* * *
“Done. Please, take a look for yourself.”
At his confident tone, I opened my eyes.
It seemed he was expecting a classic reaction like, “Is this… me?”
However, I felt no particular thrill about dressing up, so my actual response was more subdued: “So… this is what it’s come to.”
The chamberlain paused for a moment, seemingly thrown off by my unenthusiastic reaction, which was far from typical for a young lady, then began explaining his handiwork like an art curator describing a masterpiece.
“Up close, I noticed how each of your features is as exquisite as a painting. Instead of overdoing the colors, I focused on refining your natural beauty to emphasize elegance.”
“….”
“The only minor flaw I noticed was the slightly thin appearance of your upper lip. To enhance its fullness, I used a glossy lip tint that’s trending among young ladies these days—”
“What did you put on my lips?”
I frowned at the greasy shine on my lips, like I’d eaten something oily.
Wiping it off roughly with the back of my hand, I saw the chamberlain’s face twist in horror.
“This is a significant occasion with all the imperial family members attending! You must feel the weight of this responsibility.”
“No, I intend to ruin the atmosphere tonight.”
“What are you saying? Ruin the atmosphere?”
I meant it.
If Carlisle had brought me here to secure approval for marriage, I had to ensure the imperial family opposed it at all costs.
As I glanced into the mirror, my eyes gleamed with determination, causing the chamberlain, who was braiding my hair, to gasp.
“Surely… you’re not… planning to bring disaster before the ceremony even takes place—?”
“As if that would happen!”
“Oh, thank goodness. Still, Lord Carlisle is meticulous about such matters.”
The chamberlain, finally calming down, let out a sigh.
Carlisle wasn’t just meticulous—he had gone so far as to spread rumors about his preference for men to avoid any scandal before his coronation.
Though he pursued justice, Carlisle would not hesitate to commit cruel acts to protect his authority.
After a pause, the chamberlain added, “As one of the few legitimate heirs of the royal family, Lord Carlisle has faced numerous assassination attempts since childhood. His disappearance would benefit many.”
“…..”
“Perhaps because of that, I’ve never seen him eat or sleep in all the years I’ve been by his side.”
In the original story, Carlisle was known for sleeping less than three hours a day.
Even Luke, who frequently collapsed from overwork, was left speechless by his tenacity.
“Recently, I asked Lord Carlisle something directly: would he show that young lady, whom he plans to bring to the royal banquet, his sleeping self?”
“…..”
“His answer was peculiar.”
Our eyes met in the mirror, and my heart, which had been calm until then, suddenly beat irregularly.
“Then why can’t I stop?”
Unconsciously, I covered the ring on my left ring finger with my right hand.
Whether it was hatred or pity, an emotion I couldn’t name surged within me.
Carlisle’s sorrowful smile lingered in my mind.
“Why do I only want to sleep by their side?”
The knock on the door jolted me out of my thoughts.
Carlisle entered, his slightly disheveled appearance hinting at the rush to finish his work.
Our eyes met, and a moment of silence passed before he approached with a rigid expression.
“What is it?”
“Nothing. Just… you seemed pitiful.”
“What?”
“Everything.”
The air between us grew heavy, clinging like the humidity of the rainy season.
As I rubbed my stinging eyes with the back of my hand, he grabbed my wrist.
Carlisle gazed down at me with his cool eyes and spoke.
“Fine. Then pity me.”
“…..”
“At least give me that. It’s not hard for you, is it? Just a little pity.”
This wasn’t something the Carlisle I knew would ever say.
The Carlisle I knew was always brimming with confidence—he seized love, never settling for mere pity.
So who was this coward standing before me now?
Lowering his gaze to the floor, he spoke calmly.
“I think my hesitation is a cruelty to you.”
“……”
“Carlisle, I need to find Jerome. So please….”
“Jerome is dead!”
Carlisle’s voice broke, sharp and trembling.
The sudden outburst from him, someone I thought I knew so well, left me momentarily speechless.
Carlisle exhaled heavily, then grabbed my shoulders and pleaded desperately.
“Even if he’s alive, he won’t be the person you remember. Mephisto’s influence has completely taken over him—he’d look like a monster now. There’s no miracle waiting for you.”
“……”
“So please, just accept it already. He’s gone. He’s never coming back to you.”
“Why do you say it like that?”
A hot flush of emotion surged, and my face burned as tears slid down my cheeks, falling onto Carlisle’s hands that still gripped my shoulders.
The fear I’d been suppressing rose all at once, making my breath ragged.
I no longer had the strength to be angry at him.
Carlisle, silent, took hold of my wrist and pulled me along.
His back, moving ahead of me, radiated an odd, simmering rage.
I bit my lower lip hard, following without protest.
‘It’s fine. Once I tell him I’m a man, he’ll give up soon enough. I’ll tell him as soon as dinner is over.’
There wasn’t even time to collect my emotions before we arrived at the evening banquet.
With a creak, the doors to the Great Hall opened.
The gazes of the nobles gathered around the long table shifted toward me.
A woman seated at the head of the table smiled faintly and spoke.
“It feels like it’s been a while since I last saw you, Carlisle.”
Carlisle’s golden eyes, a trait seemingly inherited from his maternal line, gleamed against his platinum hair.
Her beauty was ageless, her refined smile exuding elegance.
But I knew the truth from the original story—this was no ordinary woman.
Knowing the lengths she went to secure Carlisle’s place as crown prince, I couldn’t call that smile beautiful.
Still, given the setting, I greeted her as politely as possible.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty the Empress. I am the daughter of the House of Ephil—”
“No need for formalities. Take a seat. Introductions can come later.”
The Empress cut me off mid-sentence, gesturing for me to sit.
The atmosphere grew tense as soon as I arrived, and the banquet began under a palpable strain.
Lavish dishes, unlike anything I’d seen even in the Duke’s household, quickly filled the table.
But I wasn’t hungry, and the Empress’s cold demeanor, as if I wasn’t even worth acknowledging, sapped any appetite I might have had. I sipped at my wine in silence.
‘Of course, she wouldn’t like me. No matter how noble my lineage, I’m still from Sacre. A woman as ambitious as the Empress would want a pureblood aristocrat for Carlisle.’
Still, there was no need to draw her ire unnecessarily.
I simply hoped she’d continue to oppose Carlisle and Jeanne’s engagement.
Being from Sacre had its advantages, after all.
Stifling a smile, I set my glass down—only for Carlisle to freeze and speak hesitantly.
“Jeanne.”
“Yes?”
Carlisle’s face was ashen, and I frowned in confusion.
Before I could ask what was wrong, something fell onto my lap with a soft ‘thud’.
A strange sensation on my upper lip made me wipe it with the back of my hand, only to find it smeared with crimson.
Blood.
Screams echoed around the hall, accompanied by the clatter of silverware.
“Ahh!”
“What is happening…?”
Amid the chaos, Carlisle remained composed, inspecting my fingernails.
The pinkish hue they should have held had turned an unnatural blue.
Staring blankly at the sight, I suddenly coughed up blood, my vision blurring into a yellow haze as my consciousness faded.
‘To think the reason for my death would be in-laws’ drama.’
My body tipped forward, but before my face could hit the ground, firm arms caught me.
Carlisle’s icy voice, unlike anything I’d heard from him before, echoed near my ear.
“Call a healer. Now!”
✽ ✽ ✽
The Imperial Palace was thrown into chaos after the poisoning at the royal banquet.
Though I survived thanks to immediate treatment, the poison I’d ingested was a lethal toxin capable of killing even in small doses.
The aftermath left me in a fragile state.
Carlisle stood by my bedside, staring at me with a stormy expression before breaking the silence.
“How long will it take to fully neutralize the poison?”
The healer hesitated, his voice faltering under Carlisle’s palpable menace.
“Your Highness, I regret to inform you… it will take at least a month. And even then, the antidote for this particular poison is notoriously difficult to administer. It’s fortunate the Lady is still breathing, but recovery will require… considerable time.”
“So you’re saying she might never wake up.”
Carlisle clicked his tongue in frustration.
Torturing every servant in the estate hadn’t yielded results.
The culprit was likely someone within the royal family who didn’t want Jeanne as crown princess.
The healer, fidgeting nervously, finally murmured something under his breath.
“Your Highness… there’s something you might not be aware of.”
“What is it?”
“It’s… embarrassing to say. But if you already know, then…”
“Stop beating around the bush and spit it out.”
Carlisle’s sharp retort made the healer flinch before he spoke hesitantly.
“The Lady… she’s not a woman.”
“…What?”
“I can’t explain it either, but…”
The healer’s darting eyes betrayed his unease before he continued.
His next words plunged Carlisle into silence, his gaze darkening ominously.
“The Lady before you possesses the body of a man.”
* * *
Law’s drama 😐
That’s why you should have told him earlier that you’re a man before you went to the banquet hall..
Jeanne you dumbass🤦♀️
Bruuh