☀ Chapter 1 ☀
“His Imperial Highness, the Star of the Empire, the Crown Prince, has arrived!”
At the loud announcement that echoed through the hall, everyone’s eyes turned toward one place.
A man wearing a neat navy-blue uniform stepped forward through the expectant silence.
Then, beneath his neatly combed black hair, his green eyes curved gently into a smile—
“Ah…”
Soft gasps of admiration naturally filled the hall.
With only his appearance, he completely took control of the atmosphere as he gracefully walked onto the stage.
Ivan Pell Erzet.
With his handsome face, flawless manners, and kind personality, he was the most desired bachelor in the entire Empire.
“His Highness personally visited the slums in the eastern region again this year and cooked meals for the children.”
“I heard he also donated a huge amount of money to help the northern avalanche victims. An angel must have descended from heaven.”
“And just a few days ago, he even traveled to the dangerous border to raise the soldiers’ morale himself. He’s the perfect ruler.”
While everyone praised Ivan—
“Haah…”
I was hiding in a corner of the ballroom, trying to catch my breath.
I can finally breathe again.
The moment I saw Ivan’s face, I forgot how to breathe. I almost fainted. I slowly steadied my breathing again.
Why was I reacting like this after only seeing his face?
Seriously… Is his bangs-down hairstyle real? His face is absolutely legendary. The two-hour trip to get here was totally worth it!
Because Ivan was my favorite character!
When I quietly looked back into the hall, his beautiful appearance came into clear view.
Every time he smiled, it felt as if dazzling starlight poured from him.
Yes… this was it.
This was what true beauty looked like.
Maybe I should just live here forever.
Not long ago, I had transmigrated into a romance novel I had been enjoying called <The Monster Duke’s Doll>.
The only small problem was that the novel was still ongoing, so the identity of the mastermind who had already killed hundreds of people hadn’t been revealed yet.
Anyway, my favorite character, Ivan, was known in the original story as the greatest saintly ruler and the angel of the century.
Unfortunately, he never ended up with the heroine.
That’s exactly why I like him.
As the tragic second male lead, Ivan constantly supported the love between the heroine, Shana, and the male lead.
He secretly protected her.
Helped her.
Sacrificed himself for her.
And always took care of her.
He devoted his life to the happiness of a woman who didn’t love him back. What a heartbreaking example of true love…!
He didn’t even appear before Shana because he was afraid of making her uncomfortable.
A true man devoted to one person until the very end.
Love is always the most beautiful when it ends in failure.
Mm-hmm.
“Huh? Where did he go?”
While I was lost in thought, Ivan had disappeared from the stage.
When I turned my head, I saw that he had already come down into the hall and was politely greeting the gathered nobles.
“If the opportunity comes, I hope we meet again.”
It looked like he was already leaving.
After saying goodbye with his angel-like smile, Ivan walked toward the back door of the ballroom.
Only the dreamy sighs of his admirers remained where he had stood.
“So he’s leaving after only greeting everyone again? That’s disappointing…”
Perhaps because he had so many duties as Crown Prince, Ivan rarely stayed long at parties.
Especially these days, he only showed his face briefly before leaving.
Still, the nobles were satisfied simply because he had attended.
I should get going too.
As soon as Ivan left, several noble ladies who had clearly come just to see him also started leaving.
I quietly turned around as well.
Then—
Hm? That strange feeling just now…
A disgusting sensation brushed across my skin.
It only lasted for a moment, but it was enough to send chills through my entire body.
Looking around, though, no one else seemed to have noticed it.
It was far too clear to be my imagination.
How strange.
Ah… I really shouldn’t get curious about things like this.
In novels and movies, the curious people are always the first to die.
But…
There was one serious problem.
That strange presence is coming from the same back door Ivan used.
Like a thin thread, it stretched toward the direction where Ivan had disappeared.
Almost as if it were inviting me to follow.
Could something have happened to Ivan?
The moment that thought crossed my mind, my body moved on its own.
Even if I’m just an extra, I’m still a magician!
If something had happened to him, maybe I could help.
A chance to save my favorite character and earn his gratitude?
There was no way I could miss that.
Let’s go.
After checking that no one was watching, I slowly opened the tightly closed back door.
“So this is the garden.”
Beyond the door stretched the Count’s beautiful snow-white garden, carefully maintained despite the middle of winter.
But Ivan was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, the strange presence continued leading me deeper into the garden.
“Hmm…”
As soon as I saw where it was leading, I stopped walking.
Why is the Maze Forest here?
It was a gloomy forest rumored to be filled with monsters that ate people after nightfall.
Because of that, it was under the Imperial Family’s control, and ordinary people weren’t allowed to enter.
I guess the Count’s estate was so remote that it bordered the forest.
“Since it’s managed by the Imperial Family, it should be fine.”
…People always say that right before something terrible happens.
I take it back.
After making sure no one was around, I carefully stepped into the Maze Forest.
After walking for a while—
I sensed someone’s presence.
Is it Ivan?
I immediately stopped and quickly cast an illusion spell over my face.
Now, even if Ivan saw me, he wouldn’t remember what I looked like.
If I accidentally got involved with him and changed the original story, that would be a disaster.
Basic survival rule for extras—never forget it!
I don’t know how he ended up getting lost here…
First, I’ll calm him down and lead him out.
“I-I know… you must have been… really scared…”
After awkwardly practicing my first words to him, I pushed aside the bushes.
Slash—
Before I could even understand what I was seeing—
Bright red blood splattered across Ivan’s perfectly neat uniform.
“…Huh?”
Just now…
Something had—
Ivan’s elegant silver sword flashed through the air.
Someone’s head was cut off in a single strike.
Thud…
The unbelievable sound echoed through my ears.
Only then did those brilliant emerald eyes slowly turn toward me.
“Who’s there?”
“…Crap.”
The instant I heard his voice, I ran.
Pure instinct.
I was certain that if I didn’t escape now—
I would die.
The second male lead is the mastermind?! What kind of garbage novel is this?!
The memories of the original story, which I had almost forgotten after living peacefully here, suddenly flooded back into my mind.
In the original novel, the Lakis Empire had suffered under a mysterious serial killer known as the Butcher.
Hundreds of people were murdered without regard for age or gender.
There was no pattern connecting the victims.
No one could predict who would die next.
The murderer never left even the smallest clue. Even the Magic Tower couldn’t find him.
The Imperial Family called him the Butcher and tried everything possible to capture him.
Nothing worked.
All of the victims had been beheaded…
The man Ivan had just killed…
His head had been cut off exactly the same way.
Just like every other victim.
The moment I realized Ivan was the Butcher—
Everything went dark before my eyes.
Did I lose him?
After running for what felt like forever, I finally stopped when I couldn’t hear anyone chasing me.
Then—
“Already taking a break? It seems your stamina isn’t very good.”
“—!”
I looked up in silent terror.
Emotionless green eyes were staring straight at me.
Since when was he here?!
People say that when you’re truly terrified, you can’t even scream.
Now I understood.
I couldn’t even open my mouth.
“H-How…?”
A trembling voice barely escaped my lips.
“I still haven’t received an answer to my question.”
Ivan looked at my frozen face and smiled.
It was the same smile I had always admired.
But now…
It looked like the cruel smile of a hunter who had cornered his prey.
“I’ll ask again. What is your name?”
Hic.
A hiccup escaped me from fear.
My heart was pounding so violently that it felt ready to burst out of my chest.
“That’s quite a unique name.”
“I’ll remember it.”
The killing intent radiating from Ivan was unmistakable.
At that moment, I realized something.
The only reason I was still alive…
Was because he had chosen to spare me for the moment.
“W-Are you going to kill me…?”
“Yes.”
He answered immediately with a bright smile.
As if I had asked the most obvious question in the world.
My favorite character is trying to kill me… What the hell…
Normally, I would have screamed because of how beautiful his face was.
Now…
I wanted to scream for a completely different reason.
There was only one way to survive.
Teleport…
I have to use teleportation magic.
The problem was that traveling from the remote Anasia Count’s estate to my home in the capital would require an enormous amount of magic.
Part of the reason was that I wasn’t very skilled at teleportation magic in the first place.
Who could have expected something like this to happen?
If I use that much magic… I’ll probably be bedridden for an entire day.
But if I hesitated here…
I’d really die.
Run first!
