Chapter 1

The night was dark.

Inside the Glorium Hall of Crown Prince Kairus’s palace, magnificent chandeliers blazed so brightly that it seemed like broad daylight. A lavish celebration was underway for Princess Elena’s birthday, filling the hall with music, laughter, and glittering nobility.

Meanwhile, far from the festivities, an eerie silence hung over the lakeside garden of a detached palace. Few people ever came here, and the darkness seemed to swallow every sound.

“Hehehe…”

Hidden away in an inconspicuous corner, a young woman secretly pulled something out of her pocket.

Squatting down, she rapidly tapped her fingers across the screen and left a comment beneath an online post.

Title: Seriously, has anyone seen this latest fancam?

He already looks amazing in a regular suit, but showing up in a three-piece suit—leather, no less? Was he trying to kill me?

Fine. I’ll die.

This is my grave now.

●▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇

└ Anonymous1: Mind if I lie down in the spot next to you? ●▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇

└ Anonymous2: Same. x333333

└ Anonymous3: Huh? It’s not that bad. Maybe because I’ve already replayed it 127,840,323 times lol

└ Anonymous2: Aren’t your eyes hurting? LOL At that point you’d get dry eye syndrome.

└ Anonymous3: Nah, it’s fine. Haeyoon’s face is my eye drops. ^^

└ Anonymous4: You’re insane. LOL

└ Anonymous3: Videos like this should honestly be shown on the news.

“Haeyoon, your face is a masterpiece. A natural wonder. Sigh… How can someone be this handsome?”

The glow from the smartphone illuminated her face, which had been hidden by the darkness.

Despite the somewhat suspicious grin stretching across her lips, her hazel eyes sparkled with life.

Then a new notification appeared on the screen.

『 Monthly Internet Communication Fee: 5,000,000 Crona has been deducted. 』

“What?! Why don’t you just suck me dry down to the bone, you money-hungry system!”

Still, what could she do?

Seeing her precious Haeyoon was worth the cost.

With the expression of someone who had long since accepted her fate, she carefully tucked the smartphone into the pocket of her apron.

Ever since she had acquired the mysterious object called a smartphone from a suspicious man one day, Isabella’s dull and uneventful life had completely changed.

A light had appeared in her dark, lonely world.

And that light was none other than Haeyoon, a member of South Korea’s greatest male idol group.

“One, two, three! We are! The Venus! Hello, I’m Haeyoon, leader of Venus.”

And perhaps her desperate wish to see her favorite idol in person had been answered.

A dimensional travel system had suddenly appeared.

If she completed the missions it assigned and paid a certain dimensional travel fee, it would send her to South Korea—the world where Haeyoon lived.

Earn money quietly.

Complete the missions.

Then travel to South Korea and meet Haeyoon.

That simple yet ambitious dream had become Isabella’s driving goal.

After a brief but blissful break spent admiring her idol, she happily got back to work, eager to complete her mission successfully.

Unfortunately, she would soon come to regret that decision.

When Isabella entered the detached palace to fetch some extra chairs, she stumbled upon a horrifying scene.

Of all the possibilities in the world, what were the chances that the detached palace she happened to visit would be the exact place where the Crown Prince was killing a group of assassins?

Should I run?

Or pretend I didn’t see anything?

Neither option seemed promising.

But if she stayed, she might become entangled with the Crown Prince—a situation she desperately wanted to avoid.

“What is your name?”

“S-Selly Brown, Your Highness.”

Since she had entered the Imperial Palace under a false identity anyway, Isabella intended to tell a quick lie and escape.

At that very moment—

A sword flashed through the air.

The assassin who had been sneaking up behind her collapsed instantly, his throat severed in a single strike.

As blood splattered across the floor, a bright smile suddenly appeared on the Crown Prince’s face.

His orange eyes gleamed.

“I don’t particularly like liars.”

Unlike the relaxed Kairus, Isabella felt her entire body freeze.

“Why do I have the feeling you’re lying to me?”

Of all people…

She had been caught red-handed by none other than Crown Prince Kairus himself.

Will I still be able to make it safely to South Korea and see Haeyoon…?

* * *

Isabella Redia

From childhood, she had been somewhat famous.

The reason was simple.

She was the fiancée of Ikanuel Laselles, the future Duke of Laselles.

Isabella wasn’t particularly flawed.

Nor was she exceptionally talented.

Yet a certain nickname followed her everywhere.

The pitiful Cinderella whom even her future in-laws looked down upon.

People despised her because of the enormous difference between their families and because they believed she lacked the qualifications to become the duchy’s future mistress.

If someone asked why such an incredible engagement had been arranged in the first place, the answer was almost laughably simple.

It was one of those promises old friends sometimes make.

“If we both have children someday—a son and a daughter—let’s make them family.”

Most people would have treasured it as a fond memory.

The heads of the two families had taken it seriously.

Their grandfathers believed the two children, born only two years apart, would make a wonderful match.

They were half right.

And half wrong.

Because while the engagement had begun as little more than a promise, Isabella’s feelings had become completely genuine.

In other words—

For ten long years, Isabella had been hopelessly in love with the most admired man in the Empire: Ikanuel Laselles.

Her one-sided love was the only thing that kept her going.

But ten years of criticism and prejudice gradually transformed the bright and kind-hearted girl she once was.

No matter what she did, people judged her.

As time passed, she became increasingly cautious.

Increasingly timid.

Just a little affection.

Just a little attention.

Why had she wanted those things so badly?

Only after her heart had been torn to shreds did Isabella finally realize the cruel truth.

No matter how hard she tried, the cold and distant Ikanuel would never look at her.

No matter how desperately she struggled, their relationship resembled two parallel lines that would never meet.

The thought of ending their engagement had begun years ago.

More precisely, three years earlier.

Back when she had been a first-year student at the Academy.

One spring afternoon, warm breezes brushed against her cheeks as she walked across campus.

By chance, she spotted Ikanuel near the library.

Her face immediately brightened.

“Ikanuel Oppa!”

She greeted him with a smile as warm as sunshine.

What returned was ice.

“I believe we agreed not to address each other personally inside the Academy, Junior Redia.”

He was usually reserved, but today his voice carried an unusually sharp edge.

Isabella flinched.

“But—”

“I hope you didn’t enroll here simply to find opportunities to go on dates with me.”

Her eyes widened.

That wasn’t true.

Not even remotely.

She had worked hard and taken the entrance examination herself.

She wanted to explain.

To correct the misunderstanding immediately.

Yet her lips refused to move.

“You know better than anyone how your actions affect my reputation.”

“Ikanuel— no, Senior Laselles.”

“Did you enroll here just to continue bothering me?”

Every word felt like a thorn.

The excitement that had filled her moments ago vanished, replaced by burning humiliation.

Without giving her any chance to explain, he simply walked away.

I should have been more careful.

Left standing alone, Isabella became acutely aware of the stares surrounding her.

She felt unbearably embarrassed.

Because she had failed to control her feelings, she had ended up troubling Ikanuel.

At that moment, the rumors circulating throughout high society became reality.

Their relationship existed only because of one person’s unrequited love.

Hers.

Be the perfect fiancée.

Never inconvenience him.

Everything felt like her fault.

After that day, another set of invisible chains wrapped themselves around her.

Throughout her Academy life, Isabella remained constantly on edge.

“Is that her? The duke family’s Cinderella?”

“I bet the Laselles family pulled strings to get her admitted.”

“Seriously? If she had any shame, she wouldn’t have come.”

The whispers never stopped.

But Isabella endured them.

Even seeing her beloved fiancé from afar was enough.

Surely Ikanuel’s cold attitude stemmed from the ridiculous rumors surrounding her.

She had to believe that.

Otherwise, the pain would be unbearable.

“Senior Laselles. If you’re available, would you like to have lunch together today?”

“I’m participating in a student council meeting. I must decline.”

“Ah… I understand. I’m sorry.”

“Then excuse me.”

As more people witnessed Ikanuel’s indifferent treatment of his fiancée, Isabella became an easy target within the Academy.

All she could do was study.

Study relentlessly.

If she couldn’t match the Academy’s top student, she could at least remain among the top ten.

If she failed to prove herself, the rumors surrounding her would continue growing.

And any flaw of hers would inevitably reflect on Ikanuel’s reputation.

Fortunately, her remarkable talent in linguistics and magical studies eventually silenced the accusations of favoritism and fraudulent admission.

Yet despite all her efforts, Ikanuel only grew colder.

And Isabella only grew more timid.

Before she knew it, winter had arrived.

Sharp winds cut against her skin.

Through tireless dedication, Isabella had achieved such excellent academic results that she was invited to the year-end academic symposium hosted by the Academy Headmaster.

Maybe this time… Ikanuel will finally understand how sincere I am.

Just like her Academy admission, this achievement was entirely her own.

Ikanuel, who consistently ranked first in every year, would also be attending the symposium.

And so, for the first time in a long while—

She resolved to speak with him properly.