Chapter: 01
<The Three Duke Families>
As the title suggests, this is an R-rated, destructive novel about the enmity among three duke families.
The story is narrated from the perspective of a maid, whom the female protagonist has possessed, and from her point of view, it’s a survival story in which she must navigate deadly political schemes.
And—there’s not a single romance for her.
The observer perspective was interesting, but what really defined this story was this:
The unique way the heads of the three duke families inherit their special abilities.
It doesn’t have to be the child of the current duke. As long as the blood of the ducal family is mixed in, the mark of the next head appears on the one with the strongest abilities.
But fully inheriting the power required a special condition.
One had to marry the destined partner, “Pero,” whose name is engraved on the body by magical power, and spend three nights connecting their hearts.
Only then would the “lily” marks blocking the abilities disappear, one by one.
“Oh, how new and exciting!”
That was me, the novel’s reader, yesterday.
And now, having possessed this exciting, intriguing story, my only thought was:
“Did you really have to include this ridiculous setup?”
Excuse me, author? Could we have a word?
I had possessed Crua Alouze, the illegitimate daughter of the villainous Alouze family—one of the three duke families notorious for committing every evil imaginable.
Her father, Duke Alouze, had awakened his Pero early and inherited his powers as the family head.
A villain who would use any means for the family’s power and indulge in reckless affairs, he was infamous in the original story for his irredeemable character.
Surely, since his Pero had awakened, their hearts should have connected—but then he went off having an affair.
In other words, he loved her only because she was his Pero; after awakening, he lost all feeling.
That guy should have had his Pero appear at fifty!
Then again, if the Pero had not obeyed him, he’d probably have buried her alive just to find the next one.
Anyway, I, Crua Alouze, was born as the illegitimate child of this free-spirited man and a commoner woman.
The Duke killed Crua’s mother the moment she gave birth.
He claimed he could take care of Crua, who shared his blood, but he could not accept a commoner into the family.
So Crua Alouze had to grow up without her mother.
Though she inherited the Alouze bloodline’s “water” ability, her skill was almost useless—she could barely control even spilled water.
“Useless!”
Duke Alouze judged her as such, and Crua herself believed she would remain so forever.
But suddenly, she gained usefulness.
Just as I possessed her.
It all began when the head of the Argenta family, a rival of Alouze, began actively searching for their Pero.
“The Duke of Argenta, Dielo, is searching for his match?”
Upon hearing this, Duke Alouze saw an opportunity and ordered Crua:
“You will become his match.”
“Me?”
A Pero is created through magical power.
In other words, if the name “Dielo Argenta” suddenly appeared on one’s body, it meant that person was Dielo Argenta’s destined match.
It wasn’t something anyone could choose freely.
But Duke Alouze used his ability to engrave the name “Dielo Argenta” on Crua’s back, creating a fake Pero.
He couldn’t have been more cunning.
The method of engraving was meticulous and cruel.
Using his water ability, he manipulated Crua’s blood under her skin to create a detailed engraving.
Then, Duke Alouze notified Dielo Argenta:
[We’ve found Argenta’s Pero.
Yet who would have thought the Argenta connection would be found in the Alouze family?
The name of Dielo Argenta has appeared on my daughter, Crua Alouze. I wish to discuss this.]
In short: if you want the Pero, you’d better cooperate with Alouze.
“And remember to keep your mouth shut there.”
The key to a powerful family head was awakening the abilities through Pero.
If a girl who was not his destined match took Argenta’s nights, he would never inherit the head’s abilities properly.
Even if he connected later with the real Pero, it would already be too late.
Argenta’s power would weaken, and the Alouze–Argenta–Cartiel three duke families’ balance would shift.
This was precisely the order Duke Alouze gave.
“If you fail, you won’t even have your legs to return with, let alone your life. You must claim Argenta’s Pero.”
―Clatter!
And I found myself inside the shaking carriage as Crua Alouze.
It took me exactly an hour to assess the situation.
“Of all things, in a world full of reincarnations and possessions…”
Why did I have to be the illegitimate Alouze daughter risking my neck to lie to Dielo?
Even lamenting my fate, Crua Alouze’s reflection in the hand mirror did not disappear.
Her deep lavender hair and violet eyes marked the appearance of a glamorous villainess.
At least the looks were appealing.
But in this form, she was destined to die soon—a mere extra.
In the original story, once Dielo Argenta’s true Pero appeared, Crua Alouze would be discarded as fake.
Not by Argenta, but by her own father, Duke Alouze.
In other words, the Alouze family would kill her before she could speak.
“That cannot happen.”
Now that it’s come to this, I would survive in Argenta by changing the original story!
The unfortunate part: the original maid protagonist who should have accompanied Crua to Argenta wasn’t in the carriage.
She didn’t exist at all—probably because I had possessed Crua.
I had hoped to form alliances and gather intel, but that went out the window.
“Dielo Argenta…”
A pure, kind man in a story full of villains.
Even though I was from a rival family, he welcomed me politely.
“You must not have wanted this fate, Crua.”
Such kind, considerate words were rare in this story.
I couldn’t destroy the future of such a man with my own hands.
Moreover, Duke Alouze would kill me if I defied him, and obeying him fully wouldn’t end well either.
Should I seduce Dielo?
“No.”
Failing meant death at Alouze’s hands; succeeding meant death at Argenta’s.
Either way, I would die.
So there was only one action to take.
“I am Dielo Argenta. Lady Crua Alouze.”
Dielo was alone in Argenta’s audience room.
Jet-black hair and light blue eyes, calm and pure, like sunlit water.
Perhaps because I inherited a trace of Alouze blood and its weak water ability, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
Though I was a noble from a family that had been his enemy for centuries, he received me with courtesy.
“—Your Grace, Duke of Argenta.”
I spoke, gambling with my life.
Even if Dielo Argenta was kind and pure in the original story, he would be furious if he found out Alouze had sent a fake Pero to steal his future and destroy his family.
And I would be the one to face his wrath.
“Yes, Lady Alouze.”
His gentle voice acknowledged me.
I pressed my lips into a firm line.
Having come in the carriage, there was no turning back. I had to face him head-on.
No graceful death as in the original story.
My voice carried determination.
“I have not come to be Your Grace’s bride.”
As I bowed, the necklace Dielo sent as a “bride’s token” swung and dangled.
“……”
His expression shifted subtly.
Perhaps intending to personally greet me, his hand holding the teapot paused.
“Do you refuse marriage?”
His light blue eyes regarded me curiously.
I shook my head.
“No. I have come as a negotiator.”
A trade: his power for my life.
“To act as a shield and contracted wife until your ‘true’ Pero arrives.”
I had no intention of giving him my first.
“‘True’ Pero?”
His eyes widened.
“Yes. Until the true one arrives.”
In the original story, Dielo was deceived by the fake Pero, Crua Alouze.
Although he hadn’t fully given his heart to original Crua, two lilies had already disappeared, preventing full ability awakening.
Naturally, he struggled against other families.
But if I altered the story and he met his true Pero, awakening his full powers, he would become an unprecedentedly strong head.
Even Duke Alouze, who had abandoned me as a disposable card, could be dealt with cleanly.
“I’ll help you become the strongest head.”
If he took revenge on the Alouze family, that is.
Our gazes met without wavering.
“Are you claiming to be the fake Pero?”
Dielo’s voice was gentle, inherently kind.
But the moment I mentioned “fake,” his aura shifted—colder, despite his fire ability.
“Yes.”
I answered calmly.
He smiled faintly.
For a moment, his warmth seemed like an illusion.
“Even though Argenta confirmed you were my Pero, I don’t understand why you claim otherwise. But if what you say is true…”
He tilted his head slightly.
“That would mean Alouze deceived me. Then we cannot speak so peacefully.”
His gentle voice contrasted with the cold tension in the room.
Here, in Argenta territory, if my deception were exposed, the marriage could collapse, war might be declared, and my life could be taken hostage.
I had knowingly started a dangerous gamble.
I tried to calm my nerves and spoke:
“If I had intended to keep deceiving Your Grace, yes.”
Dielo froze at my words.
“I have no intention of further deceiving Your Grace.”
My heart pounded.
I forced my mind to stay cool.
This negotiation had begun.
If I didn’t persuade Dielo Argenta now, the original story’s destruction, supposed to occur in two months, would come immediately.
“First, if I prove the name ‘Dielo Argenta’ engraved on my back is false, will you believe me?”
His brow furrowed.
The calm blue eyes resembled a sea that could be stormy at any moment.
I met his gaze, slowly turned, and revealed my back.
“If you wish, would you undo the buttons at the back of this dress?”
