Chapter 1.1

[One. The novel, The Duke’s Lover]

「“It doesn’t matter if I die, as long as you are safe.”

Ver kissed Cecia’s hand while his other hand lay on his chest.

A knight’s vow. It was something a knight could give only once in their life.

Of course, there were knights that abused these oaths. But for Ver, it was his one and only chance. Even from before, it was something he swore he’d give to her once he became an imperial knight.

A surprised look was seen on Cecia’s face. Ver knew the meaning of that expression.

Not his own lover, Ver was in love with someone else’s woman. But whether it was in the past or even in the future, the fact remained unchanged that Cecia was someone he wanted to protect. Even if she was another man’s woman. 」

“Oh why?”

Lying in the room reading a novel, an unhappy yell came from Arim. She was heartbroken by the dejected expression of the most affectionate character, Ver Grant, from her favorite novel <the duke="" lover="">.</the>

Ver Grant, a man who watches the woman he likes from afar. However, the man’s love was not reciprocated.

Ver, who had always stayed with Cecia, the heroine, and was the first to step forward when it came to Cecia, was never present during the crucial moments.

He only existed for the protagonist at the moment for the male lead to shine. Arim swept over the sentences on paper, as if she could see his face.

Everyone was the protagonist of their life, but there always seemed to be certain people who were worthy of the spotlight. They were always shining. And those who were not were in the crowd and looked at them from afar.

It seemed to indicate the existence of a fixed position. Like ‘center’ and ‘side’.

She knew how the world worked – some people were meant to be unnoticed. Just like the most inconspicuous back corner seat among the many chairs. And just like a supporting character who helps in the background, rather than the hero who is always at the center of events.

The reason why she especially admired Ver was because she found herself quite similar to him. He was a man whose life was a supporting role, who thought that even his heart was like a supporting role for the main characters.

A heart that can’t be expressed to the person you love, yet still wants to be next to that person. Nevertheless, for fear of hurting them, you can’t get closer. She understood that heart.

So while reading the novel, she read it with the hope that Ver would achieve happiness in the end. Arim swept through the sentences as if comforting Ver. She hoped he would be happy with his beloved, although she knew it would not come true.

Arim also had a man she had loved but only watched from a distance for a very long time. Yet as the man’s girlfriend changed many times, she didn’t deliver a small piece of her heart. No, rather, she couldn’t.

Afraid that she wouldn’t even be allowed to be next to him as a friend, Arim couldn’t tell him. She might have decided to give up on her own, thinking, ‘I’m thankful that he’s next to me as a friend.’

“Not today.”

-Why? Today seems like a perfect day to drink.

“I have to stay sober this week. Just drink by yourself.”

-Hey, y…

Arim hung up without hearing Hyun Woo’s subsequent words. Contrary to how she had ended the phone call, a pleasant smile was at the edge of Arim’s lips. It was good that the reason for his contact was only because of drinks.

Arim was a woman Hyun Woo’s girlfriend disliked. Although Arim was always rational around Hyun Woo, his girlfriend did not like her being next to him.

Arim could understand the woman’s heart. So, while Hyun Woo had a girlfriend, she tried not to meet with him as much as possible.

This refusal was one of those actions. A bitter smile hung on her mouth.

Like a jammer who interferes with the main character’s love, Arim could not be located next to the main character.

“Hey, Song Arim-! Do you really like Hyun Woo?”

The woman and her friends vigorously opened the door, wearing their usual scathing expressions.

“You had dinner with Hyun Woo recently, hadn’t you?”

“I heard you confessed.“

“Don’t you think they’re on and off?”

“Is she laughing in front of us? It’s creepy.”

Although it was not true, Arim had nothing to say in front of the group who were already talking about it.

The answer was already out, and it would end with them calling her a b*tch.

“Don’t say that…would Arim do this on purpose?”

Hyun Woo’s girlfriend, wearing an innocent face, asked her friends. But Arim knew. The girl was laughing on the inside. Her proud eyes were something that Arim never missed the moment she entered the room.

Arim stood there without saying a word. The eyes in the room were sharp. And the sharp gazes clawed at her unseen heart. Her feelings that had never been seen by anyone were suddenly on display for everyone to see.

“He already has a girlfriend but she still liked him……it’s filthy, that heart.”

Someone finally said the words everyone was silently thinking on their heads.

With her at the center, everyone’s faces frowned all at once. Like they were seeing something really dirty. Like their eyes were defiled by Arim’s feelings.

Arim, who couldn’t stand it any longer, hid her trembling hands and ran out of the room towards her home.

“There’s a lecture right now. Where are you rushing off to?”

Hyun Woo blocked Arim as she tried to quickly run away. He looked at her as she tried to catch her breath.

It occurred to Arim that maybe all that happened was for the best. Otherwise her unexpressed feelings might not have been caught.

That’s right. It cannot be. Arim nodded and rationalized with herself.

“What’s wrong?”

Hyun Woo’s voice brought Arim back to reality. She wanted to deny it, but everything was real. Hyun Woo in front of her, in the same classroom. If he hears the story, this might be the last time she can face him. Arim extended her trembling hand to Hyun Woo.

The thought that it might be the last time she would see him encouraged her. But she stopped right before her hand reached him. Suddenly, someone’s voice reverberated in her ear.

“Seriously……It’s filthy, that heart. ”

Arim took back her trembling hand and instead swept her hair. Her hands quivered worse than before.

“Are you okay?”

Hyun Woo thrust out his hand, but this time Arim avoided it.

“Nothing’s wrong. Don’t overreact.”

Arim spoke without thinking. As always, it was her own defense mechanism.

“It’s really nothing”

“Hey, Song Arim!”

Hyun Woo’s voice ran behind her.

‘I wish I could get away from here’