IBVSM

Prologue

[<La Mar> : The empire’s most talked-about rising trading company]

[“They say there’s nothing you can’t get through that company!”
“I even heard rumors that the Crown Prince himself uses them?!”]

[The mysterious head of the company… Will they appear at this imperial banquet?]

My day always began with organizing newspapers.

After neatly folding the papers and tucking them together with the documents in my arms, I picked up a cup of coffee loaded with sugar and knocked on the door.

“Director, it’s Ilian.”

“Come in.”

Internal secretary to the head of the <La Mar> trading company.

That was my job — Ilian Gresia.

I set the documents down on the desk with practiced ease and spoke.

“This is the contract with the Imperial Knights. I marked the clauses they requested revisions on, so please review them.”

“I’ll look it over. Next.”

“This is the expenditure approval form. It only needs your signature.”

“I’ll check it later. Next.”

“This is next week’s schedule. I adjusted it to include the outside appointments as well, but let me know if there are any changes.”

“Very well. Leave the newspapers beside the schedule. What’s next?”

It was a day no different from usual.

The dark office, the dry conversation, the aroma of coffee gently drifting through the air.

And, of course, looking at Aden—

the head of the company, who didn’t even glance at the person entering his office and simply continued working.

That was why I could say it so casually.

As if it were any ordinary day.

“And this is my resignation letter.”

“……”

“I’m quitting.”

Scratch—

Aden’s pen, which had been gliding across the paper, came to an abrupt stop before slowly moving again.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Then I’ll say it again. I’m resign—”

Clunk.

Once again, Aden stopped his pen.

This time, he finally lifted his head slowly.

Seriously, just like everyone said—

his face was ridiculously handsome.

Handsome enough that the rumor claiming <La Mar> performed so well because people got dazzled by the company director’s looks and signed contracts without thinking almost sounded believable.

But—

“If money is the problem, I’ll pay you more.”

What kind of meaning was that supposed to have for someone already planning to quit?

“Money isn’t the issue.”

“That’s difficult to understand. Wasn’t money your greatest problem? You’re drowning in debt. Debt inherited from your father, no less.”

“Are you really bringing up my family situation right now?”

“I’m mentioning it because I have to. Your debts still haven’t been resolved, have they?”

“That’s true. At the same time, it’s not really something you need to concern yourself with, Director.”

“……”

“Anyway, it’s not about money. To begin with, <La Mar> has the best salary and benefits in the industry.”

And yet, the reason I wanted to quit was…

“Then what is the problem?”

‘You are!’

Because you, Aden, are the final mastermind villain of this entire world!

And not only that—you’re a villain destined for a horribly tragic death, which means if I stay by your side, your secretary—that is, me—is obviously going to get stabbed too!

“What exactly is the problem? I asked you a question.”

…But since I couldn’t actually say that out loud, I desperately gulped down the coffee I’d been holding.

I’d brought it for myself in the first place. I’m allowed to drink coffee too, you know?

After chugging the coffee, I gathered every ounce of calmness and politeness I had and answered,

“You don’t necessarily need a problem to quit a job. I simply want to resign now. That’s all.”

“……”

“Please process my resignation letter. Then…”

Even as I greeted him and turned away, Aden said nothing.

Well, that was just the kind of person he was.

Someone who treated the employees of his company like disposable tools and judged others solely by how useful they were.

‘Someone like me probably means nothing to Aden.’

Just like always, he’d probably return his attention to the paperwork as if nothing had happened.

However—

just as my hand reached for the doorknob—

“Ilian.”

This time was different.

Aden stopped me.

“…I’ll treat you better.”

His voice was so low that at first, I thought I’d misheard him.

“Wouldn’t that be enough?”

But I hadn’t.

His usually cold and precise voice trembled ever so slightly as he desperately tried to hold onto me.

I had never seen him like this before.

Slowly, I turned around.

My eyes met his violet ones.

“…Hm?”

And then he quietly added that single syllable.

It sounded strange.

Like a plea, a confirmation, and a desperate beg all at once.

That one small word was so unlike Aden that…

for a moment, my mind went blank.

I bit down hard on my lip.

‘Get a grip, Ilian. This man is that “Kallix Arden Blight.” The villain who destroys the empire.’

That was the true identity of the man shamelessly attacking me with his face right now.

The number one man you absolutely shouldn’t get involved with.

And yet, the reason Aden and I became entangled in the first place?

To explain that, I have to go back several months—

to the day of my interview.

In other words…

‘The day I realized this world was a novel.’