"You?? Northern Duke Xerta von Helming!" Remy gasped, her wrist still tightly clutched in Xerta's iron grip.
"Lord Xerta?" Leyla's voice came out soft—almost like a breath escaping in disbelief.
Cynthia's cunning expression dissolved instantly into stunned confusion. "Xerta?" she echoed, her voice trembling.
Am I just some NPC? I thought bitterly. Something about the way Xerta held Leyla's shoulder so naturally, so intimately—it set my nerves on edge. Just because he's the male lead, he thinks he can touch her like that?
But there was something even more troubling, They weren't supposed to meet until two weeks from now.
Had the story… started already? Had the plot accelerated? Or was this because I remembered my first life?
I'm frustrated. I stood stiffly, pretending not to exist. But I refuse to be passive like Keith in the novel. No matter how fate tries to script this, I am Keith—and Keith is me. This is my life. I won't let it unfold without my consent.
This is my life now. I won't let myself move by the plot's hand.
"Are you alright, Lady Leyla?" Xerta finally released Remy's arm, his voice low and commanding.
"Y-yes, I'm fine," Leyla answered, her voice faltering.
"What business does the Northern Duke have in Count Nerwine's territory?" Cynthia stepped forward, her smile forced and sharp.
"Is it so strange that I would visit the land of my future bride?" Xerta's answer hit like a slap, wiping the color from Cynthia's face.
"Bride? What the hell are you talking about? Since when? Why Leyla?" Her words came out in a rush—not of anger, but fear.
Next to her, Epsilon said nothing, his eyes lowered, his silence thunderous. He stood by the woman he loved, wordless.
"We've agreed to marry. Of course I love her. What other answer do you need, Lady Cynthia?" Xerta said coolly.
Leyla's cheeks flushed deep pink, her eyes wide as she looked up at him.
"So don't hurt her again. Don't lay a finger on my fiancée. Do you understand?" Xerta's tone dropped, like frost settling on stone.
He glanced at Remy, who now clutched her reddened wrist protectively.
"I assume Lady Remy wouldn't want her reputation to crumble," he added, pulling a thick envelope from his coat. Photos spilled out across the marble path like broken glass. I could see them—intimate shots of Remy in bed with various men.
A sharp gasp tore from her lips. She dropped to her knees, frantically gathering the photos, her face bloodless. Without another word, she fled, the three other noble ladies trailing in her wake like leaves behind a storm.
Cynthia, for her part, drew in a long breath. She smoothed her skirts, pieced her poise back together like shards of porcelain, and gave Xerta a stiff curtsy. "In that case, I'll take my leave. It appears the tea party is over."
She turned sharply, skirts flaring.
"Wait, Cynthia," Xerta called, stopping her mid-step.
Her face flickered with delight as she turned back, hopeful. "You forgot your dog. You should keep it on a leash."
The insult hit like a whip. Everyone knew the "dog" was Epsilon.
Cynthia's jaw clenched. Her fury was palpable.
"Let's go, Epsilon," she hissed.
Leyla and Xerta began to talk. Their voices felt like a distant buzz in my ears.
I found myself walking away without realizing. There was no place for me in this novel.
If everything is fast-forwarding, then… my death will arrive sooner too. Isn't this bad? My chest tightened. I headed to where the carriage was parked, the horses stamping and snorting impatiently.
From afar, I saw Cynthia pacing, muttering angrily. Epsilon stood silently nearby, his head lowered like a scolded hound.
"Lady Cynthia," I called calmly.
She turned, her eyes narrowing. "What now? Are you here to apologize?"
This snake… I should've just left.
"I came to express my regret if I caused you any offense," I said smoothly, voice low and formal. "I thought it would be polite to see you off."
She rolled her eyes. Then, stepping forward, she jabbed her index finger under my chin, forcing me to meet her gaze. Her breath smelled of roses and poison.
"You came on Leyla's orders, didn't you? What? is she waiting to hear how I reacted?"
I said nothing, just stared.
This woman is mad. No point in arguing with her.
"If I offended you, I apologize. I also apologize on behalf of my Lady."
She smiled sharp, sly and pulled her hand away. Folding her arms, she examined me like a puzzle.
"Very well, I accept your apology." Then she leaned in, whispering into my ear, "You haven't forgotten my offer from the theatre, have you?"
Her offer… to betray Leyla and serve her instead. Of course I hadn't forgotten.
"Don't forget it," she whispered again, and turned.
Epsilon helped her into the carriage. Before entering, he turned and looked at me again. A subtle nod. Then he disappeared inside.
The carriage clattered off, leaving dust in its wake.
--
"Keith," Leyla's voice reached me as I walked into the Nerwine family dining room.
Count Nerwine sat at the head, with his secretary Yuvri beside him. Rajir stood at the count's side. Leyla, Xerta, and what must've been Xerta's knight filled out the table.
She gestured to the empty chair beside her—but I ignored her.
Instead, I stood at Count Nerwine's side. Rajir and Yuvri looked at me like I'd just flipped the table.
"I'm honored to be invited to this family dinner," Xerta said, his tone smooth.
"Well, you're going to be family soon," the Count replied.
So... even the Count's already involved in this? Am I the only one who didn't know?
"Actually," Xerta said, with that smug calm of his, "I'm the one bringing Count Nerwine into my family. As you know, I've no parents left. My only remaining family is my sister—Sera."
That name...
Sera—the minor character from The Way to Save Her. Xerta's sister, cursed into eternal sleep. Her curse was never clearly explained, but she interacted often with Keith in the original novel. Many readers theorized she liked Keith. But it was just a theory.
She only appears after the marriage arc, when Leyla moves to Xerta's territory and Keith follows as her knight. That arc was long. Eventually, Leyla breaks Sera's curse with her divine blessing… the beginning of Xerta's romantic feelings for her.
That arc…It marked the beginning of Xerta's real feelings for Leyla.
How foolish of me.To keep the story moving, I must stay by the side of the woman fated to marry someone else.
To protect her.
Only to die.
Am I really going to throw my life away like that?
Dinner passed in a blur. Conversations danced between the Count and Xerta. Leyla occasionally joined in. She kept looking at me, attempting to draw me into the conversation, but I only gave brief answers. Yuvri was quick to change topics when things got awkward.
Eventually, I stood up, excused myself, and stepped out under the stars. The sky above was vast and dark, filled with a thousand glittering pinpricks.
My chest ached.
That's how she looks… when she's talking to him.
My vision blurred. Is my love story already over?
As Jung Cha Ri, I'd never fallen in love before. It's better if I just transmigrate to the story, and never have a life before. But i'm not .I'm just Keith, who somehow ended up with Jung Cha ri's memories, and now I'm living out the plot of the novel she used to read.
I should've known... I really do love her.
Leyla appeared beside me. I hadn't even heard her approach. She looked up at the stars, her voice gentle.
"Keith… The sky is beautiful tonight."
A poor attempt at small talk.
She was trying to coax me back to normal. Trying to mend the tension.
But I'm not the same Keith from the novel. Not the one who died with his feelings buried.No. Not this time.
"Leyla…"
"Yes, Keith?"
"I like you."
The wind caught her hair, sending strands flying like silk threads. The lantern light caught the edges of her face, painting it in a soft blush.
She stared at me, unmoving.
"I like you… so much."
That was the moment I decided—
I will rewrite this story with my own hands.