Prologue
“Miss, please go back now. If you catch a cold, it’ll be a big problem.”
“The young duke told you never to go anywhere dangerous.”
The maids trailing behind me chattered like baby chicks.
I sighed at their overprotectiveness.
“I’m not dead yet, so ease up a little.”
“Gasp, Miss! Please don’t say such things. You’re going to live a long, long life!”
“Of course! The Duke and Young Duke will definitely bring back the cure.”
“So you just need to wait for them in good health, Miss.”
It all boiled down to one thing—they wanted me to go back to the estate.
Hmph, as if I’d just go.
“Stop pestering me and go back already.”
I quickly leaned against the trunk of a tree, waving my hand at the maids to shoo them away.
Faced with my firm attitude, the maids huddled together and whispered among themselves.
Regardless, I settled in comfortably and opened my book.
It was an herbal encyclopedia my father had gotten for me.
“I’ve tried this one, and that one too…”
There wasn’t a single herb in the book I hadn’t tried.
Sigh, at this rate, I really might die.
It had been a month since I was told I had only a short time left to live.
I was starting to feel anxious.
“Should I just boil and drink the roots of this tree?”
“…Miss, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
The voice responding to my muttering belonged to Rina, my personal maid.
It seemed she’d compromised by staying behind while the others left.
“The Duke would be furious if he found out.”
She looked nervous, probably worried I might order her to dig up the tree.
“I’m joking. No matter how desperate I am, I wouldn’t cut down a sacred tree.”
This tree, which had existed since the founding of our family, was said to contain a holy power.
Wasn’t it supposed to have sealed a demon?
‘Pfft, probably something the ancestors made up to sound impressive.’
I closed the book and brushed my fingers over the blue leaves scattered around.
“If only this were a miracle cure.”
It looked like an ordinary weed, but it was actually a known herb.
However, despite its grand name—Millennium Grass—it had virtually no medicinal properties.
And it grew so wildly that even the gardener gave up trying to manage it.
As I toyed with a leaf between my fingers, something caught my eye.
Half-buried in the soil, something faintly glowed red.
“A gem…?”
No, it sparkled more like a jewel.
It was covered in dirt from being tossed around during the week-long downpour, but it still gleamed like a pearl hidden in the mud.
Drawn in by the mysterious glow I had never seen before, I was completely captivated.
“Rina, look at this.”
“Huh? What are you talking about…?”
“Here. This jewel, about the size of a fist.”
I pointed right at it, but Rina couldn’t see it.
“…Miss, I’m sorry, but I don’t see anything there.”
“Rina, are you sure your eyes are okay? How could you miss something this big?”
“My apologies.”
“I’m not blaming you, but—cough, cough!”
“Miss!”
Rina rushed over, startled by my sudden coughing fit, and supported my shoulders.
“This won’t do. We need to return to the estate. It’s still chilly for a walk.”
“No. The estate feels stifling. I’ll stay a bit longer.”
And chilly? In May? Ridiculous.
Seeing that I wouldn’t back down, Rina finally stepped away.
“…Then I’ll bring a blanket. Please stay right here.”
After stressing that several times, she hurried off toward the mansion.
‘Not like I was planning to move anyway.’
Still fascinated by the jewel, I quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped away the dirt.
“Hehe…”
I giggled as I polished the gem contentedly.
Then suddenly, the jewel began to vibrate strongly—as if it were alive.
“…Huh?”
Crack! A fissure split the jewel, and mist poured out like smoke.
“Gasp! What the—?!”
Startled, I threw the jewel and tried to get up.
But I moved too quickly.
Thud! My foot caught on a tree root.
“Ah!”
I stumbled backward.
‘If I fall, that’s a five-week injury minimum…! I’ll shave a week off my lifespan!’
I flailed, trying to regain my balance.
That’s when a hand reached through the mist and wrapped around my waist.
Startled by the firm, warm grip, I looked up—just as the fog began to clear.
And then I saw him.
Golden hair, pure and untainted, shone like sunlight. His distinct features looked sculpted by the gods.
And those eyes—brilliant blue like my favorite sapphire.
He gazed into my face, scanning it like he was searching for something.
I was completely mesmerized by the breathtaking sight.
Then, his perfectly-shaped lips parted.
“Hello.”
Wow. Even his voice was amazing.
It was low and smooth, brushing against my ears like silk. Gentle, with no hint of threat.
Half out of my mind, I spoke without thinking.
“Are you… the genie from the lamp?”
Or maybe… some kind of Poké—monster that popped out of a sphere?
The man tilted his head.
“What’s that?”
Suddenly, the dazed feeling vanished—and an eerie chill ran down my spine.
Maybe it was because the ‘painting’ of a face had formed an actual expression.
Snapping out of it, I quickly wriggled out of his arms.
A person just appeared from a jewel. This wasn’t normal.
“You called me, and now you’re calling me something else. That’s a bit rude.”
Backing away three steps, I looked at him warily.
“…Who exactly are you?”
“I am Haraith Eckbert. You awakened me.”
“…What? Who?”
That name… shouldn’t show up here!
My name is Sienna Winter.
I was born the youngest daughter of the prestigious Winter Duchy—a family so powerful not even the imperial family could interfere.
I inherited my late mother’s frailty, and grew up swaddled in my family’s worry and affection. I got everything I wanted, and did whatever I pleased.
But an incurable disease—one with no name—constantly tormented me.
‘You have six months left. You should prepare yourself…’
That damned illness finally gave its verdict.
The day I collapsed upon hearing I had less than half a year left, something strange happened—I recalled my past life.
And I realized it—this world was from a novel.
In my previous life, I lived in the 21st century and had once read this very book.
I had been born as one of its characters.
Not the heroine, no.
I was a supporting role, meant to make someone else shine.
‘Damn it. If I were born as a background extra, I wouldn’t be in such despair.’
That’s right. I was the villainess who constantly tormented and hated the protagonist, Daphne.
And the reason was simple.
My fiancé—the male lead, Leo Maze—was in love with Daphne.
Though I was engaged to him first, I was nothing more than an obstacle that helped strengthen their love.
‘Seriously? He dumped me the moment she showed up? Spineless jerk.’
Even though I was the one hurt by their romance, the world was on the protagonist’s side.
I was dumped and labeled the villainous trash.
Even if Daphne was a poor noble girl, she was beloved by all.
And me? I was the arrogant, selfish noble lady everyone scorned.
‘Even thinking about it now pisses me off. They were the ones who started it.’
The original Sienna probably felt the same.
When she became terminally ill and even lost Leo to Daphne, she snapped.
She did something horrible.
She cursed Daphne using a magical artifact known as the Demon’s Bracelet.
You know what they say—if you want to ruin someone’s life, you have to risk your own.
As a result of the curse, Sienna received the backlash and died earlier than expected.
‘Backlash…? That’s my future? Are you kidding me?’
Who said I’d follow the original plot?
Thankfully, this happened before I used the cursed bracelet.
The moment I came to my senses, I began searching for ways to avoid my death ending.
Even with my terminal illness, if I wanted to live even one day longer—I had to escape the story.
The first step was breaking off the engagement.
‘Leo. Let’s call off our engagement.’
‘What?’
‘Get lost and go be with Daphne if you like her so much.’
Ditching Leo wasn’t hard.
Knowing the future, my feelings for him vanished instantly.
After dumping Leo Maze, I also cut ties with the bad crowd I once hung out with.
I locked myself up in the house and refused to touch any bracelets.
Just to be safe, I threw away every bracelet I owned.
I thought I had sealed off all danger.
But as I stood frozen, the man—Haraith—asked in a calm voice,
“Was my introduction too short?”
No, it was more than enough.
Haraith Eckbert. That name alone said it all.
A magical genius born once in a century.
And—
‘The demon’s contractor who destroyed the First Empire!’
Why the hell is he standing in front of me?
“He was sealed, though…”
“You just broke that seal a moment ago.”
Haraith pointed at the sacred tree—and the shattered jewel on the ground.
“…You don’t mean that jewel was the seal?”
“Yup. That tree was protecting that damned sealing jewel.”
Wait—so the ‘sacred tree’ wasn’t a made-up tale?
Was a demon’s contractor really sealed under there?!
“You don’t look well.”
I felt dizzy.
“Master, are you okay?”
“…Master? Who? Me?”
“Yup. Master. You woke me, didn’t you?”
His once sleepy face softened, and he smiled, eyes narrowing.
“The moment the seal broke, a master-servant bond was formed. So you’re my master now.”
“That’s ridiculous…”
“Nice to meet you, Master.”
Master. Master. Master—
His voice echoed like a chant.
Dazed, I tilted my head up to the sky.
‘Look up to stop the tears… smile just enough so they don’t fall…’
“Haha…”
Master of a demon contractor? What kind of absurd title is that?
I tried to avoid a death ending—and ended up triggering a bigger catastrophe.
My life… is so doomed.
And just like that, I fainted.
