Chapter 1

Chandeliers flashed as servants busily flitted about amidst the comforting, slow-tempoed songs of the court musicians.

Through the resonating music, aristocrats in fancy clothes conversated in small groups.

“Countess Clea Reno has arrived!”

The voice of the servant in charge of announcing the noble’s arrivals broke through the faint clamour of the banquet hall.

The court musicians did not pause in their performance and the servants continued to perform their duties.

However, the aristocrats who had been talking amongst each other, halted their conversations. Their eyes collectively moved towards the entrance of the banquet hall.

A beautiful woman entered the hall. The click of her heels hitting the marble sounded clearly over the music.

Her long wavy hair flowed about her and her emerald eyes were a beautiful contrast to her red hair.

She had distinct features with sharp eyes, attractive red lips and white skin. Dressed in a beautiful indigo dress, she walked down the red carpet with firm steps and headed straight towards the terrace.

‘Please……’

Clea prayed inwardly as she nervously eyed the HP bar suspended in front of her.

‘Please. Hold on until I arrive at the terrace.’

【HP 809/1210】

The flashing HP bar started flickering when there were only three steps left.

She took one step, then another and finally the last one. Clea stopped with a sigh and took out a handkerchief from her pocket.

“Cough-!”

Clea’s black handkerchief became smeared with blood.

【HP 806/1210】

【One third of the body’s HP has been reduced. Result is “vomiting blood.”】

Clea barely reached the terrace before she began ceaselessly coughing hard into her handkerchief.

She opened the door, went out and immediately sagged tiredly against the railing.

The other nobles, once they had confirmed the terrace door was firmly closed, shook their heads and covered their mouths with their fans.

“Oh my god, look at her trying to get attention again.”

“Yeah. It’s amazing the extent she goes to, carrying paint on her to try to garner our pity….. Tsk. It is only because we’re sincere people that we have to sympathize with…”

The nobles gathered together to laugh at her.

‘She carries a handkerchief every time and pretends to be sick in front of men. What a fox.’

Recently, rumours of her selling her body had been circulating and the socialites latched onto Clea Reno’s gossip with cruel intent.

“Did you hear? Archduke Detroit rejected her so coldly…”

“What nerve she has to confess to him….”

“I’m worried this entanglement will ruin the Archduke’s honor.”

Everyone clicked their tongues and shook their heads.

“Did she come here today to confess again?”

“This matter… what she did is beyond shameless.”

They were busy laughing and chatting among themselves.

If there is something to chew on, humans are able to talk about it for months or years on end without taking a break.

Clea’s sigh deepened as she listened to their conversations.

‘I can hear you all. These people….’

She frowned with annoyance. What was she thinking, coming onto the terrace and closing the door?

【Skill activated, ‘Enhanced Hearing’】

Thanks to her useless skill, she could hear all the insults from inside the banquet hall that was directed at her.

Damnit. Why was it her hearing that was reinforced?

There were so many things she should strengthen: her body, her health… But of all things, why was her hearing enhanced when her body was this fragile?

“Cough-!”

She raised her handkerchief reflexively to cover her mouth. Sure enough, blood was coughed up again.

If she stood still and didn’t move for a while, her HP would start replenishing once again.

‘I must be successful today.’

Clea sighed deeply.

During her first confession, she was coldly rejected and thus, failing to fulfill her mission. For this second confession, she had decided to do a thorough investigation beforehand so she could succeed in getting her prey.

It can’t be helped.

She had to get her life back, and to do that, she needed Isaac Detroit, the Archduke.

She had a six month deadline.

In this time span, she had to grant the original owner of this body her wish, which happened to be marriage to the Archduke.

She didn’t know anything about marriage, but she had made a contract with the Demon King because she had died in her original life. In exchange for fulfilling Clea’s wish, the devil had promised to bring her back to life in her original world.

Because of that, she was stuck in this situation.

‘Maybe if I’m lucky, I can get back to my life in six months.’

If she married Isaac Detroit and had a happy marriage, Clea Reno’s soul would be completed.

“I don’t have much time. He must accept my proposal.”

Since she only had 6 month’s time remaining, it would be impossible for her to have a child, but she could still get married and have a normal life as a newly wedded.

Even then, time was still tight.

“Isaac Detroit the Archduke has arrived!”

Clea’s body, which had been leaning against the railing, reflexively jerked up when she heard that.

Clea raised her head slightly to check her HP.

【HP 922/1210】

With that much HP, she had exactly 115 steps.

She had been leaning on the railing for a little over an hour, but her health had only regenerated enough for her to have 115 steps of freedom.

It took her awhile to learn the nuances of her new body after she arrived in this world but each step wore out 1 HP. The Spitting Blood effect occurs when her HP was lower than 806.

Clea suppressed her impatience and calculated the distance between the terrace and the Archduke.

‘It’s about 50 steps.’

If she walked in large strides, she could narrow it down to 35 steps.

Clea took a deep breath and left the terrace. The sound of her heels trailing in her wake.

As if it was just her and the Archduke of Detroit in the banquet hall, she beelined straight for him. She stopped near a table close to the emperor’s throne and leaned against the wall.

If she took one step in the wrong direction, she would waste one step and essentially lose a step of freedom.

With a tranquil and completely calm expression, Clea made up her mind. Even if her insides were burning, she had to complete her mission.

The Archduke of Detroit frowned when he saw Clea.

“You haven’t gotten tired, Lady.”

“I think persistence is one of my strengths,” despite the Archduke’s unfriendly response, Clea answered unfazed with a smile.

She didn’t even need his love, just… Clea raised her hands and looked directly at the Archduke.

“I have an offer.”

“I refuse.”

Pffft, the sound of laughter being held back sounded from somewhere behind her.

As her hearing was enhanced, she clearly heard it but Clea tried to ignore it and with a laugh, pretended as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

The Archduke of Detroit crossed his arms as he looked down into her eyes.

“I don’t understand why you’re clinging onto me.”

“… … It must be you.”

“I don’t remember doing anything for you.”

“Do you need a reason for love?”

Of course, she was just expressing Clea Reno’s feelings.

This was her second chance to live. If she can be happily married to him for half a year, she would be able to get back to her original body.

“Let’s go somewhere quiet for a drink.”

Even in her weak state, having only one drink should be fine.

Clea Reno, rather… This body she was in, had a limited time. Even a little walking could lead to low HP and her vomiting up blood.

Of course, drinking alcohol would make her condition worse.

“A drink…….”

“Yes, I brought a rare drink.”

She had robbed it from Count Reno’s warehouse.

It was fortunate that the late Count Reno was an avid alcohol collector.

According to the intel she had heard, the Archduke of Detroit was a big fan of alcoholic drinks.

“After we’re done talking, I will give the rest of the bottle to you,” Clea said, gesturing to a servant standing behind her that had his head lowered as he brought over the bottle on a silver tray.

The Archduke’s eyes shone with recognition, “That is the specialty of the Caldaf region: blood wine.”

“As you can see, it’s 752 years old.”

“If you have time, what do you think of coming to my mansion?”

Got you!

Clea smiled neatly, trying hard to hide her overflowing excitement.

The two people, who had arrived not long ago, left together.

The emperor hadn’t even made his appearance yet. However, the sole reason for the Archduke’s attendance was purely due to the precious liquor served at the ball.

Now that he had gotten an even better liquor, there was no reason for him to linger any longer in the noisy banquet hall.

The two people left the hall.

【HP 882/1210】

It took about 100 steps to walk from the banquet hall to the Imperial carriages.

Clea slowly took out another handkerchief and covered her mouth.

She frowned as she tried to catch up to the Archduke’s quick and long strides.

Cough cough.

Every time she took a step, she would vomit blood because her HP was decreasing in increments of 10 now. She had to stop walking as soon as possible.

“Why do you keep coming out when you are not in good health?”

”

”

“…what?”

“Those stupid people. They say it’s paint but it isn’t. I can tell it’s blood because of its smell. ”

Do you have a dog’s nose?She wanted to ask, but even talking would cause her HP to go down.

Clea eyes filled with determination as she took wide steps forwards towards the carriage parked far away.

“It will take us all day if we continue this way,” the Archduke of Detroit said with a sigh.

He told her to hand over the bottle of liquor to a servant, and then leaned down to pick her up.