chapter 2
The fact that Seria, who had been appointed as a saintess, hadn’t yet headed to the Grand Temple meant the original story hadn’t started.
But Airel had already commissioned the curse.
Because before she died, she said this to Seria:
“You stole him. Lisid was supposed to come to me that day! I had been waiting for that day for months…!”
Pretty shameless for someone who cast a curse on another person.
‘But who would’ve thought that person would be me?’
“W-Why are you asking that, my lady…?!”
Janice, Airel’s maid, suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me.
This was right after I asked if I had recently visited any suspicious places.
“Did I do something wrong again? You’re testing me, aren’t you?! That’s it, right?!”
“No, I was just curious…”
“As if you would ask something like that without a reason!”
Janice shook her head in disbelief and looked up at me with suspicion.
I awkwardly scratched my forehead.
‘Was she really that bad?’
Janice was the daughter of Baron Florence, a vassal of the Blandiche family.
She had been Airel’s childhood friend.
So I was a bit taken aback by how submissive she was.
‘Well… considering the original story, it does make sense…’
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What’s with your tone? The way you end your sentences is annoying! Are you mocking me?”
“Come here and kneel. That’s your punishment for disrespecting me.”
That was Airel Blandiche—
Someone who could turn an innocent person into a culprit with her words.
‘But every villainess has a sad backstory.’
Airel, the empire’s only noble lady, was actually an illegitimate child.
The duke had a one-night mistake with a maid.
Claimed he was drunk and mistook her for his wife—nonsense.
To prove his love for his wife, the duke ignored Airel her entire life.
The duchess hated her.
Though she adopted her, she never treated her like family.
And her brother, Edwin, was no different.
Airel was always unloved.
Because of that, she was consumed by inferiority about her status and constantly took it out on others—even her maids.
A classic one-dimensional villain.
‘Eventually, Janice gets tired of her and betrays her to become Seria’s friend…’
I sighed, thinking of the bleak future.
At this point, Janice hadn’t reached her limit yet.
And of course—I had no intention of acting like the original Airel.
That wasn’t my personality.
And I didn’t want to mistreat innocent people.
‘All I want is to avoid the villain route.’
If the male and female leads are truly destined, they’ll meet anyway.
Even without the curse.
‘So… sorry, but I’m stepping out first.’
Goodbye, original Airel. I’ll fix your life for you!
“Janice.”
I smiled as gently as I could and reached out to her—to brush a strand of hair from her cheek.
“Eek!”
But she flinched and dodged my hand.
Silence fell.
“I-I’m sorry, my lady!”
She immediately prostrated herself again.
“I must have lost my mind…! How dare I avoid your touch!”
Tears dropped onto the carpet.
I froze.
The novel never showed how abusive Airel actually was—but seeing Janice react like this…
Airel must have been far worse than I imagined.
‘I was too naive.’
Watching her cry made me want to cry too.
‘…For now, I should keep some distance.’
I slowly pulled my hand back.
“I’m sorry, Janice.”
“…What?”
She looked up in shock.
I lowered myself in front of her.
Even though I hadn’t done anything, apologizing seemed like the best option.
If I wanted to cancel the curse and survive here, I needed her trust.
“If you do something wrong, you apologize.”
That’s basic.
“I was just trying to move your hair, but I startled you. That’s my fault for how I’ve treated you.”
“My lady…?”
Her eyes shook.
I smiled awkwardly and carefully extended my hand again.
“I want to sincerely apologize for everything. You don’t have to bow to me anymore.”
“Why all of a sudden…”
Her face turned pale as she looked between my face and hand.
I quickly added,
“I realized no one has the right to make you kneel! I’m late, but I’ll spend my life making it up to you!”
So please… help me… I don’t want to die.
I bowed my head desperately.
After a moment—
“My lady…”
Janice gently placed her hand in mine.
“Do you remember the promise we made as children?”
“…Huh?”
“To forgive each other at least once, no matter what. That’s what friends do. Even if you didn’t keep it… I remember.”
She smiled tearfully.
She forgave me.
She remembered our past.
I was overwhelmed.
‘How could she be this kind…?’
What had Airel done to someone like her…?
“Janice…”
“Um… but, my lady…”
“Yeah?”
“All the places you go are incredibly strange and suspicious… so I’m not sure how to answer your earlier question…”
What?
I quickly looked up.
My tears instantly stopped.
* * *
“This is the building?”
I asked, stepping out of the carriage.
Janice nodded nervously.
“Yes… this is the last place…!”
I looked up at the dark staircase.
The building looked abandoned.
‘…I hope I find something here.’
I checked my notebook.
Illegal circus.
Gambling den.
Fighting pit.
Black market.
Slave market.
‘What kind of life did Airel live?’
I felt dizzy.
Janice was right.
Every place Airel visited was shady.
This place was no different.
‘At least there’s one good thing.’
I had money.
Lots of it.
Expensive dresses, jewels—
And a generous allowance.
The duke ignored Airel, but didn’t restrict her spending.
‘Maybe that’s his guilty conscience.’
Ridiculous, but true.
Her wealth allowed her to act freely in society without criticism.
An illegitimate child at home—
But a noble lady outside.
‘No wonder she could come to places like this.’
What a mess.
“Let’s go.”
I loosened my robe and stepped forward.
Then—
“…Huh? I’m coming too?”
Janice sounded confused.
I turned.
She—and even the guards—were standing still.
‘…Oh.’
I smirked.
‘If this is a place Airel goes alone…’
No maid.
No guards.
Then this is it.
Something definitely smells fishy here.
