Chapter Text
Prologue
Katarina’s eyes were shut, her hands clenched in her lap bracing for when Sophia would end the silence that had they had sustained since she revealed her secret. It had been 13 years since she remembered her past life in modern Japan. The pressure to make the engagement official was ramping up and considering the possible consequences Katarina still wasn’t sure what to do.
Katarina had always wondered what would happen if she revealed her past life, she had gone over every scenario in her brain. She had never considered her secret would be met with no reaction at all. As she cracked open her eyes she saw Sophia looking at her with a thoughtful expression, something she couldn’t quite describe shining in her eyes. Sophia's tea cup clacked loudly onto the plate.
“So, you’re worried if you go through with the marriage to Prince Gerald that he’ll someday change his mind and exile or kill you?” She said seriously like she was dissecting the plot in one of her novels “And you can’t refuse and stay in the duchy or tell your beloved brother because in the original world he also exiled or killed the past Katarina.”
“Yes, Exactly!” Katarina said nodding- as expected of Sophia, she completely gets it.
“.....Katarina, by any chance, do you have feelings for Prince Gerald?” Katarina coughed, choking on the shortbread she had begun to snack on.
“Feelings?! F-for Gerald?” she stuttered out eyes wide.
“Well, we are older now. Some of our classmates are already married” Sophia rationalized “ I assumed since you both never broke it off that maybe you wanted to marry him.” Katarina waved her hand dismissively.
“Nononono...Gerald’s just been using me as a shield so he doesn’t have to deal with other girls going after him. I’ve been waiting for him to find someone he likes but, he hasn’t said anything.” she said nervously “He’s a great friend but, I couldn’t marry him! I mean-me as queen that’s crazy.”
“So you don’t have any feelings for him?”
“No, not at all!”
“How scandalous!” Sophia said, fires of passion burning in her eyes just like she was discussing a warm scene in the devilish earl series. “ The fact that this has caused Lady Katarina’s behavior all along! A shocking development, unexpected dark backstory!” A-Chan and Sophia scarily resembled each other in moments like these.
“Um, s-Sophia…” Katarina weakly called trying to bring her back to earth as sophia stared in the distance most likely in her own thoughts on the plot. A true romance fan. “What do you think I should do? I mean, right now it’s fine but...it’s been three years since we graduated and I’ll never be sure there’s no more death flags.”
“That’s true...definitely if that’s your worry you probably shouldn’t marry Prince Gerald since the catalyst seems to be him falling in love with someone else. Any hint of infidelity…..”
“Exactly!” she says “But, whenever I try to break the engagement he’s refused!”
“Of course, that conniving prince” Sophia muttered before continuing “Well, you’ve most likely avoided any death flags from Keith. He could never send his sister away, much less exile you!”
“I’m not for sure on that. Love changes people! What if somehow I get in the way of his love? Plus if I break the engagement with Gerald, that means there would be no reason for Keith to become the Duke! I don’t want Keith to lose his inheritance.” Katarina’s anxieties, the possible scenarios that had haunted her all these years spilling out of her mouth.
“So you can’t stay in the duchy either..…..” Sophia said thoughtfully, staring down at the table. The newest book in the Devilish Earl series sitting their abandoned. “That’s it!” she yelled in triumph, jumping up from her seat clutching the book. Katarina jolting from her exuberance.
“Lady Katarina in the game was only killed in the routes for Keith and Prince Gerald. Not in my Brother or Prince Alan’s routes right?”
“Well, yes. Just in those routes. Which is why I was hoping Maria would get together with Alan or Nicol considering no one dies in those. I mean how could they not fall in love with her? She’s the heroine, absolutely irresistible.” Katarina grumbled.
“If that’s the case, marry my brother!” Sophia said “Since you never were an antagonist in his route in the first place, there wouldn’t be a death flag. I also know my Brother doesn’t have feelings for Maria and he would never kill you because I’d never forgive him. If you marry him you should be able to leave the duchy but remain safe!”
“M-marry? Me? M-me marry Nicol?!” Katarina sputtered. Sophia nodded seriously “Sophia, I’m sure your brother wouldn’t want to marry me.” she tried to explain her face bright red from even the possibility of it.
“But, if he did?” Sophia leaned close looking her in the eye, expression dead serious.
“Your theory makes sense and I think it would probably work. But, I doubt your brother would want to marry someone like me though.” She said scratching her head.
“Katarina...why don’t I ask him?” Sophia asked. Katarina laughed.
“Well, if you want to it’s fine. Don’t tell him I’m asking though. You’re his precious little sister, so he’ll always forgive you. Me, I don’t have the same privileges.” she said thinking Nicol would just dismiss his sister and move on. He was a very understanding guy who was always lenient with Sophia.
“I’ll bring it up once he’s back from his business trip then.” Sophia said beaming. She soon flipped open the book and the talk of death flags was soon forgotten as they were swept away in the latest installment of the Devilish Earl.
Two Weeks Later
Katarina was ushered into the sitting room by the maids. They had yanked her off the couch and cleaned her up telling her an important visitor had arrived. She saw Nicol stand up from his seat, his face giving away nothing as usual.
“Ah, Nicol! How wonderful to see you. Is Sophia with you today?” she asked smiling, already moving to pour cups of tea for them on the couch.
“No, not today. There was something I wanted to discuss with you. Something that I could only say alone.” he said, the corners of his mouth quirking into a smile briefly. Nicol was too handsome for his own good, Katarina already felt flustered.
“Ah, okay. What is it?” she said putting the cup down. Nicol walked around the table to her, she turned to face him looking at him puzzled. Nicol’s deep black eyes stared into hers. Katarina could never read his face well but, he looked almost nervous. Katarina jolted when she felt him take her hand and slowly lift it to his lips. The brush of warm softness shocked her and her face burned bright red, bombarded by this affection from such a beautiful man.
“My sister told me of your situation.” Nicol divulged not releasing her hand, running his thumb over the top of her hand gently. “I’m sorry you had to suffer with that on your own this whole time.”
“Oh...oh, yes! Sophia said that she was going to do that.” Katarina stammered. She had completely forgotten about their conversation, she had been so distracted with the harvest. Nicol gaze was so intent, it was almost burning with...something she couldn’t quite place. Katarina tried to look away but it seemed impossible. What did he want? They had never been this close, alone like this. The tension was almost unbearable, especially in this long silence.
Until finally Nicol broke the silence, getting on one knee calling out “Katarina Claes, Will you Marry me?”
Katarina promptly blacked out and to this day cannot remember what happened after Nicol declared his intent to marry her. The next day, she asked the maids who recalled hearing her saying “Yes” through the door and Lord Ascart leaving the mansion not long after with a signed engagement contract.
Katarina learned that day that Nicol had the power to turn her world on it's head with one blinding smile.