Chapter 1
“You’re late.”
A middle-aged man with a mustache and wearing a lab coat looked down at me and said.
“Huh?”
What? What’s going on right now? I was sure I had just finished reading a book and closed my eyes for a moment.
When I came to, I was standing in front of some man, looking up at him apologetically.
How am I supposed to grasp the situation when I don’t even know what’s happening? Since he said I’m late, I should probably start by apologizing.
I slowly opened my mouth.
“I’m sorry…”
“The Duke is waiting. Go in.”
“O-okay.”
Without another word, I followed the man into the room.
“Welcome, Dr. Scott. And Lady Elena.”
Inside, a young man sitting on the bed greeted us with a smile.
Holy crap! He’s stunning! Wait a second—did he just say Dr. Scott and Elena?
The names struck a familiar chord somewhere in my memory.
Where had I heard them before?
I quickly searched my thoughts and realized they were characters from the book I had just finished reading before dozing off.
So I’m Elena? And that mustached man is Dr. Scott? Then the incredibly handsome man sitting on the bed must be… Calyx. The nobleman who, in the book, was executed as a serial killer.
Come to think of it, he was referred to as “Young Lord” in the original novel… but earlier someone said “Duke,” didn’t they? Was I remembering wrong? Now I’m confused.
Of all the genres, it had to be a mystery thriller I read before falling asleep…
Elena was Dr. Scott’s assistant. The modern-day equivalent of an intern or a resident. In short, a minor extra. But that wasn’t the real issue.
If I’m Elena, then I’m the fifth victim! Oh my god…
My mouth hung open on its own, but I forced myself not to react.
The original story, What Happened in That Village, was a novel that uncovered the truth behind a series of murders. Elena was the fifth person to die.
In person, Duke Calyx was even more stunning than described in the book. Gone were the scrawny frame and sallow skin—his black hair gleamed despite his sneezing fit, and his sea-blue eyes sparkled brightly. His slightly flushed eyes only added to his dangerously alluring charm.
No. Get it together. He’s a serial killer. He’s going to kill me! I may be shallow when it comes to good looks, but even I draw the line at someone who’s going to murder me… Damn it!
“Lady Elena? Is there something on my face?”
“Huh? Oh! No, nothing at all!”
“I see. You were staring so intently I thought something might be there. Achoo!”
“Ahaha…”
Don’t smile. Please don’t smile at me like that with that face…
I couldn’t tell if my heart was racing from fear or because Duke Calyx was just that good-looking.
Damn these retinas. Iris, get it together!
As I tried to calm myself, I noticed something unusual.
There were two dogs on Duke Calyx’s bed. One small white dog and one large brown dog, both calmly staying by their master’s side—it was a memorable sight.
In the novel, there was mention of him keeping dogs, but it wasn’t emphasized much.
While I glanced around the room, Dr. Scott began his examination.
“How are you feeling?”
“Same as usual. It’s itchy, I keep sneezing. Sometimes it’s hard to breathe.”
“Any fever?”
“No.”
“Any other discomfort?”
“Not really…”
“I see.”
Dr. Scott nodded as he wrote in a medical journal.
“I’ll prescribe something to ease the symptoms, as usual.”
“Alright.”
“Call if you feel worse. Elena, let’s go.”
“…”
Dr. Scott had always been a curt, taciturn man in the novel. His tone matched perfectly. So surreal.
Still dazed, I followed him out of the Duke’s room. As we exited, he tossed the medical journal into my hands.
“You can handle the prescriptions, right?”
“Huh?”
“I’ll be out on a business trip starting tomorrow. You’ll have to look after the Duke in the meantime.”
“Wait, what?”
Dr. Scott did frequently leave on business trips in the novel. Especially after a murder occurred. Which means… has the first murder already happened? Oh no.
“What’s with all the ‘what’s’ and ‘waits’? Are you trying to talk back or something?”
“No, wait, Doctor!”
Before I could say another word, he was gone—vanishing like the wind after saying his piece. Left holding the medical journal, I stood there in the hallway, stunned.
So now, freshly possessed, I’m supposed to diagnose and prescribe for the Duke every day?
“…”
The journal was filled with detailed notes on the Duke’s symptoms and treatments.
Should I just pack up and run? Would anyone really search high and low for a mere physician’s assistant?
“Sigh…”
A sigh escaped me. But I couldn’t stand around in the hallway forever. Reluctantly, I dragged my feet and started walking.
Dear God. Of all the books I could’ve landed in, why this one? Couldn’t I have been the adorable heroine of a childcare story, or a fiery protagonist in a steamy romance? I’d even take being an extra in another novel—as long as I didn’t die. Seriously. I want to cry.
Just then, as I reached the first floor, I overheard some maids chatting as they cleaned.
“I heard they found a body near the Seine River.”
“I heard that too. They said it was gruesome. God, the heart was missing.”
“Who could do something so horrific…?”
“Better be careful walking at night.”
“Never go out alone, that’s for sure.”
The Seine River? That’s where the first victim was found in the novel. So the story has just begun. Which means… I’ve got three people ahead of me.
A chill ran down my spine. Goosebumps prickled on my arms.
If only I’d ended up here long before or after the events of the novel. But it’s too late to complain now.
Then again, this is what life is like for transmigrators, right? Whether heroine or villainess, everyone fights for survival. That’s the cliché.
So forget the plot—I need to survive. No matter what, I’m escaping tonight.
Having made up my mind, I took the medical journal and headed for the dispensary. The annex contained Dr. Scott’s room, my room, the dispensary, a laboratory, and a greenhouse for growing medicinal herbs. Dr. Scott was the hands-on type who always made the medicine himself.
“First, I need to prepare today’s prescription so no one gets suspicious.”
Inside the dispensary, I began mixing the medicine using the techniques I had learned. Thankfully, Elena seemed to have a knack for it. Nothing felt particularly difficult or unfamiliar. Maybe she was smart enough for Dr. Scott to leave everything in her hands…
The notes didn’t indicate any major illness—just mild symptoms like coughing or sneezing. In the novel, he was portrayed as suffering from a chronic illness severe enough to hinder his daily life, but this felt more like mild allergies or a cold.
Once the medicine was ready, I handed it off to a maid and returned to my room to pack. I had prepared a few days’ worth of prescriptions, so even if Dr. Scott wasn’t around, it wouldn’t be an issue. Or maybe if I ran away first, he might cancel his trip.
I waited for nightfall. When the moon was at its highest and everyone was fast asleep—
“Alright. Time to save my own life.”
Carefully, I opened the door without making a sound and slipped out. Even in the hallway, I tiptoed to avoid making a single footstep echo. As I crossed the garden toward the front gate—
“Where are you headed at this hour, Lady Elena?”
A gentle voice spoke from behind me. Slowly, I turned around.
Standing there was the man with the deep, ocean-blue eyes, staring intently at me.
