The Villainous Family Loves Me Too Much!

“Then how about sharing Felosite’s technological capabilities with the Empire? After all, once Karena becomes Crown Princess, you will effectively become the Empire’s regent.”

“My personal regency and sharing Felosite’s research institute’s technologies are matters of entirely different scales.”

“I’m uncertain about the ideal trade ratio terms here. Conditions overly favoring Felosite may not pass imperial approval.”

“There have never been any conditions favoring Felosite, Your Highness the Prince.”

The negotiations between the Empire and Felosite encountered far more obstacles than anticipated.

Tangled like an intricate web lay the long-standing flawed pacts and systemic imbalances borne from their protracted conflicts.

Unraveling one issue only seemed to unravel a chain of subsequent problems.

Sighing deeply, Lucian tilted his head back in exasperation.

His head pounded relentlessly.

‘Just where do we even begin to resolve this quagmire?’

Moreover, Gabriel proved an unexpectedly formidable negotiator.

‘If the First Prince can handle all this so adeptly, why relinquish the Crown Prince role to Karena?’

Not that Lucian entirely failed to comprehend Gabriel’s perspective. Forsaking an unnecessary princedom for the sake of the beloved – understandable, even enviable in its way.

For the ever duty-bound Karena would unhesitatingly shoulder any obligation, regardless of circumstance.

Hence her indefatigable efforts towards attaining that happy ending.

“At this rate, would it not be better for Your Highness to assume the Crown Prince mantle instead?”

“You really are an obstinate one. This could resolve swiftly if only you’d relent.”

The war of wills between the continent’s two most influential figures raged intensely.

“Your Highness! Archduke!”

The conference chamber’s doors burst open as Jonathan came rushing in, shouting urgently:

“Sir Robben has awoken!”

A momentary hush fell over the room.

Locking eyes, Gabriel and Lucian simultaneously rose from their seats, uttering the same words as they exited in unison:

“A brief recess!”

* * *

“Dear, can you hear me? Are you okay?”

At long last, Sir Robben’s eyes fluttered open.

The first words from his lips were his daughter’s name:

“Lily…”

“Daddy! You’re awake!”

Oblivious to the situation, the innocent child merely beamed joyfully.

“Sir Robben.”

I prepared to share the wonderful news with him.

“You are no longer a demonic beast. The reversion to human form… it was successful.”

The child squirmed restlessly upon her mother’s lap.

Witnessing this, tears welled in Sir Robben’s eyes.

Confused by her father’s emotional reaction, little Lily fidgeted anxiously.

“Daddy, did Lily do bad?”

“No, Lily. I’m just grateful to Her Highness the Princess. So very grateful.”

“Tankyu Pwincess Wena!”

The little girl bowed her head towards me, prompting Sir Robben to affectionately ruffle her hair.

Sir Robben’s reversion held profound significance not just for him personally.

For Lily too, and all those previously afflicted by beast transformations.

As one born in beast form, Lily’s reversion process would undoubtedly prove even more arduous.

‘It seems I shall have my work cut out for me in the days ahead.’

Then the doors flung open as Gabriel and Lucian entered.

Though their entrance lacked subtlety, the two remained relatively reserved in demeanor.

“You’ve come, Young Lord.”

“The Archduke, you mean. Even as Captain of Knights, your insubordination knows no bounds.”

Standing before Sir Robben, Lucian seemed to revert to his former mentor-student dynamic.

“There are certain matters I must discuss…”

At Sir Robben’s signal, Lady Robben exited with Lily in tow.

“Not subjects fit for a child’s ears, you understand.”

To accommodate Sir Robben’s still-recovering state, we gathered closer around his bedside.

“What an honor, to receive such esteemed visitors – the Crown Prince, Princess, and the Archduke himself… I must appear quite the spectacle lying here.”

Though Sir Robben jested lightly, a melancholic glimmer lingered in his eyes.

Yet his emotional state hardly proved the priority now.

“First, regarding the Great Demon Beast… reverting him to human may prove immensely challenging.”

Sir Robben’s words carried a sobering finality.

“What leads you to that assessment?”

“It’s because… Ahemm!”

His lips seemingly parched, Sir Robben reached for a glass of water before continuing:

“Prince Liam is an individual of exceptionally potent desires.”

“How are strong desires relevant?”

Gabriel queried the connection between desire and beasts.

“Through my own beast transformation experience, I recognized this: the stronger one’s desires, the deeper the sense of being consumed by the inner beast. A loss of self-identity, you could say. I can’t precisely define it, but facing Prince Liam firsthand, I gained the impression his Great Demon Beast status emerged not without justification.”

“Beasts essentially feed upon desire.”

Lucian spoke up, having remained quietly contemplative beside us, fingers idly tracing his lips.

“Examining the fundamental nature of our abilities clarifies this: Mana stems from desire, divine power from faith, Abilities from nature itself. Beasts are newly manifested monstrosities rooted in the darkest desires lurking within living beings.”

“Which is why humanoid monsters prove so terrifying.”

Sir Robben concurred with a solemn nod.

“Having lost their Abilities, they can only exist as ordinary humans. Can the Second Prince truly relinquish the Great Demon’s power?”

Neither I nor Gabriel could refute Lucian’s probing question.

Perhaps we ourselves had inadvertently fostered the monster named Liam.

“…And there is one other matter I believe the Young Lord and Princess would find noteworthy.”

Sir Robben hesitated, glancing towards Gabriel.

“I wonder if the Crown Prince is also aware?”

When I shook my head, Gabriel rose with a resigned sigh.

“My apologies, Brother. But this may be best left unknown to you.”

The truth that our world originates from a novel. And my own reincarnated existence having possessed Karena.

I couldn’t bring myself to divulge all that, sparing Gabriel such a disorienting revelation.

‘I’m sorry. But sometimes, ignorance can be merciful.’

Regarding my crestfallen expression, Gabriel smiled reassuringly.

“Whatever it is, I trust you have matters well in hand.”

After Gabriel’s departure, Sir Robben slowly sat upright.

“I presumed you would wish to know about the novel’s contents.”

* * *

-All I can recall is the name Princess Karena. So as far as my memories serve, it was Her Highness who altered the novel’s storyline.

Sir Robben’s response was straightforward and succinct.

-Since Her Highness has already intervened in the story, we should all be safe.

While his words only compounded my uncertainty, Lucian seemed peculiarly unfazed.

“You’d just blindly believe that? Truly?”

“If apocalyptic ruin looms, I trust you’ll handle it somehow.”

Folding my arms, I eyed Lucian skeptically.

“Well, not that I entirely believe it either. But it does carry a certain credibility.”

“How can you possibly deem that even remotely credible…?”

“Because you represent the greatest, most precious gift I could ever receive.”

“No, that’s… just because you phrase it like that, it doesn’t mean I…”

Without warning, Lucian planted a kiss upon my forehead.

“Wasn’t the tower your grandest gift? From your father, and then you gifted me yourself.”

“You’re being excessively sentimental today. I should find a way to shut you up.”

“No, really, I can’t be the greatest gift, surely…”

The moment Lucian’s lips met mine as he pulled me into an embrace, an electrifying jolt lanced through me.

“Aaahh!”

An agonizing, searing pain surged from head to toe, as if lightning coursed through my very veins.

Unable to withstand the excruciating torment, I collapsed to the floor.

“Rena!”

And so I slowly lost consciousness, Lucian’s frantic voice fading into the distance.