Chapter 1.

A sculpted man sat on the bed in a place perfectly suited for intimate affairs between a man and a woman.

Before him stood Shuvien, a thoroughly ordinary lady—not particularly pretty, pure, elegant, or beautiful!

She slightly averted her gaze from him.

The awkward atmosphere between them revealed everything plainly.

That they had just met today.

But their purpose was the same.

The man slowly rose and walked toward her.

Through his slightly disheveled silver hair, deep eyelashes cast shadows over black eyes that fixed upon her.

Eventually, his deep, low voice swirled chillingly around Shuvien’s ears.

“Are you scared now?”

“Of course not. This is my lifelong wish.”

The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly at her bold words, which contrasted with her naive appearance.

“A night with a stranger being a lady’s lifelong wish.”

“Why? Do you dislike me being too forward?”

“Well, it’s more that you seem too solemn, which is strange.”

Quick-witted, aren’t you?

But your expression is too gentle.

This isn’t solemnity—it’s desperation.

The purpose here was singular.

To absolutely have a one-night stand with this stranger.

If she failed, she would die a bad ending as a supporting character in one year!

***

Shuvien Felisa was a supporting character in the novel «Who Killed the Empress?»—the Empress herself.

Though featured in the title, she was a supporting character because she died early on.

And in the worst way—falsely labeled as a fake empress and a sl*t before meeting a miserable end!

It all began like this.

The Felisa family was on the brink of bankruptcy due to Count Mondri’s gambling addiction—so severe that cutting off his hands wouldn’t cure it.

Then the Emperor announced he would have a matchmaking meeting with this family.

Count Mondri thought it was a heaven-sent opportunity.

But then.

‘Corel has left the family. She’s run away!’

Just before the matchmaking meeting, the second lady, Corel, had literally fled.

Shuvien was terrified.

‘T-then we should immediately speak to His Majesty and cancel the meeting……’

‘Cancel the meeting! That’s impossible! Do you realize what an opportunity this is!’

‘But Corel isn’t here. The meeting is right around the corner……’

‘It’s not like she’s completely gone.’

‘S-surely you’re not asking me to meet with His Majesty? That’s absurd. I c-can’t do it.’

‘His Majesty only specified a lady from the Felisa family, not anyone in particular.’

‘But I’m not qualified. I’m not even a direct bloodline……’

The Imperial family only accepted direct bloodline members as new family members.

This was to ensure the imperial bloodline’s purity was never tainted by impure blood.

The Imperial family even practiced consanguineous marriage for pure bloodlines. That’s why Shuvien insisted she could never marry the Emperor.

‘I-I’m an illegitimate child.’

‘What nonsense are you thinking! Someone like you could never catch His Majesty’s eye. You’ll just temporarily stand in for Corel to buy time. When Corel returns, we’ll make an excuse that you’ve fallen ill and switch you back with her.’

‘B-but……’

This would block Shuvien’s marriage prospects, but the Count didn’t care.

‘You should be grateful to me. I’ve loved you so terribly that no one knows you’re illegitimate. Besides, I’m giving you a chance to repay the kindness of raising you all this time.’

Not because he loved her terribly, but because he found her existence terribly shameful.

‘Surely you weren’t thinking of not repaying this kindness? That would be truly shocking. Are you really fine with our family falling because of you?’

‘Really. Really just the m-matchmaking meeting only.’

‘Of course just the meeting. As if His Majesty would choose someone like you? Huh. That’s impossible.’

But the Emperor immediately decided to marry her.

‘J-just marry him? No. I’ll be discovered immediately!’

However, Count Mondri’s eyes had already gone mad.

‘You won’t be discovered. There’s absolutely no way. As long as we keep the household in check, ah! No one will know.’

‘But if we’re discovered, we’ll all d-die……’

‘When Corel returns repentant, how guilty will she feel if the family is ruined?’

This was clearly gaslighting disguised as blackmail.

‘If you just marry him, everything can be resolved. Do you want to see Corel suffer more because of you? Corel was very fond of you. Always calling you “sister.” Do you want that Corel to suffer? Hmm? All because of you?’

This timid and gentle Shuvien finally planted her own death flag with her own hands.

‘……Alright. I’ll marry him.’

It seemed like she would walk the smooth royal diamond path that Count Mondri wanted, but that hope was shattered in just one year.

When her illegitimate status was discovered, she was brutally executed under the Emperor’s merciless gesture, labeled as a sl*t.

The novel begins with the Empress’s execution and develops into a thriller genre that unravels the ensuing events.

Though she was a scene-stealing supporting character marking the novel’s beginning, no amount of flowery descriptions could change the fact that she was killed off early in the story!

She had transmigrated into this ridiculous novel character.

“I just dozed off reading a book after a deadly shift. What kind of spectacular bolt from the blue is this!”

But what’s done was done.

She’d confirmed this wasn’t a dream, and knowing the terrible ending, she couldn’t just accept it.

“I’m not as good-natured as Shuvien. Do you think living as a resident in a battlefield-like surgery department is easy? I couldn’t care less if this family is ruined!”

Yes. Now that it had come to this, she would change the original story to survive.

She had to stop the matchmaking with the Emperor somehow!

She couldn’t immediately reveal herself as illegitimate because she had no evidence, having lived as a direct descendant until now.

‘The money-blinded Count would just deny it. Shuvien has no power right now.’

So there was only one way.

‘I need to become someone who absolutely cannot marry even if she wants to.’

“I’ll have a one-night stand with any man.”

Losing her virginity could result in expulsion from the family—a serious offense.

“But expulsion is better than death.”

That way, she obviously couldn’t marry the Emperor.

“But where do I find a man? Even if this is inside a book, men won’t suddenly rain down from the sky!”

At that moment, like a savior, she overheard the maids’ gossip.

“Will this harvest festival be fun too? I want to go see it.”

“Stop it. His Majesty is visiting tomorrow. We’re busy preparing for the matchmaking meeting.”

“That’s too bad.”

A festival, just in time! There would be many young men and women at the festival.

First, she needed many targets to either seduce or kidnap!

With bulldozer-like determination, she immediately left the house and headed to where alcohol was served to find a one-night stand partner.

The plan was to get properly intoxicated, make eye contact, get physical, and finish the job.

That’s how she had ended up here with this man after their eyes met.

***

‘Yes. This is a matter of life and death. I absolutely must sleep with this man!’

……was her determination, but.

“Um, would you like a drink?”

Being sober was definitely awkward.

First, she needed to get him drunk.

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to get me drunk now so you can run away? Is that why you ordered all these drinks?”

“That’s not it……”

The man pretended to grab a glass but instead covered the back of her hand.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t get drunk on things like alcohol.”

In her experience, people who say that always end up drunk.

“I can drink any strong liquor without flinching.”

‘Just getting slightly tipsy would be enough.’

Shuvien mixed several of the ordered drinks to create a bomb shot in this world.

“What are you doing?”

“Try drinking this. It’s strong, but the aftertaste should be clean.”

The man hesitated momentarily before taking a sip, then his eyes widened slightly.

Shuvien watched—no, admired—him with tense eyes.

Through his half-open shirt, she caught a glimpse of his body, like God’s perfect creation.

Of course, his face was the masterpiece.

He was handsome enough to make her heart react primitively after a long time.

That’s why her gaze had been drawn to him unconsciously.

Silver hair without a blemish and natural facial contours.

A flawless T-zone and a high, chiseled nose.

Even his fingers, moving each time he tilted the glass, looked graceful and sexy.

Suddenly, those black eyes looked directly at Shuvien.

‘Did I stare too much?’

Just as she tried to lower her gaze, her body tilted roughly and she collapsed onto the bed.

Before she could gather her wits, a heavy shadow loomed over her and a strong fragrance invaded between her lips.

“Haah!”

Shuvien let out an excited breath involuntarily.

She felt completely overwhelmed by the strong alcohol. She couldn’t move under his cool gaze that didn’t blink once.

At that moment, his voice swirled dizzily inside her mouth as he spoke while capturing her lips.

“Now that it’s come to this. I have no intention of letting you go either.”

Heat rushed through her entire body as his hand swept up the hem of her skirt.

Shuvien grabbed his shoulders with trembling eyes.

‘Did I choose well?’

What was this ominous feeling that something was very dangerous?

But she found it increasingly difficult to maintain her train of thought.

The man’s touch was delicate, and the tip of his tongue licking and intertwining with hers completely dominated her mind.

‘Oh whatever. Let’s go for it!’

“What’s your name?”

“It’s just one night, so names aren’t necessary.”

“Just one night…… That remains to be seen.”

No, it’s just one night.

This connection that isn’t really a connection is enough like this.

Shuvien surrendered herself to this passionate night.

***

In the early dawn, Shuvien quietly rose, cleaned up neatly, and looked at the man who had fallen into a deep sleep.

Last night, with such a solemn expression.

“You said you don’t get drunk. As expected, people who say that always end up drunk.”

A young master who only drank mild alcohol would have no immunity to such a bomb shot.

Shuvien gently pulled up the blanket and covered him.

“Thank you. You’re my life’s benefactor.”

She left the inn immediately.

Now tonight would be the highlight.

“I’ll properly ruin the matchmaking meeting!”

Yes. She really thought everything was going perfectly according to plan, but……

Just before the matchmaking, Shuvien felt a crack in her life when she saw the Emperor’s portrait sent from the imperial palace.

“This is His Majesty Emperor Bellian Crea Alcanta. The rumors said he’s somewhat fierce, and his appearance is equally fierce, isn’t it?”

“I-is this portrait really His Majesty the Emperor’s portrait?”

“Yes.”

“Really? No lie? Not just some random passerby? Really?”

“Pardon? A passerby? That’s absurd! Of course it’s His Majesty the Emperor’s portrait.”

“Impossible…… This can’t be. Why. Why? WHY!”

The man from last night’s one-night stand—why is he looking at me here!

“Hahaha! No. It can’t be. Similar. Yes. It must be someone who looks similar. Why would the Emperor be alone in such a place? That’s absurd!”

At that moment, the door clicked open and the portrait came to life as he entered.

He delivered a statement that made it impossible for her to deny any longer.

“Shuvien Felisa. I’m learning the name I didn’t know last night.”

It wasn’t in one year.

Shuvien was facing a death ending right now, immediately.

Thank you for reading this far.

The end…… No way!