I Became the Third-Rate Villain in My Favorite Novel! - Chapter 0 - Prologue

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

I came back from school, headed straight upstairs, and barely stepped into my room before Mom called out.

“Your package finally arrived~!”

Wait, it’s here!? Quickly rushing inside my room, locking the door and to see my package on my table.

“It’s finally here!” I practically shouted, tearing into the box and ripping off the plastic wrap in seconds. I dropped onto my bed, heart pounding, eyes locked on the cover.

The novel I’d been waiting months for.

It’s been ages since the last volume came out. I’d lined up outside the bookstore longer than I ever had for anything, and it wasn’t even that popular of a series! Sure, it had a loyal following, but it wasn’t exactly mainstream.

But for me? I’ve been hooked since middle school. Five whole years now. And finally, with summer break here, I could read without worrying about homework or exams breathing down my neck.

Yeah, it had your typical plot… heroine gets rescued by the protagonist, they fall in love despite society’s rules, face countless challenges, and somehow still get their happy ending. Your classic historical romance.

But that wasn’t why I fell so hard for this series.

It was the art.

The way the illustrator captured those slender fingers, the delicate expressions, the lighting, heck, even the background details felt alive. Sure, it’s mostly text, but every time those illustrations appeared, it was like peeking behind the curtain of the story itself.

Not to say the story was bad, either. It was surprisingly well written. And the craziest part? The heroine wasn’t actually the main character.

The real protagonist was the male lead.

How often do you see that in a historical romance novel? Barely ever! A well-paced plot and a male MC? Story decent. Illustrations god-tier!

As a hardcore romance fan, and yeah, as a guy too, it was a dream come true.

The wholesome scenes, the cringe lines moments but enough to make the heroine in love!

Just thinking about it got me giggling and kicking my feet like some lovesick girl.

“Ah, the art is as beautiful as ever~” I whispered to myself, staring at the heroine’s emerald-green eyes and soft long blonde hair. Absolute perfection, the true noble woman!

But soon time slipped by unnoticed. When I finally looked up, the sky outside was dark. My phone read 7 P.M, but the right side of the novel felt suspiciously thin.

“Already at the last pages…?” I muttered, disappointment sinking in. Four hours gone, just like that. I always regret speeding through stories like this, but once I start, I can’t stop.

“Oh well. Might as well finish before Mom calls me down for dinner.”

I turned the pages faster now, wanting to see how it all wraps up. And then…

“The end.”

Wait. What?

My eyes flew to the last page. Skipped the final illustration, hands trembling.

“Thank you for reading up to Volume 12! I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I did writing it. Please look forward to our upcoming new novel!”

At the bottom corner, a little stickman figure bowing politely.

…No. No way.

I slammed the book shut, heart pounding. This couldn’t be happening.

I bolted out of my room, barely hearing Mom call out,

“Dinner’s ready, come-“

I didn’t even stop to answer. I needed air, needed to run, needed to do something.

Mom’s voice faded behind me as I sprinted down the street, gripping the novel so hard it crumpled under my fingers. I didn’t know where I was going, just away from the crushing realization that the story I loved so much… was really over.

Eventually, my legs gave out near a quiet lake. The moonlight shimmered across the water, beautiful but not enough to fill the emptiness in my chest.

“This is bullshit!!” I yelled, my voice echoing over the water.

I sank onto a bench, the novel still in my hand, now creased and bent from my grip.

I’d always kept this novels in perfect condition, and now look at it.

I turned to the last few illustrations, tracing the lines with my thumb. The last time I’d get to see these characters, drawn this way, by this artist.

They didn’t even give us an epilogue. No glimpse into life after the wedding. Just a neat little bow and “The end.”

“What bullshit is this…” I muttered under my breath, the words tasting bitter.

An hour must have passed like that, sitting silently with nothing but the breeze and distant city sounds for company.

When I finally checked my phone, it was late. Way past dinner. Mom and Dad were probably worried sick.

“I guess it’s about time I go home…” I sighed, standing up, my legs stiff.

As I walked back, I unlocked my phone.

“Might as well post my thoughts on the official forum.”

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Arriving back at the streets, the traffic lights were malfunctioning..

“That’s weird..”

I turned my head left and right to see no cars driving..

I guess it’s my que to cross the streets.

My mistake here was not noticing the upcoming truck.

I was on my phone writing away my thoughts about the novel ending.

Until i heard screech on my right side, i turned to my right. seeing an upcoming truck.

So close, even just a few meters away.

I couldn’t dodge it. I noticed too late.

“Dam-” the truck hitting me like a bullet train.

My body sent flying, and now blood dripping from my head.

Am i dying?

How worst can this day get, just earlier this afternoon.. i was so happy.

Having my novel arriving at my room, to this killing me in the end.

To the happiest guy alive, to the unluckiest guy.

What shitty luck. 

I thought as my consciousness starts fading away.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“Ha! Take this! That’s… what you ge-!” out of breath but i still kept on stomping on the person below my feet.

My body jolted, as i start gaining my real consciousness.

What the.. wasn’t i.. on the floor bleeding..?

“W-what was i doing..?” I held my head tighly, it hurts.

The pain soon subsided.. and realized there was someone on my feet sobbing.

I stopped stepping on to the sobbing person.

Taking away my foot from the person, she was a beautiful person..!

“I- I-“

I look a few steps back, my back facing the door.

I don’t know where i am or what’s going on!

I’m confused!

The place looked like a janitors closet with mops and other tools.

I turned left to see a mirror.. 

And it wasn’t the face I normally had.

He looked… Arrogant… and… handsome. Too handsome. With Sharp jawline, well-kept hair, eyes that looked nothing like mine.

This wasn’t my face.

I raised a trembling hand to my cheek, pressing my palm against the skin, warm, and real.

I can feel it… it really is my face!?

My eyes widened as the realization slammed into me like another truck.

No way… wait… I know this guy!

A well treated hair, the fancy clothes, that smug look still lingering in the reflection.

The count’s troublemaker son…!

From the novel I loved so much. The arrogant, petty noble who tried to force the heroine to be his concubine after she rejected him.

The third-rate villain!?!

“Hicc… hicc… I’m sorry…”

Her voice pulled me back.

I turned, and there she was, huddled on the floor, shoulders shaking, tears rolling down her cheeks.

She was beautiful… painfully beautiful. Like she’d stepped right out of the illustration pages.

Blonde hair that shimmered under the dusty lamp, green eyes like emrald.. shining even through the tears.

T-This girl…!

Is the heroine of the novel i admired so much!

—

A/N: New novel guys!!

Thank you for reading the prologue!!!

If you liked this novel, do consider maybe.. rating?

Uh yeah… it’s not much of an prologue i know.

I came up with this idea for a story on a whilm and now I’m curious about how far it can go lol