Everyone Says I'm the Empire's Beloved

Su Lin is the villain in the story, destined to die at the hands of the protagonist.

As he lay dying, the nobleman who had adopted him cursed him: "You worthless bastard. You'll never receive anyone's genuine affection in your whole life."

Su Lin took it as an unusual form of recognition and praise.

The power he had torn from others was far more important than their affection.

A System suddenly appeared and calmly revealed his fate: "You were born to die at the protagonist's hands, becoming the least important part of a legend."

Su Lin was unmoved.

Unimportant? He would become the legend itself.

The System treated Su Lin as a plot device. It demanded that he fit into the story, that the villain stay on the right path, even if that path ultimately led to death.

Su Lin did not reject the plot.

So he craved power. So he trampled the weak. So he looked down on everyone.

Arrogant, domineering, despicable: in the eyes of the world, these words came to define Su Lin.

But none of that mattered.

He believed that everything would be completely rewritten.

After his death...

People suddenly discovered that Su Lin had been donating to the slums all along.

Su Lin said calmly, "The most loyal dogs live on barren land. Feed them a few bites, and you can bring them into your service."

Politicians suddenly discovered that the so-called rightful heir had appalling manners and boundless greed.

Su Lin smiled. "...Guess how this former rightful heir ended up the way he is now?"

His sworn enemy suddenly discovered that Su Lin's presence was what had allowed him to move freely through the military.

Su Lin was cool and detached. "Well, I suppose that's a surprise that isn't very surprising. At least I really was his enemy."

After Su Lin died, he became the white moonlight in everyone's heart.

His death became yet another beautiful filter through which people saw him.

And in another corner of the Empire's star territory, Su Lin opened his eyes once more, inheriting the brilliant golden eyes unique to the royal family.

Su Lin regarded the System as a tool to help him claim the throne. He would follow the System's instructions, die at the protagonist's hands as the plot demanded, and obtain a new body outside the story.

The System did not realize anything was amiss.

Since everyone saw him as an upright and noble white moonlight, they would surely be willing to place the power of the throne in his hands.

Right?

Theme: Stay true to yourself and make your dreams come true