Chapter 04
“This life… will be different.”
Rizeana thought about her past—
the life she had once lived.
The days she was locked away like a doll by her father, the Duke of Philorentia.
The life where she was forced to study endlessly and pushed into becoming the Crown Prince Laiphin’s partner.
And the moment she first received someone’s attention—
She became blind to everything
and willingly turned herself into “a dog of the imperial family.”
She had never lived for herself.
Not even once.
Rizeana looked out the window at the slowly fading sunset.
Today had finally come.
The day that dragged her life into tragedy.
The day Laiphin’s mistress, Delisa Lupe Crodenne, would be kidnapped at the temple.
In front of the statue of the goddess Laura, protector of the empire—
an unholy prayer echoed.
Rizeana, the Crown Princess of the Avid Empire, who should have been praying for its peace—
instead said:
“Please let Laiphin fall into complete ruin.”
“And… may endless misfortune fall upon the Avid Empire and Emperor Laiphin.”
She sincerely prayed for the empire’s destruction.
Dong— Dong—
The bell rang loudly, announcing midnight.
Rizeana slowly stood up from her knees
and quietly moved through the back door into the garden.
Leaning against a pillar, she began counting.
One.
Two.
Three.
The moment she reached three—
A precise black magic circle appeared before her.
And from its center—
A man emerged.
A man whose hair seemed to shine even in the darkness.
Rizeana, who had returned from the past, had made her decision.
Instead of Delisa—
She would be the one kidnapped.
She stepped forward carefully to approach him.
But she couldn’t move any closer.
Suddenly—
A sharp pillar of ice shot up in front of her.
It cut through the air with a deadly sound,
ready to pierce her throat—
Only stopping when she froze in place.
“Haa…!”
As she struggled to breathe—
the man looked down at her with cold caution.
Ian Rendi Devencia.
The Duke.
At last—
he had appeared before her.
***
If she had taken even one more step—
that ice would have pierced her neck.
Cold sweat ran down her back.
She had heard he was terrifying—
But she didn’t expect she could die without even speaking.
Rizeana quickly calmed herself.
She could clearly feel killing intent from him.
To him—
she was just an unwanted witness.
She slowly straightened her back
and forced a gentle smile.
“….”
But the man frowned.
Her smile had no effect.
A strange silence filled the air.
Even the slightest movement—
and the ice would strike.
Fine.
Give up.
She dropped the fake smile.
“I was worried you wouldn’t come. I’m glad you did.”
He frowned, confused.
He had received secret information that Delisa would be praying at the temple tonight—
But the woman in front of him was not Delisa.
And somehow—
she knew his purpose.
She even knew the exact time he would appear.
More than anything—
“She isn’t even afraid.”
Even in front of a criminal—
she looked completely calm.
This mission was not easy for him.
There should have been no witnesses.
No obstacles.
Yet here stood a strange woman blocking his path.
He considered killing her.
Slowly—
he raised his hand.
Then—
“Don’t you need a hostage?”
His ice stopped.
“…A hostage? Why would you think that?”
“To threaten the Avid Empire, of course. To learn the secret of the Gwanggak herb.”
“…Gwanggak herb?”
His deep voice lowered as he leaned closer.
Now she could clearly see him—
His ruby-like red eyes.
His breathtakingly beautiful face.
His pale skin.
His broad shoulders and strong chest beneath a white shirt.
“Gwanggak herb… is that so?”
He smiled faintly.
Even at his vague response—
Rizeana didn’t hesitate.
If she hesitated now—
she would die.
“That’s why you came to kidnap Delisa Lupe Crodenne, the Crown Prince’s favorite.”
“How do you know that?”
His eyes filled with suspicion.
Of course she knew.
Because in her past life—
this kidnapping was what brought Laiphin and Delisa closer.
She remembered Delisa’s words clearly:
“The bell rang at midnight… I was leaving the temple when a magic circle appeared… and a huge shadow came out…!”
“He told me to reveal everything I knew about the Gwanggak herb…”
After she returned—
Laiphin cared for her endlessly.
And because of that—
their bond deepened.
“And because of that… I died.”
The man in front of her—
was the very one who kidnapped Delisa.
So Rizeana simply waited—
at the same place,
at the same time.
“Answer me. Or I’ll kill you.”
His cold voice pierced her heart.
His blood-red eyes were sharp enough to tear her apart.
“No wonder they call him a mad dog…”
She steadied herself.
“I’ll get straight to the point.”
She clenched her fist.
“Don’t kidnap Delisa. Kidnap me instead.”
“…What?”
Ian let out a short, shocked laugh.
Good.
His focus shifted.
“I have more power than Delisa. More information too. I can help your empire. I’ll even tell you about the Gwanggak herb. I won’t cause trouble—so kidnap me instead.”
He stared at her in disbelief.
“…Are you insane? Do you even know where I’m from?”
“Of course I do.”
She smiled coldly.
“Ian Rendi Devencia, Duke of the Tenzel Empire.”
She continued—
“The mad dog of the Tenzel Empire.”
He was—
her only escape.
“Delisa is useless to you.”
She stepped away from the ice and moved closer.
“You’ll just end up returning her anyway.”
If he refused—
she would die again.
“So kidnap me. Right now.”
He looked at her silently.
Then—
moonlight broke through the clouds, revealing her face.
“Black hair… purple eyes…”
He finally recognized her.
“…The Crown Princess. The so-called ‘dog of the imperial family.’”
He smirked.
“So you want to be kidnapped by me? Are you planning treason?”
“Think whatever you want.”
She didn’t stop.
“I just want to leave this cursed empire.”
Her voice trembled with truth.
“And if Tenzel needs my help—”
“I will betray the Avid Empire without hesitation.”
Moonlight shone brightly on her face.
He smiled—
a dangerous, wicked smile.
“If this is a joke, stop now. I don’t have time.”
“This isn’t a joke. It’s a deal.”
Silence fell.
Then—
voices approached nearby.
“Why are we patrolling? The Crown Princess said no one should enter the temple…”
The Crown Prince’s knights.
“…Bad timing.”
Ian clicked his tongue.
“Fine. If you’re willing to betray your empire… I’ll take you.”
He held out his hand.
“Good.”
She took it without hesitation.
Now—
she no longer had to live under Laiphin’s shadow.
No more Delisa’s jealousy.
No more false accusations.
And most importantly—
She could finally take revenge.
“I’m finally leaving this fake life… and that hateful man, Laiphin.”
Even if it meant going with a mad dog.
“Then take care of yourself… prisoner.”
He smiled.
“Maybe… I’m walking into an even deeper hell.”
But she didn’t care.
She just wanted to escape.
“…Wait.”
She removed her hairpin—
a wedding gift from Laiphin—
and threw it to the ground.
“I don’t need it. I’m never coming back.”
He glanced at it.
“Then let’s go.”
She grabbed his hand and stepped into the magic circle.
Dark smoke rose and wrapped around them.
Relief filled her heart.
The space began to twist.
Through the distortion—
she whispered softly toward the distant Laiphin:
“Don’t ever be happy… not even for a moment.”
