If you don’t love me, I will die.

Earl Roland’s territory was in the western region of the Empire, blessed with ample sunlight and fertile soil where crops thrived.

The Empire was divided into eastern, western, southern, and northern regions, with the capital as the central reference point.

Our mansion, situated in the south part, required a two-day carriage ride due to the considerable distance to arrive at Earl Roland’s territory.

Surprisingly, the journey, which I thought would be long and dull, was full of unexpected pleasures.

“So, there are trains in this world too.”

It was none other than a train.
This medieval-inspired world was entering an era akin to the Industrial Revolution.

Mysterious items from the East were flowing into the Empire, propelling it into unprecedented development.
Light bulbs and trains were the products of this advancement.

I lost myself in my thoughts before Ania asked me a question.

“Is this your first time riding a train?”
“… Yes, it is.”

In truth, I used to ride the train daily before being transmigrated into this world, but those were the modern electric ones.
Trains in this world were steam-powered machines, a classic mechanism where steam from coals turned turbines.

Although it was slower than trains powered by electricity, it wasn’t wrong to say that it was my first time experiencing this classic form of a train.

Of course, nostalgia welled up as I rode this fast means of transportation after a long time. Observing the scenery passing swiftly outside the window, Ania lightly rested her head on my shoulder.

A rosy fragrance emanated from her smooth hair.

“I’m looking forward to it.”
“To the ball?”
“No.”

She glanced up at me with sparkling eyes.

“I’m looking forward to introducing my handsome husband to everyone.”
“…There is no need to do that.”
“Well, I must tell everyone about my handsome husband.”

Ania spoke as if it were nothing, accompanied by a faint smile that suggested her words weren’t just a casual remark.

‘A handsome husband…’

Is that statement true?

In the original work, Ania abandoned Edward.
Rather than saying she abandoned him, it’s more accurate to say that her interest waned.

Indeed, during their honeymoon, Ania seemed interested in Edward.

However, she began to disregard him at some point due to a certain incident.
As for what that incident was… the memory is vague.
If I knew when and what it was, it would have been more comforting…

However, at present, there is no way to find out.
So, I must ignore Ania, who lightly rests her head on my shoulder and throws a casual compliment.

I must not love her.
Her beauty is only in the skin…

Of course, even if I know it’s not easy.
It was like a primal instinct.

While bodily desires may not be love, they always act as the precursor to love, so caution was needed.

“Ania.”
“Yes?”
“Isn’t it stuffy?”
“Hehe… I don’t think so?”

Even if I tell her to move away, if she smiles like that, there’s nothing I can do.
If I resist like before, it will only complicate things.
In the end, all I can do is endure.

Around the time we passed five more stations,
someone passed by our room and stopped, peering inside.

When I looked at him, someone with a familiar face—
A short stature, ridiculous single glasses, and a mischievous face…
Where have I seen him before?

“Edward?”

From the other side, he seemed to recognize me.
However… I had a hazy memory.
Who on earth is this man?

“Edward! How long has it been?”

He came in, calling my name as if delighted, but when he noticed Ania, he froze.
He asked with a stiff face,

“T-this beautiful lady over here…”
“Ania Bronte.”

Ania lightly greeted him with the etiquette ingrained in her.

“This is… meeting such a beautiful lady on this train. I must be a fortunate person, haha!”

He scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression, and then my locked memory surfaced.

“Alfonse?”
“Yeah! It’s me. Alfonse!”

He was a fellow student with Edward at the academy.
Alfonse de Mula.
The son of a viscount from a small kingdom in the north of the Empire.

He didn’t achieve outstanding grades at the academy but excelled in business acumen.
He actively brought in Eastern knowledge and later developed printing technology or something like that.

“By the way, Edward. What brings you together with such a gorgeous woman?”
“We were on our way to a ball. The ball hosted by Viscount Roland in the western part of the Empire.”
“Ah, I see! But why are the two of you going to a ball together?”
“We got married.”
“What?”

Alfonse was visibly surprised.

“Lady Bronte and… you?”
“That’s right.”

Alfonse was shocked, his mouth hanging open.

“Well… that’s surprising. Edward, you married the most beautiful lady in the Empire. You’re truly a blessed man, aren’t you?”

A business-like way of speaking.
He skillfully allowed both individuals to join the conversation without disturbing anyone’s feelings.

“Do you think so?”

However, Ania smiled gently and said,

“It’s just a marriage between two people who love each other. There’s no need to discuss being blessed, right, Mr. Alfonse?”

As Ania’s eyes flickered, Alfonse felt he had said something wrong and quickly changed his words.

“Ahaha… Right! It’s just a marriage between two people who love each other.”

However, Ania is not an easygoing woman.
She learned basic sophistry and is not someone who will miss the intent hidden in words.

“Then, Edward. That’s it for now! Let’s contact each other later.”

Alfonse left the room as if fleeing, and silence quickly descended.

“Haha… You have an interesting friend. To be called a blessed man. What do you think, My Lord?”

Ania looked at me with a twinkle in her eye, smiling.

The appropriate response in this situation would be…

“… He’s not wrong.”

Ania laughed joyfully.

***

“Is the lady really on this train?”
“Yeah, she is! Just shut up and follow me.”

Inside the train that departed from the southern part of the Empire and reached the western edge, a group of men wearing masks talked in the cargo compartment.

“If this operation succeeds, we’ll have a good life. Pull yourself together.”
“Nimiral, just do your part. Remember the last time you messed up?”
“Damn it… Why bring up the past?”

They were kidnappers, but not the typical kind.
They weren’t just ordinary criminals; they were problem solvers who handled all kinds of dirty work while lurking in the Empire’s back alleys.

In those dark corners, they were called “sewer rats.”

“Anyway, we have to kidnap her without getting caught.”
“I know. Stop talking about it.”
“Damn… Are you nervous or something?”

They were the kind of people who could handle any dirty job without batting an eye, but this time, the stakes were high.

They were tasked with kidnapping Lady Ania.

They were accustomed to undertaking any dirty deed, but this job was on a different scale.

Kidnapping a member of the Five Fingers, the Emperor’s closest associates, was a severe offense.
If they made a mistake and got caught…

“If we fail, it’s an immediate execution.”
“I’ve bet my life on it.”
“I don’t know. If I fail this time, I’ll be caught by the loan sharks and die anyway. It’s either that or this.”

A task leading directly to death. However, the potential rewards were significant, even worth the risk.

Even divided among three, the money would sustain them for a lifetime.

They didn’t know who the client was, but it seemed like an important figure.

So, they meticulously planned their strategy. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a high-risk, high-return situation.

“We’ll enter just before arriving at the next station.”
“But by the way…”

One of the sewer rats spoke up quietly.

“Why did they specifically order us to kidnap a lady? What do they want to do after kidnapping her?”
“Just do whatever you need to do.”
“I think what they want is obvious.”
“Yeah, right. Since she’s known as the Empire’s top beauty, maybe they want to sell her as a slave or use her for themselves.”
“Hmm… Something doesn’t feel right.”

The biggest member grumbled.

“If you’re going to keep whining, get lost.”
“It’s not that, prick, I’m just curious.”
“Why bother being curious? It’s probably just a power struggle among the noble bastards. We’re just doing what the person who pays says. Once this job is done, we can wash our hands of it.”
“Got it…”

The train started to slow down, emitting steam. It was a sign that they were about to arrive at the station.

“Let’s go.”

Their only task was clear.
Quickly kidnap the lady, get off at the station, and escape using the prepared carriage.

The three masked men wiped their sweaty hands and slowly exited the cargo compartment.

***

“We’re almost there.”

While it wasn’t as quick as the trains of my era, it was faster than a carriage.

We were now only two stations away from the Earl Roland’s territory.

It meant that the problematic time in the sealed room with Ania was coming to an end.

I praised myself silently.

‘I endured well.’

If I hadn’t exercised self-restraint, I might have unconsciously brushed Ania’s hair as she slept.

“My Lady, just a moment.”

As the train was about to arrive at the station, I gently separated from Ania and stood up.

“Where are you going?”
“Just to the restroom once we arrive at the station.”
“Be careful.”

At that moment, as I was about to leave the compartment, a sudden chill instinctively brushed past my body.

When I turned my head…

“Ugh…!”

Three individuals who had opened the window and entered were escaping, having placed a cloth over Ania’s face.