chapter 2

A hazy cloud of smoke spread thickly like fog.

Dying screams echoed from all directions.

I tried to gather my senses amid the chaos, but my consciousness was gradually fading.

Am I really going to die like this?

Everyone else who gets transmigrated into a novel ends up living comfortably.

Why am I stuck in this mess?

I don’t know who threw me into this story, but if they have even a shred of conscience, they should at least make my lifespan a little longer.

Unable to swallow the curse rising in my throat, I shouted toward the sky with all the strength I had left as I collapsed.

“Bastard!”

For a brief moment, it felt like I saw a man through my blurred vision…

But I didn’t care.

Whoever had transmigrated me here was definitely that bastard.

Just as the shadow of death descended upon me—

[Remember. Bentley, Cecilia, and Ka□□.]

A faint voice brushed against my mind.

As though a video were playing, a scene unfolded before my eyes.

A veiled woman grabbed me with trembling hands and repeatedly emphasized:

[You must remember.]

Remember who?

Who am I supposed to remember?

Can’t you say it one more time?

I didn’t catch the last name properly.

Just as I parted my lips to ask the woman—

“Ugh!”

A violent headache struck me.

At the same time, my eyes flew open.

“What…?”

A chandelier that looked as though it belonged in medieval Europe hung above me.

Where am I now?

As I frowned and sat up, an unfamiliar man’s voice spoke.

“Are you awake?”

A handsome man with wheat-colored hair and round glasses appeared before me.

It seemed that only the two of us were in the room.

“Where is this?”

“This is the Hetis Ducal Estate. Please don’t overexert yourself. Your condition is still poor.”

The handsome man with glasses insisted that I needed more rest and gently laid me back down on the bed.

Though only for a moment, I managed to take in the room.

It was neat and elegant, with a simple beauty that left plenty of empty space.

“Can you tell me what happened before you collapsed?”

“A group wearing masks killed the knights and maids. And I…”

I don’t even know why I’m here.

When I bit my lip and couldn’t continue, the man comforted me.

“That must have been very difficult. You don’t need to force yourself to speak. If anything comes to mind, just tell me at your own pace.”

Wearing a gentle expression, he asked several questions.

Since they were mostly routine inquiries and I knew nothing, I either shook my head or answered that I didn’t know.

After hearing the same response over and over, the man’s face grew serious.

“Has she lost her memory?”

With those words, he left the room, asking me to wait a moment.

The instant I was alone, I hurriedly sat up and started thinking.

“What novel did I transmigrate into?”

A childcare novel?

No, my body is already an adult.

A beastfolk novel?

I can’t transform into an animal.

A regret story?

I’m not confident about running away.

Countless theories stormed through my head.

Then—

The door burst open.

“So you’ve finally awakened.”

I looked up and saw an incredibly handsome man.

The wheat-haired doctor who had just left was standing beside him.

Silver hair reminiscent of a single blooming lily.

Amethyst-like purple eyes.

A sharp nose and elegant lips.

Skin so clear it seemed covered in morning dew.

A masterpiece crafted by the gods stood before me.

“How is she?”

“It seems that…”

The two handsome men exchanged words with grave expressions.

As I stared at them, my tangled thoughts suddenly became crystal clear.

The doctor with glasses was attractive enough, but the silver-haired man drew my attention far more.

Even fully clothed, the muscles beneath his garments made their presence obvious.

There was no doubt he possessed a sturdy physique.

Wow. Silver hair was never my type before, but maybe it actually is.

“My lady, do you recognize who I am?”

At some point their conversation had ended, and the man’s violet eyes settled on me.

Our gazes met in midair.

The moment I saw him, my heart pounded.

I felt as though I should rush into his arms immediately.

Judging by my racing heartbeat, this man clearly had some connection to the original owner of this body.

Come to think of it, wasn’t I on my way to get married today?

[No. More importantly, my groom is…]

[Ah, He—…]

Before the assassins attacked, I vaguely remembered the maids in the carriage referring to my husband as something starting with “He.”

It must have been the Duke of Hetis.

Otherwise, why would I be here?

And judging by how respectfully the doctor treated me, the violet-eyed man had to be my husband.

Wanting to answer his call, I blinked softly and carefully said:

“Honey?”

“Honey?”

Has this woman lost her mind?

Calling a complete stranger honey?

An unexpected twitch appeared at the corner of Cassian’s eye.

Of course, they weren’t complete strangers.

But Ivelyn and Cassian were worse than strangers.

Like water and oil, they could never mix.

The South and North were polar opposites, to the point that neither side would even think of intruding upon the other’s territory.

Whenever they met, hostility was the norm.

Most nobles avoided bringing Southerners and Northerners together for that reason.

Which was why Cassian never imagined—

That such a word would come out of her mouth.

“Even if she only woke up after a week…”

What happened to her head?

Even if she’d lost her memory, would that woman really speak to him like this?

“It seems to be amnesia caused by the accident.”

Matthew, the ducal family’s physician, spoke carefully.

So that was why he’d summoned him with such a serious expression.

“Haah…”

A sigh escaped Cassian’s lips.

He had brought her to the estate because she’d been gravely injured.

Had he known this would happen, he might have left her where she was.

“Send word to the Selredian Ducal House. No, send word to the baron’s family as well.”

Whoever it was, someone needed to come and take this woman away.

Ignoring Ivelyn, who looked at him with innocent eyes while waiting for an answer, Cassian reached for the bell rope.

At that moment—

“Your Grace! Look at this!”

His aide, Hans, rushed into the room.

Upon seeing the letter bearing the imperial seal, Cassian quickly took the parchment.

Keep Ivelyn Selredian under close surveillance for the time being.

Though only circumstantial evidence exists, some kind of transaction appears to have occurred between the Selredian Ducal House and Baron Hetyus.

There is no concrete proof, but it is certain that goods changed hands.

Do not allow Ivelyn to return home.

That was the gist of the message.

“This has become troublesome.”

So he had to keep this woman around for the foreseeable future.

If she still had her memories, he could have persuaded or threatened her into giving information.

But what was he supposed to extract from a woman who looked at him with doe-like innocence and called him her husband?

Using her as bait, perhaps.

Wait.

Bait?

Perhaps I can use her to catch a bigger fish.

Of course, whether her amnesia was genuine remained to be seen.

But this was a golden opportunity.

If he kept watch over Ivelyn as the Emperor commanded, he might uncover the corruption hidden within both families.

“Honey?”

When Cassian didn’t answer, Ivelyn called out to him again.

Having reached a decision, Cassian sat down on the edge of her bed.

Then he gently took one of her hands and placed it against his face.

His eyes curved into a beautiful smile.

It was an utterly shameless smile.

The people nearby stared at him in shock, but Cassian paid them no attention.

As though only Ivelyn existed in his world, he looked straight at her and answered shyly:

“Yes, my wife.”

“Your Grace, what possessed you to say something like that?!”

Hans shouted the moment he followed Cassian into the study.

Despite his harsh words, his voice was barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.

Clenching his teeth to prevent anyone outside from hearing, Hans demanded an explanation with his eyes.

“If the Selredian Ducal House learns of this—”

“Don’t worry. His Majesty said he’ll handle them. We only need to deal with Ivelyn and Baron Hetyus.”

“If that’s the case, then that’s a relief, but…”

Even now, recalling what had happened an hour ago gave Hans chills.

Ivelyn calling Cassian honey.

Cassian calling Ivelyn my wife.

For a moment, he’d thought he was hallucinating.

But afterward, the two of them had continued acting like an actual married couple.

Has His Grace finally gone insane?

No matter how lonely he was, pretending to be married to the Witch of the North?

Was he interested in women who already belonged to someone else?

Though there were plenty of married women in the South too.

Of course, she was unbelievably beautiful.

The South had many lovely ladies, but after seeing Ivelyn in person, Hans doubted anyone could rival her beauty.

Her behavior might have been terrible, but her appearance was unquestionably flawless.

“Stop thinking ridiculous things.”

Seeing Hans’s expression, Cassian frowned.

Hans quickly composed himself.

“I’m simply setting the stage to catch Baron Hetyus.”

“But no one has ever seen Baron Hetyus’s true face. No one except members of the Selredian family.”

“Exactly. That’s why we need to use Ivelyn. The baron’s lover is in my hands. Do you think he’ll stay still?”