Chapter 2

Some changes brought from this chapter on:

The ml holds the title of an ‘Archduke’ not ‘Grand Duke’.

The ml’s name will be Nocton Blackwell.

Chapter 2

Even so, I couldn’t have died like this.

In addition, there was one more problem besides my scheduled death two years later.

Laria Sherwood is despised in her home. Her father, stepmother, older brother, and younger brother were all itching to eat her alive

I didn’t want to stay in such a family for another day.

‘Okay, let’s escape from this soybean flour[1] of a family and avoid death in two years.’

It was natural that I had this goal.

Fortunately, I was the original author of the novel. So that means I’m the one who knows this world the best.

Therefore, I made a plan for the past week using my knowledge of this world.

To have a successful escape from the Sherwood Earldom and a plan to save my life. And the main factor of the plan was right here.

Archduke Blackwell.

“Archduke Nocton Blackwell.”

I quietly spoke his name. It was a more familiar echo than Laria Sherwood, which has been my name for the past week.

It was understandable. Because he was the main character in my novel.

The carriage stopped in front of the main gates of the Blackwell Archduchy.

“Please show me your identification card. Did you make an arrangement for your meeting with the Archduke beforehand?”

At the words of the gatekeeper, I showed the prepared identification plate and the letter of the Archduke.

“You are Young Lady Sherwood, who was scheduled for 10 o’clock today. Come on in.”

The gatekeeper opened the gate wide. The carriage glided into the great streets without any stop.

‘The mansion is huge.’

I stuck my tongue out at the scenery seen out of the window.

Although Earl Sherwood was also a member of the capital, Archduke Blackwell’s mansion was massive. The size of the mansion was eight times the size of Sherwood’s mansion.

The entrance to the mansion was seen only after a long journey through the colorful garden by the carriage.

After getting off the porch with the help of the coachman, the top of the mansion couldn’t be seen even if I bent till my back hurt.

The murals that could be seen were painted with delicate strokes on the pillars, door frames, and even the door handles on the ceiling.

In addition, the place where the mansion is located at, is also the best place in the capital. Isn’t it similar to a building in the middle of the thousand-pyeong[2] golden land of Seoul, Gangnam?

It was enough to just look at the luxury and power of Archduke Blackwell.

Of course I did set it up like that, but…it seemed far beyond my imagination anyway.

An old man, who seemed to be a butler of the Archduke, greeted me at the front door.

“Welcome to Blackwell, Miss Sherwood. His Grace is waiting for you. Come with me.”

Deureureu-. The marble entrance gate opened, and the butler led me to a room.

“His Grace is here.”

The butler said in front of the drawing room door.

“Thank you.”

“Have a great time.”

The butler opened the drawing room and I entered the room.

The plan was thoroughly planned, but I couldn’t help being nervous.

I saw a man waiting for me in the room.

“Young Lady Sherwood.”

Seeing him in person, I thought my heart was about to pop out of my mouth for a moment.

He was a very handsome man.

Hair darker than anyone else’s and purple eyes with a mysterious and fascinating light. A sharp nose, perfect jawline, broad shoulders that couldn’t be covered by his robes, and a firm body.

The original work that I possessed was full of misery, cruelty, and was a waste altogether.

To summarize the contents of my series, this is what happened:

「The heroine and Nocton meet for the first time at the Leonhardt Memorial, the biggest festival in the Empire. The two fall in love at first sight, but they struggle because of their statuses, Blackwell’s notoriety, and those who envy their relationship.

As the plot and conflicts intensify, Nocton develops a pathological obsession with the heroine. He soon brutally kills all the characters who lose their reason and try to disrupt their relationship. In the end, he kidnaps the heroine.」

Do you understand now? The man in front of me now is a scary man who will do such a tremendous and terrifying thing to the heroine in the future.

But the moment I faced him, I couldn’t believe he was the kidnapper or such a brutal killer, even though I was the original author of the novel.

He was that beautiful.

On the other hand, however, the decadent charm of his eyes made me guess that he wasn’t an ordinary person.

The perfect, flawless idea of beauty itself.

He even went so far as to be my cup of tea[3].

‘Of course! I was so envious of the heroine that I could cry because I set him to my taste, but after the middle part, I remembered what this man did to the heroine, and surprisingly, my heart became calm.’

Thanks to this, I regained my reason and smiled calmly.

“Your Grace, the Archduke of Blackwell.”

I raised my skirt and greeted the aristocrat according to the etiquette. He, who was much higher in rank than me, just sat leisurely and nodded.

In contrast to my energetic and happy countenance, his face was extremely dry and numb.

A business-like face, as if he were doing what he had to do.

“Please have a seat.”

He offered me a seat with a face without any emotion.

I sat across from him and thought.

‘Yes, you were like that. You’re struggling these days, and you don’t have your heroine yet. Even I wouldn’t be able to laugh in that kind of situation.’

Thinking about it, I didn’t seem angry or hateful at his arrogant attitude.

Soon, the maids served simple tea and refreshments. I took a sip of black tea and looked at Archduke Blackwell’s eyes.

When I thought about whether I should bring up the story first, he opened his mouth first.

“I heard that you applied as a lady-in-waiting for the children.”

Yes, I thought of this plan after I saw the advertisement in the newspaper for the Blackwell Archduchy.

Archduke Blackwell had children. Two of them. Fraternal twins.

I mean, you’re a male lead in a romance fantasy novel. What do you mean by illegitimate children?

You may be surprised, but in fact, the children are not his own children. Both of them, that is.

There was a situation in which two adopted children were born to the Archduke, who was young and had never had a lover.

Well, I’ll explain the cumbersome situation later. Anyways, the nanny of the children, who are 5 years old at this time, suddenly retired and returned to her hometown. Therefore, she was looking for someone who could take her place and care for the children.

After seeing the advertisement, I applied to be a nanny.

It refers to a lady-in-waiting— a lower-ranking aristocrat who stands next to the royal family and the high-ranking aristocrats.

“Ye-yes, I did.”

At my answer, the archduke crossed his legs and took a sip of tea. He continued on.

“I’m sorry to hear that, but there are a lot of applicants. Regardless of status, educational background, or field.”

It was understandable. I would have been more surprised if I didn’t.

‘He’ was the Archduke of Blackwell, and ‘he’ was Nocton Blackwell.

Even if his children were illegitimate and didn’t have the authority to succeed in the Archduchy, if they were connected, they would naturally be intertwined with him, which would somehow be a connection with the Archduchy.

Even a young woman might somehow catch his eye and become the archduchess.

His purple eyes, which were looking down, now were directed at me. He asked.

“In this situation, is there any difference between Young Lady Sherwood and the other applicants? Whom must I choose?”

This is a question I expected enough. I took a breath and opened my mouth to a size that would be inaudible to the other person.

“Of course. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be here.”

As I said that, I revealed the tremendous amount of confidence I had!

At that moment, I could see that the eyebrows of the Archduke were slightly narrowed. It was understandable, since there would have been a few applicants who showed such confidence in front of him.

This wasn’t just anyone, this was Nocton Blackwell.

He was nicknamed a cold tyrant, a blade of iron blood, and a mad demon.

You say it’s a sloppy setup? Be patient. It’s because it was a shortcut that I thought with my mind at dawn!

In any case, only a few people will be swollen enough to reveal their confidence in the presence of the heartless tyrant, a monster who longs for blood.

Even though I knew all of those facts, there were two reasons I could stretch out like this.

First of all, I was the original author and he was my creation, so I didn’t feel so scared.

Fear originates from ignorance.

As for me, someone who knows what kind of past he has, the madness for his hunger of blood, and what kind of person he truly was— he was more pitiful than scary.

And secondly…

“That’s interesting. Show me, Young Lady Sherwood.”

Archduke Blackwell said with a smile on his face. The atmosphere was frozen to the point where I got goosebumps on my arm because of the coldness.

‘Alright, life is one shot!’

I have faith in you.

“Prince Mikhail Blackwell. Your Highness’ son…I mean.”

I opened my mouth, trying to hide the trembling.

“By any chance, does he not sleep well and cries every night? Even if he can barely fall asleep, he still has nightmares.”

I took a little breath.

“…looking for Mother.”

It’s not that I wasn’t nervous, but nevertheless, my voice was as clear as a well-forged blade.

“And yet, when Your Grace approaches to appease him, he cries even more loudly.”

It wasn’t that long, but the change it brought was obvious.

I saw the face of Archduke Blackwell, whose expression had barely changed since I entered the drawing room. His purple eyes were wide and his handsome mouth was stiff and rigid.

It seems like I really did hit the nail on his head.

“How did you know that? It would be impossible for the Earl of Sherwood to spy on the Archduchy. No, did you buy the maid?”

His growling voice was full of alertness.

I put a small smile around my mouth. It looked friendly but it wasn’t too bright. It was as if I truly understood and sympathized with his situation.

“What do you mean ‘spying’? No way. Excuse me, but on my way in, I saw a painting of Prince Mikhail and Princess Janette. The two paintings hanging from the frame in the left corner of the hall are those of the Prince and Princess, right?”

“…that’s right.”

“I think that the painting with a knight on horseback belongs to Prince Mikhail.”

On the way in, two pictures of a child were framed in the left corner of the main hall.

Notes:

[1]t/n: “Soybean flour” (콩가루) is a slang meaning “discord or disharmony among family members”. It apparently stems from the way soybean flour doesn’t clump together.

[2] tl/n: Pyeong was an old measure of land area.

[3]e/d: my cup of tea = my type

Special thanks to Iceprince, DianaSilva, enoughisenough, AnonAnemone, cc, wuttisyun and Skye for helping me out in this chapter.