Chapter 1 The proposal and the fire

I came to the capital with one purpose.

Kill Mark.

The system had been clear from the beginning. Eliminate the Lord. Secure the future. Complete the mission. No emotions. No hesitation. No attachments.

For six months, I built the perfect image.

Gentle. Intelligent. Loyal.

The woman worthy of standing beside the most powerful man in the empire.

Tonight, the palace glittered like it had been dipped in starlight. Lanterns lined the marble courtyard. Musicians played a soft melody near the fountain. Nobles whispered behind jeweled fans, pretending not to stare.

At the center of it all stood Mark.

The Lord of the empire.

Feared in court. Untouchable in politics. Cold in every rumor written about him.

Yet when his eyes found me, they softened.

"Lara," he called.

My name sounded different in his voice. Warmer.

I walked toward him slowly, each step measured. My white gown brushed across the polished stone floor. The crowd parted for me like the sea for a queen.

Hidden inside my sleeve was a slim dagger. The blade rested against my wrist, cool and steady. One twist of my hand and it would slide into my palm.

One step closer. One precise strike.

That was all.

Mark descended the steps of the platform and stopped before me. Then, without hesitation, he lowered himself onto one knee.

Gasps broke out across the courtyard.

At that exact moment, fireworks exploded above us.

Gold and crimson light bloomed across the sky. The sound thundered through the palace walls.

"Lara," he said, his voice carrying clearly over the noise, "I am pleased with you."

The system activated instantly.

[Target vulnerability detected.]

[Mission completion rate increased to 92%.]

[Proceed immediately.]

My fingers twitched.

This was the perfect opening. He was exposed. No guards close enough to interfere. His heart was right there, unprotected beneath silk and pride.

"Will you marry me," Mark continued, "and stand by my side as my wife from now on, for a lifetime?"

He looked at me like I was the only person in the world.

It would have been easier if he looked arrogant. Or cold. Or cruel.

But there was nothing calculating in his expression.

Only sincerity.

The system's alarm grew sharper.

[Warning: Emotional fluctuation detected.]

[Host must complete mission.]

I slowly let the dagger slide into my palm beneath the sleeve.

One movement.

The fireworks burst again, showering light across his face. For a second, I imagined the blade sinking into him. The shock in his eyes. The blood staining the marble. The end.

My mission would be complete.

The empire would shift.

History would change.

And yet-

My hand trembled.

Not from fear.

From something worse.

Doubt.

I forced a smile.

"Yes."

The word left my lips clearly. Calmly.

The crowd erupted into cheers. Applause echoed. More fireworks lit the sky.

The dagger slipped back into my sleeve.

The system went silent.

Mark stood slowly, relief washing over his face in a way that felt almost... human.

He took my hand gently, as though I might disappear if he held too tightly.

"I won't regret this," he murmured quietly, just for me.

I didn't answer.

Because I wasn't sure if that was a promise.

Or a warning.

The celebration lasted hours. Wine flowed. Nobles congratulated us with rehearsed smiles. Political alliances shifted in real time as people recalculated their futures.

Becoming Mark's wife meant power.

Influence.

Protection.

It also meant proximity.

Closer access. More opportunities.

A better chance to kill him.

Later that evening, when the guests finally thinned and the courtyard emptied, Mark walked me through the inner gardens. Lanterns glowed softly along the stone paths.

"Lara," he said, his tone turning formal again, "there is something you must understand."

Here it comes, I thought.

"The position of my wife is not simple. For the next three years, you will remain within the palace grounds. No extended travel. No visits beyond official events. After three years, you will step down gracefully."

I blinked.

"Step down?"

He nodded. "Political stability requires a temporary union. Three years will be enough."

So that was it.

A contract marriage disguised as romance.

A calculated move.

The Lord was still the Lord.

"I understand," I replied lightly. "I agree."

He studied me for a moment, as if searching for resistance.

But I gave him none.

If I couldn't kill him tonight, three years would give me more than enough time.

The fire started past midnight.

I woke to the smell of smoke.

Thick. Heavy. Suffocating.

Shouts echoed outside my chamber. The glow of flames flickered against the walls.

By the time I pushed open the doors to my courtyard, it was already engulfed.

Fire climbed the wooden beams. Curtains burned like paper. The heat pressed against my skin.

"Help!" someone screamed in the distance.

Guards rushed past, but none reached me.

The system's voice returned.

[Unexpected variable detected.]

[Host survival rate decreasing.]

My heart pounded.

This wasn't part of the plan.

This wasn't how it was supposed to end.

Flames blocked the exit. Smoke filled my lungs. My vision blurred.

Was this Mark's doing?

Had he discovered my mission?

Or had someone else decided I was no longer useful?

The heat became unbearable.

My knees buckled.

As the ceiling above me cracked and collapsed in sparks and fire, a strange calm settled over me.

So this is how it ends.

Not by my blade.

But by someone else's.

The last thing I saw was the sky glowing red.

Then everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, music filled the air.

Laughter.

The scent of roses.

I was standing in the marble courtyard.

Lanterns shimmered. Nobles whispered.

And Mark was walking toward me.

"Lara."

My breath caught.

He descended the steps.

Lowered himself onto one knee.

Fireworks exploded above us.

"Will you marry me and stand by my side as my wife for a lifetime?"

My hands began to shake.

This was the proposal.

The same night.

The same moment.

I had gone back.

But something was different.

Mark looked up at me-

And tears slid down his face.

His fingers tightened around mine.

"Lara," he whispered, voice breaking, "don't go."