Charlotte von Indrath, the name alone carried the weight of terror. The most notorious, ruthless being in the world of The Order of Love.
From childhood, she seized whatever she desired and discarded anything or anyone who displeased her.
In Vivian's novel, she rose to power by slaughtering her siblings, crowning herself Empress of the Indrath Empire. Out of nothing but idle irritation, she even imprisoned the heroine, a woman beloved by all.
And this very person… was his fiancée?
Vivian's stomach knotted as he stood at the gates of their estate, his mother and little brother Edward at his side.
Although Vivian had never written exactly why Charlotte turned into such a monster after his death, he could guess. It must have been related to the marriage… He chewed his lip in unease.
'Maybe she wanted to call it off and Vivian, the original one, refused. Maybe that was why she killed him, covering it up with some excuse about an illness.'
The thought made his chest tighten as his eyes flicked around nervously. The knightly order of his family stood in formation on either side of the gate, their polished armor glinting as they prepared to welcome their patriarch.
"Ahh, shit," he muttered under his breath. 'If she really doesn't want to marry me, then I'll just… beg her. Beg her to call off the proposal and spare my life.'
His thoughts were soon broken,"Brother, why are you so nervous?" Edward tilted his head, confusion written all over his face. "You don't have to worry. I was only joking when I said she was evil. She's always treated me well."
'This brat… if only he knew.' Vivian's lips twitched, but then a chill ran down his spine. 'Wait. Come to think of it, why don't I remember anything about her? I inherited all of Vivian's memories when I transmigrated… yet there's nothing about Charlotte. Why?'
"Son, calm down," his mother said gently, noticing the stiffness in his posture. "There's no need to be so tense. She's only coming here to meet us, that's all."
"No, it's… it's just been a while since I last saw her," Vivian replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I guess I'm a little nervous…..."
Rumble, rumble
The sound of wheels moving on the ground was heard and following it were sounds of horses.
"Duke Vined D. Zenithara of the Indrath Empire, ruler of the southern region, has returned! And accompanying him, Her Highness, Princess Charlotte von Indrath!"
The booming announcement shattered Vivian's thoughts, the gatekeeper nearly tearing his lungs apart as he shouted.
At once, a cold sweat slid down Vivian's forehead. His gaze darted around in panic.
The knights lined up along the entrance raised their swords high in ceremonial salute, steel gleaming in the afternoon light. His mother and brother stood beside him, smiling with pride and composure. But he alone felt the suffocating dread, a fear that gnawed at his chest.
Not long after, two opulent carriages rolled through the gates, their wheels crunching against the gravel with regal authority. The air itself seemed to stiffen.
"We welcome the Patriarch and the Princess!" the knights bellowed in unison, drawing their swords and raising them once more in perfect synchronization.
The two carriages halted inside the gates. From the first stepped a man in his mid-thirties. His white hair, tied neatly behind his neck, framed a face still youthful despite the short beard on his chin. Broad-shouldered and commanding, his very walk set him apart from the knights around him.
'Here she comes.'
Cold sweat trickled down Vivian's back as the door of the second carriage creaked open.
A girl stepped out.
Vivian froze. 'Huh?'
His mind blanked as he stared, dumbfounded. 'I thought she'd look like some evil witch…', In his novel, he had described her as beautiful, but he'd never actually seen her. Now, the real sight before him scrambled his brain.
Princess Charlotte.
Her hair shimmered between black and deep velvet under the sun, falling gracefully over her shoulders. Her eyes, the same velvet shade, gleamed with quiet depth, contrasting against her pale skin. A delicate nose, soft lips, and a figure draped in a flowing purple gown, she seemed less like a mortal princess and more like a goddess stepping down from the heavens.
And yet, Vivian could only gape, unable to reconcile the breathtaking beauty before him with the merciless tyrant he had written.
'If only she weren't evil, I'd have married her without a second thought… at any cost. But what can I do? In the end, it all depends on luck, and that's something I don't have.' Vivian sighed inwardly as he watched the group approach.
"Honey!" His over-affectionate mother didn't even wait for her husband to reach them. She dashed forward, throwing her arms around him in an embrace that ignored all decorum.
Beside him, Edward fidgeted, his small hands tightening as he took hesitant steps forward. Clearly, he wanted to run to his father too, but nerves held him back.
'Hehe. Serves you right, brat. That's what you get for making fun of me for being nervous.' Vivian chuckled to himself, amusement flickering in his eyes as he watched his brother's awkwardness.
After his parents shared their brief reunion, they turned toward their children. Princess Charlotte followed gracefully at their side.
Stopping before his mother, she pinched the hem of her skirt and dipped into a flawless curtsey. Her voice, smooth and gentle, carried no trace of malice.
"It has been a while, Mother."
Vivian blinked. 'Mother?'
His thoughts spun in disbelief. 'Why? Why call her that? What's her motive? Wasn't she ruthless?'
It didn't take long for him to reach a conclusion.
'Ah… I see. Of course. She wants everyone to believe she cared for me. That way, when I die, it will all look natural, as if she's grieving her beloved fiancé.'
A shiver ran down his spine. 'Damn. She is evil.'
"Haha, yes, it has been a while. How have you been?" His mother's eyes twinkled as she teased, her smile kind yet mischievous. "You haven't seen Vivian for four months, you must have missed him, right?"
"Well…" Charlotte faltered, her voice catching. She stole a quick glance at Vivian, and to his shock, her porcelain face flushed crimson. Fanning herself with one delicate hand, she tried to compose her expression.
'Huh? Why is she—'
"Vivian, go and take a walk with her," his mother cut him off before the thought could settle.
"But Mother, shouldn't I first talk to Father?" Vivian tried to make up an excuse, but his father didn't see through his intentions.
"No. I'll speak with you later, after you've finished talking to her. Go on, have fun." His father washed his excuse away like ash.
'Why are you doing this to me? Don't you want to talk to your son after being away for an entire month?' Vivian screamed inwardly, but outwardly he only smiled and gestured for her to come.
But before moving, Charlotte bent gracefully and produced a small box wrapped in fine silk. She held it out toward Edward, who fidgeted nervously with his hands.
"This is for you," she said with a benevolent smile.
Edward glanced at his mother for permission. Receiving a nod, he accepted the gift with both hands and bowed deeply. "Th-thank you for the pr… present."
After handing over the present, Charlotte turned and walked toward Vivian. As she drew closer, a faint fragrance reached him, sweet and delicate, like blooming flowers carried by the spring wind.
'Ahh… she is beautiful.'
They began walking side by side. Silence clung to the air between them, heavy and awkward. Vivian had no intention of breaking it, better silence than danger—but Charlotte clearly thought otherwise.
"I was told you were unwell yesterday. Are you feeling better now?" she asked, her voice low, almost hesitant.
Vivian turned to answer, but froze mid-motion. Her eyes, those velvet eyes he had once written as cold and merciless, now shimmered with genuine concern.
His chest tightened. 'Why… why did I have to make her evil?'
He forced a small smile. "Well, I'm alright now. Those coughs… they're common. Nothing you need to worry about."