—Why is the ceiling so fancy?
That was the first thought that crossed my mind when I woke up.
The ceiling above me was decorated with golden engravings, looking as if it belonged to some royal palace. I tried to sit up, but my body felt strange—smaller, weaker.
Wait…
Did I shrink?!
A flood of memories rushed into my mind, overwhelming me. My past life, my mundane existence, my death—and now, my reincarnation.
No, this wasn't just any reincarnation.
I was reborn as Leonhardt Valtara—the only son of the Valtara family, one of the most feared villain clans in history.
And that wasn't the worst part.
"Leon~! My cute little Leonhardt, you're finally awake~!"
A sultry voice filled with dangerous affection echoed from the side.
I turned my head and immediately froze.
A stunning silver-haired beauty was sitting beside me, her violet eyes sparkling with excitement. She wore a black dress with intricate embroidery, her legs crossed elegantly as she rested her chin on her palm, gazing at me with amusement.
My heart skipped a beat.
I knew this woman.
In this world, she was known as the Number One Villain—a genius Taming Beast Master who ruled with absolute power.
Her name was Celestia Nightshade.
And according to my new memories…
She was my wife.
Wait. What?!
◇◇◇
"L-Leonhardt-sama, please be careful!"
A maid rushed toward me in panic as I nearly tripped after trying to stand up. My body felt… different. Lighter, yet also unfamiliar. It was as if I had suddenly jumped into someone else's skin—well, technically, I had.
As I steadied myself, I caught sight of a massive mirror on the wall.
There, I saw a boy—no older than fifteen—with dark crimson hair and piercing golden eyes, dressed in a high-class noble's attire. His features were sharp yet refined, exuding the kind of arrogance you'd expect from a villain's son.
Yeah. That was me now.
I was Leonhardt Valtara, heir to the Valtara family—a clan feared across the continent for their unmatched power and ruthlessness.
But in my past life, I was just a normal guy.
This… this was too much.
I needed time to process everything.
Unfortunately, Celestia didn't seem like the type to give me that time.
"Leon~ Are you feeling unwell?"
Before I could react, Celestia was already pressing her soft hands against my cheeks, leaning in way too close.
"I was so worried, you know? You suddenly collapsed a few days ago…" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "If you died, I would've slaughtered entire kingdoms to bring you back~"
Oi. That's not a normal thing to say!
Even though she was gorgeous, I couldn't forget one thing—this woman was extremely dangerous.
Celestia Nightshade was a battle-hardened villain, a woman who commanded armies, tamed mythical beasts, and crushed entire nations under her heel. And yet, here she was, treating me like some delicate treasure.
I had no idea how our relationship worked in the original timeline.
But one thing was clear: she was obsessed with me.
…This was going to be a problem.
◇◇◇
That night, I sat alone in my luxurious chamber, staring at my hands.
I needed to accept my new reality.
I was no longer a normal person.
This world had a pre-written story, a narrative where a destined hero—the original protagonist, Rael Ascarion—would rise, gather allies, and defeat the villainous forces that ruled the world.
And guess what?
I was one of those villains.
Worse, my entire family was marked for destruction.
I clenched my fists.
If I followed the script, I would die.
My parents, despite being ruthless warlords, actually loved me. Celestia, despite being the most feared villain, cherished me more than anything.
I wasn't going to let them be erased.
Screw the original plot.
If fate wanted me to be the villain…
Then I would become the greatest villain of all time.