Sometimes when I look at my husband, I’m reminded of the saying “Out of the frying pan, into the fire.”

The end of a contract marriage.

My husband had established his position as a duke, and I was safe. We had served our purposes for each other and no longer had reason to live together. So I demanded a divorce from my husband.

“Let’s get divorced now.”

“Shall we have a juicy steak for lunch today, as you like?”

“Did you not hear me say we should divorce?”

“No. You seem a bit puffy lately, so a salad with chicken breast would be better.”

But my husband refused.

To be precise, he didn’t even give me a reason. He just treated me with endless affection as always. This won’t do. Sensing the dangerous signal that I might fall for him if I stayed any longer, I decided to force a divorce.

‘Once I stamp the divorce agreement, it’ll be over.’

It was in the deep night. I was rummaging through his office, trying to secretly steal his seal.

A paper sticking out from a book on the bookshelf caught my eye.

A worn-looking book in this otherwise well-organized room.

I was drawn to pick up that book.

“Markaba Academy… It’s a graduation album.”

It was the graduation album from the academy I attended. The album from two years before I graduated.

Was my husband also from Markaba?

My curiosity was short-lived as I opened the album and a pile of photos spilled out, causing my hand to slip. Scattered like cherry blossoms in spring, in the photos…

“These are… my photos.”

There I was from my academy days.

A chill ran down my spine from my fingertips.

‘Why are my photos in my husband’s office?’

But before I could finish that thought, I heard the office door opening.

I froze like a child caught stealing. As I clutched my frantically beating heart, calm footsteps echoed in the quiet office. Instinctively, I knew who had entered.

As I stood facing the bookshelf, trying to swallow a hiccup that threatened to burst out, it happened.

“My lady.”

A cool breeze blew by my ear.

“What are you looking at?”

It seems I really am trapped in a tiger’s den after all.

***

To explain how I ended up in this tiger’s den, we need to go quite far back in time.

Originally, I was a loner.

Until 10 years ago, I was waiting for death in a hospital corner, suffering from an incurable disease. My only mother abandoned me when I was very young, unable to afford the medical bills, and young me barely clung to life with government support. But just as I became an adult, my condition worsened and I faced a lonely death. There was nothing to be sad about. I was surely bound for heaven.

But when I opened my eyes, I found myself in a different world. An unfamiliar room with no smell of disinfectant or sound of humidifiers. A light body.

“Anette Leanberia…?”

This body with the difficult name was an 11-year-old young lady living in a high-class mansion reminiscent of medieval times. Her hands were small and cute, with fair skin and striking emerald eyes. As soon as I saw my new self in the mirror, I immediately realized this was a different world. An unheard-of empire name and strange maps. Plus, there were shops selling magic on the streets.

“This must be inside a novel.”

But I didn’t think I was the protagonist. Although my face was beautiful enough to be mistaken for the female lead, the background wasn’t. Unlike typical novel protagonists, the Leanberia county was more peaceful and harmonious than any other noble family.

‘Protagonists are usually unfortunate.’

Like me in my past life. In this life, I was surely an extra or supporting character. Not that it mattered. Under the wealthy domain and the earl couple with gentle personalities, I lived a life of luxury I never dreamed of. Perhaps being an extra was even better?

And so, forgetting my lonely times, I was spending my days in small, happy moments. It was when I was 15, attending the academy, that it happened.

“You say Rian collapsed?”

“Hurry to the infirmary. We’ve contacted your parents too.”

The belladonna bud of Rian, my two-year-older brother, had bloomed. As the simple pattern engraved on the bodies of those born with Leanberia blood blossomed, Rian’s fever worsened.

“There’s no particular reaction from the pattern. We can only explain the young master’s illness as a fever of unknown cause.”

All family members and people of the house went everywhere to find a cure. But Rian couldn’t endure the prolonged pain and passed away.

The grief was short-lived. The year after Rian’s death, the belladonna bud on my wing joint began to stir. The shadow of death had fallen on me too. My body weakened rapidly, and people whispered it was a curse.

‘Curse or not, I can’t die in vain again.’

But seeing my body weaken despite my efforts, I felt dejected. Do I have to wait for death again like this? As I was living a powerless life, I met Serdis. The prince of the Requies Empire extended his hand to me as I struggled with dancing at a banquet. A person shining like a jewel in the grand banquet hall. As I faced him, I realized.

‘This guy is my savior.’

Standing beside him, I felt my breathing ease and my body lighten. It was a sense of liberation I hadn’t felt in years. I decided to stick close to Serdis by any means. Because that was the only hope for me to live.

I frequented the imperial palace at every opportunity to meet him. After seizing chances here and there, I managed to save his beloved pet bird. Thanks to that, I succeeded in catching his eye.

“That was a close call. Thank you for helping.”

“If you’re thankful, how about treating me to tea?”

I only wanted enough friendship to breathe easily next to him, but he asked with a blushing face:

“…Would you like to go on a date with me?”

It seemed I had caught his interest more deeply than expected.

“I’d love to.”

Well, thank you very much.

***

“Achoo!”

As I was enjoying tea on the cafe terrace, I quickly covered my mouth at the sudden sneeze.

“Are you cold?”

Soon after, I flinched at the warm jacket wrapping around my shoulders. At the edge of my vision, I noticed the golden emblem on the jacket.

“I’m fine…”

“No, you’re not. You came dressed so lightly even though your body is weak.”

My savior, Serdis, asked with concern.

“People might misunderstand if they see…”

“Let them misunderstand. You’re more important to me than others.”

It felt like the imperial wing emblem was spread wide on my back. But the coughing showed no signs of stopping.

“Cough! Cough!”

“This won’t do. Let’s go inside. I’ll have them bring some warm tea.”

The pain was gradually subsiding as he approached with worry.

Serdis even picked up my bag and offered his hand. I couldn’t help but smile at his long, outstretched fingers.

Golden hair warmer than sunlight and eyes like ripe pomegranates. The wavy hair along his long neckline suited him perfectly. Meeting him often felt like being in another world. It was as if flowers bloomed wherever he passed, and not a single dark cloud dared to cross his path.

It wasn’t just me who felt that way. Serdis, now an adult, had stolen the hearts of all the young ladies.

‘He really is handsome.’

Even I, who approached him to survive, was enjoying the visual feast.

“Is there something on my face?”

Serdis asked, noticing my stare.

There is. Handsomeness.

“No, just…”

I covered myself up to my neck with the blanket the waiter had handed me, like a shy girl. Serdis rested his chin on his hand and looked at me with crinkled eyes. Under his persistent gaze, I hid my face in the blanket.

“Is there something on my face?”

“I thought I saw wrong, but I was right.”

“What?”

“That you’re pretty.”

Ack.

I almost threw up the toast I had for breakfast.

‘Did he just call me pretty?’

He was honest, as befitting a protagonist. But it was worth wearing this excessively pretty dress. It seemed to have caught Serdis’ eye for sure.

“Thank you for the kind words.”

I responded with a bright smile and took out a pill from my bag to swallow. Although it had no effect, it was to reassure the worried Serdis. Watching me, Serdis smiled gently and asked:

“Do you take medicine every time?”

“I usually take it once a day when the weather gets cold. I’ve been seriously ill in winters before, so my parents are overly cautious.”

I lowered my eyes pitifully. The more he thought I was very sick, the more he would worry.

“You said you’ve been sick since you were young. Is the medicine prescribed by your family doctor?”

“Usually our family doctor prepares it, but this time it’s made from a new herb my father discovered. It’s my first time trying it today, and it’s quite bitter.”

“You must be going through a lot, Anette.”

“It’s nothing. As long as I take my medicine regularly, I’m fine. I’m sure I’ll get better after eating some macarons.”

I smiled bravely after making a bitter expression. Even to my eyes, I looked pitiful, and sympathy clouded Serdis’ face. Heh, how naive.

‘But why do I feel so dizzy?’

I had been feeling light-headed for a while now.

Is it the medicine kicking in? That shouldn’t be the case.

Although father said it was a new medicine, it shouldn’t be different from usual. But strangely, my heart was pounding and my head started to ache.

‘If I say I’m sick again, he’ll try to send me home.’

I endured it with all my might. As I pinched my thigh to distract from my throbbing head, the macarons arrived.

Special macarons Serdis ordered as a thank you for saving his bird.

The macarons studded with seasonal fruits looked delicious at a glance.

“Anette, enjoy.”

But I couldn’t move an inch in front of the macarons I had been so looking forward to. The ringing in my ears was so loud I couldn’t hear anything else. And with a sharp headache, suspicious memories flooded my mind like waves.

‘Why is this coming up again?’

It was a memory similar to a nightmare I had once. A painful memory of someone cruelly rejecting me. Could it be my mother who abandoned me in my past life? It’s been 10 years already. My chest ached a little as even the memories I wanted to forget resurfaced.

“Anette, are you okay?”

Serdis asked kindly as he steadied me, stumbling from the headache. Despite his warm embrace, the nauseating pain continued as if all the blood in my body was rushing in reverse.

‘Why am I like this today?’

The situation was serious. At this rate, my condition would likely worsen.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes. Tell me, Anette.”

Serdis still wore a face of genuine concern.

“I think… I need to go home…”

Just as I managed to hold onto him and open my mouth, it happened. Suddenly my vision distorted and the Serdis before my eyes began to change.

“Your Highness…?”

The eyes full of warmth were gone, replaced by cold red eyes looking down at me, as chilly as the northern air. Sweat formed on my hands and my heart began to beat anxiously at this gaze I had never seen before.

“Your…”

“…Anette Leanberia is banished to the borderlands.”

Huh?

What did he just say…

The question I couldn’t bring myself to utter aloud painfully echoed in my mind. This was no longer the Serdis I knew. The person before my eyes now was…

“The entire Leanberia family shall also be stripped of all titles for their crimes.”

The person who periodically tormented me in my dreams. Thanks to the flood of old memories that followed, I could understand why he tormented me. I would have preferred if such memories hadn’t surfaced at all. My vision flickered as the headache and memories continued to rush in, heedless of my state.

***

It wasn’t just a nightmare.

No. This cruel reality was the nightmare itself.

It’s been a full decade since I was possessed into this world.

I finally remembered what novel this world was from.

It was a typical regret story where the female lead, who had long harbored unrequited love for Prince Serdis, turns away after being hurt despite her devotion, leading the male lead to realize his true love and regret his actions. The problem was that instead of quietly regretting and loving, Serdis, who became the regretful male lead, turned into a giant hoop, causing trouble here and there.

And the first to be hit by this 8-ton hoop was none other than Anette Leanberia.

Serdis’ sickly first love and the body I was possessing.

Serdis had been in love with Anette since their academy days.

Her coral-colored hair that reached her waist and emerald eyes that sparkled like jewels moved the boy’s heart. The long eyelashes covering her eyes fluttered elegantly like a lady’s fan when she blinked. Moreover, her sickly body gave off a somewhat melancholic aura, stimulating the desire to protect her.

Serdis had a unique anesthetic ability that could ease Anette’s pain and make her comfortable. The two were drawn to each other and loved briefly before parting. If only it had ended cleanly there, but the male lead, unable to forget her, makes a mistake with the female lead who loved only him by his side.

‘Your heels aren’t pink like Anette’s.’

‘Anette has dimples when she smiles… Your smile isn’t pretty.’

He ends up gaslighting the sensitive female lead by selling my name.

Because of this, the kind-hearted female lead Violet develops an extreme trauma about me, to the point of fainting upon encountering Anette at a party later on.

Later, Serdis, regretting and wallowing, mistakenly believes that Anette’s existence tormented Violet and sends her off to marry an old, greedy margrave. Anette, whose health was already poor, meets a lonely death in neglect.

If this is true…

I’m completely doomed.