I Became the Master of the Villain

I stopped by a shop and bought a fan with a thick plume of feathers.
Flick— I snapped it open and covered # Nоvеlight # half my face.

As soon as I stepped outside, the number of people recognizing me dropped dramatically.
So this is why celebrities wear masks.
Thanks to using the fan as a makeshift disguise, I made it to the theater without further incident.

At the entrance hung the poster for the play I was supposed to watch with Kian.
A quick glance at the lead actor's name told me Celine Claudel was starring.
Right... she wore the black dress on stage, didn’t she?

Celine was one of the reasons Anna’s dresses had become so popular.
I’d have to find a chance to thank her properly someday—maybe even offer her the role of official brand ambassador.
I’ve already made a lot of money… but I wouldn’t mind making more.

Just as I was having that materialistic thought, murmurs rose among the theatergoers.
“That guy is ridiculously handsome... Is he an actor?”
“Should I ask for an autograph?”
I stopped examining the poster and turned my head toward the commotion.

A man was walking into the theater—his silver hair unmistakable, his figure flawless like a model’s.
As he passed, heads turned as if drawn by magnets.
Naturally, he wasn’t immune to attention either.

Dragging a trail of gazes behind him like a tail, Kian approached.
Lowering his perfectly-shaped brows, he spoke.
“Apologies for being late.”

“It’s fine. We’re still early.”
“I didn’t keep you waiting too long? You seem a bit tired…”
“Hm? No, not at all.”
Contrary to his concern, I was perfectly fine.

Though, I might’ve looked tired after getting swarmed at the café earlier.
I laughed sheepishly and told him what had happened.
“I see… That happened.”

After hearing the full story, Kian’s mood visibly soured.
He muttered in a low voice.
“…I should’ve been there.”

When I asked why, puzzled, he replied with a pout.
“Someone else shook hands with you.”
So that’s what he was upset about… I burst into laughter.

“Someone stopped the crowd before it got out of hand, so it wasn’t that many.”
Though I did get stuck in a barrage of applause.
Only then did Kian’s expression soften.

“Then I’m glad to hear that.”
I considered teasing him by asking what he would’ve done if I’d actually shaken hands with everyone—but decided to let that pointless curiosity go.
Though we still had time before the performance, Kian and I went into the theater early.

We took our seats, flipping through the playbill while the other guests gradually filed in.
Once the audience filled out and the seats were nearly full, Kian spoke.
“Looks like it’s about to start.”

“Yeah.”
I nodded, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Soon, the curtain rose and the play began.

I recalled the summary I’d skimmed earlier in the pamphlet:
A fallen noblewoman rises through her own strength to become Empress.
I focused on the performance.

It’s predictable… but fun.
Thanks to the actors’ strong performances and the dramatic staging, I found myself drawn in despite myself.
A maid slipped poison into the heroine’s tea and exited the stage with a sly smile.

That’s when I heard voices.
“Which of the twins did that awful thing?”
“Oh, it was the older sister—Amy.”
“Really? How could you tell? You have sharp eyes, madam.”
“Hoho, I suppose I do.”
The culprits were a man and woman seated directly in front of me.

The chatter continued, breaking the immersion.
“I still don’t get why the Duchess is obeying that man’s orders.”
“Oh, that’s because he’s blackmailing her.”
“Ah! That explains it!”
Other audience members glanced over, annoyed.

But the two of them carried on like the theater was their living room.
Eventually, I tapped the back of the seat in front of me.
“Would you mind keeping it down?”

The man turned around sharply and replied with a frown.
“Are you talking to me?”
“Yes. Isn’t it common courtesy to be quiet in a theater?”

“But… we were speaking quietly, weren’t we?”
“That’s right. We were whispering.”
What kind of miracle logic is that...?
I was momentarily speechless from the sheer absurdity.

They were loud enough to annoy other guests.
And yet, they genuinely seemed to believe they were being quiet.
Onstage, Celine Claudel—playing the heroine—was now fleeing her pursuer.

Watching the scene unfold, the man murmured sympathetically.
“Oh no, she’s going to get caught. She needs to run fast—mmph!”
He suddenly cut off mid-sentence.

Mouth clamped shut, he let out a muffled groan as if something was wrong.
The woman turned to him, confused.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwe—mmph?”

But she, too, went silent in an instant.
It was clear they hadn’t silenced themselves voluntarily. They looked around, panicked, making strange noises.
I think I can guess who did this…

Stifling a laugh, I glanced at the seat beside me.
Kian sat there, gaze fixed innocently on the stage.
The two in front of us flailed, trying to talk.

“Mmff mmf mmfff!”
“Mmff! Hmmff mmf?”
If you could even call that talking.
Then Kian reached forward and lightly tapped the back of their seats.

When they turned around, he said:
“It’s polite to stay quiet in public. Lady Olivia just asked nicely, didn’t she?”
“Mmmph…?”

“Shall I keep your mouths shut? Or will you be quiet from now on?”
“…!”
Their dumb expressions morphed into wide-eyed panic.

Even if they weren’t too bright, they had to grasp the situation by now.
“So, what will it be?”
Kian asked again. They nodded vigorously without a second’s hesitation.

“Mmff mmff!”
Roughly translated: We get it, just please let us go.
Kian must’ve interpreted it the same way, because he snapped his fingers with a crisp snap.

Immediately, the man gasped for air.
“Phew… I thought I was gonna—”
“Shh!”

The woman elbowed him sharply. He went silent again, glancing at Kian nervously.
For the rest of the performance, they didn’t utter a single word—like they’d had their mouths sewn shut.
Thanks to that, the rest of the play was blissfully quiet.

I gently tapped the back of Kian’s hand.
He looked at me. I mouthed the words:
Thank you.

He immediately understood and smiled softly. Then he mouthed back:
Of course.
Something about it warmed my chest.

No matter how small the trouble, Kian always looked out for me.
Because of him, I was able to focus fully on the play again.
Time flew, and the story raced toward its climax.

“I’ll never let you go again!”
“Your Majesty…!”
After overcoming the villain’s relentless interference, the male and female leads finally embraced.
Their eyes locked, full of passion.

And then—they kissed.
Deeply, desperately.
It was an intense scene. The actors’ breathing echoed clearly in the silence.

I tried to act unfazed, but my face grew hot anyway.
I snuck a glance at Kian.
He watched the stage with a blank expression.

Maybe he’s seen so much, he doesn’t feel anything anymore...
Even though I already knew about the nights he served those noblewomen…
I still felt strange.

Not out of pity for Kian’s painful past.
It was something… different.
And unfamiliar.

I gave my head a small shake, trying to dismiss thoughts of Kian and his past.
This is the play he said he wanted to watch, after all…
I turned my attention back to the stage, working hard to push away the unwelcome emotions.

***
After the play ended, it was already late, and I felt a bit hungry.
We looked for a restaurant nearby.

Since Kian had taken me to the play, I planned to treat him to dinner.
But he shook his head gently with a soft smile.
“I’ll pay tonight. I’ve received so much from you already, Lady Olivia.”

I’d been thinking it was a bit unfair that I’d just been receiving all day, so—
“Actually…”
Kian glanced down slightly and lowered his voice, as if confessing a secret.

Turned out, the restaurant we were heading to was one he had reserved in advance.
And he’d already paid in full.
So arguing about who would treat whom was pointless.

I let out a laugh and admitted defeat.
By the time we stepped inside the restaurant, a waiter was already waiting to show us to our table.
As I took the menu from the waiter’s outstretched hands, I said,

“That play was really fun.”
Kian nodded in agreement.
“I enjoyed it as well. I can see why it’s so popular.”

“Right?”
I was glad he’d liked it.
Then, as he browsed the menu, Kian asked,

“You liked course meals arranged like this, didn’t you?”
He had chosen a course that included appetizers, a main dish, and dessert—all things I typically enjoyed.
Somehow, realizing he remembered even such minor preferences made my heart flutter.

“I like that too. Should we order this one?”
“Then let’s.”
He closed the menu and called for the waiter.

Not long after, the dishes began to arrive, one after another.
We chatted casually as we ate.
Time flew by as we enjoyed our dinner together.

By the time we stepped outside the restaurant, the sky was completely dark.
As always, Kian offered to escort me home.
I don’t want the evening to end like this...

I had work at the Duchy, and Kian was busy with his duties as a mage of the Imperial Magic Division.
If we parted ways now, I might not see him again for several days.
Just then, across the street, I spotted a perfect place to spend a little more time.

“Kian…”
I called out softly, as if I had something to say.
He looked at me with his usual gentle gaze.

I met his pale blue eyes and asked,
“Wanna go for a drink?”