GAVAF 04

Chapter 04

“Wow, steak for lunch.”

I, someone who preferred meat over vegetables, discreetly swallowed my saliva and took a sip of water first.

“Enjoy your meal, Dad.”

“Yes.”

When I acted like a polite and well-behaved daughter in front of Marquis Juern, I could notice a faint smile forming on his otherwise expressionless lips.

At first, it felt awkward, but sharing meals with a kind father who was happy even when I gave up the food I liked became enjoyable. If I were to list the best thing about inhabiting this body, it would probably be that I finally had a family.

“Do you have something to say?”

“No.”

When I stared at Marquis Juern intently, he noticed immediately and tried to figure out what was going on. Then he subtly slid the steak on his plate toward me.

I laughed. My gruff father awkwardly taking care of his daughter—this was exactly like the role I had to play.

“Thank you, Dad.”

At my words, the straight line of Marquis Juern’s mouth softened slightly. Seeing his face like that made me smile without realizing it.

Just as we were finishing our meal, a servant rushed in, looking urgent.

“Your Grace, a royal attendant has arrived from the palace. You should go immediately.”

Marquis Juern’s face hardened, perhaps displeased at having his happy mealtime interrupted, but he rose from his seat in a hurry as if resigned.

“Sorry for leaving first.”

“It’s fine. I’ve finished eating.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

His rough hands, hardened from a lifetime of wielding a sword, lightly ruffled my hair as he passed.

‘What’s this strange feeling?’

Leaving behind a look of mild regret, Marquis Juern followed the servant out, and I quickly wiped my mouth and stood up.

Back in my room, I pulled out all the dresses from the wardrobe. Beside me, Vera stood calmly, as if ready to carry out any order.

“I don’t like any of these dresses.”

“I’ll call the designer.”

I smiled in satisfaction as Vera bowed politely and quickly left the room. She was perceptive and efficient, which I liked. Since the bath incident, Vera had been assisting me diligently.

“This dress is just too much.”

I shook my head at a dress weighed down with tiny gemstones the size of my thumbnail. The decoration was suffocating. The girl who had such a flashy face also liked flashy dresses.

I cursed Harna, whose taste was terrible despite her personality, and flopped onto the bed.

“Has it already been this long?”

Lying on the bed, I reflected on the week I had spent as Harna. I considered whether my acting had been lacking and whether I had sufficiently toned down her cruel behaviors.

Seeing that no one suspected I wasn’t really Harna made me quietly proud—my acting skills hadn’t died yet.

Lost in various thoughts, I swept back my still-unfamiliar orange hair, preparing to nap. As my eyelids grew heavy, a knock disturbed my rest.

“What is it?”

I asked irritably, annoyed at being disturbed, and the maid who entered hesitated, lips trembling.

“Duke Rertorno is here to see you.”

Who on earth would disturb my precious nap…

“What?”

I scratched my ear casually, then suddenly bolted upright like a spring, shouting.

Cardin Rertorno, my fiancé and the male lead of this world.

I quickly called for Vera, hurriedly chose a flashy dress in front of me, and headed to the reception room.

‘Stay calm.’

I tried to steady my racing heart by remembering how Harna had acted around Cardin in the novel.

She had acted innocent and pitiful in front of him. Enchanted by his handsome looks, Harna craved his love. Though she forced the engagement with Marquis Juern as a pretext to keep Cardin near, he remained cold, which made her cling to him even more.

‘I think he hasn’t met the heroine, Mei, yet.’

I was sure of this because my hair was intact.

I recalled the first meeting between Mei and Cardin in the book.

Mei, the eldest daughter of a poor count family, was invited to a royal ball. Even in a shabby dress, her beauty shone. Among the elegantly dressed ladies, Mei stood out. The villain Harna did not just watch from the sidelines.

Confident she would be the center of attention, Harna couldn’t tolerate Mei stealing the spotlight. “Accidentally,” she spilled wine on Mei’s dress, apologized, and led her to the lounge. Then, alone, Harna revealed her true self, tearing Mei’s dress.

‘She was something else.’

Harna, unable to tolerate a woman more beautiful than herself, aimed to scar Mei’s face. But Cardin, passing by, rescued the terrified Mei, covering her with his coat. He snatched the sword from Harna and, as a warning, cut her luscious hair.

‘I won’t lose my hair.’

Having grown fond of my long hair, I resolved to protect it at all costs.

‘I can’t avoid meeting the male lead today, but from now on, I must never meet him.’

I lightly touched my long hair as I arrived at the reception room. My heart pounded from the anticipation of seeing the male lead.

“Phew…”

I opened the door slowly, feigning calm.

Cardin, with his deep blue hair brushed back, waited in the reception room for Marquis Juern.

Though his aide Trin opposed him going unannounced, Cardin insisted on visiting the Juern estate. It was the only way to confront Marquis Juern, who always avoided him.

Cardin frowned slightly, recalling that Harna, his so-called fiancée, was forced into this engagement by his father.

Her reputation was terrible, and she was oblivious that her few saved appearances were thanks to Marquis Juern cleaning up after her.

Truthfully, Cardin didn’t care what Harna did. He just wanted to sever the link so people wouldn’t associate her with him.

Having already repaid the dowry and long inheriting the title himself, Cardin felt he had the right to demand a break in the engagement.

Today, he had resolved to do so.

As he waited, the reception room door opened. Cardin naturally assumed it was Marquis Juern entering—but it wasn’t.

It was Harna, wearing an outrageously sparkling dress.

Cardin’s eyes involuntarily focused on her.

‘What…?’

His face flushed and his heart raced.

‘Why is this happening?’

Cardin couldn’t take his eyes off her, feeling his consciousness blur.

“Long time no see, Duke. I apologize, but my father is away, so I’ll be welcoming you.”

“I see.”

I entered the room, taking in Cardin’s appearance.

‘No wonder Harna fell for him.’

His deep blue hair, amethyst-like purple eyes, tall stature, and broad shoulders—he was the perfect male lead.

‘Of course, a main character should look like this.’

I noticed his face turning red.

‘Is it hot in here?’

Perhaps annoyed at my staring, Cardin called my name as he approached.

“Miss Juern.”

“Yes?”

I realized I had been rude, staring at such a handsome man without greeting him.

‘That was impolite.’

Just as I prepared to apologize, Cardin knelt on one knee and extended his hand politely.

“…!”

I knew exactly what he was about to do: the classic romance fantasy gesture—kissing the back of the heroine’s hand in respect.

‘Why me?’

I placed my hand on his, unable to ignore it. As expected, his warm lips lingered on my hand.

‘This is surprisingly embarrassing.’

Though I had experienced other forms of intimacy, a hand-kiss was new to me. I wondered when to pull my hand away. Finally, the kiss ended, but Cardin didn’t let go and spoke.

“The moment I saw your face, I felt as if a goddess had descended from the heavens. Would you believe me?”

‘What nonsense is he talking?’

“Miss Juern, please allow me to call you by your name.”

Was this the same stoic male lead?

To my surprise, the normally disdainful Cardin smiled softly, asking for intimacy.

‘This is impossible!’

I smiled awkwardly, but seeing him wait for my response, I reluctantly nodded. Cardin’s face lit up as if he had won the world.

“Harna, Harna.”

After repeating my name a few times, he smiled with his eyes closed.

“I love you.”

“What?”

What did he just say?

My mind went blank from the sudden confession, and I shouted without thinking.

“Are you crazy?!”