🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 1
“I’m really sorry for suddenly coming here like this, young lady.”
The woman, soaked to the bone and trembling, looked pitiful.
‘Why is this woman here?’
Even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, the woman in front of me was unmistakably Christine Alesta.
There was no way I didn’t know her. No—more precisely, it was impossible not to know her.
That was because she was the Saint who had appeared in the Empire after several hundred years. The Empire’s hero, destined to stop the coming demonic invasion and save the world.
…Of course, the name Christine Alesta meant something even greater to me than that.
“Please use this to dry yourself first.”
Bell, my only employee and my maid since childhood, handed Christine a large towel.
Soon after, I felt a poke at my side and quickly snapped back to my senses.
Right. Now was not the time to be spacing out.
“What brings you here?”
“I heard many people here have healed their mental wounds.”
‘So why would the female lead of the novel come to a place like this?!’
I almost screamed without realizing it, but barely held it back.
Christine should be busy worrying about how to defeat the monsters with the male lead, Ian. Not only that, she was supposed to fall in love with him—there was absolutely no reason for her to be here.
‘Why?’
Just as that question resurfaced, Christine fiddled with her fingers and lifted her head.
“Can I receive that treatment too?”
“…Pardon?”
My head rang at her sudden words.
You, coming to me? But she was… What, was she sick or something? But I had never heard anything like that. I couldn’t understand why she had come all the way here.
“Saint.”
Then, a deep, pleasant voice rang out, and I flinched.
The consultation had ended a long time ago—why was he still here?
Turning my head stiffly like a rusted robot, I saw Lucas standing there.
“Saint, what brings you here?”
“That’s what I want to ask. Duke, why are you here…?”
Thud.
A brochure on the desk fell to the floor due to a wind blowing in through the open window.
On it, the words “Secret Garden” were written.
Seeing it, all my efforts to avoid entangling myself with the main characters flashed through my mind.
I thought that if nothing interfered between the two leads, they would naturally defeat the monster invasion and get their happy ending through marriage.
‘What problem brought her here?’
As I looked at the female protagonist who had suddenly appeared, my emotions became unsettled.
Then her clear voice rang out again.
“Please… young lady. Just listen to me. I’m actually… really scared of the Crown Prince!”
Before I knew it, Christine had come closer and grabbed my hand, tears welling up in her blue eyes.
The Crown Prince—the male lead—is scary? What is this supposed to mean?
Looking into her blue eyes, I suddenly remembered what happened a few months ago.
Back then, I was the arrogant only daughter of Viscount Adrian, a woman who didn’t understand her place.
No—more precisely, the moment I realized this world was a novel was after I confessed to the Crown Prince at a banquet and was rejected.
Five months earlier
Today was the day. Finally, I would meet Ian, the Crown Prince.
The banquet held for his birthday. How long had I waited for this moment?
My nervous fingers kept fiddling with the ribbon on the gift wrapping.
I wanted to see him soon.
“Are you alright?”
I remembered the hand that had caught me when I nearly fell during a victory celebration years ago.
And the concerned look in his eyes.
I was certain then—he had feelings for me too.
“Hoo…”
When it was finally my turn to present the gift, I took a deep breath and slowly walked up the stairs.
Soon, Ian came into view, seated on his chair.
As he turned his head, his glossy black hair flowed smoothly. As always, he was unbelievably handsome.
“So you are from House Adrian. I gratefully accept your gift.”
His eyes curved beautifully.
Yes, I was sure of it. Ian also liked me.
Now that I was certain, there was no need to hesitate.
“I like you, Your Highness! I’ve been watching you for a long time!”
So just say you feel the same. Hurry.
I extended the gift with all my heart and closed my eyes tightly.
At my declaration, the surroundings fell silent.
How long had I waited?
Then, a low voice rang out.
“Do I know you? I don’t recall.”
In that instant, it felt like everything collapsed.
Five years.
Five years of unrequited love for Ian, the Empire’s dazzling Crown Prince.
I lifted my head. His expression was far from what I had expected.
“Young lady?”
Maybe he was just flustered because so many people were watching.
I gathered my courage again.
“You helped me five years ago. Ever since then, I’ve—”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
Cold rejection cut me off.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
“I… I have no feelings for you. I apologize, Lady Iron.”
My surname is Adrian, not Iron.
Before I could even correct him, he raised his hand.
Knights behind him pushed me back.
“Young lady, please step down.”
I was practically escorted down the stairs.
Whispers followed me.
“So that’s the girl who got publicly rejected?”
“Viscount Adrian’s daughter, right? The one who doesn’t know her place?”
“How embarrassing.”
I clenched my teeth and ran away.
I drank the champagne I had practically snatched from a servant.
Gulp, gulp.
It wasn’t strong alcohol, but after several glasses, my head was spinning.
Couples passing by whispered, but I didn’t care.
I thought about going home, but I couldn’t return looking like this.
I couldn’t say I had been rejected.
Tears kept falling.
Then—
Drip.
Rain fell from the sky.
“Looks like it’s raining.”
“Let’s go inside.”
People quickly returned to the banquet hall.
I lifted the bottle again and drank.
“Ha.”
If I went inside, I’d just become a laughingstock.
Better to stay here and get soaked.
Time passed.
The rain grew heavier, and cold seeped into my body.
‘Ugh…’
I was both cold and drunk.
I stood up, deciding to just go home.
As I walked toward the exit—
The world spun.
Thud.
I collapsed to the ground.
No strength remained in my body.
“Ah…”
What a miserable day. Nothing was going right.
Just as sleepiness took over—
Someone stood in front of me.
“Are you alright?”
I slowly looked up.
Black hair.
A familiar, low voice.
“…Your Highness?”
He had rejected me earlier.
And yet he was here?
I forced myself up with trembling legs.
“Your Highness…”
He suddenly stepped forward and wrapped an arm around my waist.
A cool scent surrounded me, and tears welled up again.
I wasn’t wrong.
Everyone else was mistaken—but I was right.
Wiping my tears, I smiled brightly and touched his cheek.
“You came to find me. I’m really happy, Your Highness.”
His fingers twitched slightly.
Maybe he was surprised.
But it didn’t matter anymore.
If this was his answer, then that was enough.
I slowly closed my eyes.
