Chapter 3.1

In every romance fantasy novel, there was never a story where the female lead, who possessed such character, didn’t end up with the male lead. Since I was the one who had possessed the heroine this time, that meant this marriage was bound to succeed if it went all the way.

‘I wonder what Axel would be like in a relationship… From what I’ve seen of his character, he seems like the type who would give everything—his heart, soul, and maybe even his internal organs—to the one he loves. Would he be like that in real life too?’

Well, I would find out soon enough. Like it or not. Because eventually, Axel would be mine. I wasn’t even worried about whether I could persuade him anymore.

It was just as I was daydreaming about this blissful future with Axel that a knock interrupted me.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

“My lady… I brought what you asked for, but… what exactly are you planning to do with this?”

Mary handed me a document as she asked. What she had brought was none other than the Grand Duke’s official schedule. I had obtained it through legal channels, with help from the Duke himself. He had agreed to support me however he could during this time.

“You even got the Grand Duke’s schedule…”

Mary’s expression seemed to scream, ‘Why not the Crown Prince’s schedule instead?’ Since she was Judith’s personal maid, I decided to tell her the truth.

With a serious expression, I leaned in.

“Listen carefully, Mary. I…”

“Yes…!”

She instantly mirrored my serious mood and focused intently on my words.

“I no longer like His Highness the Crown Prince. From now on, the one I like is His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“Wha—What?! M-My lady, what are you saying?!”

Mary recoiled as though she’d heard something scandalous. Her eyes were wide, and her voice was shrill.

“Lady, you followed His Highness the Crown Prince around like a shadow for three years since your academy days, and now, suddenly, it’s the Grand Duke?! The very Grand Duke you used to complain to me about every day, saying how insufferable he was?!”

Did I… really do that?

The novel never went into that much detail, so I had no idea that actually happened. No wonder the Grand Duke suddenly asked if I had lost my mind…

‘So that’s what he meant.’

A foreboding sense that things wouldn’t be easy from here on settled over me.

“Well… that’s just how it is now.”

Mary, who had been staring at me, suddenly clasped her hands together. Her eyes sparkled like a detective who had just solved a case.

“Lady… Something definitely happened at the banquet, right?! That’s it, isn’t it? I’ve read about this in novels. A story where two people who hated each other gradually fall in love…!”

“Uh… yeah. That’s right.”

When I went along with her imagination to avoid explaining the whole situation, Mary clenched her fists like she was making a vow and looked at me with newfound determination.

“Okay, Miss. I’ll do everything I can too! I’ll help make your love come true!”

It was one of those rare moments when a misunderstanding actually worked in my favor.

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From now on, I had one mission: to stage a fateful encounter that appeared to be pure coincidence.

That was it. Just one goal.

And the place to make it happen was…

The imperial palace.

As the carriage came to a stop, I stepped down, shielding my eyes with my hand against the sunlight that was so bright it made me squint.

“Wow, what a perfect day!”

It really was the ideal weather to bump into the Grand Duke.

I had timed my arrival perfectly with the end of the palace’s regular meeting. I hurried toward the area where the meeting would conclude and waited, watching the people file out from a distance.

‘There’s Axel!’

Even in the crowd, Axel stood out unmistakably. His tall stature, broad shoulders, and a face so radiant it practically glowed, even from a distance!

‘This isn’t the time to be gawking. I have to get a picture of this!’

His appearance was so unreal, like a character straight out of a comic, that I completely forgot he wasn’t a celebrity but just a regular person in this world. I was pulling out my phone to take a photo when—

“M-My phone! Ugh, seriously…”