There was one question that Ayla always had in her mind.

‘……what makes me and Charlotte so different?’

But she never uttered the word out of her mouth. That was because it was obvious that everyone would only laugh at her.

Ayla Mertensia.

She was an extremely evil woman pointed as a villain by everyone, while Charlotte was an angel whom everyone loved. It was a silly question that was equivalent to comparing witches and saints.

But when things got to this point, Ayla couldn’t help but recall that question.

How am I so different from Charlotte that she was comforted in everyone’s arms while I, on the other hand, had to face such a painful end?

“Why did you do this?”

Werner forcibly lifted Ayla’s chin, which had fallen on the edge of his sword.

Ayla blinked because her vision kept on getting out of focus. Then, the tears that had formed around her eyes, mixed with blood and ran down from the edges of her eyes to her cheeks.

“Would you believe me… if I said, I didn’t……?”

Ayla’s voice was so chapped that the original elegance of it could not be found at all. It was because she had been screaming all the time from the torture.

But Werner didn’t even blink as if he couldn’t hear her excuse.

“I’ll ask you again. Why did you do this?”

Ayla met Werner’s eyes, which were fluttering with fierce anger toward her.

It seemed like he wanted to tear her to death right now, but he seemed to hold it in until he hears her answer.

Ayla drew a faint smile around her mouth.

Oh my, he’s charming.

Werner Karl Mohammed Lethe.

Soon after he was born, he was made the Crown Prince. He was patient but cold. That was because he had been educated and raised like that all his life.

Werner was good at covering his original emotion inside the cold mask. He did not hesitate to act if necessary.

The only time he showed his emotions or lost his reason was when someone talked about Charlotte.

Just like right now.

Ayla slowly turned her head and looked in the direction of Charlotte.

Then, the blade that was close to her neck broke through her flesh. Werner growled, pushing the sword even closer.

“Don’t even think of doing anything.”

It sounded like a threat from a beast when invading its territory.

No matter how wicked she was, she couldn’t possibly do anything in this situation. However, he was still wary and displeased of Ayla, giving a glance at Charlotte.

Ayla glanced back at Werner’s blue eyes and sweetened her lips.

“I just thought that his majesty’s eyes were ice cold.”

“Ha, are you just going to make fun of me? I don’t want to hear that!”

“Your eyes only look like that when you’re seeing Charlotte. It glows like a burning flame of light whenever you see that girl. Ah it’s such a warm color. But now that you’re looking at me like that, I am pleased, your highness.”

Even if it was a murderous light, he still expressed his true emotion, which was important to her.

“So won’t you remember even a little bit of me after I die like this?” (Ayla)

Ayla burst into laughter when she said so.

“I can’t hear you. It’s your last chance, so just answer the question.”

Ayla couldn’t help but laugh. She wondered if he was asking that because he really didn’t know the answer to that question.

Why do you still want to confirm something that everyone already knows? Why do you think I did that? It’s because I love your highness.

“It’s because I love you, your highness. With my life, my soul, and my whole heart.”

“Just for that reason…….”

Werner expected it, but he still muttered to himself as if he was really shocked.

“Just because of that, Charlotte almost died! Because of you! “

Panting, he ****** his sword into Ayla’s shoulder. Blood poured out as the sword’s blade penetrated as easily as if it was piercing tofu.

It happened in a flash.

Ayla’s whole body convulsed as she bit her teeth to the point of breaking it. Her eyes turned white in pain and then she blinked repeatedly.

A scream burst out from where Charlotte was. While Werner burned his blue eyes with anger toward Ayla, he sent a worrisome gaze to Charlotte.

Why- Are you worried that your weak lover will be shocked seeing this cruel killing scene?

Your love was important, but my love was trampled on so miserably.

Ayla laughed and waited for the pain to subside before saying a clear word.

“I- I didn’t.”

Then Werner twisted the blade on her shoulder. The vivid sense of twisting and slicing in the flesh finally made Ayla burst into a scream that she was holding back.

“..Aak… aaaak!”

“I wanted to kill you more miserably than anyone else, but Charlotte said she wanted to hear your reason. Even when she found out you were the mastermind behind all of this, she was still worried about you. It’s really ridiculous hearing it from your mouth.”

“..Ug- Ugh…ha..hahaha…”

Ayla, soaked in blood, still kept on laughing. Her dress was now dyed in red.

Then, she rolled her eyes across and turned her eyes to Charlotte, who was shaking.

Charlotte Angelo.

She was as delicate and innocent like a lily, and when her eyes met Ayla’s, she was startled and ran behind the back of the escort knight.

Prince’s escort knight, Lennox.

Standing with his arms as if to protect Charlotte, his eyes showed deep secret love to her. Ayla knew it, at first sight. There was no way she wouldn’t notice it when his eyes were full of love and affection.

Not only one or two men fell in love with Charlotte…

No, it wasn’t just the men.

All living things in this land, men and women of all ages, were enchanted by Charlotte, just exchanging a few words with her. Even the wild animals got attracted to her to the point where they quickly relaxed their vigilance and approached her without hesitation.

Charlotte was one of the beauties in terms of appearance, but she was not exceptionally beautiful than Ayla.

And that was not even because she had a strong background. She was not rich, nor was she well educated and wise.

What the hell? What’s the difference?

Nevertheless, everyone loved her.

It was so easy for her to have the affection that Ayla couldn’t get from anyone in her whole life.

Then Charlotte hid behind those who loved her, did nothing, and just remained silent. If only I could, I wanted to forcefully pull her out and dig my hand on that face.

Charlotte was a kind and fragile woman. All she could do without getting her hands dirty was to squeeze her tears out pathetically.

Can’t you live without anyone’s help? Can’t you protect yourself without anyone’s protection?

Come here. Come and spit in my face. This is a fight between you and me.

Ayla couldn’t possibly like Charlotte. From the moment she first met her, she had goosebumps and her whole body trembled as if she had met a natural enemy.

With her fingernails pulled out, she tightly grabbed the sword’s blade on her shoulder with her ugly hand, then used her last strength to open her eyes and look up at Werner.

“I curse you.”

“Are you admitting that you are a witch now?”

“What shall we hide in the midst of death?”

“……Ha.”

Werner dismissed Ayla’s words as empty words of a woman on the verge of death.

And that’s actually right. This was just the last wish of a dying villain.

If there is a God,

No, even the devil is fine.

I’ll sell you, my soul. I don’t even care about how it will be used. It’s alright if you tear my soul off and completely devour it. If you can hear me now, curse him who has neither blood nor tears.

Werner captured all his emotions and gave the notice indifferently.

“Ayla Mertensia. The Mertensia family was destroyed because of you. Hearing their resentment will make you feel uncomfortable even after your death.”

“I curse, curse—.”

When Werner pulled out the sword, blood spurted like a fountain. He cut off the entire hand of Ayla, who was holding the blade. Her struggle was useless.

Without hesitation, the sword broke Ayla’s flesh and broke her ribs. And, as if he wanted to inflict as much pain as possible, he slowly penetrated the sword on her heart.

At Werner’s wish, Ayla struggled in pain then slowly collapsed, throwing up blood.

It’s all over.

The life that continued persistently and her love.

“I curse… that you will have no choice but to love me… such a curse …”

Ayla muttered in a voice boiling with blood.

Werner looked down at her unthinkable words and soon frowned.

“Sound nonsense.”

Then, he turned his back to Charlotte, shaking off the blood-soaked sword, saying that he had something dirty on him.

Charlotte, with tears in her eyes, clung to Werner, who came to her. The beautiful hand that held tightly to the corner of his coat was slightly trembling.

“Werner, you said you’d let her go painlessly. I pity her.”

“That was the greatest mercy I could give.”

“However—!”

“This is a matter you should not care about, Charlotte. I told you I’d take care of it. You’re shivering like this, yet you still care about somebody.”

Werner went out with Charlotte in his arms, who continued to glare behind, followed by Lennox.

Surrounded by silence in the dungeon where all the people escaped, Ayla declared the end. The embers of life that were at stake had been extinguished.

However, Ayla hoped that this would also be a new beginning.

“You’ll have no choice but to love me…”

Until the moment she stopped breathing, she mumbled like that.

***

“Uh… Uh.”

I dug deeper into the blanket, holding my throbbing forehead. My neighbor’s dog loud barking today woke me up like it was an alarm clock.

“….I think I had a dream about something.”

But I couldn’t remember. I only heard the dog barking from the beginning of the morning, so maybe I dreamed about the dog.

The uncle who lived in front of me even screamed out indignantly, “don’t let the dog bark!”. I just cheered that uncle timidly in my heart.

It’s six o’clock in the morning.

The sound of a dog barking opened my eyes as usual, in a pathetic semi-basement single room, under the ring announcing it was Monday.

‘Ah, I want to quit.’

I checked the time on my cell phone, which was near my bedside table, and then crawled to the bathroom with a grunt.

While brushing my teeth half-conscious, the contents of that dream began to revive like a flash.

There was a foreign woman with messy hair, stains on her face, and blood covering her whole body in my dream. But even though she looked tired, she was still beautiful.

Wow, she was so beautiful that I thought I had never seen a celebrity who looked like her.

Her hair was so vivid red that made me think it would not be easy to copy by only using a dye, and her eyes were green, like a blade of grass, and was bigger and clearer than those who wore lenses.

Oh, yeah. It was just phenomenal and unique beauty, like ‘Wouldn’t rose flowers look like this when they become a human?’.

Although I don’t know what was going on, it felt like it touched my heart when I saw her shed tears.

Oh my God, those guys who hurt her were wrong. How can they think of harassing such a beautiful person? If I were there, I would have wiped her tears and said, ‘Oh, Senora. Please do not drop those beautiful jewelries.’ and I would have chased her like an Italian man.

I think I saw other people in my dream, but unfortunately, I couldn’t remember more than that.

Who else was there, what they talked about, or even why that pretty girl was dying.

It must be because I was busy looking at my pretty sister. Haha, you never really lose your temperament, even in your dreams.

She had a young face that looked like she just became an adult. She was not appropriate to be called an older sister, but someone said that all pretty things are always older.

I hope that the pretty sister in my dream would die with all her lingering affection and regrets for the world, fulfilled. Although I don’t know what it is, I want the older sister to do whatever she wants.

After taking a bath and applying a little makeup casually, my dream disappeared completely from my mind on the way to work. My daily life was too tough to keep such trivial things in it.

At that time, I didn’t even imagine what kind of backlash it would bring…

I, Yoon Ha-neul, was an ordinary citizen living in the 21st century.

I mean, I was… just a day ago.

‘Oh, no…’

I couldn’t help but sigh with dismay.

I looked around with a pale face, failing to manage my facial expression.

Shining chandeliers, fancy clothes, elegant gestures, elegant melody flowing through the ear and people dancing accordingly to it.

‘What a surprise for an ordinary morning…’

I was an introverted person born with a dislike of crowded and complex spaces and had no social skills.

Why was I in such a crowded space when the only thing I remember socializing with people was when I was forced to be at a dinner party?

Feeling a physiological repulsion, I stepped back and stuck myself to the wall.

People in colourful clothes gathered in a group of three or five and made loud noises. Some laughed loudly, while others gossiped about an innocent person as a victim.

For example, someone like me.

“What a coincidence.”

“Oh, it’s only after this comparison.”

“I guess even when you are wearing the same clothes, it can make some difference. Even though clothes are called wings, I guess they do still cover people.”

“What a pity…”

Those who were gathered around me openly laughed at me with sarcasm.

I looked down at my clothes senselessly, listening to the giggles of laughter. Seeing my appearance, I saw no reason for me to be ridiculed and to be laughed at.

A cream-coloured dress with silk lace and pearls. It was in the form of Robe à la Française representing the Rococo Era, an inflated skirt, a square neck, and a cute hem decorated with different ribbons.

*(Robe à La Française- The sack-back gown or robe à la française was a women’s fashion of the 18th century.)

*(Rococo Era- was an artistic period that emerged in France and spread thrartisticoughout the world in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. )

I’m not sure, but a dress that would have been popular only in the 18th century, emphasizing such a chest and waist, must have been a trend in social circles here today because everyone else was wearing it as well.

‘But the reason why these people are gossiping is probably…’

Glancing.

I looked up and caught an angelic, beautiful pair of men and women that looked like they descended straight from heaven. At that moment, the light shone brightly on their heads, making them look as sacred as a masterpiece.

‘The Crown Prince Werner, and…… Charlotte.’

And now I’m watching them as ‘Ayla Mertensia.’ the rare ‘villainous’ woman of this novel.

No, to be more precise, I was the writer who wrote the novel \, “Yoon Ha-neul,” and was currently possessing the body of an evil woman in the novel.

“How can dreams be so vivid?”‘

No, how long can I deny it? The reason it was so vivid was that this wasn’t a dream.

While sighing about my situation, the nobles who were desperate to bite Ayla chewed her like a snack for their wines.

“It’s known how the young lady of Mertensia is so obsessed with His Majesty, the Crown Prince, that she could choose any means or methods just to get his attention. I’m sure everyone here knows that.”

“Oh, I’m sure she got the information, and deliberately wore similar-coloured clothes.”

“But how could she have thought she could overlap the other young lady’s beauty?”

“Oh, my God, it’s embarrassing. I’m sure she’s so embarrassed that’s why she can’t even look up.”

Their reasoning was right. In this scene, Ayla was dressed to match and look like the lover of the crown prince.

But for me, it was unfair to be dressed up as someone else as soon as I opened my eyes.

“So, who is that young lady?”

“It looks like this is her first social debut, but she sure stands out. She’s like a lily.”

‘Crazy, lily…..’

I grasped my skirt in shame when I heard Charlotte’s upcoming socialite nickname.

No one said, ‘She looks like a lily flower.’ but it’s still the line I wrote.

Oh, come on.

“It must be Viscount Angelo’s daughter?.”

“Oh, I see.”

The young man, who asked about Charlotte’s identity, felt regretful about her rank, but soon looked at her again and blushed. He was completely fascinated by Charlotte’s unique atmosphere, which was strangely eye-catching.

Then, someone whispered in secret.

“If she’s the young lady of Viscount Angelo, I heard it’s on the verge of bankruptcy… Oh no, I think I’ve said something rude.”

“So she’s looking for a husband? With that appearance and grace, she will attract attention in the wedding market.”

“I don’t know if it’s because His Majesty and her dress code complement each other, but standing side by side makes them a good match, unlike anyone else.”

Both of their sunlit hair seemed to melt when touched by their hands, and their clear blue eyes seemed to reflect the sky.

On the other hand, I was humiliated by wearing the same cream-coloured dress as Charlotte, which was like a sack of borrowed barley.

Ayla didn’t suit this cream colour. She was an eye-catching beauty with sparkly hair that curved down to her waist and dark green eyes. Dark and seductive colours would look better on her than these bright colours.

Of course, I do think this great appearance would suit anything, but it was a different story in front of Charlotte.

Charlotte was not a great beauty that caught someone’s eye at once, like Ayla, but as the main character in the novel, she has a pure and simple beauty that became increasingly eye-catching.

Her creamy white dress and lovely flowers, embroidery and lace, raised hair, and pure looking pearl ornaments fit her perfectly as if it was created only for her.

Well, an objective evaluation was also because she was the main character of this novel. The whole universe will come forward and help her get the attention no matter what happened, perks of having the protagonist buff.

I glanced down again at the dress I was wearing. The colours weren’t the only ones that matched Charlotte’s clothing, even the design was similar, maybe because it was made from the same dressing shop.

“Like a saint and a witch.”

Laughing came from all over the place as if it was an accurate metaphor.

***

“It’s still cringing.”

I prayed eagerly for the end of the banquet, and as soon as the atmosphere of the repercussions died out, I immediately rode a carriage to the mansion.

And as soon as I got to my room, I threw the evening bag I had in my hand onto the bed and shuddered.

“Ugh. I can’t believe my dark past just happened right in front of my eyes.”

Wow, it was unbearable torture.

Fortunately, I slipped out quickly. If I heard another line I wrote, I would probably break all of my reasoning and jump down from there.

I sighed to the ground and looked around with a feeling of hopelessness.

An antique room, which was comparable to a five-star hotel. It was the size of dozens of one-rooms I used to live in, and all the furniture was gold.

I looked up for a moment. Michelangelo’s 〈Creation of the Heavens and Earth〉 was spread out over the ceiling.

‘I thought I went crazy when I saw it as soon as I woke up in the morning.’

I looked around and screamed, I looked in the mirror and screamed, and I screamed when I saw the servants running in surprise.

I was only able to figure it all out after hearing the name the servants calling out to me.

Ten years ago, when Internet novels became popular, I wrote a romance fantasy novel after getting addicted to reading novels.

The title was .

It was the first and last novel I wrote, and it was a novel that embodied the fresh sensibility of a high school student, so it was cheesy and cringy in many ways. It was also my dark past that I wanted to forget about.

‘It was a novel I wrote ten years ago, so I already forgot about it.

However, I was now possessing the body of the only daughter of the Duke of Mertensia, Ayla Mertensia, who was also the villain of this novel.

No matter how it was, isn’t it too much to throw me into my dark past from 10 years ago? I don’t know who it was, but do you have a conscience? I sighed.

‘By the way, that’s not the important thing right now…’

[“You’ll have no choice but to love me…”]

[Until the moment she stopped breathing, she mumbled like that.]

In the novel 〈Lady Lily〉, the villainess Ayla loved Crown Prince Werner.

She always harassed Charlotte, who she saw as a thorn and eyesore to her life. And by the end of the day, she was so jealous that she reached the point where she secretly sought curses to curse Charlotte.

But of course, that fact was soon discovered, and her curse failed to be appropriately placed. She was tortured, pierced by Werner’s sword, and finally faced a lonely death in a cold prison.

Like most romance novels, Ayla also faces a miserable and painful end, suited for a wicked woman like her.

‘What is this? It’s either I’ll die on shame or die in the hands of the male lead, just like in the novel.’

Without even thinking about removing my make-up, I sent the maids away who was constantly looking at me and fell on my bed.

‘Why the Villainess, Ayla?’

It doesn’t suit me at all.

I’m timid. Because of this, I can’t even think of inflicting pain to others or even interacting with them; even if they hurt me and act unreasonable, I never consider retaliating. Even with all that happening, I still do what they asked me to do.

That was me, Yoon Ha-neul.

I don’t have a memory of when I’ve done anything just because I like it.

Except once, ten years ago, when I first wrote “Lady Lily” despite my parents’ abuse.

‘Right, I don’t know if it’s cheesy now, but I used to have pure fun and enjoy writing this in those days.’

Suddenly I felt struck by thunder and jumped out of bed.

Yes, this world was a meaningful place with precious memories that I made for the first time with my own will.

I can’t die here.

I couldn’t die like this.

I spent my whole life pouring water into school expenses, rent, tuition for my younger siblings, and I finally got rid of it. I’m finally free from my hell-like life where I run around every day.

So why would I die?

Ayla faces a miserable end as a villain in the novel because she tormented and cursed Charlotte.

“Well, it would be fine as long as I’m not villainess, right?”

If I don’t act like the evil girl Ayla, I won’t die and Werner will not trample on the Mertensia family.

“Why don’t you just enjoy what Ayla has given to you for the rest of your life?”

Money, power, honour, beauty, everything.

She was not even gold but a diamond spoon.

‘Ah, I’m such a stupid being. I’m foolish for worrying uselessly.’

It’s such a simple matter. As long as I avoid Charlotte and Werner, I will at least save my life, and I won’t have to struggle in pain while watching my dark past take place here.

‘I don’t need to meet anyone in the first place. I don’t have to do anything. I can just play and eat the way I want.’

A ray of light seemed to shine from the sky. This must be a gift I gave to myself 10 years ago.

Money is the best.

For ten years, I became a rotten adult who believed in money rather than love. So I could still be happy and blessed even if I was currently possessing the villainess’s body.

I decided to live up to the life of a rich unemployed person that I had dreamed of all my life.

So I started living the life of a rich unemployed person that was only filled with happiness.

“Which one shall I choose?”

I stood in front of a bookshelf while humming. Books that are glistening as if they were waiting to be picked.

‘At least.’

All of the luxurious hardcovers were made from genuine leather. They said that books are food for the soul, and just by looking at them made my heart feel full and satisfied.

After a moment of contemplating, I pulled out a book entitled ‘I promised money and a hundred years’. As I continue to gaze at the study filled with endless row of books.

I can’t help but compare it to a library with all the vast amount of books that it contained; only the name is different…..

‘The next 50 years should be fine.’

Besides, reading history books is enjoyable especially because this is a world inside a novel.

It’s like reading one of those fantasy novels. Magic that is out of this world with enemies that are labeled as myths or legends from where I came from.

Who knew that a novel that I wrote out of a whim would have created such a solid world.

 ‘It feels like seeing a child that you have taken care of grows up and become an adult.’

I think it would be nice to read books for the rest of my life.

No, I wanted to live my whole life reading books. In my past life, I was so busy in facing reality that I didn’t even have time to read books leisurely.

Holding a book in my arms, I went outside the library. As I walked through the hallway, every person that I encountered was flabbergasted while keeping their head down as if they have seen something out of the ordinary.

“Oh, miss!”

“My lady, do you need anything!”

“……”

Seeing the servants shaking like aspen trees, it gave me mixed feelings.

Should I be glad that they won’t bother me because they fear me or should I feel bitter since it feels like their treating me as if I give punishment even in the smallest mistakes even though I wasn’t the one who  did it but the previous owner of the body.

And I’ve known from experience that the friendlier I am to them, the more they’ll to freak out.

In order to change the image of a wicked woman who has decided to live a life full of luxury while also being unemployed, I tried to gently smiled at them, but the result I got was a maid who fainted from excessive fright  with a froth of bubbles coming out her mouth while also showing symptoms of hyperventilation.

‘What a murderous smile….’

I was sullen for a moment and then opened my mouth at the thought that came up to me suddenly.

“Oh, that’s right. Last time, I said—.”

“Hic!”

“…..”

When I spoke to her, the maid quickly drew her breath and crouched in terror, as if she had been given a great deal of stomachache. My hand, which was halfway on reaching to her, was still hanging in the air, unable to find a place to settle on.

“Hyuk! I-I’ll stop being rude!”

“… That’s not it.”

I’m not a wild beast. Feeling hurt, I mumbled in a gloomy mood.

“I just wanted to ask when Lingte’s limited edition book I ordered will arrive.”

“I-I’m really sorry Miss! It will arrive tomorrow morning!”

I don’t know if what transpire can be called a conversation, for the maid kept looking down and refuse to make eye contact while shaking in fear, as if she wants to get away from me as soon as possible.

…..Well, I’ll let you go if you want.

I was afraid that she would pass out, so I stiffly said, trying to harden my expression as much as possible.

“Okay. Thank you.”

When the maid heard those words, her whole body hardened and her nostrils flared like a rabbit.

With an expression as if the world is ending. It made me think of how villainous Ayla was in order for the maids to fear her so much that just by talking to them it made them have that kind of expression.

In the past, I was also a sociable person, but Ayla seems to have gone too far.

Have you been living a life where everybody is your mortal enemy? Well, I’m also the one to blame since I’m the one who wrote the novel.

‘There is no one that can help you nor stand beside you’

Fully isolated, I head to the kitchen brooding over the surging loneliness.

I think I should eat a dessert when I’m feeling depressed. Shall I ask for a chocolate today? I snorted as if I was depressed.

The chef of this mansion has excellent skills quite befitting for the most influential Duke family in the Lethe Empire. It is also perfect for people that has picky taste and were craving for food in modern times.

‘Egg tarts, mille-feuille, cream puffs…’

As I head to the kitchen while thinking of what desserts I should make the chef cook for me.

I will spend the rest of the day holed up in my room accompanied by books while eating my precious desserts. Just like the life I’ve imagined to spend.

‘Ah.’

I smiled like a silly fool with the thought of playing and eating, and then I was snapped back to reality and stopped walking.

It was because, at this very moment, the uncomfortable to greet person No.2 who if possible i wanted to avoid having an encounter with, is currently walking at the opposite side of the hallway

‘Aslan Mertensia.’

He is the heir to the Mertensia family and the brother of Ayla.

The man who has dealings in the palace must have come back early today, is now walking around the mansion in broad daylight.

‘Should I say hello….?’

But my honest feelings were that I didn’t want to pretend.

As I was holding the book in my arms and putting on a bitter look, Aslan found me, and his eyes were glued to me for a moment.

“…..”

“…..”

No, I can’t bum myself like this.

Obsidian-like pupil, completely different from Ayla, stared at me silently. It glistened like the eyes of a black snake. It was so black that its pupils were invisible.

Perhaps that’s why, even though I’m a Korean and was familiar with the combination of black hair and black eyes, and even thought it was a rare young man with a pure appearance, I still have this strong opposing feeling towards him.

Unlike Ayla, who inherited sharp eyes from her father, Aslan resembled his mother, and his eyes were red and droopy, making him have a sad impression.

Of course, his cold eyes, which showed no emotion at all, were taken from his father.

I glued to the wall, trying to sneak away from his line of sight, which somehow seemed tenacious. At the same time, Aslan brushed passed me.

“Not to mention the level of standard.”

A murmur drifted in my ear as he left, was enough to lift my blood pressure. He definitely said this after seeing the book l was holding, “I promised money and a hundred years.”

‘That scumbag.’

If you’re going to go, then just leave quietly, why are you picking a fight with someone who’s not doing anything? You don’t use money? He’s also scribbling under his father, who’s wealthy and rich, and he’s talking as if he’s innocent.

But I couldn’t even retaliate against the word said since I’m playing a position of a fool who squander money through eating and playing. So I just fling my middle finger behind his back.

Well, I heard that some siblings ignore each other as if they were looking at a cow or a chicken, but in a way, is this what normal siblings do?

When I read romance fantasy novels, there are so many little idiotic brothers, but why am I the only one who is stuck with someone like him?

‘The environment of the home is so evil.’

Somehow, my lament started to grow more.

The only people I’ve had a decent conversation over the past month have been the servants. It was because my family ignored me even to the point that they pretend not to see me. Well, it was mostly by

Aslan and his father.

It was because Ayla is hated by her father, the Duke of Mertensia, since she was born.

Eighteen years ago, Margaret, the Duchess of the Mertensia family, died while giving birth to Ayla, which made him think she was a monster for she was the reason why her mother died.

The Duke was called an ironclad substitute, but he was also a rare romanticist who loved his wife dearly. Even now, the fateful love story of the duke and duchess was so famous that it was often a topic among people of high society.

But his love was only limited to Margaret, when it comes to his children he is a cold-hearted man with iron clad standards.

And that’s why Ayla, who was an idiot and only causes accidents, grew up to be thoroughly neglected despite being his own biological daughter, born from his beloved Margaret.

The Duke of Mertensia did not even pay attention to Ayla unless she made an accident that would tarnish her family’s reputation.

Don’t you think it’s weird that the Duke didn’t even realize that his daughter has a change of personality?

Anyway, he probably didn’t have to care about Ayla since he already had a smart and competent successor to succeed the family.

 ‘It was a given scenario that Ayla will be born with a golden spoon but in the end she still acted in a wicked manner. When I realized that, I can’t help but feel I was going to die from loneliness.’

But thanks to the setting of the novel, I achieved my dream of becoming a rich unemployed person, so it was a big advantage in my part.

‘I rather be ignored by everyone rather than them interfering with everything I do. They would have bothered me by now whilst also calling a tutor and being dragged around. If that would have happened, I would surely turn into a wicked woman and maybe have also cause this family downfall or even the collapse of society itself.’

I quickly concluded the result of the self-reasonable meeting adjourned. As a writer, I felt a little sorry for Ayla, but thanks to her, I was satisfied that no one would say a word even if I spent my whole life in the four corners of this room.

***

“Wow, is this heaven?”

I ate desserts that melt gently in my mouth, rolled around in bed, reading a book, while rolling over in pure bliss.

Such a lazy surplus life, I don’t think I’ll get tired of it even for another 50 years.

 “That’s right! Finally, Lingte’s limited edition books will arrive tomorrow!”

Lingte.

He was a wonderfully genius to exist in my creation. When I first read his romance novel, it was as if a new world had opened.

The elegant style, especially the domineering color of the male lead is enough to make my heart beat again. He is a great man who awakened the truth that perfect boyfriends are usually paper boyfriends.

“….Should I kidnap you?””

I muttered with a dark glint in my eyes. I would like to keep him locked up with three meals a day made by a chef of the Imperial Palace, while only letting him write and make books.

It would have never been made possible in my previous life, but it’s different now.

Who am I? Am I not the youngest daughter of the Duke of Mertensia? Kidnapping was, of course, a crime, but finding the identity of a veiled nobleman would be no problem to them.

‘Huh….?’

With such an unspeakable covert ambition, the rays of lights in the hall seem to dim little by little.

For a moment, I thought something dangerous would happen and that everything was just my imagination.

I momentarily paused in surprise and looked up to the sky. Only to see that the sun was slowly being swallowed by darkness.

‘Oh, I heard there’s a total eclipse today.’

That’s why the Duke’s son came home early today. It is prohibited by the Imperial law to wander outside when a solar eclipse occurs.

For a moment, I stared at the scene happening and belatedly closed my eyes. Aah! I heard that staring at an eclipse for a long period of time without protection can cause blindness!

I dropped my gaze as low as I possibly could and recalled what I’ve read in the Imperial newspaper this morning.

The solar eclipse in the \ novel was called Palinguea. I probably thought it’s a plausible name because it would seem like it’s just a normal a solar eclipse when I was in high school.

Anyway, the solar eclipse has historically been known as ominous in any world, and so as the world in this novel.

In particular, the Lethe Empire, which is the background setting of this novel, boasted the world’s most powerful imperial power over the past century, and has endlessly expanded its territory through war.

And now, the peaceful era has come; it became a great empire that’s why it was also called the “Land of the Bright Sun,” because night never descend.

For this reason, the people of the Empire are very afraid of the Palinguea, which obscures the sun, the symbol of the emperor, which was beyond the control of humans.

Above all, the most decisive reason for the people to fear Palinguea was the “The Incident” that took place on the day of the total solar eclipse five centuries ago.

An incident where the worst-ever “Evil Sorcerer Killian” caused an entire kingdom to evaporate overnight.