"You know what... I'm not the one they would award the 'Best Person in the Universe' award to..."

*brush* *brush*

"I mean... I was just a normal, average, not-so-great-at-anything Jane trying to cross a damn road in the middle of the night"

*brush* *brush*

"Believe it or not. I double-checked the empty road before I even took a step"

*CLATTER*

"And guess what happened!?"

The sound of bottles being rattled synchronized with the voice of the woman who thought was talking to herself. The empty glass bottle that was knocked over, rolled down the table and landed on the floor with a muted thud, before disappearing under the bed.

"I still got hit!"

Lipstick in hand, Angelica complained, furious as if she couldn't believe her own words.

"Like... like... How is that even possible?"

It was the anger she had held in her heart for losing her life in a short period just when her world was about to begin.

Now, having finally found someone she could speak to, Angelica was fuming her mind off assuming her words were being listened to but not understood, lost but not unheard, to the only person she could ever show her true self.

Unfortunately for her, her words were being etched into my mind until the smallest details like it was my holy gospel.

Learning of the cause of death in her previous life, showed some light on the meaning behind her actions. Truth or not aside, it takes more than an average person to take in the fact that the life they have cherished until now was about to be forcibly taken from them just like the previous one.

'If we had met different circumstances, would she have told me the truth about her life?' I wondered, feeling an unknown sensation I had never felt before.

Using the lipstick as a makeshift chalk piece Angelica drew a clean stroke across my lips as she spoke,

"You listen when I tell you Eddie boy... "

Just as Angelica was complaining and working at the same time, I too was occupied by the revelations to take her painting my face seriously.

"If I ever get my hands on that nut job who drove over me..."

True to her words from earlier, she really was putting a smile on my face in a literal sense. It was an ironic development in a sense, I couldn't help but laugh at where we were.

*CLATTER*

"I'm gonna show him what real death feels like.... hehehe" Angelica emphasized fiercely putting the kabuki brush in her hands to work.

Everything aside, it took only a day for us to get where we were. My entire perspective had been turned upside down in a matter of minutes.

Now that I know this there was nothing in this world that would surprise me more.

Then Angelica said something that snapped me out of my thoughts in an instant.

"Maybe I should try dating?"

What?

"A nice guy with a quiet life sounds good, doesn't it?" said Angelica, momentarily stopping her work to think.

Dating? As in being in a relationship with some random man? I felt my body tense from the mere thought of it.

"Someone with a cooking talent would be great too... And if he hates pumpkins as much as me then it's a match made in Eorthe"

'No. Not if you want to see a dead body that is' I swallowed the words I wasn't able to say.

However, before I could think anything further Angelica changed her mind and added,

"No... That could lead to some complicated mess if I wanted to milk alimony out of you..." Angelica reconsidered unknowingly saving the lives she almost endangered.

"OK! Back to work!"

Still, the thought of her being seen by other men stuck in my mind, a privilege that was taken for her own husband.

"Let's add some to your hand to make it look like you did it out of grief.... and perfect!"

After using my shirt as a towel to wipe the makeup stains on her hands, Angelica rose from her seat and took a step back.

And it didn't take her half a second before she broke into hysteria.

"HAHAHAHA"

"I-I... Pffft!.... think this is my ma-master-... masterpiece" Angelica managed to complete a sentence clenching onto the sheets for support.

"You may not be up to 'the Clown Prince of Crime' that I love. But I think you would cut out as a cosplayer"

I had heard her laugh when she was intoxicated. But not like this. Not was genuine and childlike. It took me turning into a clown to make my wife laugh her heart out.

I really didn't expect her to like clowns.

'Does she find it funny because of the clown or does she find it humorous because I was the clown?' The corner of my mouth began to twitch.

Knowing my wife, it was definitely the latter.

"Say 'why so serious?'..... pfft HAHA... I'm sorry it's just too much"

"Ok enough jokes..." Angelica corrected her throat and stumbled to her feet breaking into uncontrolled laughter again and again.

"Anyway....don't forget your ex-wife who read books and sang lullabies to your sorry face" Angelica said but then quickly changed her mind, not knowing I wouldn't be able to forget her even if I were to spend lifetimes alone.

"No....that's bad. Be sure to forget me and have a blissful life with Helen" Angelica leaned over me as she pulled the quilt to cover my face.

The fragrance of her light rose perfume was lost in her natural scent, which reminded me of a garden of camellia flowers. It was as pleasant as always that put my mind at ease.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. As if it was the cue she was waiting for, Angelica heaved a sigh and withdrew.

'Stop!'

I instinctively reached out, trying with all my might to grab hold of her hand. For a part of me knew that if I let her go now, she wouldn't return to me.

For some reason, my heart started beating faster and faster.

"You can't change destiny Mr. Male lead, you can only fight against it"

I struggled to break through the spell as my life depended on it, trying to circle the mana in my heart to forcibly snap the invisible chains holding me captive.

It was dangerous, but there was no other choice. So, this is what it feels like to truely be desperate.

Subconsciously, I knew this would happen one day. But no matter how long it took, I wouldn't have been able to prepare myself.

"So I'm gonna fight mine" Angelica declared, turning for the door.

I raised my hand to hold onto Angelica, wanting to never let go.

I had imagined our union multiple times in our days together. The lying lips that only spoke the truth to me, the eyes that revealed the world when mine was blindfolded... everything was within my reach if I could hold onto her now.

Anything... I will forsake everything if I could hold her hand now, if I could hold her in my arms and keep her locked in forever.

"!"

Despite my efforts, with my body shackled under the curse, I only managed to lift a finger from under the sheets that merely grazed her hand as she withdrew.

Almost... I had almost caught her.

Months after being bedridden, I had somehow gained access to my body. But not enough to stop Angelica from leaving.

Meanwhile, Angelica who was too focused on leaving didn't seem to have noticed the desperate reach that had almost caught up to her.

'No! Don't go' I called out again, hoping my voice would reach her again.

At that moment, Angelica stopped. As if she had heard my desperate calls, she slowly turned to face me.

'Did you hear me?' I waited with bated breaths, holding my heart.

"It's such a pity" Angelica's voice was withdrawn.

"Truth be told, you....... you were the one I liked the most out of all the male leads. Even more than the sunny guy who sacrificed himself for Helen" Angelica said with a faith smile and nonchalantly predicted the death of one of the Imperial commanders.

"He could've just cut it. And I think he was the Captain of the Royal Guards on top of that....sheesh"

Does she mean Commander of the Imperial Knights? Hermann?

No, before that. Did she say she likes me? I felt a slither of hope from hearing that statement.

"Don't judge me..... just who won't be attracted to a little big yandere-ish bad boy. But...... it's all fun and games only till sh*t gets real"

*knock*

Another knock on the door interrupted Angelica's speech.

"Alright it's time for me to go and die"

With that was the silver of hope I had graphed to, hoping for her to turn around and stay. But, the reality couldn't have been crueler.

"It was really nice talking to you..... so byeeeee"

*THUD*

The moment the long wooden doors shut close, I was alone in the darkness once again. As if the fragile line that held our worlds together was tethered, I was alone.

For a long time, the only sound I could hear was the sound of my fast-beating heart. The pain of the curse may have gone, but the pain I was feeling now was far worse than I could have imagined.

One could say that I was unable to come to terms with the truth.

It was because although I knew, a slither part of me waited for her to return. Waited for her to walk through the door again and say everything was just a trick.

But no. She didn't.

"AAHHH!" Head maid Lynn cried out, being the first one to witness Angelica's farewell present.

"HO... HOLY... HOLY GOD!!"

Herbie on the other hand, ran out fear-stricken like he had seen a monster,

"GUARDS! GUARDS!" He yelled tumbling along the way, until the Knights standing guard outside, rushed in through the doors.

"It's the curse..."

"The curse is spreading to his face..."

"Thank god, the Duchess didn't see it..."

Whispers of voices followed one after another, at the unbelievable sight in front of their eyes.

None of that concerned me, for the only thought that was running through my mind was Angelica.

'Why did you leave me?'









The faint music of an orchestra playing in the distance seeped through the empty halls of the Frost estate. The graceful yet dreary melody made it hard to believe that the music was a guide to the afterlife for the dead.

The doors to my chamber that were kept closed since the fateful night was wide open.

Knights clad in armor walked in through the doorway one by one and filled the desolate chamber void of warmth.

Due to the significance of the occasion, the Dark Wolfs, who were on a mission to find the Saintess, had returned to the estate.

One week has passed since Angelica confessed her secrets.

Exactly one week since she left me.

Hours after her departure from the estate, I was informed of Angelica's carriage being attacked through Nathaniel.

The entire Frost Knightage was mobilized to search through the region surrounding Mount Zion in an effort to save Angelica.

However, not a trace was found.

After days of rigorous search yielding no results, the Frost Knights, with Nathaniel at the head, kneeled in front of the bed with their heads down.

"We have failed, Your Grace"

Nathaniel's next words proved my premonitions right.

"We have lost Her Grace. She now lives as a part of Goddess Eir"

The scenario had played out precisely as Angelica had predicted. Her carriage was attacked before she was able to reach the temple providing undeniable credibility to her unbelievable claims.

While there were multiple casualties at the scene, none of them were among the Frost Knights, who escorted Angelica.

The authorities reached the cliff where the carriage had stopped, to find a confusing scene of equally wounded Knights and assassins sprawled all over the ground with Angelica being the only one missing.

According to the statement of Sir Tate, the Head Knight in charge of escorting Angelica, moments before he lost consciousness he had witnessed Angelica sacrificing herself to the masked assailants in a chivalrous act to protect her people.

'I saw her willingly surrender... I-... I watched unable to do anything as he pushed her off the cliff. Those fearless eyes... I never have and probably never will get to serve such a gallant person again in this lifetime' Sir Tate had testified recounting the last moments of the late Duchess.

That in addition to the testimonies provided by the maids hiding inside the carriage affirming the same, the case was closed.

'Young Duchess Angelica Frost was killed by unknown assailants on her journey to the Temple of Eir' The Imperial Knights released the official statement to the press.

A copy of Angelica's official death certificate was in Nathaniel's hand, with another being sent to Angelica's birth land, the Ashford County.

Her death had left an unknown hollow hole in the hearts of the people, who served her.

Just like that Angelica had disappeared. And with her was the only bit of light in my life as it plunged into darkness yet again.

However, unlike those people who believed in Angelica's untimely demise a mere month after her marriage.

Only I knew the truth.

The smallest amount of truth can shatter the greatest of lies. No matter how tall the castle of lies was built, at the end of the day, it was made of glass. All that would take was a small piece of stone to have it tumbling down on itself until only the truth remained.

Because I know that Angelica was out there somewhere. And I know I will do whatever it takes to bring down the castle of lies.

'Wherever you are... Whomever you are masquerading as...' My hand unconsciously tightened into a tight fist.

'None of that matters as no matter how you resist...'

Only this time it was projected into the real world.

'I will find you'