CH 1

Prologue

Translated by Wook

Edited by Wook

“Why is that my fault?”

The eyes of the woman trapped in the iron cage lit up.

Her pink hair, resembling the sunshine in spring, was sprawled and tangled.

Between light and darkness, a man and a woman faced each other for a long time.

“Just as you were trying to protect her, I was trying to protect my love! What’s wrong with that?”

With her swollen, chapped lips, sharp, elongated nails, blood-stained skin, and her venomous eyes, this woman…

“Leah Prezis.”

Was once the most noble and lovable name in the Empire. But now, one couldn’t find any traces of that day.

“Look at how unsightly you are right now.”

“Unsightly? Unsightly you said. HA. Hahaha!”

The man’s cool voice echoed through the dungeon. At that, Leah shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

Her hair was messed up, and although it was not so clear, one could see she looked like she was neither smiling nor crying.

“Who made me like this?”

“…”

Bang—! Bang—!

Leah smashed the iron bars with her fair hands. Blood gushed out of the torn skin.

“I shouldn’t have met you.”

“Stop being wilful.”

The man finally frowned.

“You’re so consistent in trying to kill Ollina.”

“So what? If I could, I wanted to tear her apart and kill her. I won’t stop even if you push me into the hellfire!”

Horrible curses flowed from those swollen lips.

“Cadel Vernon, Ollina Fabian… I won’t forgive you even in death. Even in death.”

Leah covered her face with her bloody hands.

It looked as if red tears were flowing because of the blood running down her cheeks.

Leah’s empty eyes turned to the man.

“No. I shouldn’t have believed you then.”

“So, is it all because of me?”

The man burst into laughter like he found it amazing. There was no emotion in the blue eyes staring at Leah.

“I am innocent. If there is any fault within me, it would be the crime of loving and believing in someone like you.”

“…”

“It’s all because of you.”

Leah, who was glaring at the man outside the iron bars, thought bitterly.

“It’s all because of you… Davan Khajans.”

***

[So that’s why Davan hated his fiancee so much. That’s understandable.]

[When will that second male lead’s fiancee disappear? I can’t read it anymore because it’s so annoying. Why is it taking so long for her to be gone?]

[I’m only giving it 1 star because of Leah. I’ll come back when Leah dies.]

Yes.

This was a scene from the romantic fantasy novel .

It seems that the extremely aggressive behavior of the second male lead’s fiancee and villainess, Leah Prezis, worked.

The novel’s ratings and rankings hit the bottom, and the comments exploded.

Perhaps because they were conscious of such a reaction?

The author very hastily sent off the character Leah Prezis.

‘… Leah’s body was thrown somewhere in Felix. Abandoned in the cursed land, she couldn’t even reincarnate…’

Leah Prezis tried to assassinate the heroine Ollina, but eventually got her head cut off.

Her body was dumped somewhere in the cursed land.

It was an obvious and cliche death of a villainess.

[Finally! I came back after hearing that Leah was dead.]

[I’m going to give the author 5 stars]

[Resistance wins!!!!!]

In everyone’s blessing, the villainess supporting character Leah Prezis was sent off.

From now on, the story would flow smoothly towards the happy ending of the main characters again…

What’s this?

Such garbage XX.

“Shouldn’t the story be told from Leah’s point of view at least once?”

In my eyes, this probability was a dog-given development. But, we didn’t even know the behind-the-scenes story of Leah, and the author got rid of the annoying character just like that? What?

However, no matter how much I searched, there was no reader who wanted an excuse for the villainess who tried to harm the female protagonist.

So I decided to do it myself.

[Isn’t this a nonsensical thing to say? The one who left his fiancée was the one at fault first.]

My fingers pressed against the keyboard as if possessed by something.

[How can a scum like Davan become the second male lead? I can’t believe he’s so popular. I’m really disappointed. Dropping. This. Now.]

In order to emphasize the unpleasant feeling, I even snapped pictures of the whole point.

Didn’t anyone think so? What was the relationship between Davan and Leah?

The time the two spent together was itself an oath between the Imperial Family of Khajans and Count Prezis.

Leah’s father, Count Prezis, was the captain of the late emperor’s bodyguard and close friend.

He even committed suicide to uncover the hidden secret of the late emperor’s death.

It was also due to the sacrifice of Count Prezis that Davan, who had almost died unfairly at a young age, survived.

So the two had been engaged to each other for 10 years since they were young…

Leah’s father died because of Davan. Did he have no conscience? Why wouldn’t anyone make an excuse for Leah?

The sudden appearance of the female lead and the betrayal of her fiance were the things that turned Leah into a monster.

[A male character like that should be kicked out of any romance fantasy novels…]

The moment I frantically pressed my phone screen—Ding-dong! A screen window popped up with a light notification.

Someone seemed to have left a comment.

[re: Anyone who sees this might think you’re Leah. Just be her, then.]

What kind of nonsense is this again?

“What’s the point of becoming Leah…”

It was just a nonsensical argument.

But to be honest, my taste buds were bitter because I was stabbed to the point. Just a few months ago, my ex-boyfriend of whom I had been dating for 8 years had an affair ahead of our wedding.

The time we spent together was meaningless.

It took only a moment for his heart to leave my side and his faith to be broken.

‘I am innocent. If there is any fault within me, it would be the crime of loving and believing in someone like you.’

Perhaps that was why Leah’s last line touched me particularly.

At one time, no, even now, I was plagued with guilt that everything was my fault.

He hated me, resented me. And I thought it was all my fault…

That one word from Leah comforted and awakened me.

It was not my fault, the person had changed, there was nothing wrong with my love and faith.

“Oh dear, my eyes are sweating.”

Leah died, but the main characters moved on to a happy ending as if nothing had happened, just like my reality.

When I stopped eating and drinking in the corner of the room and shed tears, that bastard must have lived happily ever after.

I was horrified by the similar situation.

‘My Leah, do whatever you want to do in the next life.’

I hope you will be born as the protagonist of the world in your next life.

I wiped away my tears and turned the screen off.

“Fine. I guess I’ll be the only one to drop this.”

I was afraid of another contradiction, but in the end I simply threw my phone to the bedside.

As long as Leah’s ending can’t be changed, what’s the use of comments like this?

But now…

After becoming Leah Prezis, I wanted to cut off my hand that had written that comment.

***

“I’ll end this engagement right now.”

Cold blue eyes stared down at me. As always, it was a gaze with no emotion in it.

Leah, no, I thought as I looked at my fiancée, who would now be a stranger, Davan.

‘You’re too handsome for nothing.’

This man was the most handsome in the whole world, but unfortunately he was only the second male lead.

What’s the point of looking that good? He still ended up as a supporting role that won’t even appear on the cover.

‘It’s a shame that such a handsome man doesn’t appear on the cover.’

I lowered my gaze to the teacup.

I wasn’t confident enough to look at Davan.

“You know. I’ve often made opportunities for you and Young Miss Fabian…”

Having entered this novel, I have worked really hard over the past few years.

In order to change the fate of the villainess Leah, at least to avoid a dog-death ending where the head is cut off!

“I don’t want anything else. …neatly.”

I was going to say let’s finish it neatly.

“Why should I?”

H-Huh?

What did he mean with that…

Contrary to my embarrassment, Davan Khajans was relaxed.

He had strong but cold eyes, broad shoulders leaning in a chair, and a stiffened forehead, like he was plotting something, that showed his irritation.

His blue eyes, visible through his black hair, were enough to make people nervous at once.

“Naturally because…!”

I pointed at myself with my finger.

“You don’t like Leah, I mean, me.”

It was just embarrassing that I had to explain this with my own mouth, but I wasn’t hurt at all.

This was just the basic setting for this novel. Unchanged default!

“So I’m sure Your Excellency wanted to break our engagement—.”

“What kind of bastard does that?”

The man’s voice fell, cutting my words at once.

Even his eyebrows were wrinkled, as if finding the current situation unpleasant.

About the question just now…

‘That bastard is you. You.’

A sullen expression was about to come out, but I held it in.

Right, since I’ve talked this far, I’ll have to see the end.

“I mean it seriously. It’s better to go our separate ways now.”

I said with strength, biting my lips tightly.

Don’t tell me you want to see me die that badly.

“Well, what should I do?”

Davan smiled inexplicably.

When the cold gaze slowly looked over me, my spine was chilling.

“I can’t do that.”

“…”

Eventually, laughter broke out.

‘Just hit me instead.’

This was unprecedented, not only in the development of the novel, but in my tens of thousands of predicted scenarios.

What did you say? You can’t? You can’t do that? Hahaha.

I barely gave strength to the corners of my lips that were about to twist.

Okay, let me explain again calmly…

Rip—!

Nevermind, I don’t want to try anymore.

“So what were you saying…?”

As he said that, the tip of my chin became stiff.

With a sharp sound, the divorce paper was torn into exactly four pieces.

The pieces of paper that fell off Davan’s fingertips fluttered helplessly.

How I have endured for this moment, how desperately I tried to avoid that ending!

“What are you doing, you crazy…”

As soon as he raised his head, I turned speechless.

“Don’t do this when you’re accepting it.”

[T/N: Tbh I’m not sure if I translated it right, but with this context he probably means don’t do this kind of thing to get his attention when she’s actually agreeing to the marriage.]

Those deep blue eyes that touched me were brutal, as if he could tear anyone apart right away.

‘Why, why, why, is it like this?!’

Davan came closer and gently brushed my tangled hair.

Then he smiled coldly…

“Why? Do you want me to beg on my knees?”

At that moment, there was only one thought that came to my mind.

No, you’re crazy!