If you don’t love me, I will die.

Ania Bronte is the sole daughter of the Duke Bronte.

She was the ideal woman that any man in the empire would have dreamed of at least once.

Beautiful looks as if bestowed by the gods, a voice reminiscent of birdsong, noble lineage as the duke’s offspring, and a proper demeanor.

However, Ania had no interest in them.

‘Too ordinary.’
‘Ugly, isn’t he?’
‘Looks so fierce, like he could tear apart a turkey with his bare hands’

Despite her outstanding beauty, her standards were high, and there was hardly a man she found appealing.

A woman who knew how to tempt but was clueless about love.

That’s why she was called a villainess.

That was Ania Bronte.

***

Edward Radner was also a man who sought love from her.

The eldest son of the Viscount Radner,
Pride of a family excelling in magic and swordsmanship,

The man who would have become Viscount one day fell into the swamp of love and sacrificed his life.

‘Even if you kill me, I will love you forever.’

She remembered his fate.

Edward Radner eliminated the dark forces threatening Ania’s life with his own hands.
Regardless of the danger, he protected Ania at the expense of his own life.

It was pure love.

“Even if you don’t love me, I will love you forever.”

The extreme love that would be remembered in the songs of bards eventually ended in tragedy.
In the end, that love killed him.

‘Still, I won’t love you.’

***

Watching Edward, his body being cut by countless blades and dying, Ania merely cast a cold gaze.

In the end, Ania Bronte never gave Edward an ounce of love.

To her, Edward was just a toy to play with, a plaything to be discarded when the fun was over, and the prey was trapped—a simple doll receiving affection.

Of course, Edward, not entirely unaware of Ania’s feelings, also knew that Ania didn’t love him.

But driven by overwhelming love, he had no choice but to sacrifice himself.

He was willing to offer himself to obtain that love even in the face of such knowledge.

It was such a cruel tale.

“Marry me.”

Three years after reading that novel, I became Edward Radner, the eldest son of the Radner family.

Married to Ania Bronte, yet ultimately a man unfortunate enough not to gain her love.

***

“Marriage… are you serious?”
“Yes. The other party is Lady Ania, the daughter of Duke Bronte. You probably don’t remember your childhood, but you two got along well. With exceptional looks and a noble lineage, she will surely appeal to your heart.”

About a week after the possession, my father, William Radner, the head of the Radner family, came to me with great joy.

Even in the novel, Edward and Ania were engaged, so I thought it might happen.

But it was too soon.

“But… Father.”
“Do you not like it? I remember you quite liked Lady Bronte.”
“That’s not it…”
“It’s already decided, so don’t resist. You’ll visit the Bronte family sometime this week.”

Damn… I tried to avoid this.

After realizing the possession, I was confused and confined to my room for a while.

After deciding that I had to survive somehow, I learned the inappropriate etiquette and swordsmanship of the nobility.

Because of that, I completely forgot that the significant event of ‘marriage with Ania Bronte’ awaited me.

As I lowered my head, dismayed, William Bronte’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Edward… I hear rumors lately about your questionable behavior.”
“I… I apologize.”
“I don’t know what got into you, but take this opportunity to marry Lady Bronte and live as a noble. If you continue to disgrace the family, I won’t stand idly by.”

It was inevitable.

As someone who had lived as a commoner without any connection to noble families, how could I possess a noble’s demeanor?

To my knowledge, Edward was the epitome of a nobleman, as if drawn in a painting.

On weekends, he faithfully attended church services, never neglected sword training, strictly adhered to the etiquette among nobles, and was kind to the household servants.

Mastering those perfect manners within a week was almost impossible. William Radner walked past me and opened the door.

“Remember, never provoke Lady Bronte. I hope you realize this marriage is the only way to revive the crumbling Radner family.”

The door closed behind me.

“Sigh…”

I threw myself onto the bed, fed up with the tedious etiquette I had to learn.

Raise my head stiffly, have a non-arrogant expression, adhere to noble manners… nonsense.
Maintaining such etiquette when dealing with my family like this was uncomfortable.

“More importantly… a crumbling family.”

Looking back, it was true.

The Radner family depicted in the novel was on the path of decline.
Facing an unprecedented crisis due to successive business failures by the head, they might have lost their county.

“The only way to revive it was through marriage…”

I realized that.

I didn’t know how the eldest son of the crumbling Radner family ended up engaged to the daughter of Duke Bronte.

It was rumored to be a marriage for the sake of financial gain…

I rose from the bed and stood before the splendid full-length mirror hanging on the wall.

“No wonder.”

***

Edward Radner was not only of excellent character but also had outstanding looks.

Standing at around 187cm, he has broad shoulders and a well-built physique from sword training. He had a refined nose and a kind expression in his eyes.

“Being this good-looking, I can’t believe she’s not satisfied….”

Edward Radner was a man who lacked nothing.
He had no flaws in terms of family, appearance, and personality.

If there was one imperfection…

“He must have loved Ania Bronte.”

Despite the countless women vying for Edward’s love, why did he choose Ania?

Blaming Edward Radner’s foolish judgment, it was already too late. The die had been cast.

“Let’s get married for now.”

If the Radner family fell, my future would likely follow suit.

However, I won’t love Ania Bronte.
I know the fate of the men who loved her.

***

Three days had passed, and I had barely learned noble etiquette when the anticipated day arrived—the engagement ceremony with Ania Bronte.

If the decision was to get married, why complicate it with a pre-engagement ceremony? That, too, was said to be part of noble customs.

Thanks to it, I found myself heading towards the Bronte Duchy, led by William Radner.

“Remember, absolutely, under no circumstances, should you disturb Lady Bronte’s emotions.”
“I will remember.”
“Remember it well. The fate of our family is in your hands.”
“You don’t have to worry, Father.”

William Radner repeated the same words ten times inside the carriage. The constant repetition was irritating.

It was understandable that even someone as composed as William Radner was so tense.

In the past, the Bronte Duchy’s influence was less significant.

However, with their constant business successes, they had long surpassed the Radner County.

***

Currently, the Radner Country was on the brink of collapse, while the Bronte Duchy had become a prestigious lineage within the Emperor’s inner circle.

However, William Radner didn’t need to worry excessively.

“I won’t give any attention to Ania Bronte anyway.”

In the novel, Ania Bronte seduces numerous men. Was it out of love? No.

Ania Bronte was a woman who didn’t understand love. To find love, she repeated numerous engagements. However, shortly after the engagements, Ania would realize:

“This man is not my destined one.”

She regretted the fleeting love and planned to kill her fiancé. The method involved seducing the fiancé until he fell for her and then making constant demands.

At first, it might be a simple request like, “Please pick a flower from the cliff.” But as time went on, her demands became increasingly extreme.

“I want dragon scales.” or “Kill the Viscount who insulted me.” – requests that grew more outrageous.

Ultimately, blinded by love, these foolish men knew the requests were unreasonable, yet they willingly burned themselves like moths to a flame.

Therefore, I would never fall in love with Ania Bronte. I was unlike those foolish men who threw away their lives for love.

Never…

***

“It’s been a while, Viscount Radner.”
“It’s been a while indeed, Duke Bronte.”

However, that resolution lasted only a short time. Upon arriving at the Bronte Duchy, I faced Edward’s fiancée, Ania Bronte.

“It’s been a while, Edward.”

Golden hair, lips as luscious and warm as sunshine, transparent skin like jade, and a voice that sounded like an angel’s song.

“No, now you should call me your wife.”

Saying so, Ania Bronte, with a radiant smile, was more beautiful than I had imagined—a beauty beyond words.

“…It’s been a while.”

Therefore, I had to conceal the pounding sound of my heart deliberately.

Translator’s Corner

I lost all my Translator’s Corners…. Haaaaaaaa. I don’t remember them at all, so don’t expect any until the newer chapters. Also I lost my peerage rants and progress update.

-Ruminas