Chapter 001
It was the day of the debutante ball, an event every young lady anticipates. The atmosphere of the banquet was reaching its peak as many nobles danced and sipped champagne. Right at that moment…
“I like you!”
As soon as her debutante ceremony ended, a courageous soul made her confession.
“You are my perfect ideal type, My Lord!”
It was none other than me, Ponia Harbel.
Of course, I immediately lowered my head in sheer embarrassment. My long, flowing vermilion hair barely managed to hide my flushed cheeks.
“Do you know me?”
At the sound of a low but warm voice, Ponia lifted her head. The man’s face came into view.
How could I not?
The neatly groomed blue-black hair, the high-saturation sky-blue eyes that contrasted with his dark hair, the lips wearing a smile that gave off a gentle impression, and a tidy outfit without a single wrinkle.
He was indeed the Cionel Davenham she knew.
“You’re Young Lord Davenham.”
“I do not know you, My Lady.”
Only then did Ponia realize she had blurted out a confession without even introducing herself.
“Ponia! Ahem… I am Ponia Harbel.”
But really, who wouldn’t be excited? My favorite character from the novel! Standing right in front of my current unrequited love!
In the winter of her sixteenth year, Ponia had woken up from a nap and realized the truth of the world.
She had been reincarnated inside the novel, <We Want a Happy Ending>.
“I do not understand. There is no reason for a lady I am meeting for the first time today to like me.”
No reason? What kind of nonsense is that!
The world’s kindest male lead, Cionel Davenham.
Despite his high status, he never lost his humility; he possessed an uprightness that knew no injustice, a pure heart that looked only at the female lead, and a consideration that never forced his feelings on others.
Unlike other male leads who showed disastrous personalities to everyone except “their woman,” readers praised him as a specimen of a true male lead that appeared after a long time.
She was one of them.
There were simply too many reasons to like him.
Of course, at first, it was just pure fan-girl spirit as a reader. The fascination of living in the same world as her favorite character was stronger.
However, seeing her favorite character from afar was more than she expected…
‘He’s even cooler! He’s the best!’
“It’s harder not to like you, My Lord.”
“Pardon?”
“Please just stay exactly as you are…”
Cionel was bewildered by Ponia, who was saying things he couldn’t make sense of, but he didn’t let it show.
“Lady Harbel, how old are you this year?”
“I’m seventeen.”
“…And your debutante?”
“I just finished it today.”
Even Cionel, who had maintained his composure, couldn’t manage his expression this time.
His mouth hung open as if to say something, but he quickly shut it.
For some reason, it felt like he was swallowing a sigh, but that must have been her imagination, right?
“I cannot consider your confession, My Lady.”
“…Why?”
“You are still young. At seventeen, you are around the same age as my younger sister.”
“But I’ve already had my debutante ball?”
“Just a moment ago, that is.”
The voice that cut her off firmly was chilly, but ironically, Ponia fell for him all over again just now.
In this era where people got married at sixteen if they had their debutante, he was a Confucian-style man who cared about age.
What on earth was his flaw?
“Then how about a seventeen-year-old who is like a twenty-four-year-old?”
Ponia took a bold step toward him.
“…My Lady?”
“I wondered if you liked older women. I can match that for you.”
‘In terms of my past life, I am older.’
Instead, at her more aggressive momentum, Cionel took a hesitant step back.
“I can really match everything for you.”
“…”
“I’m more mature than I look.”
“…”
“My thoughts are deeper compared to other ladies my age. Once, while talking to my grandmother, she even suspected I was the reincarnation of my late grandfather.”
“…”
“To tell you a bit more, I just came out because the ladies I was with weren’t on my level…”
“Pfft!”
While she was talking so seriously, a burst of laughter broke out.
Cionel belatedly covered his mouth.
“I apologize, My Lady. Please do not misunderstand. Your joke was so amusing that I laughed for a moment.”
It wasn’t a joke; it was all true. But if the male lead said it was a joke, then it was a joke.
“You seem to be a pleasant person, My Lady.”
“So, have you developed feelings for me?”
“No. There is still no room to consider your confession.”
The rejection was so sharp. She should have just watched him laugh a little longer.
“It’s not that I dislike you. Even I, seeing you for the first time, can tell that you are charming.”
“…”
“However, I still have much to do, and I am not yet prepared to harbor other emotions. I would only end up hurting you.”
“…”
“Could you please understand?”
Could words of rejection feel this sweet?
Honestly, she felt so much sweetness that she was almost jealous of the other ladies who would be rejected by him in the future.
With words full of kindness, Ponia’s answer was already decided.
“Yes…”
“You are a good girl.”
A hand, two spans larger than Ponia’s, reached out. He gently tidied her red hair that had been disheveled by the wind.
Ponia’s cheeks flushed.
“…Am I good?”
“Very good.”
It was clearly a tone that treated her like a younger sister, and she knew that fact too, but she couldn’t stop her mouth from moving as it pleased.
“Then when can I confess again for you to consider it?”
“…”
“Just a consideration! How many years have to pass for me to not be at a young age, and for you to be ready to harbor emotions?”
Even if he ignored a lady who was being clingy without knowing her place, no one would blame him. But our male lead never ignored Ponia, who was now nearing the level of a nuisance.
“About three years… if that much passes, I wouldn’t be able to see you as just a child. Since that is my current age… By then, I would have also inherited my title.”
“Inheriting the title…”
The novel didn’t deal much with the male lead’s past. it only showed very fragmentary flashbacks.
Three years. As far as she knew, around that time Cionel…
“My Lady?”
The face clouded with worry lasted only a moment, and Ponia soon flashed a bright smile.
“Fine! I’ll confess again in three years!”
At the loud, spirited shout and the solemn face like a knight roaming the battlefield, Cionel burst into laughter once more.
“I shall look forward to that time, then.”
And so, Ponia’s confession ended with a sweet memory.
Until then, Ponia probably had no idea what her future held.
.
.
.
“Ack!”
It was the moment she entered the cabin. In an instant, her body was dragged away, and Ponia was slammed onto the floor by a strong force.
“Ugh…”
Only a groan escaped through her teeth from the pain. However, she wasn’t given a moment to catch her breath.
A large hand reached out and mercilessly strangled her neck.
“Ack! Gak…”
“Who are you.”
A cold voice echoed in her ear.
“Who sent you?”
“Guh…”
“Answer me.”
How am I supposed to answer when you’re choking me!
Ponia struggled to open her eyes while scratching the intruder’s hand, but the room was so dark she couldn’t even see the person’s face.
Swoosh.
It was then that a cool breeze shook the curtains.
The moonlight streaming through the window illuminated Ponia and the intruder.
“…!”
Ponia’s face turned to one of horror as she identified the person.
The beautiful blue-black hair that glowed even in the faint moonlight, the sky-blue eyes that used to reflect her transparently, the kind touch that had tidied her disheveled hair, the upright posture.
A piece of the past fits into the present.
“Ci… Cionel…”
Three years after confessing to Cionel. Ponia reunited with her favorite ideal type. And in a completely unexpected way.
Yes, she really didn’t expect it.
Three years ago, the man who became her beautiful first love, would actually…
“Do you want to die?”
Come to her with a death threat, having completely turned dark.
What is this… Give me back my kind male lead!
* * *
So, how did my first love and I end up in this crazy situation where he’s trying to kill me?
We just need to turn back time a little.
As for when we should go back…
“We are bankrupt.”
Yes, to this moment.
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