Chapter 1. Escape Preparation

 

“Miss! Miss, are you awake?”

 

With a contemplative expression, Levania blinked at the figure of Maggie, who stood guard by the bed. Of all places, it had to be here!

 

“You fainted suddenly in the corridor! Lately, you’ve been looking weak, so I thought…”

 

Weak? Maggie was just worried about Levania fainting and saying that. Maggie always nagged Levania that she looked too thin.

 

“I’m fine, Nanny.”

 

Though her complexion turned pale from the shock, Levania forced a casual expression and lifted her head. Memories of being born as Levania Wendel and living in this world were vivid. But memories of her past life, as Kwon Yoon-hwa, also resurfaced within Levania.

 

“How did this happen…”

 

She thought the voice she heard at the scene of the accident, the one she heard as she faced death, was the voice of God. It granted her wish, even if it meant reincarnating through a book transmigration.

 

God granted her wish to become the protagonist, but Levania didn’t know that much. By the time God mentioned something related to it, she had already crossed over to the world of the original BL novel, “The Emperor’s Lustful Prison,” and was being reborn.

 

Strictly speaking, Levania wasn’t transmigrating through a book, but because the memories of her past life were so vivid compared to her current life, it felt like a book transmigration.

 

All memories as Levania were intact. However, memories as Kwon Yoon-hwa were so vivid that it felt overwhelming. Everything she had naturally accepted suddenly felt awkward.

 

‘Of all people, why Levania… If I run away according to the plot, everyone in the ducal family will be in danger!’

 

Even if Albert goes to the Emperor instead of Levania, everyone will end up dead. Except for Hans, Albert’s boilogical father.

 

Levania was stunned.

 

‘To think you’re going to marry me off to Hans’s son!!’

 

There was no deception like this. Hans was among the lowest of the lowly. The highest-ranking servants were those of noble blood. Hans was a commoner. A commoner without even a surname.

 

He deceived everyone by passing off Albert, the son born outside, as the son of Viscount Tride. He even went as far as to claim Viscount bloodline for Albert, and arranged an engagement between Albert and Levania.

 

Despite knowing all this, Maxim Wendel, Levania’s father, who orchestrated everything, was intolerable and unbearable. In her past life, she would have simply read about it as a reader, but experiencing it firsthand felt absurd.

 

In Adaloxus, it was possible for women to receive titles. So Maxim not only gave Albert everything Levania was supposed to receive, but also tried to force Levania herself onto Albert. All for the sake of love!

 

‘It’s quite a love story indeed!’

 

Even in the original work, Maxim spared Hans and sent him away from the dukedom. However, even though Hans pretended to love Maxim in order to make himself a duke, Maxim still loved him. Hans regretted not giving his heart to Maxim after becoming a duke, but that was their circumstances.

 

‘I’m 23 years old now… I’m still only engaged to Albert. I don’t know when the Emperor will order the engagement to be broken…’

 

In the story, it was only mentioned that the events occurred when Levania was 23 years old. The sense of seasonality in the novel wasn’t prominent, so Levania didn’t know whether the events would happen next month or the month after.

 

‘Breaking off the engagement and getting married will happen quickly. I need to hurry!’

 

At the moment the novel began, memories of her past life came back, and she wondered what kind of trickery this was. Anyway, amidst misfortune, there was fortune. Levania was determined to save everyone in the ducal family by any means necessary.

 

She was truly disappointed and betrayed by Maxim, but he was still her father. And… there was also the presence of her mother, who couldn’t attach her heart to the ducal family due to being pushed aside by her lover Hans.

 

‘In the original work, Levania didn’t know about the ducal family’s circumstances like this…’

 

The scene Yoon-hwa was reading in the convenience store was just before Albert chased Kasion into the palace to have their first intimate encounter. She was debating whether to return home to read it when the accident happened.

 

‘Will he be okay?’

 

Although she thought who would worry about whom, she couldn’t help but worry if the child had seen the accident scene. Even though she had been born as Levania Wendel and lived for 23 years, she had distanced herself from that time.

 

“…But I feel a little tired. I want to sleep more. Can you send everyone away?”

 

“The doctor will arrive soon.”

 

Although Maggie pleaded earnestly, Levania shook her head. She suspected why she had fainted. It was probably due to the shock of remembering her past life.

 

“I’m really okay. I just fainted for a moment, but… when the doctor comes, apologize and send them back. Even if they send someone to come, tell them not to.”

 

“Yes, miss.”

 

Although she couldn’t shake off her worried gaze, Maggie did as Levania instructed. Levania confirmed that all the maids, servants, and the nanny had left, then heaved a long sigh.

 

Now, what should she do?

 

‘I can’t run away like in the original work. If I do, Albert will be taken instead, and it will follow the original flow.’

 

Although Kasion was depicted as a tyrant, he only harmed the aristocrats and nobles who had wronged him. He didn’t harm Maxim either; he just threatened him for a purpose. He didn’t even bother chasing those who gave up their titles and fled beyond the empire.

 

So…

 

‘For now, I have no choice but to marry the emperor. And then, escape.’

 

But she had to become a concubine, not a queen. There was a difference between a queen fleeing and a concubine fleeing. In the original work, Kasion didn’t chase after the concubine who fled after spending one night with him. She was a princess from a frontier kingdom.

 

So, she thought she would be treated similarly. Wendel’s concubine was of a lower rank than a princess from a small country.

 

Although more tribute had to be paid in that small country if a princess fled, that was all. Kasion didn’t send an army. They grumbled that she was a woman instead of a man in the border kingdoms.

 

Levania was also a woman, and once she spent one night as a concubine, she would soon be forgotten. After spending one night and calming down a bit, she could escape. Then she would live a proper life.

 

She didn’t know if it would be difficult for the ducal family afterward, but it would be completely different from when Albert was there. However, if Albert was in the ducal family at that time, there was a high possibility that it would follow the original flow, so she had to drive him away before the emperor announced the engagement. It might be difficult to send Hans away, but it might be possible to send Albert away.

 

Levania, as she made up her mind, got up from bed. Perhaps because she had been moved immediately after fainting, she was still wearing her everyday clothes.

 

As soon as she opened the door, Levania flinched at the figure in front of her. She happened to open the door just as Albert was about to knock on it.

 

“Levi.”

 

Seeing Albert using the familiar nickname made Levania’s eyes narrow.

 

Albert knew his entire status. Although he had a guilty conscience towards Levania and couldn’t tell her the truth because of his father Hans, he still didn’t leave Levania because he had unrequited love for her.

 

However, he hesitated when Levania actually ran away. So, the original Levania considered herself betrayed by Albert and ran away alone.

 

“I heard you fainted. I hesitated because they said you were sleeping…”

 

Seeing Albert flustered, Levania found him cute. Unlike his chilly appearance with black hair and gray eyes, Albert was a warm and affectionate young man. It was natural since he was the protagonist and the submissive role in the BL novel.

 

Levania still remembered how Albert looked when he came to this mansion for the first time. The beautiful boy with black hair was trembling with fear. And at first sight, he fell for Levania and couldn’t take his eyes off her.

 

From the beginning, Levania disliked the boy. He was a thief who took everything that rightfully belonged to her just because he was born a man.

 

‘He’s not even from the lineage of the Wendel ducal family. He’s not even Viscount Tride’s son…’

 

Seeing Levania’s stern expression, Albert seemed taken aback. Levania had always treated Albert kindly even though she didn’t like him.

 

The original Levania regarded Albert as a loving older brother without any ulterior motives, but the reborn Levania didn’t see Albert as entirely affectionate. Even though she didn’t remember her past life, it must have had some influence on her.

 

“Albert, I heard terrible things.”

 

Albert’s eyes widened at Levania’s cold words. Levania gnashed her teeth.

 

“Are you really Hans’s son?”

 

Albert stared blankly at Levania, his mouth agape. Could he deny it? If Hans were here, he would deny it. But Albert, who had a sense of debt, couldn’t do that. The original Albert had a gentle and kind personality.

 

“Miss.”

 

Albert kneeled before Levania, just as he had when he first stepped into the ducal family and before he became Levania’s fiancé.

 

“I didn’t do this with bad intentions. Father only did it for my sake…”

 

“You’re 24 this year. Did you enter this house when you were 14?”

 

A cold voice cut through Albert’s words. The hallway was empty. No one approached because Levania had asked for quiet.

 

“It’s been ten years… Duke Wendel raised you as a legitimate successor. How dare you, a commoner, become my fiancé?”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Albert bowed his head as if to lay it on the ground. Levania looked down at Albert with eyes filled with complex emotions.

 

“If I report you and your father, it will be a huge scandal for the ducal family. The honor of Duke Wendel will be tarnished…”

 

Levania hesitated for a moment as she said this. If this fact became public, Duke Wendel might lose his honor and Kasion might not take Levania as his fiancée. However, it would be difficult to spare Hans and Albert’s lives.

 

The lives of everyone in the ducal family and Hans Budja’s life. If she weighed them, Levania naturally valued the former. But she couldn’t make Albert, who was also the protagonist of the original work, die.

 

“I know I’ve committed a sin, miss! Please… I’ll leave this ducal family quietly with my father!”

 

“No. Only you, Albert.”

 

“Me?”

 

Albert looked at Levania with a surprised expression. Levania also looked at Albert. Although Albert came out obediently, Hans was not that kind of person. The life he had lived because of his beautiful appearance had made him exhausted.

 

Hans would surely try to delay things by inciting Maxim, and in the meantime, he would try to hire someone to kill Levania and those who knew the truth.

 

Levania doubted whether the ducal family would protect her in such a situation. The person who tried to offer his daughter to his lover’s son.

 

“You know what your father is like. If I find out that I know the truth and try to send you away… He might hire someone to kill me with the money he stole from the ducal family.”

 

Albert’s shoulders stiffened. Albert was kind, but he was not foolish. He knew Hans could do enough of that.

 

“Write a letter apologizing for hiding the fact that you are a commoner orphan and that you are leaving. Talk about the ducal family and your father. Your father… Since he has gathered money, he might use that money to chase after you.”

 

Albert looked up as he pondered. It was a pitiful face.

 

“When should I leave?”

 

“Right now. I don’t want to be deceived by your wealthy family anymore.”

 

Albert nodded with a tear rolling down his cheek. It would be unfortunate for him to be driven away without expressing his love for Levania, as he would have loved her according to the original work.

 

“I understand, Miss… I’ll do as you say.”

 

* * *

 

Following Levania’s instructions, Albert entrusted the letter to Bell, the most talkative among those working at the ducal estate. When Albert didn’t return until late, Bell handed Albert’s letter to Levania, who pretended to pale as she read the letter. And…

 

“My hands are trembling too much, I can’t read. Read it for me.”

 

Curiously, Bell read Albert’s letter aloud. As instructed by Levania, it contained the confession that he was a commoner orphan and had deceived Duke Wendel as the son of Viscount Treed.

 

“Oh my… It says he’s deeply sorry to you and His Grace the Duke…”

 

Hans, who had rushed in after hearing the news late, screamed.

 

“This can’t be true! Sir Albert!”

 

Hans rushed to Bell, intending to snatch the letter, which was also evidence. However, other servants by Bell’s side were faster. Although Hans enjoyed Maxim’s favor, being involved in a scandal was disgraceful in the empire. The relationship between the Duke and Hans was a public secret.

 

“How dare you, a commoner orphan! Deceive the Duke… Miss, this is something we must report and prosecute!”

 

Looking suspiciously at Hans, Maggie spoke. Hans’s face turned pale. If a proper investigation were to take place, it would be difficult for them as wealthy individuals.

 

“No! We can’t do that, Miss! That would tarnish the reputation of the ducal family!”

 

At Hans’s outcry, Levania looked at him with a cold gaze. She couldn’t like Hans, who held a government position despite the fact that the duchess was still alive. Levania naturally thought that Albert’s true identity should be erased now.

 

“That’s right. We should treat Albert’s entry as if it never happened to minimize the damage.”

 

As Levania said she would erase Albert from the Wendel family, Hans looked at Levania angrily, but when their eyes met, he looked away. He seemed to think that revealing his emotions here would lead to suspicion.

 

Even if Maxim looked after Hans, if Levania, the rightful successor, accused him, it would be over. The Wendel ducal family was not simply made up of Maxim. The duchy was Maxim’s, but there were imperial noble families. Moreover, other nobles would not acknowledge Albert, and the Emperor would support Levania.

 

“Where is Mother, and where is Father?”

 

Levania asked the butler, Robert. Robert, who had barely regained his composure amidst the chaos, opened his mouth.

 

“Madam said she would visit Lady Catherine’s salon, so she should be back in an hour or two. Sir…”

 

“I know where the Duke is! I’ll fetch him!”

 

Hans quickly stepped forward to speak, but Levania stopped him. It was obvious that Hans would try to persuade Maxim if he met him.