For You, I Would Even Be A Villain

Chapter 5

The hall was enveloped in an eerie silence.

People glanced at each other, trying to confirm whether they had truly heard what they just did. Yet, despite hearing it, they couldn’t bring themselves to believe it.

Amidst the deathly stillness, Carl muttered to himself as he observed the situation.

“Wow, I really didn’t see this coming.”

Even the emperor couldn’t hide his surprise. He let out an awkward laugh, his expression visibly stiff.

“Haha… Did I just hear that correctly?”

Meanwhile, the one who had dropped the bombshell, Xenon, remained utterly composed.

All eyes turned to the three people at the center of it all—Xenon, Lilith, and Rosalin.

Rosalin, feeling the weight of everyone’s gaze, simply tilted her head with an innocent smile, as if she knew nothing. There was not a hint of negative emotion on her face. It was as if this entire situation meant nothing to her.

No, rather, she seemed to be enjoying herself. She didn’t look like someone who had just witnessed the betrayal of an old lover.

Xenon, still maintaining a calm and unreadable expression, knelt before the emperor. Everyone awaited his next words, but he remained silent, simply waiting for the emperor to respond. His face, appearing almost forlorn, made it impossible for anyone to read his true intentions.

And Lilith…

She felt her entire body go cold.

At first, she couldn’t understand the situation. Then, when she forced herself to comprehend it, she found it unbelievable.

What the hell did that bastard just say?

Lilith clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Her entire body trembled faintly with rage.

No matter how many times she replayed it in her mind, it didn’t make sense. Marriage to Lilith Blaine. Those words had actually come from Xenon Meyer’s mouth?

This was undoubtedly an insult—a challenge. There was no way he could have meant it sincerely, which meant Xenon must have had another motive behind saying it.

No, his true Intentions didn’t matter. Even if he was being sincere, it was irrelevant.

All that mattered was that Lilith felt an overwhelming fury at this situation. That was all.

Amidst the chaos, the emperor finally regained his composure and muttered,

“Well, well. I never expected Sir Xenon to make such a request.”

Letting out a hearty chuckle, the emperor glanced at Lilith’s expression before lightly patting Xenon on the shoulder.

“Now, rise for the time being. We shall discuss your request in more detail later.”

Only then did Xenon straighten his knees and stand up.

Lilith, seething with fury, glared at him. But as always, his face remained unreadable, his gaze lowered.

Trying to smooth over the situation, the emperor cleared his throat and raised his voice.

“It feels a bit dull in here.”

At his words, the musicians hesitated before slowly beginning to play their instruments. The initial discordant notes soon gave way to a graceful melody that filled the hall.

As the music swelled, the atmosphere seemed to relax.

But everyone knew the truth—the real chaos was only beginning.

“Well then, everyone, enjoy the evening.”

With that, the emperor hastily left the hall. He had never been one to particularly enjoy banquets, so it wasn’t unusual for him to leave early. But tonight, it was clear to everyone that his early departure had nothing to do with personal preference.

Xenon, watching the emperor’s retreating figure, bowed his head in a composed gesture of respect.

Then, as he lifted his gaze again, his eyes met Lilith’s.

The moment her furious crimson eyes locked onto his deep gray ones, Lilith felt her vision darken with rage.

Never in her life had she been this angry.

If there hadn’t been so many onlookers, she might have lunged at him and screamed in his face.

The fact that Xenon looked utterly unbothered, even after creating this entire mess, only fueled her fury.

She continued to glare at him, barely holding on to her composure. Then, clenching her jaw, she turned on her heel.

As much as she wanted to wring that bastard’s neck, there was something she needed to confirm first.

With a hardened expression, Lilith strode forward.

Her destination: the entrance of the banquet hall.

She could feel the weight of people’s gazes on her back, but she ignored them and kept walking.

And sure enough, waiting for her outside was exactly the person she had expected.

“Lady Lilith. His Majesty has summoned you.”

It was the emperor’s chief attendant.

Following the attendant, Lilith made her way to the drawing room.

“Ah, Lady Lilith. Come in,” the emperor greeted her with a warm smile.

“It’s been quite a while, hasn’t it?”

His gaze was laced with meaning.

Indeed, it had been a long time since they had spoken privately—not since that day.

Lowering her eyes, Lilith offered a polite greeting.

“I trust Your Majesty has been well.”

The emperor let out a hearty laugh.

“Still as insincere as ever. I must say, I’ve missed it in a way.”

At that, Lilith gave a faint smile.

But the lingering anger inside her made it difficult to fully form the expression.

Noticing this, the emperor let out a bittersweet chuckle before getting straight to the point.

“Well, I assume you already know why I called you here.”

Lilith took a sip of tea, trying to calm herself. Only after regaining some composure did she finally speak.

“I’ll be direct. I have no intention of marrying that man.”

The emperor nodded as if he had expected this.

“I figured as much. Your expression earlier was quite terrifying.”

The fact that her emotions had been so obvious was, in a way, a relief.

The emperor asked casually, “So, you hadn’t discussed this with him at all?”

“No,” Lilith replied firmly.

“I see,” the emperor murmured, stroking his chin in thought.

Now that Xenon was out of sight, Lilith felt a sliver of rationality returning to her.

As she waited for the emperor’s response, she pondered.

Why in the world would Xenon Meyer make such a wish?

If his goal had been to humiliate her, then he had succeeded perfectly.

Thanks to Xenon, Lilith had felt shame, indignation, and fury—emotions she hadn’t experienced in a long time. A hollow laugh escaped her lips.

How dare he even think of doing this to me?

Just then, the emperor, who had been lost in thought for a moment, finally spoke again.

“You may have heard, but I once considered bringing Sir Xenon into the imperial family.”

He was referring to the proposed marriage with Princess Elaine.

Lilith gave a slight nod.

“If he had wanted, I was willing to give him anything. That’s why I personally offered to grant his wish.”

It seemed the emperor favored Xenon even more than she had thought.

What was it about that damned man that had won the emperor over?

Lilith couldn’t understand it in the slightest.

“But I never imagined he would make such a wish. This is… quite unexpected.”

Not just for the emperor—for everyone.

Everyone, except one person.

Xenon Meyer himself.

The emperor tapped his fingers against the armrest in contemplation.

Lilith waited patiently for his next words.

And then—

“So, tell me. Do you truly have no intention of marrying him?”

That would be the worst possible decision.

Lilith responded flatly.

“I do not.”

“Even if it were an imperial decree?”

“Yes.”

The emperor let out a troubled sigh.

“Well, that’s unfortunate. This puts me in a difficult position.”

He had promised—on his name—to grant Xenon’s wish, and now he was unable to fulfill it.

It was clear that he was concerned about his reputation, but Lilith had no intention of throwing her life away just to preserve the emperor’s dignity.

Lowering her gaze, she took a slow, graceful sip of tea.

No matter what he said, she wouldn’t waver.

But then—

The emperor’s next words forced a reaction from her.

“…Are you refusing this marriage because of my son?”

The emperor’s son.

The third prince—Calix Opalis.

He had been Lilith’s betrothed.

Until he disappeared five years ago.