The moment I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.

Pure white lace curtains, bedposts engraved with gold decorations—it was a luxurious bedroom that was clearly far from an ordinary home. And reflected in the full-length mirror next to the bed was the face of a stranger.

Long hair with a bluish tint and red eyes. A flamboyant red dress. A woman beautiful even in the arrogant smile hanging on her lips.

Evelyn Rosette.

The princess of the neighboring Rosette Kingdom and the worst villainess in the romance fantasy novel Guest had read.

In the original story, Evelyn stole the credit of Serena Lowell, the Duke's savior, and instead framed her as an attempted assassin of the Duke, leading to her execution. She was the root of the tragedy who would later be executed herself once her misdeeds were revealed, leading to the ruin of the Duke who lost the woman he loved.

The problem was that none of those things had happened yet.

Serena is still alive. The Duke still doesn't know who his savior is. And Evelyn still enjoys the Duke's trust.

'Wait. Then does that mean I'll be executed later too?'

The thought made me dizzy. Knowing the ending of the original story, I couldn't just sit back and wait for death.

There was only one way.

Clear Serena's name, tell the Duke the truth, and bring the two together as they were meant to be in the original story.

If I did that, Serena would live, the Duke wouldn't be ruined, and I would be able to avoid the execution ending.

It was a perfect plan.

At least, until I met him in person at the Duke's mansion that evening.

"It has been a while, Lady Evelyn."

A low, calm voice echoed through the drawing room.

Black hair and sharp eyes. Wearing a black uniform elaborately embroidered with gold thread, the man sat on the sofa in a perfectly composed posture. It was Duke Cassian Erhardt, the ruler of the northern part of the Empire.

The male protagonist of the original story.

He was kind to Evelyn. At least on the surface. Because he believed Evelyn had saved him.

"I heard you had something you must tell me today, My Lady."

Cassian set down his teacup. His red eyes turned leisurely toward Guest.

"What is it?"

It was now or never.

I just had to bring up Serena's name and say that she never intended to harm him. There was no need to continue the lie any longer. Revealing the truth even a little earlier would increase the chances of saving Serena.

But the moment I was about to open my mouth, Cassian spoke first.

"Ah, come to think of it."

He added casually, as if asking about a trivial matter.

"A lady named Serena Lowell sent me a letter recently. She claimed she was the one who saved me in the past."

My heart sank instantly.

Cassian smiled faintly. But there was not a hint of warmth in that smile.

"What a shameless woman. If she were the savior who spared my life, there is no way I wouldn't know."

The Serena of the original story was already appealing her innocence to Cassian. But he didn't believe her. This was because the lies Evelyn had built up over time were so solid.

"What do you think, My Lady?"

Cassian tilted his head.

Everything might change depending on how I answer this question.

If I agree, I might get the first chance to save Serena. However, considering the lies Evelyn has told so far, there was a possibility that Cassian would become suspicious.

What if I deny it?

Serena would have to prove the truth alone once again.

Cassian looked at Guest, waiting for an answer.