Chapter 2
“…This is troublesome. You seem to know who I am.”
A low, chilling voice came from behind the mask covering his face up to the eyes. His voice sounded different from usual. Clearly filled with hostility—yet, disturbingly seductive at the same time. I had to be insane for thinking that.
His grip on my arm tightened.
“Ugh!”
A sharp pain shot up my arm. I managed to swallow the scream rising in my throat by clamping a hand over my mouth. Just then, someone shouted from somewhere:
“F–fire!”
“Is anyone there? There’s a fire! Fire!”
I turned toward the direction of the shouting. At the end of the corridor, orange flames flickered. Along with them, I caught the faint smell of smoke.
“Fire! Fire!”
The frantic shouts rang out again, and moments later, the sound of many footsteps filled the hall. And in my head, the alarm went off again.
I shouldn’t be here.
Instinctively, I stepped back, but the man gripping my arm yanked me toward him with even more force. Startled, I looked up just as he slowly lifted his hand and pulled down the mask that hid his face.
The moon, which had been hiding behind clouds, revealed itself at that exact moment, shining through the corridor windows.
In the sudden moonlight, the man swept back his softly glowing golden hair, his unusually red lips curling into a smile.
“Shh.”
Kylein Livrieden.
The male lead of this world.
I had witnessed something I absolutely shouldn’t have.
His dangerous smile made me swallow hard without even realizing it.
Kylein lifted his long, pale index finger and brought it to his lips. Despite the urgent situation, his movements were unhurried, almost leisurely.
I nodded quickly—yes, yes, I’ll be quiet.
“Good.”
The word sounded gentle.
But his expression and tone were lethal—cold enough that no one would be surprised if he killed me right then and there.
He glanced briefly toward the growing commotion, then strode past me, moving somewhere deeper into the palace corridors.
He stopped, turned his head slightly, and looked back at me. As if he wanted to say something.
But he closed his lips again, turned away, and disappeared.
“Hey! You there!”
I stared blankly at the spot where he’d stood until someone’s voice snapped me back to reality. I hurriedly moved in the direction Kylein had taken.
After walking in a daze for a while, I finally spotted the distant entrance to the banquet hall. I stopped and looked behind me. Thankfully, no one seemed to be following.
“Ha…”
Trying to calm my pounding heart, I exhaled deeply. My palms were drenched with sweat—soaked enough that the fabric of my dress darkened when I wiped them.
My legs trembled. I leaned against a column for support.
“I’m doomed. Completely doomed.”
Grabbing my light brown hair in despair, I let out a tiny scream. Fortunately, the noise of the banquet drowned me out.
On that moonlit night of April, Imperial Year 745…
I, Elliana Rudd, had become the witness of the Imperial First Library arson incident.
“Why is she moving so slowly today?”
My mother, frowning as if she’d bitten into something rotten, looked at me as she stepped into the carriage.
My father, escorting her, glanced at me and whispered, “Elliana was always like this anyway.”
I can hear you, Father.
“Do we… really have to go today?”
“No.”
A sharp, firm rejection.
Mother climbed into the carriage. My father pouted a little, then offered his hand to me.
“Let’s get in before your mother gets upset again, Ellie.”
With heavy steps, I approached the carriage. I grasped my father’s soft, warm hand and climbed inside.
The door closed, and the coachman set the carriage in motion.
“Tonight’s the last day. Didn’t any man catch your eye?”
I shook my head. Mother sighed deeply and snapped open her fan. She fanned herself irritably while Father wiped sweat from his forehead, nervous.
“Don’t rush her. Ellie’s only nineteen—”
“Exactly the problem! Other young ladies already have fiancés or are married!”
Father gently placed his hand over hers, soothing her. You were bedridden until recently—don’t get worked up, you’ll make yourself ill.
Thanks to Father’s coaxing, Mother’s anger softened a bit.
Even with two grown children, they were still embarrassingly affectionate. I looked away from the middle-aged couple being all lovey-dovey again.
Outside the window, the sun was sinking into the horizon.
Just get through today.
Just today.
Last night, I saw nothing.
Last night, I met no one.
I repeated it in my head like hypnosis. Despite my turmoil, the carriage sped toward the palace.
Most nobles, except the highest-ranking ones, arrived early to socialize and build connections—and our family was no exception.
As soon as we entered the hall, I slipped into the most secluded corner I could find, out of sight.
Mother glared daggers at me.
I could practically hear her shouting:
Why did I even buy you that expensive dress if you’re going to hide?!
I bowed my head apologetically in her direction.
Thankfully, Countess Marshal approached Mother, rescuing me from her gaze.
As the banquet officially began, high nobles of the Livrieden Empire gradually made their entrance. The atmosphere was noticeably different from the first two days.
I sipped champagne in my corner and listened to the conversations around me.
“I can’t believe there was a fire inside the palace—inside the Imperial Library, no less!”
“I know!”
“And they suspect arson? His Majesty banned anything flammable near the library!”
“To think palace security is so lax these days…”
Everyone was talking about last night’s arson.
I knew there had been a fire, but I hadn’t known it was the library.
The Imperial Library was considered the heart of the empire’s knowledge—scholars dreamed of visiting it at least once. Naturally, nobles were aflame with curiosity and outrage.
“Did they catch the culprit?”
At that word—culprit—my ears perked up.
“No. Not yet.”
“Good heavens.”
“They say the damage is minimal, though—”
“That’s not the point! Someone infiltrated the very heart of the empire and set it on fire!”
So the culprit hadn’t been caught.
I breathed a tiny sigh of relief and took another sip of champagne.
This was before the original story even started. I had no idea why the male lead would set fire to the library—there was no such event in the novel.
I glanced around the hall.
The Emperor and Empress hadn’t appeared on the first day, the second, or even the last day.
It seemed deliberately arranged to put more attention on the Crown Prince.
At the center stood Ferdinand, the villain of The Fake Saintess Who Saves the Male Lead—and the star of tonight’s banquet. Slender, pale, around 178cm, with dull green eyes lacking Kylein’s brilliance, and a small scar beside his right eye.
In the novel, he was compared to a “snake.”
And indeed, upon seeing him, I immediately understood why.
As he was speaking with Duke Highmore, the Crown Prince turned his head. I followed his line of sight—and saw…
Oh no.
I ducked behind a pillar.
I had been relieved he didn’t come the first two days, but of course he would appear now—on the last day.
When Kylein entered, the topics of conversation changed instantly.
“Prince Kylein looks stunning today.”
“Haha, even as a man, I can admit he’s impressive.”
I want to see him…
“Even that red formal uniform looks incredible on him.”
I want to see him so badly.
I had hidden myself too quickly to get a proper look at his outfit.
My inner selves began arguing.
“Just a little peek. Just a tiny peek.”
“No! Haven’t you seen horror movies? The curious one dies first!”
“Wouldn’t it be nice to see that face one last time before you die?”
“Why would that matter if you’re dead?!”
There is always a winner in a fight.
Curiosity won.
I slowly peeked my head out.
