Chapter 1
I transmigrated into the body of the villainess who secretly stole the male lead’s heart and sold it to a neighboring kingdom.
If anyone finds out that I was the thief, I’ll die.
That’s exactly how the villainess’s story ended.
So right now, I’m desperately trying to retrieve that heart without being caught.
Everything would’ve gone smoothly—if only I hadn’t picked up the male lead off the street.
Damn it. Why is this happening to me?
I have no idea how I ended up possessing the villainess from a novel.
All I ever did was work hard. That’s my only “crime.” And yet, death by overwork?
My last memory was sitting at my office desk, working late into the night.
When I opened my eyes, I was someone else entirely.
It had to be death from overwork. I’d worked so hard that I’d finally gone insane—that was the only explanation.
After about three months of living in this new body, I gave up trying to figure out why I had transmigrated.
There were several reasons for my quick acceptance, but the most decisive one was this:
In Korea, I was already dead.
And the villainess I possessed—Countess Édith—was extremely busy.
So busy that I had no time to think about anything else.
Before I knew it, a year had already passed since I joined her life.
But then came the real problem.
One day, I stumbled upon the male lead—collapsed on the street.
The same male lead who, in the future, would kill me.
This was already the third time. An absurd coincidence if there ever was one.
“…Ugh.”
The man lay on the ground, groaning in pain.
It was a dark alley, so thankfully no one else was around.
I pulled a large handkerchief from my bag and wrapped it around my face—covering my nose and mouth.
Then, slipping on a pair of thick gloves, I stared down at the fallen man.
It was just like before. Every time, I found him like this—on the brink of death.
And every time, I treated his wounds.
For some reason, I felt his mysterious collapses had something to do with the missing heart.
So I couldn’t just leave him there.
After the first few encounters, I’d started carrying supplies just in case.
The male lead’s blood was toxic—it was dangerous to touch him with bare hands.
“Maybe he’d survive even if I left him alone… he is the protagonist, after all.”
I hesitated, but shook my head. No—if I left him like this, he’d probably really die.
And that would be a disaster.
The villainess I possessed, Countess Édith, had attempted to assassinate the male lead countless times before.
Two years before I took over her body, she had stolen the heart of the male lead—an inhuman being and a member of the imperial family.
Now, over a year had passed since I became her. Which meant three years in total had gone by since the theft.
Before her crime could be discovered, she had hoped the male lead would simply die.
Even though his death would still make her a prime suspect in the murder of a royal, she didn’t seem to care.
Maybe she was confident she wouldn’t be caught?
Who knows. But because of her actions, if he died now, I would become the prime suspect.
That could never happen.
“Hey… are you okay?”
I poked him cautiously with my gloved hand.
He didn’t respond—either unconscious or in too much pain.
As usual, he wouldn’t wake up.
I’d never once seen the male lead conscious. Every time I found him, he was barely clinging to life.
I should just stop the bleeding, drag him somewhere safe, and leave before he wakes up.
“I mean… he’s exactly my type though…”
I crouched beside him, admiring his face. His pure platinum hair was so divine, it was like an angel had descended.
He looked delicate, yet his body—hardened from sword training—was strong and well-built.
“Come on, I’m doing my best here. You could at least appreciate it.”
Muttering to myself, I took out antiseptic and gauze from my bag.
As I lifted his torn shirt to examine the wound—
A large hand suddenly grabbed my arm.
“AAAHHH!”
I screamed and fell backward, completely startled.
The man, frowning deeply, slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position.
He actually looked… okay.
After letting out a pained breath, his eyes found mine. His expression shifted from confusion to surprise.
After a long pause, he spoke in a calm but low voice.
“So it wasn’t my imagination…”
He scowled.
“Countess Édith, what on earth are you plotting?”
01
Oh my god. Did he just figure out who I am?!
Panicking, I didn’t even think to answer—I just turned to run.
If that huge man hadn’t grabbed my arm, I might’ve actually escaped.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Let… let go!”
In a panic, I swung my handbag at his face.
Unfortunately, there was a rock inside.
And yes, there’s a long story behind that rock.
“…I’m screwed.”
The man collapsed, unconscious again. I froze.
Well, at least this time he really fainted.
After waiting too long, my aide Edward came looking for me.
I was struggling to drag the unconscious Linus when I locked eyes with him.
At first, Edward looked shocked. Then he sighed and muttered bitterly,
“…Countess, have you resorted to murder now?”
“Stop talking nonsense and help me! Someone’s following us—hurry!”
If I got caught like this, they’d think I was trying to assassinate a member of the royal family.
Better to take him to my mansion, treat him, and claim I saved him.
Grumbling, Edward helped me move Linus.
Our coachman, old Charles, looked alarmed but stayed calm as he helped us shove the man into the carriage.
“Go! Quickly!”
I wiped the sweat from my temple and climbed in.
Just as Edward closed the carriage door behind us, someone knocked from outside.
Panicking, I lifted my dress and hid Linus underneath.
Edward looked at me in shock, but I ignored him and opened the window.
Outside stood a middle-aged man in a black formal suit, twirling his mustache.
A familiar face.
He flinched when he saw me. Understandable—after all, I was the infamous villainess of the century.
I lowered my voice as much as possible.
“Been a while, hasn’t it?”
He relaxed slightly, forcing a smile.
“My apologies. I believe we last met at the Council of State.”
He reached his hand into the carriage window.
Viscount Winstin. We weren’t exactly on friendly terms beyond formal meetings.
He was also the male lead’s uncle—and his lifelong abuser. The story’s ultimate villain.
Even if Linus was treated as a discarded royal, he was still a prince of this empire.
Yet Winstin had abused him mercilessly for years. Truly a bold man.
But not as bold as me.
I tilted my head, staring at his outstretched hand.
“You’ve got guts—blocking my carriage like this. You’d better have a damn good reason, Viscount.”
Winstin awkwardly withdrew his hand.
When I saw his gaze shift toward the inside of the carriage, I quickly cut him off.
“Viscount Winstin, I asked for your business. Speak.”
He raised an eyebrow, noticing my sharp tone.
Good. I’d successfully provoked him—his focus was now entirely on me.
He frowned, clearly displeased.
But perhaps because of my rank and reputation, he couldn’t rebuke me.
Grinding his teeth, he forced a smile.
“I’m looking for someone. I’m certain he passed this way—a young man with platinum hair. Handsome.”
“I haven’t seen him. A platinum-haired youth… don’t tell me Prince Arnold ran away from you again?”
His smile froze—an angry, dangerous kind of smile.
Everyone suspected him of abusing the prince, but since the emperor turned a blind eye, it remained unspoken.
By pointing it out so blatantly, I’d definitely hit a nerve.
“Oh my, what’s with that face? You look… guilty? Ha ha ha!”
I laughed, waving my hand dismissively.
“Are we done here? I’m a very busy woman, so stop wasting my time.”
And with that, I slammed the carriage window shut right in front of his face.
The carriage wheels began to roll immediately.
I placed a hand over my chest, exhaling deeply.
“Viscount Winstin is terrifying… I almost ran away.”
I peeked under my skirt—thankfully, Linus was still unconscious.
“For someone who was supposedly terrified, you mocked him quite elegantly,” Edward muttered, shaking his head.
He checked Linus’s pulse with a sigh.
