I Became the Master of the Villain

He had believed in the inescapability of fate.

That some things could never be changed, no matter what one did.
He had thought his life would never get better.
Even when he tried to escape the shackles of slavery, he always ended up back where he started.

He thought it was his destined fate to live and die as a slave.
At least, until he met Olivia.
How could he not fall in love with the one who completely transformed his life, which had been filled with nothing but resignation and despair?

That was why he—
“I love you, Lady Olivia.”
He could no longer contain the overflowing affection in his heart without saying it aloud.

***
My heart pounded violently.
The beating was so loud, it felt like it might be heard outside the room.

Even though I already knew how Kian felt.
Hearing him actually say “I love you” had far more impact than I expected.
How could I even describe this feeling?

Even saying I was happy didn’t seem to fully capture it.
He was the man who had saved my life and shown me a love more than I deserved.
I met Kian’s eyes, clear and radiant like a sky after rain.

Just as he had laid bare all of his feelings without holding back...
Now it was my turn to give him an answer.
“I love you too, Kian.”
Kian’s eyes trembled like waves, and the happiest smile spread across his face.

“I really love you a lot.”
When I didn’t hold back those words, Kian’s long, graceful eyes curved with joy.
Kian swiftly closed the distance between us. He sat on «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» the edge of the bed and pressed his lips gently against mine.

The spot where his lips touched burned hot.
This moment felt like a dream.
Back when I first met Kian, I could never have imagined us being like this.

My goal had been to stop his blackening and ensure he awakened safely as a mage.
As long as he didn’t clash with the villains from the original story, Kian wouldn’t fall into darkness—he would stay by my side.
But if he ever found out the reason he had to live as a slave… if he ended up blackening and destroying the Empire like in the original story?

…No, even if that happened—
‘I won’t let him become like that.’
I wrapped my arms around Kian’s neck.

His arms around me tightened, warm and firm.
His feelings were so vivid, as if I could hold them in my hands.
And I made a vow—that no matter what hardships came our way, I would never let go of him.

***
Clear water filled the large bathtub, gently rippling. The rose water in the bath gave off a faint, pleasant fragrance.
I took off my robe and sank into the warm bath.

The temperature was just right. A fine white steam rose and wrapped around my body.
“……”
As I sat still in the tub, last night’s events came back to me.

Memories of being kidnapped by that pirate pierced sharply through my frontal lobe.
I could still feel the sensation of that blue-tinged blade grazing my cheek.
I reached a hand toward my chest. My fingers brushed the smooth surface of the finely crafted emerald.

‘After everything that happened yesterday… I’d better not take this off, even when I bathe.’
As I fidgeted with the emerald necklace imbued with Kian’s magic, my heart began to calm down little by little.
I slowly closed my eyes and sank a bit deeper beneath the surface of the water.

Looking back, not everything had been bad.
Kian had confessed to me, and I had been honest with my feelings too.
Even now, it felt like something out of a dream.

I carefully touched my lips. Maybe because of all the kissing last night, they were still a little swollen.
For some reason, my face felt flushed. And it wasn’t just because of the warm water.
About an hour later, I finished bathing and stepped out.

After changing into a fresh robe, I was sitting in a chair drying my hair when—
There was a knock at the door. Kian’s voice followed from the other side.
I stopped mid-motion and stood up.

When I opened the door, Kian was standing there. His eyes widened slightly when he saw me in my robe.
He hesitated for a moment, then stopped at the doorway.
“May I come in?”

We’ve already done everything there is to do… haven’t we? Well, we kissed like that yesterday, so this felt oddly formal now.
“Of course. Come in.”
I smiled and stepped aside. Kian walked in and asked,

“What were you doing?”
“I just finished bathing and was drying my hair.”
He glanced at my damp hair, then sat on the sofa.

“I’ll dry it for you. Come here.”
“Mmh, okay.”
As I sat down beside him, Kian gently gathered my long hair.

Wind formed in the palm of his hand. The temperature was perfect as he dried my hair with magic.
I quietly let his hand guide the wind.
For a while, we stayed like that.

Then Kian lowered his head and caressed my hair.
His breath fell over the strands like silk threads.
“You smell wonderful.”

Kian’s voice was low and languid as he said that.
I turned my head to look at him.
There was a strange heat in his eyes. I stared into his pale blue irises as if being drawn in.

I had only used rose water in my bath because I wanted to feel a bit pampered.
I wasn’t trying to seduce Kian. Not at all.
But this was how things ended up.

Before I knew it, I was lying beneath Kian.
Swish, the curtain slid shut on its own.
The light disappeared, and the room was dim.

Kian reached for the belt tied around my robe.
I didn’t stop him.
‘Why would I refuse the touch of someone I love?’

The tightly knotted sash loosened, and the robe fell open.
Embarrassed, I turned my face away—but Kian softly pressed his lips to the back of my neck.
He smiled with gentle eyes and whispered,

“You’re beautiful right now.”
His words gave me the courage to look at him again.
He let out a short laugh, then licked my lower lip as if savoring candy.

His breath carried the fresh scent of grass.
Wanting him to come in deeper, I parted my lips.
As if waiting for that, his warm, soft tongue slid into my mouth. Our tongues entangled firmly. A slow heat spread through me.

The longer the kiss went on, the rougher his breathing became.
His hand slipped between the folds of my robe. From above, his voice murmured,
“Does that feel good?”

“Mmh…”
I nodded with a flushed face, wrapping my arms around the back of his neck, as if to ask for more.
Perhaps that was the final push—he let out a low growl, like a beast.

Our bodies were pressed so closely, I could feel the change in him.
I began unbuttoning his shirt, one button at a time.
While I undressed him, his hand moved to his waistband.

Kian spoke softly.
“I won’t hurt you.”
I lowered my gaze and took in a breath.

He really was the male lead, after all.
More than ever, I wanted to believe those words.
Kian gently kissed my forehead and smiled like melting sugar.

I was a little scared—but at the same time, anticipation bloomed inside me.
***
These days, the best-selling product at the Ashford Confectionery was chocolate.

People from all walks of life were captivated by the sweet chocolate that melted softly in the mouth.
Just a few years ago, chocolate had been considered a luxury exclusive to the nobility.
But after House Ashford built a chocolate factory and lowered the price, even commoners could afford it.

On a sunny weekend afternoon—
Madam Land was excited to invite her neighbors over for some gossip and chatter.
She brewed coffee for her guests and prepared chocolate as dessert.

Soon after, modestly dressed women gathered one by one around the wooden table.
The guests nibbled on chocolate as they chatted.
“Did you hear? Mrs. Matilda’s son passed the civil service exam.”

“Oh my, he must be brilliant. How envious.”
“My boy just drinks himself stupid every day and sleeps it off… Ugh, just talking about it makes my blood boil.”
The chatter never stopped as they exchanged bits of recent news.

Until—
“What is this…?”
A neighbor woman who had just bitten into her chocolate tilted her head.

There was a white object inside the bitten piece.
At first, she thought it was a nut—but it wasn’t.
Because that white thing… squirmed.

“Kyaaaagh!”
The woman shrieked and dropped the chocolate from her hand.
Everyone jumped at the sudden scream.

“Ma’am, what’s wrong?”
Madam Land asked with concern.
The screaming woman pointed at the chocolate with a trembling hand, her face pale.

“T-There’s a bug!”
“What?”
Everyone turned to look at the chocolate she had bitten.

What they saw was a white larva.
And it was alive!
The wriggling worm crawled out of the chocolate.

Every face around the table turned ashen from the horror.
“Oh my goodness!”
Another woman yelped and dropped her chocolate in a panic.

Her voice shook as she cried out,
“H-Here too!”
A worm had crawled out of her chocolate as well.

At the thought that one might already be inside their stomach, the women’s faces turned ghostly white.
Their peaceful weekend afternoon had turned into utter chaos.