The dungeon… wasn't that bad.
I mean, at least it wasn't that torture room of Lucien's. Small victories.
I sat on the cold stone floor and tried to breathe.
Deep. Slow. No panic.
The problem?
If he doesn't believe me—I'm dead.
Because Lucien hates traitors.
Even the ones he only suspects.
And if he's sure you betrayed him...
He handles it personally.
With knives. And questions. Very… creative ones.
"Shit… I need to remember everything."
I squeezed my eyes shut. A thought sparked out of the darkness.
I used to be an editor. Just a regular one.
Tired. Wearing a sweatshirt stained with coffee. I only wanted to reread my favorite scene—the one where Lucien smiles for the first time… right before killing everyone in the room.
My guilty pleasure.
My eyes started to close. I thought I was just drifting off.
Then I opened them—
And someone already had a knife to my throat.
He was standing there. Straight out of fan merch art… but three times more terrifying.
Everything after that was a blur:
A name I couldn't pronounce.
Bright pink hair.
Blood on the floor.
And Lucien looking at me like I was seconds away from death.
…At least I realized right away where I was.
And who was standing in front of me.
But there was one… tiny… problem.
"Oh, come on," I groaned, staring at the ceiling of the dungeon. "Why did I have to end up in her body?"
Yes. Her.
The one who thought betraying the most ruthless villain in the entire novel was a good idea.
The one who went, 'He'll forgive me! I'm cute!'
And then died.
On page one.
PAGE. ONE.
"I don't even remember her name!" I growled, clutching my head. "Just the pink hair, orange eyes, and a brain made of actual jelly!"
Out of all the characters… Why not the Saintess? Or the villainess princess? Or even the lamppost Cassian ran into—that would've been more useful.
But no. I'm in the body of Floralita-Mimelaria-something-something, a traitor with the IQ of a moldy turnip.
And if Lucien doesn't believe I know the future…
I've got maybe a day left to live.
Then it's gonna be…
The room. With the staircase.
I must've been sitting in that dungeon for half a day.
At first, I tried to recall the plot.
Then I turned panic into hysteria.
Then lazily counted the cracks in the wall.
And then… I just gave up.
Maybe the staircase wouldn't be that bad.
If I kept my eyes shut.
But just as I started preparing for my dramatic final monologue, the door creaked.
I flinched. Looked up.
And saw him.
Tall.
Wearing a white cloak with golden buttons.
Snow-white hair.
Golden eyes.
And that ever-polite smile that sent shivers down my spine.
Valente.
Lucien's loyal servant.
An angel on the outside.
A psychopath on the inside.
"Oh, you're awake," he said softly, like he'd walked into a cozy bedroom and not a damp medieval basement.
"I… I wasn't asleep," I muttered, scooting back against the wall.
"That's good. The master will be pleased. He'll be by shortly."
His smile widened.
Too much.
The master. Will be by.
"Valente, listen. I'm not a spy, I swear! I know… I know the plot! I know everything that's going to happen!"
"Oh, how delightful," he tilted his head like he was listening to a bedtime story.
"Why don't you tell me all about it… before he arrives?"
No.
No no no.
He's friends with the staircase too!
He kept looking at me with polite, dangerous, and highly concentrated friendliness.
And then it hit me.
Wait.
What do I even have to lose?
My death seems to be already planned out, just a matter of time and choice of blade.
So… why not have a little fun?
"Ha…" I snorted, jumping to my feet and staring at Valente with a defiant look. "Hey, psychopath."
His smile didn't change by a single millimeter.
Oh god, this just amuses him, doesn't it?
"You're gonna die too, defending your master, right?" I added, poking a finger at his perfectly ironed collar. "Just like a loyal little dog."
A shadow flickered across his face.
"And by the way, I know where the hidden diamond mines are in the northern mountains! Yeah, the ones from the sixth arc!"
WHAT?
"…Shit, what am I even saying?!" I slapped my forehead. "I just threatened your death, and now I'm talking about diamonds! You've definitely decided I'm insane!"
And yes, judging by the look on Valente's face, that's exactly what he thought.
He tilted his head to the side, as if watching a cute little cockroach decide to dance in its cage.
"It's nice to see you… livened up," he said almost fondly. "I do hope you'll repeat all of this… when he gets here."
He took a step back and opened the door, as if inviting me to dinner.
With the monster.
"Lord Lucien is already on his way."