chapter 001
Prologue
“Want to Prove You’re Handsome? Go to Hildes Street?”
Subtitle: Mysterious serial kidnapping of handsome men strikes again.
On the 2nd, another report was filed that a handsome man had gone missing on Hildes Street in the capital.
The victim is a man in his early twenties visiting from the northern Palz region. According to the reporter and acquaintance, he had dazzling blond hair and striking features.
(…omitted…)
According to an imperial palace investigator, judging by its similarity to the “Hildes Street Serial Handsome Kidnapping Case,” this incident is also presumed to be the work of the same perpetrator.
The “Hildes Street Serial Handsome Kidnapping Case” refers to a series of kidnappings that began on February 17, Year 714, on Hildes Street.
A key characteristic is that all victims are exceptionally handsome men over 170 cm tall. Another unusual trait is that, unlike typical kidnapping cases, all victims are released safely after 30 days.
The reason this case gained particular attention was due to interviews with the victims.
Below are excerpts from interviews with the third, seventh, and twenty-eighth victims:
– Third Victim
“At first, I didn’t even realize I’d been kidnapped. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. There was a feast laid out as if it were natural, and the bathtub with warm water was seriously incredible. I even wondered if nobles lived like this.
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind being kidnapped just one more time. After experiencing that for free, it’s hard to feel motivated to earn money.
Kidnapper, if you happen to read this, please kidnap me again. Please?”
– Seventh Victim
“I once dreamed of becoming a judge. But for someone who might starve to death tomorrow, studying was a luxury. When I had nearly given up on my dream, I heard rumors about the serial handsome kidnapping case.
Out of desperation, I deliberately walked along Hildes Street. And I really was kidnapped.
(…omitted…)
Even just studying law books during those 30 days made me happy. But the kidnapper’s kindness didn’t end there.
When I returned home after being released, I saw something unbelievable. There were stacks of law books in front of my house.
I instinctively knew—it was the kidnapper’s… no, my benefactor’s gift.
And today, a few months later, I have been accepted into the academy’s law department as the first commoner ever. With a full scholarship.
This is all thanks to my benefactor. I want to grow into a good person who gives back, just like them.”
– Twenty-Eighth Victim
“Hotels across the country should reflect on themselves. I’ve paid a lot to stay in many places, but none of them were as good as that place. How does it make sense that hotels that charge money provide worse service than a kidnapper?”
As seen in these cases, the peculiar aspect of the “Hildes Street Serial Handsome Kidnapping Case” is that the victims are not tortured or threatened—instead, they are treated with extreme hospitality.
All victims from the thirty incidents unanimously described the place they were held as a “paradise.”
Including this latest case, the total number of incidents has reached thirty-one, yet there are still no clues about the culprit.
A dedicated investigation team led by Princess Veronica von Agrian has been formed, but even after 13 months since the first case, there has been no progress.
There is no information about the criminal’s gender, age, residence, or even motive.
Notably, none of the victims have ever encountered the culprit directly, making the investigation even more difficult.
Some speculate that since all victims are undeniably handsome, the criminal may be a deviant who derives satisfaction from making handsome men happy—but nothing has been confirmed.
The problem is that, despite the lack of information, large crowds are gathering on Hildes Street—men hoping to confirm their own attractiveness and perhaps enjoy a free “vacation.”
However, the imperial security office and investigation team have urged people to refrain from such behavior.
Princess Veronica stated,
“The perpetrator’s unusual behavioral pattern may be a preparatory stage for a much larger crime,”
and advised residents to limit going outside for the time being.
— Reporter Philip Brandt
Chapter 1: The Appearance of the Serial Handsome Kidnapper
Hildes Street, located on the outskirts of the capital.
A street lined with small shops is unusually noisy today with chatter.
“Did you see the newspaper?”
“What, that kidnapper story? Of course. This is already the thirty-first time, right?”
“With this many people around, how do they keep kidnapping only handsome men without getting caught? Could it actually be a ghost?”
“Ghost, my foot. The investigators are just lazy. What’s the point of paying taxes if they can’t catch a single criminal?”
“Hey, watch your mouth. Don’t you know Princess Veronica is in charge? You could get arrested for insulting royalty.”
The fruit vendors started arguing, forgetting about their customers.
I pretended to browse fruit while secretly listening.
“Come on, how is that an insult? Walking around with a face like yours is closer to a crime.”
“Now you’ve done it! Anyone hearing you would think you’re handsome yourself—yet you haven’t been kidnapped!”
“Hah! It’s just that the kidnapper hasn’t seen my face yet. Just wait—my name will be in the paper as the thirty-second victim.”
Are they actually hoping to be kidnapped?
Their absurd remarks gave me a headache.
Sure, there were rumors about being kept in unimaginable luxury, but still—
“Kidnapping isn’t a joke!”
One of the merchants who had been silent suddenly snapped.
“There you go again with nonsense. Enough! Get back to work.”
He shook his head, then made eye contact with me.
“Oh, we have a customer. Miss, what would you like?”
Come to think of it, did Ren like oranges?
Thinking of my subordinate waiting at the hideout, I pointed.
“Six of these, please.”
The merchant quickly packed them and handed them over.
“Thank you—oh? There’s an extra one?”
“A little bonus so you come again. Things are chaotic these days, so stay safe.”
Another vendor chimed in.
“Yes, be careful. Who knows what that kidnapper might do next.”
Though it was said with concern, I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
Me? Get kidnapped? By that handsome kidnapper?
I waved it off.
“Oh, I’m not handsome. Why would they kidnap me?”
But the merchant looked alarmed.
“What are you talking about? There’s no guarantee the kidnapper will only target handsome men. Pretty ladies like you should be careful too!”
“No, no. Still, I’ll be careful. Thank you for worrying.”
“Good thinking. You never know what’s going on in a criminal’s mind.”
How would I know? There’s probably no one who knows better than me.
Swallowing the words I couldn’t say aloud, I smiled instead.
Contrary to their concerns, I would never become the thirty-second victim.
The culprit who had consistently targeted only handsome men wouldn’t suddenly switch to women.
How do I know?
Because—
I am the rumored serial handsome kidnapper.
* * *
How did someone as insignificant as me become the culprit of a headline-making case?
It all began like this:
Twenty years ago, I was born as the illegitimate child of Marquis Schmidt.
And like most illegitimate children, I grew up in hardship.
My mother died when I was too young to remember, and I was registered into the family as the eldest daughter.
To the marchioness, I was nothing but a thorn in her side.
Weak and young, I endured emotional abuse from her and my half-sister, Leoni.
To make matters worse, even my biological father disliked me.
No one protected me.
But I didn’t resent it.
After all, to the marchioness, I was just the daughter of her husband’s mistress.
Honestly, I was grateful they didn’t starve me to death.
Of course, that didn’t mean I intended to stay in that cursed family forever.
After a long wait, I finally became an adult.
“That was already a year and a half ago.”
When I declared my independence, my father generously gave me money and kicked me out.
“Thought you were just stupid, but you have some shame. Take this and get out of my sight.”
It wasn’t pleasant to be thrown out on a rainy day, but it was what I wanted.
I took the check and tried to board the carriage.
But my half-sister, who had always bullied me, wouldn’t stay quiet on the day I left.
As I stepped onto the carriage—
the step collapsed.
The culprit was obvious.
“Leoni… messing around again…!”
I lost my balance midair—
Crash!
I hit the back of my head and blacked out.
It might not seem related to becoming a serial kidnapper, but this was the beginning of everything.
At the hospital, I had a long dream.
A dream of my past life.
And I realized—
This world I lived in was actually the setting of a tragic novel written by my friend.
Worse—
I was just a minor villain who gets brutally killed early in the story after kidnapping the male lead.
* * *
Back when I was still Korean—
I had a friend who dreamed of becoming a romance-fantasy novelist.
I often read and reviewed her work.
That’s how I first read the novel I reincarnated into: “The Blood-Stained Flower.”
“How is it? Is it good?”
“It’s really good. If you submit this, it’ll definitely succeed.”
It was over 600,000 characters long, but I was completely captivated.
The characters were especially memorable:
Ludovica — a noble lady who lost her parents to her own brother.
Kallius — a prince imprisoned and abused for life after his powers were discovered.
Their dark revenge story was deeply moving.
It was nearly perfect—
except for one fatal flaw.
“So… what does the male lead even look like?”
(Excerpt from the novel…)
Despite detailed descriptions of nearly every character—
even minor extras—
there was almost no description of the male lead, Kallius Agrian.
I even reread it to make sure I hadn’t missed it.
When I asked, my friend hesitated.
“I… actually can’t decide what he looks like.”
“The author can’t decide the main character’s appearance?”
“What about silver hair and blue eyes?”
“I thought of that too! But he’s so perfect, everything suits him—silver hair, black hair, gold eyes, gray hair… everything works!”
“…Then just pick one and submit it already.”
“What? Then what about red eyes? Or platinum blond? Ugh, why did I make him so perfect…”
She debated for hours but couldn’t decide.
Six months later, I finally got a call:
“I decided Kallius’s appearance!”
“Really? Congrats! So what does he look like?”
“You’ll be shocked. It fits perfectly with the story.”
As I crossed the street—
She said:
“He’s incredibly handsome, and his hair is—”
HONK!!
A loud noise drowned her voice.
I turned—
and saw a truck rushing toward me.
I tried to move—
but it hit me.
And just like that, my first life ended.
When I opened my eyes—
I had reincarnated as the minor villain,
Vivian Schmidt.
