The Darkened Second Male Lead Seeks to Rewrite the Original Storyline

“Not something so beneath me—bring me something worthy of my rank.”

Isabelle, momentarily stunned, quickly caught on to Ria’s intent and nodded vigorously.

“Yes, my lady! I’ll ensure they prepare a meal befitting the prestige of House Keblick!”

As expected, Isabelle was sharp. Once she left to arrange the meal, an icy tension settled over the dining hall.

Ria resisted the urge to look at the ruined food scattered across the table.

What a waste…

Ria had grown up in South Korea, where she’d been told countless times not to play with food. Her upbringing made her particularly sensitive to such waste, especially since she hadn’t come from a privileged background.

And yet, I used the word ‘rank.’

She had chosen the word deliberately. For someone who valued status as much as Ernie did, retaliation in kind was the most effective weapon. But no matter how practical the choice, the lingering sense of unease was unavoidable.

At least it seems to have worked.

Ria glanced at Ernie. Trembling with suppressed rage, Ernie clenched her fists and stared at the floor. It was clear the humiliation had hit its mark.

See? If you’re going to copy someone, do it properly. I’m the villainess in this story, not you.

Ria straightened her back and lifted her chin, exuding confidence.

Ernie opened her mouth as if to retort but ultimately said nothing. She turned on her heel and stormed out of the dining hall, her footsteps loud with fury.

Only after Ernie left did Ria let out a small sigh. She turned her gaze to Siklaen, who sat frozen, staring at her with wide eyes and an expression of disbelief.

Siklaen looked like a drenched puppy, and Ria couldn’t help but feel pity.

“Siklaen.”

Siklaen flinched visibly at her name. Ria wanted to ask if she was okay but hesitated. After everything she had done to her, Siklaen might see Ria as no different from Ernie.

In fact, considering how I’ve treated her, I’m probably worse.

“…No.”

Guilt weighed heavily on Ria, and with it came an unavoidable sadness. She was used to being disliked, but she wanted Siklaen to see her differently.

Though, accepting the role of the villainess made this outcome inevitable.

With a sigh, Ria rose from her seat. The other students, who had been eating quietly, flinched at the sudden movement.

“R-Ria… what about your meal?”

Even now, Siklaen’s kindness shone through. Despite trembling with fear, she still worried about Ria, thinking of her as a friend.

Ria let out a low sigh. She had already broken character once. She needed to stay consistent to maintain her image.

“I’ve lost my appetite. Just looking at… you.”

She deliberately chose words that the original Ria might have said, but her voice faltered at the end.

The words seemed to hit Siklaen hard, as she lowered her head, her expression downcast. Unable to bear it, Ria turned and left the dining hall.

“Who even is this Ernie Ebon? I’ve never heard of her!”

As Ria stormed toward the waiting carriage, Isabelle hurried alongside her, sounding curious.

“From what I’ve learned, the Ebon family’s eldest son distinguished himself in the war and recently gained the Emperor’s favor.”

“So that’s why she’s acting so high and mighty?”

Ria was walking quickly, her mind racing.

The Emperor’s favor, a distinguished war record—I get it. But who is she?!

The reason for Ria’s frustration was simple. There was no mention of Ernie Ebon in the original novel.

Neither her family, her name, nor her appearance rang a bell.

Of course, Ria didn’t believe her memory was infallible. It was possible Ernie was a minor extra she had overlooked.

But still…

Ernie had tried to use a line that belonged to the original Ria.

It was a line Ria herself had never been able to bring herself to say. Even as she embraced her role as the villainess, there were limits she couldn’t cross.

Exposing Siklaen’s secret…

Ernie had nearly done what Ria had always refused to do.

Ria abruptly stopped walking. Isabelle, trailing closely behind, bumped into her back with a startled thump. Quickly realizing her mistake, Isabelle stepped back and bowed.

What is this unsettling feeling?

It wasn’t just the thought of Siklaen being hurt. Deep down, Ria felt as though something fundamental was going wrong.

Why?

Her chest churned with unease, and she pressed a hand against it, standing still. It was as if she was on the brink of understanding something important, yet it remained just out of reach.

I’m uneasy… It feels like things will spiral out of control if this continues.

Ria took a deep breath to steady herself.

At that moment, a hand grabbed her shoulder from behind.

Startled, she turned around quickly to see none other than Zen standing there.

“Zen?”

Startled, she tried to put some distance between them, but her legs tangled, and she stumbled. Zen caught her wrist before she could fall.

“Is something wrong? You don’t look well,” he said.

His tone wasn’t particularly concerned, nor did it sound like genuine curiosity. Irritated, Ria frowned and snapped back.

“That’s none of your business.”

She tried to shake his hand off, but Zen’s grip was unyielding.

“Let go.”

“You might change your mind after seeing this.”

With a smug expression, Zen held up a piece of paper and waved it in front of her face.

Paper?

The document bore the official seals of the Baisen Royal Academy and House Keblick. It was the withdrawal certificate she had signed only hours ago.

“How did you get that…?”

Ria reached to snatch the paper, but Zen was faster. He raised his arm, holding it high above her reach, even as she stood on tiptoes.

“Not so fast. Where do you think you’re going?”

“What? Going where? What are you talking about?”

“This.”

Zen smirked as he held the withdrawal certificate in both hands and began tearing it in half with a slow, deliberate motion.

“You!”

Ria stared at him, aghast, as he tore the paper into pieces, shredding it smaller and smaller until he let the fragments drift away on the breeze.

She stared blankly in the direction the paper had scattered.

“Well? Ready to talk now?”

Zen seemed fully aware that Ria had been avoiding him for days.

Of course, I’ve been avoiding him. Why wouldn’t I? Who in their right mind would stick around after hearing him spout nonsense about choosing me?

“…I’ll just get another copy,” Ria said, forcing herself to sound calm.

“I don’t think so. Do you know who I am?”

Ria bit her lip nervously, unable to answer.

The Crown Prince of this country…

Indeed, there was little Zen couldn’t do if he set his mind to it, especially since the Royal Academy was under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Family.

What am I supposed to do now?

Then, suddenly, Ernie’s face flashed through Ria’s mind.

Wait a second. Do I really need to leave the Academy?

She recalled how Ernie had taken over her original lines. Perhaps Ernie could restore the story in Ria’s place.

Her heart thudded unsteadily. It was a reckless idea. Just yesterday, she had been determined to leave the school to preserve the original plot. Ria frowned deeply.

“Are you unwell?”

Zen’s voice broke her train of thought. His question sounded more like a demand for an answer than genuine concern. Ria steadied her breathing, forcing herself to think clearly.

She tried to shake off the absurd idea. No, she needed to leave the Academy. That was the only way to preserve the story and ensure Siklaen’s happiness.

I’ll just go back to Duke Keblick and ask him again.

Ria nodded to herself. There was no point in arguing with Zen over the withdrawal certificate. The best course of action was to appeal to her father once more. Even Zen, as the Crown Prince, couldn’t easily overturn a decision approved by the student, parent, and headmaster.

“Do what you want. I’ll figure out another way.”

She turned sharply, ready to leave, but Zen’s voice stopped her.

“Running away again, are you?”

His expression turned cold in an instant. Before Ria could react, Zen grabbed her wrist and began walking, dragging her along with him.

“Wait, where are you taking me?”

Ria had no choice but to follow. The strength in Zen’s grip made resistance futile, and the scene felt like déjà vu. Zen was as relentless as ever, and Ria could only scowl in frustration.

“Zen!”

She called his name several times, but he didn’t even glance back. Resigned, she sighed and stared at his broad back as he led her away.

There’s no avoiding this forever. If I want to preserve the story, I need to return Zen to his original role, not just leave the school.

Maybe he regrets his foolish actions. Maybe I can reason with him.

But it didn’t take long for Ria to abandon that thought entirely.

Reason with him? What was I thinking?

Zen stopped in the middle of the Royal Academy’s garden. Unlike the quiet, secluded spot he had chosen before, this time he seemed intent on drawing attention.

He sat down in the gazebo at the center of the garden, a place every student passed by at least once a day. It was, without a doubt, the school’s most visible location. To make matters worse, Zen used his authority as Crown Prince to chase away the students who had been sitting there.

In the original story, he wasn’t the type to flaunt his authority like this. That’s why I could get away with calling him by name.

The more she looked at him, the more Zen seemed like a completely different person from his portrayal in the novel. Embarrassed by the stares they were attracting, Ria lowered her head.

Zen was the first to break the silence.

“Have you given any thought to what I said back then?”

“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Ria avoided his gaze, knowing full well he was referring to his ridiculous declaration about “choosing” her. Zen leaned in closer, clearly unwilling to let her dodge the topic.

“You’ve been avoiding me. That says enough.”

His accusatory tone made it sound like she was the one in the wrong. Unable to hold back, Ria snapped.

“Why are you doing this to me? What about Siklaen?”

“Why bring her up?”

Zen’s expression hardened instantly, his face turning cold. The sudden shift startled Ria, though she quickly masked her reaction and forced herself to respond casually.

“Why? Because everyone in this school knows how much you like her.”

“Ha…”

Zen let out a dry laugh, his lips curling into a faint, bitter smile.

“Siklaen doesn’t matter. The only one I want… is you.”