Karon’s red eyes snapped open.
A child’s voice whispered at his ear—then shrieked.
【Look at her. She’s dead. She’s dead, she’s dead!】
His breath hitched as his gaze turned slowly.
A frail body filled his sight.
“…Shut up.”
Karon pressed a trembling hand to his ear and panted.
It was the backlash from his rampage.
【See? She’s not breathing.】
【She’s not breathing. She’s dead. Because of you.】
The child with the familiar voice giggled, louder and more chaotic than ever—perhaps because it hadn’t seen enough blood.
【Go on, check for yourself.】
His unsteady steps crushed the carpet. The mattress sank under his weight.
Sensing something strange, the black panther gave a low whine.
【Told you so, didn’t I?】
His trembling hand reached toward her pale nose—
fingers shaking helplessly with desperation and dread.
…No breath.
The child screamed, stamping its feet in maniacal delight.
【She’s—dead—!】
And then—
“Mm…”
The world went still.
Her colorless lips moved, murmuring in her sleep.
…Alive.
Karon stepped back, shaking like a man in withdrawal.
The voice vanished.
He stared blankly at Jeril—curled up small in the corner of the wide bed.
Outside, even the insects had gone silent.
Knock, knock.
“My lord, may I come in?”
He wasn’t sure what he answered, but the door opened. The butler stepped inside, so it must’ve been something affirmative.
“These are the documents from the Duke’s office, sir. What shall I do with them?”
“…Leave them there.”
The butler sensed the strange tension and quietly closed the door. Silence returned.
Eventually, his eyes drifted shut, his taut body relaxing by degrees.
The bed dipped slightly as he lay beside her.
Jeril opened her eyes slowly.
Her heightened blue-mage senses were telling her something was off—
and her intuition was always right.
Right in front of her was a very handsome face.
Why is Karl here?
She blinked in confusion and tried to move back.
A stifled groan escaped Karon’s throat.
“You’re sweating buckets…”
Her hand moved on its own, brushing away his damp bangs.
His furrowed brow came into view, lips pressed tight.
Honestly…
“You could at least groan if it hurts, you know.”
The more she looked at him, the more he reminded her of her past self—
and she couldn’t ignore him.
The midnight quiet stirred her impulses.
Blue light tinged her fingertips as she gently patted his arm.
His breathing gradually eased, and she hummed softly in time with it.
Was it the humid dawn air or the lingering painkillers making her drowsy?
Probably the latter.
Jeril closed her eyes again.
She thought she heard something rustle faintly before sleep took her.
It was a strange night.
When she woke, the sunlight was bright—and the space beside her was empty.
The sheets were smooth, as if any trace of him had been erased.
As Jeril prepared to return to the Marquis’s estate, the butler approached.
“The master asked me to see you off.”
“Where’s Karl?”
“…He had other business for a while.”
The hesitation in his tone was suspicious.
Jeril narrowed her eyes, and the butler quickly changed the subject.
“Ah, right. In the confusion, I forgot to deliver the letter you sent to the master. Is it urgent?”
“Letter? What—”
She stopped mid-sentence.
The fake lover request letter.
Her jaw dropped. She’d completely forgotten about it!
But if he hadn’t received the letter, then why had Karl come to the Sekiya alley that night?
Jeril’s voice grew frantic.
“Yes, it’s urgent! Where is he?”
The butler hesitated to answer, but Jeril pushed past him.
After a brief struggle, she managed to make her way to the back garden.
It’s embarrassing asking in person, she thought, but I have no choice. The meeting’s in two days!
“Karl! Did you sleep well?”
“You haven’t left yet, I see.”
Their greetings were short and bland. Neither of them mentioned the night before.
Jeril suddenly pulled out the letter.
It was easier to hand it over than to say the words out loud.
“What’s this?”
“Read it. I sent it earlier, but I guess this way’s faster.”
His long fingers took the paper.
Those indifferent red eyes traced the lines slowly.
“…”
Silence lingered over the garden.
Jeril, oblivious to the chilling air, looked at him expectantly.
“Well? What do you think?”
Tap.
He folded the letter sharply and rested his chin on his hand.
The faint surprise from earlier had vanished—his gaze now burned with something fierce.
So that’s how he wanted to play it.
“You want me to pretend to be your lover.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“To deceive Duke Lepert.”
She nodded eagerly.
Karon’s mouth curled into a smirk.
“Fine.”
“Really? Thank you, Karl!”
Jeril sighed in relief and smiled brightly.
“Then maybe we should meet 30 minutes early to go over details?”
“No need. I’ll arrive on time.”
And with that, Jeril was promptly kicked out of the mansion—
without a moment’s hesitation.
Huh?
Why did he suddenly seem so irritated?
The clock’s hands pointed straight to one.
The table Jeril sat at vibrated slightly under her tapping fingers.
“Why isn’t he here yet?”
Her appointment with Duke Lepert was for 1 o’clock.
And now—it was 1 o’clock.
Her leg bounced nervously. When she’d left the Marquis’s gates, she’d been confident.
Today’s the day my transmigrated life finally changes!
True—and false.
Because her fake lover, Karl, Duke Lepert—were all the same man walking toward the café.
Ding.
“Karl!”
She’d never heard a bell sound so sweet in her life.
Jeril waved enthusiastically.
His black hair was slicked back neatly; his uniform was crisp and formal as ever.
Polished shoes clicked as he crossed the café floor.
The faint scent of gunpowder lingered in the air.
“Hope I’m not late,” he said shamelessly.
Jeril’s smile strained.
“You’re not! The Duke isn’t here yet.”
“Good. That’s a relief.”
Ten minutes passed.
Something in the air felt off.
Why isn’t he coming?
The Duke’s people had been the ones threatening to storm the Marquis’s mansion if she didn’t appear.
So it wasn’t like he was standing her up…
Is this psychological warfare?
Like one of those duels where the first to move gets shot?
Jeril’s thoughts spiraled into nonsense.
“The Duke’s late,” Karl commented casually. “Imperials really don’t understand punctuality.”
There was a bite to his tone, but his smile was faintly amused.
Another ten minutes passed.
Jeril was about ready to lose her mind.
“This damned Duke…” she muttered through gritted teeth.
Karl didn’t even bother hiding his laughter anymore.
“Why isn’t he coming!”
Jeril shot up from her chair, slamming her hands on the table—
and that’s when it happened.
A teasing tongue swept across her lips.
“He’s already here.”
“…What?”
“Duke Lepert. He’s here.”
Her head whipped around. The café wasn’t big, but not small either—and yet…
There was no one else.
A popular café, completely empty.
Like someone had reserved the entire place.
“What do you—”
Wait.
Jeril froze like a meerkat caught in headlights.
A horrible, absurd, kill-me-now realization struck her.
Karon nodded, watching her expression twist.
“Right in front of you.”
“…”
“The arm you’re holding.”
Her bright blue eyes drifted down—slowly, painfully slowly.
The arm she was holding.
The man sitting across from her.
…Karl.
“Karon Lepert,” he said, lips curling. “Nickname: Karl.”
“….”
“How does it feel to finally see the face of the man you were so desperate to avoid?”
I want to die, Jeril’s rational mind screamed.
“Well, now that it’s come to this, we have no choice,” he continued smoothly.
“W-what do you mean?”
“We’ll have to visit the Marquis’s family right away.”
“What?”
“If we’re to marry in May, we’ll need to set the schedule soon.”
WHAT?!
The look on his face made it clear—
he was enjoying this, completely toying with her.
What do I do, what do I do?!
Her survival instinct blurted out the only thing it could.
“…I—I already have a boyfriend!”
