Sikar Blake was waving his longsword toward my neck, as if ready to slash it at any moment.
Outwardly, he claimed it was a negotiation, but it was no different from a threat to kill me if I refused.
“I will accommodate your conditions as much as possible, and I will assign you a personal maid.”
I stared at the sword trembling beneath my neck, then spoke to him, sweating profusely.
“H-how long must I stay here?”
“You must remain in this house until our grandmother recovers.”
What? Where else in the world does such coercion exist? But shouting that to myself was useless against the absolute ruler of this world.
I answered in a limp, lifeless voice.
“…Yes.”
Only then did he sheathe the longsword that had been dancing beneath my neck.
“You’re somewhat reasonable. A maid will soon guide you to your room—wait here.”
After Sikar Blake left, I unconsciously looked around, wondering if there was anywhere I could escape to.
Right now, this place is the safest in this world—but in ten years, it will become the most dangerous place in this world.
Because he is the villain, he will be killed by the well-grown protagonist ten years later.
Of course, I didn’t want to leave this house immediately out of fear of what would happen ten years later.
Sikar Blake, distrustful of others, always inspected a person’s memories before keeping them close.
Which meant, if I stayed in this house, I would soon have my memories read by him.
Then, he would learn this world is a novel—and if that already-mad man learns this place is fictional, he might go completely insane.
Perhaps he’d even think I’m a witch and chop off my head. Just thinking about it sent chills down my spine.
While lost in such thoughts, head buried on the table, a maid with neatly tied-back hair entered the room.
“Hello. I am Mary, and from now on, I will be attending to you, Miss.”
Mary appeared to be just barely twenty, with a cute and youthful face.
“Please follow me, Miss.”
The room I entered, following Mary, was located on the inner side of the second floor of the mansion—so large it could fit twenty beds.
“I decorated it while you were eating; I hope you like it.”
Mary smiled shyly as she guided me around the room. The place she introduced with the most confidence was the wardrobe.
Inside hung several dresses that, even to my eyes from another world, looked expensive.
“There were no women’s clothes in the house, so I hastily gathered these—all of them are quite valuable. To live here, you must first change out of that strange… Oh! Forgive me, Miss. First, please change into this outfit.”
My attire—ordinary jeans and a T-shirt—must have looked unfamiliar and odd to the people here.
“You should also grow your hair longer. Nobles here all have long hair.”
“Yes. Thank you, Mary. Now, please leave.”
Mary tilted her head at my words.
“Yes?”
“You may go now. I need to change clothes.”
“Oh my, Miss! You’re being too polite to me. From now on, please speak informally. Also, I must assist you in dressing, so I cannot leave now.”
Who needs help dressing? I hadn’t had anyone dress me since early childhood, whose memories I barely recall, so I firmly declined.
“It’s fine. I’ll dress myself.”
“It may be inconvenient to dress alone—you must tighten the front laces.”
“My wrist strength is good, so I’m fine.”
Working at a daycare, carrying children daily, had certainly strengthened my arms.
Mary soon looked distressed and pouted.
“If the head maid finds out, she’ll scold me for not properly attending to you. I might even be expelled from this mansion. My family is poor—if I’m dismissed, their livelihood will be ruined. Miss… please, I beg you, allow me to help you dress…”
Mary’s face fell completely, looking utterly dejected.
Since I planned to observe the situation and escape this mansion, I disliked the heavy-looking dress at first glance—but I figured I could change later, so I agreed.
But when I actually put on the dress, it wasn’t as heavy as I thought.
“The dress is lighter than I expected?”
Mary smiled gently at my puzzled expression.
“This dress is lightweight, Miss, so it’s not very heavy.”
“Really?”
It must be expensive, though. I can sell it later.
“More importantly, Miss—would you like to look in the mirror? The dress suits you so well. You look absolutely beautiful, Miss.”
Saying that, Mary dashed off, fetched a full-length mirror, and placed it before me.
“Look, Miss. You truly are stunning.”
I’d never worn such clothing before, but they say clothes make the person—I thought I looked quite nice too.
“Now, I’ll style your hair, Miss.”
I wondered how she’d manage my short hair, but Mary skillfully braided it. Upon closer inspection, it was a rice-ear braid.
Given my bob cut, this rice-ear braid was probably the most she could do—and I quite liked it.
After finishing all preparations, I went downstairs and found Hylis, Sikar Blake’s grandmother, waiting for me.
Seeing her neat and warm appearance, I felt my senses returning.
“Oh, come, sit. I heard you saved me.”
“Oh, no—I didn’t save you, I just helped a little.”
Hylis clasped my hands with tearful, moved eyes.
“Caring for a senile elder, even briefly, counts as saving me. What a kind-hearted child you are.”
Hylis’s hands were so warm, they reminded me of my late grandmother.
“Seeing you just reminded me of my own grandmother.”
“Oh, I see. You must have loved your grandmother very much.”
“I received so much love from her…”
Just as I felt my nose tingling from the rare warmth, Sikar Blake appeared, shattering the moment.
“How dare you address the matriarch of a ducal house as ‘elder’? Normally, you’d be punished—but since you saved our grandmother, I’ll exceptionally forgive you.”
What should I call her, then? I wanted to ask, but instead bowed deeply.
“I am profoundly grateful for your grace, merciful Duke.”
Would that suffice?
Sikar Blake didn’t smile, but slightly lifted the corner of his mouth, as if my answer pleased him, and extended his hand to me.
“As a gesture of forgiveness, I grant you the honor of shaking hands with me.”
The moment I saw his outstretched hand, cold sweat ran down my spine.
That hand felt like the Grim Reaper’s. He was deliberately requesting a handshake to read my memories.
I bowed deeply, feigning utmost humility.
“Though shaking hands with Your Grace would be an immeasurable honor, I am unworthy of such grace.”
In other words: I won’t shake your hand.
Sikar Blake, who’d never been refused a handshake, stared at me as if to say, “Oh, really?”
He lowered his hand with an amused expression, but he hadn’t backed down. He would use another method to read my memories.
Sikar Blake had a routine for reading people’s memories.
When in a hurry, he’d directly request a handshake, as he just did.
But when not in a rush—
Say, when recruiting a subordinate—he’d spout absurd claims like judging people by their hands, then ask to see them.
Since noble young ladies’ hands couldn’t be touched casually, he’d request dances to hold hands, or use polite gestures to grasp hands or arms to read memories.
Thus, wherever Sikar Blake’s hand touched, memories would be read.
True to form, when the handshake failed, Sikar Blake deployed all his tactics.
“I tend to judge whether someone may join us by examining their hands. To assess you, show me your hand.”
‘I have nothing to lose. Bring it on.’
“My hands are too rough to be called a lady’s—I’m afraid and ashamed to show them to anyone. If you deem me unfit for this house, expel me. Please, in your magnanimity, withdraw your request to see my most shameful hands—I’d be eternally grateful.”
‘That won’t work, will it?’
Sikar Blake didn’t give up. He next invited me to dance—and naturally, I refused.
“If I, of such lowly status, dance with Your Excellency, I fear I’d tarnish your great achievements.”
‘Come on, you’ve tried enough—just give up already.’
Fortunately, Sikar Blake seemed to give up for today.
After exchanging brief pleasantries with Hylis, late night arrived. Now, only escaping this house remained.
As I climbed the stairs toward my room, I heard Sikar Blake following behind.
So terrified—as if a ghost trailed me—I hurried up the steps.
Of course, I lifted my dress high enough to avoid tripping and accidentally falling into his chest.
Sikar Blake seized this moment, following closely behind, making my heart feel like it would drop.
“Is there anything you find uncomfortable?”
“No. Nothing!”
“If wine is lacking, or you need bathwater before bed, or anything else—feel free to ask anytime. I intend to grant all your wishes.”
‘He’s definitely scheming to read my memories. Sly bastard.’
“The grace you’ve already bestowed is already too immense to repay—please don’t trouble yourself further.”
I quickly opened the door, stepped inside, and spoke with my back turned.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me—I’m so tired I must go straight to bed, Your Grace.”
“I hope you sleep comfortably.”
Sikar Blake walked down the corridor with an unpleasant smile.
Once I confirmed he’d completely disappeared down the corridor’s end, I hastily shut the door.
There was not a moment to lose.
Opening the window, I saw that though this was the “second floor,” its height differed greatly from a typical second-floor building—more like the third or fourth floor of an apartment.
It was frightening, but if I didn’t escape now, I’d certainly have my memories read tomorrow—so I had no choice but to attempt escape.
I tore down all curtains hanging by the window, tied knots at intervals, and fashioned a fairly sturdy, safe curtain ladder.
Then, I bundled the money Sikar Blake gave me, slung it over my back like a bag—and everything was perfect.
‘Now is the time to escape.’
I immediately threw the curtain ladder out the window, then tied it to the sturdiest-looking pillar in the room.
Carefully placing my foot on each knotted section, descending step by step, I felt everything proceeding smoothly.
Of course, my heart pounded as if about to burst, but I reminded myself: “Even in a tiger’s den, you survive if you keep your wits sharp,” and kept stepping down.
Looking down brought waves of fear, but my survival instinct—to escape this place where a madman holds a sword to my neck demanding “deals”—gave me courage.
In this vast mansion, at this late hour, who would notice if I disappeared?
But, as they say—who plans well until they’re beaten?
Until then, I hadn’t known—the room directly below, on the first floor, was Sikar Blake’s study.
I was mere knots away from touching the ground—the very moment before escape.
Suddenly, the room before me lit up, brightly illuminating my figure.
And the face revealed in that bright window was none other than Sikar Blake.
“Are you attempting to escape right now?”
Meeting his gaze, I froze like someone who’d forgotten how to move.
Sikar Blake wasted no time—he opened the window and yanked the curtain I was clinging to.
Helpless, hanging by a single curtain, I was instantly pulled along and caught by his hand around my waist.
And… he swiftly read my memories.
“So you knew I can read others’ memories.”
When someone is too terrified, they can do nothing, right? I couldn’t utter a word.
And I’d been caught—exactly what I must never let him discover. He frowned, clearly displeased, and said:
“Moreover… this place is… within a novel?”
Will I… survive?
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
