IBHS 2

Chapter : 02

Diana didn’t want to lose what little she had of a family, so in the end, she accepted that absurd proposal.

Her parents showed no affection, no love—nothing. But she didn’t mind.

She had never lived with them before. Maybe that was why. As time passed, perhaps they would come to love her, just like their other daughter.

With such foolish thoughts, she endured life in the mansion.

She endured a false life, acting as someone she was not.

“Lady Mernard, are you alright?”

“M-My head…!”

It happened one afternoon.

While attending her lesson as usual, a sudden headache struck her without warning.

“Diana, please… protect my daughter’s marriage.”

A request that sounded more like an order fell at her feet.

Clearly, the people speaking were Diana and those around her. Yet somehow, the scenes unfolding felt completely unfamiliar.

“Welcome, Lady Mernard.”
“It is an honor to be welcomed, Your Grace.”

Diana looked at the man before her with a trembling voice.

He was the empire’s most feared devil—

Duke Ercivan Valencia.

Dozens of scenes passed by meaninglessly.

Then one scene suddenly woke Diana from her daze.

“I’m sorry, my daughter. Please be happy in heaven.”

She saw the count pushing her off a cliff.

She didn’t even have time to scream before meeting a horrific death.

It was the exact moment Count Mernard pushed Diana off the cliff.

“…What?”

Before she could even understand what was happening, the scene changed again.

“I’m sorry. I ruined your life… I don’t deserve forgiveness… but I still wanted to say thank you… and I’m sorry.”

Lilian placed a single chrysanthemum in front of Diana’s grave.

If that child had been alive, she would have embraced her long ago.

There was a grave with Diana’s name on it.

Standing before it was Lilian—who had the exact same face as her—placing down a flower before leaving.

“…I’m Diana? The one who dies at eighteen?”

At that moment, a younger version of Diana appeared in her mind, complaining bitterly.

A piece of memory she had completely lost suddenly returned.

‘Of all things… I transmigrated into an unlucky extra character?!’

Transmigration. Extra. Diana…

Her empty mind slowly filled with information, and she finally understood the situation.

‘Damn it.’

“Lady Mernard, such vulgar language does not suit a noble lady!”

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!’

From the fragments of memory that had returned, she learned one crucial truth:

Diana Mernard was destined to die young.

Killed by her own father—the one she believed would one day love her.

To summarize—

Diana was not really Diana.

She had transmigrated into a minor character named Diana Mernard from a novel she had read in her previous life:

“I’ve Never Been Married, Duke!”

The protagonist of that novel was her twin sister—

Lilian Mernard.

And indirectly, Lilian was the one who caused Diana’s tragic fate.

Lilian Mernard had always been perfect.

Of course, becoming perfect required endless effort, regardless of time or place.

She never wanted to become perfect like that—but her parents were different. They were obsessed with making her the best.

She knew it was because they loved her.

And she hated that.

The sad truth that there were victims without villains made her feel miserable.

She hated the life of nobility.

The pressure she had felt as their only daughter suffocated her.

‘I’ll leave.’

So for the first time—

She ran away from home.

After faking her own death.

The world always followed its destined path.

After Diana transmigrated into the novel, everything began to follow the original story exactly.

One year before adulthood—at seventeen—

Lilian faked her death and left to find a new life.

This happened one year before her arranged marriage with the Valencia Duke.

For the count, who was about to gain immense wealth and honor through that marriage, this became a crisis.

So, as a second option—

He brought in his hidden twin daughter, Diana.

Since she looked exactly like Lilian and her existence was unknown to the world, he believed she could act as a perfect substitute.

That was Diana’s current situation.

It was already a tragic life.

But what mattered more was the future.

Following her father’s orders, Diana would complete the marriage with the Valencia Duke and become the Duchess in place of her sister.

But a few months later—

Lilian, who was believed dead, would return.

And to hide the truth—

The count would kill Diana.

Just like the scene she had seen—

He would push her off a cliff.

‘That’s impossible…’

She wanted to deny it.

‘There’s no way Father would kill me like that…!’

From the first day she entered the count’s house, she knew she could never become his true daughter.

But human greed has no end.

A simple greeting asking if she slept well.

A small worry about her health.

A few words praising her talents—

Those warm moments made her crave love.

Even if she was just a substitute now—

She believed that someday, she could become a true member of the Mernard family.

Ah…

How foolish she had been.

It had been six months since Diana entered the count’s household.

That day, she was summoned by the count.

And she faced, in reality, the very scene she had seen in her memories.

“My daughter, I have one final request. Please protect my daughter’s marriage six months from now.”

When imagination became reality, the despair was beyond words.

The count she secretly loved—

Her own blood—

Was leading her to her death.

“How could I refuse your command, Father?”

It was already too late to escape fate.

No matter what, the count would force her into this false play.

“I love you, my daughter.”
“…I love you too, Father.”

If she wanted to survive—

Diana had to find a way to live before Lilian returned.

During the remaining six months, she came up with a plan.

She would hide her identity from the duke until after the marriage.

Then, once they were officially bound—

She would propose a deal to him.

If she revealed the count’s weakness—

A man who sought revenge would surely accept her offer.

‘Then… then I can survive.’

Leaning against the carriage, she looked at her reflection in the window.

Same face.

Similar body.

Almost identical voice.

To anyone else, they were the same person.

‘But… can I really hide it?’

Among the empire’s nobles, there was a long-standing tradition.

Before marriage, the couple would live together for some time to become familiar.

Usually, it lasted from a week to a month.

But since the Valencia Duchy and Mernard County had little interaction—

They agreed on a longer period.

Three months.

That meant—

Diana had to hide her identity from the duke for three full months.

And her opponent was none other than the infamous Valencia—

The so-called “Monster Duke.”

Still, if she tried her best, she might succeed.

No—

She had to succeed.

Not for the count—

But for her own future.

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice time passing.

The carriage had already arrived.

“We have arrived, miss.”

“Thank you. We got here quickly.”

Before her stood a magnificent mansion.

Beyond the long fence rose a grand building.

Contrary to its terrible reputation, the residence looked pure and elegant—like a priceless piece of art.

The limestone walls were perfectly stacked.

The windows sparkled like crystal.

The sunset reflected beautifully, like a painting.

She had expected something terrifying—

But she had been wrong.

“You must be tired from the long journey.”

A smooth voice came from behind her.

Diana immediately knew who it was.

In the entire empire—

There was only one man whose voice carried such dignity.

She turned slowly.

‘Ah…’

A silent gasp escaped her lips.

“It’s said that a demon resides in his eyes.”

Everyone who saw Ercivan said the same thing.

His dark red eyes made people whisper—

That they were the result of devouring life.

Even the novel described them negatively.

But at this moment—

Diana realized all of it was nonsense.

‘How could anything be more beautiful than his eyes?’

They were like a blazing red sun.

Too beautiful to describe with mere words.

“No, not at all. It was a very comfortable and pleasant journey.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

His eyes disappeared as he smiled slightly—

Yet even that expression was beautiful.

Ercivan bent down, lowering himself to match her height.

Understanding his intention, Diana extended her hand.

He removed her glove, revealing her pale hand.

“May God’s blessing be upon you.”

His familiar greeting sounded refined coming from him.

When his lips touched the back of her hand—

Her fingers trembled slightly.

It was a reaction she couldn’t hide.

‘There’s no reason to feel this way…’

At first, it was unfamiliar—but after experiencing it a few times, a hand kiss was nothing special.

But Ercivan’s touch—

Was completely different.

The warmth spread from where his lips touched, heating her entire hand.

‘No… who wouldn’t tremble?’

When their eyes met again as he put her glove back on—

Her thoughts changed.

‘Looking at someone this beautiful… how could anyone not?’

That trembling—

Was only natural.