HYVT | 001

<Episode 1>

What’s the one thing a boss should absolutely never do to their subordinate?

It’s proposing marriage.

“…What did you just say?”

“Let’s get married. You and me.”

My sky-high boss, Duke Cayenne of Croitz, said this in a calm tone.

The way he set down his teacup with a clink was like a scene painted on a divine canvas.

Yet, the words that spilled from that elegant mouth were an unbelievable bombshell.

“Whaaat?”

Crash.

I shot up from my seat, banging my knee against the table.

Cayenne furrowed his brow at my dramatic reaction.

Even in this moment, the way his frown made my heart skip a beat with its sheer handsomeness felt utterly unfair.

“Are my eyes failing me? Why does it look like you’re horrified?”

Sorry, but you’re seeing it exactly right.

“No way that’s true. You’re my, ahem, fan, aren’t you?”

Maybe my eyes are failing me.

The perpetually cold-hearted boss’s face seemed to flush just the tiniest bit.

Of course, whenever I looked at Cayenne, my eyes did burn with academic fervor.

‘Because I want to learn how he so creatively screws people over every single time!’

I’ve got a long list of scumbags I need to tear apart with a vengeful war dance.

My trash ex-fiancé, the childhood friend who cheated with him, the uncle who devoured my family’s fortune… ugh, just thinking about it gives me heartburn.

I raised my voice in frustration.

“I do respect you, Your Grace, but I’ve never harbored any improper feelings!”

“None? You stare at me all day long.”

That’s because I’m trying to study your havoc-wreaking skills!

“You observe my every move without ever looking away.”

That’s because my academic zeal is just that intense!

“You meticulously note down every single word I say.”

I’m your secretary, aren’t I?!

“You never leave my side until I’m done for the day.”

No, you glare at me like you’ll kill me if I try to leave early!

“That’s because—”

Cayenne strode closer, leaning in as if interrogating me.

The sudden whiff of his distinctive scent made my heart pound for a moment. I quickly steadied myself.

“That’s my job as your secretary.”

“No. None of my previous secretaries were as passionate as you. It must be because you have feelings for me.”

His face was filled with unshakable certainty. I was so dumbfounded, my mouth just hung open.

Then, as if misinterpreting something again, Cayenne spoke with a magnanimous expression.

“So, I’ll grant you the position of my spouse.”

What is this lunatic saying?!

With the last thread of my patience, I barely kept those words from spilling out.

Clenching my teeth, I forced a smile and said,

“…It’s all a misunderstanding. How could I possibly harbor such disloyal feelings toward Your Grace?”

“You’re allowed to.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Hmm. Are you just not aware of your own feelings yet? That’s possible. We have plenty of time.”

Since when did Your Grace and I become “we”?

Now I could see it clearly. Cayenne’s ears were red.

‘Character collapse should have its limits!’

Is this really the vile boss who kicks people’s butts and spews venom daily, the mad dog Duke?

The man who tramples people under his boot when he’s in a bad mood.

The instigator of the infamous Magic Tower Explosion that’s still talked about.

The venomous tongue that makes grown men cry!

The guy rumored to have not just a hatred of reason but of humanity itself—is that really him?!

‘Pippi, Pippi! Why is this guy acting like this?’

I urgently called out to my pet AI, Pippi, in my mind.

[Analysis impossible! Analysis impossible! The target’s behavior pattern is too erratic for analysis!]

So, he’s too crazy to even analyze.

To think he even broke Pippi—what an unpredictable lunatic!

Just then, a commotion erupted outside the reception room.

“Freesia! Where are you?!”

“Lord Felix, you can’t do this! The master is with a guest—”

“Get out of my way! Freesia, where are you?! Freesia!”

“Eek!”

That was the grating voice of my loathsome ex-fiancé. I stood up with a sigh.

“Your Grace, I’ll be back in a moment.”

Not wanting to embarrass myself, I closed the reception room door and faced my ex-fiancé, Felix.

“Stop harassing my staff and get lost, will you?”

“Freesia! Why have you been so hard to reach?”

Spotting me, Felix stomped over, huffing.

“Phew, I gave in, okay? I admit I was wrong. I’m sorry, alright? I’m apologizing. When a man humbles himself this much, shouldn’t you stop throwing a tantrum now? Huh?”

The old me would’ve burst into tears by now, thanking him for apologizing first and playing the fool.

But that girl is dead.

‘You killed her.’

You rotten ex-fiancé.

I gave a sly smile.

“You cheated with my childhood friend and got her pregnant, and you think a simple apology will get you forgiven? Your head’s so full of flowers, I’m almost jealous. Get out.”

Felix pounded his chest.

“Yeah, that! Lorena, that vixen, wasn’t pregnant with my child. She tricked me, claiming it was mine when it was some other guy’s!”

“Oh, really? That’s what happened?”

“Yeah! So, you should let it go now and—”

“So what?”

“…What?”

“Whether Lorena’s belly was swollen with your kid or just bad constipation, I don’t care. Either way, you’re still the filthy rag who rolled around with my friend, aren’t you?”

“Hey! What kind of language is that?!”

“And could you stand a bit farther away? Must be the summer heat, but the stench of dirty rag is overwhelming.”

All my time as the direct secretary to the “Mad Dog Duke” and “Calamity Mouth” paid off.

The venomous words flowed out smoothly.

“You keep calling me a rag? You’ve lost it, haven’t you, after I let you get away with everything?!”

“Don’t like rag? How about parasite? Mana thief? Leech? What should I call you?”

Felix’s face turned as pale as if he’d seen a ghost.

“You, you… what’s wrong with you? Freesia, you weren’t this vicious. Why’ve you changed so much? Don’t tell me the rumors about you and that guy are true—”

“By ‘that guy,’ do you mean me?”

“…!”

I turned to see Cayenne, who had somehow walked up beside me.

Tilting his head arrogantly, Cayenne slowly scanned Felix from head to toe.

Felix was tall, but next to Cayenne, he looked almost like a frail girl.

“Tch, Freesia,” Cayenne said, openly clicking his tongue.

“How could someone with the taste to admire me ever get involved with a squid like this?”

Tell me about it.

I gave Felix, trembling with rage, a pitying look.

Surprisingly, there was a time when this squid looked like a handsome, gallant prince.

And it wasn’t even that long ago.

* * *

It was a day when I felt like I owned the world.

“The top graduate of the Imperial Academy is… Felix Rohaim! Congratulations!”

Wooo!

Clap, clap, clap!

Felix strode through the roaring applause and ascended the stage with a dignified air.

I wanted to shout.

That’s my man.

My beloved, proud fiancé.

“Felix Rohaim has become a role model for countless magic swordsmen with his vast mana reserves…”

The chancellor read the commendation with a pleased expression.

My face mirrored his satisfaction.

Truthfully, Felix’s natural mana reserves were negligible.

I was the one who, through countless trials, succeeded in amplifying them.

“With his thesis on the correlation between magical beasts and mana, he made a profound impact on academia…”

Oh, I wrote that thesis too.

“He maintained an A+ in every subject throughout his academy years…”

I stayed up hundreds of nights making study guides and error notes for him.

Because of that, I often couldn’t take my own exams, but no one thought academic grades mattered for a lady anyway. So, whatever.

Besides, Felix was my savior, the one who rescued me from a carriage accident when we were kids.

“Felix is amazing.”

“His future’s all set for success now, right? He’s bound to soar. I’m jealous.”

As my fellow graduates whispered, my shoulders puffed up with pride.

Felix and I had been betrothed since before we were born, a 19-year bond.

His joy was my joy, his sorrow my sorrow.

That’s what it means to be a couple.

“…And with that, the graduation ceremony concludes. Male students, present flowers to your loved ones!”

Clap, clap, clap!

Another round of applause erupted, and the male graduates bustled about, each holding a carnation.

By tradition, academy graduates give carnations to their lovers or, if single, to family.

Felix, holding a carnation, descended from the stage.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

My heart raced wildly.

‘My first flower gift.’

Felix always complained that spending money on flowers was pointless, so I never let on, but I secretly loved them.

The thought of receiving flowers for the first time sent my heart into a frenzy.

“Felix! Felix!”

“Woo!”

The graduates cheered, parting to make way for Felix as he approached.

I nervously adjusted my thick glasses.

For today, I’d neatly tied up my usually messy hair, but it felt so awkward that I kept breaking out in cold sweats.

Felix, now right in front of me, looked even more handsome today.

He smiled and held out the flower.

“Oh my, Felix!”

Not to me…

“They’re so pretty!”

…But to my childhood friend, Lorena, who was arm-in-arm with me.