《I Fell Into the Arms Of A Mad Villain》 Chapter 1 ¡°Oh my god!¡± Frightened by the sudden sensation of falling, I closed my eyes and awaited the terrible pain that was soon to come. But after a while¡­ ¡°¡­?¡± My eyes slowly fluttered open. Rather than pain, I experienced a shock that wasn¡¯t as big as I thought. Soon my eyes met a sharp gaze and a face with a hardened expression. The man¡¯s gaze slowly lifted upwards at the sky and then fell upon me again. ¡°Did you just fall from the sky?¡± ¡®Did I?¡¯ While glancing up at the sky in bewilderment, I belatedly realized that my body was being held by this man. ¡°¡­Hey, can you put me down?¡± ¡°No,¡± he said with a wink as the corners of his lips rose into a gentle smile. ¡°Now that I have found my bride if you run away, it will be a serious issue.¡± ¡°I¡¯m your bride?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The man¡¯s smile was more dazzling than the morning sun, but that didn¡¯t catch my eye at all. ¡®Your bride¡­. What do you mean?¡¯ ¡°Excuse me, but who are you? Where are we now?¡± My last memory was the feeling of tremendous shock and pain while riding an express bus¡­ Why is there a vast sandy desert spread out before my eyes? ¡°Oh my, God didn¡¯t tell you who your groom is?¡± The man was still smiling, but his sharp blue eyes expressed his desire to cut down God that very moment. ¡°Remember this well. Edwin Crawford, the master of this west, is your groom.¡± ¡®Edwin? Edwin Crawford?¡¯ A flicker of a memory aroused upon hearing the very familiar name. ¡®Who is Edwin Crawford?¡¯ Wasn¡¯t he the psycho villain of the R-19 trash novel ¡°Save Me¡± that I read a while ago? There were many words to describe him. The Wild Dragon of the West, The Deranged Killer of the Desert, The Psychotic Slaughterer, etc. His basic principle was to mercilessly kill those he found irritating, and people with silver hair. His obsession with silver hair led him to kidnap, torture, and kill those with the hair shade regardless of their age or gender. Lillian, the heroine, was also one of those kidnapped by him. Silver hair in this world is rare, it¡¯s difficult to find someone with the hair shade unless they had a disease or were elderly. In Lilian¡¯s case, her hair turned silvery-white as a result of a childhood illness. While torturing Lillian, Edwin falls in love with her but he is eventually killed by the Crown Prince, the male protagonist. ¡®No¡­ What kind of madman falls in love while torturing someone?¡¯ He found her beautiful when she was bleeding and groaning in pain. That¡¯s not all. He even fed Lilian his own blood and forced her into a. Why are you such a madman! Why is he here?! ¡°My Lord.¡± While I was silently panicking, a man clad in leather protective gear approached us. For a moment, the ashen-haired man gazed at me with bewildered eyes and then spoke to Edwin. ¡°What should we do about the rest?¡± ¡°Beryl, you take care of it.¡± While contemplating my predicament, I turned my head and saw a group of people kneeling in chains. ¡°Please spare us!¡± Blood splattered around those who cried out in fear. As I swallowed hard at the chilling scene, I could feel their gazes on me. Unlike those who cried out, their crimson eyes were sharp and seemed animalistic. The moment I met those gazes, goosebumps rose, and I quickly averted my eyes. ¡°My bride seems to be timid,¡± Edwin said with a grin. Then he shifted my body over his shoulder, concealing the gruesome scene from my sight. The way I was being held felt no different than a piece of luggage. I begged him to put me down, but my pleas fell on deaf ears. Before I could adjust to the absurd situation, my eyes widened in shock the moment I saw the silver tresses. ¡°¡­.!¡± My hair, which was swaying to and fro with every step Edwin took, was undeniably white. Suddenly, a slight breeze wafted the heavy scent of blood past me, and I was reminded of those who were murdered in succession before my eyes. ¡°Oh my god.¡± Feeling nauseous, I quickly covered my nose, but the urge to vomit increased due to Edwin¡¯s jarring movements. ¡°Tsk.¡± Noticing my condition, Edwin grasped me with one arm and changed my position. ¡°My bride also has a weak stomach.¡± When his brow furrowed in displeasure, I was reluctant to lean against him, even for a moment. After gradually regaining my composure, I was able to calmly grasp the situation. ¡®Being possessed by a novel is already an insanely ridiculous situation. But to end up with silver hair as well¡­¡¯ Did I commit some horrible sin in a past life? ¡®God, Buddha, all those other unknown gods¡­ Please save me.¡¯ I clasped my hands together and prayed earnestly, but my situation did not show any sign of changing. Meanwhile, Edwin draped a robe over my shoulders and fastened it with a few buttons. After carefully pulling up the hood, he placed me on his horse and then sat behind me. We departed without delay and the landscape quickly changed as the desert gradually disappeared from view. After traveling past an assortment of unfamiliar buildings, an antiquated mansion could be seen in the distance. ¡®Isn¡¯t he a duke as well?¡¯ The taupe-brown mansion, imbued in the red sunset, seemed too tranquil for someone known as the ¡®Wild Dragon of the West¡¯. ¡°Have you returned from your travels?¡± As I dismounted from his horse with Edwin¡¯s help, a man approached and greeted him. Considering that he was able to speak to Edwin without any fear, this man must be Seth, the butler of the duke. Seth was of a similar age to Edwin and one of his closest aides. According to the original novel, he was the only one to see Edwin off and greet him upon returning. It was a measure that was implemented due to the number of servants who died whenever Edwin was in a foul mood. Faced with the fact that I had been captured by a madman, anxiety and fear took root in my heart. ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°My bride, God has finally sent me a gift.¡± Unlike Edwin, who was full of excitement, Seth¡¯s cold gaze was full of disdain as he stared at me. Edwin chuckled when I moved to hide behind him. ¡°Seth, my bride is timid and has a weak stomach. You¡¯ll have to be careful when tending to her needs,¡± Edwin stated as he gently embraced me. ¡°Yes, My Lord.¡± Contrary to his dutiful response, Seth¡¯s eyes were full of bitterness when he lowered his head. Edwin looked pleased with himself as he hugged me snugly. ¡°¡­I can walk.¡± Edwin smiled as I expressed my opinion apprehensively. ¡°But your face is so pale.¡± His expression seemed genuinely concerned. ¡®Don¡¯t be fooled!¡¯ Edwin often used his attractiveness to seduce his prey. He had barely done anything, but I was already mesmerized by his gorgeous golden hair and his full reddish lips. From his refined facial features to his slightly raised eyes and sharp nose, he was beautiful enough to be called a masterpiece of God. Above all else, his striking eyes, which resembled aquamarine, were the pinnacle of beauty and fatally attractive. Who wouldn¡¯t be seduced by his beauty after experiencing his gentle smile and deep voice? ¡°Now I can see my bride properly.¡± Edwin held me in his arms as he entered a large room and walked towards a sofa. When he took a seat on a sofa, he refused to release me and pulled me onto his lap instead. ¡°Please put me down.¡± While perched on his lap, I was very aware of his hard thighs, the closeness of his face, and the sound of his breathing. ¡°No. After all this time, I have finally found my bride. I can¡¯t allow you to run away.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to run away.¡± ¡°Liar, you¡¯re already trembling like this.¡± Edwin smirked and tapped my nose. The touch was so terrifying that I flinched and cowered. ¡°I¡¯m not a scary person.¡± His expression resembled a wounded puppy. I immediately wanted to soothe him, but I resisted and tried to get a hold of myself instead. ¡°Sir Edwin.¡± ¡°How can you call your groom ¡®sir¡¯? Call me Ed.¡± The sweet voice that resonated in my ears and his finely curved eyes were enough to relax anyone¡¯s heart. However, when facing the crushing weight of that gaze, I could only shiver in fear. I parted my lips and forced myself to speak because of this preconceived notion that I would die if I didn¡¯t say his name immediately. ¡°Uh, Ed¡­¡± ¡°Good job.¡± Edwin smiled brightly as if he was satisfied. ¡°What is my bride¡¯s name?¡± As I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, I became nervous again at the ensuing question. Since I wasn¡¯t of this world, no one would know or have any memories of the owner of this body, so I had no way of knowing who I possessed. And I didn¡¯t want to tell him my real name. His smile deepened at my hesitation. ¡®He¡¯s obviously smiling, but why are the hairs on the back of my neck standing up?¡¯ In the end, I was overwhelmed by the pressure and spoke frankly. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Edwin looked puzzled at my answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know who I am. I don¡¯t know why I fell into Edw- into your arms¡± I was going to say ¡®Edwin¡¯, but when confronted with that formidable gaze, I immediately decided against it. The fierce look softened immediately. ¡°Is God testing me?¡± Edwin tilted his head and gently grasped my chin. Even with the soft touch, my body stiffened with tension. ¡°Hmm, the prophecy was correct,¡± Edwin muttered as he gazed into my eyes with a perplexed expression on his face. ¡°You even have silver hair, too.¡± After twiddling a lock of my hair, he lean forward brushed his lips into it. I wish my hair had been full of static when it came into contact with his red lips. ¡°You¡¯re my bride, but why can¡¯t you remember anything?¡± When his hand began to gently stroke my back, I tried to move away, but he pulled me back and hugged me tightly. To prevent me from running away. ¡°This is going to be fun. I will replace your lost memories with new experiences until I occupy every corner of your mind,¡± Edwin added with a wolfish grin. I was suffocating on the possessive desire, a feeling I had never experienced in my life. ¡°Do you want me to give you a name?¡± ¡®Do I have a choice in the matter?¡¯ Swallowing a sigh, I nodded reluctantly. ¡°Well then, what would be a good name?¡± After pondering for a moment, he slapped his knee in excitement. ¡°I think ¡®Angelina¡¯ is suitable since you¡¯re my angel and gift from God. What do you think?¡± ¡®What do you mean by, ¡®my angel¡¯?¡¯ I wanted to hide my face in embarrassment, but I had no choice but to nod my head. Because my life is precious ¡°Angelina Crawford, that sounds great.¡± ¡®Don¡¯t do as you please and attach Crawford to my name. I have no intention of marrying you.¡¯ I wanted to shout it proudly, but I didn¡¯t have the courage to risk my life in front of a predator. So, I swallowed my words with tears in my eyes. Chapter 2 ¡®Why did I have to fall into the arms of a madman?¡¯ Edwin never releases anything that comes into his possession. The only time he releases someone from his grasp is when they become a corpse and are no longer useful. None of the people he kidnapped in the original work has ever succeeded in escaping. [Please¡­ please kill me. No¡­no more¡­] Those who were caught trying to escape had to suffer through an endless amount of torture and horrific pain until it finally killed them. Then their bodies were added to the growing pile of corpses that littered the blood-splattered floor. ¡®Do I have any hope of surviving?¡¯ I shuddered as the scenes from the original story flooded my mind. Suddenly, Edwin¡¯s words popped into my head. [My bride, God has finally sent me a gift.] Among the abductees in the original story, not a single one was said to be his bride. Then¡­ ¡°Um, Ed?¡± When I summoned up the courage to speak, he gazed at me with a smile that reached his eyes. ¡°I have a question.¡± ¡°Answering questions is a pet peeve of mine. But I¡¯ll give my bride special permission to ask one.¡± Edwin playfully tapped my nose to show how generous he was being with me. I swallowed hard and asked carefully, ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m your bride?¡± ¡°I received a prophecy. The oracle foretold that my life wouldn¡¯t be short-lived if I married a woman who fell from the heavens.¡± ¡®A prophecy?¡¯ It was customary for the royal family and nobles of the Assyrian Empire to receive an oracle¡¯s prophecy from the Great Hall at a young age. However, only the prophecy of the Crown Prince was mentioned in the original work. Of course, there was no mention of Edwin looking for or finding a bride. ¡°After receiving the prophecy, I wondered for a long time if God was making fun of me.¡± He still had a smile on his face, but his narrowed eyes were cold. Somehow, the temperature in the room felt cooler, so I rubbed my arms to warm myself a little. ¡°After all, it seemed like God was telling me to die early.¡± I didn¡¯t say anything and just nodded reluctantly. ¡°So, I killed every oracle who insisted that the prophecy was accurate. F**k God and his prophecies.¡± Edwin laughed like he truly thought his actions were funny. The way he smiled made him look really insane. I flinched and tried to pull away, but I couldn¡¯t move because of the firm arms wrapped around my waist. ¡°But, after a lifetime of waiting, I never expected someone to actually fall from the sky. Or anticipated that my bride would be a Jueri.¡± When he smiled, he looked so happy. ¡°Maybe I should apologize to God for doubting him.¡± On the other hand, I was still reeling from shock. ¡®I¡¯m the bride of prophecy? The bride of Edwin, the Wild Dragon of the West?¡¯ ¡®God, are you trying to send me to an early grave?! Why are you doing this to me?!¡¯ As my resentment towards God grew, a question suddenly came to mind. ¡°Wait a second. I¡¯m a Jueri?¡± There was not much information about the Jueri in the original work. They were simply described as a race of people, who inherited the blood of fairies and once resided in the desert that is now a part of the Duchy of Crawford. After receiving a prophecy that the Jueri would bring destruction to the empire, the emperor took it upon himself to exterminate the race. After death, they left a curse on the land that caused demons to appear. ¡°Yes, the Jueri are the only ones who naturally have pure silver hair like this. Their eyes were like jewels and would change colors depending on the angle of the light.¡± ¡®That sounds so beautiful.¡¯ Edwin kissed my temple as he spoke. Distracted by the possibility that I could be a Jueri, I was unable to avoid his kiss. ¡®What if someone discovers that I am a Jueri?¡¯ Considering that the emperor personally conquered and exterminated the Jueri, I would most likely be killed immediately upon discovery. Suddenly, I recalled the crimson eyes of the group I met in the desert. Members of the Crown Prince¡¯s secret organization, referred to as the ¡®Ravens,¡¯ were said to have red eyes. ¡®They must have recognized me. Don¡¯t tell me the Crown Prince is searching for the Jueri as well?¡¯ The thought made my blood run cold. ¡°Are you surprised?¡± Edwin smiled as he gently stroked my back. Unexpectedly, my anxious heart found some comfort in the gentle touch of the psychotic killer. ¡®Have I triggered two death flags already?¡¯ I felt like I was being strangled by the dark future that awaits me. However, I couldn¡¯t just sit in despair like this. I must find a way to survive somehow. Since I was pretending that I lost my memory, I proceeded to act like I knew nothing about the Jueri. ¡°Who are the Jueri?¡± ¡°You can say they are like fairies.¡± ¡°Fairies? Then, will people try to capture or kill me?¡± Just the thought of the emperor coming for me was enough to make me tremble, so there was no need for me to act scared. ¡°Who would dare to touch what¡¯s mine?¡± The combination of Edwin¡¯s low voice and his cold expression caused my body to harden with tension. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If anyone dares to attempt such a thing, they will be cut down before they even reach my bride.¡± His lips curved into a smirk as his eyes flashed coldly. Under that intense gaze, the fear that he would cut me down as well, made my mouth go dry. However, beneath those feelings, I felt a sense of relief. ¡°You only need to stay by my side,¡± Edwin said as he smiled gently and kissed the back of my hand. My stomach churned at the thought that he was trying to mark me as his with each kiss. ¡°My bride is easily frightened. At this rate, can you even escape from my arms?¡± He stroked my head gently and clicked his tongue slightly. ¡°Go ahead, you can try it if you like.¡± His smile felt somewhat ominous. I quickly shook my head, but Edwin wasn¡¯t happy with my response. ¡°You are safe with me; I won¡¯t allow anyone to touch my bride.¡± Feeling uneasy, I slowly started to pull away from him, but he noticed it right away and quickly pulled me closer. Then he pulled the rope beside him to summon a servant. After a few moments, Seth entered the room. ¡°Bring my dagger and a marriage certificate.¡± Seth¡¯s eyes shifted to me for a brief moment, then he bowed his head and exited the room. ¡°What?! Why do you need a marriage certificate?!¡± ¡°Initially, I intended to get married right away, but I decided to be patient because I thought the shock would be too much for my poor bride.¡± When he gazed at me, his bright eyes seemed to be asking, ¡®Did I do a good job?¡¯ I was overwhelmed with a sense of terror. I felt like I had no choice but to eagerly go along with his whims if I wanted to stay alive. ¡°But didn¡¯t we just meet for the first time today?¡± ¡°You are the companion that God has gifted to me. The moment I laid my eyes on you, I knew it was fate. Didn¡¯t you feel the same?¡± ¡®Fate? Sure, if you think it¡¯s fate for a prey to land at the feet of a starving predator.¡¯ Swallowing a sigh, I tried to emphasize the troubled expression on my face. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m very confused right now. I don¡¯t understand why I fell from the sky or why I don¡¯t remember anything, and it scares me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I was so distracted by my happiness that I forgot to consider my bride¡¯s feelings.¡± ¡®Did it work? Does he believe me?¡¯ I was just about to ask him for some time to organize my thoughts and get to know him better, but the following words that flowed out of his mouth rendered me speechless. ¡°I should have reassured you from the beginning. You have nothing to be anxious about, I won¡¯t leave your side for even a second.¡± ¡®No, you¡¯re the reason I¡¯m so anxious! I¡¯m afraid you will never let me go!¡¯ While I was screaming and crying on the inside, Seth returned with the requested items. He quietly placed a silver dagger and a small towel on the table. ¡°Are you sure you want to do this?¡± Seth asked. ¡°My bride is very anxious. Instead of words, I should show her that I will never leave her.¡± ¡®No, that¡¯s not it!¡¯ The situation made me feel like I was going to explode out of frustration. My chest tightened uncomfortably, and feelings of uneasiness grew. After dismissing Seth once again, Edwin picked up the dagger and unsheathed it. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary dagger, but once Edwin touched it, the blade began to glow. The exposed blade was gracefully engraved with strange symbols and text from an unfamiliar language. Fearing that I was about to be stabbed, I frantically struggled to escape his lap, but Edwin firmly pulled me against his chest and gently rubbed my back. ¡°There is no need to be afraid, I will only use it on myself.¡± Then, he pierced the tip of his index finger with the dagger without any hesitation. I frowned as it was painful to look at, but Edwin¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Now, say aaah¡­¡± I gave him a perplexed look when he lifted his finger close to my lips. The sight of the finger dripping with blood was quite bizarre. ¡°Come on now, open your mouth.¡± ¡®Why should I? What are you trying to do?¡¯ Edwin¡¯s lips curved into an ominous smile when I shook my head in refusal. Eventually, he pulled his finger away since I refused to open my mouth. ¡°Hmm, maybe it was too much?¡± I felt relieved that he changed his mind. After digging through his pockets, Edwin suddenly pulled out something and handed it to me. ¡°I forgot that my bride has a weak stomach. Here, it¡¯s a piece of chocolate. Eat this first.¡± Looking at the unidentified black lump in his hand, I shuddered in disgust and wondered what the hell was going on. However, I knew I could no longer refuse once I saw Edwin¡¯s eyes gradually turning colder. ¡®If it¡¯s just chocolate, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡¯ I closed my eyes and tried to calm my anxious heart. After a brief moment, I parted my lips slightly and the chocolate slipped into my mouth. I felt a sense of relief when the familiar sweetness hit my tongue. But then something firm pushed between my lips and pressed against my tongue. Soon after, a metallic taste filled my mouth. ¡°¡­..?¡± Thinking that something was amiss, I opened my eyes and saw Edwin¡¯s hand hovering near my mouth. I immediately realized that his finger was in my mouth and quickly pushed his hand away. ¡°Why did¡­ What are you doing?!¡± ¡°You have to consume my blood so we can form a bond. What do you think? It doesn¡¯t taste too bad with chocolate, right?¡± His words sounded so absurd that I couldn¡¯t do anything but stare at him in shock. ¡®You maniac! Why are you forcing me to drink your blood?! You did the same thing to Lillian after you professed your love for her!¡¯ Attempting to understand the thoughts of a madman would only lead to more confusion and a headache, so I didn¡¯t even try. Edwin just stared at me silently while I groaned inwardly. ¡°Fortunately, you seem fine. As expected of my bride,¡± he murmured while patting my head. ¡®Did you really think I would faint after swallowing a few drops of blood?¡¯ As he stared at me, his gaze grew more intense. ¡°Now, it¡¯s your turn.¡± ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t use it on me!¡± ¡®Liar!¡¯ While Edwin was wiping his hands with the towel, I quickly escaped his arms and tried to run away. But before I managed to even reach the end of the sofa, I was caught and placed on his lap once again. ¡°Don¡¯t run away from me. I want to treat you kindly since you¡¯re my bride.¡± When his expression became cold, I started hiccupping in fear. ¡°Hic.¡± ¡°Oh my.¡± The narrowing of his eyes felt like a warning, so I quickly covered my mouth with my hands. A cold sweat ran down my neck as I tried to hold in my breath to stop the persistent hiccups. ¡°You need to breathe. Are you trying to make me a widower?¡± Edwin smiled softly and gently pulled my hands away from my mouth. ¡°You only need to stay in my arms. I¡¯ll keep you safe and happy.¡± When he smiled and spoke with a soft voice, he didn¡¯t seem to be angry anymore, so I relaxed a bit. Then, I felt a sharp pain on the tip of my index finger. While I was distracted, Edwin used the dagger to pierce the tip of my finger. I was startled by the sight of blood dripping from my finger. Anticipating what would follow next, I struggled fiercely to keep my finger away from his mouth, but it was useless as his grip was strong. In the end, my finger was sucked between his lips, and into the warm dampness of his mouth. His soft tongue gently lapped at my finger like it was a piece of candy. For a moment, I frowned at the unfamiliar sensation. My face grew warmer as a strange heat radiated from my finger. When I couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, I tried to pull my hand away again, and Edwin finally released my finger. I quickly grabbed the towel and wiped off my finger. Edwin, who was watching my actions, laughed as if it was funny. ¡°Are you done now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It was then that the tension left my stiff shoulders. Shortly afterwards, the hiccups stopped. ¡°Why are you doing this? What are you up to?¡± Considering everything, his actions were beyond crazy. And the dagger had a strange glow as well. ¡°We just made a blood pact.¡± ¡®A blood pact?!¡¯ Just hearing the words made me feel dizzy and faint. ¡°This dagger is enchanted. If you consume the blood of someone pierced by the blade, it will bind the two together in body and soul.¡± As Edwin held the dagger in his hand, the blade started to glow again. ¡°Not only will I know where you are at all times, but I can tell when your life is in danger.¡± I¡¯m screwed. I was caught in a trap that I had no hope of escaping. Chapter 3 ¡°I killed everyone who knew about my prophecy, but I don¡¯t regret it. I have to protect my bride.¡± While Edwin¡¯s expression seemed angry, his tone was calm. ¡°First, sign here.¡± I let out a heavy sigh as the engagement certificate was placed in front of me. ¡®Maybe I should try to run away?¡¯ However, my courage quickly waned when Edwin handed me a pen and pressured me with his smile. ¡®How do I sign it? I don¡¯t know the written language here.¡¯ With that in mind, I glanced at the marriage certificate, and fortunately, I was able to read the text. ¡®Is this a buff? It would have been really bad if I couldn¡¯t read the text in a situation where I didn¡¯t possess the memories of the body.¡¯ For a moment, I felt a sense of relief, but soon I was overwhelmed by a sense of resentment when I realized that the certificate of marriage had become my shackles. When I glanced up, I met Edwin¡¯s eyes immediately, probably because he was still looking at me. Unable to withstand his intense gaze, I had no choice but to sign the marriage certificate. ¡°Once I add my signature, it¡¯s done. Everyone will know now that you are my bride.¡± Unlike my expression, which looked like dark clouds were hanging over me, Edwin was smiling brightly. ¡°Now that¡¯s over, let¡¯s go rest.¡± Edwin held me close as he strode out of the room and into the next room. ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°The room you will stay in the future.¡± I clicked my tongue inwardly at the layout of the room that clearly showed his intention to keep me under surveillance. Resigned, I looked around and saw that there were only a few simple furnishings, just like the last room. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that I would find my bride so suddenly, so I didn¡¯t have time to prepare. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Edwin raised the tip of his eyebrows and gave a sullen expression. ¡°It¡¯s your room, so decorate it however you like. I will buy everything you want.¡± ¡®If I believe in your words and spend as much money as I want, are you going to grab me by the ankle and demand payment later?¡¯ I have to get out of here somehow. ¡°It¡¯s enough. It has everything I need.¡± Edwin¡¯s eyes narrowed in suspicion. ¡°My bride is very simple. There is nothing I can do. I have no choice but to accept it.¡± Of course, I had no such options. I sighed heavily. ¡°Master, I have brought those who will serve her.¡± Seth¡¯s voice followed the knock on the door. ¡®¡®Enter.¡± The door opened and two women followed behind Seth. ¡°Nice to meet you. My name is Sarah, and I am in charge of housekeeping. If you need anything, please let me know.¡± A middle-aged woman with slightly grayish-brown hair smiled warmly. ¡°Hello. My name is Jenny. I will do my best to serve you.¡± The young woman standing next to Sarah greeted with a lively smile. Her scarlet hair, which was tied into a ponytail, swayed slightly with her movement. ¡°Ed, let me down.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I want to greet them properly.¡± I couldn¡¯t greet them while being held in his arms like this. ¡°You can greet them like this. Even if you lie down, no one will say anything.¡± If there was such a person, his blue eyes shone sharply, as if he would cut their head off immediately. Feeling the change in Edwin¡¯s mood, Sarah and Jenny bowed more deeply. They felt threatened because of me, so I couldn¡¯t be more stubborn. Reluctantly, I greeted them while in Edwin¡¯s arms. ¡°Nice to meet you. I look forward to your kind cooperation in the future.¡± ¡°My bride will need to learn etiquette again.¡± ¡®Why? What else don¡¯t you like?¡¯ I frowned at Edwin, suppressing my rising irritation. ¡°There¡¯s no reason for the duchess to act formally toward servants.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a duchess yet.¡± ¡°You¡¯re my bride. We¡¯re engaged.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t been married yet.¡± ¡°Are you upset that we didn¡¯t get married right away? Tell me what¡¯s on your mind. I can do anything for you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that, I¡¯m not even a noble¡ª¡± ¡°Who disregarded my bride?¡± His voice suddenly lowered, and for a moment I felt as if I was standing in the middle of Siberia. Sarah seemed accustomed to this situation and seemed unmoved, but Jenny trembled. ¡°That¡¯s not the case. You have been with me the entire time.¡± Fearful that Edwin might get violent, I quickly corrected the misunderstanding and tried to calm the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t think about anything else. I am Lord of the West and you are the bride of Edwin Crawford. Remember this.¡± His smile had disappeared, and his expression was unreadable. Contrary to what I expected to be frightening. Perhaps that¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t turn away from his blue eyes that seemed desperate for some reason. As I nodded slowly, Edwin smiled brightly again, as if he had never been serious. ¡°Whoever disregards you, I will cut them all down.¡± With his words, a strange feeling in the form of chills quickly ran down my spine. ¡°You look tired, so get some rest. I¡¯ll come back to pick you up for dinner.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll come down on my own.¡± I tried to speak up with courage, but I immediately lowered my tail at his deepening smile. ¡°That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll be waiting for you in my room.¡± Edwin smiled as if he would let it slide this time. After setting me on the sofa, he lightly kissed the back of my hand and left the room. ¡°Sigh.¡± When Edwin disappeared completely, the tension in my body melted away. ¡°Madam, shall I prepare a bath?¡± I sat up in surprise at the word ¡°Madam¡±. ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me that.¡± ¡°The master has commanded us to address you as such. Please be careful of your words.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but nod my head at the look of desperation in her eyes. ¡°Then, please prepare the bath¡­¡± ¡°Okay. Please wait a moment.¡± When I saw Jenny entering the bathroom with a measured step, I released several sighs. ¡®What should I do now?¡¯ So many things were happening all at once, that my mind was a mess. Thinking that I should check my appearance first, I approached the mirror on the other side of the room. Beyond the mirror stood a woman with a mysterious and elegant atmosphere. I now had the appearance of a slender woman with a round face and delicate features. What¡¯s more, just as Edwin said, my hair was as white as a field of fresh snow. The most fascinating feature was my eyes. The violet eyes, which changed from a lavender shade to a periwinkle color depending on the angle of light, were more beautiful and enchanting than any other jewel. ¡°I guess I really am Jueri.¡± Sitting down, I stared blankly at the silver hair reflected in the mirror. I was beginning to understand why Edwin was so obsessed with the hair color. ¡®How does he know about the Jueri? Why was he searching for the Jueri?¡¯ The reason for Edwin¡¯s obsession with white hair was not revealed in the original story. Of course, there was no mention of any Jueri surviving the Emperor¡¯s wrath. Even though the Crown Prince was searching for them. ¡®Why did I have to be a Jueri?!¡¯ With minefields everywhere, I was at a loss as to how and where to tread to ensure my survival. ¡®But is my life still in danger?¡¯ If he was planning to torture and kill me, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered with the blood bond. But I couldn¡¯t be reassured. I can¡¯t figure out what this crazy guy is thinking. ¡®Running away will be impossible. With this appearance, I will stand out no matter where I go.¡¯ In the end, the Emperor and Edwin are my only two options. The moment the Emperor discovers my existence, there would be no room for negotiations. But Edwin is different. Because I¡¯m the bride from his prophecy. His reason for searching for the Jueri is still unknown, but for now, standing on Edwin¡¯s side I had a higher chance of surviving. ¡®I will hold my breath for now.¡¯ In a cliche trash novel, the female lead survives by taming a villain or a blackened character, but I don¡¯t intend to do that at all. A villain is still a villain. How could I possibly tame a man, who was known to be a psychotic killer? My goal is to live a long and healthy life. ¡®If I stay quiet and follow Edwin¡¯s will, I will be able to survive.¡¯ My opinion? My desires? It¡¯s merely dust in the face of survival. I clenched my fist and raised it in determination. ¡°Madam, are you okay?¡± Jenny had an expression of concern when she saw my trembling clenched fists. ¡°Oh¡­yes, I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Jenny tilted her head as I gently lowered my fist and smiled shyly. ¡°Is the bath ready¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. But you look very tired, would you like a massage?¡± Yes, I¡¯m very tired. I went through life and death tens of thousands of times in a few hours. I headed to the bathroom, replacing my indescribable feelings with a nod. When Jenny touched me for the first time, I trembled, making her movements more cautious. ¡°Madam, what about your ring?¡± Ring? What ring? When I raised my left hand out of curiosity, there was a ring on my second finger that I had never seen before. ¡®What is this?¡¯ The platinum ring was engraved with a black sword on the left side of the band and a flower on the right, with a large pink jewel in the center. The pink gem had lost its shine and had a straight crack in the middle. ¡®Does it belong to the owner of this body?¡¯ Out of curiosity, I took off the ring to examine it and found words engraved on the inside. I looked closely to see if the words would give me a clue as to who owned it, but I couldn¡¯t read it because the language was unfamiliar. ¡°Jenny, can you read this?¡± After looking at the ring for a moment, Jenny shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t know the language either.¡± It already felt ominous that the jewel was broken, but even more so considering the ring was inscribed with strange text. Something bad happened to the owner of this body, that much was certain. ¡®Why did I fall from the sky?¡¯ It didn¡¯t even make sense for someone to fall from the sky out of nowhere. ¡®I don¡¯t know what happened, but for now, let¡¯s just focus on my survival.¡¯ Shaking the thoughts away, I slid the ring back on my finger. As I soaked in the bathtub, the hot water relaxed my tense muscles. In addition, when I received Jenny¡¯s expert massage, drowsiness began to set in. As soon as I left the bathroom, I collapsed in the bed and fell asleep. * * * * * * * ¡°Hmmmm.¡± As I rubbed my face against the duvet, mesmerized by the feel of the soft fabric, I heard a muffled sound. ¡®What was that?¡¯ I opened my eyes slightly to find a handsome man sitting with his legs crossed in a chair next to the bed. ¡°Are you awake now? I didn¡¯t know my bride was such a deep sleeper.¡± The moment I realized that the smiling handsome man was Edwin, I was instantly awake. When I jumped up and pressed myself against the headboard, Edwin approached and sat on the bed. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be greeted so warmly. Do you like seeing me the moment you wake up?¡± ¡°Why are you here¡­?¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®why¡¯? I came here because I wanted to have breakfast together. I couldn¡¯t sleep all night because I missed my bride so much.¡± With such a confident attitude, he was behaving as if this was his room. I quickly looked around to confirm where I was. The bed had a purple canopy with a flower pattern and a soft blanket in calm gray tones. It was clear to me that I was in the same bedroom as yesterday. ¡°But this is my bedroom,¡± I protested in a quiet voice. However, Edwin tilted his head as if he didn¡¯t know what the problem was. ¡°Isn¡¯t it natural for me, the groom, to be in my bride¡¯s bedroom?¡± I wanted to argue that we were not married yet, but I swallowed the words quietly, thinking about my life. Still, I wanted to avoid facing him as soon as I woke up, so I drew all my courage and opened my mouth. ¡°Are you going to come here every morning?¡± ¡°I already told you. I will always be by your side.¡± As expected, it wasn¡¯t an empty promise. Crying on the inside, I gathered up my courage again and spoke. ¡°But as soon as I wake up¡­ ¡± ¡°Why? You don¡¯t like seeing me?¡± I swallowed hard at the sudden cold expression on his face. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just that¡­I don¡¯t look pretty. My hair is messy, my eyes are crusty, I have morning breath, and my face is swollen.¡­ ¡± As I diligently listed the things he might not like, Edwin began to laugh. After slipping my trembling hands under the blanket, I slowly raised my head and saw Edwin smiling beautifully. ¡°You¡¯re so cute that I think I¡¯m going to die.¡± When I heard the ¡°die,¡± my heart was gripped with fear and as I shuddered, he gently stroked my hair. ¡°In my eyes, my bride is pretty no matter how she looks.¡± His sweet words would surely make anyone¡¯s heart flutter, but my heart had been taught fear by this obsessive madman. ¡°Now, let¡¯s have breakfast. I¡¯m hungry.¡± Then he suddenly pulled me into his arms and picked me up. I wrapped my arms around his neck to prevent myself from falling as he hummed happily. ¡°Can I wash up first? My breath probably smells.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay. Every scent from my bride smells sweet.¡± This madman also has an extraordinary sense of humor. I eventually gave up my small rebellion. Chapter 4 Edwin sat down at the table and didn¡¯t let me down. I wanted to tell him to put me down, but I swallowed my words, knowing it wouldn¡¯t work anyway. ¡°What would my bride like to eat?¡± When Edwin pulled the string for the call bell, Seth and other servants pulled in a trolley. There was so much food that it was not enough to set up several tables. ¡°There¡¯s too much¡­ I can¡¯t eat this much for breakfast.¡± This was a large portion, even for dinner. Is this a new type of torture? ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to eat it all. I¡¯m trying to find out what my bride likes.¡± For some reason, I didn¡¯t believe him, but his hand rubbing my back telling me not to worry about it, relieved a bit of tension. ¡°Taste a little at a time. If you don¡¯t like something, tell me right away.¡± When all the food was served, Edwin began to place the food by type on a plate. While I was contemplating how to eat in this position, fresh leafy vegetables touched my lips. ¡°Now, say ahhh-¡± ¡°I can eat it myself.¡± ¡°I want to feed you. Yesterday you fell asleep first, so we couldn¡¯t eat together.¡± I gave up and ate the salad he gave me. ¡°Hmm, this seems to suit your taste buds.¡± After that, Edwin hand-fed me a variety of foods by type. Even though it was just a little taste, there were so many varieties that I felt full in no time. ¡°I can¡¯t eat anymore.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think this is enough.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m full.¡± I tried to look as pitiful as possible because I was afraid he would make me to eat it all. ¡°Should I stop by for breakfast every morning? I don¡¯t want my bride to eat something and get an upset stomach.¡± Every morning? Will I have to eat lunch and dinner like this as well? I felt dizzy for a moment, but I was relieved to know that I wouldn¡¯t be forced to eat anymore for the moment. ¡°Out of all the things you¡¯ve eaten so far, tell me which foods you found the most delicious.¡± I hesitated and pointed to some food. ¡°My wife likes seafood. She also likes sweet and sour dressings,¡± Edwin told the chef and then ordered the food to be removed. ¡°Wait a minute. Ed didn¡¯t eat.¡± ¡°Just watching you eat makes me feel full.¡± You said you were hungry. You waited to have breakfast with me. Was it a lie? I stared at him for a moment, but I couldn¡¯t deduce what he was thinking. He may have already eaten before I woke up, but for some reason, I felt uncomfortable. I felt embarrassed that I ate so much by myself. ¡°You said you were hungry. You must have waited a long time because I woke up late.¡± As I spoke carefully, his lips curved into a beautiful smile that reached his eyes. ¡°Are you worried about me? Wow, that makes me feel so excited.¡± I was afraid of finding out just how excited he was, that I tried to escape his lap. Of course, I was caught by Edwin right away. ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m worried because I ate alone, so¡­.¡± ¡°I should donate to the temple. Now that I¡¯ve been given such a kind-hearted bride.¡± When his hand caressed my face, it was definitely a soft and warm touch, but why am I getting goosebumps? ¡°I can¡¯t turn a blind eye to my bride¡¯s consideration. Now, feed me, too. Ahh-¡± I couldn¡¯t hide my embarrassment when he opened his mouth wide. I didn¡¯t want to do this. But it was already too late. ¡°I can¡¯t pick up the food in this position¡­¡± ¡°I can hand it to you.¡± I was trying to avoid this situation somehow, but I failed immediately. He not only put the food on a plate himself but also put a fork in my hand. ¡°Uh, what should I feed you first?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I will eat everything my bride gives me.¡± Even if you say it like that, if it doesn¡¯t suit your taste, you may try to kill me. I quickly shook my head. ¡°I want to know what kind of food you like. So, tell me in advance what you don¡¯t like.¡± Fortunately, Edwin nodded his head obediently. When I picked up some of the salad with the fork and held it near Edwin¡¯s mouth, he snatched my hand and guided the fork into his mouth. The fork trembled slightly in my hand, Edwin, who saw this grinned. He tapped my nose. I peeked at him and wondered if he was offended. ¡°You¡¯re acting so cute.¡± My body stiffened immediately at the sudden touch, but Edwin¡¯s mood didn¡¯t appear to be bad, so I calmly relaxed. The food on the plate gradually decreased, and then quickly emptied a second plate. ¡®You must have been very hungry.¡¯ I¡¯m happy that he ate well, but my arm was starting to hurt. As I lowered the fork to pick up more food, Edwin gently grabbed my hand. ¡°I¡¯m full now. Do you want me to get a stomachache?¡± No. Absolutely not. Edwin¡¯s smile deepened when I quickly shook my head. ¡°Since we¡¯re done eating, let¡¯s wash up and change our clothes.¡± ¡°Wait¡­. Are you going to the bathroom with me?¡± Edwin chuckled when I panicked and tried to push him away with both hands. ¡°Hmm, I never thought my bride would want something like that.¡± No, never! Absolutely not! As I shook my head harder, he laughed even louder. ¡°I¡¯m holding back. What should I do when you¡¯re acting so cute?¡± My mouth went dry as he trailed a finger down my cheek. Why are you talking nonsense? I wanted to sew my mouth shut. I wish I had never said anything about the bathroom. ¡®Hold it in. Keep restraining yourself. You can endure it. You can stand it.¡¯ I silently chanted the words over and over again, hoping that it would somehow influence Edwin. ¡°I don¡¯t think I could ever get bored of looking at you. How can you have so many different facial expressions?¡± What expressions? As I awkwardly touched my face, Edwin shook his shoulders and laughed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but not yet. You could get hurt,¡± he whispered. My body stiffened for a moment at the heated breath brushing against my ear. ¡®Why would I get hurt in the bathroom?¡¯ Staring at the bathroom door, my eyes widened as I remembered all the things that could happen in the bathroom, such as water torture. When I shrank in fear, Edwin covered his mouth, muttering about how he was going to die of laughter. At the same time, he gently stroked my back with his hand. ¡°I¡¯m going to change my clothes. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± He sat me down immediately, gave Jenny some instructions, and left the room. ¡°Whoa.¡± I slumped down in a chair and rested my head on the table. I felt exhausted from all the things I dealt with in the morning. ¡°Madam, I¡¯ll make the preparations so you can wash your face.¡± I didn¡¯t have the energy to speak, so I only nodded. After a while, Jenny brought a bowl of warm water and washed my face. Then we headed to the dressing room. ¡°I bought everything in a hurry yesterday, so there may be some clothes that don¡¯t fit you properly, but I¡¯ll fix it right away.¡± When did you have time to prepare these clothes? I thought he was only crazy about blood, but he was surprisingly attentive. There were several large wardrobes in the dressing room. Jenny went to the first one and opened it. The closet was stuffed full of a variety of clothes. ¡®You prepared all of this overnight?¡¯ If you bought everything in a hurry, I thought you meant three or four items. What is this? Jenny, who was putting this and that on me while I was spacing out, finally decided on a pink casual outfit. ¡°Fortunately, I only need to fix the sleeves.¡± After meticulously checking if the outfit needed any additional tailoring, Jenny entrusted the repair to another maid. ¡°I¡¯ll do your hair and makeup while the clothes are being mended.¡± I sat down in front of the dressing table and calmly accepted Jenny¡¯s help. ¡®What should I do next?¡¯ It was extremely shocking and unbelievable that I had died then possessed a character in a novel, but I couldn¡¯t afford to grieve or deny the situation. From the moment I fell into the arms of a psychotic murderer, it was as if I had a blade pressed to my throat. ¡®First, let¡¯s increase the probability of survival. To do that, I need to reduce the number of death flags.¡¯ Currently, the biggest death flag is the imperial family. I need Edwin to survive the imperial family. The problem is, he will eventually be killed by the Crown Prince. The only reason why he died despite having powerful physical abilities and strength beyond ordinary people was because of Sephiroth¡¯s sword. According to the original story, Sephiroth, which was crafted from dragon scales, when wielded, there was nothing in this world that it couldn¡¯t cut. In addition, it also possessed divine power that could neutralize opponents according to the will of the swordsman. That¡¯s why Edwin was killed by Sephiroth. ¡®I must find the sword before the Crown Prince.¡¯ The moment it falls into the Crown Prince¡¯s hands, Edwin wouldn¡¯t be the only one to die. I would be killed as well. ¡®Where is Sephiroth¡¯s sword?¡¯ While I was trying to recall the contents of the novel, Jenny finished styling my hair and held out the clothes that had been mended. By the time I finished getting dressed, Edwin had returned. ¡°These clothes don¡¯t emphasize my bride¡¯s beauty.¡± As he inspected my clothing, Edwin tapped his chin and muttered. ¡°Maybe I need to personally select your new clothes. Well, any outfit may not be enough to showcase my bride¡¯s beauty.¡± ¡°I have enough clothes.¡± ¡°I know you are not greedy, but now you must change. Because you are my wife.¡± When I let out a sigh of resignation, Edwin led me to the sofa. Meanwhile, Seth quietly left the room with Jenny and the other servants. ¡°What is this?¡± On the table were several luxurious boxes that had not been there before. ¡°I know you don¡¯t remember your past.¡± As I nodded, Edwin opened the lids of the small boxes one after another. Each box contained a different large jewel. ¡°From this moment on, you will get to know yourself.¡± ¡°What does this have to do with jewels?¡± The precious stones were all so beautiful that I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off them, but I couldn¡¯t figure out the connection. ¡°The Jueri inherited the blood of fairies. These fairies spawned from gemstones. So, their magic is influenced by the jewels.¡± ¡°The Jueri have magic?¡± I was frustrated because there was no mention of the Jueri in the original story. ¡°They had the ability to draw out and use the latent power of a jewel.¡± ¡°What kind of power is contained in a jewel?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Will I be able to shoot fire or ice like wizards?¡± If that happens, maybe I will be able to live a safe life away from the Emperor and Edwin as well. My heart pounded with anticipation. ¡°Oh, my. Did you want to blow up things with fire? I never thought my bride would be so aggressive.¡± Hearing his teasing tone made my face flush red. Edwin chuckled and then continued. ¡°I don¡¯t know all the details, but I do know that most of the Jueri had healing abilities.¡± Ugh. That¡¯s not good. But it¡¯s better than having no abilities, right? Thinking about it from that perspective puts my mind at ease. ¡°How do you use these jewels?¡± ¡°That¡¯s something my bride should know, right? You are a Jueri.¡± ¡®Why are you acting like you¡¯re an expert on the Jueri when you don¡¯t know any of the important details?¡¯ As I pouted in frustration, a long finger touched my lips. ¡°Why are you protruding your adorable lips? Your eyes are quite insolent.¡± Heeding the warning, I quickly sucked in my lips. ¡°Think about it as homework. If you learn to use the jewels, I will grant you a wish.¡± ¡°A wish?¡± My ears were drawn to the proposal that opened my eyes. ¡°However, you can¡¯t ask to end our marriage, let alone run away from me.¡± When the most desired wish was excluded, my inflated expectations deflated like a balloon. ¡°Are you disappointed?¡± I quickly shook my head at the sharp look in his eyes. ¡°Uh, I was just wondering what kind of wish I should make.¡± ¡°You must have a lot of things you want to do. I¡¯ll be sure to listen to you, so try your best.¡± He smiled brightly as he took a fighting pose. If I couldn¡¯t escape Edwin, at the very least my survival should be guaranteed. As I clenched my fists, I silently swore to make the jewels work for me. Chapter 5 ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch together later.¡± Edwin left the room with those words. When he said we wouldn¡¯t be apart for even a moment, I thought he would cling to me 24/7, but I¡¯m glad for some breathing room. I examined the jewels closely. Kindly enough, the names of each gemstone were neatly written on the individual boxes. ¡®How am I supposed to use these things with no information?¡¯ No matter how much I tried to recall the contents of the novel, there was no mention of Jueri or the jewels. ¡®I¡¯m going to have to go at this completely blind.¡¯ I wanted to have some hope for survival, but the situation was very bleak. ¡®Never mind the method, can I even use the jewels?¡¯ I¡¯m not really a Jueri, I¡¯m merely occupying the body of a Jueri. What if it turns out that I can¡¯t use the jewels? For a moment, Edwin, who seemed to be extremely excited to find a Jueri, came to mind. Even I was looking forward to using the jewels a while ago. ¡®Even though I¡¯m the bride of prophecy, I¡¯m still going to die.¡¯ The moment I realized this, I got chills down my spine. ¡ªSmack¨C ¨CSmack¨C I patted my face lightly with both hands. ¡°I have to calm down. No matter what, I have to succeed.¡± I carefully looked at the jewels. However, I didn¡¯t find anything special. Then, I touched each of the jewels, but I didn¡¯t feel any special energy. While holding each jewel, I tried squeezing, shaking, and applying some mental force, but I was still unsuccessful. ¡°Please allow me to use these jewels. My life is at stake. Please spare me.¡± Thinking that my desperation was lacking, I called out to all the gods I knew and prayed over and over again. But nothing happened. ¡®What am I going to do?¡¯ Burying my face in my hands, I embraced the growing despair. When I recalled all the ones who were murdered in the desert, I jumped up and lifted my head. ¡®No, I can¡¯t let it end like that.¡¯ Trying to cool my head, I sorted through my thoughts one by one. In a fantasy novel, the first step in magic training is to feel the flow of mana. So, I can apply this to the jewels, right? Suddenly, a scene from a martial arts movie came to mind. When martial arts masters practiced ki, they started by refining and clearing their minds. I quickly sat cross-legged, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. ¡®I can feel the energy within me. I can feel it¡­ I can feel it¡­¡¯ ¡°Excuse me, Madam?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± When I heard Jenny¡¯s voice, I lifted my head, and her scarlet hair came into view. ¡°If you are tired, please rest comfortably in bed. If you sleep in that position, you¡¯ll get muscle pain.¡± ¡®Did I fall asleep?¡¯ I tilted my head and patted the corner of my mouth as something damp came in contact with my hand. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ How can I be sleepy when I haven¡¯t dealt with my major life-or-death situation? ¡°Do you feel unwell?¡± As I hung my head in shame, Jenny shuffled her feet, as if she didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡®No, it¡¯s just that¡­ I¡¯m so pathetic¡­.¡¯ I sighed heavily. * * * * * * * The next morning. As soon as I finished eating, Edwin suddenly announced we were going out and took me out of the room. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°The Mujas Desert.¡± ¡°Why are we going to the desert?¡± I asked with a trembling voice. The word ¡®desert¡¯ reminded me of the scene of the slaughter I witnessed on the first day. ¡®You¡¯re not planning to bury me in the desert because I haven¡¯t awakened my abilities, right?¡¯ It¡¯s only been a day! I looked at Edwin anxiously as he draped a robe over my shoulders and pulled the hood over my head. ¡°Because it was the home of the Jueri.¡± Oh, that¡¯s right. My shoulders, which had hardened with tension, slowly relaxed. ¡°If you go there, maybe your memories will return.¡± He smiled at me, and I smiled vaguely in return. This isn¡¯t simply a case of memory loss, there is now a different soul in this body. Meanwhile, Edwin had already carried me outside and was in the process of putting me on his horse. Frightened by the unfamiliar height, I grabbed the saddle tightly, and immediately afterward, Edwin climbed behind me. Only then did the tension in my body relax. ¡®I can¡¯t believe I feel at peace in the arms of a madman.¡¯ I was amazed but also bitter because it reminded me of the reality of the situation I was facing. Edwin directed his horse into a gallop and several knights followed behind us. After a while, we arrived at a gate just as my hips started to tingle. ¡°From here on, we have to ride a camel. I don¡¯t mind walking, but my bride is vulnerable.¡± As we got off his horse, Edwin gestured toward a nearby camel. Sitting with its legs bent, the camel looked calm, but as we got closer, the smell was no joke. Edwin grinned and sat me on the camel as I gently covered his nose with a robe. ¡°As expected, my bride is sensitive.¡± His teasing left me with a feeling of resentment, but I didn¡¯t trust myself to speak up, so I stuck out my tongue instead and gave him the grumpiest face I could muster. Edwin laughed as he tapped my nose. Startled by his touch, I quickly straightened my face. ¡°Is our destination far from here?¡± ¡°We have quite a bit of distance to go. So, endure it even if it¡¯s boring.¡± When I nodded calmly, he patted my head as if he were praising me. ¡®I wish you would stop treating me like a child.¡¯ While complaining to myself, the camel began to move. ¡°Call the land where the Jueri once lived is known as Ambria.¡± ¡°How do you know so much?¡± I knew Edwin didn¡¯t like questions, but I was very curious, so I asked carefully. ¡°Because their clan had resided in my family¡¯s territory for many generations.¡± Fortunately, Edwin explained it smoothly without any signs of displeasure. ¡°When I was young, my father told me many stories.¡± When he mentioned the previous duke his blue eyes darkened for a moment, and then returned to their original state. According to the novel, the previous duke died while subjugating the monsters that suddenly appeared after the annihilation of the Jueri. ¡®I had a feeling that the imperial family was involved with his death.¡¯ There was no detailed explanation in the original, but it briefly mentioned that the emperor deliberately incited the demons to run wild, which led to the previous duke¡¯s death. The Emperor used the demons because he had no way to defeat the Crawford family¡¯s monstrous strength and martial arts skills. When Edwin later found out the truth, he kidnapped Lillian out of revenge as she was the woman the Crown Prince loved. She also happens to have white hair. ¡®Still, I¡¯m skeptical. No matter how much the monsters ran wild, a Crawford shouldn¡¯t have collapsed so easily.¡¯ If Edwin learns the truth about the death of his father, my chances of survival will increase. With his hostility directed at the imperial family, he won¡¯t allow them to take me away from him. Nevertheless, this left me with a heavy heart. I understood how Edwin felt when he lost his father because my mother also died early. As I struggled to shake off my depressing thoughts, the camel¡¯s pace suddenly slowed. ¡°This is Ambria.¡± Before my eyes, A vast sandy desert stretched out under the intense sunlight. It was a desolate landscape where not a single grass or tree could be seen, and the only movement was the grains of sand fluttering along with the wind. Although it has been a long time since the Jueri was exterminated, this place was not a place for people to live. ¡°Did the Jueri really live here? I thought there would be an oasis.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t like this when the Jueri were alive.¡± Confused, I looked up at Edwin, and he placed his large hand on my head. ¡°Did you forget about the jewels?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say they only had healing abilities?¡± ¡°Most of them did. My father said there are beautiful forests and lakes in Ambria.¡± ¡®Is that even possible?¡¯ Now I coveted the power of the jewels even more than before. ¡°Have you ever been here before?¡± ¡°When you inherit a territory, you must visit it at least once.¡± ¡®Are you here to inspect as the Lord of the land?¡¯ I hoped that was the case. ¡°Did the previous dukes visit Ambria as well?¡± There was no explanation in the original work about how the Jueri lived before the emperor¡¯s conquest. Given that the previous dukes came and went, did they also spend time interacting with the people? ¡°My bride has a lot of questions today.¡± When I saw Edwin smiling brightly, I came to my senses. He was so docile that I forgot for a moment that I was talking to a madman. A crazy guy who doesn¡¯t like questions. ¡°¡­ ¡­ I thought it might help me recall my memories. I think I will be able to use the jewels once my memory returns.¡± Edwin grinned as I made excuses with a shaky voice. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you. Are you motivated because you¡¯re greedy for rewards?¡± Either way, he seemed to be satisfied with my answer. ¡°As your groom, I can¡¯t stay still when you¡¯re showing such enthusiasm.¡± Edwin smiled meaningfully as if he was about to do something great, stopped the camel, and got off first. Then he held my hand so I could get down as well. ¡°I think the lands of Ambria begin here?¡± Edwin walked a little further forward and drew a line in the sand with his foot. When I looked around, there was no change in the scenery, so how the hell did he know the boundaries? From what he said before, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s ever seen Ambria in person. ¡°Ambria was protected by a barrier. So, it wasn¡¯t visible to those who weren¡¯t allowed entry,¡± ¡°Like a space that doesn¡¯t exist,¡± Edwin whispered in my ear. My eyes widened as I stared at him in surprise. Holding me with a small smile, he slowly began to walk forward. When he halted, we were in front of an old tree boasting majesty. The trunk, which was thick enough that it could be surrounded by a dozen or so men, was barren without any vitality, yet it felt lofty. ¡°This is the guardian tree of the Jueri. It is said that the power of this tree was able to maintain the barrier.¡± The fact that the Emperor annihilated the Jueri would mean that the barrier had been broken. Was there a problem with the guardian tree? Is that why it looks dead? The more I listened to Edwin¡¯s explanation, the more questions I had. ¡°Okay, go take a closer look.¡± Edwin put me down and gestured toward the old tree with his chin. When he set me down, I immediately glanced around for a place to run, but the knights quickly surrounded us. ¡®Well then.¡¯ If I tried to run on the sand, I¡¯d be caught in a second anyway. With resignation, I slowly walked toward the guardian tree. Up close, the guardian tree had a dignified aura, despite being devoid of life. I carefully touched the trunk and it felt dry and rough under my fingertips. ¡®Do you recognize the owner of this body? She is a Jueri, the people you use to protect.¡¯ I expressed my frustration because I still had no idea who I possessed. Who else could I tell this story to, if not this tree? As I conveyed my thoughts to the tree, I felt a sense of unity with the owner of this body. I didn¡¯t think her life would have been any different from mine because it would be difficult to survive as a Jueri. However, since she didn¡¯t survive, the amount of grief, and resentment I felt, simply couldn¡¯t be described with words. At the very least, this guardian tree should recognize this woman. My eyes were brimming with tears as I expressed my sadness to the tree, and suddenly I could hear my heart beating loudly as if it was resonating with something. Thump. Thump. Panicking, I tried to take my hand off the old tree, but it was as if it was glued to the trunk of the tree. And then¡­ Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. My heart pounded louder than before. At the same time, I felt a building pressure in my heart and a sharp pain in my chest. ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Angelina?¡± Edwin called out with a concerned voice. Grabbing my chest with my spare hand, I fell to my knees, as I groaned painfully. Kneeling at my side, he pulled me into his arms and asked urgently. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°¡­Ed¡­Ed..I¡­¡± ¡®I feel like I¡¯m going to die from the pain.¡¯ I struggled to speak as the pain increased in my chest. As I managed to raise my head to convey the words somehow, I could see Edwin¡¯s blue eyes subtly shaking. I didn¡¯t have time to be confused by the genuine fear I saw in his gaze. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I pleaded with my eyes. ¡®Please save me from this pain. Please take my hand off this tree.¡¯ I still couldn¡¯t pull my hand away from the trunk, so I had no choice but to hang on. Edwin froze like a stone statue. Then his eyes narrowed the moment he grasped the situation. ¡°What are you doing?! Pull your hand away!¡± I wanted to tell him that I couldn¡¯t, but I couldn¡¯t breathe properly since the pain and pressure were so intense. It felt like my heart was being ripped apart. Edwin swore loudly when I shook my head to indicate that I was unable to. Suddenly, I heard swords being unsheathed, along with the sound of blades clashing. ¡®Is someone here? Is someone ambushing us maybe? Could it possibly be the Ravens?¡¯ Even in the midst of confusion, I could only focus on one thing. Instinctively, I reached out and grabbed Edwin¡¯s arm tightly. ¡®Please save me.¡¯