“What is this….”
She had merely come out, drawn by the commotion in the middle of the night. She never expected that this disturbance was caused by her husband and younger sister.
Raymond was sprawled half-naked across the bedroom and the corridor. His face twisted as he wiped his mouth dry, and upon spotting Yerpi, he spoke.
“She suddenly broke into my bedroom.”
At his bewildered tone, Yerpi glanced at Charlotte. She stared blankly up at Raymond for a long moment.
Her violet eyes wandered as if lost in a dream—just like when she was sleepwalking. Then, Charlotte’s gaze turned toward Yerpi.
“Sister.”
Yerpi couldn’t just leave Charlotte standing there, dazed as she called out.
She dismissed the maids lingering in the hallway and stepped forward to support Charlotte. Her frail body rose weakly, as light as a paper doll.
“I’m sorry. Charlotte seems to have sleepwalking. I’ll take her back.”
“…Hmph. Fine.”
Heaving a deep sigh, he retreated into the bedroom. Watching him go, Yerpi turned to leave as well. A light flickered on late at night in the Duchess’s chamber.
“Pepe, could you bring some tea? Something that helps with sleep?”
“I will.”
Pepe, roused from sleep, quickly prepared the tea. Shortly after, two warm cups of chamomile tea were placed on the table.
“I added a bit of honey.”
“Good job. Thank you.”
Pepe quietly withdrew. A silence settled over the table where Yerpi and Charlotte sat facing each other.
Charlotte’s dazed expression seemed to have cleared somewhat. She responded when Yerpi spoke to her.
“Drink a little.”
“Okay.”
A pale white hand reached for the teacup. Charlotte sipped carefully, then smiled contentedly.
“It’s delicious. Your maid brews tea wonderfully.”
“Does she?”
“Mm. Will you trade her for the maid you gave me?”
To make such a comment at a time like this—only Charlotte could do it.
It was hard to hide the turmoil stirred by the earlier incident.
“My maids aren’t yours to begin with. I only asked them to serve you temporarily out of courtesy since you’re staying here.”
“Hmm, I see. Isn’t it the same thing?”
Even if she explained properly, Charlotte didn’t seem like she’d listen. Still, it was a relief that she was coherent enough to respond.
“Charlotte, your sleepwalking seems to have gotten worse.”
Ever since Yerpi first noticed it, Charlotte occasionally wandered the palace corridors or stood from bed to spin aimlessly on the carpet.
Each time, the maids nearby helped guide her back.
But this was the first time she had intruded into someone else’s bedroom.
The guest quarters and the Duke’s bedroom were separated by an entire building.
Such a distant journey, as if drawn to a specific destination—this kind of sleepwalking clearly indicated a problem.
Yet Charlotte merely tilted her head, puzzled.
“Why are you suddenly talking about sleepwalking?”
“What do you mean? Didn’t you go to His Grace’s bedroom because of your condition?”
“No? Sister, I’m perfectly fine. I’m completely awake.”
Charlotte set down her cup, her face bright and clear, as if questioning Yerpi’s sanity. Seeing her cheerful smile, Yerpi felt dazed.
“You were really worried about me, weren’t you? You’re such a kind sister.”
“Then why did you go to His Grace’s bedroom?”
“Hmm.”
Instead of answering, Charlotte smiled and began speaking of something else.
“You know, Sister. I hated the temple. I did want to become a Saintess, but only because I’d heard since childhood that I was destined for it—so I was curious what such a grand title meant. I thought becoming a Saintess would let me do whatever I wanted. But the moment I arrived at the Grand Temple as a candidate, I realized—it’s a beautiful prison without bars.”
Her tone was uncharacteristically serious as she rambled on about something unrelated to the question.
“Truly, my time at the Grand Temple was so, so boring. Or perhaps I should say… empty? I don’t know if you can understand this feeling. But after receiving the vision, everything changed.”
“Vision?”
“A dream. A dream about my love. When I seriously reflected on it, I understood— the goddess told me to go find my love.”
The dream of stealing another woman’s husband and claiming his love entirely.
A shiver ran down her spine.
The dream Charlotte described was a condensed version of the original story—a narrative crafted solely for the protagonists’ happiness.
Yerpi had been shocked that Charlotte knew the original plot, but never imagined she would take that dream so seriously.
Was she trying to say she didn’t want to return?
When Yerpi fell silent, Charlotte suddenly asked:
“But Sister, do you love your husband?”
A piercing question that left Yerpi unable to answer immediately.
She did care for him. But whether her feelings were truly justified—she still wasn’t sure.
“You can’t answer. You know, if you neither like nor dislike him—just feel indifferent—”
Charlotte wanted everything.
Even the fragile sliver of warmth Yerpi had barely managed to hold onto.
“Then can I have him?”
“…What?”
Charlotte reached for Yerpi’s hands resting on her lap and gently clasped them.
“I need a reason to stay here. I’d like a title, and I want everyone to acknowledge me. Make it happen for me, Sister. Just like in my dream.”
Her own hands grew icy cold, while Charlotte’s were warm, like a heated greenhouse.
“That’s not something I can decide.”
If Raymond wanted Charlotte, and if their feelings aligned, she would quietly step aside.
That was why she was gathering the Seals of Seasons.
To leave far behind—abandoning even the power of spices in Growen—going somewhere distant, where no one knew her.
‘But not now.’
Even if she wasn’t the protagonist, her life within this book was real. And thus, her life had to matter more than the original story.
She never expected Charlotte would make her realize this.
“Why? You’ve always given in to me before. Why not your husband?”
Charlotte’s desire wasn’t born of malice, but of pure longing. Could words truly explain it? Yet, oddly, Yerpi’s mind grew calm.
“It makes no sense to ask for my husband just to live comfortably. I’d at least understand if His Grace had expressed interest in you.”
“It’s not just that.”
“Then what?”
Charlotte paused briefly—not hesitating to answer, but as if recalling a scene.
Her dreamy eyes made her appear even more beautiful.
“The sight of you and His Grace together. That’s what I want to become. You both looked so happy, Sister. That’s what love seems like—happiness visible to anyone.”
Charlotte had always been indifferent to others’ happiness. So this was likely the first time she had ever witnessed a scene that appeared happy through her own eyes.
She confessed, placing a hand over her chest, that her heart had raced at the sight.
“This is the first time I’ve ever wanted something this badly. I want to enter that happiness. And in my dream, I saw it too—His Grace falling for me, and you leaping off a cliff.”
Yerpi had once wondered how much of the original story Charlotte knew.
Now she realized—Charlotte knew everything. From beginning to end. Even about her own elder sister, who was Raymond’s first wife, and even about Yerpi’s death.
She no longer wished to continue this surreal conversation. Yerpi rose from her seat.
“No.”
“…What?”
She hadn’t expected her blunt refusal to feel so liberating.
She could actually say no to Charlotte’s request. It was a revelation.
Countless past requests she’d been unable to refuse flashed through her mind.
If she’d known it was this easy, she would’ve said it long ago. She even felt sorry for herself.
“If you truly love him, go speak to His Grace directly.”
“Wait… Sister, wait!”
Charlotte’s voice called after her as Yerpi turned away. But that voice only pushed her forward.
Yerpi walked swiftly down the corridor, reflecting on the past.
“Why did I always give in?”
She couldn’t understand why she had obeyed every single one of Charlotte’s words.
Was it due to the Count’s oppression? Or because she believed Charlotte was the protagonist of this world?
Regardless of the reasons, she was angry. Angry at herself for not valuing her own past self more.
“Earlier, Charlotte’s expression… it was just like that child from my past life.”
The face of the friend who had killed her kept overlapping with Charlotte’s. The malice etched in her mind was terrifying precisely because it was so pure.
Could she even think this way? If this place wasn’t merely within a book—if her past life and this world were connected by some cycle of reincarnation.
“Yerpi?”
“…!”
The chaos in her mind vanished at the sound of Raymond’s voice. Turning around, she saw him.
His worried eyes, the warmth of his hand on her shoulder—
She could bear it no longer.
Yerpi buried her face in his arms.
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.]
