Episode 5
I can’t believe I forgot something so important. I’m such an idiot…!
“What’s wrong?”
Duke Raymond looked at me with wide eyes, clearly startled. He looked just like a rabbit surprised by a noise in the bushes. So cute…!
“It’s nothing! Hahaha.”
I waved my hands again and laughed awkwardly. I couldn’t tell him just yet, so I sat back down and picked up my fork and knife to show him everything was fine. I started cutting the steak on my plate.
Slice, slice…
Why is this steak so tough?
I kept pressing down on the knife, but the steak wouldn’t cut properly. Duke Raymond stepped closer and said,
“My lady, shall I help—”
“No, I’ve got it—ah!”
Just then, I pushed too hard. The knife slipped, and the plate cracked in half. The blade flew forward and accidentally cut the Duke’s hand.
The steak refused to be cut, but of course it had no trouble slicing through skin! And the plate—why did that break too?
This proved the knife wasn’t dull—the steak was just ridiculously tough. But that didn’t matter right now.
“Ahhh! I’m so sorry!!”
I screamed like I’d been stabbed myself, then threw the knife aside. I quickly grabbed the Duke’s hand and brought it close to my eyes to check the wound.
It was just a tiny cut—like a paper cut—but a small drop of blood had formed at the tip of his finger. The moment I saw it, my heart cracked open like it was being torn apart.
I didn’t even think. I panicked and instinctively put his finger in my mouth.
There was no time to scold myself for hurting my favorite character. All I could think about was fixing it. That thought took over completely.
!!!
The Duke froze.
Did it sting?
He didn’t move. He just stood there like a statue, completely stiff.
“I’m so sorry…”
“I-It’s fine. It’s just a scratch.”
“No! You need proper treatment!”
I couldn’t stop pacing in place.
How could I make him bleed?! What is wrong with me?!
Just as I was about to spiral into self-blame, he gently pulled his hand away and hid it behind his back. His face was red, maybe from pain—but he seemed to be acting strong on purpose.
“I’ll apply ointment for you.”
“V-Very well.”
Maybe he sensed how sorry I felt. After hesitating, the Duke called someone in. A maid brought in a small medicine box and left quietly.
I opened it and found a small tube of ointment for cuts. Twisting the cap, I dabbed a little onto my fingertip and said,
“Please give me your hand.”
“Here.”
The Duke slowly reached out his injured hand.
His long, elegant fingers were so beautiful that my heart fluttered like spring blossoms.
I’m finally touching my favorite’s skin…
My hands trembled as I reached forward, moving as carefully as if I were holding something priceless.
Closer… and closer… and finally, I gently touched his finger.
Zzzap!
It felt like an electric shock ran through my body. Even the tips of my hair stood up.
I softly rubbed the ointment onto his cut. He flinched—maybe it stung. My heart ached from guilt, but at the same time, I felt a strange excitement… and hated myself for it.
This feels nice, but it shouldn’t… but it does.
With those mixed feelings swirling in my chest, I carefully finished applying the ointment.
“All done.”
“Thank you.”
As soon as I said it, he quickly pulled his hand back. Did it hurt that much?
His face was still red, and seeing that made my guilt return.
He ordered the maid to clean up the broken plate and knife and asked for a new steak. This time, the meat came pre-sliced into neat, bite-sized pieces.
“Please eat.”
“Okay.”
We finished the rest of the meal quietly, only focusing on the food.
The Duke, as usual, kept his head down and ate silently. I, on the other hand, couldn’t stop thinking about the serious thing I had remembered earlier.
It was something important—something that involved the Duke’s safety.
In the original novel, after returning Aileen, the Duke faced a huge danger. The Emperor began his counterattack.
One thing that always felt strange to me was that Aileen never told anyone Raymond was the kidnapper. Even when people kept asking her, all she said was, “He wore a mask the whole time. I couldn’t see.”
Since Aileen was a minor character in the original, her thoughts weren’t fully explained. The author didn’t go into detail—just a few short lines. But I remember reading comments where some fans guessed maybe she liked the Duke. No one really knew the truth.
Still, the Emperor suspected the Duke. Probably because he had his own guilt and fear. As someone without a child, the Emperor saw Raymond, the second heir to the throne, as a threat.
He was probably waiting for an excuse—and this was it.
“Goodnight, my lady.”
The Duke said goodbye and walked away in a hurry after we left the dining hall. He didn’t even give me a chance to reply, so he must’ve had something urgent to do.
What’s so urgent at this hour?
The Duke holds a very high rank. He’s a noble of the highest order, related to the royal family. Even if he did nothing for the rest of his life, he’d be fine.
But he’s still so diligent. That makes him even more amazing—and a little heartbreaking.
A maid guided me back to my room.
Once there, I lay on my bed and finally had time to sort through my thoughts. I hadn’t had a chance to think last night because I fell asleep too quickly.
The male lead, Emperor Kyle, might be terrible, but he’s still the protagonist. He’s favored by the world, blessed by the story’s “power,” while the villain is the opposite.
That means, naturally, everything will turn against the villain.
In other words, even though the Duke fights against the Emperor, he’ll eventually lose more and more.
And I couldn’t let that happen.
If I had to name the reason why I was brought into this world, it would be this—to save him. I came to this world to protect Raymond Ruslo. I was like his guardian angel.
“This guardian angel is here to save you!”
I clenched my fist and sat up with determination. Bathed in moonlight, I looked like a dramatic actor giving a solo monologue.
The Emperor’s first move was this:
He bribed one of the Duke’s soldiers—Cargo. That traitor switched sides for a bit of money and started working for the Emperor.
In the original story, Cargo secretly passed on the Duke’s travel plans. The Emperor’s people used that info and waited for the right time.
Eventually, when the Duke went alone to meet an informant in a quiet alley, they tried to assassinate him. He fought back with some soldiers but still got injured.
The wound wasn’t deadly, but after that, the Duke’s power began to crumble. That one traitor caused so much damage.
That’s the danger of betrayal—it spreads doubt and mistrust like wildfire.
His political strength was weakened, yes—but for me, one thing mattered more:
I hate seeing a cut on my favorite’s finger. But an actual wound?! Absolutely not.
I have to stop it no matter what!
With that decision in mind, I went to find the Duke the next morning.
“Where is Duke Raymond?”
“He is in his office right now.”
Just as I expected. I asked a passing servant and headed there.
Even though I had meals and desserts with him, those times weren’t private. Too many people were around. I needed to talk to him in a quiet, closed space.
Even as a “prisoner,” I knew his schedule from the novel—so I could find him easily.
I mean, yeah, it’s funny how a prisoner is just casually walking around the mansion, but still.
Knock knock knock.
“Come in.”
Creak.
With his permission, I opened the heavy door. Inside, I saw the big desk—and the Duke, busy working with documents.
S-So handsome!
A man in uniform, concentrating on work, was the very definition of sexy.
His sharp nose, strong jawline, slightly furrowed brow, and the veins on his hands as he wrote…
I could stare at him all day and never get bored.
I almost got a nosebleed just from looking. I barely kept my sanity when he looked up.
“Lady Cowett?”
“D-Duke… I have something to tell you.”
He looked surprised to see it was me who knocked.
Maybe he sensed something in my determined expression. He immediately set his pen down and said, “Go ahead.”
He walked over to the sofa and gestured for me to sit too.
“I’ll call for some tea.”
“No, that’s okay.”
I shook my head quickly. This wasn’t a time for tea. I needed to focus.
I took a breath and cleared my throat.
“Duke Raymond.”
He looked me straight in the eyes.
His serious gaze made my heart race, but this wasn’t the time to be flustered. I had to stay focused—this was too important.
If I didn’t convince him now, he’d end up getting hurt.
