TCDSS 01

Chapter 01

A large shadow fell over Sasha, who was fidgeting in a luxurious room adorned in deep blue with touches of gold.

As the sunset faded and a dim darkness filled the room, he approached without a sound, like a god walking out of the shadows.

“E-excuse me… ah.”

Tall enough to completely overshadow her, with broad shoulders and a wide chest, and beneath cold, blue-glowing eyes—Sasha, unable to endure the tense atmosphere, tried to speak, but she couldn’t stop him as he closed in on her.

He climbed onto the bed over her, ignoring her hesitation, and lowered his face to capture her lips.

Gasp—before she could even breathe, he lightly bit her pink lips. Her tense lips parted at the brief stimulus with a small sound, and a hot tongue slipped through the opening, invading her mouth.

“Mm…!”

Startled by the unfamiliar sensation, she tried to push him away, but the firm, heated wall that was his body did not budge at all.

‘He’s like a mountain… I can’t push him.’

The hot tongue filling her mouth tangled with her smaller one as she tried to escape, sweeping along her palate in dizzying movements.

Despite Sasha’s resistance, his body remained solid, and the invading heat overwhelmed her senses. From her fingertips to her toes, she was slowly overtaken by the tingling, numbing sensations he stirred within her.

‘Ah… why does this feel… good?’

“Mmm, ngh…!”

Caught between pushing him away and pulling him closer, faint moans escaped through her parted lips—unaware that it only fueled his desire further.

Lost in the friction of lips and tongues and the wet sounds between them, Sasha flinched again in surprise when she felt something hot brush against her thigh and press against her hips…

“Haa… if you keep pushing me away like that, does it mean you don’t want this?”

His voice, as sensual as his touch, poured out with heated breath. The strength in the hand pressing against his shoulder loosened slightly.

Her trembling eyes wandered before finally lifting to meet his gaze. Thick brows, elegant eye shape—up close, his eyes had an Eastern shape, yet the blue irises within them were mesmerizing.

His high nose bridge, sculpted lips from which his deep, resonant voice flowed, and the firm arms holding her—it was thrilling, yet strangely reassuring.

“N-no, I…”

She couldn’t even speak properly, let alone push him away.

“You must remember our contract. I clearly explained there would be a physical relationship, and you nodded in agreement.”

He lightly bit her already swollen lower lip. Though she was breathing heavily, her eyes were still dazed and trembling.

Overwhelmed by his oppressive presence and bound by his heated actions that contrasted with his expression, she couldn’t bring herself to nod.

This was a man she had never seen before—a man known only as the Duke of Ignot from a world she had just arrived in—and she was about to be bound to him by a contract she didn’t even understand.

“I told you it cannot be undone. Now accept me.”

As he bit and sucked at her neck like a vampire, she let out a small cry, “Ah!” At the same time, his hot hand slid along her thigh and pulled her closer.

Her eyes flickered as she lifted her head to look at him, but as their eyes met, his hips moved firmly.

He’s… entering…!

“Ah—!”

Her breath cut off, and it felt like lightning struck her mind.

He was burning with heat, moving slowly but surely, growing deeper and stronger with each motion.

As his body lowered further, their bodies pressed completely together, his weight and warmth enveloping her even more tightly. Overwhelmed by the sensation piercing through her entire body, Sasha raised her slender arms and clutched onto his.

With each movement he made, her thin fingers gripping his arm turned pale.

Trapped in his inescapable embrace, Sasha’s moans only grew louder.

That first night, beneath him, she grew wet, trembled, and lost consciousness several times.

It had been a lonely life.

She only learned about family through books, and she had no cherished friends like those from an orphanage.

Even after becoming an adult, nothing changed—and before long, she met with an accident.

Twenty years old. A life with nothing in it. Even if it had continued for a few more years, it would have been the same…

And then, she opened her eyes again. Her hands and feet were warm, and her forehead throbbed.

From the moment of death, everything had felt unfamiliar. But she knew for certain—her life had ended. And yet, only minutes later, the fading sensations began to return.

When her senses fully came back, unfamiliar hands were touching her face and head…

“Gasp!”

“Ah, you’re awake, Lady Sasha. Preparations are nearly complete. Do you like it?”

Startled by the polite tone and careful touch, she flinched. Then she saw the reflection in the mirror—and let out a scream.

“Lady Sasha? What’s wrong?”

The middle-aged woman beside her, who had been calmly explaining things, looked at her in surprise.

Sasha? Me? Who is she? Why is she looking at me like that—so creepy…? That’s me?!

She met the gaze of clear brown eyes shining in the mirror. Her pale skin was flawless, without pores or wrinkles, and her slightly parted pink lips trembled in shock.

Though she seemed lacking in vitality, combined with her soft blonde hair, she was undeniably beautiful.

But something was strange. No matter how she looked at it… that reflection—it looked like her.

The middle-aged woman watched her carefully as she stared blankly at the mirror. Only then did she snap out of it.

“N-no… it’s nothing.”

The woman dismissed the younger maids around them. They were all wearing dark, simple dresses—like maid uniforms.

“Lady Sasha, the Duke said you must be quite nervous due to the sudden wedding. Once the ceremony is over and you spend your first night together, you will fully become the Duchess of Ignot, no longer the daughter of Marquis Ibern. From then on, we will serve you with all our hearts, so please don’t worry.”

Her tone was gentle, but her words were delivered with a detached clarity—and within them were shocking truths.

Sasha recalled a romance fantasy novel a girl had shown her at an orientation once. Though many things felt strange, the atmosphere matched perfectly.

Most of all, that novel also began with the female lead suddenly waking up in a fantasy world like this.

Could it really be… me?

“Head Maid Rose! The ceremony is about to begin!”

A clear voice snapped her back to reality.

Rose… hearing that name confirmed everything. Rose was a maid working in the male lead’s estate.

The body she now inhabited was Sasha Ibern—a twenty-year-old noblewoman about to get married and spend her first night.

Unbelievable… Had her lonely past life ended early so she could be given a new one? On the condition that she marry a stranger?

The problem was—she only knew this much. She didn’t know why the marriage was happening, who the man was, or what kind of person Sasha had been.

As Rose left the room to fetch the bouquet, Sasha realized—this was her chance.

She couldn’t marry someone she didn’t know. She had to find a way out.

Without hesitation, she lifted the heavy hem of her wedding dress and ran out the door, focusing on any sounds or movement as she dashed down the left corridor.

She didn’t know where she was going—but she ran.

‘Huff… wasn’t I used to working? Why is this so hard…?’

She was already out of breath before even leaving the building.

Still, she saw an exit ahead. Judging from the window, that door seemed to lead outside.

Even though no one was chasing her, she slowed to a brisk walk, her legs aching.

First, she had to stop the wedding.

Finally, she reached the wooden door and flung it open—

She expected bright sunlight.

Instead, it was… darker.

“Sasha Ibern.”

Gasp.

A deep, low voice called her name.

Frozen in place, she slowly lifted her head—and her heart pounded again.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Even in her past life, she had heard of handsome celebrities—but she had never seen anyone like this.

His appearance was unreal.

Tall, broad-shouldered, with a strong jawline, sculpted features, and piercing blue eyes.

Though expressionless, the pressure from his gaze bound her in place.

“This isn’t the way to the banquet hall.”

And then she realized—

This man… was the Duke of Ignot.
The man she was about to marry.

His eyes slowly moved downward, inspecting her appearance.

She swallowed nervously, trying not to reveal her fear—but she noticed his gaze sharpen.

Did the corner of his lips just curl slightly…?

He was about to speak again. Every small movement—his eyes, his lips—tightened her chest.

Even with nothing blocking her path, she couldn’t run anymore.

“No matter if it’s a contract, a bride running away on her wedding day… Are you already afraid of tonight?”