I’m the Main Villain but the Heroines Are Obsessed With Me chapter 118

118 – 52. Conclusion (3)

Now, reveal your true identity.

Eri, trembling, mumbled incoherently at Ian’s nonchalant words.

“Uh…”

How did he find out she was using a disguise identity?

She knew it was embarrassing to praise herself. Eri thought that no one could ever discover her true identity.

Even if she hid her identity, who would know that she was the princess? It doesn’t make sense.

‘Impossible.’

A princess who had lived her whole life eating good things and seeing only good things, using a disguise identity and doing rough work—it was something that couldn’t be understood by common sense.

Moving forward, Eri sincerely portrayed the appearance of Evelynne Ewald.

To the extent that even her guardian knight was thoroughly deceived.

But… the fact that her identity was exposed to Ian. Was it a mistake?

‘No. Maybe it’s just a precaution. Just testing the waters, you know?’

Yeah. It’s definitely not something to ask with confidence.

If she responds nonchalantly here, it can smoothly pass.

After finishing her thoughts, Eri prepared to open her mouth, ready to deny it, but…

“If you don’t reveal your identity soon, your younger brother might inherit the throne. Wouldn’t it be better to return now? In the past, due to Bedon’s reckless behavior, inheriting the throne was just a dream. But these days, there are praises for Bedon even in the imperial court. If you continue to be at ease, you might really lose it.”

“…”

The moment Eri heard about Ian’s confident gaze and the internal situation flowing from his mouth, she gave up on making excuses.

If she insisted that it’s not true, even if she tore it off forcefully, there would be no effect.

The situation where her hidden identity was revealed. At the same time, Eri’s eyes became stern.

“Since when did you know?”

“If you ask when.”

Demanding an answer with a raised tone. In the past, she might have wondered how to handle it, thinking if it would provoke anger, but not now.

Not when she has reached the level of the one and only Grand Master, and her achievement of assisting a warrior in defeating a demon is a feat even the emperor of the empire cannot take lightly.

Naturally, even if she reveals her identity, it’s not something to be afraid of.

‘And Eri is not someone who would do something foolish to me.’

In about a short year, she had been close to her, spending time together.

Ian considered Ersabeth to be an incredibly precious person, a sentiment that held true even in Eri’s situation.

That was the reason.

“Don’t you remember? My birthday. You got heavily drunk and claimed to be a real princess four years older than you actually are.”

“Uh-huh.”

Ian could only offer a faint smile to her blushing face as if about to burst.

Simultaneously, he held onto her frozen hand and gently led Eri towards himself.

“Let’s stop playing roles now, Princess.”

“I was hiding it well. Didn’t think I’d be exposed just because of some alcohol.”

Even if she hadn’t been drunk, Ian had known her true identity from the start. Yet, he decided not to reveal that fact.

During a moment of hesitation, Eri’s eyes were reddening, as if she might cry.

“Well, you knew everything already, and I was acting alone… Isn’t that amusing?”

Eri seemed on the verge of tears at the slightest provocation. It must have been embarrassing for her. A grown adult pretending to be someone else so diligently, only to find out that Ian, at least, already knew her true identity.

However, Ian, at least, did not mock her.

“Heh.”

“Sure, laugh. Laugh as much as you want.”

“Why would I laugh? What’s there to be embarrassed about?”

“…What?”

Instead, he felt grateful.

Though he still didn’t know the exact intent behind her concealing her identity, she had been a source of much support and comfort during truly difficult moments.

If it weren’t for Eri, I imagine the future would have been as dark as night.

Being Eri Eveleheart, the noble maiden, rather than Princess Erzebet, I could treat her more comfortably and confide in her more freely.

Moreover, I came to think of her as my own.

That was the reason.

“Now, wouldn’t it be better for Princess Erzebet to return instead of continuing this act? Even if she’s a noble maiden, it must be more uncomfortable for her than when she lived as a princess.”

The reason I could sincerely express myself.

Ian calmly continued the conversation. Of course, Eri listening felt like death, but that’s beside the point.

Reveal your identity. Of course, she could. Pretending to be a noble, only to be captured if it turns out she’s a commoner or a slave. But originally, wasn’t her status that of the empire’s princess?

However, thinking differently, even with that status, there was a reason she couldn’t candidly reveal the truth.

“I cannot be with you in the capacity of a princess. As you anticipated, my siblings want me to inherit the throne.”

“So.”

“If I were to disclose my identity, I would have to dedicate a lot of time to succeeding to the throne. Naturally, I would have to give up Arc as well.”

To Erzebet, Ian was a precious person, just as he was to Eri.

Initially, it was just curiosity sparked by the reactions of the spirits that led her to approach him. But along with that, she concluded who Ian Volkanoth really was.

A person she could spend her entire life with—such was Ian to Eri.

The frightening reality of having to be separated from the person you love—that was the true reason.

“Can’t we always be together like this? Are you really okay with that, Ian?”

The reason she hesitated to reveal her true identity.

Becoming accustomed to being close, she became afraid of being apart.

With a clenched fist and a raised voice, Eri expressed her sincere concerns. Ian, hearing her heartfelt worries, silently nodded and said, “Yes.”

“Then, wouldn’t it be solved if we got married?”

“Yes, yes? What are you saying right now…?”

“I mean, if Eveleheart Yeongae abandons her status, she’ll have to separate from me. If you want to be legally together, getting married is the solution. Who would stop a married couple from being together?”

“A-Are you seriously suggesting that? I’m not in the mood for jokes, Ian!”

“I’m serious. Besides that, there’s no other suitable way for us to stay together. Even if it’s a duke, being attached to the princess will attract the attention of officials.”

“Fine. Let’s say we get married and stay together… Then, what about Ark?”

School? If he can’t stay close to Erzebet because of that, he can just quit.

“Just drop out. So, you don’t need to worry too much.”

“Drop out.”

The casual way he answered without a moment’s hesitation left a dumbfounded expression on her face.

Well, if he’s talking about quitting school so easily, it’s not surprising.

Maybe he’s deliberately saying these things to please me right now.

“But what should I do about this? I’m sincere, though.”

However, Ian had never spoken empty words before.

He had actually considered dropping out for Erzebet.

As an imperial noble, he knew how helpful Ark’s graduation certificate could be in the future.

Connections, relations, and blood ties—those words may sound excessive, especially in the medieval era, but they were still relevant.

“For commoners, it’s the gateway to success, and for nobles, it’s a field of harmony. Because it’s Ark. Those who claim to be someone in the empire are almost always Ark’s alumni, so it’s easy to get close later. Saying, ‘Senior, I’m an Ark junior!’ makes it easy to establish connections.”

Giving up such an advantage with a year left until graduation would be painful and seem insane.

Erri’s inability to speak properly was probably for this reason as well.

However, Ian was seriously considering resigning.

‘Who am I, anyway? In my twenties, I became a Grand Master, and not only that, I became a duke in the empire. I’m even the main hero of the warrior party that killed the dragon.’

From Noble mtl dot com

Those who flatter and seek connections are lacking something, using others to obtain it.

But why would Ian, who became the greatest figure in the empire, do such things?

‘Even the current dukes of the empire will soon pass away, and new people will take their place.’

Many of them, having long passed their prime and considering successors due to their considerable age.

Of course, they are also thinking about generational change. No matter how good they are, the process of passing on is not that easy.

‘Just because someone gets the approval of everyone and becomes the successor, the high-ranking people of the empire don’t immediately acknowledge and follow that person.’

He will waste time again, building a foundation to support himself once more.

In comparison, how about Ian? Even now, prestigious families, including the royal family, are not firmly holding onto him.

‘If you think about it roughly, there’s also Duke Wignoran, Viscount Hurst, and Viscount Mylerus.’

In addition, the large forest that the Edenianna elves have established is likely to have favorable feelings towards Ian.

‘Is that all? The current Volcanoff territory is a land flowing with milk and honey. It has changed from a barren land of death to the most profitable territory in the empire.’

If he resigns, he might become isolated. He might have to live on a remote island.

‘It’s nonsense. Even if you want to belittle it as a remote island, it’s the size of Australia. No, it’s continental in size.’

Self-sufficiency is entirely possible.

As expected, the nobles of the empire will soon try their best to establish connections with Volcanoff.

The meaning of that was simple.

‘I have no regrets about resigning from Ark. No? If I send a resignation letter to Ark, wouldn’t the headmaster try to hold me back by saying it’s an early graduation or an honorary graduate?’ Regrets belong to others; Ian has no problem at all.

Therefore.

“It might sound like a lie, but I can really drop out for you. So, I’ll stick with you in the future.”

The reason Ian decided without a moment’s hesitation to be with her.

With a satisfied smile, Ian took her left hand and began manipulating mana with his right hand.

Whoosh!

When he reached Master, he could handle mana in a solid state rather than liquid. Even reaching Grand Master didn’t change how he handled solids. There was one difference.

“When I was a Master, the mana would melt and vaporize the moment I stopped manipulating it. Now, it doesn’t melt.”

The ability to create pure mana that never melted.

Using that, Ian first created a ring.

Beyond the empire. No, it was a ring made from materials that existed only once in this world, and it was worn on Eri’s left ring finger.

“Let’s get married, Eri.”

“Thank you, Ian.”

At the same time, Eri burst into tears that she had held back.