The man I had been chasing was not there.
In that dead-end alley, there stood only another man I knew.
Without realizing it, I took a step back.
“Where are you going?”
The man with jet-black hair and beast-like golden eyes stared at me as if piercing through me. His expression seemed like he was smiling, yet also like he was angry.
Duke Serbil Berriot.
Seeing him again after years, he looked the same—yet also completely different.
I instinctively stepped back again. The duke, who had one hand in his pocket, tilted his head slightly and spoke.
“Planning to run again?”
“If possible.”
I didn’t know where the courage came from, but I forced the words out. My voice trembled at the end, making it almost meaningless.
“Ha.”
The duke let out a short laugh.
That laugh sounded cold… and strangely sad, which confused me.
In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance between us, and foolishly, I backed toward the wall instead of an escape route.
Naturally, my back hit the wall.
“I searched for you for so long…”
His voice was low.
“And you were here.”
The tall man pressed one hand against the wall, looming over me.
“I’ve been looking for you for a long time, teacher.”
“W-why…? Is there… something inconvenient?”
I tried to smile, but my lips trembled too much to form one. I was too scared.
Handsome, yet overwhelmingly imposing—the villain of this world, Duke Serbil Berriot—his heated words poured down over me.
“Inconvenient?”
He scoffed at me.
Why is he doing this to me?!
I wanted to protest, but the atmosphere made it impossible.
He frowned.
“My heart hurts, Ailet.”
“Excuse me?”
“Ever since you ran away… it hurts here.”
He clutched at his chest, wrinkling his clothes, then suddenly leaned his face close to mine.
‘Gasp.’
Startled, I tried to step back—but there was nowhere left to go.
Tilting his head slightly, he demanded,
“Why did you leave?”
“I had my reasons.”
“What reasons?”
He stepped back just a little, breathing shortly. I didn’t answer, and he pressed further.
“Was someone troubling you? Did you ever think to consult me? Or… did you not trust me that much?”
“There was no one. I just hated that place… and wanted to leave as soon as possible.”
I wanted to escape from his golden gaze, as bright as the sun, fixed on me.
If I stayed any longer, I felt like I would burn.
After a brief silence, he asked,
“…Enough to abandon me?”
“…Yes.”
“Ha.”
He ran a hand roughly through his hair, looking incredulous. I forced myself not to blink as I lied.
To survive.
I had to become someone unrelated to Duke Berriot.
‘Then why does my chest hurt so much?’
I didn’t understand, but it was truly painful.
Memories of when we lived like family flashed through my mind, tearing at my heart.
He, too, looked pained as he glared at me and spoke angrily.
“You promised back then. That you’d take me with you when you left. But you took only that fox brat and left me behind?”
At his accusation, I bit my lip.
“I… had no choice.”
“Ha. The same answer again.”
He let out a bitter laugh.
“Ailet, is that all your promises are worth?”
“I’m sorry.”
“That’s it? I searched for you like a madman for two years!”
He pressed me harder, demanding answers, but I had nothing more to say.
The moment I realized you were the villain and ran away like a coward to survive—that was the end for us.
Before I could become miserable, I chose to abandon you first.
Yes… from your perspective, I must look like trash.
But for me, I had no choice if I wanted to live.
Find the saintess you truly love and live happily.
If you end up with her, maybe you won’t become a villain—you might live as an ordinary duke.
‘Then it’ll be a true happy ending. For you… and for everyone.’
Holding back the tears that threatened to fall, I forced out harsh words.
“Move. It’s been years—why are you still talking about promises? You’re the noble Duke Berriot. Use your status and power to build a new life.”
“A new life? So you like that kind of life?”
His eyes suddenly sharpened, as if he might devour me, sending chills down my spine.
“Of course. And you can be happy too.”
“The only place I can be happy… is by your side.”
I flinched. Why would a man like him say something like that? My life was nothing like his—I just ran a small herbal shop.
“What are you talking about?”
I tried to calm him.
“Look around you. Your happiness is close to you.”
“What are you even saying, Ailet?!”
He clenched the hand pressed against the wall and shouted in a suppressed voice.
Then he bit his lower lip and let out a heated sigh, looking at me like he was about to cry.
“If it was going to be like this… why did you save me?”
“Your Grace…”
“I won’t give up.”
What exactly was he refusing to give up on?
“We can’t be friends. We can’t live like family anymore. Let’s just leave things as they are.”
“No.”
The duke grabbed my wrist, dragged me to the front of the herbal shop, opened the door, and pushed me inside.
“Let go!”
“Ailet! You—Sate?!”
As Ain rushed over, the duke released my wrist. I let out a breath and asked Ain,
“The patient? Is he okay?”
“He disappeared while I went after you. But why did you bring him here?”
Seeing Sate—no, the duke—for the first time in a while, Ain smirked.
The duke glared at him.
“Long time no see, fox brat.”
“You bastard.”
The two openly showed hostility.
Ain stepped in front of me protectively.
“Come here, Ailet.”
The duke looked displeased, then spoke slowly.
“That man earlier… is my secretary. The emperor tried to poison him.”
“What?”
Wait—if it’s the emperor, that’s the male lead, right?
“The gentle, handsome, kind man who shines just by existing—he tried to kill his own secretary?”
As I unknowingly described him just like in the book, both the duke and Ain’s expressions twisted.
“You like that type?”
“So you like men who look like that, Ailet?”
Both of them questioned me with displeased looks.
“N-no! That’s not the point right now!”
I stammered. Honestly, I had never even seen the emperor’s face.
I glanced at Duke Berriot, who looked far more refined than before.
‘My type is you, you idiot.’
But since you’re the villain, we can’t even afford to be close.
After sighing, I said firmly,
“Don’t come again.”
“I’ll take that as an invitation.”
At his crooked reply, a vein popped on my forehead.
“I preferred you when you were obedient, Sate.”
“Even an obedient dog goes mad when its owner abandons it.”
“Seriously…”
I grumbled and glared at him, but he remained unfazed.
“Don’t even think about running. I’m already thinking of a way to keep you right by my side.”
Watching Duke Serbil Berriot leave after saying that, my legs gave out, and I collapsed.
‘No way… that method isn’t making me his physician, right?’
I’m doomed.
Not only must things not follow the original story, but seeing him again stirred old memories, weakening my resolve.
Sigh… this is driving me crazy.
“Take care, Ailet.”
“Yeah, Ain. Watch the shop.”
The next morning, I boarded a carriage with some rare herbs I had prepared in advance. They were for the imperial palace.
‘Huh… he didn’t come.’
I had worried that the duke—Serbil—might show up at the shop early in the morning, but it turned out to be unnecessary.
‘Right. Maybe he just wanted to find me because I disappeared. And now that he has, maybe he’s disappointed.’
Lost in thought, I soon arrived at the palace. At the usual back entrance, the youngest palace physician approached me.
Plump as always, he wore a greasy smile.
“Hello, Ailet.”
“Good morning.”
“I like how bright you are. It’s like sunlight shining. Haha. How about dinner together tonight?”
He grinned widely.
Ugh.
I could clearly see food still stuck in his mouth.
Great! Another dumb FL. How is this appealing anymore I don’t understand.