Reincarnated as the Villain’s Father

This woman…

Once the pride of a noble house, this woman now sat sobbing in a muddy corner.

And me?

I stood there, in front of her, wearing the body of one of the most despicable men this world had ever known. the very man responsible for the ruin of her life. Though I wasn't the one who destroyed her, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of guilt. Or perhaps… responsibility.

I took a few more steps. I watched her cry. The child clung to his mother, one hand gripping her waist, the other half-stretched toward me.

Defensive.

Like a small animal.

But even animals know who to bear their fangs at. This child… he was already calculating.

"What's his name?" I asked. I already knew his name, but the real Leonardo didn't, so I thought I'd ask.

Annabel wiped her tears, her gaze fixed on the ground as she answered.

"Lucareth."

Yeah...That was the name I recognised in the novel.

A name that begets a dictator.

A name under which empires burn.

And now, here he was. a five-year-old standing before me with that name. He hadn't killed anyone yet. He hadn't drowned the world in blood. We were still at the beginning of the novel. But that cold glint in his eyes… That was the look of someone who would write the future.

I turned to the steward standing silently behind me. He watched from a distance, a curious expression on his face. I gestured for him to come closer.

"Prepare a room in the manor for these two. Make sure they're comfortable and all their needs are met."

Though surprised, the steward gave a slight bow. "As you command, my lord."

I turned back to the little brat. Even if I were to pull a chocolate cake from my pocket and hand it to him, he wouldn't suddenly start liking me. Even at his age, he wasn't foolish. No child would warm up to a man who'd treated his mother cruelly. Worse, if I acted *too* kind, it might backfire.

In situations like these, the best approach was to let time do the work.

Besides, I needed to improve my relationship with Annabel first. If I could gain her favor, eventually the boy would soften too. So my priority now was to ensure their comfort and make everything feel real.

I headed toward the manor without saying another word. Silence is the sharpest weapon when it comes to dramatic effect. But everything had to follow a plan.

My plan was simple:

First, Annabel.

Then, Lucareth.

And finally… the sweet, noble life.

But what now? What path should I follow in this new and unexpected life? If I acted like myself instead of the real Lord Leonardo, people might start to suspect something. At best, they'd think Leonardo had gone through some strange change. At worst, they'd assume his body was possessed by an evil spirit, or that someone was controlling him with dark magic.

After all, this was a fantasy world teeming with all sorts of races. The classics were all here. elves, human-monster hybrids, demons, dwarves, beasts, even dragons. And beyond that, there existed an entirely separate realm known as the Second Dimension, believed to be inhabited by spirits.

But whether it's a fantasy world or the modern one, the truth remains: unless you're powerful, you can never truly be safe.

From this moment on, I had two crucial goals.

First, I had to increase my personal power.

'Damn it, I refuse to be a pathetic loser in a world filled with monstrously powerful characters.'

Second, I had to solidify my position as a Count.

The original Leonardo was a bastard. No, literally. An illegitimate child of a noble. He'd lived a hard, painful life. Maybe that's why he treated the bastard boy so harshly. He saw himself in Lucareth. The child reminded him of the pain of his own bastard birth.

But that wasn't the main point. Leonardo wasn't born noble. He'd earned his title of Count through achievements in war. Though the novel never detailed what came after, I assume he must've truly served the army with distinction. both before and during his time as a general.

I likely had strong connections within the military. Leonardo, well, *I* belonged to a war-driven empire. Unlike other nations, our strength lay in the power of our army. If I played this right, I could use that strength to secure my position and preserve this new noble life of mine.

And even though I now inhabited the body of a bastard, I still had a legitimate and noble lineage. The novel had never touched on Leonardo's family or his ties to them.

Actually, Leonardo is mentioned in the novel hundreds of chapters after the first part, during a flashback written for Lucareth. That was the only glimpse we got.

Speaking of the novel… the mother of the story's hero -my potential future *wife*- currently lived in a rural region not far from here. I didn't yet know how I would bring her under my protection, but one thing was certain: I would find a way.

If both the Hero and the Villain. the two most powerful characters in the entire story. were raised as my sons… then this world would have no choice but to kneel before me.

But for now, I had more immediate matters to focus on. Everything had its time.

By the time I reached the manor, night had already fallen. Lanterns along the stone walls lit up one by one. The servants bowed as I passed, though I could see a faint unease in their expressions.

They were right to be wary.

Leonardo had been impatient, short-tempered, and prone to punishment for the slightest reasons.

But now… I was in control.

And I believed patience was more than a virtue. It was a weapon.

As I ascended the wide stone steps of the manor, the steward approached.

"A room has been prepared for the woman and the child, my lord. The maids are attending to their needs."

I nodded. "Good. See to it that no one disturbs them. Especially… keep your distance from the boy."

The steward cast me a side glance. He tried to hide his confusion, but the question in his eyes was unmistakable: *What happened to you?*

I didn't answer.

In this world, asking questions was a privilege of the weak. The strong didn't explain. They simply declared what would happen.

And I no longer intended to just sit back and observe.

If I was going to live as a noble, then I would act like one.

Even if I was a bastard noble.

---

When I shut the door to my room, I was finally alone.

I looked at the face in the mirror. Cold, hard features. A proud jawline. Arrogant eyes. Even if I hadn't known this man's history, I could've guessed he was a tyrant just by looking at him.

"Well, Leonardo," I said to the mirror. "Thanks for the life. But from here on out… I'll be writing the story."

I headed toward the library. If anything held real value in this world, it was knowledge. Battle reports, diplomatic letters, maps. if the original Leonardo had truly been a soldier, he must have left behind a trail.

I needed to uncover his ties to powerful figures. His allies within the military. Maybe a marshal. Maybe an old comrade.

Luckily, Leonardo had spent years in the disciplined imperial army and had developed a habit of recording and reporting everything. That… was excellent news.

His personal library was located in the manor's western wing, in a high-ceilinged stone room lined with shelves that stretched to the rafters. Even dragging the wooden ladder across the room to reach the topmost books, it was clear this place was well-used and meticulously kept. Volumes were numbered. Sections, labeled. Everything was arranged with military precision.

That was a good sign.

I had inherited not just a name but a sharp legacy.

I rolled out a map across the desk. Red ink marked various regions. fortified garrisons, border skirmishes, trade routes. Leonardo's entire life was mapped out like fingerprints across the parchment. Enough to tell who he trusted. Who he didn't.

I opened a notebook.

- Marshal Gavran: *Loyal, but greedy. Can be bought with promotion.*

- Viscount Hallert: *Two-faced. Bows to power. Should be supported covertly.*

- All ties with the Academy are severed. No contact with magic users.

I smiled.

These notes had once served Leonardo but now, they would serve me.

A knock at the door.

"My lord, your dinner is ready."

"Bring it here," I said. "I'll be staying in tonight. Also, make sure Annabel and Lucareth are properly fed."

"Your wishes will be carried out, my lord." The servant bowed and turned away.

The door closed softly behind them.

And once again, I was alone.

Alone with hundreds of books and thousands of pages.

It was going to be a romantic night.

Metaphorically speaking.