Ciela stepped out of the mansion, her expression calm but resolute.

‘This is where it truly begins.’

She reached into her coat and checked the duke’s letter one more time, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“I’m not worried about Calix rejecting my proposal.”

Though he had been avoiding people lately, Calix was still the leader of the Emperor’s faction. Ciela was certain that once he read the letter, he wouldn’t be able to refuse her invitation.

“According to the original story, he should be dealing with a particularly troublesome issue around this time.”

The proposal she intended to present today would resolve that issue effortlessly, giving her all the assurance she needed. With her confidence unwavering, Ciela stepped toward the waiting carriage that would take her to the Duke of Icarus’s estate.

Just as she was about to board, a voice rang out behind her.

“Wait a moment!”

Before she could react, someone grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

‘Unbelievable.’

Ciela nearly lost her balance, the sudden tug almost sending her tumbling to the ground. She steadied herself just in time, but irritation flashed across her face as she whipped her head around.

“Sister, let’s talk. Why have you been avoiding me so much lately?”

Whether she realized her fault or not, Lilia stood there with her lips sticking out like a duck’s beak.

“I almost fell because of you just now. Don’t you have anything else to say besides that?”

“Sorry. But you didn’t actually fall, so it’s fine, isn’t it? Anyway, let’s talk.”

Lilia offered a half-hearted apology, tugging at Ciela’s sleeve and insisting they talk. Her attitude made it clear that whatever she wanted to say was more important to her than apologizing properly.

“I can’t. I have an appointment.”

“Then cancel it. What kind of appointment do you have when you’re not even feeling well?”

Lilia shot back, her gaze sweeping over Ciela from head to toe, her face wrinkling in disapproval.

“I can take care of my own health. And I don’t see any reason to cancel my plans just to make time for you.”

“In the past, my words always came first. Do you have any idea how hurt I’ve been? You’ve been acting so cold, as if I’m a stranger to you.”

Lilia’s petite frame only amplified her vulnerability. No matter how much she ate, her figure remained slender, her delicate bones accentuating her slightness. She was shorter than most, and now, as she stood trembling and on the verge of tears, she seemed as fragile and pitiful as a newborn fawn.

Ciela glanced at her, conflicted. I used to feel so helpless whenever Lilia cried, she thought, her resolve wavering.

Lilia’s tears were endless and unpredictable. She cried when she wanted something, when she didn’t want to do something, or when her wishes weren’t fulfilled.

Every time, Ciela would inevitably give in. She didn’t want to be disliked by their parents or branded as a villainess, so she had no choice but to appease Lilia and resolve whatever had brought on her tears.

But that was then. Now, things were different.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“…Sister?”

Lilia’s eyes widened in shock, resembling a startled rabbit. Her tears stopped abruptly, as if she couldn’t believe Ciela’s cold demeanor.

Unfazed, Ciela continued to regard her with indifference.

“I have an appointment, so I’ll be leaving now.”

“You’re the one who’s wrong here! So why are you behaving like this?”

Ciela, just about to step into the carriage, froze mid-step. Her first thought was, Did I hear that correctly?

All this time, she had bent over backward to avoid upsetting Lilia, catering to her every whim like a fool.

And now, she was the one being accused of wrongdoing? The realization felt like ice coursing through her veins.

Turning around, she saw Lilia in tears once again.

She’s actually crying, Ciela thought, half in disbelief.

Tears streamed down Lilia’s face, her eyes brimming with resentment. Letting out a faint, incredulous laugh, Ciela turned fully to face her, curiosity now flickering in her chest.

“What exactly did I do wrong to you?”

“You told our parents that your fiancé confessed to me, making me look bad.”

Lilia replied, her tone slow and deliberate, as though explaining something to a clueless child.

“You even said it wasn’t my fault, but you still went and told them. How could you?”

Clenching her fists tightly, Lilia glared at Ciela, her voice sharp with accusation.

Ciela, unfazed, brushed her hair back with an elegant motion, her golden locks, streaked with hints of red, gliding effortlessly through her fingers.

“You’re mistaken, not once did I tell our parents that it was your fault.”

“But you—!”

Before Lilia could finish, Ciela turned away, stepping into the carriage without sparing her another glance.

So that’s why she’s been holding a grudge? I thought it might have been something far worse.

It was clear she didn’t need to hear anything more.

“I might be late for my appointment, so let’s get going. Please start moving.”

As the carriage began to stir, a panicked voice rang out from behind.

“No! Don’t go! Where are you even going?”

The coachman hesitated, obviously startled by Lilia’s frantic screaming.

“Um… what should I do?”

He asked nervously, looking to Ciela for guidance.

“Keep going.”

The coachman, personally hired by Ciela for situations exactly like this, obeyed her command without hesitation and snapped the reins. The carriage jolted forward, picking up speed.

“She’s really leaving…?”

Lilia whispered, her voice barely audible over the howling wind. The fierce gusts tossed her golden hair in all directions. Strands whipped against her eyes, stinging painfully, yet she didn’t even flinch, her gaze locked on the carriage growing smaller in the distance.

“I told her not to go…”

She murmured again, this time with a hint of disbelief and something darker, more unsettling.

Her tears, which had flowed freely moments ago, suddenly stopped. In their place, her face became eerily blank, a shadow of emptiness creeping across her features under the dim light.

“…Why? How did it come to this? How did my kind sister… end up like this?”

The sister who had once foolishly catered to her every whim, indulging her tantrums without question, was gone. That soft, pliable Ciela had vanished, replaced by someone distant, indifferent.

And Lilia found this change profoundly unsatisfying.

“At least you, of all people, shouldn’t treat me like this.”

After everything I’ve sacrificed. After everything I’ve endured for her.

Her tightly clenched lips quivered pitifully, and blood seeped from the cracks between them.

“Annoying.”

After glancing around briefly, Lilia began to mess up her hair, tangling it into a wild mess. Rip. Without hesitation, she tore her cherished dress with her hands. She even smeared dirt on her clothes, making herself look as though she had been in a fight.

As she always did, Lilia readied herself to seek out the marquess and marchioness. Turning toward the mansion, she prepared to play her part.

***

Meanwhile, Ciela gazed out the carriage window, her eyes widening in admiration as the Duke of Icarus’s estate came into view. A soft murmur of awe escaped her lips. The sheer grandeur was overwhelming.

Even as someone who had grown up in a highly esteemed marquessate, she found herself momentarily speechless at the sight.

In the distance, the grand, towering mansion loomed like a monument of power and history. The sprawling gardens they had been traveling through for what felt like an eternity were breathtaking—an endless sea of roses, lush and vibrant, almost ethereal in their beauty.

‘Truly fitting for the male lead’s family.’

The House of Icarus was a name that resonated throughout the empire. It wasn’t just any noble family—it was a founding pillar of the empire itself, an eternal ally of the imperial family, and a lineage steeped in prestige and power. The titles and accolades associated with the Duke of Icarus seemed countless, almost mythical.

‘Now it really hits me who I’m about to meet.’

Calix Icarus. The young duke who carried the weight of the empire’s most illustrious house on his shoulders. He was a figure whose every move was scrutinized, every word dissected. Stories about him were as pervasive as the air, reaching every corner of the empire.

‘For instance, how terrible his personality is.’

It was said that crossing Calix’s arrogant and icy nature would earn you a sharp-tongued rebuke so ruthless and precise that it left no room for a response. His wit was as cutting as his reputation, and those who offended him were often left utterly speechless.

‘Of course, there’s a reason for that personality of his.’

Ciela thought, her mind drifting to the tragic backstory detailed in the novel.

Calix had lost his parents at a young age, inheriting the title of duke while still a child. From that moment on, his life became a relentless battle for survival. Assassins lurked in the shadows, attempting to take his life night after night. Distant relatives hovered like vultures, waiting to exploit any mistake he made. Other nobles mocked him openly, belittling him for his youth and inexperience.

To endure, Calix had to be perfect—unyielding, meticulous, and utterly ruthless. His cold and severe demeanor wasn’t a choice; it was a necessity. It protected both his life and the legacy of his family.

From that point on, his world revolved around two things: work and swordsmanship. He had no time, nor any inclination, to indulge in anything else. His entire existence was a balancing act between survival and duty.

‘No wonder he turned out the way he did.’

‘Still, even if he was cold to others, he always smiled warmly and was kind to the female lead.’

As Ciela recalled the Calix who had fallen in love with the female protagonist, she adjusted her attire.

‘Looks like we’re almost there.’

The carriage slowed, signaling their arrival at the Duke of Icarus’s estate. While most might have been overwhelmed with nervousness at such a moment, Ciela’s expression remained calm and composed, as if she had no reason to feel apprehensive. Her serene demeanor had not wavered from the start.

“Welcome to the House of Icarus, Lady Arcel.”

A well-dressed butler greeted her with a polite bow.

“I am Hansen, the butler of the Duke of Icarus. As per the duke’s orders, I will escort you to the drawing room.”

Ciela inclined her head slightly in acknowledgment and followed Hansen into the mansion.

As they walked through the grand corridors, she couldn’t help but notice the sharp, lingering gazes from all directions. Though the attempts to observe her were subtle, Ciela’s keen awareness allowed her to sense them instantly.

‘No wonder they’re curious. They must think it strange that I’m meeting with the Duke of Icarus.’

The thought made her smirk inwardly. It was no ordinary occurrence for someone like her—the infamous socialite villainess—to meet with Calix, the empire’s most eligible bachelor. Their pairing was so unexpected it was bound to stir whispers and speculation.

Still, Ciela walked with poise, unbothered by the quiet scrutiny. Let them watch, she thought. This meeting wasn’t about them. It was about her plans—and her confidence in their success.

“We’ve arrived. His Grace the Duke is waiting for you inside.”

“Thank you.”

She paused in front of the door, taking a brief moment to compose herself.

‘This is the first step in my plan for revenge.’

Her eyes darkened with resolve, her expression calm and unwavering, like someone who wouldn’t flinch even in the heart of a storm. Just as her hand moved to push open the door, Hansen spoke again.

“Please take good care of His Highness.”

To Hansen, Ciela already seemed significant. She was the first person in years to capture the duke’s attention—a man who, ever since the tragic passing of the previous duke and duchess, had lived without respite, burdened by endless responsibility.

Ciela’s lips twitched, the corners lifting slightly in barely concealed amusement at the butler’s unexpected remark.

‘Take good care of him? Do I look like someone here to torment Duke Calix?’

Ciela was all too familiar with the rumors that surrounded her in social circles. The stories painted her as a villainess so cunning and cruel that even demons would weep at her feet. Thinking about how far those tales must have been stretched, she found herself feeling slightly wronged.

For the butler of the illustrious Duke’s household to bow so deeply, had the rumors truly inflated her reputation to such absurd heights?

“There’s no need to worry—I wouldn’t dare try to handle the Duke.”

However, Hansen completely misunderstood her words, interpreting them as, I couldn’t handle the Duke because I adore him too much. His mood brightened instantly, and he let out a hearty laugh.

“Haha, is that so?”

Ciela tilted her head ever so slightly, her smile turning enigmatic.

“He’s precious, after all.”

‘Precious—because I only have one life to live.’

Calix Icarus wasn’t just the Duke of the empire’s most powerful house. He was the youngest Swordmaster in the empire, a genius of the blade. Facing him in any capacity beyond diplomacy was akin to signing her own death warrant. Even with two lives, attempting to go against Calix would be sheer madness.

‘Precious, indeed.’

Stepping into the room with an air of calm confidence, Ciela was fully aware of the precarious tightrope she was about to walk.

“Well then, that’s truly a relief.”

“Alright, I’ll head in now.”

“Of course. I hope you have a pleasant time.”

For the butler’s well-wishing to come true, their conversation would need to proceed smoothly.

‘And it will.’

Ciela steadied herself once more, bracing her resolve, and opened the door to the drawing room.

At last, it was time for her first meeting with the male protagonist, Calix.