Episode 2

A thick, hazy smoke spread like fog.

Screams, like dying cries, could be heard from all around.

I tried to pull myself together amid the chaos, but my consciousness gradually began to fade.

Ah, am I really going to die like this?

Other people get transmigrated into novels and live comfortably, eating well and enjoying their lives.

So why am I in this miserable situation?

I don’t know what bastard transmigrated me into this body, but if he has even the slightest bit of conscience, he better make sure I live a long life.

Unable to swallow back the curses rising inside me, I shouted toward the sky with all my strength while lying collapsed on the ground.

“Son of a bitch.”

For a brief moment, I thought I saw a man through my hazy vision…

But that wasn’t my concern.

I don’t know who transmigrated me, but whoever it was, he was definitely a son of a bitch.

And that was the moment the shadow of death fell over me.

[Remember. Bentley, Cecilia, and Ca□□.]

A faint voice echoed through my mind.

A scene appeared before my eyes as though someone had pressed play on a video.

A veiled woman grabbed me with trembling hands and repeatedly emphasized—

[You must remember.]

Who?

Who am I supposed to remember?

Can’t you say it one more time?

I couldn’t hear the name at the very end properly.

Just as I was about to move my lips and speak to the woman—

“Ugh!”

A powerful headache crashed over me.

At the same time, my eyes opened.

“What?”

I saw a chandelier that looked like something you’d find in medieval Europe.

Where am I now?

I frowned and tried to sit up when I heard an unfamiliar man’s voice.

“Are you awake?”

A handsome man with wheat-colored hair and round glasses appeared before me.

It seemed that only the two of us were in the room.

“Where is this?”

“This is the Hethius Duke’s residence. Don’t push yourself. Your body is still in poor condition.”

The handsome man with glasses told me that I still needed to rest and gently made me lie back down on the bed.

Although it was only for a moment, I could clearly see the room.

It was neat and elegant, with a noticeable sense of open space.

“Can you tell me what happened when you collapsed?”

“A group of masked people killed the knights and the maids. And then I…”

I don’t know why I’m here.

I bit my lip and couldn’t continue, so the man gently reassured me.

“That must have been very difficult. You don’t have to force yourself to speak, so just tell me whatever comes to mind.”

The man, wearing a kind expression, asked me several questions.

They were mostly routine questions, but since I knew nothing, I simply shook my head or answered that I didn’t know.

After hearing the same answers over and over, the man became somewhat serious and muttered to himself.

“Has she lost her memory?”

The man left after telling me to wait a moment.

Once I was alone, I quickly sat up and started thinking.

“Where did I transmigrate into?”

A childcare novel?

But my body is an adult.

A beast-kin novel?

I don’t know how to turn into an animal.

A regret novel?

I’m not exactly confident about running away.

Just as all sorts of possibilities were swirling through my head, the door suddenly opened with a loud bang.

“You’re finally awake.”

I lifted my head and saw a handsome man. He was accompanied by the wheat-haired man who had just left the room.

Silver hair reminiscent of a single lily, violet eyes like amethysts embedded in them.

A straight, well-defined nose and lips.

Transparent skin that seemed to hold morning dew.

A masterpiece of God stood before me.

“How is she?”

“Well…”

The two handsome men exchanged words with serious expressions.

As I stared at them, my complicated thoughts suddenly became clear.

The wheat-haired handsome man with round glasses was also exceptionally good-looking, but the silver-haired man, whose hair seemed to hold moonlight, was especially captivating.

Even though he was fully dressed, the muscles beneath his clothes were so pronounced that it was obvious he had a sturdy build.

Ah, I normally don’t go for silver-haired guys, but now that I see one, I guess he’s my type.

“My lady, do you recognize who I am?”

It seemed their conversation had ended, because the man’s violet eyes met mine.

Our gazes locked in midair.

The moment I looked at him, my heart began pounding.

I had the strange urge to run straight into his arms.

Judging by my rapidly increasing heartbeat, there was no doubt that this man had some connection with the owner of this body.

Come to think of it, wasn’t I supposed to be getting married today?

[No. Anyway, my groom is…]

[Ah, He—]

Before we were attacked by the assassins, the maids in the carriage had said something like “He…” when talking about my husband.

That must have been Duke Hethius.

Otherwise, why would I be here?

The wheat-haired man, who seemed to be the family physician, was also treating me respectfully, so surely that violet-eyed man had to be my husband.

To respond to my husband’s call, I gently blinked and cautiously spoke.

“Honey?”

“Honey?”

Is this woman crazy?

Calling a complete stranger “honey”?

Cassian’s eyes twitched at the unexpected remark.

Of course, they weren’t complete strangers, but Eveline and Cassian were worse than strangers.

They were a relationship as incompatible as oil and water.

The South and the North were polar opposites, to the point where neither side even considered invading the other’s territory.

Whenever they met, they were too busy displaying their hostility toward each other, so most nobles avoided bringing the South and North together.

That was why he had never imagined it.

He never imagined such words would come out of her mouth.

“Even if she woke up after a week…”

Has something gone wrong with her head?

Even if she had lost her memory, was this woman really calling him that?

“It seems to be amnesia caused by the accident.”

Matthew, the duke’s family physician, cautiously spoke up.

So that was why he had called Cassian over with such a serious expression.

“Haa…”

A sigh resembling a groan escaped him.

He had brought her to the duke’s residence because she had suffered serious injuries.

If he had known this would happen, he should have just left her there.

“Send word to the House of Duke Celdian. No, send word to the viscount’s house as well.”

Whoever it was, he wished someone would hurry up and take this woman away.

Cassian ignored Eveline, who was waiting for his answer with an innocent expression, and was just about to pull the bell cord when—

“My lord! You need to see this!”

His aide, Hans, burst into the room.

Cassian saw the letter bearing the Imperial seal and quickly took the parchment from Hans.

Although it was only suspicion, some sort of transaction had taken place between the House of Duke Celdian and the House of Viscount Hethius.

There was no clear evidence, but it was certain that something had been exchanged, so Eveline was not to be sent back home.

That was what the letter said.

“This is becoming a headache.”

So he had to keep this woman with him for the time being.

If she had retained her memories, he could have persuaded or threatened her into giving him information.

But what was he supposed to extract from a woman who looked at him with innocent, doe-like eyes and called him her husband?

He could use her as bait, at least.

Wait. Bait?

Perhaps I can use her to catch the bigger fish.

Of course, he would have to watch her and determine whether her amnesia was genuine or not, but this was an excellent opportunity.

If he kept Eveline under surveillance as the Emperor had ordered, he might discover the corruption hidden within the two families.

“Honey?”

When Cassian didn’t answer, Eveline called him once more.

Having reached a conclusion, Cassian sat down on the edge of the bed where Eveline was lying.

Then he took one of her hands and brought it to his face, curling the corners of his eyes into a sweet smile.

It was an undeniably flirtatious smile.

The people nearby stared at Cassian’s strange behavior in shock, but Cassian looked only at Eveline, as though she were the only person in the room, and answered shyly.

“Yes, my wife.”

“My lord, why on earth did you say something like that?!”

Hans followed Cassian into the study and shouted.

Despite the scolding tone, his voice was as quiet as a buzzing mosquito.

As though he absolutely could not let the sound escape outside, Hans clenched his teeth and gave Cassian a demanding look, silently asking for an explanation.

“If the House of Duke Celdian finds out about this!”

“Don’t worry. His Majesty said he would take care of that side, so we only need to deal with Eveline and Viscount Hethius.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

Even when he thought back to what had happened an hour ago, Hans still got chills.

Eveline calling Cassian “honey,” and Cassian calling Eveline “my wife.”

For a moment, Hans thought he had been hearing things.

But even afterward, the two of them continued acting as though they were genuinely married.

Has Cassian finally gone insane?

Even if he was lonely, how could he pretend to be married to the Northern witch?

Does he have a thing for women who already belong to someone else? But there are plenty of married women in the South too.

Of course, she was incredibly beautiful.

There were plenty of beautiful ladies in the South as well, but after seeing Eveline in person, Hans doubted there was anyone who could compare to her beauty.

Her conduct was appalling, but when it came to her looks, there was nothing more to say.

She was simply the best.

“Don’t get any strange ideas.”

Cassian narrowed his eyes after seeing Hans’s expression.

Hans immediately composed himself.

“I’m only setting the stage to catch Viscount Hethius.”

“But no one has ever seen Viscount Hethius’s true face. Except for the people of the House of Duke Celdian.”

“Which is why we have to use Eveline. His lover is in my hands. Do you really think the viscount won’t make a move?”