TONLWF | Chapter 1

Episode 1

A dark night.

In the Glorium Hall of Crown Prince Kairus’s palace, illuminated brightly by grand chandeliers as if it were daytime, a lavish party was being held to celebrate Princess Elena’s birthday.

In contrast, by the lakeside in the garden of a detached palace quite a distance away, there was rarely any sign of people, and only an eerie silence lingered.

“Hehehehe…”

A woman, seated in an inconspicuous corner, secretly took something out of her pocket.

Squatting down just like that, she busily moved her fingers and left a comment on a post.

<Title: Ha, did anyone see the latest fan-cam that got me into the fandom?

He looks amazing just in a regular suit, but the fact that he came out in a three-piece suit (and it’s leather)? He’s basically trying to kill me, right?

Yup, I’ll die. This is now my grave. ●▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇

└ Anon1: I’ll lie down next to you. ●▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇

└ Anon2: 333333

└ Anon3: Eh? It’s not that crazy. Maybe it’s because I’ve watched it like 127,840,323 times lol

└ Anon2: Don’t your eyes hurt? lol You’ll seriously get dry eye syndrome at that rate.

└ Anon3: It’s fine, it’s fine. Haeyoon’s face is like eye drops haha

└ Anon4: I must be going crazy lolol

└ Anon3: Videos like this deserve to be aired on the actual news.>

“Haeyoon, your face is a landscape, a masterpiece. Haa… How can someone be this handsome?”

Her face, hidden in the dark, was revealed by the light leaking from the smartphone screen in her hand.

Unlike her shoulders, which shook with a rather sinister laugh, her hazel eyes reflected in the light were overflowing with life.

A new notification soon popped up on the screen.

『 5 million Krona for monthly internet communication has been deducted. 』

“What the?! They really suck you dry to the bone, this greedy system.”

Well, what can I do? If I want to see my cute Haeyoon, I just have to put up with it.

With a half-resigned expression, she carefully tucked her smartphone back into her apron pocket.

Ever since she came into possession of a smartphone—an item from another dimension—given to her one day by a suspicious man, Isabella’s once dull life had completely changed.

The light that suddenly appeared in Isabella’s dark daily life, which had been wandering through a pitch-black path without a single streetlamp, was none other than… Haeyoon, a member of Korea’s top boy idol group.

‘One, two, three! We are! The Venus! Hello, I’m Haeyoon, the leader of VENUS.’

Perhaps her prayers to go to Korea and see her favorite idol Haeyoon in person had been heard.

Out of nowhere, a dimensional travel system appeared and told her that if she completed the assigned missions and paid a small fee, she could be sent to Korea where her favorite was.

Quietly earn money, complete the given missions, and head to Korea to see Haeyoon.

To achieve this modest yet ambitious goal that she was secretly working toward, she began her job.

Even the amazing short break she had while watching her favorite didn’t last long.

With a bright smile, Isabella hurried her steps to complete her mission safely.

But she would soon come to regret her decision.

After arriving at the detached palace to retrieve a missing chair, Isabella was left speechless at the horrifying scene laid out before her.

What are the chances that, of all places, she would encounter the crown prince killing off assassins in the detached palace she had come to just to grab a chair?

‘Should I run now? Or just stay still?’

Either choice was doomed to fail, but staying here could lead to a very troublesome situation involving the crown prince.

“What’s your name?”

“Sel… Seline Brown, Your Highness.”

Since she was working in the palace under a fake identity anyway, Isabella tried to bluff her way out and make a run for it.

At that very moment, a sword flew past her unguarded back and instantly ended the life of the assassin who had been targeting her.

A refreshing smile suddenly appeared on the orange eyes of the crown prince.

“I don’t particularly like liars.”

Unlike the composed Kairus, the moment she heard his words, Isabella felt her whole body freeze.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re lying?”

Of all people, it had to be Crown Prince Kairus of this empire who caught her red-handed.

‘Will I really be able to make it to Korea to see Haeyoon safely…?’

Isabella Ledia.

She had been a fairly well-known figure since childhood. It was because she was engaged to Icanuel, the next Duke of Raseles.

Though she had no rough edges, Isabella, who also had no outstanding talent, always carried a certain label.

The pitiful Cinderella who was shunned by both her future in-laws and the citizens of the empire.

People despised her due to the gap between her family’s status and her perceived unfitness to be the duchess.

If you asked why such an absurd engagement had come to be, well—there’s that joke friends tell each other sometimes.

A hollow promise to marry off their children if they happened to have a daughter and a son.

Something that could’ve remained a fond memory, and yet, the heads of both families had meant it sincerely.

The grandfathers’ expectations that the two children, born two years apart, would get along well were half right and half wrong.

Because when it came to the engagement born from that empty promise, Isabella had been deeply, genuinely serious.

In other words, Isabella had been harboring a one-sided love for ten years toward Icanuel Raseles, the most outstanding man in the Empire.

She endured it stubbornly, clinging to nothing but the heart of a hopeless crush.

But the scorn and prejudice she endured over the course of those ten years had completely changed the once bright and kind-hearted Isabella.

No matter what she said or did, people’s judgments followed.

Over time, Isabella became more and more cautious and timid.

A handful of affection and attention—what were those even worth?

The foolishly naïve Isabella had to reach the point where her heart was utterly shredded and her life felt meaningless before she could finally realize the cruel truth.

No matter how hard she tried, that cold-hearted man would never show her the slightest interest.

No matter how desperately she struggled, their relationship would always be a parallel line, never touching.

It had been quite a long time since she began considering breaking off the engagement.

To be precise, it started three years ago—when Isabella was still a first-year student at the academy.

One afternoon, when the warm spring breeze tickled her nose, Isabella ran into Icanuel in front of the library for the first time in a while and called out to him with joy.

“Icanuel oppa!”

But what she received in return for her sunny, affectionate greeting was a cold response.

“I believe we agreed not to address each other informally inside the academy, Lady Ledia.”

He always maintained a blunt demeanor, but today, his voice was particularly sharp, causing Isabella to flinch.

“But still…”

“I hope you didn’t enroll in the academy just to get time alone with me.”

She hadn’t gone as far as to take the entrance exam just for that reason.

Isabella wanted to immediately explain the misunderstanding to Icanuel, who had completely misjudged her intentions.

But her lips stuck together, refusing to move.

“You of all people should be fully aware of how your actions affect my reputation.”

“Icanuel—no, Lord Raseles…”

“Did you follow me into the academy just to be a nuisance?”

So this is what it felt like when words had thorns. The joy that had filled her face quickly turned scarlet with humiliation.

Without even giving her a chance to explain, he left her frozen in place.

‘I should’ve been more careful.’

All eyes turned to Isabella, now left alone.

She was so embarrassed. Because she couldn’t control her own feelings, she had ended up bothering Icanuel.

And in that moment, the rumor that had always lingered within high society—that their relationship was a one-sided love—became a confirmed fact.

Be the perfect fiancée, and never inconvenience him.

It all felt like her fault for not being good enough.

From that day forward, Isabella felt bound by yet another chain and spent her days at the academy constantly on edge.

“Is she the one? The Cinderella of the Duke’s house?”

“She probably got into the academy because the Raseles family pulled strings for her.”

“Geez~ She should’ve had the decency not to do that.”

There were still countless whispers surrounding her.

But even that, Isabella could endure.

Because just seeing the face of her beloved fiancé from afar was enough to make her happy.

She was sure that the reason Icanuel treated her so coldly was because he’d misunderstood her due to all the gossip.

She had to believe that—otherwise, her wounded heart would hurt even more.

“Lord Raseles. If you don’t mind, would you like to have lunch together today?”

“I must attend a student council meeting, so I’ll have to decline.”

“Ah… I see. I’m sorry.”

“Then, I’ll excuse myself.”

As more people began witnessing Icanuel’s stiff and indifferent attitude toward his fiancée, Isabella became an easy target within the academy.

All she could do was study relentlessly to try to keep up with Icanuel, who ranked first in their year without fail.

If she couldn’t prove her ability, the rumors would eventually reach Icanuel’s ears, and her shortcomings would end up tarnishing his reputation.

Fortunately, as she began to show exceptional talent in linguistics and magic studies, the rumors about her getting in through favoritism soon died down.

However, no matter how hard she tried, Isabella only shrank further in the face of Icanuel’s growing coldness.

Before she knew it, winter had come, cold enough to sting her cheeks.

Thanks to her intense dedication to her studies, Isabella had been invited to the academy’s year-end symposium hosted by the dean—a testament to her outstanding academic performance.

‘At this level, surely Icanuel will recognize my sincerity, won’t he?’

Just like when she entered the academy, this invitation was entirely the result of her own efforts.

Icanuel, who always ranked first, would also be attending the symposium.

So, at least for today, she planned to talk to him properly.