Chapter 2: The Fiancée Arrives
Cleo did not sleep that night.
Not even a little.
He lay flat on his bed, staring at the ceiling like a man contemplating all his life choices.
Correction, he thought. Not my life choices. The original owner's life choices.
Which were, unfortunately, now his problem.
"…This is bad," he muttered.
Very bad.
Let's review the situation.
He had transmigrated into a novel.
Not a happy, peaceful slice-of-life novel.
But a dramatic, frustration-filled story where misunderstandings piled up like a mountain, and everyone made the worst possible decisions at the worst possible time.
And his role?
The villain.
The fake young master.
The one who—
"…Gets kicked out… becomes poor… and then dies," Cleo whispered.
He covered his face with a pillow.
"I don't want to die."
Silence.
Then he sat up abruptly.
"Okay. Think logically."
Cleo raised one finger.
"First, avoid conflict with Adrian."
Second finger.
"Second, stay far away from the female lead."
Third finger.
"Third, save money and prepare an escape plan."
He paused.
"…Wait."
His expression slowly stiffened.
"…When does the female lead appear again?"
A chill ran down his spine.
The Next Morning
"Cleo."
The voice was calm, but carried authority.
Cleo looked up from his breakfast.
Victor Vale stood at the head of the dining table, already dressed for the day.
"Yes, Father?"
"There will be a guest today."
Cleo froze.
"…A guest?"
Elena smiled gently. "It's someone very important to the family."
Cleo: "..."
No.
No no no no.
Don't tell me—
Victor continued, "The Laurent family will be visiting."
Cleo's spoon slipped from his hand and clattered onto the plate.
Lina blinked. "Big brother?"
Cleo forced a smile.
"I'm fine."
I am NOT fine.
Enter: Aria Laurent
If there was one person Cleo absolutely wanted to avoid…
It was her.
Aria Laurent.
The childhood fiancée.
The obsessive female lead.
The future murderer.
And she's coming TODAY?!
Cleo's soul almost left his body.
Meanwhile… Outside the Mansion
A sleek black car stopped at the front gate.
The door opened.
A girl stepped out.
She was elegant.
Beautiful.
Graceful in every movement.
Her long dark hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, and her sharp eyes held a quiet intensity that made people instinctively step back.
This was Aria Laurent.
At just a glance, she looked like a perfect noble lady.
But those who knew her well…
Would never describe her as "gentle."
Aria looked up at the Vale Mansion.
"…Cleo is inside," she murmured.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"I haven't seen him in three days."
To anyone else, that might sound normal.
To Aria—
It was already too long.
Back Inside
Cleo was trying to escape.
"I suddenly remembered I have something important to do—"
"Sit down," Serena said flatly.
Cleo sat down immediately.
"…Okay."
Why is my survival so difficult…
The main doors opened.
A servant announced, "The Laurent family has arrived."
Cleo's heart stopped.
Footsteps echoed through the hall.
And then—
She appeared.
Aria Laurent.
Her gaze swept across the room—
And locked instantly onto Cleo.
Everything else disappeared.
Her expression softened.
"Cleo."
She walked straight toward him.
Ignoring everyone else.
Ignoring Adrian completely.
Cleo: …Oh no.
The First Encounter
Aria stopped right in front of Cleo.
Too close.
Way too close.
"Why didn't you come see me?" she asked softly.
Cleo's brain short-circuited.
Because I value my life?!
But he couldn't say that.
So he forced a laugh.
"I've been… busy."
"With what?"
"…Life?"
Aria stared at him.
Silence.
Cleo felt pressure.
Immense pressure.
Like he was being analyzed down to his soul.
"…You're acting strange," she said.
Cleo: "..."
Of course I am strange! I'm not the original guy!
Before he could respond—
She suddenly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
"Come with me."
And started pulling him away.
Cleo panicked.
"Wait—Aria—people are watching—"
"I don't care."
Of course you don't.
You're the problem!
Adrian's View
From the side of the hall, Adrian watched everything.
Silently.
No one had greeted him properly.
No one had introduced him.
And yet—
The moment Aria arrived, the entire atmosphere changed.
But not because of him.
Because of Cleo.
Adrian's gaze darkened slightly.
So this is how it is.
Even someone from outside…
Only sees him.
Private Conversation (Not So Private)
Aria pulled Cleo into a quieter corner of the garden.
She finally stopped.
Then turned to him.
"…Say it."
Cleo blinked. "Say what?"
"That you missed me."
Cleo: "..."
This is too fast.
WAY too fast.
He coughed awkwardly.
"Of course I—"
Aria stepped closer.
"So why didn't you come?"
Cleo backed up.
"…I told you, I was busy—"
"With what?"
"…Breathing?"
Aria frowned.
"…You're definitely strange today."
Cleo wanted to cry.
Misunderstanding Begins
Aria suddenly narrowed her eyes.
"…Did someone say something to you?"
Cleo froze.
"…What?"
"Did someone tell you to stay away from me?"
Her voice turned cold.
"Was it someone in your family?"
Cleo: "NO—"
YES—ME! I TOLD MYSELF!
But Aria had already misunderstood.
Her gaze shifted toward the mansion.
Specifically—
Toward Adrian.
"…I see."
Cleo followed her gaze.
And his soul left his body again.
NO NO NO NO—
DON'T TARGET HIM!
IF YOU TARGET HIM, THE STORY WILL SPEED UP!
Cleo immediately grabbed her wrist.
"It's not like that!"
Aria paused.
She looked down at his hand.
Then back at his face.
"…Then explain."
Cleo's brain worked at maximum speed.
Think. THINK.
"…I just thought," he said slowly, "that we shouldn't be too… obvious in front of others."
Aria blinked.
"Obvious?"
"…Yes."
Cleo nodded seriously.
"For your reputation."
Silence.
Aria stared at him.
Then—
Her expression softened.
"…You're thinking about me?"
Cleo: "..."
I'm thinking about NOT DYING.
But he nodded.
"Of course."
Aria's grip on his sleeve tightened slightly.
"…Then I'll listen to you."
Cleo almost collapsed in relief.
IT WORKED.
Back in the Hall
When they returned, the atmosphere had changed slightly.
Victor was speaking with Aria's parents.
Elena smiled politely.
Serena looked bored.
Lina stayed close to Cleo.
And Adrian—
Still stood slightly apart.
Like he didn't belong.
Cleo noticed.
And for a brief moment…
He hesitated.
…Should I do something?
Then he remembered the plot.
No.
Step one: Avoid involvement.
Do not interfere.
He turned away.
But Adrian noticed.
Of course he did.
And in his mind—
It confirmed everything.
He's pretending.
Acting kind.
But ignoring me when it matters.
Adrian's fingers clenched slightly.
Just like in the novel.
Cleo's New Problem
Cleo thought he survived the encounter.
He was wrong.
As Aria prepared to leave, she turned back to him.
"I'll come again tomorrow."
Cleo: "..."
"And the day after."
Cleo: "..."
"And the day after that."
Cleo: "..."
She stepped closer one last time.
"…Don't avoid me."
Then she left.
Cleo stood frozen.
Lina tugged his sleeve.
"Big brother, she really likes you."
Cleo looked at the sky.
"…I'm in danger."
Far away, Adrian watched silently.
And for the first time—
A thought formed clearly in his mind.
Cleo Vale…
I'll take back everything.
Cleo, meanwhile, had only one thought:
How do I survive this crazy story?