Chapter 2
During the National Foundation Day party, a spirit appeared before Rubiana, who was in danger from the sudden appearance of a monster.
By forming a contract with the spirit, Rubiana would become a true spirit master and escape the crisis.
It was a scene she had envisioned countless times over the past few days.
She thought she would be able to respond calmly and confidently. But she was wrong.
Faced with the murderous aura of the monster in reality, Rubiana felt as though she were suffocating.
The monster, having fully emerged from the rift in the air, approached her slowly, as if assessing its prey.
Rubiana backed away, clenching her teeth tightly.
‘…It’s fine. It’s going to be fine. The spirit will appear any moment now. I won’t die.’
The spirit would come to help her. Then she would become a spirit master!
She darted her eyes around, scanning her surroundings, but there was no sign of the spirit anywhere.
“Ugh!”
Her legs gave out, tangling beneath her, and she collapsed on the spot.
‘If you’re going to appear, can’t you do it now? Please, spirit!’
Her mouth was dry from tension.
Her trembling legs had no strength left, so she couldn’t even stand up again.
Struggling desperately, Rubiana scooted backward on her hips, trying to get away.
But something blocked her path, leaving her no way to move further.
That was when the monster, having finished its assessment, picked up speed toward her.
‘Am I… really going to die here? I thought I had finally become the protagonist… And now I’m just going to die? This is absurd…’
The monster, now at her feet, lunged forward with its gaping maw.
‘I’m really going to die!’
With its teeth closing in, Rubiana squeezed her eyes shut, ready to give up on everything.
“Graaah—!”
A terrible roar rang out.
But no pain followed.
‘Am I… alive?’
Rubiana slowly opened her eyes.
The strange creature was no longer alive—it was nothing but remains.
Its shattered body twitched where it lay scattered across the floor. Relief washed over her, but it was accompanied by a wave of nausea.
Not wanting to ruin her beautiful dress, she took deep breaths to calm herself.
“Are you all right?”
A man suddenly appeared, extending his hand toward her.
Rubiana looked up at him in a daze.
It was the same man she had encountered earlier—black hair, blue eyes.
The moment their eyes met again, a chill ran down her spine.
‘Did this man kill the monster? Still… I don’t have a good feeling about him.’
The man moved his hand closer toward her, still offering it.
“Are you hurt? Can you stand?”
“Ah…”
Rubiana hesitated, staring at his hand.
She didn’t want to get involved with a man who might be the villain in any way.
Especially not when she hadn’t yet met the male lead or made her contract with the spirit.
“Your Grace, are you unharmed? A monster, here in the imperial palace…!”
Another man rushed over.
Rubiana clearly heard him address the first man as “Your Grace the Duke.”
There was only one duke in the empire—
The emperor’s half-brother…
‘Duke Elion Klitzman. The villain of this novel! Ah… Why is my bad feeling never wrong?! Why is the villain here now?’
Rubiana’s heart pounded wildly at the sight of the very man she never wanted to meet.
“Fred, go summon the guards to dispose of the corpse. And check for any breaches in the palace barrier.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
At Elion’s command, the man called Fred hurried away.
Seizing the moment, Rubiana quickly got to her feet.
Her ankle throbbed painfully, but she endured it.
Getting away from here as quickly as possible was her top priority.
“Thanks to you, Your Grace, my life was saved. I will never forget this favor for as long as I live. Truly, I mean it. Well then… I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Bowing deeply and speaking in rapid-fire, Rubiana turned sharply before she could lock eyes with the villain.
Elion let out a short, incredulous laugh as he watched her flee after saying her piece.
He withdrew the hand he had still been holding out, a faint crease forming between his brows.
Even after receiving thanks, he didn’t feel particularly pleased.
It was as if she had been running from something terrifying—as though he were some kind of monster.
‘A monster… Am I one?’
He knew well that people called him a war maniac, a killer.
A faint smirk curved his lips.
It didn’t matter. They would likely never meet again.
Turning without regret, Elion headed for the banquet hall.
No matter how much he disliked parties, he still had to make an appearance.
As the cheerful music from the hall grew louder, a sharp pain pierced his head.
“…It’s starting again…”
The low fever and headaches that had plagued him for the past year had been worsening recently.
The medicine from his physician hadn’t been much help.
Thinking he should visit the Temple of the Crown Prince after the party, Elion pressed his throbbing temple.
Even inside the banquet hall, Rubiana’s heart was still pounding.
‘Ah… That was close. Normally, the villain duke only appears after I become a spirit master and meet the Imperial Knights for the first time. Why did I meet him already?’
She hadn’t expected things to change this much just from stepping outside for a breath of fresh air. Still, she couldn’t allow the original plot to be disrupted.
As she moved toward a corner, hoping to avoid another encounter with Elion, someone caught her attention.
Golden hair shining in the sunlight, green eyes like lush summer leaves.
Taller than most men, with broad shoulders.
His presence was like that of a growling beast, yet his smile was as sweet as cotton candy.
Rubiana’s eyes widened.
‘It’s definitely the male lead! Chad!’
As if drawn by a magnet, the man’s gaze locked onto hers.
Recognizing her, he approached.
“Rubiana? Rubiana Payson, isn’t it?”
Rubiana looked up at the tall man calling her name.
His low, rich voice was unbelievably pleasant.
“It’s been a while, Rubiana. Have you been well?”
It was her turn to respond, but her mind wasn’t in any state to do so.
Meeting the male lead she had dreamed of left her feeling as if she were walking on clouds.
“It’s me. Chad. Chad Preston. Don’t you remember? We used to play together sometimes when we were kids.”
Chad was now right in front of her, speaking again to the dazed Rubiana.
‘As if I could ever forget you. I recognized you instantly.’
Rubiana’s lips parted slowly.
“…Hello, Chad.”
Just speaking his name sent waves of emotion through her.
It was as if she had completely forgotten the panic of meeting the villain before the spirit.
‘Chad… You’re my destiny. Now the real story begins.’
Unfortunately, the joy of meeting the male lead didn’t last long.
Suddenly, a sharp, unbearable pain struck her abdomen.
“Urgh…!”
It felt as if her insides were melting.
Rubiana clutched her stomach.
A hot surge rose up her throat and spilled from her lips—
Blood.
“Aah…”
She felt the strength drain from her body.
Seeing the bright red blood overflowing into her palms, Rubiana froze in terror.
Her elegant dress was quickly stained crimson.
‘So much blood… It hurts… It hurts so much…’
The pain kept intensifying, battering her mercilessly.
Rubiana pressed hard against her stomach.
‘Am I going to die like this? I thought I was finally going to be the heroine… finally able to dream of a happy life…’
The heavens were merciless.
Her body, drained of strength, collapsed forward.
“Rubiana, are you okay? Stay with me!”
“My lady! What in the world…”
Strong arms caught her around the waist just in time, sparing her from hitting the floor—but her mind still swam.
‘This warmth… It must be Chad, right?’
Even in her fading consciousness, she could feel it.
The hands on her waist were warm and gentle beyond measure.
‘My body… feels so heavy. It hurts too much… It shouldn’t hurt this much…’
Her vision flickered in and out.
And the last face she saw before darkness took her—was Duke Elion Klitzman’s.
For the briefest moment, she thought she saw something like pity in his frown as he looked down at her.
‘Why… is it not Chad holding me… but this man? Why do the villain’s arms feel so warm? Why is Elion here…?’
Rubiana’s consciousness was cut off there.
