Even with his face distorted in rage, Askin was beautiful. But the aura he radiated was lethal. He was approaching me as if he intended to end my life right then and there.
'Wait, wait... I’m not going to die like this, am I?'
"You were thinking of killing Aria, weren't you?" he demanded.
"No! I would never—"
"Don't lie to me. Do you honestly expect me to believe a word you say?"
"..."
I was speechless. What reason did he have to believe me? Charlize had given him nothing but pain.
'I'm not her,' I screamed internally, but my lips wouldn't move. Every time I tried to tell the truth—that I was a soul from another world—it felt like my mouth was glued shut.
'So the warning in the scroll was real. I’m physically blocked from telling the truth.'
Askin continued his tirade. "I’ve endured so much. I’ve been patient while you acted with malice, while you harassed my servants, while you dragged my knights to your debauched banquets, and even when you insulted my ancestors and Aria!"
I really couldn't blame him. If I were in his shoes, I’d hate me too.
"How much more do I have to take?" he growled. "Was it not enough to humiliate us? Did you really have to try and kill my sister?"
"I... I didn't..."
"Enough. I don't want to see your face ever again." He took a deep breath, his eyes turning ice-cold. "We are breaking the engagement."
'Wait, wait! Game Over already?!'
I hadn't even started my one-year mission and I was already about to fail.
"Wait!" I shouted, reaching out to him. Askin stopped, looking surprised by my sudden outburst. "I... first, I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry for entering without permission."
"...What?" He looked at me as if I’d grown a second head.
"But please... just listen to me for one minute. I didn't do anything to Aria."
The moment I said her name, the slight confusion on Askin’s face vanished, replaced by a wall of frost.
"I believe you," he said.
"Really?" I felt a spark of hope.
"I believe that maybe you didn't do it today. But I also believe that one day, you *will* kill me. Or her."
"..."
My heart sank. What had the original Charlize done to make him this certain of her evil?
"I will be formally submitting the papers to break the engagement. The news will reach the Imperial Family by tomorrow."
"Wait! You can't—I mean—"
"I have nothing more to say to you. Leave this mansion immediately."
I wanted to cry. How was I supposed to fix this? If he broke the engagement, what would happen to the debt he owed the Altsbeit family? Could I use that as leverage?
Just as the thought crossed my mind, a sharp, agonizing pain pierced my heart.
"Ugh...!"
I collapsed, clutching my chest, and accidentally grabbed the hem of Askin’s coat. He looked down at me, his brow furrowed in disgust.
"What kind of trick is this now?"
"It’s... it’s not a trick... it hurts..." I gasped.
At that moment, a voice whispered in the back of my mind—a voice that felt like it belonged to the god who had summoned me.
*[If you break up, you die!]*
*[~From a god who forgot to mention an important detail~]*
'You have got to be kidding me!'
If the engagement was broken, I would actually die. The pain in my chest was a warning. Askin was serious about the breakup, and my life was literally on the line.
"I... I’m really not here to cause harm. Not today," I whispered, my face turning white from the pain.
Askin’s face remained a mask of stone. I had to do something. Anything.
"Fine," I said, gasping for air. "Do it. Break the engagement."
"...What?"
Incredulity washed over his face. He clearly didn't believe me.
"I’ll agree to the breakup," I continued, "but only on one condition. Pay back the money. Every single gold coin the Remut family has borrowed from the Altsbeits since our engagement began. Pay it all back right now, and I’ll leave and never come back."
The pain in my chest vanished instantly. I looked up at Askin. He was staring at me with pure, unadulterated disgust. But he was also trapped. He didn't have the money.
"I'll give it to you soon," he growled, his voice like a cornered animal. "Now get out."
"No. If you don't pay me right now, I’m not moving a single inch."
"What?"
"Give me the money. Now. Or the engagement stays."
I sat back down on the garden floor, looking up at him with a defiant smile. It was a low blow, but my life was at stake.
"If you don't give me the money, there is no breakup. I’m staying right here."
Askin’s eyebrows twitched. He was about to say something—likely something very unpleasant—when we heard someone running toward us.
"Duke!" It was Ben. He looked at me sitting on the ground with confusion before turning to Askin. "Miss Aria is awake!"
"Hah..." Askin let out a breath of relief.
"The doctor says she wasn't seriously ill. It was just a shock..."
"Let’s go," Askin said, starting to move toward the building. He paused and looked back at me.
"If you don't pay me, I’m not leaving," I reminded him.
"...Do whatever you want," he spat. "Nothing is going to go your way, Charlize."
"We'll see about that," I muttered to his back. "I really do want to get along with you, you know!"
I sighed. I knew an apology wouldn't fix things. Charlize’s sins were too deep. I was living in a shell of a woman who had scarred these people for life.
'It’s not my karma, but I’m the one who has to carry it now.'
* * *
Askin didn't breathe a sigh of relief until he was well away from the garden.
'What is she up to now?'
His head was throbbing. Charlize Altsbeit was a woman who lived to keep people on their toes, but today had been different. Even Ben had noticed it. She was... unusual.
He tried to push her face out of his mind, but it lingered longer than he wanted it to. He hurried into his sister’s room.
"Brother!" Aria called out the moment he opened the door.
He rushed to her side. "Aria! Are you okay?"
Aria lived in a separate building near the garden. It was the only part of the estate he’d spent money on, keeping it safe and beautiful for her.
"I'm fine, really..." she said, smiling weakly.
Askin grabbed her by the shoulders. "Aria, be honest with me. What did she do to you? Did she try to hurt you? Did she insult you again? Tell me everything!"
"Brother, calm down," Aria said, gently shaking him. She knew her brother lost all reason when it came to her safety.
"Tell me what that woman did this time!"
The scars Charlize had left on both of them were deep. But Aria just shook her head.
"No, brother. It wasn't like that. I just ran into the Princess in the hallway and... I was so surprised that I fainted. But the Princess... she didn't do anything wrong."