1. Why Are You Rejecting My Proposal?

“Lady Evelyn, how about marrying me?”

Duke Rashid Egenhart, the Empire’s First Duke, proposed to his secretary, Lady Evelyn Berge.

According to Evelyn’s memory, this was already the third proposal.

At first, she was flustered by his repeated proposals. The second time, she was dumbfounded. And now…

Thud!

Evelyn placed the books she was holding down on the table.

“The books I ordered from the bookstore last time have arrived.”

As soon as Evelyn finished speaking, the duke lowered his voice and asked,

“Are you ignoring my proposal right now?”

‘You’re quite perceptive, Your Grace.’

Instead of answering, Evelyn simply smiled.

Through the past two proposals, she had learned an important lesson.

When it came to anything involving Duke Rashid Egenhart, getting caught up in it would only lead to trouble for herself.

“…Judging by your silence, you’re ignoring me again. This is the first time I’ve experienced something like this.”

Hearing Rashid’s sullen remark, Evelyn stepped back with a graceful smile.

“As your secretary, I am truly honored to have provided you with such a unique experience. It seems my secretive way of speaking has been successful.”

“What secretive way of speaking…? Your face is practically screaming how much you dislike this.”

Ah, so he’s perceptive enough to notice that now? His nonexistent tact has certainly upgraded.

Evelyn pretended not to hear and began organizing the books she had set down.

“Does the title of Duchess of Egenhart not appeal to you?”

“How could the position of the Empire’s First Duchess be lacking in any way? It’s so overwhelming that I wouldn’t even dare to covet it.”

“You understand well. The Egenhart Duchy is the greatest family in the Empire and also the wealthiest. If you marry me, the financial struggles of House Berge would be resolved in an instant.”

“With all due respect, Your Grace, my family’s motto is ‘See others’ money as mere stones.’ I want to be a good daughter who upholds our motto.”

“Tch.”

At Evelyn’s flawless defense, Rashid clicked his tongue in mild frustration.

Then, suddenly, he rose from his seat and strode toward her.

W-why is he doing this?

Caught off guard by how quickly he closed the distance, Evelyn swallowed dryly.

His dazzling platinum hair blurred her vision.

And those eyes, shining like sapphires.

His face was so stunning, as if personally sculpted by the gods with the utmost care, that it was difficult to look away.

“Think carefully, Lady Evelyn Berge.”

“……”

“It’s this face.”

So, since money and power didn’t work, now he’s using his looks?

The darling of high society, the eye of the storm, the Empire’s most sought-after figure…

Duke Rashid Egenhart had countless titles.

But the most famous among them was “The Living Jewel of the Empire.”

His radiant platinum hair and sapphire-like eyes.

A height towering over others and a strong, well-built physique.

With an appearance so flawless that he seemed sculpted from marble, Rashid had rightfully earned the prestigious title of the Empire’s Living Jewel.

However…

None of that had anything to do with Evelyn.

Money, power, beauty.

None of these things could change Evelyn’s mind.

“I regret to inform you, Your Grace…”

As Evelyn began to speak, Rashid’s blue eyes locked onto hers.

“But as I’ve told you before, I cannot accept your proposal.”

At yet another rejection, a quiet sigh escaped Rashid’s lips.

“May I ask why?”

His question, following his sigh, left Evelyn momentarily speechless.

‘There’s no way I could possibly marry you.’

Because, in truth, this world was inside a tragic romance novel.

The man proposing to her for the third time, Duke Rashid Egenhart, was the arrogant male lead of that very novel.

And she, Evelyn Berge, was merely a supporting character—one who had harbored unrequited love for Rashid since childhood, only to end up stabbing and killing him in the end.

***

Duke Rashid Egenhart.

His ancestors were known to be dragons, deeply connected to the Empire’s founding myth.

Because of that, Rashid himself was also an inhuman being with dragon blood.

In terms of appearance, power, and wealth—he was so exceptional that no ordinary human could ever compare.

He was also the protagonist of the tragic romance novel ‘Duke’s Secret Seduction’.

On the other hand, Han Woori, an ordinary office worker from South Korea, had been hit by a truck on a rainy night and found herself reincarnated inside ‘Duke’s Secret Seduction’.

But not as the protagonist, Lady Violet.

Instead, she had become a mere supporting character—Lady Evelyn Berge.

‘If only I had at least been a regular side character…’

The eldest daughter of a fallen barony, with an unremarkable appearance.

To make matters worse, Evelyn had a timid personality and harbored an unrequited love for Rashid.

Up until this point, the story was just another typical romance novel setup.

However, this novel had an unexpected twist.

‘Who would have thought Evelyn would end up stabbing Rashid in the heart and killing him!’

On the night before Duke Rashid Egenhart and Lady Violet’s wedding.

Devastated by her unfulfilled love, Evelyn took a dagger, sought Rashid out, and stabbed him straight through the heart, killing him.

Naturally, Evelyn was caught on the spot and executed for murder.

The novel ended with Lady Violet sobbing as she arranged the duke’s funeral.

It was an utterly absurd and frustrating ending.

But the real problem was that Han Woori had been reincarnated as Evelyn—the very character doomed to such a fate.

‘If I was going to be reincarnated, why couldn’t it have been as someone better?’

Like a noble princess, or a precious daughter of a duke’s family…

If that was too cliché, even having the most beautiful face in the Empire or being a saint beloved by the Creator would have been fine.

But of all people, she had to become that Evelyn!

Han Woori let out a deep sigh, recalling the various supporting characters she had read about in romance novels.

The only ability Evelyn possessed was an unusual power—the power to pierce through the heart of a dragon descendant like Rashid in a single blow.

Since ancient times, a dragon’s heart was known to be the hardest substance in the world.

And yet, Evelyn had shattered that supposedly indestructible heart in an instant.

At the time, the comment section of the serialized novel was in complete chaos.

[The author completely changed the genre! Suddenly, a sword master appears?]

[Is the title a mistake? “The Duke Family’s Secret Dragon Slayer” would be more fitting.]

[Do not read this novel. The ending is a total disaster.ㅠ]

Han Woori, who was reading the latest chapter in real time, agreed with the comments but also somewhat understood Evelyn’s feelings.

At the time, Evelyn’s unrequited love was widely known in social circles, and all the extras in the original novel mocked her for it.

『A plain woman like you dares to harbor feelings for His Grace the Duke?』

『You have neither beauty nor a prestigious family. Do you have no shame?』

『You can’t even afford a dowry. You really don’t know your place.』

Every time the extras hurled insults, the despair felt by the timid and introverted Evelyn was vividly conveyed to Han Woori as a reader.

‘Poor Evelyn. She should never have fallen in love with the Duke in the first place…’

Since Han Woori knew the entire storyline of Duke’s Secret Seduction, she had to decide how to survive.

“I absolutely must not fall for Rashid Egenhart, the Duke!”

If she lived as the original Evelyn did, she would only end up on the execution block. There was no reason for her, now reincarnated as Evelyn, to follow the same doomed path.

Why would she voluntarily walk down a red carpet leading to the gallows instead of a flower-strewn road of happiness?

“Besides, there’s already a female lead.”

The ruler of the independent Principality of Soden, Grand Duke Parma’s only daughter, Lady Violet.

She was the true heroine whom the arrogant Rashid sincerely loved.

So, it was best to let the main couple have their happy ending while she focused on living her own life.

“Even side characters have the right to survive.”

And who knows?

If the original male and female leads ended up together, the ruined storyline might naturally correct itself.

Then, perhaps she might even return to her original world.

“Yes! I have to make sure Violet and Rashid end up together.”

…That was her firm decision, but it was far from easy.

In romance fantasy novels, male protagonists were always popular if they were handsome, wealthy, and powerful ‘bad boys.’

And Rashid Egenhart, as a descendant of dragons, was the very definition of a supreme and unrivaled man.

For instance, when the original Evelyn mustered the courage to confess her love just once, Rashid had looked at her with contempt and said:

『How dare someone like you confess love to me』

His arrogance was enough to make her think, A hundred stabs wouldn’t be enough for him to deserve it.

However, if she wanted to live a peaceful life as a side character, she had to reform this absolute menace of a male lead.

‘If the female lead gets fed up with his personality and runs away, that would be a disaster!’

And so, Han Woori chose the arduous path of rehabilitating the original male lead.

「A gentleman should at least display proper manners toward the young ladies at a party, Your Grace.」

「His Highness the Crown Prince spoke to you first. You mustn’t ignore him!」

Her childhood was so exhausting that she wasn’t sure whether she was his playmate or his nanny.

And now, even after reaching adulthood, their twisted fate continued, as she worked as his personal secretary.

‘It truly was a time of hardship and suffering.’

Perhaps thanks to her efforts, Rashid had at least grown into a man who, outwardly and ability-wise, was quite decent.

Now, all she had to do was wait for Violet to appear, fall in love with Rashid, and let the original story take its course.

But!

Han Woori—no, Evelyn—had never expected such an unforeseen development.

***

“Your Grace, do you sincerely wish to marry me?”

“…Why do you think I wouldn’t be sincere?”

“Because I’ve seen too much.”

“Seen too much?”

As her employer looked at her in confusion, Evelyn pulled up the corners of her lips.

“I am Your Grace’s former ‘playmate’ and your ‘secretary.’ There is no one in this world who knows you better than I do.”

Her calm voice echoed through the office.

A brief silence followed, and then…

“Heh.”

A quiet laugh escaped Rashid’s lips.

“Amazing, Lady Evelyn. You claim to know me so well. I had no idea.”

A sarcastic smirk played on Rashid’s lips.

Evelyn remained unfazed.

Still smiling, she continued speaking.

“So, why don’t you tell me what your true intentions are—”

“But this time, you’re wrong, Lady Evelyn.”

Rashid cut her off mid-sentence and gazed intently at her brown hair.

“My proposal is sincere.”

“……!”

“So, Lady Evelyn Berge.”

Like a noble gentleman proposing to a lady, in a manner befitting his status and authority—

Rashid took a step back, knelt on one knee, and pressed a kiss to Evelyn’s hand.

“Will you marry me?”

Evelyn was so stunned that she forgot to withdraw her hand, completely frozen in place.

Arrogant, overbearing, and utterly self-absorbed.

Rashid Egenhart was a man who believed himself to be the greatest in the world.

‘And yet, that very man is kneeling before me and proposing?’

In the original story, Rashid had never even spared a glance at Evelyn despite her unrequited love.

Moreover, Rashid had a fated female protagonist.

So why…

Why had the original male protagonist started obsessing over her?