Before Leila ended the night of her 18th birthday, she was sure that she emptied the bottle of alcohol that her maid stashed. She was supposed to be hangover, yet she didn't feel it when she woke up the next day.

Moreover... this wasn't her own room. It wasn't her room!

Leila got up in hurry, and her eyes unexpectedly caught the mirror and saw a different reflection. She had to look again and check the reflection if it's really her.

She gaped in horror when she found out that the reflection was doing every movement she makes. Leila was still in disbelief and pinched her cheek, and she moaned in pain afterwards.

Mustering her courage to face her current problem, Leila looked in a mirror and finally recognized the body she was in right now.

"Viktor Vladinov."

The name that's always written on headlines of the newspapers, a man who's rumored to have insufferable personality, thus that's where his title "Insufferable Beau" came from.

They say the only good thing about him is his looks. Leila didn't personally know him, but because he's popular for a bad reason, almost everyone in the capital knows of his name.

Leila had to take another deep breath. This was too real for a mere dream, but how could one explain what's happening right now? How in the world she ended up swapping bodies? Leila tried to remember what caused this, but all she could think of was drinking all night long.

Did the alcohol cause this then? Did someone put some kind of magic in the drink? Leila felt her head hurt from all these thoughts.

However, she didn't want to simply stay here. She wanted answers, so she headed out and went to her house to see if the man really swapped bodies with her.

"Milord, are you sure you're heading out in your nightwear?" The old butler asked with concern. He seemed like he was serving Viktor for so long to make him wear such parental look on his face.

Unbeknownst to him, it was Leila whom he was talking to and not Viktor."Yes. This is comfortable to me."

Leila then walked away, heading towards the carriage. The coachman looked confused when he saw the young lord wearing private clothes. Yet, he didn't bother to ask out of fear of his temper.

"Where are we headed today, milord?"

"To Count Linea's house." Leila replied and crossed his arms. The coachman, without further ado, got the carriage moving. Leila didn't notice the atmosphere that time as she was too swamped in her own thoughts. She didn't realize that the rumors about Viktor Vladinov were quite true.

It didn't take long, as Count Linea's house was just near the capital. Leila arrived in front of her house, which she couldn't call as her house right now due to obvious reasons.

The servants of Count Linea's were very confused upon her arrival. They threw quizzical looks at each other, wanting to know what Viktor Vladinov is doing here.

Leila knew what was going on and sighed. Walking over to the maid, she towered over her with her current height. Viktor Vladinov was sure tall, she thought. Then, as she looked at the maid, she saw small hearts forming in her eyes.

What the heck, are you falling for him? Leila raised her eyebrow quizzically, which only made the maid fluster.

"Please inform Leila Linea that I'm here now. She's informed, by the way." Leila smiled, and the maid hurriedly followed her order.

Privilege of a pretty face, Leila thought.

A few moments after that, the maid asked her to follow her to the drawing room. Surprisingly, that man seemed to be already expecting her.

Thankfully, he didn't change his clothes.

"I'd like to talk to her alone. Can you kindly leave?" Leila asked.

She heard a stifled laugh coming from Viktor, but she kept quiet about it. The maid nodded after leaving their refreshments on the table.

Leila then asked, "Are you Viktor?"

It felt strange to look at her own body in third person viewpoint. Of course, she couldn't do that when she was in her original body, except for the times she took photographs of herself.

"I am. Then you're Leila?" he replied.

Leila nodded, but she had to know why he knew her. "How did you know my name?"

"Your maid came in and mentioned your name. Otherwise, I wouldn't even know." He looked up and took a sip on his tea.

For the first time, Leila saw how she looked like when she's serious. "What about you? How did you know it was me, Viktor?"

Leila didn't even think of an answer and said without hesitation, "Well, you're popular for not so good reasons. Everyone knows you."

"My, that's exaggeration," he said, his eyelashes fluttering dramatically.

This action made Leila scrunch up her nose. "Don't do that in my body, it's cringe."

"Well, don't frown too. You're adding wrinkles to my smooth face."

Leila had so much more to say, but she decided it wasn't worth pursuing that matter. Instead, she asked, "What do we do now? How do we get back to our body?"

Sipping peacefully, Viktor smiled. "I don't have any idea. This seemed like a witchcraft or some sort of magic. Perhaps I made some powerful enemy and had me switched bodies with someone. Scary, right?"

Sure, she thought of that too, but why was he too calm about this? "Isn't this your first time switching bodies with someone?"

To which Viktor answered calmly, "Yes, my first time."

I see. He simply didn't have worries. He lacks the sense of urgency. Perhaps he doesn't have responsibilities to begin with, that's why this situation was just fine to him.

Leila couldn't help but palm her face. There were talks of marriage even before she turned 18. Now that she's 18, her father wanted to marry her off to someone with a good pedigree.

However, majority of the candidates were twice her age. Leila couldn't stomach that.

There's no saying when they'll return to each other's body, so she couldn't escape her fate after all. Moreover, the man she swapped bodies with was very laidback to the point that he might simply agree to everything her father might say.

Seeing her worried face, Viktor sighed. "You're frowning again. Stop that and I'll take you to someone who might be of help."

Just as Viktor said, they were headed off to someplace he only knows.

Seated across from each other, they were both wearing coats even though it was hot due to summer heat.

The reason was because they didn't change clothes and they were still wearing their nightwear. It was an unspoken rule not to wear your nightwear outside the vicinity of your room. There were clothes suited for outdoor, but not included in that is your nightwear.

"Why didn't you let me change? Are you planning to kill us together from heat?" Viktor said as he fanned sluggishly.

Leila clicked her tongue. "I'm not letting a man change my body's clothes."

"Then what about when I have to relieve myself? Or should I just pee on this dress?" Viktor replied with obvious annoyance.

Leila paused. "Good point. Then you're only allowed to relieve yourself when I'm around. That goes the same for me."

Leila didn't like how a smile appear on Viktor's lips after saying that. Viktor replied, "Well, aren't you a pervert."

He then folded his arms and leaned his back against the cushioned seat with a smile Leila wanted to tear off.

"Kidding aside, that's very inconvenient. It takes long for you to arrive here, and your small bladder won't be able to handle that," Viktor said.

"So, the option is you propose to me and live together in one house. That way, we'll be able to keep a close eye to each other. I'm sure you're as suspicious as me, and being together might relieve a bit of that suspicion. What do you think?"

Leils fell silent for a moment to think about Viktor's proposition. He actually made a good proposition, and Leila can't see anything wrong with it. It's true that she was also as suspicious of him, and she wanted to keep him close for her body's safety.

That being said, the decision was already obvious. "I accept. How do you like me to announce our engagement?"

Viktor smiled without making too obvious. It's good that she's also single. Most of the ladies he encountered will do anything to get his attention, and when he paid them they get flustered to the point of turning to airhead. Yet, this girl didn't even react that way when he asked her to be engaged with him.

Hm, this girl is a rare breed. Viktor then showed his smile.

"Do it tomorrow. I still have to ask your father's permission to get engaged. Or do I not have to?" he cocked his head to the side.

Normally, her father should be informed. But this wasn't a normal situation. They would be surprised either way, so it's better to surprise them all at once.

Moreover, since Viktor comes from a wealthy family, her father should readily agree to this engagement.

"No, let's make it a surprise."

"You like surprises, huh." Viktor remarked.

Leila didn't give an answer to that and looked out the window. Viktor mentioned earlier that the place they were headed to was somewhere near the original location where the first holy church was established.

Most likely it's a priest they're going to meet with. This guess was proved to be true when Viktor introduced to her his friend.

"This is Alec. He's the one who can help us."

"Hello there, nice to meet you." Alec turned to Viktor for help. "What's her name?"

As Leila heard his question, she decided to answer it herself. "I'm Leila Linea. Count Linea's daughter."

"Ah, I apologize. Nice to meet you, Lady Leila." Alec smiled with a hint of awkwardness.

"We should talk somewhere private. Come inside." Alec said, opening the door of his small home.

Inside, there were stashes of empty and half empty bottles everywhere. Stacks of papers were on the desk, with some on the floor. As if someone rummaged this house and left an utter chaos.

Still, she was just a visitor so she didn't actively react to this. Instead, Leila just asked a question.

"How did you recognize it was Lord Viktor in a different body, by the way?"

Alec, who was cleaning up the desk at that moment, looked at her and smiled. "I can see souls, which is why I could tell it's Viktor right away."

"Pretty impressive, right?" Viktor butted in with his remark.

This time, Leila didn't disagree with him and nodded.

"Indeed. So, if you can see souls, can you help us get back to our bodies?"

"That is something I can't do," Alec quickly cleared out the misunderstanding. Leila's shoulders visibly fell, which was strange to look at as she was doing it in his friend's body.

However, he still felt a little sorry and said, "But I can do something to keep your souls safe."

Alec went through the cabinets and not long after, he found the thing he was looking for.

"If you're not aware, switching souls actually happens but is a rare occurrence. This happens out of nowhere, so I can't back up this explanation with scientific facts. It's mostly harmless, but it can be dangerous if your soul keeps jumping from one to another's body. Thus, I want you to wear this to ensure your souls are bound to each other's body only."

Alec showed the rings on his palm. Both rings were engraved with text she couldn't comprehend. Then, there's one big stone on the center in color black.

"Wear this," Alec urged them.

Leila and Viktor looked at each other briefly before taking one ring from his hand. Leila wore it on her ring finger, and all of the sudden, the black stone turned silver.

Meanwhile, when Viktor wore it on his ring finger, the black stone turned blue.

Both seemed to have the same question, but Viktor voiced out the question this time. "Why did the stone turn blue?"

"Blue is the color of your soul." After Alec looked at Viktor's ring, he looked at Leila's. "And silver is yours."

"I see, how pretty," Leila mumbled. "Thank you. How do you like me to pay for this?"

"It's free, don't worry." Alec said to Leila, but when he turned to look at Viktor, he said a different thing.

"But for you, you need to pay by sponsoring the church for the rest of your life. Can you do that?" Alec donned an evil smile, unbefitting of his work as a priest.

Viktor returned the smile with even more evil smile. Then, he flicked his forehead.

Alec's initial response was to get back at him, but he can't definitely do that while he was still in Lady Leila's body.

"You bastard, you think this through, huh." Alec couldn't hit him back, so he rubbed his knuckles with an overflowing urge to smack his face.

"Then, my thanks, dear best friend. Don't worry about your church though, I surely can spare some change, which will definitely be larger than your annual pay."

Viktor pushed Leila out of the door as if urging her to leave, then winked at Alec. "Love you! Goodbye!"

When they returned to the count's mansion, a face familiar to Leila was waiting in front of the house.

Leila gulped as she remembered how strict her father was in terms of riding a carriage with a man of her age, or riding with man while unmarried in general.

She looked at Viktor for help, but then she remembered that she was Viktor right now. Or so at least that's how they appear to other people.

Seeing her visibly anxious, Viktor couldn't turn a blind eye and sighed.

Leila felt his hand on her back, as if telling her she could do it. It didn't completely relieve all her anxiety, though it somehow made her feel she wasn't alone.

"Don't worry. You're wearing my face, so you could say pretty much anything rude." Viktor said with an air of confidence, but to Leila it seemed more like arrogance.

Even so, she laughed. Was that supposed to comfort her? Well, it really did.

Leila opened the carriage door and got out of it first. Then, she extended her hand towards Viktor, who looked at it at first before realizing that's how it goes for when she is Lady Leila for now.

"Thank you," Viktor smiled, trying to gauge the count's reaction.

Leila caught on what Viktor was trying to do, so she quickly turned her back towards her father, who is Count Linea for now.

"Greetings ," she wasn't sure how Viktor normally greets someone, "I apologize for dropping by without notice."

"Well, you didn't just drop by. You even took my daughter to some place. Where is that place?" the count said laced with sarcasm and a little bit of threat.

Leila couldn't help but falter, as it was her natural reaction whenever her father gets mad at her.

As observant as he was, Viktor stepped in and take charge of the conversation. Even at the cost of his own dignity, he wrapped his arm around Leila's, feigned a tearful expression and said:

"I'm sorry for keeping you in the dark, but I've been in love with Viktor ever since. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't so I let you notice our relationship instead. That way, you'll know that I have someone in my heart, and I couldn't marry someone other than him."

Inwardly, Viktor wanted to throw up and cringe at his words. He felt sorry for his dignity, but he has to do whatever it takes to keep this woman close to him.

Seeing him take care of their revelation about their "relationship", Leila felt shameful that she couldn't speak out in her father's presence. But then, upon looking at Viktor, who was in her body, Leila realized that she's making Viktor seem fearful of her father.

She had to speak up. With a slightly trembling hand, he wound his arm on Viktor's shoulder and smiled.

"I am honored, my dear. I share the same sentiments as well," she locked eyes with Viktor for the purpose of faking love. Looking away, she finally answered the count's question earlier.

"We went to the church earlier. Leila wanted me to come with her so we can enjoy some peace while we talk our hearts out to our dear God, who will surely guide us through. My mistake is that I didn't even ask her father for permission, nor introduce myself."

Leila deliberately mentioned God, as He's a Subject who greatly appeals to her father. Their family is a devote member of church, thus, Leila was sure her father would be more open to this conversation if she mentioned God.

"I am Viktor Vladino-"

"I know who you are," the count cut off.

'That's why I can't be fully angry with you,' the count thought. If anything, he should be glad that it was Viktor Vladinov who took away his daughter this morning.

However, as a father, he couldn't help but worry over his daughter. Sure, he has wealth, but does he have other important things as well? Like kindness and patience to his daughter?

This is Viktor Vladinov we're talking about. Rumors has it that he's not only insufferable, but he's also a womanizer.

It's somehow making him remember his past self before he met Leila's mother. He had also heaps of bad things about him, but because of his wife's love, he changed the person he was before.

The question is, will this man change himself for love too? Or Leila was just another woman to entertain himself with?

"... I accept your apology, and I'll agree to this marriage too."

"Thank you!" Leila's eyes lit up and she didn't realize that she was acting out of her supposed character after she clasped his hand. The count was also surprised by her reaction.

... But wait. Marriage? They weren't even implying that thing.

This time, Leila looked at Viktor for help, to which Viktor halfheartedly accepted.

Raising his hand, he let his ring show before making a lovely smile on his lips.

"We're on it already. The only thing left is to have an official ceremony."

As Viktor said that, he imagined his carefree bachelor life disappearing into thin air. He could have said they hadn't even planned that far yet, but this excuse might only make the count think he wasn't serious about her (which was actually true), and may try to separate them (which was going to be a problem for all sorts of reason.)

And so, he said a lie he couldn't take back.

Meanwhile, the count had a different reaction about what he said. He felt like his whole body was disintegrating into thin air. Who wouldn't, when your daughter revealed all these things at once?

Moreover, she's already married? Really, without him? If they've taken things this far, perhaps they've...?

"Are you with child?" the count couldn't help but ask.

Viktor in Leila's body was the one who got asked, yet it was Leila who got embarrassed. She quickly answered in Viktor's stead and said:

"No, she's not. So far, we only hold hands and hug... But we haven't done that thing. Not until marriage."

As she slightly trembled, sharp-eyed Viktor saw through her facade and secretly enjoyed her moment of embarrassment. It was just weird to see how he looked like while he's embarrassed. It was his first time seeing his face made that face.

Well, maybe he should get used to it from now on. This woman seems to get easily embarrassed by a handful of things.