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Episode 7
“Enri, wake up. We’re almost there.”
“Mm… already?”
It didn’t feel like “already,” since the sun was already setting outside the window.
“Ugh, did I look embarrassing while sleeping?”
I quickly rubbed my mouth and tried to remember the dream I’d just had.
It was a really weird one.
The Grand Duke and the villainess, who were supposed to get along in the original story, were fighting like they wanted to kill each other.
“Where… is this?”
I casually turned my head to the side—and saw a dazzling building.
No way… that can’t be it, right?
The carriage kept running along the wall, but the building just kept going on and on.
It was bigger than the ducal estate, decorated so beautifully it hurt my eyes.
“Wow…”
A gasp slipped out before I could stop it.
My earlier doubt suddenly felt stupid—the carriage finally stopped right in front.
I blinked, wondering if this was some kind of joke, and asked,
“Is the viscount’s mansion always this fancy?”
“Well… I do have more money than I can spend.”
Ugh, that line… I used to want to say that one someday!
Kael got down from the carriage first and said to me,
“Let’s get out of here. I’ll help you.”
I took his hand without hesitation this time. It was big—and strangely cold.
“Why are your hands so cold?”
“If it bothers you, I’ll let go.”
“No, it’s fine. If I hold it, it’ll get warm.”
Even after getting off the carriage, we kept holding hands while talking.
“Kael, I heard something… do you know why my hands are cold?”
“Isn’t it because of poor blood circulation?”
I looked at him like he had just ruined something romantic.
“They say it’s because your heart is warm.”
“A different interpretation.”
“So your cold hands mean you have a really warm heart.”
“Then your hands must be warm, meaning your heart is cold.”
“Ugh, forget it!”
I raised my voice in frustration, and he chuckled.
By then, we had already reached the mansion door.
Sara, who had followed after getting off the horse, looked around and said,
“Not bad.”
It wasn’t just “not bad”—it was ridiculously luxurious, just like the outside.
Polished floors, decorations, and paintings that looked like expensive gifts.
Kael casually greeted the servants and led us to the second floor.
“Think of the entire place as yours.”
Hearing that while looking at all this luxury felt overwhelming.
My face went pale.
“I just need a small room… this is too much…”
As I looked around, I noticed something odd.
“…But the furniture looks brand new. Like it was just put in.”
“Ha ha, thanks for the compliment.”
He answered calmly.
“That wasn’t a compliment… never mind.”
I stopped myself from digging further.
Well, no one would buy new furniture just to bring me here… right?’
Kael started guiding me again.
“This is the reception room. I rarely get visitors, so you can use it whenever you want tea.”
A room this huge… for something barely used?
“This is the library. It’s small, but I’d be happy if you came by often.”
Small? This was bigger than the imperial palace.
“And this could work well for your study…”
“Ahhh, stop!”
I panicked, overwhelmed by all the luxury.
“Where is my room? Just a normal bedroom!”
“Right here.”
He opened the door smoothly.
My eyes widened instantly.
“Kael, th”
“Yes?”
“Are you… blackmailing me or something?”
“Pardon?”
He looked genuinely confused, but that wasn’t the point.
“Are you getting something from me? Why is this house like this?”
I rushed straight onto the soft ivory bed.
‘Wow… It’s so soft.’
Watching me, Kael smiled faintly.
“You really have a strange imagination.”
“The Wintersore ducal house is famous for business too, but it wasn’t like this. Normal viscounts don’t live like this.”
The room was unreal—fresh wallpaper, wide space like you could run in it, perfectly arranged carpet, beautiful paintings, cute little tables.
It was nothing like my room at the ducal estate.
“Some of it was inherited, but most of it is from my own businesses and investments.”
So he was basically self-made rich.
I thought about it, but there was no real answer.
“Let’s go down slowly. Dinner will be ready soon.”
Kael left the room without hesitation.
Now, only Sara and I remain.
I muttered,
“Sara… my life is changing too fast. It feels like a dream.”
“Yeah. Even the most popular plays in the capital would move more slowly than this.”
Sara pulled out a chair in front of the mirror.
“I’ll brush your hair before dinner.”
My hair was messy from falling asleep in the carriage.
She took out a comb and suddenly asked,
“Miss… will you do me a favor?”
“Yeah? What is it?”
Her expression in the mirror changed slightly.
Only then did I realize I had just agreed without thinking.
Worst-case scenarios flashed in my head.
“I-I don’t have money.”
“Do you think I’d take your pocket money?”
“I don’t have pocket money anyway!”
“Just tell me what it is!”
“You promised first. Then I’ll tell you.”
“Okay, okay! Tell me.”
Her sharp eyes made me tense up.
But what she said next was unexpected.
“I want you… not to get angry at me.”
“…Huh?”
“Even if I lie… or hide very important things from you.”
I relaxed a little.
“That’s it? Fine. I won’t get mad even if you lie a lot.”
Sara’s face looked complicated.
“Why are you making that face? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
If I had known what was coming…
I would have asked her everything right then.
Downstairs, I sat at the table. Kael looked at me the moment I sat down and smiled.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because I like that you’re in my house.”
Normally, that kind of handsome smile would make someone’s heart race.
But I was already used to his strange comments.
The dining room was just as fancy as the rest of the mansion, yet there were no servants around.
And still, the table was filled with food.
I cut a piece of meat and put it in my mouth.
After swallowing, I said,
“We need to talk.”
“Oh?”
“I’ve been curious about this for a while.”
“What is it?”
“Why do you want to marry me?”
His eyes were fixed on me.
“I fell in love at first sight.”
Cough!
I nearly choked and grabbed water quickly.
Kael came over and handed me a glass himself.
After gulping it down, I stared at him.
“Are you serious?”
“Well… more like I was fascinated at first sight.”
What nonsense is this guy talking about?
I gave him a “are you insane?” look.
Then Kael spoke slowly.
“I’m under a curse.”
My eyes widened.
In my old world, I would’ve dismissed it as nonsense.
But in this world, curses were real.
“To break the curse, I need your kiss, Enri.”
He said it seriously.
I couldn’t handle it and asked,
“T-that’s a lie, right?”
“Yes.”
“…What?”
I blinked blankly.
It took a few seconds to understand.
Then he casually returned to his usual calm smile.
“This guy…”
I couldn’t take it anymore.
I stood up to hit him.
“Enri, wait.”
“Don’t call me names, scammer!”
Just as I walked toward him.
“I really am cursed. I don’t have a heart!”
I froze.
“Sorry. I thought you’d be shocked, so I joked.”
“…That’s what you’re doing NOW?!”
I sat back down, furious.
After apologizing again, he continued.
“I’ve been cursed since birth. My mother died early, so I never learned why.”
Ah.
Now I felt a bit guilty for his earlier joke.
His situation was more complicated and heavier than I thought.
“Please touch it.”
He stood up and came closer.
He placed my hand on his chest.
“Eek! What are you— huh?”
There was supposed to be a heartbeat there.
But as he said, there was nothing. Not even the slightest pulse.
“Now do you believe me?”
“…Yes.”
His cold hand… his unmoving heart…
I had no choice but to believe it.
“If you really don’t have a heart… how are you alive?”
“That’s right. I’m basically no different from a corpse.”
He said it calmly, like it didn’t matter.
“But I used magic to force my body to keep moving.”
“And even that won’t last much longer.”
Then came something even more shocking.
“If I don’t break the curse within one year… I will die.”
