“Oh my, from childhood friends to fiancés- just look at how sweet they are together.”... more>>

“Isn’t it wonderfully romantic?”

No. Not even close.

“They’ve been inseparable since their academy days, haven’t they?”

Well, at least that part wasn’t a lie.

It all began at the Academy, where I was drowning in an endless flood of marriage proposals. Each day brought another hopeful suitor, another practiced speech, until that moment when everything changed.

“Then how about me?”

“What about you?”

“As a marriage partner.”

Those four simple words from Aivert changed everything. Before I knew it, I had signed away my freedom in an elaborate dating contract with my closest friend.

We crafted the perfect illusion – the inseparable couple, so in love we couldn’t breathe without each other. I would have bet my life we were nothing more than friends.

As time slipped through our fingers, the contract’s end loomed closer. I should have felt something – regret, perhaps? Instead, my heart sang with one thought:

“Finally, I will be free soon!”

Just when I thought we could finally end this embarrassing charade…

Fate had other plans.

—Clank.

The sound echoed like thunder in my ears as I stared, dumbfounded, at the handcuffs binding my wrist to Aivert’s.

Of all the twisted turns my life could take…

***

“Well,” Rodella thought, trying to be practical, “since we’re stuck together, we might as well make the best of it. This should make our act more convincing, right?”

How naïve she was.

The key to their freedom dangled from Aivert’s fingers as he tilted his head, his expression shifting into something she’d never seen before.

“What if I were to destroy it – would you be disappointed?”

Rodella’s eyes grew wide. Before her stood not the timid and cautious childhood friend she remembered. This was someone else – familiar yet strange, wearing an expression that stirred strange emotions within her.

“You said it yourself. That madmen need to be restrained.” he murmured, the chains rattling softly between them. “If these chains come off…”

If I become distant from you, if I lose this chance.

“I think I might go mad, so what should I do?”

Aivert’s gazes were intense and unyielding, demanding an answer to a question that went far deeper than mere handcuffs.

And for the first time since this charade began, Rodella found herself completely speechless. <<less

Ilyin, who could dream predictive dreams, dreamt of spending her first night with the Duke of Biflten.... more>>

'Am I going to marry the Duke of Biflten?'

The notorious duke was known to stiffen one’s body when one’s eye meets his. Besides, he's a madman whose sword is faster than words.

"You can leave this mansion whenever you want."

In the dark night, the Duke of Biflten whispered. Contrary to rumors, he was kind. But he never showed his face. So then Ilyin, after spending ten nights with him, asked.

"Does one really become stiff when looking into your eyes?”
"No."
"Then can you show me your face?"
"Of course."

It was easier than she had thought. But the faceless husband was silent for a moment. Then, he whispered in a sweet, low voice, like the devil.

"But you have to make a promise."
"What is it?"
"If you look at me, you'll never be able to leave this castle again, Ilyin."

‘I don't want to leave you either.’

"So if you want to run, run now."

Despite his voice having no emotions, there was a strong hint of obsession. <<less

I’m a fake bride.... more>>

Diello Argenta’s name engraved on my back indicated that I was his soulmate… but I was a fake.

One day, I possessed the unscrupulous villainess’ body inside an adult novel.

Is there any way I could survive?

…Contract marriage!

I’ll be his wife and act the part to protect his purity until the real one appears. So when the Duke of Argenta awakens his power, he will destroy my villainous family.

While becoming a fake couple with the innocent Diello Argenta, acting sweet day and night…

“If your soulmate appears, it’s time to end the contract.”

Hearing that, Diello, the Duke of Argenta, gave me a long look.

“When a Ferro dies, a new Ferro will be assigned.”

As he grabbed the tip of my chin, the distance between us shortened.

“…I’ll kill them until it’s you.”

What’s with him?

Out of nowhere, he started obsessing over me.

Wasn’t he supposed to be a pure and sweet guy?! <<less

“I heard you have lived your life as a saintess… Do you know of the matters of the night?”... more>>

Beryl, as a saintess, bears the duty of visiting the demon family to purify them.

After two lives and two deaths, she finally seeks out the true demon, carrying within her a desire for vengeance against humans more demonic than demons themselves.

“You said you wanted to learn about desire… On your first night, I shall gift you a night so unforgettable, even the gods will be forgotten.”

Yet the demon she faces in person is utterly sinful, blasphemous, sweet, and addictive. <<less

Seishia, who heals people by cutting off her life force, escapes her abusive family and sets up her treatment center. But the visitor who came to her treatment center is suspicious.... more>>

“I don’t know how valuable your power is. It must have been hard because of foolish people, Shar.”

Seishia, who had been plagued by vicious rumors for being the “Promiscuous Young Lady”, tries to stay away from him as he seems to be a noble.

***

“Young Lady…”

Archduke Kartia smiled lightly and put his fingertips over her collarbone. His fingers slid down her arm, stopping over the back of her hand.

The Archduke raised her hand and kissed it briefly.

“I know you enjoy doing things in front of others, but young Lady.”

And whispered temptingly.

“Only once, let us have fun.”

Here, with me, huh?

The man who is said to be the sweetest man and the best groom in the empire, keeps approaching me.

“You won’t be able to escape from my side anyway.”

“Never, let me go.”

With a devilishly seductive look.

…Shouldn’t you be sweet? <<less

Ronée once happened to save a young boy. Despite his rare golden hair, she had thought it nothing more than a coincidence. ... more>>

“Ronée, love you. I want to be with you forever.”

“Thank you for loving me.”

But the boy had been twelve at that time, and she had been seventeen.

“But we can’t be together.”

The age gap was difficult enough, but her father would want to hand her off to a suitable marriage candidate. He was sure to oppose it. So, she rejected him. She had thought that they would never see each other again anyway. However…

“There is no other woman in my eyes but you.”

Ten years later, he appeared before Ronée again, having become a king.

“Thank you for loving me. But…”

You, a king, and I cannot be together. Ronée made up her mind to give him a realistic answer. He whispered quietly to her, his eyes flashing dangerously.

“We still can’t be together?”

A very young and feeble child became the ruler of a continent; his soft and frail hands had become the strong and rough hands of a man. The king, Nabel, slowly moved on top of Ronée and wound himself around her like a vine.

“Where did you learn a thing like this?”

The childlike Nabel no longer existed. He was dangerous; no, even more than that. Nabel smiled sleepily.

“If it’s for you… I can learn even these sorts of things.”

At those words coming from the lips of the man with the noblest blood on the continent, Ronée’s eyes widened. <<less