Chapter 3
In every romance fantasy novel I’d ever read, there wasn’t a single one where the heroine who’d transmigrated into the story didn’t end up with the male lead. And since I was the heroine who’d transmigrated here, this marriage was destined to succeed if I saw it through to the end.
What kind of lover would Axel be? I wondered. Based on my analysis of his character, he seems like the type to give his partner everything—heart, soul, the works. But is he really like that in person?
Well, I’d find out soon enough, whether I wanted to or not. Axel was bound to end up with me, after all. Whether I could convince him wasn’t even a concern anymore.
I was lost in daydreams of a blissful future with Axel when a knock came at the door.
Knock, knock.
“Come in,” I called.
“My lady…” Mary’s voice wavered as she stepped inside, holding out a document. “I brought what you asked for, but… what exactly are you planning to use this for?”
She handed me the papers, her expression a mix of curiosity and apprehension. It was none other than the official schedule of the Grand Duke, Axel Valentione, obtained through legitimate channels with the help of Duke Melberine. He’d promised to cooperate with me as much as possible during this time.
“The Grand Duke’s schedule…” Mary murmured, her face practically screaming, Why not the Crown Prince’s schedule?
Since she was my dedicated maid, I decided to share the truth with her. I leaned in, my expression darkening with feigned gravity. “Listen closely, Mary.”
“Yes…?” She mirrored my seriousness, her eyes wide with anticipation.
“I… don’t love the Crown Prince anymore. From now on, the one I love is the Grand Duke.”
“What… what?!” Mary’s voice shot up, her eyes practically popping out of her head as if she’d heard something scandalous. “My lady, what are you saying?! You, who followed the Crown Prince around for three years at the Academy, suddenly in love with the Grand Duke? The same Grand Duke you complained about every single day, saying he got on your nerves?!”
Did I… really do that?
The novel hadn’t gone into such detail, so I hadn’t known about this part of Judith’s history. No wonder Axel had snapped at me, asking if I’d lost my mind. This explained a lot. I had a sinking feeling things weren’t going to be easy moving forward.
“For now… that’s how it is,” I said vaguely.
Mary stared at me, her eyes narrowing. Then, as if she’d cracked a case, they sparkled, and she clasped her hands together. “My lady… something must have happened at the ball, didn’t it? That’s it, isn’t it? I’ve read about this in novels! Two people who despise each other slowly fall in love…”
“Uh, yeah… exactly.” I nodded along, letting her imagination fill in the blanks. It was easier to go with it than to explain.
Mary clenched her fists, her gaze resolute as she looked at me. “Alright, my lady. I’ll do my part! I’ll help make sure your love comes true!”
Sometimes, a misunderstanding could be surprisingly helpful.
My next step was clear: orchestrate a “chance” encounter. That was the plan.
And for that, I needed to go to the imperial palace.
The carriage came to a stop, and I stepped out, squinting against the blinding sunlight. I raised a hand to shield my eyes as I descended. “Wow, what perfect weather!”
It was, without a doubt, the ideal day to catch a glimpse of the Grand Duke.
I’d timed my arrival at the palace to coincide with the end of the regular council meeting. Hurrying toward the area where the meeting was held, I positioned myself to watch the stream of people exiting from a distance.
There he is—Axel!
Among the crowd, Axel stood out like a beacon. His towering height, his sturdy build, and that face—radiating a beauty that seemed to glow even from afar. He was unreal, like a character straight out of a manhwa.
This is no time to gawk! I need to capture this moment!
His otherworldly appearance made me forget he wasn’t some celebrity I admired but just an ordinary person in this world. Instinctively, I reached for my phone to snap a picture.
“Ph-phone! Ugh…” I fumbled through my dress, only to grasp at frilly fabric with no pockets. Reality hit me like a cold wave: this world didn’t have phones. The crushing disappointment of seeing my ultimate crush right in front of me and not being able to take a single photo was almost too much to bear.
Swallowing my tears, I resolved to at least drink him in with my eyes. But just then, Axel turned his head in my direction, and our gazes locked.
I’d been hiding behind some bushes, secretly watching him, and in a panic, I whipped my head away. To anyone watching, I must’ve looked like the shadiest person alive.
My original plan had been to wait until the crowd thinned out, then approach Axel as if our meeting were a serendipitous twist of fate. But from the very start, I’d blown it—he’d caught me spying on him.
Oh no, what do I do? Now that I think about it, this is way too stalkerish…! Ugh, this wasn’t supposed to happen—I’ve ruined everything. Should I just run away while I still can?
My vision had been a perfect, fateful encounter disguised as coincidence!
As my thoughts tangled into a chaotic mess, I noticed Axel drawing closer. His brows were knitted tightly, his expression stormy. I forgot all about fleeing and stood there, staring blankly as he approached. My heart pounded wildly, and without thinking, I clasped my hands together and pressed them to my mouth, as if to stifle a gasp. It was as though a halo glowed behind him, illuminating his presence.
“What… are you doing, hiding here?” he asked, his voice low and resonant.
Good heavens…
That voice—it was breathtaking, the kind I’d want to record and listen to on repeat all day if I could. Axel’s expression shifted, as if he’d spotted someone who shouldn’t be there, before he muttered under his breath, “So it wasn’t the Crown Prince you were chasing after.”
“Pardon? Me?” I blinked, my eyes widening as I feigned ignorance at the sudden mention of the Crown Prince.
“I assumed you’d know the Crown Prince is away on leave,” he said, his tone skeptical. “Or perhaps you didn’t.”
I didn’t. Obviously. The Crown Prince was the furthest thing from my mind. My sole focus was the man standing before me—the Grand Duke himself.
I’d confessed my feelings to him once before, but as expected, it hadn’t landed. I couldn’t blame him; I wouldn’t have believed me either. Still, the thought of my favorite person misunderstanding me as being in love with someone else was unbearable. This injustice had to be cleared up!
Axel, ever the knight commander, adopted an interrogating air as he pressed on. “Then why are you at the palace, Lady Melberine? And in such a… suspiciously covert manner.”
“…The truth is, I came to see you, Your Grace.”
“Me?” His eyebrow twitched, clearly unimpressed by my answer. I met his gaze head-on and continued.
“I told you before, didn’t I? That I love you.”
“You’re… still saying that?” His voice grew colder. “I believe I warned you last time that I wouldn’t let this slide again. Seems you’ve already forgotten.”
In an instant, Axel’s gaze sharpened, cutting through me like a blade. “Speak honestly now, and I might let it go. What’s your game here? Did the Duke put you up to this?”
“No, of course not!” I protested. “This isn’t some scheme—it’s the truth!”
His dark eyes bore into me, utterly unconvinced. If anything, they seemed to say he was watching to see how far I’d take this nonsense. Frustration welled up inside me, my chest tightening as I bit my lip. Desperate, I resorted to my final tactic.
I cast my eyes downward, adopting a mournful expression as I began to act. “The truth is… about two weeks ago, I fell terribly ill. I was bedridden, practically at death’s door. And in that moment, I realized something.”
“What?” His tone was flat, unimpressed.
“I realized that the person I truly loved wasn’t the Crown Prince—it was you, Your Grace! I just… I realized it too late.”
My heartfelt performance complete, I looked up to find Axel staring down at me, arms crossed, his face unreadable. A tense silence hung between us.
