NLBM CH 02

Chapter 2

A hazy smoke spread thickly like fog.

Screams rang out from all directions.

I tried to steady myself amid the chaos, but my consciousness kept fading.

Am I really going to die like this?

Other people get reincarnated into novels and live well.

So why am I like this?

I don’t know who dragged me into this body, but if they have any conscience, they should at least let me live longer.

Unable to hold back my anger, I shouted toward the sky with all my strength as I collapsed.

“You bastard.”

For a brief moment, I thought I saw a man through my blurred vision…

But I didn’t care.

Whoever dragged me here was definitely a complete jerk.

Just as death was about to swallow me—

[Remember. Bentley, Cecilia, and Ka□□.]

A faint voice echoed in my mind.

A scene played out like a video.

A veiled woman grabbed me with trembling hands and spoke urgently.

[You must remember.]

Remember who?

Who am I supposed to remember?

Can you say it again?

I didn’t catch the last name.

I tried to speak to her—

“Ugh!”

A sharp pain exploded in my head.

At the same time, my eyes flew open.

“What…?”

A chandelier, like something from medieval Europe, hung above me.

Where am I now?

As I frowned and sat up, a man’s voice reached me.

“You’re awake?”

A handsome man with honey-colored hair and round glasses stood in front of me.

It seemed like only the two of us were in the room.

“Where is this?”

“The Hetis ducal estate. Don’t strain yourself. Your body is still weak.”

The man gently laid me back down, saying I needed rest.

Though it was brief, I got a glimpse of the room.

It was neat and elegant, with a sense of quiet luxury.

“Can you tell me what happened before you collapsed?”

“A group of masked people killed the knights and maids… and I…”

I don’t even know why I’m here.

I bit my lip, unable to continue.

The man comforted me.

“That must have been very difficult. You don’t have to force yourself. Just tell me if you remember anything.”

He asked a few routine questions.

But I didn’t know anything, so I just shook my head or said I didn’t know.

After hearing the same answers repeatedly, his expression grew serious.

“…Amnesia, perhaps.”

He told me to wait and left the room.

Now alone, I quickly sat up and started thinking.

“Where did I end up?”

A childcare novel?

No, my body is an adult.

A beastman story?

I can’t transform.

A regret story?

I’m not confident I could run away.

All sorts of guesses swirled in my head.

Then—

Bang!

The door opened.

“So you’re finally awake.”

I looked up and saw another handsome man, along with the one from before.

Silver hair like a single blooming lily.

Purple eyes like amethyst.

Sharp features, flawless skin like morning dew.

A masterpiece stood before me.

“How is she?”

“It seems…”

The two men spoke with serious expressions.

As I stared at them, my messy thoughts cleared instantly.

The honey-haired man was handsome, but the silver-haired one caught my eye more.

Even fully dressed, the shape of his muscles was obvious.

Ah… I didn’t think I liked silver hair, but maybe I do.

“My lady, do you recognize me?”

At some point, the conversation had ended.

His violet eyes met mine.

The moment I saw him, my heart started pounding.

I felt like I should run to him right away.

Judging by my racing heartbeat, he must have been someone important to this body.

Wait… wasn’t I on my way to get married today?

[No, but my husband is…]
[Ah, He—]

Before the attack, the maids in the carriage had said something about my husband starting with “He…”

It must have been the Duke of Hetis.

Otherwise, why would I be here?

And the doctor-looking man had treated me respectfully.

So this silver-haired man must be my husband.

To respond to him, I blinked softly and said carefully—

“Dear?”

“Dear?”

Is this woman insane?

Calling a stranger “dear”?

Cassian’s eye twitched.

Of course, they weren’t complete strangers—but Evelyn and Cassian were barely even acquaintances.

Like oil and water, North and South could never mix.

They didn’t even try to enter each other’s worlds.

Most nobles avoided bringing the two regions together.

So he had never expected this.

“…Even if she woke up after a week…”

What’s wrong with her head?

Even with amnesia, she would say that to him?

“It seems to be memory loss from the injury.”

The ducal physician, Matthew, spoke cautiously.

Cassian let out a sigh.

He had brought her here because she was severely injured.

If he’d known it would be like this, he wouldn’t have.

“Contact the Selerdian ducal house. No—contact the baron’s family too.”

Someone needed to take her away.

Ignoring Evelyn, who was looking at him expectantly, Cassian reached for the bell rope—

“Your Grace! Look at this!”

Hans, his aide, rushed in.

Cassian immediately took the letter bearing the imperial seal.

There were suspicions of dealings between the Selerdian house and Baron Hetius.

No solid evidence—but something had definitely been exchanged.

So she was not to be sent back.

“This just got troublesome.”

He had to keep her here.

If she had her memory, he could have coaxed or threatened information out of her.

But now?

How was he supposed to get anything from a woman who looked at him with innocent eyes and called him her husband?

…Unless he used her as bait.

Wait. Bait?

Maybe I can catch something bigger with her.

Of course, he still had to confirm whether her amnesia was real.

But this was an opportunity.

If he monitored her, he might uncover corruption between the two families.

“Dear?”

When he didn’t respond, Evelyn called him again.

Having made his decision, Cassian sat beside her bed.

He gently took her hand and brought it to his face, smiling sweetly.

It was an unusually charming smile.

Those nearby stared in shock, but Cassian only looked at Evelyn.

“Yes, my wife.”

“Your Grace, what were you thinking?!”

Hans followed Cassian into the office and burst out—though his voice was low, like a buzzing mosquito, so it wouldn’t carry outside.

“If the Selerdian house finds out—!”

“Relax. His Majesty will handle them. We just focus on Evelyn and Baron Hetius.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

Even recalling what had just happened gave Hans chills.

Evelyn calling him “dear,” and Cassian replying “my wife.”

For a moment, he thought he’d misheard.

But afterward, they really acted like a married couple.

Had Cassian finally lost his mind?

Pretending to be a couple with the “Northern witch”?

Sure, she was unbelievably beautiful.

There were many beauties in the South, but none like Evelyn.

Her personality was questionable—but her looks were unmatched.

“Don’t get any strange ideas.”

Cassian frowned at Hans.

Hans quickly composed himself.

“This is just part of a plan to catch Baron Hetius.”

“But no one has ever seen his true face. Except people from the Selerdian house.”

“Exactly. That’s why we use Evelyn. If his lover is in my hands, do you think he’ll stay still?”