Chapter 1
These days, Evan was a smooth-talking, endlessly sociable prodigy—flawless in swordsmanship, strategy, politics, and everything else, practically a cheat character. But if you put young Evan next to his current self, no one would ever believe they were the same person.
“He was frustrating, sure, but at least he was well-behaved and sweet back then.”
Liette thought back fondly to her first meeting with the innocent Evan.
It had been in a cozy sunlit parlor where two noble families had gathered: Liette’s family, the House of Duke Meren, and Evan’s family, the House of Duke Croyte.
The two families had convened to introduce their young children to one another, and the two kids—Liette and Evan—stared at each other.
“……”
“……”
“What are you staring at?”
The silence was broken by young Liette.
The harsh words coming from the mouth of a girl barely seven years old left the adults visibly stunned.
The most shocked of them all was Liette’s mother, the Duchess of Meren.
“Oh my goodness, Liette! What kind of language is that?”
“He keeps staring at me!”
“Don’t call him ‘that brat,’ say ‘Evan’!”
Despite the Duchess’s scolding, Liette continued glaring fiercely at Evan.
The Duchess hurriedly apologized to him.
“Our Liette isn’t usually like this… I’m so sorry, Evan.”
But Evan was so shocked by the unexpectedly aggressive presence that he couldn’t even reply. His father, Duke Croyte, stepped in.
“Haha, it’s fine. Better this than a silent child.”
Duke Croyte gave a genial laugh and then turned to his son with a firm voice.
“Evan, when you meet a new friend, you should greet them. You just stared at her without saying a word, no wonder Liette got upset.”
“B-but…”
Evan hung his head and stammered.
He peeked up at Liette, but her fiery red eyes only made him more intimidated.
Still, he knew if he didn’t say anything, he’d be scolded by his father later. So Evan mustered up his courage and opened his mouth.
“H-hi, Liette.”
“Ah!”
Even that little greeting made Liette sigh loudly.
“This is so frustrating! This weakling is going to toss me aside like garbage in the future…”
She trailed off mid-sentence and glanced around.
The adults were once again staring at her in horror.
‘Oops.’
She kept forgetting—she was in a child’s body, and Evan was just a seven-year-old boy.
And yet, it still made her angry.
This timid, spineless boy would one day treat her like a toy and throw her away.
It was the first time she had ever sympathized more with the female rival than the heroine in a romance novel.
She had read the whole story thinking, “What the hell! Liette is so pitiful!”
Still, to the adults, her behavior probably seemed utterly bizarre right now.
“Uh, no, it’s not like that. It’s just… the world’s a harsh place, and I was worried about Evan, so I blurted it out…”
Liette scratched her head, trying to make up an excuse. Luckily, Duke Croyte burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! You’ve raised quite the daughter. So bold and lively for a child!”
Hmm. I like this guy.
Internally, Liette gave him two enthusiastic thumbs up.
“Evan, did you hear that? When talking to people, you need to speak more confidently and raise your voice.”
Duke Croyte offered another word of advice, and Evan timidly looked at Liette again.
“L-Liette…”
Liette narrowed her eyes in a threatening scowl, silently daring him to speak again.
“Nice to… meet you…”
At last, Liette bared her teeth and growled. Evan’s eyes began to well up with tears.
“Waaaah! I can’t do it! Her face is too scary!”
“You brat?!”
Liette couldn’t take it anymore and grabbed Evan by the collar. The Duchess of Meren barely managed to pull her away.
As Liette fumed and backed off, Evan hid behind Duke Croyte.
“S-she’s like a hunting dog…”
“Did you just call me a dog?! Want to find out how hard I can bite?!”
Liette flew into a rage again, and this time, her father, the Duke of Meren, had to hoist her up over his shoulder.
“Sorry about this. Liette can be a bit rough, but she’s usually not this bad…”
To his friend’s apology, Duke Croyte shook his head with a warm smile.
“It was quite entertaining. I wish Evan had even half of her spirit.”
Pleased by the unexpected praise, Liette looked smugly satisfied. Duke Croyte approached and said,
“Liette, come visit our estate often.”
“……”
“I’ve heard you really like reading? We have a lot of books at our mansion.”
Liette hesitated.
Honestly, she didn’t want to see Evan again. But the promise of books was tempting—especially since she’d nearly finished reading all the ones in her own home.
After a moment’s thought, Liette nodded while still hanging from her father’s shoulder.
“Okay! Also, I like pudding. Please have some ready!”
“Liette!”
The Duchess scolded her daughter’s shameless request, but Duke Croyte just smiled good-naturedly.
“Of course. But only if you promise to visit.”
“Yes!”
She didn’t like Evan, but the books and the nice man made it a worthwhile trade.
Liette visited Duke Croyte’s mansion the very next day.
“Hello!”
As she hopped off the carriage and greeted cheerfully, the butler opened the door with a smile.
“Welcome, Miss Liette.”
Liette looked around.
“Is the Duke home?”
“His Grace has gone to the Imperial Palace.”
She realized she’d just assumed he would be there and now regretted not checking ahead.
“Oh… Should I come back another time?”
“No, he instructed us to take you to the library if you came.”
Though she had come hoping to see the Duke, her real goal was to read books, so Liette nodded.
“Then I’ll head in!”
“Please, make yourself comfortable.”
Led by the butler, Liette walked past the gardens. Compared to the Duke of Meren’s estate, it felt different.
The manicured garden was so intricately arranged that it felt more artificial than natural—beautiful, but clearly shaped by a precise hand.
Liette thought it was a perfect reflection of Duke Croyte’s meticulous nature.
Before long, she arrived at the library.
“Feel free to browse and stay as long as you like.”
“Thank you.”
Once the butler left, Liette looked around. Just as the Duke had said, the shelves were packed with books.
“Wow…”
Duke Croyte was an old friend of her father, and her father had always praised him as a brilliant man.
Judging by this library, he definitely lived up to that reputation. This wasn’t even a public library—just a private one!
“Where should I start?”
Liette loved reading. Especially after transmigrating into this novel’s world, she had come to enjoy it even more.
Here, women’s roles were very limited. Most noblewomen ended up marrying once they reached adulthood.
Maybe that’s why the original Liette had clung to Evan—because marrying well was one of the few forms of success for women.
“Ugh, I hate that.”
Liette had ambition.
She wanted to become a female duke.
In the Truto Empire, noble titles usually passed only to sons or sons-in-law, but there was one exception:
Graduating with top honors from the Truto Public Noble Academy.
That was the only way a girl could inherit a title over her brothers or future husband.
Because she had that determined goal, Liette never neglected her studies.
“…Huh?”
While absorbed in a book, she suddenly felt a gaze and looked up. Behind the door, a tuft of black hair stuck out.
“I can see you, you know.”
At her words, the person pushed their head out a little more—revealing half a face.
Sure enough, it was Evan.
His clear eyes were filled with both curiosity and fear.
“H-hi, Liette.”
“If you’re going to stutter, don’t talk to me!”
He flinched at her warning but mustered his courage and stepped out fully from behind the door.
Swallowing hard, he spoke again.
“Hi, Liette.”
“Sure.”
Liette returned to her book, but Evan scooted over and sat beside her.
“Liette. The butler said to share this with you.”
She glanced over.
Evan was holding two perfect puddings in his hands.
“……”
She hesitated.
She didn’t want to eat something given by that boy… but the sweet vanilla aroma was irresistible.
“Just this once.”
“Huh? What is?”
“Eating with you! It’s just this once!”
When she snapped, Evan lowered his eyes and nodded.
“Okay…”
Liette frowned at him.
How could this timid kid grow up to become the most notorious man in the empire?
“…Liette. Do you hate me?”
His sudden question made Liette pause and stare at his face.
A boy with a face like a porcelain doll—so pretty it was unfair. And handsome men always caused trouble. Liette in the original novel had been one of their biggest victims.
“Yeah. Totally.”
At her blunt reply, Evan’s brows drooped.
“…Why? We just met yesterday.”
“You can tell, even from the first impression.”
Evan looked even more downcast.
“So… you hate me too, huh?”
Too?
Who else hated this guy?
Everyone around him adored him, practically worshipped him.
Liette grew curious.
“Who else hates you?”
She should probably go thank them or something!
Completely unaware of her wicked thoughts, Evan hesitated.
He looked around and finally spoke.
“…My father.”
“What? Duke Croyte?”
“…Yeah.”
“Why would he hate his own son?”
Liette blinked in surprise. That man seemed so kind, gentle, and wise.
She remembered him scolding Evan yesterday, but it had seemed like typical fatherly advice for a timid child.
“It’s a secret, okay, Liette?”
“Sure, I’m great at keeping secrets.”
I’m hiding my real identity pretty well, aren’t I?
Despite her half-hearted answer, Evan seemed determined.
He opened his mouth and whispered:
“It’s because… my mother died because of me.”
