I Became The Novel's Biggest Antagonist

"Excuse me, sir, but masks aren't permitted here," the waitress said with a polite smile as King entered.

"Hm? Are you certain?" King raised a brow, leaning casually against the counter, his piercing azure-blue eyes fixed on her.

"Y-Yes..." The waitress faltered slightly, momentarily captivated by his gaze, but managed to maintain her composure.

"Are you really sure about that?" King asked again, leaning in closer.

"U–Um..." The waitress's confidence wavered as she threw an SOS glance toward the nearby guards.

Before they could intervene, King reached up and removed his mask, revealing a dazzling grin. "Just kidding."

"...!" The waitress froze, utterly stunned by the sight before her—the most breathtakingly handsome man she had ever encountered.

Ignoring her dazed expression, King strolled further into the room, instantly drawing every pair of eyes to him.

It was impossible not to.

His sharp, symmetrical features and striking silver hair, swept back in a casually elegant style, were captivating. But it was his eyes—a vivid, almost otherworldly shade of blue—that held everyone spellbound. Dressed in a tailored shirt and blazer worth a small fortune, he carried himself with quite grace that outshone even the most lavishly dressed nobles in the room.

Hands tucked casually in his pockets, King moved, ignoring the awestruck gazes of men and women alike. His eyes scanned the crowd, seeking someone specific.

When he spotted her, his smile widened.

Celine felt her pulse quicken as their eyes met. She flinched, quickly averting her gaze as a warm blush spread across her cheeks. Though she had only seen glimpses of his face before, the sight of him without his mask now left her breathless. He wasn't just handsome—he was absurdly handsome.

Her heart raced as she felt his presence looming over her.

Then, suddenly, the shadow shifted, and before she could process it, King was on one knee beside her.

"K–King?" She stuttered her wide eyes fixed on him in disbelief.

"Tonight, you look even more beautiful, Celine," King said sincerely as he produced a carefully arranged bouquet of flowers.
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He had arrived late because he'd spent hours searching for the perfect blooms to create this bouquet.

"Tonight, you are the most beautiful," he added, his grin deepening, his words sending her heart into overdrive.

The others around them stood frozen, mouths agape at King's audacious display. His ability to remain completely composed, even in such a bold act, left the men feeling secondhand embarrassment. Meanwhile, the women couldn't tear their eyes away, captivated by the gallantry of such a handsome man.

King, the most thick-skinned of all the antagonists along perhaps Ivan who didn't know what embarrassment mean, showed no sign of embarrassment. If anything, he seemed proud of his actions. He was a man who lived by his own code: honest and straightforward, no matter the circumstances—especially when it involved a woman.

Celine, her face as red as a ripe tomato, hesitantly reached out her trembling hand to accept the bouquet. Taking it timidly to her chest, she whispered, "T–Thank you…"

"It's meant only for you," King replied, standing with a fluid grace before settling into the chair across from her.

Celine could tell from the sincerity in his tone and expression that every word he spoke was genuine. There wasn't the faintest hint of pretense in his actions.

"Waiter," King called, raising a hand. A server promptly arrived, presenting them with menus.

Taking one for himself, King handed the other to Celine. "Order whatever you like, Celine. I'll take care of everything."

"I–It's fine, Mr. King…" Celine stuttered, visibly flustered by the attention. Being in the spotlight felt overwhelming, though it was clear the stares were mostly directed at King. Women continued to admire him in awe, while the men glared.

"Hm?" King raised an eyebrow, noticing her unease. He sighed deeply, as though the solution were obvious. "Do you want me to clear the hall? I can pay enough to have everyone leave."

"E–Eh?" Celine gasped, utterly dumbfounded, as were the onlookers.

Could he even do that? And was he truly this rich?

"Well?" King pressed. "Do you want me to? It's the least I can do for you."

Celine stared at him, stunned by his seriousness.

Finally, she mustered a small smile and shook her head. "No... it's fine. Really, I'm fine, Mr. King."

"Good, then," King said, leaning back with a relaxed smile. After a pause, he added, "But please, call me King. We've come this far—it'd be a shame to hold onto formalities, don't you think?"

Celine hesitated but then, with a quiet breath, she managed to murmur, "K–King…"

A satisfied grin spread across King's face.

After that, Celine seemed more at ease, her earlier awkwardness fading. They placed their orders, though the process left her flustered. While King casually selected something extravagant, Celine hesitated, overwhelmed by the exorbitant prices. Nearly every dish cost close to a full Gold Coin—a sum she couldn't understand spending just for a meal.

"I'm… not really hungry," she mumbled, offering a timid smile as she made up excuses to avoid ordering. She didn't want King to go to such lengths for her.

King, however, merely smiled. "Of course, if you insist." Yet despite his feigned acceptance, he added a dish for her without hesitation.

As they waited for the food, King shifted the conversation toward a more personal topic. "Let's get to know each other better, Celine. Tell me, where are you from?"

"Ah…" Celine hesitated. His expectant gaze made it hard to avoid the question. Finally, she decided to be honest. "I'm from… New Earth."

"New Earth?" King repeated, interested. "I had a feeling. You don't have the air of someone from the Guild. I think I've seen you before—perhaps in a modern hospital back in New Earth?"

"Really?" Celine blinked in surprise.

"Yeah," King said, studying her with mock seriousness. "You have that kind, nurturing aura. Were you a nurse, perhaps?"

Celine giggled, shaking her head. "Not at all."

"Ah, so I can't be right all the time," King sighed with exaggerated disappointment.

"What about you, K–King?" Celine asked hesitantly, her curiosity outweighing her shyness. "Where are you from?"

King paused, his expression momentarily distant. A flash of memory crossed his mind—a silver-haired woman clutching him tightly, tears streaming down her face. He quickly shook off the thought and returned to the present.

"I'm from a kingdom quite far from here, outside the Holy Continent," he said after a brief pause. "I doubt you'd know it."

"Oh… I see. But then, why did you come all the way to Ocryphia?" Celine asked.

"That's a good question," King replied with a smile, leaning back slightly. "Someone close to me is a student at Ocryphia Academy. I was concerned about him, so I decided to stay nearby."

While his words were technically true, King had carefully framed the truth to suit the moment. Ivan, one of his other personas, was indeed a student at Ocryphia. King had come here not only to ensure Ivan's safety but also to consolidate his own influence and ensure the survival of all his personas. Each of them, now integral parts of himself, had people they wished to reunite with—families, lovers, and lives they yearned to reclaim.

"O–Ocryphia?" Celine repeated, her eyes wide.

The mere mention of the academy was enough to astonish her. Ocryphia wasn't just the most prestigious academy in the region—it was renowned throughout the entirety of Aurion.

"Yep. That guy's surrounded by so many beautiful women, and yet he can't even seduce a single one of them," King said, shaking his head in mock disappointment. He couldn't help but blame Ivan for his aloofness. If it were him in Ivan's place, he wouldn't hesitate to charm every single one of them, at least the interesting ones.

"Is he your brother, perhaps?" Celine asked curiously, noticing how close King seemed to be with the man he spoke about.

"Brother, you say…" King paused, considering her words as he thought about Ivan—his main persona and the one currently in control. "You could say that," he replied with a faint smile.

The thought amused him. Considering all his personas as brothers, despite them being parts of himself, felt oddly comforting. In a way, it was like having the siblings he'd never had in his life.

Celine studied his expression for a moment before mustering the courage to broach a more personal subject. "Um, King… Can you be honest with me about something?"

"I'll always be honest with you, Celine," he assured her.

"My name is Sherilyn," she blurted out.

King blinked, taken aback.

"I—I mean my true name," she clarified, her gaze steady despite the slight tremble in her voice. "Before you ask me anything, please answer me first."

King leaned back, smiling again. "Alright. Go ahead."

He'd already suspected she was hiding something, but he had no intention of pressing her for answers until she was ready.

"Do you… have other women?" Sherilyn asked, her voice tinged with hope he hadn't.

King didn't hesitate. He nodded. "I do."

"Ah… I see," Sherilyn said quietly, her shoulders sinking as a wave of sadness washed over her.

Noticing her reaction, King reached out, his hand gently covering hers. His touch made her look up, and their eyes met.

"I won't pretend otherwise. Yes, I love other women. And they all love me in return. But I would never force you to love me, Sherilyn." He gave her a sincere smile. "What I can promise is that I will never abandon any of my women. I will make all of them happy. That's something I will never compromise on."

Sherilyn stared at him, speechless.

His sincerity was almost overwhelming. The worst part was that she couldn't stop herself from loving him, even though she had anticipated this answer all along.

"I… I think I'll need some time—" She started, trying to process her feelings.

"Huh?"

Before she could finish, King abruptly stood, letting go of her hand.

"King?" Sherilyn looked up at him, startled by his sudden movement. His eyes were fixed on the ceiling—or perhaps something beyond it entirely.

For the first time since she'd met him, Sherilyn saw a shocked expression on King's face.

His lips trembled slightly before he muttered a single word.

"Q—Queen."