On the outside, the Empress pretended to love the Emperor, but the reality was not so.
Because everything about Felio was solely due to black magic, and not a drop of the Emperor’s blood was mixed in.
That Felio saw the existence of evil, and that he gained power by killing living things, were all because of black magic.
Around the time Felio was born, the Empress began worshipping Kareb.
Rejoicing that a child who would truly avenge her had been born, and that a demon had descended.
The only one dying between the crazy Emperor and the crazy Empress was Felio.
“Hurry and greet Kareb, Felio.”
“…….”
“Is he not the one who brought you into the world?”
Fel stared intently at his wounded hand.
Soon, a tickling sensation arose, and the wound completely disappeared.
The divine power that had the ability to heal wounds, and the magic power that granted strength beyond human limits.
“……Truly a monster.”
A body that combined those two was terrifying, just as the witch had said.
To the point that no one could touch him, possessing a healing ability and dark power that even he himself could not control.
Fel clenched his fist tightly and let out a hollow laugh.
It felt as though it was reminding him that the only person who could kill this villain was the protagonist.
” Felio?”
At the Empress’s call, Fel raised his head.
This woman must have dreamed of happiness just like him, too.
Even though she was hacked to pieces by the novel—no, by the Emperor.
“Yes.”
“What are you doing? Not greeting your father.”
Fel stood in front of the altar with an expression lacking even a shred of respect.
Then, he casually gathered his two hands in front of his chest and slightly bowed his head toward the portrait.
The portrait drawn relying solely on the Empress’s memory even looked somewhat childish.
“Is it fine now?”
“Yes, you may leave. I need time to speak with Kareb alone.”
Perhaps Felio had wished for the Empress’s love for a very long time.
Which is why he must have kept increasing his power by devouring souls, just as she wanted.
He must have wanted to turn away from the Empress, who longed only for her dead firstborn son day after day.
He must have wanted to be recognized by her.
He must have wanted to be loved.
“……Do you have nothing to say to me?”
“About what?”
“Whether I was hurt anywhere, whether I almost died, while I was harvesting thousands of lives…….”
“I am fine, so will you stop standing in front of me now? Stop acting like a spoiled child.”
It must have been just that.
Suddenly, such a thought occurred to him.
Why on earth was he possessed into a pitiful villain who was abandoned by his family, by the empire, and even by God?
Could Felio really be called a villain?
Why did the author draw this child’s end so terribly?
“……Return after doing it in moderation. The servants might think it strange.”
His head throbbed.
And a sense of skepticism crept in.
Over the fact that he would be remembered as a bad person by everyone reading this novel, and by the characters within it.
After that, he came to hate Ethan.
Unlike Felio, who was never happy even once before he died, that kid would end up incredibly happy in the end.
Loved and praised by everyone, and blessed.
“It feels like I am becoming a real villain.”
He had a home to return to.
Though he didn’t even have time to sympathize with a mere fictional character, his heart hurt quite a bit when he thought of the pain Felio must have experienced.
“……They say the banquet is being held in five days.”
Fel stepped into his office and loosened the tie that was choking his neck.
The Emperor’s audience room, which he visited after taking a bath and changing his clothes.
The only piece of information he obtained from the incompetent Emperor was that a banquet announcing his triumphant return would be held in five days.
“Good grief, nothing but bothersome things.”
Fel stretched his entire body out over the chair and softly closed his eyes.
He didn’t even like the sunlight streaming in through the window.
“Ethan…….”
The name he muttered absentmindedly brought with it more stray thoughts than he expected.
Befitting the protagonist, his face was truly pretty.
But he was far too short to be eighteen.
Was he unable to eat properly?
Ah, and also…….
“I killed the gray wolf that Ethan was supposed to kill, so what do I do?”
Fel stroked near his chin and readjusted his posture.
“Asnel.”
It was the very name he had given to the gray wolf a few hours ago.
Not long after calling him, a subtle and massive figure revealed its appearance in front of Fel.
“Command me, my Lord.”
Perhaps because several hours had passed since he was subjugated as a subordinate, the fellow responded to Fel’s call with a much more accurate pronunciation than before.
He blinked his eyes softly, finding his shrunk body wondrous.
It seemed he was not as scary a monster as expected.
Fel rested his left arm on the desk and propped his chin up.
Staring at the monster in front of his eyes with a moody expression, he soon crossed his legs.
Then, he commanded like this:
“Resurrect. And return to the monsters’ lair.”
“……Eh?”
Asnel let out a foolish groan, as if he had heard absolute nonsense.
It was impossible for expressions to exist on a monster, but somehow he seemed flustered.
“I said return. Because you are not someone who should die by my hand.”
“M-My Lord……. Are you trying to abandon me…….”
He wasn’t trying to abandon him.
Since Asnel was never his to begin with.
Ethan revealed his power to the world by slicing through the gray wolf in a single stroke.
The reason the name ‘Ethan’ reached the ears of Duke Soliar was thanks to the rumor that he was ‘the great hero who subjugated the monster legion.’
Fel paused his continuous tapping on the table with his fingertips and stood up from his seat.
After thrusting one hand into the pocket of his breeches, he stood in front of Asnel.
“It’s an order. Return.”
“…….”
And what about first prince – did he died?