In my previous life, I was just an ordinary college student who lacked in job opportunities and suffered as a result. I admit that I read novels in my spare time, but other than that I lived rather diligently. I worked part-time, gained the relevant experience required for my dream career, and obtained various certificates for programming. I also did a bunch of random things that would’ve qualified me for a job as a tea sommelier or bakery technician.
However, all of that had been in vain. If I had known that I would’ve been hit by a car on my way to my part-time job, I would’ve invested a little more time for myself.
Actually, I had often daydreamed about being reincarnated as a character belonging to the upper class. Those fantasies never involved becoming a villainess, though. Especially not one destined to have a short life like Jubelian.
In the past, when I read about people who had reincarnated, they would usually try to avoid their untimely death as soon as possible. However, in my ignorance, I had been faithful to the original work so far. It would’ve been nice if I had realized I was in this specific novel earlier.
I had only remembered the details of Jubelian’s fate later on. Three days ago, on my second anniversary with Mikhail, Jubelian’s one-sided love, I suddenly remembered how she used to badger him. I recalled how that behavior had only served to corroborate others’ accusations, which had ultimately led to her death.
Jubelian used to persistently harass anyone who approached Mikhail. Before, she threw tantrums and cursed at people who simply tried to strike a conversation with him. There had been numerous instances where she had even threatened others through the use of her family name.
It definitely wasn’t normal behavior. That was how I realized I had a lot of enemies now that I had reincarnated into her.
Fortunately, I was at a point in the novel where I had yet to collide with any of the other important characters like the princess or the crown prince. Now that I was aware of everything ahead of me, I just needed to fix my behavior.
Faced with my grim future, I sighed.
A deep voice riddled with annoyance displaced me from my reverie. “Are you angry because I’m late?” Mikhail asked.
His question puzzled me. Had I ever been angry with him? I didn’t think so. Mikhail was the love of my life and the novel’s male lead. Now that I saw him again, however, my heart felt terribly still. A despondent feeling arose within me.
I used to be so infatuated with him, but now I felt nothing.
In the past, Jubelian treated Mikhail like he was her savior. She longed for his love and hung onto his every word. Upon the slightest shift in his expression, she became anxious and instantly feared he would leave her.
However, my experiences in the modern world changed Jubelian’s personality completely. I had to take care of tuition costs, keep my grades up, look for jobs, and handle all my living expenses myself. I didn’t need someone to be my savior. I could change my own future.
After coming to this conclusion, I opened my mouth to speak. “I’m not angry,” I said. I simply didn’t want to waste any more of my heart or my time on him.
Mikhail stared at me, still obviously bothered. “Jubelian,” he said once more. “If you cavil over small matters like this, wouldn’t our relationship have problems?”
Although our relationship had been forced, it still lasted for two whole years. I could understand the weight of his words just by listening to the tone of his voice. He wasn’t making a request; he was offering me a thinly-veiled warning. He was telling me to stop pestering him.
I smiled innocently like I always did. Except this time, I was being sincere. “I’m really not angry. I was joking when I scolded you for being late,” I said pleasantly. I had wanted to lighten the mood, but my response seemed to displease him.
His expression grew serious. “A joke? That doesn’t seem like something you would do.” He huffed, observing me with weary eyes. “So, again: why did you call me here?”
I sighed at the sight of the blatant displeasure on his face. Well, I guess he couldn’t help getting upset. The Jubelian of the past used to interfere with his training a lot, after all. I decided to let his attitude off the hook this time because of my past mistakes.
“Mikhail, could you please—”
He cut me off before I could even finish talking. “You said you only needed to see me for a brief moment.” I laughed at that, but he didn’t look amused. “If it isn't anything important, I’ll be going,” he glowered.
He was going to leave first, as usual. He was pretty eager to be rid of me. Despite his rudeness, I knew that nothing good would come out of making enemies with the novel’s male lead, so I kept cordial.
“It will only take a minute,” I said.
He shook his head. “I have to go now. There’s an important training session I have to attend.”
When I met his icy gaze, I felt irritated. Ugh, how pathetic! He didn’t think I was worth even five minutes of his time!
Three days ago, I had taken care to ask when he would be free to meet since I was afraid of getting in the way of his training. I wanted to prevent this exact situation from playing out. When our promised appointment came today, however, I ended up sitting in the imperial knights’ waiting room for three hours. No matter what I did, he would always ignore my efforts. He valued his own time. Never mine.
I had no reason to endure this any longer. I set the mood by lowering my voice, adopting a more serious air. “Sit down, please. It’ll only take a second.”
“I’m pretty sure I already refused.”
His tone took on a threatening aura, as if conveying how he was the superior one of us in this relationship. I felt the urge to break that delusion of his.
“Father knows that we’re meeting today. Wouldn’t it be odd if you returned early?”
His expression stiffened when I mentioned Father, who was his boss. Mikhail both feared and respected him.
“Five minutes,” Mikhail conceded, sitting down obediently. He was the strongest knight around, but it seemed that even he was afraid of the empire’s only Sword Master. Maybe I should’ve mentioned the duke sooner.
I chuckled, thinking back on how I used to struggle to do everything I could to please the man before me. My efforts had all been in vain. To think that there was an easy way out of my suffering this entire time…
“What’s so funny?”
Although his mood had failed to lighten, it didn’t matter to me now that I didn’t need his goodwill anymore. I started off by opening with something sentimental. “For the past two years, we’ve spent quite a bit of time together—”
“Did you call me here just to say that?”
Wow, he lost patience so quickly. Again. He didn’t even let me finish what I had to say. He must’ve hated being with me. Unfortunate, since I was about to give him a gift, too.
His demeanor disgruntled me, but I gave him a smile nevertheless. It was an insincere one I had perfected from working at my part-time job, though.
“You won’t be as busy anymore,” I said.
“What are you talking about?” he asked. Even this was conveyed with a nasty attitude. I frowned. I understood being frustrated due to Jubelian’s history, but I was trying to be civil. He was simply too much.
I honestly wanted to threaten him a bit, saying that I’d report all this to Father, and that Father would fire him. It would definitely cow him since he knew about my family background. It would teach him a lesson on what power could really do. Truthfully, however, Father would never fire a subordinate he cared about. If Mikhail and I came to actively despise and oppose each other, it would just end badly for me.
I didn’t want to make enemies anymore. My goal was to live a long life.
In my mind, I reaffirmed this decision. “I’m saying that I’ll let you go,” I said slowly, really letting it out there.
At that, his eyes widened for a moment before he composed himself once more. A corner of his lips quirked up in disbelief. “You’re bluffing,” he scoffed. “Do you really think I’ll believe that?”
I sighed at his wariness. Well then, it’d be a waste of time to say much more, wouldn’t it?
“It’s up to you whether or not you’ll believe me. I already said what I needed to say.”
I got up, turning around to leave, but then his cold voice stopped me in my tracks. “Fine. I’ll trust you,” he said. “Just never show yourself around me ever again.”
Now it was my turn to smirk a bit. How unexpected. I guess the breakup could be considered a success with that? Whatever his reasons might’ve been, he accepted it in the end.
What a relief.
Now, my goal was to enjoy life to the fullest. Although Father regarded me apathetically, he didn't mind supporting my luxurious status as his daughter. Spending his money and using it to live happily didn’t seem like such a bad idea.