Chapter 2

When I opened my eyes again, my body felt like it was melting into the soft, plush texture beneath me…

Wait a second.

I definitely remember collapsing in the ballroom.

I blinked my eyes wide open, and a cozy bedroom scene filled my vision.

‘What the heck, where am I?’

But more shocking and urgent than figuring out where I was or why I was lying in bed—

“You’re awake?”

The right side of the bed dipped slightly, and the weight I felt… I desperately hoped it was just my imagination.

A voice, playful yet unfamiliar, drifted over to me—both familiar and foreign.

Because of the mask, I couldn’t see his face clearly, but the faintly smiling lips were unmistakable.

It was definitely the man I’d locked eyes with before losing consciousness.

“Y-you… What is going on right now?”

I slowly tried to sit up, mumbling like a mosquito.

But then I ended up croaking in a completely twisted voice.

“Wha—what the hell.”

Why… why am I undressed?

I was wearing that voluminous green dress at the ball, and now I’m in this flimsy slip?

I almost screamed.

Actually, maybe I already was screaming—with my eyes.

The alcohol haze that had been clouding my head evaporated in an instant.

Panicking, I yanked the blanket over myself. The man beside me said flatly,

“You don’t even remember your own face, do you.”

“W-what? Are you saying…?”

I couldn’t bring myself to say “Did you undress me?”

Because what if he said yes? What if he came closer?

Sure, I swore I’d live recklessly now, but this is a bit too much, too fast!

I’d rather be a cat—no, never mind.

“Your clothes were ruined.”

“…What?”

“You said you were hot and walked straight into the fountain.”

He brushed his hair back with a dry expression.

“…?”

“They were completely soaked. I couldn’t just leave you in them.”

“…….”

“Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t undress you myself.”

And unfortunately, as he spoke, fragmented memories I’d rather not have came trickling back.

I’d never drunk that much before. I’d never danced while drinking either.

I just wanted to have fun for once, but the alcohol soaked into my brain and my body didn’t feel like mine anymore.

I probably would’ve been better off blacking out completely.

I’m not usually sensitive to touch, but I guess I came to when someone carried me in their arms.

<Hey, let go. Who the heck are you?>

<…You?>

<Yeah, you. What are you, a giant? Put me down, I said!>

The man I saw before blacking out had carried me like a princess.

I collapsed in the middle of the ballroom, and he’d picked me up.

Honestly, I should be bowing until my nose touches the floor in gratitude…

<Why are you looking at me like that? Is it wrong to call a giant a giant? Should I call you Beanpole instead?>

<You’re outrageously drunk.>

<Why is the ground shaking? Huh? Who built this place? This is shoddy construction!>

<You seem too drunk to even walk. Do you have a carriage—>

<I said shoddy construction!>

<……>

<This is dangerous, everyone! Evacuate quickly! The ground is shaking!>

<You might want to stop flailing around.>

<It’s shaking! We have to get out of here! Shoddy construction, I tell you!>

So he carried me outside himself…

“You said it was hot outside and marched straight into the fountain.”

And that’s when the rest came back to me.

I couldn’t bear the shame rising to the top of my head.

I wanted to pull the blanket over my head, but all I could do was clutch it like it was my lifeline.

Meanwhile, the man seated on the right side of the bed stared at me with a blank expression.

“I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t even have time to stop you. I thought you were too drunk to walk straight.”

“I’m really sorry. Truly, I am.”

Of course, that one line couldn’t possibly make up for all of it.

‘This life is already the worst from the start.’

Even when I tried to live properly, it always ended in disaster. And now that I’d vowed to live recklessly, I started in disaster.

What the hell am I supposed to do now?

How do I get out of this cursed novel?!

Besides, this had to be somewhere in the duke’s estate where the ball was held.

The estate of Duke Jerlach Cygnus, of the Myuten Empire.

The man second only to the emperor in power… And I’d made a scene in his house?

If I caused a ruckus at the ball and was dragged up here, this is bad. Like really bad.

‘Wow, amazing. Am I going to be executed this time for drinking too much and making a fool of myself? Spend two weeks in the dungeons first?’

I always died at the hands of Duke Cygnus.

He’s the male lead of The Tumultuous Life of Leoni, deeply in love with the heroine, Leoni.

Tonight, he was supposed to fall in love with Leoni at the ball for the first time—and kill me to protect her.

Knowing he’d kill me, I spent twenty regressions trying desperately to avoid him.

I thought if I could just avoid him, maybe I could delay death.

More accurately, I was terrified of him.

I still vividly remembered the way he looked down on me just before my execution.

I’d never seen him up close, but the end was always the same: he gave the signal, and I died.

I swallowed nervously and asked him carefully,

“Um… Can I ask you something?”

He nodded silently.

“Will I be… executed for this?”

“…What?”

“I mean, I made a big mistake while drunk, so I wanted to know if I’ll be put to death.”

“……”

He stared at me like he couldn’t quite understand what I was saying.

And then—

“Ha ha ha!”

You’re laughing?

Wow. I’m over here debating life and death, and you’re laughing?

“What’s your name?”

I was offended, but what choice did I have?

If he wanted my name, I had to give it.

“Liberata Bernadette.”

“You’re the young lady of House Bernadette?”

“Yes.”

The moment he mentioned my family name, I instinctively flinched.

“Why do you think that would get you executed?”

“B-because I drank and caused a scene…”

“Ah, you mean ruining your dress and my clothes?”

“I’m sorry. I truly apologize.”

This time, I couldn’t help but drop my head.

Maybe I should just kneel while I’m at it?

“I don’t know much about the Bernadette family… but you must live quite freely.”

…Was that a compliment or an insult?

I gave an awkward smile and nodded a few times.

He’s from the ducal house. Best to just go along with it.

“I’m sorry. I’ll take your clothes and clean them myself. Wash, dry, iron—just tell me where to send them.”

“No need. I threw them away.”

“……”

Beyond recovery. Fantastic.

I really messed up this time.

Time to find a new way to live recklessly. Drinking clearly isn’t it.

If I die again and come back, I’ll try a different method of living wildly.

Maybe binge-eating whatever I want?

“So I didn’t commit a crime worthy of death?”

“No.”

“Oh, thank goodness.”

He stared at me for a long moment, then smiled slightly again.

“Are you that afraid of dying?”

I didn’t know how to answer that.

Of course dying doesn’t feel good.

Thankfully, aside from the time I got shot in the chest, most of my deaths weren’t too painful.

Well, the gunshot did suck. The blood, the pulsing in my body—I could feel everything.

But the others felt more like falling asleep. A sudden blackout, and I’d wake up again as the Bernadette heiress, in a carriage on the way to the ball.

“Yes. I am afraid.”

Even if I come back, death is never a pleasant experience.

No matter how many times, it never gets easier.

And standing on the scaffold, feeling the stares of the crowd—that was worse than I ever imagined.

I do like a little attention, but not that kind.

Especially not when I’m being executed as a notorious villainess.

Then, it happened.

“I don’t know why you’re so afraid…”

Then he gave a smile so disarming, showing perfect white teeth—

And removed the mask covering his eyes and nose.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let you die.”