When I woke up, I immediately jumped out of bed and I rushed to the window without wearing any indoor shoes.

Standing in front of the window, I grabbed the curtains fluttering in gold and closed my eyes tightly.

‘Please, please!’

After muttering inside countless times, I opened my eyes and carefully drew the curtains. Then the scenery outside slowly caught my eyes.

The morning sun was warmly wrapped around the earth, and the grass and flowers that grew overnight were fresh.

Birds gather together and chirp on an unusually sunny day, trimming their wings and raising their cries.

“Damn it….”

As my whole body felt relief, the curtains slipped out of my hands. The curtains shook and covered my body as if laughing at me.

“Why isn’t it raining? Let’s have some thunder and lightning. Damn it….”

I covered my face with my hands.

He will come here soon.

If it had rained, if it had been a dusty day, our meeting would be delayed.

In a few hours I have to meet a man who was destined to kill me.

* * *

“Did anything happen to you?”

I forced myself to look worried, barely holding back the joyous voice.

It was an hour for the famous duke to come, but it was the knight of the duke instead of the duke himself, who came to the mansion now.

There must be something going on. He sent me a knight to cancel the appointment because something happened!

I’m struggling to resist the corners of my mouth from rising.

The sad knight smiled and opened his mouth.

“Ah, because your morning appointments are getting longer….”

Of course! God didn’t let rain today, but he granted my poor wish!

“He ordered me to escort Lady Leriana to the restaurant.”

The celebration, which had been bursting in my mind, stopped altogether.

No, he can cancel the appointment if he thinks he is going to be late, why! How come!

“If he’s busy, he can postpone our appointment.….”

Without realizing it, my thoughts flowed out of my mouth. There was a deep regret in my voice.

I looked at the knight in a hurry with astonishment.

“He won’t be late for your appointment. He just sent me first because it will take some time to come and pick you up.”

Luckily I didn’t lose my signature soft smile.

“The carriage sent by your Excellency is waiting outside. Would you like to leave now?”

There’s a carriage in my house but the great Duke sent it to me and I have to ride there.

“Yes, let’s leave now.”

I forced myself to drag my motionless feet and the Duke’s knight followed in my footsteps.

Listening to his footsteps that followed my footsteps made me wonder.

‘No way!’

That knight is an assassin! The Duke may be the one who sent him to kill me!

Otherwise, the Duke’s knight wouldn’t follow behind me like a maid!

After thinking so, my back became stiff. I moved my foot carefully with all the attention behind my back.

But unlike my wishes, I didn’t do anything, and I was able to get to the front door where the wagon was waiting.

I found the carriage that the Duke sent me.

“This….”

I couldn’t even speak up.

There were four white horses connected to the carriage. On top of that, the carriage was so colorful that my eyes hurt.

The pumpkin wagon that Cinderella rode would be simpler than this.

And what stood out was the Duke’s insignia decorated with various jewels on the wagon.

“This is the carriage that your Excellency sent to Lady Leriana.”

I heard the voice of the knight from behind, but I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t answer.

‘Is there an assassination device here?’

Yeah, it might be. A large insignia carriage may have been sent to hide the assassination device.

Like a camouflage.

“Excuse me, there’s a carriage in my family…”

“Please do not refuse, because his Excellency has been working on it.”

You, isn’t that a threat? The Duke sent it, so he’s telling me to ride it quietly!

Eventually, I had no choice but to go inside by myself into an assassination device or a dangerous wagon where the assassin might be hiding.

If I ride this until I get in a restaurant, paying all sorts of my attention to that thought, I might pass out before I arrive.

“Phew…”

I let out a low sigh.

Plan A, having bad weather, and Plan B, which will cancel the appointment because of a busy duke, failed.

The only way out of the Duke’s hand is Plan C.

* * *

Arriving at the restaurant, I was immediately escorted to my seat.

“Is this the right place?”

The restaurant’s clerk smiled kindly at my question.

Please say no! Please say no!

“Yes, this is where the Duke made the reservation.”

No matter what I thought inside, I nodded calmly.

And secretly spoke to the employee to implement the pre-prepared Plan C.

The employee tilted his head suspiciously, but soon smiled kindly again and said yes.

I, who was left here alone after the employee left, hit my head on the dining table.

“It’s a closed room… There’s going to be a closed-door murder.”

The Duke reserved a room, not a hall. In other words, I had to eat here with the Duke alone.

Will I be able to survive today?

“Why are you doing that?”

A low-pitched, charming man’s voice was heard with the opening door.

‘It’s so nice to hear your voice.’

I lifted myself up and forced a smile.

“I’m dizzy for a second.”

The man strode up to me and bent down. Thanks to him, his sculptural face was just around the corner.

The delicate lines of the face were so elegant, and the features were like the work of God.

And his red eyes, full of worries, were the most beautiful color of any jewel in the world.

This man with a beautiful and noble appearance was a man destined to kill me, and his name is Casillas, Duke of the Empire.

“Let’s go to the doctor.”

Casillas raised his waist again, frowning smoothly.

I hesitated for a moment. If I go to the doctor, I’ll get out of this secret room!

‘No, doctors are more dangerous.’

The examination may be a camouflage. Casillas may intend to poison me to death.

I looked around quickly. First of all, this is not a perfect secret room. There is a window.

I’ll jump out of the window as soon as it gets dangerous.

“No, it’s okay.”

“If you weren’t feeling well, why didn’t you tell me. You didn’t have to overdo it.”

Oh, really? Should I have just pretended to be sick?

I forgot Casillas was in front of me, the reason why I almost lost all my hair because of being afraid of him.

I was surprised by my bad head.

“If we don’t see each other today, why don’t we see each other twice next time?”

Casillas smiled and sat across from me.

‘It’s the same.’

It doesn’t change the fact that I will see you today or next time.

“I’m really fine.”

I decided to just stay here because I had to see him again at this rate.

In the meantime, a restaurant employee came into the room with some tableware.

I couldn’t help but be nervous watching forks, knives and spoons being placed on the table.

‘All of it can be a weapon.’

I wanted to grab the hand of the employee who put the knife in front of Casillas and rip it off. His actions were no different than telling me to die.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t give a knife to a man who would kill me.

“Is this a meal for three?”

“What does that mean?”

Casillas uttered words in a sharp voice at the employee’s question.

If Casillas had the ability to kill someone only with his voice, that employee would have died as soon as he heard that voice.

‘No, It might be possible if it’s Casillas.’

I should be careful to hear his voice from now on.

“I made a reservation for two.”

“B-but the lady over there….”

“Yes, that’s right. Please prepare for 3 people and bring me another chair as I said before.”

“Yes, yes!”

The waiter shouted vigorously as if my voice were his salvation and quickly got out of the room.

“Sister, what does that mean….”

“Oh, I guess I’m late?”

As Casillas frowned, and I stiffened my whole body, the voice of the true savior came.

“What are you doing here?”

“Miss Leriana invited me. Isn’t it?”

The beautiful savior with platinum hair smiled and sat gracefully on the chair brought by the quick waiter.

“Welcome, Miss Ashes.”

“Yes, thank you for inviting me, Miss Leriana.”

I welcomed Ashes, trying to turn a blind eye to Casillas, who seemed to demand clarification from me.

Third party, as long as there are witnesses, he will not be able to kill me! I survived today!

…although, of course, the next is still a life of uncertainty.

But my plan didn’t end here.

It’s important to survive, but isn’t it important to live like a person?

Sitting face to face with Casillas and eating in fear was not a human life, at least by my standards.

“Ah….”

“Oh, Miss Leriana. What’s wrong with you? You don’t look so good.”

As soon as I groaned awkwardly with my hands on my forehead, Ashes asked me in a fuss.

“I’ve had a headache since a while ago…”

“Then why don’t you go home and rest?””

“That would be great.”

“Let’s put off eating next time. I’ll take you there.”

Casillas cut in on the ridiculous play between Ashes and me. He leapt to his feet as if he were going to do what he said immediately.

“No, I can go alone and Miss Ashes came not long too ago, it’s rude if you leave too.”

I rose from my seat, spouting words quickly.

“But sister…”

“I’m not feeling well and I couldn’t treat my guests properly, so I hope you’ll take my place. Please.”

As I approached the door like I was running away, I smiled and opened my mouth for the last time.

“I’m sorry, Miss Ashes. See you next time, Casillas.”

Then, like the wind, I ran out of the door and rushed to the entrance of the restaurant.

I didn’t mean to take the wagon Casillas sent me. I planned to take to the streets for now and grab any wagon.

‘I ran away! I ran away safely today! I survived!’

Running out into the street, I clenched my fist firmly.

Ever since Casillas, who is destined to kill me, reappeared, I’ve been living these bloody days.

I couldn’t sleep well at night because I didn’t know when I’d be killed. Those days continued, black shade under the eyes, and my blood dried up day by day.

How long do these days last?

Why the hell did Casillas come back to me?

Where is it wrong?

“Sister!”

Why on earth does he keep trying to meet me?

I turned my back slowly. Then I saw Casillas with a furious look chasing me.

‘Please, please, please!’

Why don’t you just leave me alone? I just want to live!