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CHAPTER 15
Radian stared at Michael as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. A prince? Why would a prince be acting as a spy here? It was hard to understand, but Michael didn’t seem to be lying. His eyes—deep like an unfathomable lake—glimmered with something cruel.
If she refused him, Michael would likely kill her. She had already revealed too much to him. Radian now had only two choices. Whether he was a prince or not didn’t matter much anymore.
Exile or death.
After a long hesitation, Radian spoke.
“No. I won’t go.”
“May I ask why?”
“Because I can’t kill my people twice.”
Michael, still seated, looked up at her slightly as if he couldn’t understand. Radian spoke with firm resolve.
“…I’m a regressor. I came back from a future two years ahead.”
Afraid he might look at her like she was insane, Radian lowered her head and continued.
“In the future two years from now, just before the capital of Cria was occupied by the As Kingdom, I was killed by my husband and his friend. In my previous life, I gave up the Barony of Scanan, convincing myself there was nothing I could do. But not anymore. This time, I’ll fight until the end.”
“Who did you make a contract with?”
Radian was the one surprised this time. She hadn’t even mentioned that she had made a contract, yet he had already figured it out.
“Beelzebuth.”
“The Demon King of the western forest. So that’s why I sensed faint demonic energy… sigh.”
“You know him?”
“I do. What do you think the As Kingdom worships? The goddess of abundance and love, Vasana?”
“Ah… right. A demon god. You worship a demon god.”
“Yes. Exactly. That’s why we know far more about demons and related matters than other countries. But I thought reincarnation was just something from old records… a contract with a demon… what did you offer?”
“What else could I offer? The only thing I had back then.”
At that moment, Michael’s atmosphere darkened. With his long eyelashes lowered, he looked strangely somber.
“You offered your life.”
The mood felt like something that needed comforting, so Radian gently patted his head again. This time, Michael did not refuse. He quietly accepted her touch, lost in thought.
“How long is your life contract valid?”
“Two years.”
At a deep sigh, Radian gave a faint smile.
“The ground’s going to collapse.”
“Why don’t you come with me and enjoy wealth and honor?”
“That’s a tempting offer, but I’ll refuse. I actually have a proposal too.”
“You’re only making proposals without accepting mine.”
“Do you have a lot you need to do immediately after returning?”
“Not particularly, but I should at least report in.”
“Then… after you return—come back and…”
Radian swallowed hard.
The moment she said this, there would be no turning back. But ever since she had seen Michael, she had already been thinking it—he was suitable.
“Will you marry me?”
Michael’s face filled with shock. This man, who rarely showed surprise, was now visibly shaken. Radian felt a subtle sense of victory.
“M-Marry?”
“Yes. A political marriage.”
“May I ask why you reached that conclusion?”
“There’s no special reason. My dream is to bring down this ducal house. But I can’t do it here. So I’ll divorce you in three months and return to my territory.”
“You plan to strengthen your power there?”
“Yes. In a world where women are looked down upon alone, I’ll take in a consort and start business. Since I know the future two years ahead, most of it will succeed. I’ll earn money, build enough forces to protect my people from monsters, and gradually gain influence. Then I’ll do everything I can to bring down the ducal house in two years. And I’ll prevent the war.”
“Isn’t it like hitting a rock with an egg to accomplish that in just two years as a baron?”
“Maybe. Still, I’ll do it. I’m confident.”
In truth, she wasn’t. Not at all.
What did she really have? Nothing.
In her previous life, she had isolated herself, never attending social gatherings unless guests came to the ducal house, and died without even keeping up with the news. But Radian had to convince Michael.
“What would I gain as your consort?”
“A military force strong enough to bring down the ducal house, authority so no one can treat you lightly, and a territory that will become a golden goose in two years—all of it will be yours.”
“If you gain that… it’s possible you might invade the As Kingdom to win the war.”
“I’ll do my best to prevent the war. But if it happens anyway, I’d rather let the As army enter without bloodshed. I’d like your help then. I won’t be there. I’ll even sign a contract if you want.”
Michael only gave a bitter smile and said nothing. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully.
“I don’t understand why you’re saying this. What made you think I would help?”
“I thought… you had feelings for me.”
At Radian’s absurd remark, Michael’s blue eyes widened. A flicker of confusion passed through his bright gaze. Radian scratched her head with an embarrassed smile.
“Why would you think that?”
“I only suspected it earlier. But when you took out that artifact, I became sure. When you saved me in the duke’s office—you weren’t there, yet you teleported to save me, right? People don’t usually go that far for a stranger. And you said you knew me. Considering you even saved me, I assumed you must have had some interest.”
Isn’t that right?
Radian smiled brightly, but Michael looked taken aback. He averted his gaze, then muttered something about it being late and that he would consider her proposal before disappearing.
Radian exhaled in relief as she looked at the empty space where he had been.
She didn’t care whether Michael’s interest was affection, lust, or simple pity.
She didn’t love him.
She only needed his help.
A consort didn’t need to be a powerful noble, and even a commoner could be hired with money. But still—why not choose someone better? Smart, a high-ranking mage, and handsome men like him weren’t common.
Radian dreamed of Korea after a long time.
She was visiting a sheep farm in Daegwallyeong with her parents. Feeding cute sheep… and eating lamb skewers below the hill. A scene of eat and be eaten(?) unfolded before her eyes. Even though she knew it was a dream, she watched peacefully.
Little Lee Su was asleep in her father’s back.
“Lee Su, Lee Su. Look over there.”
“Uhh… dad? Huh, what is that?”
“That’s called a wind power generator. It looks like a giant fan, right?”
“If I get close, I feel like those pointy things will stab me. Dad! Don’t go!”
Terrified, little Lee Su burst into tears as her father ran toward it. Only after receiving a sharp glare from his wife did he stop and apologize.
“Sorry, sorry, Lee Su. You’re just too cute.”
“You’re stupid! A big dummy!”
“Yeah, that’s right. Lee Su is smart, and Dad is a dummy.”
“No! Not a dummy! Dad is smart! I was wrong…”
They laughed brightly and hugged their precious child.
Radian watched them from behind, unable to reach them.
She wanted to go, but couldn’t move. She wanted to call out, but no voice came.
As they grew farther away, she started running toward them.
She ran and fell, ran and fell…
Rolling into a pit, she finally woke from the dream.
The familiar ceiling came into view, and a sigh escaped her lips.
“Dad… Mom…”
When she closed her eyes again, tears rolled down her temples into her ears.
“Oh… I was crying.”
Wiping her tears, she closed her eyes again and thought of the dream.
Earlier it had been vivid, but now her parents’ faces were fading.
Am I forgetting them?
She sighed, then suddenly opened her eyes.
She rushed to her desk and quickly began writing something on paper.
With precise hands, she drew circles and straight lines. After writing, crumpling, and tearing multiple sheets, she finally placed one surviving page into an envelope and sealed it with wax.
“Wendy!”
She called for the maid she was most familiar with—but there was no answer.
Radian was alone in the room.
She looked around, then remembered—it was the servants’ day off. She had given them three days of leave the night before.
She found a basin of water Wendy had left, poured it in, and began washing her face.
In less than thirty minutes, she was ready. She abruptly opened the door and left.
The room fell silent again.
“We have arrived at the metal workshop, madam.”
“Thank you. You said it was 70 bronze coins, correct?”
Radian handed over a prepared silver coin to the coachman.
The driver rummaged through his pockets, then shrugged.
“I’m sorry, madam, but I don’t have change.”
Radian looked at him in disbelief as she heard the jingling coins from earlier rides.
Smiling faintly, the coachman held out his hand, clearly expecting her to give everything.
Ordinarily, noblewomen traveling with servants wouldn’t be treated this way, but Radian’s simple clothes and bare face made her an easy target.
He assumed she was likely just the wife of a knight.
Radian smiled brightly.
“How kind of you. Then I gratefully accept your kindness.”
Without paying a single coin, she quickly opened the carriage door and got out.
The coachman stood stunned for a moment, then suddenly ran after her.
Radian walked calmly down the street in a neat navy dress that fell below her calves, unbothered by anyone.
“Hey! Madam! Hey!”
The coachman abandoned the carriage and chased after her.
Just as his rough hand was about to grab Radian’s shoulder—someone suddenly wrapped around her and shoved the coachman away.
