You see, I have no recollection of my previous life.

For some reason, the only memory I have is that I once read this novel "A World Without Light" where I then found myself transmigrated into.

My past identity, however, was an enigma to me.

To make matters worse, I cannot even remember the exact plot. I only recognise its characters and a few major events. Sometimes random scenes pop into my mind like fragments, but that's about it.

"Tell your master to take her home by midnight." Lady Camellia sternly worded towards Sir Louie.

"I shall pass the message, my lady." The grand duke's personal knight answered meekly.

"I understand that Grand Duke Averill is not one to care about rumors, but I hope he considers my maid's position in the palace. Please be discreet."

Even though she spoke with a straight face, Lady Camellia's voice was laced with concern. The way she looked at me fondly also melted my heart.

"Have fun, then." The villainess smiled, her blue eyes sparkling like the sea showered by sunshine.

With that, Sir Louie escorted me out of the room. For some reason, I felt like a child sent off by my own mom. There was a fuzzy feeling on my chest.

"She seems very fond of you." The brown-haired knight commented as we walked side by side.

That made me smile. "Is that so?"

"Yup." Sir Louie scratched his head. "Everybody seems to like you in one way or another, huh?"

I grinned. "Do you like me, too?"

"Do you want my head rolling on the ground?" The knight hissed like a cat. "If His Grace were here, I'd be dead before I could even answer!"

I giggled at his overreaction.

Anyway, Sir Louie brought me at the back of the palace. There, the grand duke was waiting for us with a single horse. He was clad in a cloak, but it didn't hide the outline of his well-sculpted body.

"Here comes my future wife." Alistair, being the hopeless romantic that he is, spoke cheesily as usual. "I was beginning to lose my will to live in those days when I haven't seen you, Isabelle."

I rolled my eyes upwards. "You're so extra."

He smiled then widened his arms. "Hug."

The way he initiated a hug like a kid made me smile. I indulged his request, but I squealed when the grand duke suddenly carried me in his arms.

I kept squirming in panic. "I'm heavy!"

"No," He nudged his nose into me. "You're mine."

Both Sir Louie and I cringed at his words. Good lord, heal this lovesick man. He's not normal anymore. You're mine? Are you kidding me?

Well, he is a character from a novel. I guess he's bound to act like this, being the second male lead.

You know... Cheesy, cringey, and clingy?

"Have you been well?" Alistair gently whispered while caressing my head. "I missed you, Isabelle."

Before I could even mutter a reply, Sir Louie made some weird gurgling sounds on the side, as if he were about to throw up. So extra like his master!

I frowned. "Do something about your knight."

"Leave him be." The grand duke glanced over Sir Louie. "He's upset for being single since birth."

"That was uncalled for!" The brown-haired knight fumed, his cheeks red in embarrassment. "And I'm not upset, Your Grace! I don't even want a lover!"

"Heh," Alistair snickered while helping me get on the horse. "How come I saw your lips puckered while sleeping? Were you dreaming of a maiden?"

"H-How did you know that?" Sir Louie stuttered.

Grand Duke Averill jumped on the horse then shook his head, as if sympathizing with him.

"At this rate, you might die a virgin, my friend."

"Don't say something so ominous!" Sir Louie cried.

The two of them kept bickering, but I lost track of the conversation when Alistair held the reins, caging me in his arms. I was seated sideward on the horse, while the grand duke was behind me.

"Ah, which reminds me..." Sir Louie shifted his gaze to me. "Lady Camellia said to take her home by midnight and be discreet outside, Your Grace."

"She sounds like her mother." Alistair commented.

"Right?" His comrade laughed in agreement.

"Being discreet goes without saying. As for taking her home by midnight..." Alistair lowered his eyes on me then playfully smiled. "I'll think about it."

His ambiguity had me blushing real hard.

And so, we departed from the palace on a single horse. Alistair also covered me with a cloak to protect me from the scorching sun. After all, lunchtime had just ended and the air was humid.

"Why didn't we ride a carriage, Your Grace?"

"Two reasons," He replied, his eyes focused on straight ahead. "One, riding a horse would be faster. Two, I wanted you to cling on me."

I laughed. "How ridiculous."

Still, I fulfilled his wish and rested my head on his chest during the ride. Out of curiosity, I placed my palm on his chest to feel out his muscles. So hard!

Alistair chuckled. "Now you're grabbing my chest in broad daylight? Well, not that I'm complaining."

"I was just curious!" I defensively remarked.

"I'm afraid this isn't the right time and place to be curious about my chest, Isabelle." The grand duke suppressed his smile. "Sate your curiosity in bed."

I groaned. "Seriously, the amount of times you mention the word bed to me... What a horndog."

"Does it turn you off?"

I frowned. Does it turn me off? To be honest, it's quite the opposite. It turns me on. He's not the only one who's smitten here, you know.

"It doesn't." I cleared my throat. "I, too, dream of holding you all night and keeping you to myself."

The grand duke stiffened behind me. The way his grip tightened on the reins didn't escape my eyes.

"What a dangerous thing to say." He breathed into my ear. "Am I to assume that you desire me as much as I desire you, my dear Isabelle?"

I shot him a sideward glance. "Who knows?"

Alistair simply smiled at our vague exchange.

---

Our horse continued its fast and steady pace until we arrived in the capital. Our journey was smooth thanks to the nice weather and the dry ground.

What greeted us there was the ongoing festivity hosted by nobles and commoners altogether. A lot of stalls were set up on the streets, offering accessories, food, and toys. It was so lively.

"What a rare sight to behold," I blurted out while running an eye over the city. "Seeing the social hierarchy ignored and everyone just having fun."

"Well, today is the day we celebrate Goddess Hertha's descent into the world and her victory against the devil incarnate Mirah." Alistair shared.

Oh? I didn't know about that. It seems that the lore about this world is richer than I thought. I was too busy trying to live that I haven't got the chance to study about this world. The devil incarnate, huh...

"Is that so?" I remarked indifferently.

"It seems you aren't familiar with the occasion." Grand Duke Averill said with a hint of surprise, his eyes round in wonder. "Strange. It's a story everyone must've heard at least once in their life."

I faked a cough. "Except for me, I guess."

Dude, I've had two lives in this world but I still don't know shit. My first life as an orphan was cut short, while the second one has me cleaning in the palace all the time. You think I have time to care about the devil? She can chill in hell for all I care.

"Well, it's quite understandable that you do not know since you think of me all the time." Alistair said in a prideful tone. "You only care about me."

The heck is he saying? How did he even come to that conclusion? He's kind of vain and delusional, huh? I've fallen in love with a questionable man.

Anyway, we walked hand in hand among the crowd. Surprisingly, he was more enthusiastic in shopping than me. We kept on stopping at stalls.

"This would look good on you, Isabelle." The grand duke seemed pleased at the daisy hair clip.

I gave him a diffident smile. "Really?"

"Hmm." Alistair picked it up then placed it on my head. He gasped rather dramatically. "Oh, dear god. I thought I saw the goddess of daisies!"

I smacked his head. We burst out laughing.

We spent the next few hours just trying out all sorts of food. If we were in the modern world, Alistair would be making mukbang videos.

As a noble, I expected him to be picky but boy, I was so wrong. He was a total food enthusiast!

"Would you like to try the spiders next, Isabelle?"

"Hell no," I shot him a horrified look. "Seriously, do nobles normally eat stuff like that? Bro, eww."

He laughed. "There are edible spiders, you know."

"That's not the point, Your Grace!" I exclaimed.

"Alright, alright. Let us skip the spiders." He ushered me into the stall that sells drinks.

While waiting for our drinks, I noticed the grand duke roaming his gaze with a sentimental look. Although he's smiling, his eyes seemed a bit sad.

I gently nudged his shoulder. "You okay?"

"Hmm." Alistair placed his hand on my hips. "It's just that... I do not usually stay in the capital for too long, because it's reminiscent to some of my unpleasant memories." His voice slightly faltered.

I gave him an encouraging look, urging him to continue. I wanted him to feel that it was okay for him to open up to me, that I was willing to listen.

"You see, I lost three of my people here when I was a child." Grand Duke Averill took a deep breath. "It was the day when my father returned from the war, and the rebels bombed the plaza."

My heart pounded at his narrative. So he was talking about that incident when we first met.

"Two of them were a knight and a mage serving our family. They died protecting me, the heir of our duchy." His face became even more sullen.

So Sir Finn and Jean did pass away that day. I only met them once, but my heart ached for them. We all suffered the cruel fate of an extra that day.

"For a long time, regrets festered in my mind like a wound. What if I had stayed in the palace? What if I didn't go outside? It's my fault. They died because of a stubborn boy who can't do what he's told.

"As if losing them was not enough, another child died in my watch. I had promised her that she'd live, that I'd save her, but I failed and I watched her burst into flames before my eyes. Until now, her bloodcurdling screams still haunt me."

A slice of guilt cut through my heart. Here I was, living my second life blissfully unaware of the scar I left on him, like a scintilla of the past.

When I passed away as Callista, it was only a matter of seconds when I woke up as Isabelle.

To me, it was just like changing from one role to another. To Alistair, however, it was many years.

It was, in a sense, his whole life.

He had to bear the guilt and regrets all his life.

"I'm sure they don't blame you." I tried my best to sound sanguine. "It wasn't a situation that a mere child could've handled perfectly, Your Grace."

It's okay. I never blamed you. Those were the words I wanted to tell him but I couldn't.

I'm no longer that pitiful child. Callie had died many years ago, along with Sir Finn and Jean.

Right now, I am Isabelle.

And the least I can do is to console him.

"That must have been hard to carry." I gently squeezed his hand. "You did well, Your Grace."

When I lifted my gaze to him, Grand Duke Averill looked like he was about to cry. His eyes seemed to have many stories to tell, stories that he decided to keep to himself. If I could read his mind, I'm sure I'd be in tears. He has been through so much.

That solemn moment we shared was suddenly interrupted when a stranger accidentally bumped into my shoulder as he was passing by behind us.

"Ah," The man was wearing a veil, but the huge scar across his face didn't escape my eyes. "Sorry."

It was supposed to be a harmless gesture.

Until a passage of the novel flashed on my mind.

That's when I remembered the exact chapter when Ingrid and Dion met outside the palace.

At that time, she had planned to eliminate the heroine. And when I say she, I meant Lady Camellia from the original timeline of the novel.

However, my lady never mentioned this as part of her plan. Why is that man still here? If it wasn't the villainess, then who put a hit on the heroine?

---

Hello! It's been a while. Sorry for not being able to update sooner, I hope you'd still read this story.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

Yours Truly,
Aomine-san