I Became the Master of the Villain

In the original novel, Anna was a maid at Grand Duke Balthazar’s estate. She discovered the horrifying truth that the Grand Duke intended to preserve Kian alive—as a taxidermy specimen.
Risking her life, Anna ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) helped Kian escape the estate. The two fled the Empire and tried to start a new life far away...

But that dream never came true. They were eventually caught by the pursuit team the Grand Duke had dispatched.
Furious that someone had tried to steal what he considered his property, the Grand Duke tortured Anna mercilessly right in front of Kian’s eyes.
Kian could only watch as Anna died in agony, unable to save the one he loved. His heart shattered into pieces.

The Grand Duke proceeded to begin the taxidermy process on Kian, who, as his heartbeat gradually slowed, stared at Anna with lifeless eyes.
Hatred toward his powerless self who couldn’t save her, guilt over having led her to death, and rage toward the Grand Duke who murdered her in cold blood—all of these emotions tore through him.
As this violent storm of feelings devoured him, the sealed power within Kian awakened.

Kian, now fully awakened, crushed the Grand Duke like an insect and crawled over to Anna’s collapsed body.
Even though he knew she was no longer breathing, he couldn’t bring himself to leave her side.
That was where my thoughts ended, as I was pulled back to reality.

The train entered the platform with a shrill whistle in the distance.
Realizing it was time to depart, Anna bowed her head.
"Farewell, Lady Ashford."

Now, Anna would live a different life from the one in the original novel.
Because I, not Grand Duke Balthazar, had become Kian’s master.
And yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

Her hands were rough and cracked, her clothes worn and frayed.
A strong woman like her could probably survive on her own—but I had money, lots of it. Wasn't it okay for me to help her just a little?
The sound of the train clattering along the rails drew closer, and just as Anna turned to leave, I grabbed her arm.

She looked at me in confusion, and I hesitated before speaking.
"Miss Anna, won’t you come with me?"
The rumbling of the train grew louder.
The train stopped on the track, and passengers began lining up to board.

"Come... with you?" Anna asked, her face stunned.
I nodded.
"There’s an apprentice tailor position open at Isabella’s atelier. I can help you train under her."

In the original novel, Anna had dreamed of becoming a clothing designer. She wanted to create practical, comfortable clothing for women, not frilly dresses.
That dream never came true—but this time, it would be different.
"Your dream is to be a designer, right?"

Anna looked startled, as if I’d seen straight into her heart. She asked,
"How do you know that?"
Because you told Kian that.

You said, once you escaped the Grand Duke’s pursuit, you wanted to live your life doing that.
"How I know isn’t important. What matters is that I want to help you."
Anna stared at me carefully, as if trying to read my intentions. Then she slowly shook her head.

"I honestly don’t understand. Why are you helping me, Lady Ashford?"
Her response made me let out a faint, bitter laugh.
I couldn’t blame her. When something sounds too good, it's only natural to be suspicious.

Still, I thought she would accept my offer. Because this would change her life forever.
"So? What will it be? Tell me, Anna."
Anna’s face showed signs of hesitation. Just as I thought she might refuse—

"If nothing else... I do know one thing for certain. This is a chance that will never come again."
Her eyes had hardened. The look of someone who had made up her mind.
"I’ll go with you, Lady Ashford."

Yes, that’s the Anna I know. She’s not the kind to look back or waver.
"You made a good choice."
I smiled and took her hand in mine.

***
Anna arrived in the capital three days later.
As promised, I introduced her to Isabella’s atelier.

Isabella examined Anna with a sharp eye and said,
"Since Lady Olivia asked, I’ll give you a special chance. However, if you don’t prove your worth within a week, I won’t teach you a single thing."
In other words, Isabella didn’t take on just anyone as a student.

It was a situation that might have intimidated an ordinary person.
But not Anna. Far from being intimidated, she looked fired up with determination. She said,
"Understood. I’ll prove myself through action, not words."

Isabella’s cold expression softened ever so slightly. It seemed she didn’t dislike Anna’s confident and direct attitude.
Seeing that gave me peace of mind. From here on, Anna had to succeed on her own strength—otherwise, it would mean nothing.
As I stepped into the carriage, Anna spoke.

"Whatever time it takes, I’ll repay the kindness you’ve shown me, Lady Ashford."
I turned back to her with a smile.
"Alright. I’ll be rooting for you too."

After saying goodbye to Anna, I boarded the carriage.
On the ride back to the mansion, I sorted through the developments in the original story.
Now that I had changed the timeline, the chances of Kian falling in love with Anna were slim.

Which meant she wouldn’t be killed.
Which meant Kian wouldn’t blacken because of her death.
But that didn’t mean I could rest easy.

There were still other ways Kian could go down the villain route.
The most worrying of them all...
Kian’s parents.

Knowing where all his misfortunes began—could he really avoid blackening?
Someday, he might learn the whole truth.
But I didn’t have the courage to tell him myself.

I was afraid that if he learned everything, he’d become the Kian from the original novel again.
Even if that made me a coward. Even if it made me a hypocrite.
I couldn’t bring myself to tell Kian what I knew.

Why his magic was sealed.
Why he had to live as a slave.
***

The Crown Prince Harrison’s office.
"Your Highness, I’ve completed the task you assigned."
"Good work."

Harrison waved his hand. His aide bowed and withdrew, walking backward.
Harrison opened the report his aide had delivered. It contained detailed records of Olivia’s every movement.
The last time he saw Olivia, she had coldly rejected him.

And that was after he had gone to the trouble of playing the role of a devoted, gentle man.
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Harrison flipped through the report.
He suspected Olivia might have been seduced by the Second Prince.

He combed through the report for any evidence to support his suspicion.
But the more he read, the more absurd and unbelievable the contents became.
"She mobilized a whole fleet... to rescue a slave?"

Honestly, Olivia’s bizarre behavior wasn’t new.
He’d had her monitored for an entire month, and the contents had all been similar.
The report was filled with bizarre things she had done out of obsession for her slave.

There wasn’t a single clue suggesting she was colluding with the Second Prince.
Harrison tossed the thick report into the trash and muttered,
"I thought she was smart, but turns out she’s just a fool."

Throwing away the chance to become the Empress of the Empire—what a foolish woman. And more than that...
"To lie to my face and humiliate me—I won’t let it slide."
She dared to fall for some lowly slave and shove him aside? Then pretend otherwise?

Wounded in pride, he had no intention of letting this go.
And he hadn’t given up on House Ashford yet.
The plan’s gone off course, but it doesn’t matter.

He would simply kill Olivia before the Duke of Ashford officially passed on his title—and put someone else in her place.
The Duke was old and sickly. Even if he found out his daughter was murdered, there wouldn’t be much he could do.
Besides, James Ashford would be overjoyed to see Olivia gone.

Having made up his mind, Harrison snapped his fingers.
From the shadows, two figures appeared silently.
One was a pale-faced man in a deep hooded robe. The other wore a black mask and had red eyes.

"You summoned us, Your Highness."
Harrison looked at the monsters he had created and smiled in satisfaction.
"There’s something I need you to take care of."

"Command us."
"Kill Olivia Ashford."
Their only reason for existence was to obey the Crown Prince’s orders.

And so, they gladly replied with the answer he wanted to hear.
"We accept the mission."
After they vanished—

"Olivia... I’ll make you regret humiliating me."
Harrison grinned with a twisted, deranged expression.