PHNSV CH 01

Chapter 01: Diana Wellington’s Circumstances

I liked men who were different on the outside and inside.

A cold northern grand duke who was gentle only to his wife.

A tower master who seemed indifferent to everything, yet lost composure whenever my name was mentioned.

A noble crown prince, a high priest, a knight commander… sometimes even beings beyond human.

Men with secrets—men tangled in complicated circumstances.

At least once, I wanted to get deeply involved with someone like that.

…But I never meant it like this.

***

“Please, I beg you. Just give me a little more time… Next time, I’ll definitely—”

“Your circumstances are none of my concern.”

The cold voice was sharp enough to sever limbs.

Ian Crawford.

A young duke known for being kind and fair to everyone.

“Have you forgotten how many chances I’ve already given you?”

“Argh!”

The man who always smiled gently was now crushing someone’s fingers, making his public reputation seem like a joke.

Why did I choose this lounge?

And why did they come in here to have a secret meeting?

And why did my shoes have to break today of all days?!

“The money from the royal casino is practically mine. How dare you touch it.”

“I sent people! Trustworthy ones—”

“What should I do about your incompetence? At the very least, my partner would suggest killing you… and that sounds like a rather good idea.”

I had accidentally overheard the villain’s secret conversation.

All I could do was hold my breath and wait for this moment to pass.

“I’ll give you fifteen days. If you fail again to find those idiots and deal with them…”

“Y-Young Duke…!”

“Then I’ll sell your organs to make up the loss.”

If you value your life, pay up.

He wasn’t holding a weapon, but that was no different from a robbery.

No—when a smiling, narrow-eyed villain says something like that, it’s closer to murder.

The danger doubles.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes! Yes!”

“Then get out. Before I really feel like killing you.”

The subordinate scrambled out of the lounge in terror.

I desperately hoped Ian Crawford would leave too.

Because now… I was the only one left.

Please spare me! I’m just quietly breathing like a leftover piece of pottery!

I only came out to get some air on the balcony!

“……”

But despite my silent screams, he didn’t leave.

“Perfume…”

Ian suddenly began looking around, as if searching for something.

My heart felt like it would explode.

What is he doing? What is he looking for?

Then suddenly, footsteps approached rapidly.

“—!”

Panicking, I searched for somewhere to hide.

But it was too late.

The balcony curtain hiding me was pulled aside in an instant.

And Ian Crawford appeared.

“Miss Diana?”

“Ah—!”

His bright red eyes locked onto me like I was prey.

I knew instinctively.

This was the moment where, if I wanted to live, I should probably hand over money or something.

I stumbled backward, but soon hit the railing.

“What are you doing here?”

“I-I was just… resting. I felt a bit suffocated…”

“Did you hear the conversation just now?”

“……”

I couldn’t answer.

No matter what I said, I was sure I couldn’t escape this situation.

That’s how dangerous Ian Crawford felt right now.

“I’ll ask again. Did you hear what we were talking about, Miss Diana?”

The polite smile characteristic of his narrow eyes had completely vanished.

The fake smile he showed when we first met was gone too.

What stood before me now was the true face of the hidden villain I had tried so hard to avoid.

I’m doomed.

If this was the fate of someone who transmigrated into a novel, then it was completely unfair.

Until recently, there had been no reason for me to get involved with this man at all.

Someone, please save me!

How did this even happen?

To explain that, we have to go back two days.

***

Two Days Earlier

“Get married.”

My mother elegantly sipped her tea and repeated herself.

“I can’t wait any longer. You must get married, Diana.”

“Mother…”

Here it comes.

Diana shut her eyes tightly, as if already exhausted.

Helena was an ideal mother—reasonable and easy to talk to.

But when it came to marriage, she became completely stubborn.

It wasn’t the first time, but as someone who still retained modern values from her past life, it was tiring.

I hope she doesn’t push too hard today…

Diana tried to tune her out—until the conversation took a serious turn.

“There’s a marriage proposal.”

“…What?”

“It’s a letter from the Crawford ducal family. The duchess has taken an interest in you.”

Helena handed her the letter.

The moment Diana recognized the sender, her body froze.

“She must have a good eye for people. If it’s someone like the young Duke Crawford, I’d welcome it anytime.”

“Mother!”

“You’re meeting him at the Valentine Marquis’ party in two days.”

“I don’t want to. I told you clearly—I don’t want to get married.”

“Why? Because you think you can live comfortably as a wealthy heiress?”

Three years ago, Diana gained inheritance rights due to a land reform project.

At first, she had tried to find a suitable husband.

But after realizing how difficult it was, she decided she’d rather live as a rich, unmarried woman.

Of course, her parents strongly opposed it.

“Mother, I just want something natural—”

“If you’re about to say you want a ‘natural relationship,’ don’t even start. How many times have you used that excuse?”

“Ugh…”

“I’ll say it again. We cannot watch you live alone your whole life and die that way.”

Helena’s tone turned firm.

“At least meet him. The Duchess personally asked about you—we cannot ignore that courtesy.”

“……”

Seeing her daughter’s silence, Helena softened her voice.

“He’s truly a good man. I’ve met him a couple of times—men like him are rare.”

“But…”

“Considering our family’s position as newly established nobles, there’s no better match. Your father agrees as well.”

She tried her best to persuade her.

“Diana, you never know how fate will come to you.”

Fate?

There was something like that.

But in the worst possible way.

“Please don’t close your heart completely. If you meet him, I’m sure you’ll change your mind.”

After saying that, her mother left the room.

Left alone, Diana grabbed her head.

So it’s come to this…

She hadn’t avoided marriage from the beginning.

Her change started at the age of fourteen.

That was when she regained memories.

Memories that this world was actually a novel—

A romance fantasy novel titled “I Will Save the Prince!”

And she had transmigrated into it.

Diana Wellington was just an extra.

More precisely, a minor character used by the hidden villain.

No wonder my life felt so easy. I’m just an extra who gets used for money laundering and then dies… It couldn’t get worse than this.

Before remembering her past life, Diana’s life had been smooth sailing.

As if she were being compensated for her miserable previous life.

But now—

“No matter how hard I tried, it still ended up like this.”

She sighed, staring at the letter.

The contents were simple:

They were interested in a marriage, so the young people should meet.

How hard had she tried to avoid receiving this letter?

Anyone but the Crawford family.

She avoided the villain and searched hard for a decent husband.

But every man she approached backed away tearfully, telling her to find someone better.

So no matter what, things will follow the original story?

The force of the novel’s plot was terrifying.

Even though she was beautiful and wealthy, she hadn’t received a single proposal.

That alone proved it.

“The price of Diana’s desperate love was poison.
Even as she died, she couldn’t accept how her fiancé had changed.”

In the original story, Diana falls in love with the hidden villain at first sight.

He uses her—and in the end, kills her himself.

A disposable character, even used to highlight the villain’s cruelty.

There was no way she would accept that fate.

Honestly, I don’t care how things turn out anymore… but I don’t want to die.

Her attempts to find a husband had failed repeatedly.

Eventually, her will to marry—tied to her survival—faded away.

What remained was her mindset as someone who had transmigrated.

I have to twist the original story somehow.

She gathered the last bit of her determination.

How could she change the story?

In other words—

How do I stop being seen as an easy-to-use fiancée?

After much thought, she reached a conclusion.

If I look weak, he’ll try to kill me. So I should pretend to be just as dangerous as him.

Of course, she didn’t mean becoming an actual villain.

But at least she needed to give the impression that she wasn’t someone who could be quietly eliminated.

Only then could she escape—or break off the engagement.

Her mother had already started noticing something strange, and excuses had their limits.

I absolutely refuse to die like this.

Diana quickly made up her mind.