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Chapter 6
It’s Difficult Dealing with the Obsessive Male Leads of a Tragic Novel
“Then… could this situation have actually happened in the original story?”
The thought suddenly made everything click.
That Ariadne… she wasn’t me. She was the real Ariadne—the one who had existed before I possessed her body.
“Julietta, are you making fun of me right now? Because of you, my fiancé broke off our engagement, and I’ve become the laughingstock of high society!”
The moment I heard Ariadne’s next words, my suspicion was confirmed.
Just as I thought.
This was a scene from the original novel—specifically, the period after Geoffrey had broken off his engagement with Ariadne, when she had become the most bitter and vicious.
Ariadne glared at Julietta, her face twisted with fury.
Then she let out a dry, disbelieving laugh.
“And you… not only did you seduce Young Master Douglas, but even Duke Callisto and the High Priest? That’s impressive! I thought you were nothing more than my companion and friend, but who knew you had such remarkable talent?”
“…”
“I’m sure my mother, who took in an orphan like you, would be so happy if she knew! Ah, perhaps she’s already watching from heaven. Watching how her daughter’s companion was the reason her own daughter was abandoned after her engagement was broken!”
“…”
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Say something! If you have a mouth, then at least try to defend yourself!”
Ariadne grabbed Julietta by the shoulders and shook her violently.
Honestly…
From Ariadne’s point of view, it was understandable why she was furious.
She had done nothing wrong, yet her fiancé had suddenly broken off their engagement overnight.
Anyone would lose their temper in that situation.
But she’s directing her anger at the wrong person.
The one Ariadne should have been angry at was Geoffrey, not Julietta.
And Julietta was just another victim.
How miserable must she have been to eventually destroy the Empire…?
I understood those feelings all too well.
As I silently nodded to myself, Julietta finally spoke.
I perked up my ears and listened carefully.
“…Aria… I never wanted any of this.”
Her voice sounded utterly exhausted.
She slowly raised her hollow eyes and looked at Ariadne.
“This… isn’t what I wanted. I only…”
“…”
“I just…”
“…wanted you…”
“…not to hate me.”
The moment those words faded away—
I opened my eyes.
…What? Was that… a dream?
Only after seeing the familiar ceiling did I realize I’d been dreaming.
I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and slowly sat up.
It was only a dream… so why does it feel so unsettling?
My chest had felt heavy ever since.
My emotions were in turmoil, as though I had personally experienced everything I’d just witnessed.
Maybe it was because the dream had been so vivid…
I gulped down a glass of cold water before finally regaining my composure.
Then I pulled the bell cord to summon Sophia.
“Miss, you’re awake?”
Sophia entered carrying a basin of water for washing.
After she helped me freshen up and get dressed, I headed straight for Julietta’s room.
The Julietta I’d seen in my dream wouldn’t leave my mind.
She looked completely worn out… Julietta…
Seeing the usually cheerful and optimistic Julietta looking like that made my heart ache.
So I began thinking about what I could do for her right now.
Honestly… if the male leads would just stop falling in love with Julietta, everything would be solved.
Then they would never become obsessed with her.
Julietta would never lose control.
The Fertian Empire wouldn’t be destroyed.
And maybe…
Just maybe…
I could finally escape this endless cycle of regression.
Right.
Then I’ll just have to try every method I can think of.
Looking at the beauty supplies in my hands, I smiled.
“Julietta, do you have a moment?”
Before I knew it, I’d arrived outside her room.
I knocked on the door.
Julietta was an early riser, so I was sure she’d already be awake.
“A-Aria! Of course!”
Just as I’d expected.
The door swung open, and Julietta welcomed me with a bright smile.
“Aria, what’s wrong?”
“Ah… it’s nothing serious. There’s just something I want to check.”
“I see. What’s in the basket you’re holding?”
She pointed at the basket full of beauty products.
“Oh, this?”
I chuckled.
“It’s nothing.”
Nothing much.
Just a secret weapon that might save the Empire from destruction.
“Hm? Really?”
Julietta tilted her head curiously.
Then she smiled warmly and ushered me inside.
“Come in, Aria!”
“Mm. Thanks.”
Thanks to that, I entered Julietta’s room for the first time in this timeline.
I quietly looked around.
Hmm… Nothing seems different from the previous timeline.
As always, her room was decorated in warm beige tones.
It was spotless, neat, and tidy.
Just like its owner.
She’s always been so consistent. That’s exactly like Julietta.
Thinking that, I guided her to a chair beside the table.
She looked at me in confusion.
“…A-Aria?”
“Just sit still for a moment. I need to check something.”
“O-Okay…”
As obedient as ever, Julietta nodded.
I moved the table aside, pulled up another chair, and sat directly across from her.
Hmm…
I narrowed my eyes and carefully examined Julietta.
Like a judge deciding whether an idol trainee should pass an audition, I scrutinized every inch of her face.
…Sigh.
Then I reached my conclusion.
She was simply too beautiful.
Just looking at her face was enough to understand why every male lead became hopelessly obsessed with her.
Something has to be done.
So I took out the secret weapon I’d brought from my room.
A shaggy, messy wig.
“Julietta, I’m borrowing your head for a moment.”
“H-Huh? O-Okay…”
Standing behind her, I gathered up her hair and tied it neatly.
Then I placed the unruly wig with its jagged bangs over it.
…Why does this feel like something I absolutely shouldn’t be doing…?
Was it really okay to ruin the heroine’s appearance like this?
My conscience pricked at me.
But I had no choice.
If looking a little unattractive meant avoiding the male leads’ obsession, it was more than worth it.
“U-Um… Aria… what is this? I think it looks a little strange…”
Julietta nervously touched the wig.
“No, it’s not strange at all.”
I smiled innocently.
“It’s just… a beauty seal.”
Then I looked at her face.
Come on.
There’s no way someone wearing a wig like this could still be beautiful.
At least, that’s what I’d confidently believed.
“…It actually works?”
No…
It worked in the opposite way.
Her snow-white skin contrasted beautifully with the dark brown shaggy hair.
Her large, delicate eyes looked as though tears could spill from them at any moment.
Within her mysterious golden eyes seemed to lie an untold story.
T-This is…
The very definition of a tragic beauty with a hidden past…
The contrast between the unkempt hair and her breathtaking face only made her seem even more fragile and pitiful.
Damn it…
The male leads would probably like her even more!
Just imagining it was horrifying.
So I decided to put a pair of thick prescription glasses on her.
The legendary glasses that make everyone’s eyes look tiny!
These thick glasses were the ultimate beauty suppressor.
They even showed up in celebrities’ awkward graduation photos all the time.
The distortion from concave lenses was merciless to everyone.
Surely…
Surely no one could still look pretty while wearing these.
Grinning confidently, I slid the glasses onto Julietta’s face.
Then I stared at her in disbelief.
…It works… again?
Something was wrong.
Even with the thick glasses on, Julietta hardly looked any different.
The lenses made her eyes look a little smaller…
But somehow, that only added to her charm.
Now she looked like a brilliant, hardworking scholar who spent all day buried in books.
Wow…
The heroine is still gorgeous even with a shaggy wig and thick glasses…
No matter what I did, she remained beautiful.
I’d clearly underestimated the power of a novel’s heroine.
Fortunately…
I’d prepared one last measure.
I never imagined I’d actually have to use it.
But this…
This would definitely seal away Julietta’s beauty.
“Julietta.”
I looked at her seriously.
“You trust me, right?”
“…Huh? Y-Yes.”
She nodded.
Though…
For some reason, she looked a little uneasy.
Holding back tears, I asked,
“Then could you close your eyes for just a moment?”
“…My eyes? Okay.”
Julietta obediently shut them.
I removed the wig and glasses, set them aside…
Then took out a bottle of foundation.
I’d originally bought this for Halloween…
I never thought I’d use it like this.
Shaking my head, I squeezed out a generous amount and spread it evenly across Julietta’s face.
As I blended it in…
Her skin gradually turned green.
Yes.
No matter how beautiful someone was…
Green skin was a completely different story.
Smiling triumphantly, I looked at her.
“Julietta, you can open your eyes now.”
“O-Okay.”
She slowly opened them.
And the moment I saw what was standing before me…
I froze in stunned silence.
…It… worked… again?
