me so.”

Kian almost replied, That’s probably just because you’re still young, but he shook his head slightly instead.
It seemed like saying more would be pointless.
Then Nicholas took the pipe from his mouth and said,

“Ah, right! I almost forgot.”
He shoved his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket.
A moment later, he pulled something out and handed it over.

It was a luxurious leather case that fit in one hand.
“What is this?”
Kian asked, and Nicholas exhaled a puff of pale smoke before answering.

“A gift from me to you.”
A gift, all of a sudden? What kind of wind brought this on?
Kian untied the string wrapped around the opening of the leather case.

When he looked inside, his eyes widened slightly.
It was a check. And a sizable one at that.
“It’s a token of thanks for everything you’ve done for me.”
Nicholas smiled sheepishly.

“Thanks for being the model for my painting.”
Nicholas spoke shyly, unusually so.
He was normally shameless and pushy, but handing over something like this must have made him feel awkward.

Kian put the check back into the leather case.
“I appreciate the sentiment.”
At that unexpected response, Nicholas’s eyes widened a little. He asked, sounding puzzled,

“What… why? Is it too much? Are you uncomfortable with it?”
“It’s not that. It’s just… I already have a lot of money.”
The people who came from various countries to recruit Kian had not arrived empty-handed.

They used every possible method to win his favor.
Even those who failed to gain his acceptance had thought it beneficial to make a good impression on him.
Though he hadn’t wanted it, the bribes kept pouring in. As a result, Kian had unintentionally become wealthy.

“I’ll keep the debt noted. You can repay me in another way later.”
Kian handed the check back to Nicholas.
“Use that money for something good.”

With that, Kian stood up. Nicholas chuckled and took a drag on his cigarette.
Then, like someone hit by a sudden breeze, he grumbled,
“Ah, now that you’ve abandoned me, I’ll have to find a new drinking buddy.”

Nicholas glanced around the room restlessly and added,
“Celine Claudel is still here with one of my acquaintances. I should go strike up a conversation.”
Sure enough, as Nicholas said, the blonde actress was still in the tavern.

She was drinking and laughing cheerfully with the painter they had once seen at an artists’ party.
“You’re not planning to ask her to model for you too, are you?”
Kian asked, and Nicholas grinned broadly.

“Oh my, Kian. Are you jealous, by any chance?”
“Have you lost your mind?”
Kian frowned as if he’d just heard utter nonsense.

But Nicholas winked and said without a care,
“Don’t worry. Of everyone I’ve ever seen, you’re the most beautiful. You’re always number one in my heart.”
“……”

Kian regretted asking in the first place.
***
Kian stepped out into the street. The streetlights flickered one by one, illuminating the darkness.

He could have teleported straight back to the mansion, but he decided to walk a bit to sober up.
The river breeze tousled his silver hair.
The coolness of the wind helped clear the lingering buzz of alcohol.

He walked for a while longer. Then, across the street, a shop caught his eye.
I had something I needed to spend money on anyway.
Kian strode toward it.

***
Several hours had passed since Nicholas had taken Kian out for a drink.
Kian returned to the mansion alone.

I was on my room’s terrace, enjoying the night breeze, when I saw him appear at the front door and gave a small wave.
“Welcome back, Kian.”
Hearing my voice, Kian looked up at the terrace.

He smiled softly and said,
“I’m back, Olivia-nim.”
It was a smile that was beautiful no matter how many times I saw it.

And maybe it was just my imagination, but he seemed much brighter than when he’d left.
Nicholas had boasted that he’d help resolve Kian’s concerns. Did he really manage to help?
I leaned against the terrace railing and looked down at Kian.

“Didn’t Nicholas come back with you?”
Still looking up, Kian replied,
“He’s probably enjoying himself with a beautiful woman by now.”

Somehow, I didn’t need the details to understand exactly what ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) had happened.
That man really can’t resist a pretty face.
Then Kian called my name.

“Olivia-nim.”
“Yeah?”
“May I have a moment of your time?”

“Of course.”
“Then I’ll come to you.”
In an instant, his figure disappeared from my line of sight.

In the blink of an eye, Kian had teleported to the third-floor terrace.
He slowly approached me and pulled something from his coat.
“I have something to give you.”

What he handed over was an elegant velvet case.
What could this be? It looked like something quite expensive.
Curious, I opened the box.

An emerald of deep green, dangling from a silver chain, sparkled under the moonlight.
I looked up at Kian, surprised by the unexpected gift.
“This is…”

“It’s a necklace with a protective enchantment. I thought it might be something you need.”
Kian said.
His gaze lingered on the nape of my neck.

He must have noticed that the necklace I used to wear had been broken.
I had been meaning to contact a mage and commission a new one…
I looked at Kian, moved by his thoughtful gesture.

“Thank you.”
The necklace’s elegant design would pair well with any outfit.
“I really love it.”

More than its beauty, the fact that Kian had personally enchanted it with magic was what moved me most.
Kian smiled softly with his eyes.
“I’m glad you’re pleased.”

As I held the necklace in my palm, Kian said,
“May I put it on for you?”
“Please.”

Kian stepped behind me. With gentle hands, he swept my long hair aside.
His arm briefly came into view, and then I felt the cold touch of metal against my skin.
After clasping the necklace, Kian spoke.

“If anything happens, that will protect you. So please, never take it off.”
I nodded, gently touching the emerald that sparkled near my chest.
“I won’t.”

Kian lifted the corners of his mouth in a soft smile.
But as if he still didn’t feel at ease, he asked,
“Have you learned anything about the mastermind behind the assassination?”

I shook my head.
“I’ve requested the information guild to investigate the assassin’s identity. There’s been no word yet…”
“Then, aside from Lord James, is there anyone else you suspect?”

“Hmm…”
There was one person, but he was so powerful that even naming him made me hesitate.
Even though it was just speculation, I didn’t want to say his name lightly.

That’s why I hadn’t mentioned him to Father or the butler…
But maybe it would be okay to tell Kian. He was someone who had risked his life for me.
As I glanced around to make sure no one was listening, Kian spoke.

“I’ve already placed a sound-blocking spell, so feel free to speak.”
Even knowing that, my voice came out cautiously.
“The Crown Prince… seems a bit suspicious.”

“The Crown Prince?”
“Yeah. He tried to win our family over to counter the Second Prince. But I ruined his plan.”
The Crown Prince was someone who could easily replace me with one of my relatives as the next duke.

“And those assassins… they wiped out almost all the escort knights with just two people. You can’t just hire people like that easily.”
Kian listened to my words quietly.
The air felt a bit heavier, so I quickly added,

“Of course, it might just be my imagination.”
“It could very well be true.”
Even if it was, we had no evidence, so there was nothing we could do.

Kian had just given me a gift, and it felt like the mood had gotten too heavy, so I decided to change the subject.
“By the way, what’s the story behind this? Such an expensive gift…”
I knew very well that all those people who came to scout Kian had offered him bribes.

Still, is it okay for him to spend money like this…?
The moment I saw the necklace, I knew. That emerald was no ordinary gem.
Having lived a life of luxury—well, the original owner of this body had, not me—I could at least judge the value of a jewel.

This emerald… it’s got to be worth over 100 million gallons.
But Kian tilted his head and asked,
“Is it expensive?”

The expression on his face said he truly didn’t understand.
I was certain that 100 million gallons wasn’t just someone’s kid’s name…
But somehow, Kian’s sense of money seemed completely broken.

My chest tightened a little. Still, I forced myself to feign ignorance and tried to rationalize it.
It’s not because of me…!