* * *

Floating aimlessly in a space cloaked in black, I could do nothing but drift.

It was impossible to discern whether I was moving or standing still.

As I stared blankly into the void, a massive book suddenly fell with a thud.

The book, bound in plain brown leather, was far too large for an ordinary person.

Perhaps a giant had dropped it?

I tilted my head back to look upward, but all I saw was darkness.

Rustle–

Then, without anyone touching it, the book’s cover flipped open, and its pages began to flutter rapidly.

I couldn’t follow the content as the pages turned at an incredible speed, but strangely enough, fragments of it began forming faintly in my mind.

A boy’s adventure.

A forest.

Divine beasts. And… Klen Valuncio, the Count…

The Count?

“… Ha!”

The moment that word slipped from my lips, my eyes snapped open.

This time, what greeted me wasn’t darkness but a stark white ceiling.

“A dream?”

Cold sweat trickled down my back, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

Where did the dream end, and where did reality begin?

I roughly wiped the sweat from my forehead, running my hand through my hair.

The soft sensation of silky strands, the fine fabric of my sleeves, and the ornate cufflinks embellishing them grounded me.

“… At least, I’m still Adrian.”

The memories of living as Adrian confirmed that not all of it was a dream.

Thanks to the book in my dream, I realized something with certainty.

This world was the setting of a novel I had casually read once.

Or, perhaps, it was some prophetic text from another world come to life—I couldn’t be sure.

The details of the novel were hazy, like a fogged mirror.

Klen Valuncio and Adrian Caldrich…

No, now that we’re married, it’s Adrian Valuncio, isn’t it?

In the book, Adrian was barely mentioned.

So insignificant that I hadn’t immediately recalled him when I remembered the novel’s premise.

Fortunately, the dream’s book jogged my memory.

I… I’m a character who dies before the story even begins.

Assassinated, no less.

The details—when, where, and by whom—were never specified.

Only vague hints about the timing could be gleaned.

But even that wasn’t reliable.

How much time do I have left?

Should I run away?

If I flee before I’m killed, I might survive.

But if I return to my family, they’d likely drag me back here.

They wouldn’t believe me if I told them I was going to die.

Thankfully, this estate is full of valuables.

Jewelry, furniture, or even the gemstones embedded in them—if I took just a few, I could escape to a distant place and live comfortably.

It’s not like my death is some grand event that triggers someone else’s awakening.

Probably not.

… Right?

But why does that even matter?

The priority is my survival.

With that resolution, I began to move, intending to act on my plans.

Knock, knock–

At that moment, a light knock preceded the door swinging open without waiting for a response.

If they planned to enter right away, why bother knocking?

“Are you all right?”

The person who strode in was none other than Klen, the man who had stood beside me at the altar mere moments ago.

Now that my last name had changed, should I start calling him my husband?

… So the wedding wasn’t a dream either.

I had suspected as much since I hadn’t woken up in my family home, but seeing it confirmed with my own eyes brought a different kind of weight.

My tense shoulders slumped, the energy draining from my body.

As a sigh threatened to escape, I covered my mouth with my hand.

That’s when I noticed the ring on my left ring finger—adorned with the Valuncio family crest, my wedding ring.

“You look unwell. It’s a relief you’re awake, but your face is still pale,” Klen remarked, stepping closer.

His fingers lightly brushed against my cheek, his handsome eyes curving with concern.

But instead of feeling flustered, my chest tightened with unease.

Not long ago, I had dismissed him as foolishly love-struck.

But now, knowing his true nature, his mere approach set off alarms in my mind.

“I’m fine,” I replied.

‘Wait… wasn’t he described as cold and distant in the novel?’

The man standing before me didn’t match the portrayal in the novel at all.

For a moment, the hopeful thought crossed my mind: ‘Could he be someone else?’

But surely, no family would give the same name to two people.

So, what could have caused such a change in demeanor in such a short time?

“My spouse seems quite tired. Bring something warm to drink.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The healer said there are no physical issues… but are you truly alright?”

He extended both hands, cupping my cheeks gently.

His sweet tone and soft demeanor were accompanied by a faint smile, but his gaze betrayed a chill that sent shivers down my spine.

No wonder people say you can see someone’s true intentions in their eyes.

It was clear as day—none of his actions came from a place of sincerity.

No, there was no way he could harbor affection for me.

“I… I’m fine.”

In this world, same-sex marriages weren’t unheard of, though rare.

Still, in the noble society where lineage was everything, such unions were virtually forbidden.

Why, then, had our marriage been blessed by the temple?

The answer lay with our fathers.

It was a tale more than twenty years old.

When the kingdom faced an invasion from foreign powers, Count Caldrich and Count Valuncio fought side by side as heroes.

Their camaraderie blossomed into mutual admiration, culminating in a fateful promise: to bind their families together by marrying their children.

Unfortunately—or perhaps inevitably—this “promise” was made in the presence of both the king and the bishop.

What could have been a simple vow became a sacred oath in the name of the gods.

And as if fate were mocking us, both families ended up having only sons.

Not a single daughter was born to either house.

If even one girl had been born, this mess could’ve been avoided.

But the promise could be delayed no longer, and so I, the fourth son in an awkward position within the Caldrich family, was married off to the third son of the Valuncio family, who was rumored to be… simple-minded.

Thus, this political marriage came to pass.

We didn’t even see each other’s faces until I arrived here.

“I’ve brought it. Warm milk.”

“It shouldn’t be too hot.”

He took the milk and gently blew on it before offering it to me.

As I reached for the cup, it deftly evaded my grasp.

I tried again, faster this time, but it slipped away to the opposite side.

‘…What is this?’

I wasn’t moving with all my strength, but his reflexes were unexpectedly sharp.

Klen brought the steaming cup to my lips instead.

Resigned, I let my lips lightly touch the rim, and the milk slowly tilted, its warm, creamy taste trickling into my mouth.

A comforting warmth spread through my body as I swallowed, tension easing slightly—

‘Assassination!’

‘…Assassination!’

The thought struck me like lightning.

How had I died in my past life?

By assassination.

And yet here I was, carelessly consuming something offered by another.

“Cough, cough! Cough, cough, cough!”

I knew it wasn’t now.

This wasn’t how they’d do it.

The milk wasn’t poison—I was sure of that.

But my body rejected it instinctively, sending it the wrong way down my throat and triggering a violent coughing fit.

* * *