The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 270: A Story

Chapter 270: A Story

"Where did you even get this outfit?"

Adeline glanced at Edward, eyeing the dark robe she now wore.

It was identical to those worn by forbidden magic wielders—long, flowing, and embroidered with faint sigils. Even the fabric itself seemed to hold traces of magic, whispering with power.

She didn’t know where he had gotten it, and honestly, she doubted he would tell her.

So before he could smirk and refuse to answer, she sighed and corrected herself. "Never mind. You won’t tell me either way."

Edward’s grin was infuriatingly smug. "You know me so well."

His white hair gleamed under the moonlight, making him look almost angelic.

But his words, as always, were as cruel as ever.

"You can go in alone," he said, his voice light and carefree. "They won’t do anything to you."

Adeline seriously doubted that.

This plan was completely insane—walk into a den of forbidden magic users and hope they assumed she was one of them?

She wanted to scream.

Instead, she forced herself to breathe and focused on her disguise.

She pulled the hood up over her hair, ensuring it was completely covered.

Then, she reached for the mask she had brought.

She had obtained it long ago, meant for situations exactly like this—when she needed to hide.

The mask was enchanted to slightly alter her features, just enough that if she were discovered, she could remove it later and vanish without a trace.

A failsafe.

Just in case everything went horribly wrong.

Edward watched her with a lazy amusement, his grey eyes gleaming. "You look the part."

Adeline ignored him.

Her heart pounded as she adjusted the robe, ensuring it draped properly over her frame.

This had to work.

Because she had no other plan.

Because she had to find a way to bring back Cassian, Benedict, and Dimitri.

Because she had no other choice.

She turned to leave.

Edward leaned casually against a tree, making no move to change into the guard uniform he had claimed he would wear.

Adeline frowned.

Of course, he had lied.

Again.

But she didn’t bother to say anything.

What was the point?

She found it easier to act alone anyway.

At least this way, there were no distractions.

No mocking words.

No cruel smiles.

Only her purpose.

She had no idea how she was going to do it.

She had no idea if she would find any clues inside.

But if she had to, she would make one of them talk.

One way or another.

With one last glance at Edward, she turned away and stepped toward the entrance.

The moment she stepped inside, the air changed.

It was heavy—thick with magic, the kind that clung to her skin like an invisible force pressing down on her.

The corridor ahead was dimly lit with flickering lanterns, casting eerie shadows along the stone walls.

She moved carefully, her footsteps silent as she advanced deeper into the base.

Everywhere around her, she could feel it—the presence of forbidden magic.

It hummed in the air, like an unseen pulse beneath her skin.

She hated it.

She hated that it felt so familiar.

That it made her stomach churn with unease.

Her grip tightened at her sides.

Focus.

This wasn’t about her.

This was about them—about saving them.

She had no idea how long she walked before voices reached her ears.

A group stood ahead, speaking in hushed tones.

Adeline took a deep breath and stepped forward.

They turned as she approached.

Their eyes swept over her robe, lingering on her mask.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then, one of them—a man with dark hair and sharp features—tilted his head.

"New?"

Adeline tilted her head slightly, letting her lips curve into a faint smirk as she met the man’s gaze.

"What do you think?" she asked, her tone dripping with cold amusement.

It was a gamble.

She needed to act like a veteran—like she belonged here. A place like this, crawling with forbidden magic wielders, thrived on power and hierarchy. If she hesitated for even a second, they would sniff out her deception.

So, she followed her roots.

She became the villainess she once was—or at least, the one she had been forced to play in this world.

Her words had the desired effect. The man, taken aback for a brief moment, narrowed his eyes as if reassessing her, but he didn’t push the issue. Instead, he gave her one last lingering look before waving her inside without another word.

Adeline exhaled silently, stepping past him into the dimly lit halls of the hideout.

The moment she entered, she kept moving.

Standing still in a place like this was an easy way to get noticed. If she wandered with purpose, however, no one would question her.

Her sharp eyes took in everything—the narrow hallways, the flickering torches casting elongated shadows on damp stone walls, the scattered groups of people murmuring in hushed voices.

Forbidden magic thickened the air like an oppressive fog, a silent reminder that she was standing among people who should not exist.

She needed information.

Names. Plans. Weaknesses.

But there was nothing.

At least, nothing obvious.

The rooms she passed contained simple cots, wooden chests filled with robes like the one she wore, and discarded scrolls that held no real significance. The people here were disciplined—no loose documents lying around, no signs of carelessness.

Frustration gnawed at her.

She had to find something.

Something that could tell her why they had taken Dimitri, Cassian, and Benedict. Why were they choosing to help Annora? What kind of deal do they have?!

Something that could tell her how to get them back.

Then—

At the very end of a long corridor, she saw a door.

It was slightly ajar, but unlike the others, there was no light coming from within.

Something about it felt different.

Almost like it had been abandoned.

Adeline glanced around, making sure no one was watching before stepping inside.

The air was stale, thick with dust as if no one had entered in some time. Unlike the other rooms, this one was barren—no beds, no chests, no personal belongings.

Just a simple wooden desk pushed against the far wall.

And on it, a single letter.

Adeline’s heartbeat quickened as she stepped forward, fingers brushing over the brittle parchment before picking it up.

Her eyes skimmed the words—

Then, she froze.

"Do not forget our goal. No matter what happens, the story must return to its rightful path."

"We cannot allow her to change it any further."

Her breath caught in her throat.

What...?

Her grip on the paper tightened as she reread the words, disbelief twisting in her stomach.

The story?

Did that mean—

These people—they knew?

They knew this was just a story? A novel...

And they were trying to force it back on track?

Her blood ran cold.

That meant—

That meant that everything she had done, every effort she had made to change things, had been noticed.

And worse—

They were trying to undo it all.

The realization hit her like a physical blow.

Cassian. Benedict. Dimitri.

Had they been taken because of her? Because she had changed things too much?

Panic threatened to claw its way up her throat, but she swallowed it down. She had to think. Had to breathe.

What did this mean?

Who was behind this?

Her mind raced as she considered the possibilities.

There were only two explanations.

Either these people were like her—outsiders, transmigrators who had also entered this world.

Or—

Someone from this world had somehow learned the truth.

Neither option made her feel any better.

And neither changed the fact that she had to stop them.

She had fought too hard, risked too much, to let things be rewritten back into the tragedy this world was meant to be.

Her hands shook slightly as she folded the letter and slipped it inside her robe. She couldn’t let anyone else see it.

Footsteps echoed down the hall.

Adeline stiffened.

She turned just in time to see a figure step into the doorway.

A woman.

Tall, with dark eyes that gleamed with quiet intelligence. Unlike the others, she wasn’t wearing a robe. Instead, she wore a fitted black outfit that allowed for easy movement. Though she did not wear a robe, her face was still covered with a hood.

What was up with these people and hoods? What were they hiding? Adeline felt the urge to rip off their hoods and see what they look like.

But right now—

Her gaze was locked directly onto Adeline.

"Who are you?" the woman asked.

Adeline schooled her expression into indifference, tilting her head slightly as if unimpressed by the question.

"I could ask you the same thing."

The woman’s eyes narrowed. "I don’t recognise you."

"You wouldn’t," Adeline said smoothly. "And you don’t need to."

She needed to get out of here.

Now.

The woman took a step forward. "I don’t recall a meeting being scheduled here."

Adeline forced herself to relax, shifting her weight slightly as if bored.

"I wasn’t aware I needed permission to look around," she said.

The woman didn’t smile.

Didn’t move.

For a long moment, the two of them simply stood there, locked in silent battle.

Adeline needed to leave.

She needed to get this information back to Edward—not because she trusted him, but because he needed to know what they were up against.

But first—

She needed a distraction.

Her gaze flickered past the woman for the briefest second—just enough for her to pretend to notice something behind her.

And it worked.

The woman’s instincts took over, her head turning slightly—

Adeline moved.

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