Chapter 2
The chief steward raised his head ever so slightly at those words.
The moment he saw the blood splattered across the Crown Prince’s chest, he hurriedly lowered it again.
The infamous Crown Prince was equally infamous for replacing his chief steward whenever something displeased him.
If you didn’t want to be dragged away as a corpse, you had to watch both your mouth and your eyes.
Completely unconcerned, the man casually brushed at the blood staining his chest.
“How delightful.”
A smile bordering on madness spread across his pale face.
In a manner completely at odds with his reputation, he smiled shyly.
“I can’t wait to see her.”
The man with blood-red hair whistled a cheerful tune.
“House Arcrux… Such a secluded place. It’s almost impossible to catch even a glimpse of anyone from there.”
“…”
“I wonder…”
“What will she say when she sees me?”
Jackal murmured happily.
“If I’m going to keep her by my side…”
“I suppose I should make preparations as well.”
“After all… she possesses something I need.”
Bathed in the moonlight, his tousled appearance looked like a masterpiece brought to life.
He smiled at the stiff, motionless chief steward.
“I wonder…”
“Will she become the master of the Cage?”
The chief steward swallowed hard.
He knew exactly what room the Crown Prince was referring to.
That infamous room.
It was impossible not to.
“When she arrives, let me know.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
The male lead, who would eventually become a tyrant, coveted my sister’s family heirloom the moment he laid eyes on her.
‘What exactly is this heirloom?’
It referred to one of the Twelve Treasures of the Empire.
Known collectively as the Constellation Treasures, they were divided among twelve noble houses, each possessing a unique power.
The treasure belonging to House Arcruxā
Arcruxā
Enhanced its owner’s physical abilities and transformed into the weapon best suited for its master.
It also chose its own owner.
The problem was…
The head of House Arcrux had to be acknowledged by the treasure.
And ever since childhood…
It had already chosen my sister.
“Big Sis, the heirloom will never acknowledge someone like me, who suddenly appeared claiming to be its master.”
“So I can never become the true head of the family.”
“Don’t worry.”
“When I leave…”
“It’ll follow you.”
Before departing, my sister had left the heirloom behind.
She’d spoken with complete confidence, as though there were nothing to worry about.
“The treasure is wise. It’ll recognize your strength.”
She had also smiled gently while saying that serving the Imperial Family would be an excellent addition to my career.
‘Big Sis… that’s not career experience…’
The heroine of the original novel had gone there…
Only to end up imprisoned.
Of course, I had no intention of ever telling my sister that.
I let out a bitter smile.
‘Now, if I make one wrong move… I’ll be the one dealing with that lunatic.’
Contrary to my sister’s confident prediction…
The treasure never fully accepted me.
Even after she left…
I still couldn’t wield the heirloom.
So now that I’d arrived at the Imperial Palace…
My objective was obvious.
Pretend I knew how to use the heirloom.
Then…
Win over the Crown Prince, finish my duties as his aide as quickly as possible, and return safely to my territory.
‘To do that… I need to divert his attention elsewhere.’
Fortunately…
I intended to use my greatest talent.
And my favorite hobby.
Whenever my retainers looked at me, they always said the same thing.
“Second Lady… are you obsessed with money?”
After rescuing our collapsing territory years ago…
I had earned myself a rather infamous nickname.
The Miser Witch.
I possessed an innate talent for making money.
My specialty?
Collecting taxes.
I intended to use that ability as leverage to strike a deal with the Crown Prince.
The palace corridor was every bit as grand as it was enormous.
Walking through it after arriving at the Imperial Palace…
My mood couldn’t have been worse.
Because this…
Was the setting of the original novel.
“N-No… I hate the chains…! I hate this cage! Please let me out… Please…!”
“Why?”
“All you have to do is love me while you’re inside.”
“Callisto.”
That absolute psycho.
The male lead was a deranged obsessive who built an enormous birdcage just to imprison the heroine.
And that wasn’t even the worst part.
He murdered the second male lead right in front of the heroine when the man came to rescue her.
He even executed loyal retainers who dared offer honest advice.
I slowly lifted my head.
‘I’m about to meet a handsome psychopath.’
There was an overwhelming chance he’d behave exactly as he had in the novelā
Flirting shamelessly while repeatedly proposing marriage.
Fortunately…
I had already prepared countermeasures.
How long had I been standing in the palace hallway?
Rodemin, who had been waiting beside me, cautiously asked,
“…How much longer are you planning to stand here?”
“I’m going in.”
“I said I’m going.”
“I’m not scared, okay?”
For just a brief moment…
My aide looked at me with unmistakable pity.
I cleared my throat and approached the door.
A servant respectfully bowed.
“Only the Duke of Arcrux may enter.”
I nodded.
The doors swung open.
The room inside was exactly as enormous as I’d expected.
Tap.
Tap.
Only my footsteps echoed through the silent chamber.
As I came to a stop…
A long shadow stretched before me.
The person I would soon serve.
The person I would somehow have to deal with…
Was standing right in front of me.
The servant who had accompanied me announced respectfully,
“Your Highness.”
“The Duke of Arcrux has arrived.”
The man who had been gazing out the window slowly turned around.
His robe hung open low across his chest, revealing a perfectly sculpted physique.
‘…Is he some kind of exhibitionist?’
That certainly wasn’t mentioned in the novel.
I bowed deeply.
“I, Helena of House Arcrux of the Southern Cross, greet the descendant of Canopus, the greatest sun among the Seven Constellations.”
As I quietly finished the formal greeting…
A deep voice came from above.
“Raise your head.”
I obeyed.
The instant I looked up…
Our eyes met.
His irises were a brilliant golden yellowā
Like the eyes of a dragon.
His gaze was relentless.
His face looked as though it had stepped straight out of a masterpiece, every delicate feature arranged in perfect harmony.
‘Damn… he’s ridiculously handsome.’
I’d known he was attractive.
But he was even more stunning than I’d imagined.
Rather than ruggedly masculine…
He possessed an almost ethereal beauty.
Weariness.
Laziness.
Self-restraint.
Contradictory qualities somehow coexisted on that flawless face.
“Welcome.”
“New Duke of Arcrux.”
His voice was so low and sweet that it was almost mesmerizing.
The Crown Prince tilted his head.
Even dressed in what was practically disheveled attire, every tiny movement exuded elegance.
“Though…”
“I’d expected your older sister to come.”
Beyond those golden eyes…
Something that could only be described as madness flickered.
‘He’s not asking because he doesn’t know.’
‘He wants me to explain it myself.’
If satisfying his curiosity came first…
Then so be it.
I lowered my gaze.
“…Because I was more capable than my sister.”
That was among the mildest reactions I’d anticipated.
Placing a hand over my chest, I erased every trace of a smile.
“The person standing before Your Highness is the rightful master of Arcrux, the house that safeguards the Empire.”
Jackal slowly walked toward me.
Then bent down until our faces were nearly level.
…Because he was so much taller than me…
It felt like an enormous beast was sniffing at its prey.
“…So…”
“You really don’t remember me after all.”
Hm?
What did he just say?
His voice had been too quiet to catch.
“Very well.”
“If you’ve come this far…”
“That means you know how to use the Treasure of Arcrux.”
There was only the faintest hint of curiosity in his voice.
‘Just as I thought…’
‘The male lead is after the Constellation Treasure.’
Naturally.
His ambition was to obtain overwhelming power.
More precisely…
He wanted to possess anyone capable of wielding the treasures.
If they refused to serve him…
He killed them and simply took the treasure instead.
He truly lived by the philosophy:
“If I can’t have it, I’ll destroy it.”
In the original story…
My sister would have nodded confidently here.
The only difference now…
Was that I was merely an incomplete successor.
I lied with perfect composure.
“Yes.”
“I know how to use it.”
A flash of unconcealed excitement crossed Jackal’s golden eyes, mixed with emotions too complex to decipher.
He strode toward me.
At the same time, he slowly ran a hand along his strong neck.
For some reason…
‘…Is he… blushing?’
It wasn’t my imagination.
His pale cheeks gradually flushed pink.
Normally, watching an absurdly handsome man blush would have been a feast for the eyes.
Instead…
Goosebumps raced across my skin.
Why was this man blushing?
The fact that I couldn’t think of a single reason made it even more terrifying.
“I know this may come as a rather sudden statement.”
…
What was he about to say?
“I’ve fallen in love…”
“…with your soul.”
…Excuse me?
At that moment…
I felt the part of my sanity that had survived corrupt nobles and endless nonsense finally crack.
What exactly did you fall in love with, you lunatic?!
But the assault wasn’t over yet.
“I heard your family has been gathering information on eligible marriage candidates.”
…Ah, right.
Those had been potential husbands who would marry into the familyāfor my sister.
But why was he bringing that up?
Jackal smiled so beautifully it could enchant anyone who looked at him.
Then, blushing as though embarrassed, he asked,
“I would like to become the husband who marries into your family.”
“…Would that be possible?”
