THJDM 02

Chapter 2

During the Founding Festival party, a monster suddenly appears, putting Rubiana in danger.

A spirit manifests before her, and by forming a contract, Rubiana becomes a true spirit wielder and narrowly escapes the crisis.

It was the exact scene she had played over and over again in her head these past few days.

That was why she thought she would be able to face it calmly, without panic.
But reality proved otherwise.

The murderous aura radiating from the monster suffocated her.

Having fully emerged through a tear in the void, the beast stalked closer to Rubiana as though sizing up its prey.

She stumbled backward, clenching her teeth tightly.

…It’s okay. I’ll be fine. The spirit will show up any second now. I won’t die.

The spirit would come to help her. Then she would finally become a spirit wielder!

Her eyes darted anxiously around, but there was no sign of the spirit.

“Ugh!”

Her legs gave out and tangled, sending her collapsing onto the ground.

If you’re going to appear anyway, can’t you just hurry up already? Please, spirit!

Her mouth was parched with tension.

Her trembling legs refused to move, leaving her unable to stand.

So she pushed herself backward with desperate scoots.

But something blocked her retreat. She couldn’t move any further.

That was when the monster, having finished its stalk, lunged toward her with greater speed.

Am I… going to die like this? I thought I had finally become the heroine… but I’m just going to die like this? No, this can’t be happening…

The monster’s gaping maw rushed toward her feet.

I’m really going to die!

Seeing its teeth so close, Rubiana gave up and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Graaaah—! Guhk!”

A horrible scream rang out.

But no pain followed.

Did I… survive?

She cracked her eyes open.

The grotesque beast was no longer a living creature.

Shattered pieces of its body twitched and writhed across the floor. Relief that she was alive mixed with an overwhelming wave of nausea.

She forced herself to take deep breaths, unwilling to ruin her beautiful dress with vomit.

“Are you all right?”

A man suddenly appeared, reaching a hand out to her.

Rubiana blinked up at him, dazed.

It was the same man she had glimpsed earlier—black hair, blue eyes.

The moment their gazes met again, a chill ran down her spine.

Did he… defeat the monster? But something about him… feels wrong.

Still seated on the floor, she watched him stretch his hand closer.

“Are you hurt? Can you stand?”

“Ah…”

She hesitated, staring at his hand.

She didn’t want to get involved with a man who might very well be the mastermind.

Especially not now—before meeting the male lead, before forming her spirit contract.

“Your Grace! Are you unharmed? Monsters in the imperial palace—impossible!”

Another man rushed up.

And Rubiana heard it clearly. He called the stranger Your Grace the Duke.

There was only one duke in the empire.

The emperor’s half-brother…

Elion Klitzman, the Duke. The hidden villain of this novel! Ahh… why is it that bad premonitions are never wrong?! Why is the villain showing up now?!

Her heart pounded wildly at the sight of the very man she never wanted to meet.

“Fred, summon the guards to remove the corpse. And check whether the palace barrier has been tampered with.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

At Elion’s command, the man named Fred hurried away.

Taking advantage of the brief distraction, Rubiana scrambled to her feet.

Her ankle throbbed, but she ignored it.

The only thing that mattered was escaping this place as fast as possible.

“Your Grace, you saved my life. I am deeply grateful. I will never forget this debt—truly, I swear it. Then… please enjoy the rest of the evening.”

She bowed deeply, rattling off her thanks in one breath, then immediately spun around without daring another glance.

Watching her flee after saying only what she wished, Elion let out a short, incredulous laugh.

He awkwardly lowered the hand he had been holding out. A faint crease marred his brow.

Despite her words of gratitude, he didn’t feel pleased.

She had fled from him as if running from a monster. As if he really were one.

Well… perhaps I am.

He knew well the names whispered about him: warmonger, butcher.

A humorless chuckle escaped his lips.

It didn’t matter. They would never cross paths again.

Turning away without regret, Elion walked back toward the ballroom.

No matter how much he loathed parties, he had to at least make an appearance.

Just then, as the cheerful music from the hall grew louder, a sharp pain stabbed through his head.

“…Again?”

For the past year, he had been plagued by low fevers and headaches, worsening of late.

The doctor’s medicines hardly helped.

He pressed his throbbing head, thinking he would have to stop by the Temple of Substitution after the party, before returning to his estate.

Even inside the ballroom, Rubiana’s heart still raced.

Ah… that was too close. In the original story, the heroine only meets the villainous duke after becoming a spirit wielder, when she joins the Imperial Knights. Why did we meet already?

She had only gone out for some fresh air. Who could have guessed the story would twist this much? But she couldn’t let the plot derail completely.

Intent on avoiding Elion again, she began walking toward a quiet corner.

Then her eyes caught someone.

Golden hair that gleamed like sunlight. Emerald eyes like deep summer forests.

Taller than most by a head, with broad, powerful shoulders.

His whole presence radiated like a prowling beast—but his smile was as sweet as cotton candy.

Rubiana’s eyes widened.

It’s him! The male lead—Chad!

As if drawn by a magnet, the man’s gaze turned to her.

Recognizing her, he strode closer.

“Rubiana? Is that you, Rubiana Payson?”

She looked up at the tall man calling her name.

That rich, low voice—how could it sound so intoxicating?

“It’s been a while, Rubiana. Have you been well?”

It was her turn to answer, but her mind was too clouded.

Meeting the male lead she had dreamed of felt like floating on clouds.

“It’s me. Chad. Chad Preston. Don’t you remember? We used to play together as kids.”

Now right in front of her, Chad looked down at the dazed Rubiana and asked again.

Of course I knew it was you. I recognized you instantly.

Her lips slowly parted.

“…Hello, Chad.”

Whispering his name, her heart swelled with emotion.

The panic of meeting the villain before forming her spirit contract seemed forgotten.

Chad… You’re my destiny. Finally… the original story is beginning.

But her joy didn’t last.

A searing pain suddenly tore through her abdomen.

“Ugh—ahhh!”

It felt as though her insides were melting.

She clutched her stomach.

Hot liquid surged up her throat and spilled from her mouth.

Blood.

“Ah… no…”

Her strength drained as though her very life were flowing out.

She stared in horror at the red pooling in her palms.

Her elegant dress stained scarlet.

So much blood… gods, it hurts… it hurts so much…

The pain only grew fiercer.

She squeezed her stomach harder.

Am I going to die like this? I thought I was finally becoming the heroine… finally dreaming of a happy life…

Was heaven so merciless?

Her body, drained of strength, pitched forward.

“Rubiana! Are you all right? Stay with me, Rubiana!”

“My lady, what in the world—!”

Strong arms caught her around the waist, sparing her from collapsing to the ground. But her consciousness was fading.

This warmth… it must be Chad, right?

Even in her haze, she felt it clearly—the hand at her waist was warm, gentle.

My body’s so heavy… it hurts… it shouldn’t hurt this much…

Her consciousness flickered.

In the darkening view, the last face she saw was… Duke Elion Klitzman’s.

He looked down at her with a furrowed brow, his expression icy. Yet—was that a fleeting trace of pity in his gaze?

Why… why isn’t it Chad holding me? Why are the villain’s arms so warm? Why did Elion show up now…

And then Rubiana’s awareness was cut off completely.