Apparently, trying to leave the original work was a big mistake.
Seeing the protagonist go mad.
Looking at Serdis’ halfrolled eyes, my chaotic mind cleared.
The person in front of me wasn’t the protagonist. He was a man who was anxious and mad because he couldn’t do anything to me, the nonprotagonist. My hands and feet trembled. I felt a hot sensation around my eyes in an instant.
“Go away…….”
“Stop pushing me and come to me. I know you’re looking for a husband at the Information Guild behind my back, so don’t bother.”
My breath caught in an instant.
How did he know this story?
“I was suspicious when your story differed from the Count’s, so I checked and found out quickly.”
“You’ve been investigating me…….”
“It was all because I wanted you. My intentions are pure.”
His expression strangely changed. He didn’t know what to do, filled with anxiety, and now he stared intently at me.
“Anette.”
His quiet voice called my name. I felt a chill. Serdis, who had come up close, suddenly ran his finger across my lips.
“What are you doing……!”
“Shouldn’t I have you here to prevent you from going to the nunnery? Rather, you should breathe by my side forever.”
The body that had grown comfortable beside Serdis exhaled more rapidly.
“You understand, right? Even if I do?”
He was sincere.
I pushed him away with all my might as he drew closer. But with my body, which could not even be considered normal, it was impossible to push away a fullgrown man.
Serdis’s smooth chin tilted slightly and his hands firmly enveloped me. The heartbeats, whether mine or his, echoed rapidly and repeatedly from our close bodies.
“Please…… Don’t do this!”
“You like this. Stop pushing away now.”
“I don’t like it……. I don’t like it…….”
Tears gushed out uncontrollably. I felt a wave of fear that I would not be able to escape from his arms, no matter how hard I tried to run away. In the midst of such despair, just then.
Bang!
The giant wall that was Serdis fell down.
And in his place stood a strange man. The face of the man, obscured by the moonlight, was not clear, but he spat out sternly in a low voice.
“Run away right now.”
It was a saving hand extended to me, standing at the edge of the cliff. But as if the world had stopped, I couldn’t do anything. Eventually, the man who couldn’t bear it yelled.
“Hurry!”
At his voice, my frozen body finally moved. In the rush of escaping, I had no time to thank him. All I wanted was to safely escape from this place.
The tall entrance of the palace came into view. Around it, family carriages lined up. Even after rubbing my tearstreaked eyes, I couldn’t see the count’s carriage.
There was no time to search one by one. I didn’t know when and where Serdis would chase after me. In the end, I left the palace barefoot.
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]I walked aimlessly down an unknown road.
I stopped walking when the heel of my shoe broke. The black darkness fell on the streets. My rough breathing echoed in the silence.
There was a carriage rental shop just a little further down. But I couldn’t get myself to move.
‘What if Serdis is at the mansion when I return?’
After a short deliberation, I decided not to return to the mansion. Instead, I moved my steps toward the alley at the end where sounds of people could be heard. It was the street of taverns. I could hear the cheerful laughter of men. I stumbled and sank to the ground as soon as I entered the alley.
‘I can’t walk any more.’
I fell to my knees and buried my face. A face I didn’t want to see tried to surface in my dark sight. I rubbed my face against my soiled dress.
Then, someone helped me up. It was a very cautious touch.
“It’s dangerous to stay here.”
The man I faintly saw seemed similar to the person who helped me just a moment ago. I couldn’t see his face properly, and when I looked down, I saw armor inside his coarse cloak.
A mercenary?
“I’ll escort you.”
Ah, a guardsman.
It seemed like he had come to me upon seeing a noble lady wandering the streets at dawn. I blinked my swollen eyes and asked,
“Where are you going to take me?”
“You will catch a cold if you stay here. We must go.”
I saw a carriage at the end of his gaze. I shook off his hand. His lightly held hand fell away easily.
“…I don’t want to go home. I’ll be outside today before I go in.”
“Then I will escort you to a place where you can rest safely.”
“…..”
I was too exhausted to speak and followed where he led me.
Despite being late at night, thanks to magic, the sign of an unfamiliar place shone brightly. I momentarily took my eyes away, captivated by the flashing sign light.
“Is a casino a safe place?”
“Yes.”
The man responded plainly and led the way in.
‘Is he really a guardsman?’
He brought me to a casino. But I didn’t question it for long. I had no room to worry about minor issues.
I followed him in.
Casinos were places that even young nobles frequented out of boredom. However, due to the nature of gambling, I had never visited one due to the uncomfortable vibe.
As I stepped into the casino past the red curtains, an exclamation slipped out.
“Wow.”
The interior of the casino, which was widely open as one space, was entirely gilded.
The floor was covered in velvet sheets made so as not to interfere with gambling, so there was no sound of footsteps. Moreover, what caught the eye were the games positioned in various sections.
“All went to the party. Damn.”
However, the casino that should have been crowded was empty.
Except for the dealers standing like robots in front of each game machine.
I dragged my swollen, aching legs and my uncomfortable dress and stood in front of a nearby game. The man who brought me here graciously pulled out a chair for me.
“Please sit and wait for a moment.”
The man made me sit and disappeared somewhere. I blankly stared at the roulette game board in front of me.
Then, he came back and unfolded a blanket.
“May I cover you with this?”
The man was tall. And his appearance, which I couldn’t see clearly outside, naturally drew admiration.
Solid, toned muscles not hidden by the cloak.
A face as white as snow, unburned under the sun.
His black hair, contrasting with his face, fit perfectly without any sense of incongruity.
‘A handsome guardsman.’
That was all my admiration.
A man who was attractive was now just an annoyance to me, who had been smitten by a handsome man.
Instead of a reply, I gave a small nod.
A warm and secure sensation quickly warmed my body.
“It’s warm.”
“It’s a magic blanket. Also, please have some tea.”
Perhaps it was because this place was where big money flowed. The place was filled with expensive magic.
That’s probably why it had a dreamy atmosphere too.
“Is this also magic?”
“Yes.”
The tea, which I didn’t know when it was boiled, was steaming.
The fragrant smell of chamomile.
It’s calming. I closed my eyes, savored the aroma of the tea, and smiled faintly.
“This is my favorite tea.”
“I’m glad.”
Contrary to his appearance, he was kind.
His sweet manner of speaking had a knack for putting people at ease.
Thanks to that, I was able to relax. The events that happened to me just a moment ago became slightly fainter.
I looked straight ahead. The steel bead drawn with alternating red and white in the roulette game board twinkled.
“If life is a game and could be reset, it would be nice.”
If that was the case, I wouldn’t have been involved at all.
“It seems you had some trouble.”
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say.”
I fiddled with the warm tea cup in my hands. It wasn’t a story to share with someone I’d just met today.
Silence flowed for a few minutes. After he had drained his cup of tea, he opened his mouth.
“I’ve been feeling the same way lately.”
At his words, I slightly turned my head. It seemed like he was just offering words of consolation.
“……I see.”
When my words trailed off, he spoke again.
“I will only tell your Highness.”
“You don’t have to……”
“I have some circumstances and I’m looking for a marriage partner.”
The exact words I needed to hear.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
