For You, I Would Even Be A Villain

PROLOGUE

Lilith’s younger sister, Rosalin, was like the heroine of a romance novel.

A frail yet beautiful girl, the dazzling flower of the Blaine Ducal House. Her starlit platinum hair always cascaded in soft waves, and her lightly flushed cheeks bloomed like freshly opened petals.

By the time she was sixteen, Rosalin already possessed flawless beauty.

She carried the elegance and dignity befitting a noble, yet retained an innocent, youthful charm. Even after years of illness, her radiant smile and gentle nature never wavered, making her all the more special.

Everyone adored Rosalin, and she, in turn, loved everyone. She was, without a doubt, the protagonist of this world.

Perhaps because of this, people often misunderstood Lilith as a typical villainess—just another jealous sister from a cliché novel. But that didn’t matter.

Lilith truly loved her one and only sister.

She had never once envied Rosalin or wished her harm. Even if others misjudged her, she didn’t care. It was simply a consequence of having a sister as perfect as Rosalin—people’s admiration for her naturally bred misconceptions.

In the end, it all stemmed from their overwhelming love for Rosalin.

As long as Rosalin was happy, Lilith didn’t mind what others thought of her.

So, really—it was fine.

But when Rosalin first introduced him, even Lilith couldn’t accept it.

“Big sister, say hello. He’s my new friend.”

After returning home from the academy, Lilith was met with an unfamiliar boy standing beside Rosalin.

A pit dog from the underground arena. A wretched former slave with nothing to his name.

Her younger sister had picked up what was practically a corpse off the streets and now called him a friend—claiming she would keep him as her attendant.

A boy with nothing but a passably handsome face, utterly unworthy of Rosalin in every way.

For the first time in her life, Lilith fiercely opposed her sister’s decision. There was no way she could allow an unknown and potentially dangerous man to remain by her precious sister’s side.

But Rosalin stubbornly refused to let him go.

In the end, Lilith couldn’t overcome Rosalin’s stubbornness and allowed the man to stay. However, she never approved of him shamelessly trailing after her sister.

Over time, Lilith realized that the man wasn’t as dangerous or wicked as she had initially feared—but that was all.

“I have someone I love. Though it is a one-sided affection, I have sworn to protect that person. A very long time ago.”

So even when she heard such a heartfelt confession from him, it didn’t change her mind. She had no intention of approving their relationship.

Unfortunately, despite Lilith’s wishes, the bond between the two only grew deeper.

Both the man and Rosalin vehemently denied it, but rumors had already spread throughout the mansion—whispers of a beautiful young couple in love.

People gushed about how their story was like something out of a romance novel.

A sickly yet beautiful noble lady and the handsome slave boy she saved… If this world were truly a novel with Rosalin as the protagonist, then its ending would undoubtedly be their love coming to fruition.

Lilith felt utterly disgusted.

So, on the day she heard rumors that the two might elope, she made a decision.

She would kill him.

The Empire had been at war with the Light Dragons for a very long time.

For decades, the conflict had dragged on without a clear resolution.

Noble houses were required to contribute knights to the battlefield. The Blaine Ducal House, to which Lilith and Rosalin belonged, was no exception.

Though fighting the Light Dragons seemed honorable, in reality, it was nothing more than marching to a senseless death.

Wealthier families avoided sending their key knights by adopting sons or hiring mercenaries from other territories to take their place.

When Lilith’s father, Duke Blaine, mentioned that their house needed to send a knight, she realized—this was her chance.

The next morning, she called the man to her.

Her proposal was simple.

She would grant him knighthood, and in return, he would serve the family by going to war.

“If you accept, you will no longer be of lowly status. You will become a knight and the adopted son of a noble family. And if you return alive, I will grant you whatever you desire—even marriage with Rosalin.”

He was skilled with the sword, so it was possible he could achieve great merit.

Of course, the survival rate was less than a fraction of a fraction.

It was all nonsense.

The man’s face paled for a brief moment at Lilith’s words, but he quickly composed himself and answered.

“If that is what you wish, I will obey.”

That was enough. Lilith didn’t think any further about it.

Everything proceeded smoothly from there. The man was adopted by Baron Meyer, a vassal of the ducal house, and was formally knighted. He even received a new surname—Xenon Meyer.

Now that he was properly dressed and presented, he looked the part of a noble knight.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, Rosalin’s health had worsened at the time, confining her to bed.

While she was unconscious, Lilith methodically carried out her plan to send the man to his death.

There was no turning back.

On the day of his departure, Rosalin, who had finally grasped the situation, ran out barefoot in her nightgown and clung to him.

The sight of a beautiful, fragile girl weeping and embracing her lover was enough to move even the coldest of hearts.

The servants of the ducal house shed tears at their tragic love story.

“That wicked woman is tearing apart two lovers just because she’s jealous of her sister.”

“She’s a heartless villain through and through.”

Some even openly cursed Lilith.

She didn’t care.

For Rosalin’s sake, she was willing to be the villain.

Their relationship would only poison them both. They should not—could not—be together.

It was an arrogant judgment, but Lilith never once doubted she was right.

And, in truth, the accusations of her being heartless weren’t entirely wrong.

Even in her own eyes, villain suited her quite well.

It didn’t even feel like an insult.

“Big sister… you can’t do this. Xenon, he… he doesn’t love me. He just… he only, even just a little…”

By the time the man had completely disappeared beyond the horizon, no more than a distant speck, Rosalin was sobbing in Lilith’s arms.

Her words were jumbled, blurred by tears, and incomprehensible to anyone.

Lilith didn’t understand them either.

So she simply held Rosalin, silently patting her back, until she cried herself into unconsciousness.

No matter how great a love may seem, time will eventually erode it.

A year passed.

Rosalin no longer wept over her lost lover.

Two years had passed.

Rosalin’s smile began to return.

She would occasionally share lighthearted jokes with others and even laugh. Compared to the days when she would collapse without warning, her health had improved significantly.

Three years had passed.

Rosalin no longer uttered the man’s name, even by accident. Whether she still thought of him during sleepless nights or had truly forgotten him was a mystery, but at least on the surface, she seemed fine.

Only then did Lilith finally feel at ease.

Yes, no matter how passionate, it had only been a fleeting, youthful love.

Rosalin had overcome the first heartbreak of her life.

It could even be called growth.

Lilith felt a twinge of guilt for the man, but she justified it as an unavoidable sacrifice.

Perhaps he was still alive somewhere.

But it didn’t matter.

He wouldn’t return.

There was no regret.

And finally, four years had passed.

That year, Rosalin was preparing for her debut in high society.

At twenty, she was slightly older than the typical debutante by Imperial standards, but everyone understood her circumstances, so no one found it unusual.

If anything, the entire social scene was eagerly anticipating the second daughter of House Blaine.

Even though she had rarely stepped outside due to her frail health, her beauty was already renowned throughout the Empire.

“Sister, how do I look? Do I seem strange?”

Dressed exquisitely for her debut, Rosalin was more stunning than anyone in the world.

Though she seemed uncomfortable with makeup for the first time in her life, to Lilith, she was nothing short of perfection.

Lilith felt genuinely happy.

Tonight’s ball would undoubtedly belong to Rosalin.

With a teasing smile, Lilith joked, “Rosalin, you’ve grown up. You’re ready to be married now.”

Though she never admitted it, she still felt a pang of guilt for separating Rosalyn and the man.

But old love is forgotten in the arms of new love.

If Rosalin met someone worthy, she would finally be able to move on.

However, Rosalin pouted and said, “No, I want to live with you forever.”

The childish remark made Lilith burst into laughter.

At that moment, a knock interrupted them.

Opening the door, Lilith found a pale-faced butler waiting outside.

He whispered urgently, “My lady, it is an urgent matter. Please step out for a moment.”

Lilith knew immediately—something was wrong.

Leaving Rosalin behind, she stepped into the hallway.

And as always, her bad premonition was right.

“Xenon Meyer has returned.”

The man had come back.

As a hero who had slain a Light Dragon.