Chapter 02
The original novel The Curly-Haired Grand Duchess was a typical northern grand duke romance fantasy, set in a land where snow fell all year round and frost flowers bloomed in every season.
It was the story of a bright, sunshine-like heroine with special powers who met the future Northern Grand Duke, fell in love, and—while she was at it—saved the North.
“And in that cliché northern grand duke story, the one who appears as the sub male lead… is my favorite, Sion.”
I muttered as I stared at the character profile floating before my eyes.
< My Favorite: Sion Luxior >
- Role: Sub male lead
- Age: Currently 18 (~2N years old)
- Status: Illegitimate son of the former Northern Grand Duke
- Background: Born between the former Grand Duke of Luxior and a commoner woman. After losing his mother at age 8, his existence was revealed and he was belatedly brought into the Grand Duke’s estate. Due to the North’s strict values of honor and legitimacy, he suffered constant cold treatment and contempt for being an illegitimate child. Currently isolated in the northern annex, enduring a dark and lonely upbringing.
“Good.”
I cracked my knuckles, steeling my resolve.
“I, Lin—the Devotion Fairy—declare that from this moment on, I will use any means necessary to remove my favorite from sub male lead status.”
Boom.
In other words, I was about to completely wreck the original storyline.
My chest burned with fangirl passion as I pointed dramatically into the air.
“Hey, original author! Are you watching?! I don’t know what you were thinking turning me into a Devotion Fairy, but you’re going to regret it! I’ll make Sion so amazing that the main male lead won’t even be able to compare! Hmph!”
Sion Luxior.
Who was he?
A refined, noble-like beauty.
A quiet, steadfast man of few words.
A lonely and beautiful northern knight, like a wolf in winter.
Cold to everyone—but secretly warm to the woman he loves.
“There is no main male lead in existence who can beat this.”
I declared confidently, completely biased.
With just a little luck and support, Sion could absolutely win the heroine’s heart and take the place of the main male lead.
“So first things first—”
My eyes gleamed.
“Let’s go meet Sion~!”
Hehe.
Humming to myself, I took off into the air and flew through the corridors of the Grand Duke’s castle.
* * *
After bumping into walls and flailing awkwardly with my wings as I searched the castle—
“Haah… haah…”
—I finally reached the northern annex where Sion was supposed to be.
But—
“…What.”
I clamped my hand over my mouth in shock.
The annex was far worse than what had been described in the novel.
Old, worn-out windows and doors.
Dirty, unmaintained tile floors and hallways.
“This… this dump is where my Sion lived for ten years?! Those bastards!”
My body trembled with rage.
Faces of villains and background characters who had tormented Sion flashed through my mind.
“They’re all dead. I’m not letting any of them go.”
Just then—
Step, step.
“…!”
Footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.
I quickly darted behind a nearby pillar.
A moment later, a chubby middle-aged man dressed like an administrator appeared.
Behind him, a young knight hurried after him.
“Assistant Luman! Please wait!”
Luman?
That name rang a bell.
Wait… Luman? The same assistant who acted like a lapdog to those in power and secretly looked down on Sion while monitoring him since childhood?!
At that moment, the knight blocked Luman’s path.
Luman tried to push him aside, but the sturdy knight didn’t budge.
“Tch! Move aside!”
“I cannot!”
An argument broke out.
“This decision is too unfair! Please ask Her Grace the Grand Duchess to reconsider!”
“What nonsense! How dare a mere guard knight question Her Grace’s decision?! Move aside at once!”
“What exactly did the young master do wrong?! Just because his once-a-month sword lesson ran a little long, he’s being thrown into the dungeon in this freezing weather?! This is unreasonable!”
“…What?”
My jaw dropped.
I was shocked to hear Sion’s name—and even more shocked by what followed.
“I told you, complaining to me won’t change anything! If you have a problem, go tell Her Grace yourself!”
“I already requested an audience several times—she refused!”
“Then that’s the end of it! Learn to read the room! You don’t want to spend your whole life rotting here as the guard of some illegitimate brat, do you?!”
“What did you just—?!”
The knight froze in shock at the insult.
Luman quickly disappeared down the corridor.
“…Haa…”
The knight sighed in frustration.
Understanding the situation, I slid down the pillar and called out.
“Hey.”
No response.
“Hey, you. Knight.”
This time he turned.
“Over here.”
His gaze followed upward—
And then—
“…?!”
He froze solid upon seeing me clinging to the pillar like a squirrel.
I spoke flatly.
“You said Sion earlier, right? Do you know where he is?”
No response.
My patience wore thin.
“Do you know or not? Answer.”
“…A fairy?”
He muttered in disbelief, slowly reaching out to poke me.
I slapped his hand away.
“Answer.”
He flinched.
“…Are you referring to Young Master Sion Luxior?”
“Yeah.”
I added casually,
“You know—silver-gray hair that shines like morning dew, deep blue-gray eyes like a lake, ridiculously handsome—well, he’s 18, so more like a beautiful young man—anyway.”
“….”
After a pause, the knight asked awkwardly,
“…Who are you?”
“Can’t you tell? I’m a fairy.”
“…Why would a fairy be looking for Young Master Sion? Actually… are you really a fairy?”
Wow, this guy is slow.
I kicked off the pillar and flew into the air, spinning dramatically.
“See that? I am a fairy. Now hurry and take me to Sion. You said he’s in the dungeon, right? We need to save him!”
Even now, my favorite was probably freezing and alone.
“…What on earth is going on…”
The knight muttered, clearly confused.
But he nodded.
“…Understood. If you intend to help the young master, I will cooperate.”
He placed a fist over his chest.
“I am Garen Jade, Young Master Sion’s guard knight. I will guide you.”
* * *
Soon, following Garen, we reached the basement of the annex.
After descending a long, dark staircase, a massive iron door appeared.
“That’s the place.”
“Good. Stand guard here. I’ll go in and get Sion.”
“…Understood.”
I flew through the small barred window.
Inside—
It was pitch black.
Unlike the torch-lit hallway, I couldn’t see a thing.
“Ugh, I can’t see anything.”
I needed light.
Light to illuminate this prison—
So I can at least see my favorite properly!
Right then—
Ding—
You have acquired the fangirl skill:
<Devotion That Shines Anywhere>!
“…A fangirl skill?”
I read the description.
<Devotion That Shines Anywhere>:
True devotion shines regardless of time or place! No matter how deep the darkness, nothing can conceal your love for your favorite. Illuminate your surroundings with unwavering devotion!
“….”
Suppressing my mixed feelings, I activated it.
“<Devotion That Shines Anywhere>!”
Fwoooosh—!
“…?!”
A tiny light formed at my fingertips, growing brighter and pushing back the darkness.
‘Whoa… it actually works.’
As the prison lit up, I slowly looked around.
Then—
I froze.
“…!”
In the corner of the cell—
He was there.
Leaning against the wall, asleep.
Soft silver-gray hair.
Pale, almost translucent skin.
A breathtakingly beautiful young man who looked like a sculpture come to life.
It was Sion.
