Chapter 1
"It's Duke Ricardo!"
Layla exclaimed excitedly, poking me in the side.
I stuffed the entire macaron I was holding into my mouth and silently watched the man walking across the ballroom.
Ricardo Hessen.
The sole heir to the empire's only ducal house.
"Shouldn't you at least greet him?"
Layla asked urgently.
A greeting? Absolutely not. Pretending not to know each other was clearly better for both of us.
See? Even though our eyes definitely met, he's walking straight toward the heroine.
Ricardo elegantly kissed Edette's knuckles in front of everyone.
The noble ladies nearby were so excited they nearly fainted.
Some looked at me with sympathetic eyes, but I didn't care at all.
I hadn't expected anything to begin with, so there was no disappointment.
But Layla didn't seem to think that way.
Looking a bit deflated, she murmured.
"I thought he would come to you first..."
"..."
"He'll treat you better after you're married."
She gently patted my shoulder, adding kindly as if to comfort me.
I appreciated the sentiment, but that wasn't what I wanted.
Ricardo being kind? That's a joke that would make even a stray dog laugh.
Still, I couldn't blame Layla.
Why?
Because Ricardo was my fiancé.
Even though neither of us wanted this engagement.
Five Ways to Tame a Villain
That's the title of the novel I possessed.
It was a cliché-ridden romance fantasy where three male leads competed for the heroine, Edette.
And I became Bianca, the fiancée of Ricardo, one of those male leads.
In the original story, Bianca clung to her grandfather and forced the engagement with Ricardo through.
Well, I thought, Ricardo is handsome like a male lead should be, so there might be some benefit.
I really thought so at first.
But...
"Don't think I'll treat you well just because we've known each other since childhood."
The cold gaze Ricardo shot at me was truly terrifying.
Yes, that's right.
Ricardo hated Bianca intensely.
Though they had known each other since childhood, young Bianca had tormented him horribly.
She had feelings for him but couldn't handle the rejection, so she went astray.
And that left Ricardo traumatized.
To the present-day Ricardo, I was merely someone he despised.
Nothing more, nothing less.
After learning the full circumstances, I tried to dissolve the engagement.
But...
"Haha, it's truly heartwarming to see you both grown up so splendidly."
"Seeing my grandson and my old friend's granddaughter engaged means I have no regrets left."
The House of Hessen and the House of Loygin.
Ricardo's grandfather and my grandfather were close friends.
They met on the battlefield and made a promise facing death.
If they both survived, they would marry off their grandchildren.
And now we were the result of that promise.
On the engagement ceremony day, Ricardo was furious.
Just thinking about it still gives me a headache.
"Are you satisfied now? What exactly did you say to my grandfather to make this ridiculous childhood promise happen?"
"Hey, I don't like this engagement either!"
"...Do you think I'd believe that?"
"Why wouldn't you?"
I told him the truth, but Ricardo didn't believe me at all.
He thinks I threw a tantrum and forced the engagement through, just like in the original story.
I wanted to scream from frustration.
Who said I wanted to marry you?
I fiddled with my wine glass and watched Ricardo dance with Edette in the ballroom.
He always looks so annoyed when he sees me, but now he was smiling brightly.
Ha.
Having fun?
Fine. I'll find someone who likes me too!
Someone other than you!
A sub-male lead always loves only the heroine, after all.
Marrying someone like that was completely absurd.
I firmly resolved.
I would never be swayed by that handsome face.
The best way to deal with a sub-male lead is to think of him as just a rock.
Could there be a simpler rule than this?
Compared to mathematical formulas, this was an easy problem.
After the party ended.
Grandfather welcomed me warmly.
"How was your day, my little puppy?"
When that gentle hand touched me, I almost burst into tears.
Grandfather smiled softly and tucked a strand of fallen hair behind my ear.
He was the only guardian who raised Bianca and Cedric with love after they lost their parents early.
The reason I could adapt quickly even after possessing this novel was all thanks to Grandfather.
"It was fun. But..."
It would have been a perfect party if not for Ricardo.
My expression darkened at the thought of him, and Grandfather's face grew somber too.
Ah—
I didn't mean to worry him.
I quickly smiled and said.
"I'm just a little tired."
Grandfather gently patted my hand and looked at me quietly.
"...Is it because of Ricardo?"
You can't fool experience.
I hadn't even mentioned Ricardo yet.
"That boy may be a bit blunt, but his nature is kind."
...That only applies to the heroine and the adults.
Grandfather didn't seem to know about Edette yet.
I thought about telling him that Ricardo had someone he liked, but I hesitated.
I had considered it for a long time, but ultimately swallowed my words.
'...It's not the right time yet.'
Grandfather's health wasn't good.
And his greatest wish was for my engagement to Ricardo.
He wanted me, who lost my parents early, to start a family and become a woman who is loved.
I didn't want to burden Grandfather by bringing up Ricardo.
Whether Ricardo loved Edette or not didn't matter to me.
But it would matter to Grandfather.
He might blame himself for forcing the engagement.
And if his health worsened because of that...
I held Grandfather's hand tightly.
"I know. His Grace is much kinder than he appears."
In the original story, that was certainly true.
But Ricardo already loved Edette.
In the epilogue, he never forgot her and lived alone his entire life.
That image was still vivid in my memory.
Lost in thought, I was brought back by Grandfather's cough.
"I should rest now. It's late."
"Yes. Goodnight, Grandfather."
Grandfather lightly kissed my forehead.
Then he looked briefly at the key hanging around my neck.
Creak—
I quietly slipped out of the room and took out the key I had hidden in my clothes.
I've had it since I was a child, so my memories of it are faint.
But it was the only thing proving that my possession wasn't a dream.
The object that crossed over with me from the original world to this one.
That fact alone was astonishing.
Just then, I saw Cedric walking down the hallway.
Probably on his way to see Grandfather.
Cedric Loygin.
Bianca's older brother.
He was five years older than Bianca.
You'd think they'd be very close since they lost their parents early, but the reality was different.
They weren't enemies, but they weren't close either.
Neither had a particularly affectionate personality, so their relationship was quite dry.
Siblings who barely spoke.
There are plenty of close sibling relationships in novels, but not in this one.
I hoped Cedric would just walk past.
But contrary to my expectations, he stopped right in front of me.
A heavy silence fell.
Unable to bear the awkwardness, I rolled my eyes and spoke first.
"Are you going to see Grandfather?"
"...Yes."
"He said he's about to sleep. Why don't you visit tomorrow?"
Was I being too nosy?
Cedric didn't answer.
Instead, he just stared at me silently.
That gaze made me uncomfortable, so I lowered my head and fidgeted with my fingers.
Only after a long while did he look away.
Finally breathing a sigh of relief, I quickly said.
"Well then, goodnight."
As I turned to leave—
"...Bianca Loygin."
"Yes?"
Cedric called my full name?
This isn't ordinary.
Something is definitely going on.
