Prologue
I couldn't bear to meet his gaze, so I averted my eyes. Did he know something? There had been various circumstances leading up to this.
A chilling suspicion that Cerden might know my secret. The strange look he had directed at me, his words and actions that seemed to test me.
I swallowed slowly.
My heart raced. I was intensely calculating in my mind how Cerden would react.
What if he found out?
Would I be cast out?
What did he think of me? Would he kill me?
As if he could sense my turmoil, Cerden did not hesitate. He grasped my cheek. Finally locking eyes with me, Cerden smiled softly.
His slanted eyes and beautifully formed smile were eerily attractive.
“It's time to reveal your true identity.”
Cerden whispered low, as if it were out of the question.
“Stop pretending. Before you truly anger me.”
At those words, the tension in my shoulders eased. But what would happen if he really got angry?
Cerden's eyes glinted coldly.
I just wanted to live. It seemed I had been misunderstood.
I whispered in a very small voice.
“...Will you spare me?”
Cerden touched my side with his remaining hand. His face leaned closer, glowing pale.
Cerden was smiling. As if all of this were merely a game.
Perhaps this man had known my secret from the very beginning.
As I watched his face draw nearer, I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut. I could even hear Cerden's breath at that distance.
His scent was heavy and felt strangely cold, making it hard to breathe.
I swallowed unconsciously.
Fear and an unknown tension surged through me, causing my body to stiffen. I could not discern Cerden's intentions. He had been watching me like a predator waiting for its prey.
Cerden's fingers brushed against my cheek. It felt as if a brand had been seared into my skin, his touch was hot.
Even in such a moment, I felt shamelessly thrilled. Standing on the brink of death.
I gripped my dress tightly with trembling fingers. Cerden whispered softly to me.
“Don't be scared. Because... it makes me want to devour you.”
Those words sent my heart plummeting.
Three months ago.
When I first found myself in this novel, it was already an irreversible situation.
I had just gone through a wedding and was locked in a room.
I learned about my identity the next day when I heard the maids calling my name.
“Really, Idiot Lady Evelyn has become the Crown Princess. She really has good fortune. Even a fool must be born a princess.”
The maids sneered as they tidied my room. It seemed they didn’t care whether I was there or not.
Holding my breath, I had to suppress the urge to scream until the maids left the room.
Idiot Lady Evelyn!
And Crown Princess!
Evelyn was a poison planted in the Duke Spelman household. At the age of ten, Evelyn suffered a severe fever that damaged her brain. She would live her life as a five-year-old.
Thus, Duke Spelman kept his daughter hidden until she was of marriageable age, intending to make her the wife of Crown Prince Cerden.
This scheme was concocted while Crown Prince Cerden was away at war.
The Emperor, having received a hefty bribe, allowed it, and the Empress, due to her family's weakened power, had no means to stop the plan.
So, Evelyn, who became the Crown Prince's wife, moved as the Duke commanded.
“If you listen well to your father, I will give you all this chocolate. You can eat it all by yourself, Evelyn.”
The innocent soul of a five-year-old was easily swayed by mere chocolate. Thus, Evelyn brought poisoned cookies to the Lady and the Empress and even shared them.
Who would suspect a child with the intelligence of a five-year-old?
Evelyn, who had an unusual resistance to poison, survived, but the Empress and the Lady, who had consumed it long-term, died.
Later, when Cerden learned of this, he turned dark and swiftly purged the Duke Spelman household.
The foolish wife was confined to a Separate Palace for life. She survived solely because she had the mind of a child.
Under the pretext of revenge, Cerden tormented the families of the male and female protagonists associated with the Duke Spelman household.
In the end, he was struck down by the male protagonist and descended from the Emperor. And Evelyn was executed, branded as a witch.
It was a truly entertaining read. It was devastatingly bleak and shockingly erotic...
A novel that offset its bleakness with eroticism, perhaps. But now a problem had arisen.
I’m not a fool!
In the past week, while quietly staying here, I learned some facts.
I am not a fool. (Of course.)
The Crown Prince has not yet returned from the battlefield. He will return soon.
The male protagonist is only six years old. He is just beginning to learn how to write.
There must be a reason I have possessed this body at this point in time. Surely, they didn’t bring me here to die.
Though it may be far in the future, I did not want to be executed as a witch.
To avoid that, I must prevent the darkening of the mastermind.
Cerden's descent into darkness is triggered by the death of his family. And the tragedy begins when he learns that his foolish wife and several nobles are entangled in that death.
So, I just need to stop that, right?
In fact, Cerden lived with Evelyn for his entire life. Though he confined her, he never abandoned her. Because she was his wife.
If you think about it, he provided a home, money, and food for a wife who had sinned.
He’s practically a saint. To be honest, a... fool?
But what if Cerden doesn’t turn dark and simply takes me into the Separate Palace?
I wouldn’t die, and I could live in the Separate Palace for life, spending the money that comes in regularly and eating meals prepared by others.
“...This is a sweet deal?”
Is this how I achieve my dream of owning a home?
Alright. From now on, I’m a fool.
I had wanted to be an actor and practiced acting my whole life, but this shouldn’t be too hard. Whether it’s a short play or a theater production, I would have gone anywhere that called for me.
My last memory was getting hit by a speeding car on my way home from a rehearsal.
Now I have to live here for life, so I might as well enjoy it.
That afternoon, Cerden returned.
Having come back as a war hero, Cerden faced the person who was supposed to be his wife for the first time.
I also faced the man who was supposed to be my husband for the first time.
To describe my first impression of Cerden, he was truly large. It felt like standing before a massive wall.
And on top of that, a perfectly sculpted face. It was clear that a god had painstakingly carved it.
As soon as Cerden saw me, he narrowed his eyes. He was so handsome it took my breath away. Having spent six months on the battlefield, his hair had grown a bit long, covering the nape of his neck.
His dark ash-gray hair, almost black, revealed deep-set eyes every time he moved.
They were long, large, and blue. Even in his smile, a bleak charm dripped like honey.
He sighed and rubbed his chin with his hand. After a moment of thought, Cerden asked his aide who had come with him.
“Does a five-year-old like candy?”
His low voice carried a hint of emptiness. The aide replied with a sigh.
“My nephew goes crazy for it.”
“Really?”
Cerden rummaged through his pocket and pulled out some candy. He held it out to me, smiling lazily.
“If you say hello, I’ll give you this. Say hello, handsome uncle. Go on.”
Cerden's eyes sparkled as he said this. Though there was a playful glint, it was clear he was angry. Naturally. After suffering on the battlefield and returning as a hero, this was the reception he received.
An unexpected foolish wife.
An unwelcoming Emperor and Empress.
Royalty and nobles only concerned with the Spelman family.
Cerden was watching me like a predator, gauging my reaction.
He was testing me right now. Alright. I knew I would be caught here.
I swallowed my tension. Deceiving Cerden was the first step. Fortunately, I had played the role of a child before. The analysis and study I did on children back then would come in handy.
I jumped up from my seat and bowed at a 90-degree angle.
“Hello, ugly uncle!”
I greeted him cheerfully as if I knew nothing. Cerden pressed his forehead and burst into laughter.
What? Do you think being handsome means you can get away with anything?
Well, it does. They say a handsome face can melt a thousand years of anger.
Moreover, Cerden had the looks to match that.
Cerden held out the candy as promised, and I unwrapped it, beaming with delight.
Just wait. I didn’t earn the reputation of a promising newcomer in the theater world for nothing.
I couldn't bear to meet his gaze, so I averted my eyes. Did he know something? There had been various circumstances leading up to this.
A chilling suspicion that Cerden might know my secret. The strange look he had directed at me, his words and actions that seemed to test me.
I swallowed slowly.
My heart raced. I was intensely calculating in my mind how Cerden would react.
What if he found out?
Would I be cast out?
What did he think of me? Would he kill me?
As if he could sense my turmoil, Cerden did not hesitate. He grasped my cheek. Finally locking eyes with me, Cerden smiled softly.
His slanted eyes and beautifully formed smile were eerily attractive.
“It's time to reveal your true identity.”
Cerden whispered low, as if it were out of the question.
“Stop pretending. Before you truly anger me.”
At those words, the tension in my shoulders eased. But what would happen if he really got angry?
Cerden's eyes glinted coldly.
I just wanted to live. It seemed I had been misunderstood.
I whispered in a very small voice.
“...Will you spare me?”
Cerden touched my side with his remaining hand. His face leaned closer, glowing pale.
Cerden was smiling. As if all of this were merely a game.
Perhaps this man had known my secret from the very beginning.
As I watched his face draw nearer, I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut. I could even hear Cerden's breath at that distance.
His scent was heavy and felt strangely cold, making it hard to breathe.
I swallowed unconsciously.
Fear and an unknown tension surged through me, causing my body to stiffen. I could not discern Cerden's intentions. He had been watching me like a predator waiting for its prey.
Cerden's fingers brushed against my cheek. It felt as if a brand had been seared into my skin, his touch was hot.
Even in such a moment, I felt shamelessly thrilled. Standing on the brink of death.
I gripped my dress tightly with trembling fingers. Cerden whispered softly to me.
“Don't be scared. Because... it makes me want to devour you.”
Those words sent my heart plummeting.
Three months ago.
When I first found myself in this novel, it was already an irreversible situation.
I had just gone through a wedding and was locked in a room.
I learned about my identity the next day when I heard the maids calling my name.
“Really, Idiot Lady Evelyn has become the Crown Princess. She really has good fortune. Even a fool must be born a princess.”
The maids sneered as they tidied my room. It seemed they didn’t care whether I was there or not.
Holding my breath, I had to suppress the urge to scream until the maids left the room.
Idiot Lady Evelyn!
And Crown Princess!
Evelyn was a poison planted in the Duke Spelman household. At the age of ten, Evelyn suffered a severe fever that damaged her brain. She would live her life as a five-year-old.
Thus, Duke Spelman kept his daughter hidden until she was of marriageable age, intending to make her the wife of Crown Prince Cerden.
This scheme was concocted while Crown Prince Cerden was away at war.
The Emperor, having received a hefty bribe, allowed it, and the Empress, due to her family's weakened power, had no means to stop the plan.
So, Evelyn, who became the Crown Prince's wife, moved as the Duke commanded.
“If you listen well to your father, I will give you all this chocolate. You can eat it all by yourself, Evelyn.”
The innocent soul of a five-year-old was easily swayed by mere chocolate. Thus, Evelyn brought poisoned cookies to the Lady and the Empress and even shared them.
Who would suspect a child with the intelligence of a five-year-old?
Evelyn, who had an unusual resistance to poison, survived, but the Empress and the Lady, who had consumed it long-term, died.
Later, when Cerden learned of this, he turned dark and swiftly purged the Duke Spelman household.
The foolish wife was confined to a Separate Palace for life. She survived solely because she had the mind of a child.
Under the pretext of revenge, Cerden tormented the families of the male and female protagonists associated with the Duke Spelman household.
In the end, he was struck down by the male protagonist and descended from the Emperor. And Evelyn was executed, branded as a witch.
It was a truly entertaining read. It was devastatingly bleak and shockingly erotic...
A novel that offset its bleakness with eroticism, perhaps. But now a problem had arisen.
I’m not a fool!
In the past week, while quietly staying here, I learned some facts.
I am not a fool. (Of course.)
The Crown Prince has not yet returned from the battlefield. He will return soon.
The male protagonist is only six years old. He is just beginning to learn how to write.
There must be a reason I have possessed this body at this point in time. Surely, they didn’t bring me here to die.
Though it may be far in the future, I did not want to be executed as a witch.
To avoid that, I must prevent the darkening of the mastermind.
Cerden's descent into darkness is triggered by the death of his family. And the tragedy begins when he learns that his foolish wife and several nobles are entangled in that death.
So, I just need to stop that, right?
In fact, Cerden lived with Evelyn for his entire life. Though he confined her, he never abandoned her. Because she was his wife.
If you think about it, he provided a home, money, and food for a wife who had sinned.
He’s practically a saint. To be honest, a... fool?
But what if Cerden doesn’t turn dark and simply takes me into the Separate Palace?
I wouldn’t die, and I could live in the Separate Palace for life, spending the money that comes in regularly and eating meals prepared by others.
“...This is a sweet deal?”
Is this how I achieve my dream of owning a home?
Alright. From now on, I’m a fool.
I had wanted to be an actor and practiced acting my whole life, but this shouldn’t be too hard. Whether it’s a short play or a theater production, I would have gone anywhere that called for me.
My last memory was getting hit by a speeding car on my way home from a rehearsal.
Now I have to live here for life, so I might as well enjoy it.
That afternoon, Cerden returned.
Having come back as a war hero, Cerden faced the person who was supposed to be his wife for the first time.
I also faced the man who was supposed to be my husband for the first time.
To describe my first impression of Cerden, he was truly large. It felt like standing before a massive wall.
And on top of that, a perfectly sculpted face. It was clear that a god had painstakingly carved it.
As soon as Cerden saw me, he narrowed his eyes. He was so handsome it took my breath away. Having spent six months on the battlefield, his hair had grown a bit long, covering the nape of his neck.
His dark ash-gray hair, almost black, revealed deep-set eyes every time he moved.
They were long, large, and blue. Even in his smile, a bleak charm dripped like honey.
He sighed and rubbed his chin with his hand. After a moment of thought, Cerden asked his aide who had come with him.
“Does a five-year-old like candy?”
His low voice carried a hint of emptiness. The aide replied with a sigh.
“My nephew goes crazy for it.”
“Really?”
Cerden rummaged through his pocket and pulled out some candy. He held it out to me, smiling lazily.
“If you say hello, I’ll give you this. Say hello, handsome uncle. Go on.”
Cerden's eyes sparkled as he said this. Though there was a playful glint, it was clear he was angry. Naturally. After suffering on the battlefield and returning as a hero, this was the reception he received.
An unexpected foolish wife.
An unwelcoming Emperor and Empress.
Royalty and nobles only concerned with the Spelman family.
Cerden was watching me like a predator, gauging my reaction.
He was testing me right now. Alright. I knew I would be caught here.
I swallowed my tension. Deceiving Cerden was the first step. Fortunately, I had played the role of a child before. The analysis and study I did on children back then would come in handy.
I jumped up from my seat and bowed at a 90-degree angle.
“Hello, ugly uncle!”
I greeted him cheerfully as if I knew nothing. Cerden pressed his forehead and burst into laughter.
What? Do you think being handsome means you can get away with anything?
Well, it does. They say a handsome face can melt a thousand years of anger.
Moreover, Cerden had the looks to match that.
Cerden held out the candy as promised, and I unwrapped it, beaming with delight.
Just wait. I didn’t earn the reputation of a promising newcomer in the theater world for nothing.
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