Chapter : 1
This Time, I’ll Change the Male Lead
1. The Wheel of Fate
“I’ve fallen in love. So, please break off our engagement.”
“Cough, cough! What?”
Even as he watched me choke on my words, the man continued speaking coldly.
“I will soon be promoted to Paladin Commander. I want a new beginning by the side of someone I love.”
“The Paladin Commander…?”
Wait a second. Paladin Commander—wasn’t that Aaron Anteras, the male lead of this novel’s occupation?
A sudden sense of dread washed over me as I sized him up.
“Come to think of it…”
That brown hair, his striking appearance, his impeccable personality that earns praise from everyone…
“Wait a minute. Could your real name be… Aaron Anteras?”
“How did you… know that name?”
The man, always composed, instantly became sharp.
“You know, don’t you?”
“Huh.”
Everything fit together perfectly.
I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.
Right—the male lead in the original story had used an alias because of a hidden birth secret. So the name I knew, “Karl Beyt,” was fake.
Why would I have remembered the alias of a male lead I never even cared about?
After all, the reason I completed this novel, River of Oblivion, was because of Hyperion Sol Lucius—the villain and ultimate mastermind—not the male lead.
“Does it matter how I knew your real name? What matters is that you’ve been deceiving me all this time.”
“…….”
“For three whole years, I was being lied to without even knowing my fiancé’s real name?”
Even so, I couldn’t stop my vision from blurring from shock.
If my admiration for Hyperion was just fangirling, this was the harsh reality.
“It’s not like we were in a love match anyway.”
The man put down his coffee cup with a calm expression. His unwavering brown eyes felt like they were probing straight into my heart.
“You, Lady Veritas, wouldn’t have lingering attachment to this relationship either.”
Was he really saying that out loud? I had transmigrated as an extra1, completely unprepared.
“So what am I supposed to do now? Was the engagement just a joke?”
In other words, the breakup was my reality, regardless of the story in the novel.
“I apologize.”
“So…”
No matter how hard I tried to regain my composure, my teeth ground together.
“Why do you have to apologize?”
I had barely reincarnated, and now I was being betrayed here too.
According to the story’s original flow, maybe I should have thrown a tantrum and been dragged out?
“The settlement will be sufficient—.”
“That’s obvious. Didn’t you come this far thanks to the power of our Veritas family?”
I stood up first.
“Especially the diamond mines in the southern regions—they must be handed over to me.”
“Agreed.”
Looking up at his cold face, my mouth turned bitter.
Even though it was a political marriage, there had been time and memories shared together. And yet, it ended so hollowly.
“Also, maintain the engagement outwardly at least until the end of this month.”
“May I ask why?”
Why? Did he think I’d cling to him?
“Don’t worry. I’m not foolish enough to chase a runaway fiancé. Since my father’s birthday is soon, I’m just trying to show some consideration.”
“I see……”
I ignored the strangely flickering gaze and turned away.
No matter how much I denied it, how could anyone stop the love of the protagonists?
“Kaela. I apologize once more—.”
“That’s enough.”
I didn’t even forget to gulp down the tasting wine as I walked out.
What a jerk.
My fiancé—aka the male lead—was undeniably impressive.
Even setting aside his striking appearance, he had flourished simply because the Veritas family had helped him. It was like fate itself.
Compared to my pitiful past life, I thought I would live a peaceful life.
I wasn’t cast as the villainess or an unlucky character like in other novels.
But I knew this would happen.
I knew it.
“Ughhh!”
I hadn’t cried while leaving the restaurant and entering the garden.
Since it was a restaurant inside the imperial palace, many eyes would be watching, and I wanted to keep my pride.
But as I reached a secluded area, the tears I’d been holding back burst out.
“This trash… ughhh.”
I hadn’t loved him, but I had trusted him. And now, thinking about the future of my life felt hopeless.
I had even leaned on him as my fiancé, and that time scared me. Ah, human attachment.
“Ah, fine. I guess quietly stepping away is safest.”
Thick black tears fell, but I didn’t even have the energy to care.
“I’m fine—ugh.”
I cried for a long time.
“If only Hyperion were here, it wouldn’t feel so unfair.”
Was it the alcohol? Or knowing no one else was around?
My tongue loosened, spilling unfiltered words.
Hyperion Sol Lucius, the ultimate villain and my favorite of this novel.
Normally, he was the crown prince, also called a bloodthirsty murderer—I couldn’t even utter that name aloud.
They say he’s blindingly handsome in real life…
“Huh?”
A rustling sound from the bushes made me reflexively turn my head.
“Wow, who’s that? He’s incredibly handsome.”
Hair like woven gold, eyes as red as blood.
Even from afar, the man was captivating. As his form became clearer, my legs moved on their own.
Arrogant yet sexy, haughty yet languid…
“Totally my type.”
This was supposedly the novel River of Oblivion, yet here I was, seeing someone even more handsome than the male lead.
“Excuse me.”
“……”
I called out to him without thinking.
“Will you be my fiancé?”
Looking at his expressionless face, I knew this had to be a dream—or a fantasy.
“Marriage or romance is fine too.”
Instinctively, I spoke from the heart. I was at a loss imagining how to deal with a runaway fiancé at my father’s birthday party, but if a man like him appeared…
“……”
But the red-eyed man just stared silently at me.
Seeing no reaction, I realized this must indeed be a dream.
“If not, it’s fine.”
I swept my messy hair back and laughed. What could I do with a fantasy here?
Besides, this was the palace garden, protected by a magical barrier. It wasn’t a place for outsiders to linger.
Just as I was about to get up—
“I thought you had a fiancé.”
His voice, lazy like the late summer breeze, froze me in place.
“Are you suggesting… an affair?”
“Huh?”
The world—he was actually speaking…
His sculpted face tilted slightly, and his lips moved.
What am I even seeing?
Could that face be real?
“Whatever, then.”
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
I asked on impulse, and his eyes, peeking through his tousled hair, curved into a smirk.
“I mean… an affair.”
Yeah, that was a pretty solid dream.
The only problem was, waking up revealed it was reality.
