🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 31
I Will Change the Male Lead This Time
Even as I looked at Karl with my own eyes, I couldn’t believe it.
That we would run into each other here, of all places.
“Why are you here? Are you seriously out of your mind?”
“Let’s talk.”
Karl bit his lip lightly, as if frustrated.
“Be honest. Were you following me?”
“I just wanted to talk.”
“What could we possibly still have to talk about? You already got the outcome you wanted anyway.”
My head was boiling, but I forced myself to stay calm. Getting emotional here would only mean falling right into his trap.
Trap?
Come to think of it…
I came here because of Madam Leita’s letter.
Karl hadn’t stolen the letter or read it—so how did he know I’d be here?
“I really did want to see you.”
He ran a hand irritably through his dark brown hair.
“There were a lot of things I wanted to say. But for today, at least…”
After hesitating, Karl let out a quiet sigh.
“The Imperial Palace is a dangerous place. Be careful. Don’t trust just anyone so naively.”
“Haha, that’s funny.”
I laughed reflexively.
“After being betrayed by my fiancé of three years, do you really think I wouldn’t know that much?”
It was ridiculous—who was he to worry about me?
“You seem to forget, but you and I are no longer in a position to share concerns like that.”
“……”
Because it was dark, I couldn’t clearly see his expression. I could only sense his elegant brows furrowing.
“So let’s hope we never run into each other like this again.”
Leaving him standing there blankly, I turned away.
Who planned this, exactly?
I quickly organized my thoughts.
This meeting had clearly been orchestrated by someone.
Who? And for what purpose? Did Countess Leita really send that letter?
No. Someone must have forged it while pretending to be her.
Madam Leita wasn’t a fool. No noble would stake their family name—something more precious than life itself—on such a childish stunt.
More than that, she had no reason to go this far just to make Karl and me meet.
— I have something to deliver. A servant of Countess Leita left this letter.
— I’ll be sure to repay this kindness.
The most suspicious person was Lina.
But this was far beyond what a single maid could pull off.
Which meant someone else had instructed her.
“Watch out, Kaella!”
That was when it happened.
“What—what is this?”
Suddenly, my vision flashed white.
In an instant, flames burst out in a vivid red glow, and I hurriedly stepped back.
“What are you doing now?!”
“Damn it! Looks like sparks spread from the brazier.”
He pointed to the large brazier in the center of the tower. Fed by the wind, the flames grew rapidly, writhing violently.
“It’s dangerous—come here!”
Karl grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him.
“Let go.”
I shook his hand off immediately.
“We need to get out now. If the fire spreads any further, the exit will be blocked.”
“Don’t be stubborn. It’ll be faster to wait until people come to rescue us!”
“Do you think I’m insane enough to stay here alone with you? Do whatever you want. I’m leaving now.”
“Kaella Veritas!”
But I couldn’t move anymore. While we were arguing, the flames had grown too large—dangerously so.
This is insane. Seriously.
Surrounded by fire, even the air burned red-hot.
“You’re going to walk straight through the flames? There’s no choice but to wait here until people arrive.”
Gripping my wrist tightly, Karl dragged me toward a railing untouched by the flames.
Just as he said, with fire soaring and the sky glowing crimson, there was no visible escape route.
Running into Karl wasn’t bad enough—now a fire too? What kind of rotten coincidence was this?
Something’s off.
As I stared carefully at the raging flames, I tilted my head.
They looked like they were dying down—then flared violently again every time I moved.
It’s not following the wind… it’s following me.
I turned to Karl.
“Karl. Who told you to come here?”
“……”
“Who told you I’d be here?”
“……That’s—”
“Answer me. That person is the one who planned all of this.”
“Planned what?”
His shameless denial pushed my patience to its limit.
“That’s your misunderstanding—”
“Stop spouting nonsense and answer me.”
“……!”
Karl’s eyes widened.
Flames flickered in his pupils. I couldn’t tell whether I was seeing my reflection or the fire soaring behind me.
“Do you think I’m naive? Aren’t you the naive one?”
I stepped closer, pressing him.
“Kaella…”
Our gazes tangled at close range, and he trailed off, unable to look away.
I’d always maintained a gentle image for appearance’s sake—no wonder this side of me unsettled him.
“Instead of worrying about me, why don’t you worry about that person who shoved you into this fire pit and doesn’t care if you burn to death?”
My eyes grew colder as I stared at his stupid face.
“Or are you an accomplice too?”
“……!”
As if struck in a weak spot, Karl clenched his teeth.
If Karl is an accomplice too… then even this fire show was planned?
That’s right—if the fire were real, the smoke should make it hard to breathe or talk by now. But it didn’t.
I deliberately took a deep breath.
As expected, the air wasn’t hot or acrid at all.
What is this—some kind of virtual reality?
“…Virtual reality?”
The moment that thought struck me, I reached my hand straight into the flames.
“Kaella, what are you doing?!”
Karl shouted in panic.
So it really is fake.
My hand sliced through the fire with a whoosh, grabbing nothing but empty air.
“I’m going down through the emergency exit.”
Now that I knew the flames were an illusion, there was nothing to fear.
None of this was real—it was all just an illusion meant to frighten me.
There was only one thing that mattered now.
Who was behind this?
And why?
“Kaella Veritas!”
Karl suddenly grabbed my shoulder hard and snapped.
“Are you insane?! I told you we just need to stay here until people come—why won’t you listen for once?!”
Was this man truly crazy? If he couldn’t help, he could at least stop interfering.
Whether he’d lost his composure under pressure or was panicking because things weren’t going according to plan, Karl looked unusually desperate.
“Can’t you just accept my help—just this once? Can’t you trust me?!”
“Ah… I see.”
My eyes twisted coldly as I looked at him.
I’d already realized he was part of this farce—but I hadn’t expected him to be involved even in this ridiculous fire spectacle.
“So you really are an accomplice.”
“……!”
At my icy voice, his lips trembled.
“Kaella—no, it’s not like that! Just give me a chance to explain!”
“Explain?”
I let out a hollow laugh.
Reflected clearly in his eyes was my face—frozen with contempt, hatred, and disgust.
“I’ll remember today exactly as you wished.”
“……”
“I finally saw it with my own eyes—just how low you really are.”
“Kaella, don’t go!”
I wanted to spit at him—but he wasn’t worth even that.
“Just listen to me!”
The moment I turned away without hesitation—
“Ah…!”
A sudden force grabbed me and shoved me violently toward the railing.
“Oh my god—no!”
My legs lifted into the air, my body going limp in an instant.
“Damn it, Kaella!”
The last thing I saw was Karl’s face, twisted in horror—
—and then him jumping after me without hesitation.
“She’s—someone’s falling from the tower!”
“Aaaah! What do we do?!”
My body sliced through the steep wind with a shrill whistle.
Everything felt slow and blurred, yet painfully clear—as if time itself had slowed.
Am I dying? Like this? So unfairly?
I was falling.
— Karl! How could you do this to me…
— I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Kaella.
— But you’ll have to die—for my sake.
With my dulling consciousness, unfamiliar memories tangled together.
They say your whole life flashes before your eyes before death…
Were these the memories of the real Kaella Veritas?
KABOOM—!
“A-Are you all right?!”
“Commander of the Holy Knights!”
I felt my body rebound violently after hitting something.
Where am I? Am I dead?
And why does everything feel so bouncy and soft—like a rubber ball?
“Marquis! Are you unharmed?! Thank goodness a magic circle was installed at the temple—we were shocked when we saw you fall from the tower!”
“And the woman with you—wait, Lady Veritas?!”
Amid the sudden commotion, I barely managed to open my eyes.
A brilliant light surrounded me, and the gathered crowd came into focus.
“Lady Veritas, are you all right?”
“My lady, how could this happen?!”
Through the crowd, I saw Phoebe with worried eyes—and Lina, covering her mouth in shock.
“You said you were stepping out for something… why are you here… and with Marquis Karl Bate at that…”
Lina murmured, hands pressed to her lips.
“Oh my, she’s right. The two of you broke off your engagement recently—why would you be together at this hour, alone in the tower…”
“Watch your words, madam. How improper.”
People stirred and whispered at Lina’s insinuation.
“Karl, are you all right? Thank goodness there’s a magic circle at the temple. That was terrifying.”
“Saintess, I’m fine. I was worried Lady Veritas might have been frightened.”
Oh? Really now?
Despite Lina’s suggestive nonsense and Phoebe’s questioning, Karl offered no explanation at all.
“Everyone, be careful with your words. If news of this spreads outside the temple, I worry the two of you may be misunderstood.”
“Yes, Saintess.”
Phoebe’s tone was magnanimous—as if she’d caught an affair and generously decided to overlook it.
Now I get it.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Reviewing the situation—and Karl’s words—it all became clear.
— We have no choice but to wait here until people come.
— We just need to stay until people arrive—why won’t you listen?!
The goal was simple.
To show everyone Karl and me together.
“Lina, help Lady Veritas.”
Phoebe reached out her hand to me.
“You must be shaken by such an unfortunate incident. Go inside and rest. I’ll explain everything to Hyperion—”
“No, Saintess. There was nothing unfortunate about this.”
I stood up on my own, ignoring her hand.
“I came to the tower because I received a letter from Madam Leita. But…”
Though my body ached all over, my mind had never been clearer.
“I truly don’t know how the Marquis knew I’d be here and followed me.”
I smiled gently at Lina and the Saintess.
“As if someone told him in advance that I’d definitely come.”
Well then.
Shall we begin the real play now?
