1. How does it feel to be bad? (1)

—

"Finally? Time to get off work!"

It's already 9 in the evening and most transportation is gone by now. It was a good thing I live nearby.

The reason why I'm so happy tonight was that my favorite webnovel is updating again! After the author went on hiatus for a while I had no choice but to drown myself into work.

But now, everything was perfect!

"I'm home!" I quickly pull off my shoes and ran towards the room to check my laptop.

The last chapter it stopped was when the male lead and his companions were off to rebel and quickly took down the empire after the male lead was accused of killing the previous emperor.

However, it was actually his first brother that did it and put the blame on the male lead so that he could quickly snatch the throne and reign the Empire.

But that backlashed when the male lead went missing and suddenly showed up with his companions, looking strong and overpowered. He quickly went through the empire gates and faced his blood-related brother to challenge him to a fight to death!

And now, the pure villain is about to meet his end!

"Wow, Helion is looking handsome as fuck! Shit!" I couldn't control my profanity and quietly clench the pillow to suppress my excitement.

Scrolling down, I finally got to the part where Esteffan, the villain, was about to die.

[Admist the crowd filled with rage and hostility for the man Infront of them, caged and chained, everything seemed to quiet down for him.

Esteffan looked up and saw how the sky darkened and rain began to pour. He closed his eyes and didn't say another word as the sentences announced his faith.

"Esteffan Auburgh shall be executed with his head out into the empire gates!"

The crowd cheered.]

"Wow! The author is no joke, they really went towards the off-with-your-head route!"

I continued reading.

[However the crowd soon quieted down when someone walked towards the caged Esteffan. That pure white hair and gleaming golden eyes that symbolizes greatness compared to Esteffan's dull gray hair and bleak blue eyes.

The man watched the people open the cage and dragged out Esteffan through the chains connected of his neck.

He pulled out his sword and positioned it towards Esteffan's neck without difficulty and said:

"One head for the price off all people you have taken away, brother. I won't hope for your redemption in the afterlife, but I will hope that those you killed will find justice."

And without hesitation, he swung the sword with one hand and cleanly cut off the head of the cancer of this world.

Esteffan was no more.

The whole empire rejoiced, the sky wept for the deceased, and the hero, Helion, wiped the blood off his sword.]

"Shit. . ." I gasped and quickly looked at the comments which screamed for the male lead.

Most of them were about curses towards Esteffan, and others chose to lick over Helion's awesomeness as a munchkin protagonist.

However, I suddenly felt a bit down.

I scrolled some more and found out that someone said the author of this book posted up a locked file on their socials which apparently talked about Esteffan's point of view.

Most ignored it since they didn't want to read and sympathize with a cold-hearted monster. But for me, as a big time loyal fan of the novel, I had to read everything to grasp what's going on inside the author's head!

And when I went to their socials, I found the file and quickly downloaded it. Though the signal seemed to be a bit slow so I had to put the laptop away and go down to cook myself some dinner first.

I looked outside the back door and opened it to feel the night cold air coming in.

Meeeeow~

Meoww

I found four stray cats waiting at the front and it made me smile. I pulled a bowl down and out it Infront of them and then I petted their head.

"Sorry I came home late right now, are you guys doing good?"

The cats kept eating as I checked my watched to know the noodles was done. After that, I went back to the laptop and continued to read.

Opening up the document, there was only one sentence that introduced Esteffan's point of view.

[It's a good thing the rain shall wash away the blood of the sinner.]

It was an oddly poetic touch, but I suddenly felt sleepy. Looking at the time it was almost 1 a.m. so I closed everything and went to sleep.

I'll read the rest tomorrow.

***

I could not read the rest.

Because the moment I opened my eyes, I felt a piercing voice beside me.

"First prince!"

"He's awake! Call the emperor!"

When I woke up, some weird females surrounded me with those maid dresses. I looked around and instantly knew—

This was not my home.

I felt around the bed, looked at my hands and touched my face— no pimples! It's too smooth and milky!

I suddenly got transported somewhere!

When I went to ask for a mirror, I found my self gasping because the one in the reflection was someone familiar to me. I've seen this devilish face in the very first character introduction of [Runaway Royal].

Dull gray hair, eyes as deep as the ocean, and skin so pale like snow. Esteffan Auburgh.

This was the villain that met a tragic life, the one whoe schemed so deep within the palace. And suddenly I possessed the body?!

"F-first prince?!"

"Somebody call the healer!"

Without notice, I fainted again.

.

.

.

"He's doing fine now, your majesty."

I worked up again, but I didn't open my eyes. I just listened to the surroundings and found out that aside from a royal healer, the emperor was also present in the room.

'Man, the pressure is no joke!' I could feel the heaviness my body was feeling, like it was sinking deep into the bed without no way of moving.

It seemed that the emperor really was that powerful. It made me wonder how Helion, the man who supposedly looked the most as the emperor, would acquire such a strong power as well.

But now I have to focus on my self!

"I know you are awake. Everybody has gone out,"

'Shit.'

I slowly opened my eyes, adjusting to the brightness of the room. I looked at the emperor seating across the room with a tea in his hand, supping leisurely as he looked at me.

"You caused quite the commotion, Esteffan. Do you have anything to say?"

"I. . . apologize, Emperor father. What happened back there was something that I had not calculated well."

In fact, I myself didn't even know if this accident was part of the plot or not.

Learning that Esteffan was out on a stroll in a forest the imperial family owned and suddenly drowned without no one to save him– it was so random, especially when this is a world where magic appeared.

But then I remembered, Esteffan could not use magic.

"Your words are meaningless to something that has already happened. Instead, make sure you heal and get back to your post soon,"

I flinched, "Yes, father."

"Good, I'll be off now. Rest properly."

Watching him exit and close the door, I waited for a minute and then I dug my face into the pillow and moaned in agony.

I had to face reality right now.

I possessed the body of a cruel villain that was destined to fall into hell, and now I must do everything change that. . . somehow.