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Chapter : 02
This time, I’ll change the male lead.
“Ugh… my stomach hurts.”
The next morning, I clutched my throbbing head and tried to recall what had happened.
How did I even get home last night?
I remembered getting drunk from the wine tasting… but after that… nothing.
—Was I even trying to have an affair?
I couldn’t recall anything that happened after that.
When I opened my eyes, I was just on the bed. Who was that man? Had I really seen a vision? Was it a dream?
Above all, those dazzling blond hair and beautiful red eyes…
They were a symbol of the sun god Sol, something so rare it appeared only once in a few hundred years in the Lucius royal family.
Currently, it was also the mark of glory held only by the third Sol, the Crown Prince, Hyperion Sol Lucius.
“Eh. No way.”
I shook my head, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
If that man had truly been Hyperion, my head would probably be displayed in the square by now.
Still, seeing him in person, maybe he really was that handsome… but it must’ve been a hallucination.
“This isn’t it.”
I pushed away the disappointing feeling. That wasn’t important right now.
Three years ago, on a certain day, I had entered the body of a woman named Kaela Veritas in the depressing novel River of Oblivion.
I had thought I was merely an extra, never imagining I’d inhabit the body of the secondary female lead.
Since I was now the secondary lead, I might as well play a proper supporting role… except she had such a minor presence she practically didn’t exist.
Probably died suddenly?
“What do I do now… sigh.”
I winced at the worsening headache. Then there was a knock at the door.
“Miss, do you have lunch plans with Marquis Karl today?”
Emma entered with a puzzled expression and asked me.
Marquis Karl was the alias of the male lead, Aaron. The same name that had shamelessly tricked me all this time.
“That guy… no, why would I meet him?”
“He’s downstairs. Waiting for you in the parlor.”
What? Is she crazy? Didn’t she remember that he dumped me last night? Or is this some sort of prank?
“You’ll go down, right? I’ll quickly fix your hair!”
Emma chattered excitedly, holding a brush, seemingly thrilled by Karl’s sudden visit.
“Every time I see the Marquis, he looks even more handsome. When he enters the mansion, it’s like he’s shining!”
And she praises the very man who dumped me without a clue.
“Enough. Tell him I’ll take care of my hair myself, and to wait.”
“Of course, Miss.”
“Emma.”
I waved her off as if telling her to leave, then called her back.
“How did I even get home last night?”
“Huh? Didn’t you return after your date with the Marquis? When I checked on you at dawn, you were sleeping soundly.”
“Really…?”
“Yes. I thought the Marquis quietly brought you home since it was late, but was I wrong?”
It was a small relief that neither my father nor brother were home—they were at a royal palace meeting…
“Time’s gone by already. The Marquis will be waiting. Get ready and go downstairs, Miss.”
“Alright. Go on now.”
As soon as Emma left, I returned to the bed.
Let him wait or not; I didn’t care. We’re strangers now, anyway.
More importantly…
“How did I even get home? There’s no way someone used magic…”
The harder I tried to recall, the more my head hurt. Maybe a few more hours of sleep would help.
“Miss!”
How much time had passed?
“Why are you still in your room?”
Emma’s eyes widened as she entered while I was fixing my hair.
“Has the Marquis left?”
“No, Miss. The lights are still on in the parlor.”
Emma shook her head furiously.
“He told me not to let anyone in except you, so I thought you were having an important discussion.”
“What?”
By now, I assumed he would have left, but apparently not.
Looking at the clock again…
“Oh my God.”
Three hours had already passed.
“Miss.”
When I opened the parlor door, Marquis Karl was sitting there.
Despite waiting for so long, he looked perfectly composed.
“Why are you here? Oh, are you planning to tell my father directly about our conversation last night?”
I sat across from him, speaking cautiously. He had promised to leave after this month, so was he saying he didn’t trust me?
“In that case, please leave. I’ll tell him myself.”
But Karl simply stared at me silently.
“What more do you want? Are you worried I’ll reveal that Marquis Karl has broken his loyalty?”
“……”
“I won’t bring that up.”
Ignoring his persistent gaze, I continued.
“Just imagine how shocked my father, who has supported the Veritas family and you all this time, would be.”
“……”
‘Why isn’t he saying anything after waiting so long?’
Anyway, I’d said what I needed to. I stood up. Even for me, seeing him face-to-face right after being dumped would be awkward.
“Then let’s make sure we never meet again.”
“Ella.”
Karl suddenly called my nickname, making me frown instinctively.
How could he casually call me Ella like nothing happened?
“How did you get home last night?”
His lips finally moved after a long silence.
“You only had your carriage last night. How did you get home?”
“What does it matter?”
“Hmm…”
Karl slowly brushed back his hair.
After three years of being engaged, I recognized that habit—it showed when his composure was shaken.
“I’m still your fiancé.”
Even his usually composed face looked annoyed.
“So of course I’d be curious how my fiancée got home in the middle of the night.”
I laughed at that.
“Ha, Marquis Karl Beit. No, Sir Aaron Anteras.”
I tried to stay calm—
“Ah, it’s been a while.”
“Greetings, Your Grace and Prince.”
Just then, my father and brother returned to the parlor.
Talk about adding insult to injury… at the worst possible time.
“I heard from the maid that you escorted our daughter home yesterday?”
“I hope you avoid keeping the lady out so late next time.”
Unlike my father, my brother’s gaze toward Karl was icy.
“Enoch, step outside for a moment. I need to speak to the two of them.”
“This is your last warning, Kaela Veritas.”
My brother shot me a cold look, then turned away.
‘Phew… at least he didn’t catch me drinking.’
Had he seen, the mansion would have been in chaos.
Since I first possessed this body until now, just before the coming-of-age ceremony, I realized the Veritas family overprotected Kaela.
Especially her brother, Enoch Veritas.
“You must understand. His personality is blunt, and he’s been in a tense meeting with the Crown Prince, so he’s in a bad mood.”
My father smiled warmly and patted Karl’s shoulder.
“I’ll thank you for yesterday on his behalf. Haha.”
At that, Karl and I locked eyes.
Of course, my father and Emma assumed Karl had escorted me home.
Impossible. I left the restaurant under my own two feet yesterday.
“No, Father. I merely did what I had to do.”
Surprisingly, Karl answered with a calm smile.
‘The nerve of this man.’
I looked at him incredulously. Not only did he lie so casually, but he even called me “Father?”
“Ah, sorry to interrupt your conversation. Ella.”
“Yes, Father.”
I quickly composed my expression as the Duke looked at me.
“Do you have a personal acquaintance with the Crown Prince?”
“W-what? No, of course not!”
The Crown Prince…? Why me?
Hearing that name made my heart sink and I waved my hands frantically.
In noble society, the circles were so small we knew of each other, but we had no personal connection.
“Wait and see. It’s a letter from the Crown Prince himself; we can’t entrust it to the servants.”
But my father left the parlor, leaving me with that cryptic remark.
A letter from the Crown Prince… for me?
What kind of terrible news is this?
