Chapter 1

"The Duke sent a letter."

As soon as I entered the room, my father spoke immediately.

"What? Why?" My heart began to beat fast from nervous.

"It says that he can lent us a hand, In one condition." Without even glancing at me, he continued signing his papers.

"W-what's the condition?" I nervously asked. I already knew the condition but I can't help myself from asking.

My father who was currently working on his paper, stopped. He sigh and took a glance at me and then continued signing his papers again as he spoke.

"You'll marry him."

"And? D-did you reject?"

"Why would i reject?"

I clenched the hem of my dress as my eyes began to blurry.

"Father! Why didn't you reject?! I've already told you I won't marry that ma—"

My father abruptly stepped up and slapped me as I responded with a loud voice, expressing my reluctance.

Tears streamed down my cheek as I caressed my smacked cheek and turned to face my father, who was already standing in front of me. He spoke while pointing at my head, as if he was trying to teach me something.

"You! Who told you to speak louder to me?! Soheila, don't be arrogant and pay attention to what I'm saying! Simply wed the Duke! Aren't you aware that the Duke is being pursued by a slew of females? Many women aspire to be his wife, and yet you are boasting! Do you really believe I'll let you marry the baron's son over there?! What an embarrassment to our family!"

"F-father! please... you can't do this to me... Hic... I love him... I-i won't marry, hic, the Duke..." Still crying as i said those words, i immediately left the room and run to my bedroom.

°*°*°*°*°*°*°*°

I wiped away my tears and gripped my two fists hard as soon as I reached my room.

'OK! Did I pull off a good performance?!' i excitedly thought.

I abruptly touched my left cheek that got slapped.

"It's perfectly acceptable! According to the novel, Soheila will flee around 12 a.m., and no one will notice because everyone in the manor has already fallen asleep. Despite the fact that the location was still guarded by knights, she managed to get away. So all I have to do now is copy her and avoid the guard in order to get out of here!"

What I did before was all a ruse. I'm acting because I intend to follow in Soheila's footsteps mentioned in the novel. And the boron's son, as previously noted, was used as a scapegoat.

In the novel, Soheila love the baron's son, Vin Ludia, that she'll do whatever she can just to be with him. Although Vin also love Soheila, he forbids himself from having deeper feelings for her, because he knows that the Marquis will not just let her daughter marry a baron's son, like himself. And as expected, when Marquis Herbert heard that his daughter is going to marry a baron's son, he locked her daughter in the manor and forbade her from going outside. A month have passed by just like that but it seems that Soheila was firm about marrying Vin. While the Marquis was having a headache about his daughter, he received a news that the merchant that he put his trust into was a scammer. This put the Marquis in a difficult spot. Not only was the Marquis got scammed but many other aristocrats. So when the Marquis receive a letter from Duke Zeaniel, who only below the emperor in terms of status, says that he can lent them a hand in condition of marrying his daughter, he readily agreed. Not only did he not lose from the condition, but he can also kill two birds in one stone which is his daughter becoming a Duchess and the money lent by the duke.

Soheila and Vin fled when they learned that she was being sold to that 'bloodthirsty Duke.' But, after a four-day search, she was discovered by the Duke's soldiers, and she had no choice but to marry him. The other aristocracy felt sorry for her, and a story of what she had to go through simply to be with her love became a popular topic among the empire's aristocratic ladies for years.

And in the novel, Soheila and the Duke were merely supporting characters, since their son was the main character. Their narrative story was only brought up since it is still popular among aristocratic women.

As a result, i was transmigrated before the protagonist was even born. Actually, Vin and I have already broken up in the month since I've transmigrated since he understands my predicament. He claims that it's fine because his emotions haven't yet been fully engraved in his heart. So I proposed that we remain friends, and he accepted.

Anyway, in a previous life, I was Helene Cortez, a 24-year-old woman. I was killed when I was struck by a car while crossing the street on my way home from work. And just when I thought I was dead, I awoke in someone else's body.

my prior life, I didn't stand out in any way. I have a family, but it is far from ideal. When I was ten years old, my father abandoned us for his mistress. My brother, who is four years older than me, and my sister, who is three years younger, are my only siblings. Because my mother was a martyr for my father and I was a daddy's girl, when he left us, she sent me to his new family to encourage him to come back to us.

I never told my father what my mother had said to me, but he already knew. As a result, he no longer pays attention to me. My father's woman was already 7 months pregnant when they married. Auntie Mei was initially kind to me, treating me like her own child but as the years passed, she began to abuse me, especially after my father died in a car accident when I was 14 years old.

My father died when I was fourteen years old and I wanted to go home to my mother after I learned of my father's death, but she refused, saying that Why would she accept me if I couldn't even persuade my father to return home to our family.

So I stayed with my aunt until I was eighteen years old. Auntie Mei's abuse was something I had to put up with and When I reached legal age, I immediately moved out of my aunt's house and began living on my own.

I continued to live alone until I was 24 years old, when I was killed by a truck on my way home from work. I was taken aback when I realized I was in a new body. I even wondered why I was still alive, but then memories that weren't mine kept popping into my head when i first woke up, and then I realized I was inside a novel I read when i was in high school. However, I eventually accepted my death and began living my new life as Soheila.

Even if I intend to flee, I can't picture marrying someone I don't know very well, because Duke Zeaniel's name isn't spoken much in the story, and his personality isn't described very well. The 'bloodthirsty Duke' is how he's known. As a result, I want to run away and live the life I desire.

*°*°*°*°*°*°*°*°

Marquis Herbert took a seat and read Duke Zeaniel's letter. He kept rereading the letter at the end of the paper.

'Watch out for my wife, I expect her to flee.'

Marquis, amused, laughed gently. "Your wife, huh?" he added.

"Zion."

In the dim light, Marquis Herbert, spoke.

like a wind passing by, Someone arrived out of nowhere in the room within the darkness. He's the Marquis's shadow, and he does everything the Marquis ordered in the dark.

"Keep a close eye on my daughter. I also have a feeling that she'll run away."

"Yes, sir." The figure in the dark immediately answered. "Is there anything more I should know, sir?" Zion Added.

"Simply keep an eye on her. And if she manages to get away, let her go. I'm curious what he'll do if we allow her 

flee right in front of our eyes." The Marquis spoke then Laugh heartily.

°*°*°*°*°*°*°*°

As a new author, I may make a lot of mistakes, and if I do, please criticize and scold me. I'll appreciate it. How am I supposed to improve the story if you don't chastise me? I'm writing a story to improve what I'm lacking by soliciting your feedback, and by soliciting your feedback, I'll gain experience that will help me write. But please don't go too overboard, it may end up breaking this tiny bit confidence I'm keeping. also, please correct me if any of my grammar or spelling are wrong. I'm willing to learn.