Chapter 1.1

Any trace of elegance vanished within five seconds. I stood frozen, blindsided by the sky-is-falling moment. Meanwhile, Aida, oblivious as ever, was squealing with joy over the prospect of seeing the duke.

What the, this, this is crazy?

Look at my father’s initiative. Just how materialistic does a person have to be to move this quickly?

I grabbed my head. This won’t do. I don’t want to, I don’t want to, I refuse.

“Miss, aren’t you going to get dressed up?”

Aida blinked while looking at my face.

Dressed up? How ridiculous.With a face like mine, dressing up could win over the duke and the entire world, and all she does is talk about dressing up?

My head wasn’t working due to panic. I ended up fidgeting restlessly and finally chose the move I had saved for next time.

“Aida. I want to look pretty for His Grace the Duke.”

“Of course, Miss!”

Aida immediately ran to the dressing room, making a fuss about choosing a dress that would suit me.

After Aida left, I took a long breath. Then with a resolute expression, I took out medicine from the drawer and drank it right away.

The gulping sounds filled the room. And not long after—

Grrrrowl.

“Urgh!”

I covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom. Soon after, Aida entered the room and came running in surprise.

“Miss!”

“Uurk!”

Ugh, this is driving me crazy. Disgusting.

“Miss, what on earth did you take… an emetic?”

I heard Aida’s shocked voice from behind. I laughed while vomiting up everything inside me.

“Miss, why on earth did you take something like this!”

Why did I take it? I took it to avoid meeting that man.

“I thought if I vomited up what’s inside, I might look a bit slimmer… urk!”

Hah— what a good excuse.

Surely they wouldn’t force a daughter who’s vomiting to sit in front of the duke. I continued to vomit up everything inside me.

It was at that moment, with only Aida panicking and stamping her feet.

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

I heard Aida rush over, but I kept my head buried toward the drain and didn’t lift it at all.

“What is Eve doing? His Grace the Duke is here.”

“Ma-Madam… well… Miss took an emetic…”

“What? Eve, Eve!”

I heard Mother’s urgent voice. I made even more exaggerated retching sounds while raising one hand and shaking my head.

“Mother, don’t come over. It’s dirty… urk!”

Mother could only stamp her feet while looking at me. The head maid standing behind her also muttered something with a flustered face, then soon left the room.

And soon Father came running hurriedly and looked at me with a shocked expression.

“Eve, you…!”

Already having nothing left to vomit, with bitter fluid coming up, I grabbed my throat and shed tears.

I overdid it. Ugh, bitter. My throat felt like it was about to give out, yet I still had words to speak.

“Aida… quickly help support me.”

“Miss, why…”

“I have to see His Grace the Duke… quickly.”

At my words, Father closed his eyes tightly, then asked with a furious face.

“Eve, just to be sure, let me ask. You don’t want to meet His Grace the Duke, do you?”

“Honey, that can’t be! How long has Eve been waiting for this day!”

“You be quiet. It’s because you keep spoiling the child that she’s so willful!”

Why are you yelling at Mom! It’s because of you! How can a person be so conscienceless? I let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

Father looked at me with a fierce expression and shouted loudly.

“If you refuse to meet His Grace the Duke, all your efforts are pointless. How could I raise you like this?”

How did you raise me indeed. You kept nagging me to go on blind dates, always buying me pretty clothes and pushing me into social circles.

If it weren’t for the character I had transmigrated into, I would have raised hell immediately. I could only endure it because I thought of them as characters in a novel.

Eventually, Father left the room in a fury. Watching him disappear into the distance, I clenched my jaw in frustration.

* * *

There’s no way out.

I buried my face in the bed and worried for two days before I had to lift my head again.

Looking out the window, the sunset was beautifully coloring the sky. Last time I ran away, I took all the valuable things with me. So this time, to avoid being caught, I’ll go completely empty-handed…

Right, I’ll run away with just a little untraceable money.

It’ll be tough, but it’s a hundred times better than dying. If I use my transmigration buff and apply what I learned in my previous life, wouldn’t it be okay?

“Should I start a chicken business… but I don’t know where they sell frying powder.”

I sighed deeply and got up from my seat. It would be better to resolve everything quickly. Better to leave today than tomorrow, better to leave now than later.

I finally got up. The clothes I was wearing seemed the most suitable, so I just tied up my hair, grabbed some money, and went to the terrace.

Second floor. Not too high. Since it wasn’t a ducal residence, the security wasn’t that strict either.

I gritted my teeth and grabbed the terrace. Then like a butterfly, gracefully—

Thud!

—what gracefully. I hugged my aching body and sighed deeply. At least I was fortunate the floor wasn’t high. Though it hurt a bit, nothing seemed broken.

I moved my body. The hole I used for my last escape attempt had been blocked, but knowing this would happen, I had spotted three more holes.

I immediately ran to where the grass was thick and squeezed my body through without caring that my face was getting scratched by the grass.

But the hole was too small. Ah, the novel deceived me. How on earth did the kids who escaped through the holes manage it? Although, last time, the hole was a bit bigger…

“Ah, I’m out!”

Covered in dirt, I snorted and arranged my bangs. Anyone that lived in the 21st century just can’t help but fix their bangs, even when things are urgent, right?

It was just as I was thinking this and about to take a step forward. Suddenly, a carriage with several horses rushed past me like an arrow.

“Ahhhhh!”

Thanks to that, I fell while making a not-so-elegant sound.

I was touching my bottom and cursing my bad luck when the carriage that had passed by me gradually stopped and its door opened.

“What’s this?”

I turned my head. Seeing the person who came out of the carriage, I couldn’t help but cry out inwardly.

‘Wow, behold the majesty of the original work.’

There stood a man with neatly swept-back black hair and red eyes, standing like a statue with a cold expression.

It was Duke Florence.

I realized it. This novel was determined to make me meet the duke no matter what.

* * *

“This person is…”

“Isn’t this the only daughter of the Clauda Trading Company owner?”

Yes, that’s right. I’m that only daughter. I’m Evangeline Clauda, destined to marry you only to be killed off with one blow from the heroine’s sword.

I was experiencing the vivid feeling of the world collapsing while wearing a dumbfounded expression. Surely, the world had abandoned me. How is this “coincidence” even possible? How could this accident occur!

Roaring inwardly, I collapsed with a thud. My legs gave out and I couldn’t stand anymore.

As I was crying out inwardly like that, suddenly a low, deep voice was heard.

“Evangeline Clauda?”

I lifted my head. Having heard this name for about 5 years, it now stuck to my ears like my own name.

When I reflexively stared at the person who called me, I felt the face of Rubellian Florence, the original story’s mastermind, slightly stiffen.

“What are you doing here?”

“……”

“Rather than going out… it looks like you’re running away from home.”

Damn, his intuition is almost light-speed.

I moved my mouth. Not knowing how to answer, I could only sigh deeply, when Rubellian tilted his head.

“Can’t you speak?”

If I can’t speak, does that mean I can’t get married?

Right, for the duke’s family’s dignity, it would be a bit embarrassing to have a duchess who can’t even engage in social activities—

“That would be even better. You won’t chatter uselessly.”

“Oh my, Your Grace the Duke! To meet Your Grace in such a place, what an honor this is!”

As soon as Rubellian’s words ended, the spark of hope was extinguished, and I stood up with a bright smile, brushing myself off. At this, he went “Hmm” and spoke.

“Do you know me?”

“Oh my, of course. Is there anyone in this world who doesn’t know Your Grace the Duke? Ho ho ho ho.”

From reading the situation, he seemed to dislike talkative people. So I immediately entered chatterbox mode and smiled brightly.

Ah, I must look a bit crazy.

But despite the fact that someone who had been sitting on the ground until just now was suddenly smiling brightly and chattering away, he showed no surprise at all.A neat and handsome smile spread across his face.

Good heavens. There was a reason no one noticed until he was revealed to be the mastermind. Who would think someone so polite and handsome and handsome and handsome again was a villain?

Anyway, we’ve met. Since we’ve met, what can I do? I have to be dragged back.

Rubellian stared at me intently. When his ruby-like eyes fixed on me, I swallowed my saliva while meeting his gaze.

What is he going to say? Maybe that he doesn’t like talkative women like me—

“For now, let me escort you home.”

Right, as if.

I eventually brushed off my bottom. Running away was now out of the question. Covered in dirt, I sighed deeply and approached the carriage.

“An escort.”

It was then. He extended his hand toward me as I was about to squeeze myself into the carriage.

At this, I couldn’t help but look surprised.

Good heavens, to offer an escort to someone covered in all the dust of this world… Is my father’s money really that influential? Or am I really that pretty?

I swallowed my saliva. Anyway, it was better to obediently return home for now. I grinned like an idiot and extended my grimy hand to him.

“Hehe, thank you.”

Even so, Rubellian showed no particular reaction. He just slightly furrowed his brow.

As soon as I got into the carriage, Rubellian entered the carriage. Apparently, coming to our house wasn’t something to be proud of, as he was using a small carriage without any insignia.

Thanks to this, I had no choice but to wail inwardly as I found myself having to rub bodies with him in the cramped carriage.

“The carriage is cramped, causing discourtesy to the Lady.”

“Oh, no! Just being with Your Grace the Duke is an honor for me!”

I continued to act like a naive fool and clapped my hands. It seemed a bit excessive, but on the list of Rubellian Florence’s likes and dislikes that Aida had brought a few days ago, it clearly said “dislikes stupid things.” Well, where would you find a human who likes stupid things?

Ah, come to think of it, there was also “dislikes women with strong perfume scents, heavy makeup, who are luxurious and talkative.” Looking at that, I had grumbled, “What is he, some Harlequin male lead?”

Gasp, then isn’t this extremely dangerous right now? What if he’s looking at me covered in dirt all over and thinking “You’re the first to do dirt makeup instead of flower makeup in front of me!”…!

“Lady?”

“Yes!”

Ah, my voice came out too loud.

When I turned my head toward where the voice came from, I finally noticed that the carriage had stopped.

I looked awkwardly at Rubellian who was standing outside the carriage with a strange expression.

Ah, is this okay? Do I look stupid?

Not exactly, but I think I’ve only been thinking about Rubellian, of Rubellian, by Rubellian since a while ago.

I rubbed my hands together and slowly got out of the carriage while taking a deep breath. In the meantime, I didn’t forget to hold Rubellian’s hand.

I should take every opportunity for skinship to make him lose interest in me. He seems to dislike clingy types of women.

After getting out of the carriage, I looked at the familiar house and smiled brightly. At that moment, a gasping sound rang in my ears.

“E-Eve!”

Ah, I can hear it. The sound of Father’s blood pressure rising.

I grinned broadly. They say you can’t spit on a smiling face, so shouldn’t I smile first? I held Rubellian’s hand tightly and spoke.

“Ah, Father… hehe.”

“You, you, you!”

When I stepped back in surprise at Father’s angry face, Rubellian’s eyes stuck to me persistently.

What are you looking at, is this your first time seeing a beauty get startled?

“His Grace found me and brought me back. Right, Your Grace?”

I alternately looked at Rubellian and Father with a brazen face while smiling innocently.

Father’s face turned bright red and he looked like he wanted to say something to me, but perhaps because Rubellian was there, he swallowed all his words and forced a smile.

“Your Grace, our Eve is quite immature… I apologize.”

“It’s fine. Looks like I’ll have to catch her frequently from now on, so I might as well practice ahead of time.”

Huh? What do you mean? You’ll come catch me? Why?

At Rubellian’s words, I quickly turned my head. This isn’t the pattern I’m thinking of, is it? No, we just met today! Is this really “You’re the first to do dirt makeup in front of me!”?

“I apologize. I failed to properly educate my daughter, causing rudeness in front of Your Grace.”

Father bowed once more in apology. At this, Rubellian spoke coldly.

“Let’s stop the useless chatter and see what was promised.”

“Ah, yes! I’ve already prepared it! Aida, quickly take Eve up to her room!”

I gaped at the unfolding situation.

Did these people make some kind of secret deal? Don’t tell me things have already progressed to a point where I can’t stop them?!

“Miss.”

After blankly watching Rubellian’s back as he entered the mansion with Father, I turned my head toward Aida.

Her eyes were swollen and red from worrying about me, quietly stirring my guilt.

“You need to quickly go to your room, wash up, and dress up prettily.”

“…Mmm.”

“Sigh, Miss, what should we do? Your first meeting with His Grace went so wrong. How cruel fate is.”

…That’s what I want to say.

I shook my head and went up to my room with Aida for now. Soon several maids clung to me, washed me, and moved me to the vanity.

Ugh—really, why am I so pretty even in this situation!

The beauty of “me” in the mirror was working hard today too. Snow-white smooth skin like a peeled boiled egg, pale platinum hair, and pitiful pale jade-colored eyes.

I want to go to the modern world with this face just as it is. Forget marriage and everything, with this face I could become a famous actress who would go down in Hollywood history.

“Miss, you must dress up prettily to recover from the first impression! Don’t worry, there’s always an opportunity! Fate is in your own hands!”

Having read some self-help book somewhere, Aida spoke excitedly.

Just as I was about to sigh deeply at her words, I suddenly had a thought and quickly rummaged through the vanity drawer.

“Miss?”

“Found it!”

What I held in my hand was none other than Rubellian’s likes and dislikes list that Aida had brought a few days ago. With this, I too could get on Rubellian’s extreme dislike list!

“Aida, from now on, do as I say.”

“Yes! What should I do?”

I scanned through the list. Since there apparently weren’t any women around him before, no specific preferences regarding women were visible. Ah, come to think of it, I think I saw a description that Rubellian wasn’t interested in women…

Anyway, I studied the list in detail and picked out things that might be helpful one by one.

First, dislikes stupid things.

Ah, I’m already appealing this sufficiently with my acting skills.

Second, dislikes luxurious and vain things.

Yes, this is it!

“Aida, bring me that dress from my closet! The white dress we got from the salon the day before yesterday! The one full of pearls and diamonds! That dress with the fluttering lace!”

“Yes, understood!”

At my excited words, Aida nodded. As I watched her disappear like an arrow, I turned my head back to the list.

“Hmm, dislikes dirty things. Dislikes them beyond normal levels. Ah, then what? My appearance just now must have been completely disgusting?”

Fortunate. I sighed in relief and continued reading down the list.

“Mm, dislikes chatterboxes. Right, I’ll check this first. I know he dislikes perfume scents… hmm, excellent political talent… well, he’s a duke, wouldn’t he be excellent?”

I shook my head in disbelief.

Below that were just details about what foods he liked and what habits he had. Since they didn’t seem to have any reference value, I eventually folded the list again and put it in the drawer.

Just then, Aida entered the room carrying a dress.

“Miss, here it is!”

Look at that dazzling dress. This rich scent of luxury and indulgence! I smiled brightly and opened my mouth.

“Aida. Can you bring the diamond necklace and pearl feather accessories that Father gave me?”

“Uh… but wouldn’t it be too much if you wear all of that?”

Aida spoke worriedly, but I shook my head. The more excessive, the better. It would be better to do a complete white coordination. It’ll be scary angel—no, more like a pillow. I couldn’t help but laugh at how clever my thinking was.

How much time passed like that? After finishing all the dressing up, I stood in front of the mirror.

And at that moment, Aida blinked and let out an exclamation of admiration.

“Wow, you’re so beautiful.”

Well, this is excessive indeed. Really a beautiful pillow.

I shook my head, focused on something different from Aida, but the joy was unmistakable.

Now, shall I go? Let’s make him extremely disgusted with me, shall we?

* * *