AWLC 02

Chapter – 02

She spoke timidly, as if embarrassed, but there was a strange certainty in her small voice.

She was telling a man she had just met today—a complete stranger—that he could take her away and lock her up. She might have been awkward and shy about it, but there was no fear in her at all.

‘This isn’t fear. If anything… it’s anticipation?’

Tilting his head, the man looked at her with curious eyes and asked seriously,

“Why would you say something like that to me? We’ve only just met.”

“…Huh?”

Asha was flustered.

She had assumed he would fall for her at first sight and, the moment she told him to take her away, eagerly do so.

Wasn’t he supposed to welcome it?

She had thought that if she acted as cooperative and sweet as possible, things would stay harmonious—without any need for actual kidnapping or imprisonment.

She hadn’t expected him to doubt her so bluntly.

She had to admit she’d taken this world, her situation, and even the man in front of her too lightly—just because they were characters in a novel.

Still, after telling him to take her, she couldn’t very well claim now that she’d misspoken.

Her mind spun as she forced herself to speak.

“Well… everyone has their own romantic fantasy, right? Mine is being taken away by a handsome man and loved.”

And she smiled brightly.

If you’re going to be transmigrated into a novel, shamelessness is your greatest weapon. Absolutely.

Honestly, what woman in the world would say something like that based solely on a man’s face?

But Asha knew.

She knew that Cedric was a man who would shower her with boundless love for the rest of his life.

So she gathered every ounce of courage she had—real or imagined.

As expected, the man responded positively.

“Very well. Come with me.”

‘Yes!’

She’d been briefly tense at his unexpected reaction, but as she thought, he must have fallen for her at first sight.

A pleasant premonition filled her, as if everything would go smoothly from here on.

Imagining a cozy imperial confinement, she let a hint of ulterior motive slip out.

“I hope it’s a room with large windows—”

But she never finished her sentence.

Suddenly, the man tore off the brooch pinned to his collar.

Well, a brooch could be removed suddenly. That much was understandable.

‘But why—why is his hair changing color?’

The moment the brooch came off, his bright blond hair turned jet black in an instant. His eyebrows darkened to match.

For a moment, Asha couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

Just then, as if on cue, a lavish carriage adorned with golden crests appeared at the entrance.

The man riding beside it dismounted smoothly and bowed to the male lead.

“Your Highness. The cleanup is complete.”

Then he turned slightly and offered Asha a polite greeting.

“You must be Lady Asha of the Herman family. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Jerold Burns.”

Only then did Asha realize something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.

She might not have known the name Jerold—but she knew the surname.

‘Burns? If it’s Burns, that’s the imperial family’s name, isn’t it?’

And there was only one man in the Empire whom someone with the surname Burns would call “Your Highness.”

Alesto S. Burns.

The Crown Prince, backed by the Empress’s faction, holding powerful noble families firmly in his grasp.

A chill ran down her spine.

In the original novel, the Crown Prince didn’t have much screen time—but every time he appeared, he left a strong impression as a tyrant.

Often described as a cruel demon, he stood in opposition to the male lead, Cedric.

‘W-wait a second. Why is the Crown Prince here?’

Where was Cedric?

Completely flustered, Asha clamped her mouth shut.

If she opened it, a scream might come out instead of words.

If she said something ridiculous—like she’d mistaken him for someone else—her head might roll for daring to toy with him.

You know how some people are reassuring when they’re on your side and terrifying when they’re your enemy?

Alesto was slightly different.

He was merciless even to his allies—and if you became his enemy, you might as well give up on sleep.

‘The place I thought was a cozy rabbit hole… is actually a tiger’s den?’

Cold sweat broke out along her spine.

Outwardly, she tried her best to remain composed.

She should have sealed her lips and run before spouting nonsense about romantic fantasies.

Had she already gone too far to turn back? Should she run now?

Her voice trembled on its own.

“I-it’s an honor to meet someone so distinguished.”

Only after greeting Jerold Burns did Asha realize her mistake.

She hadn’t properly paid her respects to the Crown Prince.

Startled, she quickly turned and bowed deeply before him.

“I apologize for failing to recognize the Empire’s rising star. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Asha Herman, daughter of the House of Herman.”

She tried to appear calm, but Alesto immediately saw through her discomfort.

As Crown Prince of a nation, he was well-versed in reading people—and she was far too easy to read.

From the moment he removed the disguise brooch and restored his original hair color, she had begun to panic.

When Jerold appeared and she started stammering in a trembling, goat-like voice while reintroducing herself, Alesto was certain.

Everything she had said—telling him to take her away, claiming her dream was to be loved by a handsome man—had been spoken without knowing who he was.

At first, when the saintess he had just met suddenly asked him to take her away, of course he had suspected her.

Being taken by a handsome man and loved was her fantasy?

Was he supposed to believe that?

Surely she had some hidden motive. Or perhaps she had turned back time.

If so, was she planning to infiltrate the imperial palace with some scheme?

Though he suspected her, he decided to take her with him for now.

No matter what, it was necessary to keep her close.

Whatever her intentions, it would be better to keep her where he could see and monitor her.

But…

She really hadn’t known he was the Crown Prince?

A saintess who could turn back time?

‘Then… was what she said about wanting to be taken by a handsome man truly just a pure romantic fantasy?’

Well, the fantasy itself wasn’t exactly pure.

Alesto looked down at the woman in front of him, who seemed almost painfully innocent in her flustered helplessness.

Asha’s head was in complete chaos.

Was it supposed to be this difficult to meet a blind-date partner in the garden and follow him?

In the original story, the Crown Prince didn’t appear this early!

Then where on earth was Cedric?

At that moment, as her gaze wandered aimlessly, it caught on a man.

Over by the central fountain, a man was watching this way.

Blond.

That must be Cedric—the man she was supposed to meet today.

What should she do?

‘Should I run now?’

Unfortunately for Asha, every flicker of emotion on her face was perfectly visible to Alesto.

Following her panicked gaze, he saw the man.

He immediately understood.

The man the saintess had intended to follow while rambling about romantic fantasies wasn’t him.

It was that man over there.

It was suspicious enough that her eyes wouldn’t leave him, and they had even grown moist.

‘That won’t do.’

A strange irritation rose within him.

He stepped forward, blocking the other man from her line of sight.

Startled like a puppy whose tail had been stepped on, she looked up at him.

Her round eyes and slightly drooping eye corners made her look pitifully vulnerable.

‘Making that face now won’t help you.’

Now that he knew she possessed the ability to turn back time, he couldn’t allow anyone else to take her.

Smiling, he extended his hand toward her.

“I will trust your words—that you won’t run away.”

His expression bore a gentle, refined smile.

But to Asha, his words sounded exactly like this:

‘If you run… you won’t get away with it.’

Asha shuddered at the goosebumps rising on her skin.

Then, obediently accepting the Crown Prince’s escort, she climbed into the carriage.

Instinctively, she understood.

There was no escaping now.