Chapter 2

Startled by the sudden outburst, everyone quickly asked,

“Are you alright, Melody? Shouldn’t we call a priest to heal you? You were unconscious for over ten minutes.”

“I’m fine. The hammer was engraved with a protective magic formula, so the impact wasn’t that strong. The reason I didn’t wake up right away was just… well, just…”

Melody trailed off, her mind going blank.

She hadn’t opened her eyes because the moment she was struck on the head, a certain truth about herself had come to mind.

The story where Riheline, who becomes a priest by manifesting holy power, gets entangled with three men. In that story, Melody was a minor character who died a meaningless death.

[“Ah.”
At the pained moan, a pair of rough hands hastily pulled down Riheline’s robe.
“Please, stop…”
“Don’t you like it?”
Riheline felt parched. Heat flushed her face, and her lips dried out.
She was supposed to meet the magic tool craftsman. She’d nearly forgotten someone was waiting for her.
“Ahh…”
The hand caressing her skin moved to a more intimate place. The unfamiliar sensation overwhelmed her, and Riheline let out a moan.
“Hngh…!”
As the touches repeated, soft moans slipped between her lips. Amid the intensifying sensation, the man spoke.
“Haa… Such an unruly woman. You need to be punished.”
The man’s large body pressed down on her, and Riheline soon sank into overwhelming pleasure.]

Amid the endless passionate scenes, the unnamed “magic tool craftsman” mentioned in passing—that was her.

And in the end, she met a pitiful death.

[“That woman’s the one, right? The magic tool maker who aided the duke’s rebellion—Melody Riwud?”
“Using such a brilliant mind for something so vile. Execution was only fitting.”
“They say she used to work in the temple until the duke dragged her away and worked her like a dog.”
“If that’s true, it’s a pity. But she’s already dead—what can you do?”]

Because of her exceptional magic tool crafting skills, she was dragged under Duke Deonis, the hidden villain, and ultimately, her head was cut off.

She didn’t know exactly when it would happen, but at this rate, she’d end up captured by the duke and meet that tragic fate.

‘I need to run.’

The decision was easy—but there was one problem.

The temple was the only place where crafting magic tools was legally allowed. Never mind that making magic tools was the one thing she was both good at and loved.

‘Tomorrow’s payday.’

So, of course, she decided to collect her wages and then run away. Foolishly unaware of the future that decision would bring.

The Next Day

“The magic detection device in the Grand Prison is broken. Someone needs to go fix it.”

At the temple manager’s words, the magic tool makers exchanged uncomfortable looks.

“The Grand Prison? That’s where they keep the mages, right?”

“Ugh, no thanks. The detection device is down—what if a mage escaped? I could die! They say mages can conjure fire with their bare hands!”

“What, you think the Holy Knights would just stand around while you died? And besides, mages can’t even move inside the holy barrier—it causes them too much pain.”

Even those scolding others had no intention of going.

In the Holy Empire of Valkaras, being a mage was a sin by nature. The moment they were discovered, they’d be locked away in the temple’s Grand Prison for life.

The law was established a hundred years ago, after mages had massacred ordinary people.

“I’ll go.”

Melody raised her hand. It was her last day working at the temple—this would be a perfect excuse to slip away from the manager’s watch.

“Well, let her go then. She’s just some nobody refugee. I’m sure bumping into a mage won’t bother her much.”

Melody prepared herself, hearing the manager’s snide voice. To her, mages weren’t objects of fear—because what no one knew was that her father had been a mage.

Melody had spent her childhood outside the holy barrier, in lands teeming with monsters. Her father had never been able to enter the barrier—not even once.

Or rather, it wasn’t even an option. The holy barrier caused excruciating pain to anyone with magic.

The outside of the barrier was barren and hostile. Even if you managed to avoid monsters, survival was tough.

So Melody’s plan was simple: once she got paid, she’d run outside the barrier and stay there until the story ended.

Anyone in their right mind would never leave the safety of the holy barrier, and since the story’s setting was the capital city where the Grand Temple was, she figured she’d be safe if she just left here.

‘I can last a year easy.’

As long as she prepared enough food, she could endure all four seasons. She’d just stay inside a house protected by magic tools to keep the monsters out and make tools all year long.

“Let’s see where it’s broken.”

Basement Level 4. A damp space lit only by dim wall lamps.

Melody began carefully inspecting the magic formulas etched into the black crystal magic detector.

“The detection circuit’s malfunctioning… Why is it burnt? Looks like a strong burst of magic passed through.”

The wall lamps began to flicker just as she was checking the sixth crystal.

“What’s going on now?”

Melody stood up from her crouched position in front of the crystal. At that exact moment, the lights went out.

‘It’ll turn back on soon…’

She waited in the pitch darkness.

How long had it been?

Footsteps echoed. Melody frowned, trying to see in the blackness.

Step. Step. Step.

They stopped—right in front of her.

“Priest…? Don’t you have a lamp? Can you see anything?”

And at that moment, the lights turned back on.

The first thing she saw was the man standing tall before her.

Hair like silver spun from moonlight. Eyes red like rubies.

A face so beautiful it could have been sculpted by a god—Melody’s mouth slowly fell open. Everything around her seemed suddenly vivid.

“Hello.”

The voice was low and oddly sweet.

“…An angel?”

“Deonis Theodel Valkaras.”

Melody, staring blankly, took a step back as soon as she heard his name.

It was him. One of the male leads of The Secret Affairs of Riheline, and the duke who had worked her like a dog before starting a rebellion—and then had her executed for being his underling.

Deonis was originally fated to be emperor, not a duke. But his mother, Fiona, died giving birth to him, and Fiona’s younger brother Schvall took the throne.

Then Schvall’s son, Ryan, skipped over Deonis and became the crown prince. Ryan also stole away Riheline, the woman Deonis loved—leading Deonis to rebel.

In the midst of that, Melody got caught working in Deonis’s castle and ended up executed.

‘I was supposed to run away…’

And yet, here he was. She hadn’t even managed to escape.

“Melody Riwud?”

At the sudden mention of her name, Melody froze.

“You already know me?”

“Green hair. Green eyes. Magic tool maker at the temple. I plan to get to know you more thoroughly from here on.”

“Is that really… necessary?”

“Unfortunately, yes. I’m dying to know.”

Deonis smiled, amusement in his voice.

“I hear you’re talented at making magic tools.”

“Oh, talent? Not at all. I only know a few formulas. Honestly, I’m the worst in the whole department.”

That wasn’t true, but Melody frantically waved her hands in denial.

Deonis’s smile deepened.

“You’re bolder than you look.”