Variable (1)

As the cold night air brushed past my head, the only thing that followed was an emotion so chilling it sent shivers down my spine.

Because the moment I recalled the conversation I’d just had with Ethan inside the banquet hall, my heart sank with a heavy thud.

‘Why didn’t you move away until that noble lady’s lips were right in front of Ed’s face?’

‘Do you also think breasts of that modest size are much more to your liking than these disgustingly large ones of mine?’

I have no idea what possessed me to spout such nonsense in front of Ethan. Especially that second remark-it made me sound less like a fiancée suspicious of her partner’s infidelity and more like some deranged woman whining, ‘Why don’t you love me?’

‘Fuck. How embarrassing. Why the hell did I blurt that out?’

Now that time and the cool night air had cleared my head, my face burned-not from the summer heat, but purely from the shame of that conversation.

“Ugh, so embarrassing….”

I should’ve just stuck to the original plan and played the role of a vicious, hysterical noblewoman. Whether Ethan had intended to avoid kissing that girl or not-why the hell did that even matter?

Well, strictly speaking, it did. If their lips had touched, I’d have been haunted by the image of that white wine bitch every time I kissed Ethan from then on. Awkward, to say the least.

So of course I had to stop it. And in that sense, Ethan’s actions were a little… unusual.

‘No, no, no, no, no.’

Why the hell am I casually assuming there’ll be more kisses with Ethan in the future?

Lately, the frequency of locking lips with Ethan has gotten absurdly high, and it’s made my thinking dangerously lax. Without realizing it, I’d started treating kissing as just another casual form of physical contact. Since when was that ever acceptable between a man and a woman?

I can’t let this mindset become normal. If I do, I might start rationalizing that anything short of losing my virginity is fair game.

‘…Still, I guess it all worked out in the end.’

At least I’d successfully signaled to Machart that Ethan and I were on the rocks. Ethan had been flustered at first, but he quickly regained his composure and played along with my act. As a result, the rift between us came across far more naturally than I’d planned.

Now, once Machart approaches me-the abandoned fiancée-I’ll call in the others and we’ll take him down in one go. No matter how strong his demonic powers are, he won’t stand a chance against overwhelming numbers.

‘The signal device is prepped and ready. Everything’s set.’

Quality comes at a price, and though it’s a one-time-use, one-way signal, it’s not bad. Sure, ‘one-time-use’ doesn’t mean it’s cheap, but compared to the value of my life, it’s a bargain.

When Machart pounces, I’ll channel my mana into the device, and the others from the banquet will come running-Ethan, the Hero, Agnes, Celista. With that lineup, we can erase a half-demon like Machart in seconds.

Then, I’ll use my Saintess authority to expose his demonic power in front of everyone and frame Celista as the one who granted it. After a month of preparation, once this plan wraps up, everything else should fall into place.

‘It’ll work. It has to.’

If it doesn’t, I’ll have no choice but to abandon this and throw my lot in with the Hero’s party.

No matter how many hours I spent playing 『Luminor Academy』 in my past life or how well I know the story, that knowledge isn’t some mark of genius. If my plan fails, I’ll just have to switch to the foolproof method of letting the Hero’s party handle Machart. And the years of suffering after graduation? Just the price I pay for getting tangled up with that bastard in the first place.

As I waited quietly for Machart to appear, my mind drifted back to the conversation with Ethan.

That painful truth he’d thrown at me near the end of our fake argument.

‘Did you really think becoming engaged to a ducal house would make you something special, you mere baronet’s daughter? Without that engagement, you’re just another low-ranking noble girl with no backing.’

…Well, he’s not wrong.

I’d gotten so caught up in academy life that I’d forgotten for a while. Ethan is the heir of the Blackwood ducal family-one of the most powerful houses-while I’m just a baronet’s daughter from a branch family, and even that’s a fake identity covering up my commoner origins.

I knew this, which is why I always made sure to address Ethan with the utmost respect, emphasizing my role as his ‘exclusive maid.’ But lately, with everything that’s happened, my relationship with him has gotten way too casual.

Maybe it’s because the people around me are all so high-ranking. The future Red Tower Lord, the Hero, the Saintess-I’ve gotten too close to the real elites.

‘He didn’t really mean that “mere baronet’s daughter” comment, but… ugh.’

Still, the fact that it slipped out so naturally means he must’ve been thinking it all along, right? That’s the only way those words could’ve come so easily. The thought kept gnawing at me.

Left alone, my mind kept spiraling into negativity. I just wanted to get this over with and ditch these painful thoughts.

As I played the role of the ‘abandoned fiancée’ in the palace’s rear garden, the star of tonight’s show finally made his appearance.

…Not that I wanted to see him, but at this point, it was inevitable.

“My, what a lonely sight you make, my lady.”

“……”

With the sound of footsteps and an opening line that made me want to vomit, none other than tonight’s prey-Prince Machart-appeared.

He must’ve followed me the moment I left the banquet. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have found me so quickly.

While everyone else was inside scouting for tonight’s bed partners, I was out here in the rear garden, wallowing in self-pity.

And this bastard Machart had been creeping on me for nearly two months now, so he had no choice but to take the bait.

‘First, I need to buy time.’

I channeled mana into the signal device hidden in my pocket, summoning the others from the banquet to the rear garden.

It’d take about 20 seconds for the mana to transmit the signal. Then, accounting for the time needed for the others to slip away unnoticed and arrive, I’d have to stall for one or two minutes.

If they showed up in a group, it’d look like a blatant attempt to murder an innocent prince, so they’d need to sneak in under stealth magic or concealment spells-which took time.

Until then, my job was to avoid being dragged into a ‘private’ space with Machart.

“Well, whether my back looks lonely or not, what’s it to you?”

“Hmm. Nothing, I suppose. But I can make sure it’s not lonely from now on.”

“Bullshit. Fuck. Just when I was starting to forget about you….”

Suppressing the trembling in my chest, I forced myself to keep up the act.

No unnecessary fear, no hint that I was hiding something-just the same attitude I’d always shown him.

If I acted differently, he might catch on and flee. I had to wait until he was fully trapped.

“So. How’ve you been, Lillith?”

“Don’t fucking call me by name. It makes me sick.”

“Then how about a nickname? Lily?”

“You fucking bastard!”

Hearing ‘Lily’ from Machart’s mouth made me lose control for a second.

Calm down. Stay calm. Don’t let him dictate the pace.

“I’ve missed you. Normally, when I take a liking to a woman, I have her in my bed within a week. But you? Your guards were too tight.”

“Oh, really?”

“Protected around the clock, just like a proper lady. By that young master you serve and the Blaze family’s daughter.”

“……”

“The power I wield isn’t suited for handling multiple opponents at once… Let’s just say demonic abilities aren’t the easiest to manage.”

Machart openly admitted to wielding demonic power, as if he no longer cared about hiding it.

Since I already knew, he must’ve seen no point in secrecy. His confidence meant he was sure he could silence me for good.

Not many would take the word of a baronet’s daughter seriously anyway. That’s why he’d remained unscathed for nearly two months since attacking me.

In the end, I had to gather only those who’d believe me to resolve this. By now, the others should’ve received my signal. All that was left was to stall until they arrived.

“By the way, if you’re so well-protected, why are you alone now? Should I take this as you finally opening your heart to me?”

“…Do whatever you want. Delusions are free.”

-Swiish.

“Of course, with that thick skull of yours, today’ll probably be the last time you get to entertain such ridiculous delusions.”

The Blackwood-crested dagger I’d hidden under my dress glinted coldly.

The battle against Machart-an early fourth-act boss-had begun.