Chapter 1 - Chapter 1

Translator: Nox

“Don’t go!”

Finally, the Dimensional Gate opened.

At last, I could return to my original world.

“Don’t go, Dana.”

But my feet wouldn’t move.

This was the moment I had waited for so long. It was finally my chance to return to my real body…

“Please, don’t leave me.”

Because of this man, I couldn’t bring myself to turn away.

“Raios.”

Dana gave a bitter smile.

“Let me go. You promised you would let me go.”

“No, I can’t. I just can’t do it.”

The muscles in Raios’s jaw twitched with pain.

“If you leave like this, it will be goodbye forever. You will no longer exist in my world.”

“Raios.”

“When I think about you not being here, on this earth, under this sky… the mere thought makes me feel like I’m going insane. It hurts so much that…”

Eventually, moisture pooled in Raios’s dark eyes.

“I can’t breathe, Dana.”

Drip. A single tear rolled down his cheek.

I wanted to wipe that tear away.

But…

‘The Dimensional Gate is starting to close.’

So I had to go now.

To the real world, to my real body.

‘That’s right. This isn’t my body.’

Was it a cruel joke of fate?

It had already been three years since I possessed the body of a woman with a similar name.

Danae Winzer.

The young lady of the Ducal House of Winzer.

Living in this body for three years, I had met many people, experienced many things, and—

“Don’t leave me behind, Dana.”

And, I had found a man I loved.

“Please stay by my side. Please.”

Dana smiled weakly and tried to soothe the man clinging to her.

“Raios, there is nothing left for me to do in this world. So, I have to go now…”

“I don’t care about that!”

Raios shouted, clutching her tightly.

“In my entire life, I have never loved anyone but you. You are my only love. How am I supposed to live without you!”

Me too.

You are the only one I love, too.

Dana swallowed those words.

Because they were words she couldn’t take responsibility for. Because she didn’t want to give up the life of Yeondaena.

‘Yes, it’s my life. How can I give that up?’

When she was Yeondaena, she had lived so fiercely. To the point where she had achieved everything she set out to do.

How could she just throw away a life like that?

But.

“I know I’m being shameless. I know that if the Dimensional Gate closes this time, it won’t open again for another hundred years. I know, but…”

Raios choked back a sob as tears fell.

“I cannot live without you, Dana.”

He looked so pitiful.

Dana felt a pain as if her heart were being crushed.

Could I really leave Raios behind when he was pleading like this? Could I live happily in my own world after doing that?

It was then.

“Sister Dana!”

A woman came running into the temple. It was Alice, Danae Winzer’s cousin.

“Sister, don’t go!”

Alice cried out, panting for breath.

“Sister, please, okay? Please don’t go! I’m begging you, okay?”

It wasn’t just Alice.

“Dana, do not leave!”

Even her uncle…

“Don’t go, Dana! Where on earth are you going, leaving us behind!”

“…Uncle. Alice.”

“I think of you as family. So where are you going, leaving your family behind? Please, stay in this world, won’t you?”

How did they find out?

I never told anyone the location where the Dimensional Gate would open…

“Dana.”

Following them, her cousin Lumie also entered the temple.

“Do you really have to go?”

“Brother Lumie.”

“Can’t you stay in this world? I’ll be so sad if you go…”

At Lumie’s words, Dana smiled sadly.

The people who had accepted her even though they knew she was a possessor.

Dana truly loved them all, but.

“I’m sorry. I have to leave. This isn’t my world.”

That was that, and this was this.

It was sad, but it was time to part.

“Goodbye, everyone. I…”

At that moment, Dana’s words cut off.

Raios had collapsed to his knees!

“Raios!”

“Dana, please don’t abandon me.”

“Raios, get up, hurry!”

“Don’t go. A life without you is no different from death to me. Please don’t kill me. Please, please.”

Dana squeezed her eyes shut and sighed.

Oh, honestly…

“…Get up.”

I can’t do it.

I really can’t do it anymore.

Seeing the people I love in pain. Seeing them cry. I couldn’t bear it.

“I won’t go.”

Raios snapped his head up.

“What did you say?”

“You didn’t mishear me. So get up quickly—”

“Dana!”

The next moment, Raios lunged to his feet. He frantically pressed his lips to her forehead, the bridge of her nose, and her cheeks.

“Dana, Dana, Dana!”

In that instant, Dana made her resolve.

‘Fine, let’s stay here.’

I couldn’t bring myself to hurt the people I loved.

So, I would live in this world. I would give up the life of Yeondaena.

“I have a condition.”

Dana said, looking away from the fading Dimensional Gate.

“Raios, I told you before, didn’t I? That I come from a world where monogamy is the norm.”

“Of course. I remember everything you said.”

“I will never tolerate you having multiple wives like other men in this world. Can you swear it?”

“I swear it to the Gods.”

Raios cupped her cheeks with both hands. He smiled as brightly as the sun.

“It’s only you for me.”

His shimmering eyes were so fervent. So full of affection.

It felt as if the whole world belonged to them.

Even the air felt sweet, and this fleeting moment felt like everything.

“I love you, Dana.”

“I love you, too.”

That day, Dana gave up on returning to her original world.

That was three years ago.

Three years later.

<Crown Prince Raios and His New Lover>

What is this?

Dana frowned.

Among the letters sent to her, a very strange one was mixed in.

‘Who sent this?’

The sender was anonymous, and furthermore, an absurd sentence was written on the envelope.

‘<Crown Prince Raios and His New Lover>?’

Dana let out a short laugh.

A new lover for her fiancé? As if.

It seemed there were prank letters in this world, too. Or perhaps it was someone’s attempt at slander.

‘Well, I suppose people are the same everywhere.’

Three years had already passed.

Three years since she had wavered in front of the Dimensional Gate and ultimately chosen the people she loved.

For the past three years, Dana had lived happily. She was very satisfied with this life.

Of course, there were uncomfortable moments sometimes…

“Danae Winzer.”

Yes, just like right now.

Dana held her breath. Then she slowly turned her head.

When had he approached?

Right beside her, a man with his platinum blonde hair swept back was looking down at her, holding a glass of whiskey.

Meeting his green eyes, her neck automatically stiffened.

That man was one of the most difficult people in this world.

‘Yes, except for moments exactly like this, I’m mostly happy…’

His name was Viego Winzer.

He was the biological older brother of ‘Danae,’ the body Dana had possessed.

And he was one of the family members who disapproved of her occupying Danae Winzer’s body.

“Yes, Brother.”

His eyes flicked down toward the desk.

“What is it.”

“Pardon?”

“That letter.”

“Oh, this? It seems someone sent a prank letter.”

“Why don’t you check it.”

“What?”

Dana was startled.

What brought on this interference?

He was someone who never engaged in personal conversation.

When she looked up at him with questioning eyes, he answered stiffly.

“Check the letter.”

It was a voice tinged with the sharp aroma of whiskey.

That was strange.

Whiskey. She had never seen her brother drink while working…

“Yes, I’ll do that. Later, when I’m finished with my work—”

“Let’s end it here for today.”

“Pardon?”

With those words, Brother Viego left the office.

‘…Ending already? Truly?’

Once a week, Dana assisted Viego, the Duke of Winzer, with his work.

After he realized she was much stronger at arithmetic than the people of this world, he had started using her for tasks involving numbers.

It was just clerical work, but to end it here? That workaholic, cold-blooded brother of hers?

‘Well, it’s good for me.’

Dana hummed to herself as she tore open the envelope.

Then, she stopped short.

Inside the envelope was a photograph.

“……”

In the black-and-white photo.

Raios was kissing a woman.

A woman with long, straight hair, seen only from behind.

‘Is this… me?’

It… wasn’t me.

Because I—Danae—had curly hair…

‘Then who is this?’

Her hands trembled violently. Dana let out a shallow, broken breath and slowly turned to the next page.

There was a message card.

[If you go to Raios Grants’s office right now]

[You will be able to witness the scene of his affair.]

Dana went straight to Raios’s office.

“Lady Danae Winzer, what are you doing here!”

The startled guards blocked her path. Dana spoke, her breath coming in hot gasps.

“I’m here to see Raios.”

“His Highness is not in right now!”

“What?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince! Is! Not! Inside!”

What was this? Why was he speaking so loudly?

No, more importantly.

Why was he lying?

“Then who are you guarding right now?”

“…!”

“You are the Crown Prince’s personal guard, aren’t you?”

The moment the guard was at a loss for words, Dana shoved past him and lunged inside.

And then.

“…!”

With her own two eyes, she witnessed it clearly.