Chapter 1

The day she woke up after losing consciousness by rolling down the stairs.

Ravia found out an unintended truth.

The fact that she was inside the book she had read in her previous life and that she would soon be killed by a con-man that her father would pick up.

***

A romance fantasy novel entitled [His and Her Spring].

It was the name of the book Ravia had read in her previous life and the background of the world in which she lived in now.

The content of the book was relatively simple.

A romance novel about the story of a male protagonist who had only walked on a dark road, and a female protagonist who had the power of spring that will change him.

If so, what was the role of Ravia here?

‘A supporting character.’

The first supporting character who would be sacrificed in the ‘dark road’ that the male protagonist walked on, and the older sister without any blood relation with the male protagonist.

That was her.

In fact, she was just a supporting character who often appeared when the book explained the dark story of the male protagonist, and the whole story went like that.

One day before Ravia’s 26th birthday, Ravia’s father, Duke Leontine, who had never called her affectionately before, called her.

And this was what he said when he brought in a young man.

“Say hello, Ravia. He is going to be your brother.” Ravia, of course, was confused.

Because she was the only child, the sole heir of Leontine, and her mother died early after giving birth to her, there should be no such thing as being separated from a younger brother when she was young.

And as you may have noticed, that man, Tidwell, was the male protagonist of [His and Her Spring].

But Ravia, who didn’t know this fact, was just confused. She couldn’t believe a young man that was brought into her house suddenly became her younger brother. Ravia still couldn’t believe it, so she asked.

“……Father. What do you mean by he will be my brother?”

“Technically speaking, he’s the son of our distant relative, but I think that’s a good idea. More importantly, look. Don’t you think that our hair and eye color are similar? I’ll officially put him on the family register soon.”

Duke Leontine was right. As someone who was a distant relative without any blood relation with us, the face of the young man he brought did not resemble the duke at all, but except for that, all aspects were similar.

The silver hair was the symbol of Leontine. And even the pale blue eyes that looked exactly like the duke’s.

All were things Ravia didn’t have.

She was obviously the daughter of Duke Leontine, but she took after her mother’s features of soft blonde chick-colored hair and dark amethyst eyes.

If you didn’t know it well, you would certainly ask what was so important about one’s hair or eye color, but for high-ranking nobles, one’s hair color itself was like an identification card.

The more distinct the hair color was, the higher the status, and each family had a distinctive hair color.

For example, the royal family had platinum blonde hair and Leontines had silver hair.

Therefore, the fact that she did not have silver hair despite being a Leontine made Duke Leontine despise Ravia the most.

Because of Ravia, who didn’t resemble the Duke of Leontine at all, rumors were openly circulating that the dead Duchess of Leontine had an affair.

-If Duke Leontine had one more child, Ravia would not be the successor.-

It was a story that everyone talked about in unison. Ravia also agreed because Duke Leontine was incredibly cold to the point it was hard to believe that he was her biological father.

The disgrace of Leontine. That was Ravia Leontine.

In front of Ravia, a new candidate appeared to replace her.

It also meant one thing.

Ravia was in danger of losing everything that she barely had as a successor.

Still, whether she was ‘in danger’ or not, it wasn’t a current problem. Ravia managed to smile, pulling the tail of her trembling mouth.

“Nice to meet you. I am Ravia Leontine. What’s your name?”

At Ravia’s soft question, the man looked at her indifferently and opened his mouth. His gaze was too indifferent, but a smile hung naturally on his beautiful face.

“Tidwell. Nice to meet you…sister.”

In the novel, the voice of the man who would become her younger brother was depicted as ‘terribly deep’.

Like an abyss that would devour everything.

And he was exactly like that.

In less than a month after he came, everything that belonged to Ravia became his.

Considering the fact that this was a novel and he was the male protagonist, it was a natural process. There was nothing that a skillful male protagonist cannot do in a novel.

Ravia, the supporting character, was simply in a situation in which she would be deprived of everything she had.

From the connection, status, and treatment that Ravia had built up as a successor. Now, even the servants in the mansion did not call her young duke anymore.

In their minds, Tidwell, who hadn’t even been on the family register yet, had become the young duke of Leontine.

That fact drove Ravia crazy. Ravia was a person who could say in front of everyone that she had not neglected her duty even once and always put her best efforts without being ashamed.

She didn’t even hope for her father’s love or anything. She just wanted to keep her position quietly, and when the time came, she wanted to revive Leontine, utilizing the chance that was given to her.

It was not too late to trample on humans who looked down on her and said that she was a successor that wasn’t acknowledged by her own father. The only thing that made her endure the contempt she had received during her twenty-six years of life was,

When Leontine was handed down to her.

The Duke status.

She lived her life solely for that!

What was left for her now?

Ravia was unable to give up on everything until the time when she received the bridal class for a political marriage instead of the education for an heir.

No matter how much she tried to take back what was hers, nothing changed.

Duke Leontine’s support turned to Tidwell, and the people around her also welcomed the new successor.

No matter what anyone saw, the only remaining path for Ravia was to take a bridal class and get married into a good family.

However, if Ravia had married obediently, she would not have been described in the novel so much.

As said earlier, Ravia went crazy.

It was because she couldn’t bear the change.

From a young duke of Leontine to a Princess of Leonstain.

From a successor of the family to a mere noble lady.

She was literally on the edge of a cliff. How could she endure it?

Even so, the people who laughed at her because she was a foolish young duke pointed at her with a mocking voice.

In the end, Ravia, driven to a cliff, made an extreme choice.

She went to find a hitman in the back-world and commissioned for Tidwell’s assassination.

If the assassination had been successful, [His and Her Spring] would have to change its title.

Anyway, the title of the novel was still [His and Her Spring], in other words, Ravia’s plan had failed miserably.

Would she ever have dreamed of it? That her younger brother, who fell from heaven, was in fact the big-shot of that back-world, and he wasn’t Leontine’s distant relative at all?

In fact, he was just a person who was unlucky enough to be poisoned when he was young, so his hair turned white and looked like silver hair.

He was a villain who drugged Duke Leontine and brainwashed him into thinking of him as the son of a distant relative in order to raise his status.

The story about him being the son of a distant relative who got disowned was all just Tidwell’s lie from the start.

He approached Leontine from the beginning with the intention of devouring the family. The Duke and Ravia easily fell into Tidwell’s scheme.

But what could they do? Even if he was the greatest con-man ever, he’d still be the male protagonist of this novel.

Tidwell, who had lived a ruthless life without morality until he met the heroine, eventually killed the Duke and Ravia and took over Leontine as he planned.

This was the past of Tidwell Leontine, the male protagonist of [His and Her Spring], and the future of Ravia.

‘Fuck.’

Ravia lied upside down on the bed and swore.

As she turned her head, her long blonde hair curled over the white bedsheet.

Long blonde. Ravia fiddled with her own hair. At one time, she cried and blamed herself for not having silver hair like her father.

‘It’s because I’m a supporting character.’

Now I know the reason. It’s because she was the supporting character set up to have everything taken away from her. It was so simple that Ravia almost laughed.

It was the third day since she rolled down the stairs and learned about the future. After going through a long reality in denial and tears, she was able to accept it now.

She was a minor character that would die soon and was going to become the older sister of the male protagonist.

‘And you’ll have everything taken away by his hand.’

Didn’t you think it was unfair? No, it couldn’t be unfair. Even she understood that this was just a world inside a well-written book, and all her resentment would be fruitless.

She was rather dejected that everything she had must be taken away.

But if you were being robbed without knowing anything, the only thing that would wait for you was death.

So Ravia tried to think positively.

‘I can’t stop Leontine from falling into Tidwell’s hand anyway.’

Ravia glanced out the window. The sun was setting. That means that it is time for Duke Leontine, who left during the day, to return.

And, if Ravia’s memory was correct, today was the day Duke Leonstine brought Tidwell in.

This was something she couldn’t change no matter what. Because Duke Leontine had already been brainwashed by Tidwell for a long time.

There was nothing Ravia could do against people like Tidwell, who could do anything to get what he wanted. It was upsetting, but it was the reality.

If she told her father, “He’s a con-man who came to take over our family from the beginning!” It’s obvious that the brainwashed father wouldn’t even listen to his daughter. Rather, it would be fortunate if she was not put into a mental hospital.

But if she tried to stop it alone, how could she beat him, who already had great power in the back-world? In addition, his father, Duke Leontine, would fully support him.

‘No matter how much I think about it, I have no odds.’

Tidwell will take over Leontine. This won’t change.

But that was Leontine, not Ravia.

‘Because I will survive.’

In the past three days, Ravia had given up her position as a successor in her mind. No matter how much of it was her goal in life, it was not more important than her life.

What she needed to do now was simple. To not die in Tidwell’s hand and plan her own life.

At that time, she heard the voice of the butler along with the sound of a carriage arriving outside the window.

“Welcome back, your excellency.”

The Duke of Leontine is back. Ravia got out of bed.

Now it was time to go meet her dear family and the person who would be her family.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 2

Ravia roughly combed her fingers through her disheveled blonde hair and stepped out of the room. The eyes that followed her every move was clearly filled with astonishment.

No one could reach out to talk to her, but she was doing something very unusual right now.

Because she went outside the room in messy pajamas.

‘What’s wrong with this?’

As she strode across the corridor, Ravia hovered around despite being pierced by their cold gazes. It was funny to see people glance at her as if saying ‘Are you allowed to do that?’ without actually saying anything to her.

In fact, walking around in pajamas at her own home was a very trivial act.

As the successor, Ravia had never behaved against the conduct so far. Plus, the people around her were eager to undermine her, so it was beyond words how much she had to suppress herself.

Every look that watched over her was as sharp as an ice pick.

A life in a single strand of rope.

She mustn’t fail. Because she was the successor of Leontine. Ravia had to be more than perfect to not tarnish Leontine’s name.

‘What’s so great about all that?’

But not anymore. Ravia walked down the stairs with light steps. She walked without slippers, but it felt like she stepped on soft fur.

Her heart was also so light. She was about to be kicked out from her spot. Which means she didn’t have to suppress herself on those useless stares anymore.

But it also meant something else at the same time.

“….Welcome back, father.”

She was terribly dejected.

Ravia stopped at the stairs. About three spaces below, two men stood on the path leading up to the parlor and front door.

The novel barely did the narrative for the villain, so it was impossible to know what kind of feeling Ravia had when she first met Tidwell, but Ravia could feel it as soon as she saw his unfamiliar face.

‘Ah.’

It was such a hopeless feeling.

Her eyes met with his blue eyes. His silver hair was as alluring as his blue eyes.

Since he was the male lead, no word was needed to describe his extraordinary beauty.

He looked like he shaved off. Although it was slightly desolate and decadent, his face itself was strong.

Even if she didn’t hear much about his prominence, she could feel it just by facing him. He was extraordinary.

Even though she just made eye contact, she knew he was more of a perfect successor than Ravia, who spent her entire life to become a perfect successor.

Not to mention, he had Leontine’s silver hair. Its existence itself meant a lot.

Therefore, the Ravia in the novel who lived her life counting the days until she became a successor was hit by a great deal of despair when she met him. She knew everything, but somehow, it was still suffocating.

The hand that held the railing was tightened. Having a breakdown right here was not helpful at all.

‘Get a hold of yourself.’

Ravia struggled to lift her waist and went down the stairs. Eyes followed her every step down, but her steps did not stagger.

Of course, there was a reason why she came all the way down.

If Ravia in the novel could have survived simply by stopping Tidwell’s assassination attempt, then she could simply turn her attention away from Tidwell and live on.

But that wasn’t enough to change her future.

Because Tidwell had no intention to leave Leontine alone from the start.

‘It’s a brood parasite.’

The cuckoo’s brood parasitism.

Dropping the chicks of other birds out of its nest, which will kill them, and become the owner of the nest.

That was Tidwell’s goal.

‘In the novel, he killed me and even my father.’

Tidwell was a man without mercy. He was someone who could stretch his two legs apart to leave no room for people who threaten his position.

He deliberately approached Leontine to take it over, meanwhile, the survival of other people with the Leontine bloodline beside himself was a threat for him.

Thus, Ravia’s death was prophesied. Whether Ravia tormented him or not. Since her existence itself was a potential threat for Tidwell.

The baby cuckoo already settled among the eggs.

By stepping into this nest, Leontine’s residence.

There were not many ways for Ravia to survive in this nest now.

Either become friends with the cuckoo or run away before the cuckoo drops her off the nest and kills her.

‘Maybe it could be both.’

Ravia went down the stairs and stood before Duke Leontine. To be exact, in front of the two men.

Seeing her still in her pajamas, Duke Leontine creased his forehead.

“Ravia, why are you dressed like that? What if a guest comes here?”

“He has already come, hasn’t he?”

Ravia cut Duke Leontine off. It meant that she didn’t care even if a guest did come.

Was he feeling unfamiliar with his daughter talking back to him? Duke Leontine looked visibly surprised. No, more like she just hurt his pride.

He was thinking of choosing the right word to rebuke Ravia since he couldn’t just scold her harshly to save his dignity as the Duke.

How obvious. Who cares about manners and one’s family name anyway? So, Ravia opened her mouth first as she had no time nor willingness to listen to such a thing.

“This guest looks like a Leontine.”

The way she worded it felt so distant as if she was talking about another family. Duke Leontine, who could feel it, opened his mouth. His voice sounded like he was embarrassed for no reason.

“Ahem, ahem. He is the grandson of a man who was dismissed from this family last time. He’s two years younger than you. I decided that he’ll stay in our family from now on.”

“I see.”

Ravia gave a calm answer as if she had expected it.

No further question.

She knew already, so nothing could surprise her anymore. But since she might have appeared too calm, she decided to add an explanation.

“I thought this day would come someday.”

“What do you mean?”

The question didn’t come from Duke Leontine, but Tidwell. Ravia was a little taken aback that he, who seemed to be silent, asked the question first.

He was looking at Ravia with his deep, dignified, and persistent eyes. As if he was seeing something interesting.

‘Why are you asking?’

His eyes gave her goosebumps.

Ravia tried to not crumple her face. Honestly, this conversation itself was so nauseating.

He already knew everything ever since he came to this mansion, so did he need to ask? I was not sure why he had to ask a confirmation question.

Still, she moved her red lips because she was trained to give the correct answer when asked.

“The silver-haired successor who will drive me out.”

Similar to a declaration, her gentle voice seeped through the three of them. Amidst the silence, she gazed straight at Tidwell. Ravia’s eyes were fixed on him.

The reason why she looked at him while she said those words was simple.

She was asking if that said successor was him.

Their eyes met for a moment, and Ravia continued to talk. She blinked and shook her shoulder in a relaxed manner.

“….And so, I thought that day would eventually come. Since father always disliked me, I always thought you’d bring another child to take my place.”

So don’t bother me as I have no intention of fighting with you, she thought.

Ravia spoke using both her tone and expression.

Indifferent and cynical expression. Her blonde hair was decorated with bright and brilliant hairpieces, but not the person wearing it.

Her figure looked empty.

She simply wanted to tell Tidwell that she had no intention to fight him because she wanted to live, but Tidwell, who was watching her, thought it was strange.

‘Surely, people will raise their claw if their place was about to get stolen.’

How could she be that indifferent? Even if she knew he was coming, it shouldn’t be easy to accept. Tidwell thought to himself.

But he didn’t have time to contemplate more as his soon-to-be sister moved her beautiful features to speak to him.

“Then how should I call you?”

“Tidwell.”

“Ravia.”

She spat out her name elegantly, just like her figure. She was the embodiment of elegance itself.

‘Is it arrogance, or is it inherent nobility?’

Was this why they were called a noble? As he continued looking at her, he suddenly could feel something that he couldn’t when he saw Duke Leontine.

Suddenly, he wanted to kiss the back of her hand.

A mannerly noble young man would appease that desire by holding out his hand once, but Tidwell was a rascal who didn’t know all that.

So he tried to ask for her hand.

Only if Ravia didn’t lift the hem of her skirt as if her business was over here.

“That’s enough for a greeting, I’m going to head back.”

“Are you not going to talk to your brother?”

Look how easy the word ‘brother’ came out of his mouth.

Ravia swallowed a bitter smile inside because she realized that the color of her hair must have been more important than her blood in the first place.

“I don’t think I’ll have much to discuss with the person who’ll take my spot.”

Duke Leontine’s face was subtly hardened by Ravia’s answer. Tidwell, who stood next to him, also saw it. And it was unlikely for Ravia, who faced him, not to see it as well.

Eventually, a light smile came upon Ravia’s face. At first glance, it looked like a mockery and also a somewhat bitter smile.

“Have a good time with your family.”

Her white ankle was revealed under her silk dress as she went up the stairs.

Tidwell’s eyes remained persistent on her.

Step-! Step-!

By the time her steps that were similar to dandelion puffs arrived on the next floor…

“Sister.”

That abyss-like voice. He, who called her ‘sister’, didn’t seem to hide his heart either.

Without realizing it, Ravia turned her body at his voice.

Below her, a man with an unknown mind looked at her.

“Are you avoiding your position because you don’t like me?”

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 3

His voice was cautious. Even the tip of Tidwell’s eyelashes was slightly down, which made him look pitiful for some reason.

Such a great acting skill. Ravia was genuinely impressed.

It must be hard to act so gentle.

But she couldn’t show that sentiment. More than that, his question was wrong.

“It’s nothing like that.”

Just like a dandelion flying about in the hazy spring sunshine, she smiled.

Nevertheless, when the beautiful person smiled candidly, she had a strange enticement that was hard to resist.

“You might not know, but I knew this would happen.”

Tidwell looked up to his soon-to-be sister. Her slightly lowered head, curved mouth, and eyes. And her amethyst-like eyes in between.

“One day, someone will show up and take everything from me. Just like a novel written by someone.”

Her drooping eyelashes cast a shadow on her cheek.

She spoke as if she could trust Tidwell no matter how much she was getting rained on.

That’s how sad it was.

“That’s why I don’t hate you. The only reason I want to leave my position is…”

Her eyes briefly touched Duke Leontine. It was an overly cold gaze directed towards someone who was supposed to be her biological father.

But that was only momentary. A beaming smile followed after her cold smile as if the ice was breaking apart.

“Because I don’t need to be in this position.”

Welcome, Young Duke of Leontine.

And so, Ravia left the scene. She left in light steps, the same way she entered.

Tidwell, who was left behind, stared blankly at her.

***

Tak-!

The door behind Ravia’s back closed. Shortly after, the strength in her body vanished, and Ravia flopped down as if she was crumbling away.

However, the only thing that vanished was the strength in her legs, not her chaotic mind.

‘I’m doing a good job, right?’

Ravia stumbled as she grabbed the doorknob to lift her body, then walked a couple of steps.

Her first objective to meet with Tidwell was completed.

It was to convey that she had no intention to fight for succession. Likewise, revealing that she had no intention of obstructing him.

‘Although I didn’t expect that you’d call me all of sudden.’

It wasn’t a bad response.

She didn’t know how well she did, but it surely wasn’t bad enough.

‘I wish you won’t mind me until I leave the mansion.’

It was just her wishful thinking. From now on, she needed to observe more to find out.

Ravia’s plan was simple.

Without attracting Tidwell as much as possible, she would give up her position quietly and run away to another family.

‘It’s often referred to as a contract marriage.’

In this country, adults and minors were separated by marital status.

Anyone could get married after the age of 18, and if they get married, they would be recognized as legal adults and be able to carry out external activities such as succeeding the family or being awarded a nobility title.

Ravia also had to get married earlier, but it was delayed because she was the successor of the family, and so, she naturally missed the right time.

There were many aristocratic young men who were looking for a suitable spouse in order to be recognized as adults. She could just choose a rich person among them, establish boundaries that won’t affect both of them, and proceed with the marriage.

‘Someone who isn’t interested in becoming a successor joins another family… With that kind of standpoint, there’s no way they will hate it, right?’

All she had to do was find the right man and get married. And Ravia had already chosen one ‘adequate’ candidate.

‘What’s left is… to avoid getting Tidwell’s attention until then.’

She planned to hold her breath and lay low, then leave without looking back. Without taking anything from this mansion. Because she didn’t want anything….

Ravia pulled her knees to her chest and buried her head in it.

‘You said you’re going to devour Leontine to get your revenge, Tidwell.’

The reason why Tidwell took the poison, the reason why he was kicked out on the street…

And the reason why he had been striving to become a high-ranking aristocrat even though he abhorred the aristocracy.

It was because of his childhood memories.

Tidwell was originally the son of an ordinary merchant, but since some noble wanted to seize their headquarters, his whole family was poisoned and he was the only survivor.

He was only ten back then.

But what could a powerless orphan do?

No need to know who was the culprit behind all this, because Tidwell, who became a homeless orphan overnight, clenched his teeth and vowed to himself.

He vowed to become more villainous than any villain and climb to the top of the rank to tear apart the noble’s four limbs.

‘The first step of the plan is to devour Leontine.’

This was simply a description of the male lead’s dark past in the novel, but Ravia was the one who became a victim of his dark past.

Therefore, that description hit her differently.

Ravia swallowed her welled up tears.

‘I know how Tidwell feels.’

The feeling of constantly beating oneself down for a goal that seemed impossible to reach.

‘You must have been lonely…and suffered a lot, too.’

Not a single wicked man, who only chose ruthless schemes as their means, was like that from the beginning. Just like how Ravia didn’t have such a cold-hearted manner in the beginning.

‘I mean, I can understand him. I surely can…’

Trying to calm herself down, Ravia smacked her cheeks with the back of her hands.

She could ‘understand’ Tidwell enough. About the reason why he would never let go of Leontine.

But for some reason, she was unable to get rid of her frustration.

“I’m fine.”

Ravia tried to speak out loud. She felt so much better now that she tried it.

It wasn’t the time to get caught up in a frivolous emotion.

In order to get out of Tidwell’s sight faster and safely, she had to spend every hour preciously.

‘Become invisible to Tidwell as much as I can.’

Ravia’s mind was busy planning out the future.

But she had no idea that she just greatly caught Tidwell’s attention.

Really, not even a little.

***

Ravia was quite surprised to see Tidwell visiting her the next day.

“You must be very surprised, sister.”

The person who made her surprised was saying that with a relaxed smile.

Considering that Ravia normally had a small change in facial expressions, the fact that her eyes grew bigger and her mouth slightly opened means that she was greatly shocked.

‘Why the hell are you looking for me?’

In the novel, the relationship between Tidwell and Ravia was described like a chicken and dog.

They were either indifferent or hostile toward each other. The chance of these two to see each other with a good feeling was zero.

Therefore, Tidwell’s sudden visit could be interpreted as such,

‘You’re wary of me.’

In other words, her effort to go out to the front door to greet Tidwell yesterday was all in vain.

“After exchanging greetings yesterday, I was unable to have a cup of tea with my sister, so I came to ask for your time.”

He said, but of course, it was just an excuse.

It gave her a headache. So Ravia touched her forehead.

‘I expected that he won’t believe me straight away, but-’

But she didn’t think he would come to see her right away. Ravia got a bad feeling as chills ran down her spine.

‘Surely, it’s not because you’re trying to get rid of me as fast as you can, is it?’

Tidwell hated variables.

He took a step back as he watched the chess horses move on top of his checkerboard.

That was the direction he was aiming for.

Therefore, an unpredictable move was the only thing that scratched his nerves.

‘I’ll have to humor you for now.’

She didn’t mean to die in a hasty manner.

Ravia lifted her hand off her forehead and got up from her seat.

If her opponent pretended to be relaxed, then there was no reason for her to show impatience.

Ravia received a fan from the maid next to her and swung her gaze at Tidwell.

“I never thought you’d want my time.”

“How could I do that when I’m living in the same house as my sister.”

Very smooth-tongued. Ravia smiled at his amiable response.

How sickening.

“Is that so? Then can I talk casually? Just like you said, even if you’re a distant relative, I’m still your sister.”

“….As you wish.”

Tidwell’s answer was one step late. However, Ravia knew that it was not caused by displeasure.

‘He’s the man who crawls up from the bottom, so this much won’t anger him.’

However, he must be fazed because he didn’t know she would behave like this.

‘Well, whatever…if you’re curious about me, there’s nothing I can’t tell you.’

This is great. Let’s take this opportunity to make it clearer. I have no intention of fighting with you. Ravia thought as she approached Tidwell.

Tidwell’s gaze unintentionally touched the corsage on her head.

Soft blonde hair that flowed like honey. A white neck was exposed underneath it.

His gaze was strangely persistent as if scouring her, but Ravia didn’t notice it.

She was busy thinking about where to talk to Tidwell.

After thinking for a moment, Ravia opened her mouth.

Sure enough.

“Shall we go to the garden?”

“Allow me to escort you.”

The stone that was stuck and the stone that rolled in.

Hence, the ill-suited combination that seemed compatible on the outside was born.