IBFWTV 18

Chapter 18 

The male lead’s mother, the male lead’s father, and even the male lead himself. The people who were only mentioned in the novel were now right in front of my eyes.

Ah, the person sitting next to me was also a villain behind the scenes.

I was eating a meal with the future main characters. Once again, it felt real that I had entered the world of the novel.

I was eating like usual when a small hand placed a delicious piece of meat onto my plate.

I lifted my head and looked at the male lead.

“Eat this too, Evelyn. You have to eat a lot of meat to become a strong adult. Then you can climb trees well too.”

I think I read that he was a good older brother to his younger sister. It seemed like he was going to be a good older brother to me too.

“Mm, oppa! Thank you! I like meat!”

Once again, I felt the harsh reality of my life.

To hold back my feelings, I chewed the meat and swallowed it. Serden, who was drinking wine beside me, spoke in a low voice.

“…Rodrick is a good older brother.”

“Ria is very stubborn. Rodrick is a good older brother to Ria.”

Ria should be about three years old now. I remember reading that she was three years younger than the male lead.

Serden said,

“Our Evelyn is the same. She will probably get along well with Ria too.”

I really paused without realizing it. Hey, should I tell him that I’m holding a fork in my hand right now?

I can threaten people in a very cool way too.

I clenched my teeth and slowly continued eating, pretending to be a picky child.

Rodrick kept eating with perfect manners until the end. As expected of the male lead.

I felt a little sad when I looked at Duke Roger.

He had spent a long time together with Serden.

It was sad to know that people who were once so close would become twisted by misunderstanding and eventually meet a tragic end.

Since this was the male lead’s story, the novel described Duke Roger, his wife, and Serden in detail.

They were friends and comrades who had been together since childhood. They were the only people who trusted each other and could show their true feelings.

The one who separated them and tore them apart was Duke Spellman.

Duke Spellman’s goal was to destroy the imperial family, break Serden, and eventually change the imperial family name to Spellman.

A vile and sinister man.

Of course, in the end all of his schemes would be revealed by Rodrick, and Serden would meet a miserable end.

After Serden’s death, his hidden half-brother would take his place.

“Oppa, you should eat this a lot too!”

For some reason, my heart felt soft, so I gave Rodrick my chocolate. Seeing that, Serden spoke.

“It seems Evelyn likes Rodrick. You’ve never even given chocolate to me before.”

Hey, you brat. Even if your mouth is crooked, you should still speak properly. I’ve never given you food before.

“Mm, I like oppa.”

There was nothing bad about getting on the male lead’s good side.

At my words, Duke Roger and his wife smiled gently.

Male lead’s father, mother. Please continue to raise him this well and kindly.

I will take care of Serden here so that this guy doesn’t turn dark.

* * *

After Duke Roger and his wife returned home, Evelyn was sent back to her palace.

Serden remained alone and sat by the window.

Holding a glass of wine, Serden sighed and muttered,

“Pitiful and miserable, huh.”

Serden lowered his eyes.

Maybe Yulia was right.

Whether Evelyn had regained her mind or had always been normal, she was still acting like that and even calling a six-year-old child “oppa.”

Maybe that was Evelyn’s way of surviving.

If Evelyn truly had a bad position in the Spellman family and was ignored—even if it wasn’t full abuse—then her life could not have been easy.

Serden smiled bitterly.

Even so, he could not let his guard down.

Serden’s true nature kept doubting Evelyn again and again. Was she a spy from Spellman? Was she acting in order to achieve some goal?

Serden tilted his wine glass.

No matter how much he drank, he could not get drunk.

No, he could not allow himself to get drunk.

In this huge imperial palace—no, in the entire empire—there was not a single place where he could truly rest.

He doubted and doubted again.

Even while testing Evelyn again and again, somewhere in his heart…

Serden himself was hoping.

He hoped that Evelyn’s intentions were good.

“Hoo…”

If that were truly the case, then for the first time in this imperial palace, Serden might gain someone who stood on his side.

Someone who would protect him no matter the means.

Until now, Serden had never once been protected by anyone.

He had to protect the imperial family with his own hands, and he had to survive alone.

Outside the window, the dark scenery looked bleak.

Evelyn’s bright laughter appeared over that scenery.

She had been there.

In the garden.

Together with him.

With such an innocent face.

Serden swallowed his breath.

His face buried in his palm was terribly twisted.

The waves inside his heart were shaking violently and roughly.

* * *

It had been two days since I met Rodrick.

Maybe it was time to start moving.

If I did nothing, Duke Spellman would use any method to get what he wanted.

So I decided that I would at least deceive him perfectly.

I asked Cherina and Rozy, who were quietly watching me.

“Is Rozelina not coming today?”

“She said she has family matters today and cannot come.”

“Mm. Then I’m bored.”

When I said I was bored, Rozy and Cherina flinched.

Hehe. This was the result of all the effort I put in until now.

I had trained them well.

I smiled as innocently as possible.

“Then I want to go play with Ver!”

“P-Princess Veronica?”

“Mm!”

They immediately understood who “Ver” was.

Cherina and Rozy looked at each other, then asked with excited faces.

“W-why? Before, you said you didn’t like her.”

“No. We’re friends now. Before, we met and decided to be friends! And Ver told me to come visit her.”

Actually, she told me that if I ever got bored in this boring palace, I could come find her.

But that was basically the same as inviting me to play.

Besides, unlike Serden, Veronica seemed like a very, very good person.

She was kind to me too.

I still clearly remembered the pity in her eyes when she handed me a drink.

It looked like she was about to cry herself.

Veronica was crying in my place.

Even though she hated me, she still could not truly hate me.

I really wanted to save Princess Veronica.

Even if it wasn’t for Serden.

“…How about taking some snacks with you? Cake, or… cookies.”

Rozy said quickly, not missing the chance.

I nodded my head strongly.

“Cookies are good. Ver said she likes cookies!”

At those words, their faces brightened clearly.

Cherina and Rozy didn’t even try to hide their emotions in front of me.

And when Rozelina wasn’t around, they became even less careful.

Before I possessed Evelyn’s body, even if Cherina and Rozy behaved carelessly like that, Evelyn probably wouldn’t have noticed anything.

That was why they were so confident.

Evelyn was dull when it came to noticing other people’s emotions.

That actually made things easier for me.

Sometimes they carelessly said things that no one should hear.

Of course, sometimes I secretly listened.

Watching them talk in front of me about where to hide notes and where to leave them was honestly funny.

From what I overheard, the smart Crown Prince had been constantly changing the guard schedules.

Since the schedule changed randomly without any pattern, they complained that they couldn’t bribe anyone or send people inside.

It seemed the notes I found had actually helped Serden.

I held back my laughter while watching Cherina and Rozy look excited.

Tsk, tsk. They didn’t even know they were the X-Men.

Once again, I smiled brightly with them, pretending to know nothing.

Honestly, in this novel, the most innocent people might actually be those maids.