<Chapter 7>

“Rely on me,” she says?

On a monster like me?

Temenos let out a faint chuckle. He found it amusing that his chest had stirred, even for a moment, at the sweet lies spun by a fraud. He clenched his fist tightly, then let it relax, tossing away the unsettling feelings within.

But he didn’t realize it.

Like a small pebble dropped into a deep lake, it sank to the bottom without causing any lasting effect. And yet, for just an instant, it was enough to create ripples on the calm surface.

*  *  *  

‘Wait, why’s he laughing?’  

It hasn’t even been five minutes since I told him I was being serious!  

For a moment, I felt upset, but I decided to let it slide.   

Especially since his already handsome face became even more striking when he smiled.  

‘As expected, whether it’s a dark romance or a rom-com, a male lead must have this level of good looks.’  

If you just look at the right side of his face, he was so charming and attractive that compliments naturally flowed.  

But it wasn’t as if the left side of his face was horrifying to the point of making someone shudder.

‘People kept calling him a monster, so I thought he’d have some ridiculously terrifying appearance…’  

The novel didn’t describe the male lead’s looks in detail.  

It only mentioned that he was born with a strange appearance and wore a half-mask, along with the reactions of those around him.  

Even the close aides who had served him since childhood felt fear and terror when they saw him, and Beatrice openly displayed disgust when their eyes met.  

‘Considering how disastrous their first meeting was, I can’t blame her.’  

Not to mention how others reacted—it was self-explanatory.  

But my impression after actually seeing him was, “Is that all it takes to make such a fuss?” 

Besides, his entire body wasn’t covered in scales. It was just half of him, as if measured with a ruler.  

My instinct as a romance fantasy reader was screaming.

‘That’s definitely a curse. If some condition is met, it’ll probably disappear completely, won’t it?’  

In the final chapter, the one who brought about the world’s destruction was the male lead turned monster.  

Since I skipped from chapter 71 to 199, I didn’t know why or how he became a monster.  

But seeing the strange features he was born with, I had a feeling about what kind of monster he became.  

‘Those scales, those eyes… It’s obvious. He turned into a dragon!’  

A male lead torn between his human self and monstrous instincts, eventually losing control and transforming into a monster.  

And that monster is a dragon? That’s a total cliché.  

‘There’s no doubt about it. The path to a happy ending exists!’  

The original plot was already messed up by the time I possessed this body.  

So why not turn the impending world-destroying bad ending into a sweet, happy ending while I’m at it?  

‘Worst-case scenario, I just die, right?’  

But if I succeed? I prevent the world’s destruction and gain a ridiculously handsome husband.  

And this man wasn’t just good-looking.  

He is the grand lord of the vast North! In the world of romance fantasy, northern dukes are regarded even more highly than emperors!

If I marry him, I’ll become a duchess and live a life of luxury.  

Sure, managing the duchess role might be challenging with those stern eyebrows of his, but…  

‘I’ve been hated without reason plenty of times before.’  

Whether I’m rude in front of them or gossip behind their backs—what does it matter as long as I’m well-fed and warm?  

Recalling the satisfying breakfast and soft bed I enjoyed this morning, I glanced at the male lead.  

‘I should lock down the duchess position with a wedding ceremony as soon as possible… How much has the wedding been delayed? Can we do it now?’  

Just as I was contemplating how to win over this man to secure my current comfort, his voice cut through with a firm rejection.  

“You trust and rely on me, huh… but I can’t trust or rely on you, though.”

“What? Why?”  

At my reflexive response, he frowned as if asking, “Are you really in a position to feel wronged?”

“The person who proposed holding a wedding as soon as preparations were complete jumped to her death that same night, then woke up claiming to have lost her memory and knows nothing. If you were me, would you believe that without question?”  

“Uh…”  

When I considered it from his perspective, it did seem like an absurd story.  

Especially the part where I caused a huge scene and then went, “I lost my memory, so I don’t know anything.”

But.  

‘I can’t exactly say, “The real Inosensia is dead, and I’m a soul from another world,” can I?’  

Let alone add, “This world is doomed to end soon…” That’d only brand me as a cultist.  

“I know it’s hard to believe, but I really don’t remember anything. Still, since it was my actions that caused the trouble, I’ll apologize. I’m sorry.”  

I bowed my head slightly before meeting his gaze again. He squinted as if he couldn’t believe my apology was sincere.  

“I’ll clean up my mess. What should I do to earn your trust?”  

He stared at me for a moment before delivering a cutting remark with his full lips.  

“To earn it back doesn’t seem fitting for the situation. I’ve never trusted you to begin with.”  

“Oh, I see… Well, that’s good then! It means we’re starting from zero instead of a negative. Right?”  

“We’re at a negative.”  

Tch. So much for pretending to be clueless and cheerful. It didn’t work.  

As I pouted subtly, I heard him continue, “However,” in his low voice.  

“It is rather surprising. I didn’t expect to have such a lengthy conversation with you.”  

“Conversation? We’re about to become a couple. We’ll do much more than just talk.”  

I deliberately crossed a line slightly, observing his reaction.  

I wanted to confirm whether, formalities aside, he truly intended to marry me.  

‘Oh-ho.’

Though his brows furrowed in apparent annoyance, his ears, peeking through his hair, had turned crimson red.  

…Kind of cute, hm?  

“Are… are you being serious?”  

“Why? Does it sound like a lie?”  

At my retort, he let out a faint scoff—a laugh that seemed born of disbelief.  

“You must be fearless. Do you even know what’s under these clothes before talking so big?”

“Amazing abs?”

“……”

“A broad chest? A lean, defined waistline? Or maybe…”

As I was about to trail my gaze downward, I noticed his human eye and reptilian eye both widening in alarm.  

Oops.

Realizing my slip, I clasped my hands together at my chest.  

“Beneath that outfit must lie a kind and gentle heart. I just know it.”  

“Too late.”  

“……Yes.”  

He took a step back, putting more distance between us. His subtle movements to ensure his buttons hadn’t come undone also struck me as adorable.  

‘That modesty… I kinda like it.’

As expected of a man who’s never held a woman’s hand. His bashfulness was endearing to me.  

“Since we’re already talking, can I make a small request?”  

“What is it?”  

“My name is Inosensia, not ‘you.’”  

He paused briefly before replying:  

“You want me to call you by your name?”  

“Yes. We’re practically engaged, after all. Calling me ‘you’ feels too distant. From now on, please call me Sia.”  

“……”  

He stared at me wordlessly while I forced a smile so wide that my lips trembled.

‘Come to think of it, I can’t keep calling him ‘male lead’ forever.’  

Pretending to shift the subject, I asked naturally, “I’ve lost my memory, so I’ve also forgotten your name, Your Grace. What should I call you?”  

“Just that—Your Grace.”  

“Aw, that feels so impersonal. We’re practically engaged.”  

“We’re not formally betrothed, so we’re still strangers, aren’t we?”  

…How petty. He’s not wrong, but still.  

As I sulked, his gloved hand reached out and took the note from my hand.  

“I’ll tell you my name when it reaches zero.”  

Even through his gloves, his hand moved so deliberately and avoided touching me so carefully. I could only watch as his hand approached and retreated swiftly.  

Realizing the meaning behind his words, I nodded firmly.  

“Got it! I’ll work hard to reach zero!”  

When I’ve gone beyond zero and earned enough trust, will I finally be able to say it one day?  

Sia. That’s really my name.  

*  *  *

Anxiously waiting, David bit his nails with a tense expression and bolted upright the moment the study door opened.

“Your Grace!”  
 

<To be continued>

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