I Became the Substitute for the Runaway Heroine

“Odette! Are you okay?”

Odette couldn’t answer.

A flood of memories surged through her like a receding tide, overwhelming and consuming her.

Caught in the whirlwind of confusion, she turned to gaze out the window.

Mountains, meadows, a lake shimmering in the distance, sunlight dancing on the water’s surface—

Everything before her was real, without a trace of deception.

But why?

Why was this the world of a novel?

The Caged Amelia Dreams of Escape was an R-rated tragic romance, where Caesar married his enemy’s daughter, Amelia, and found himself torn between revenge and love.

Caesar’s painful childhood, marred by the loss of his family, made his actions—no matter how cruel—impossible to hate.

Even when the pregnant Amelia ran away, and Caesar fell into an abyss of regret, readers cheered for him, urging him not to give up.

“I even left a comment telling Caesar to stay strong.”

But she had never signed up to play the fake heroine!

“Ugh, if I were meant to be a passing maid, they should have just let me pass!”

Tonight was the night the original story began.

Returning from war, Caesar would rip Amelia’s dress apart and utter his first line:

“Did you imagine a romantic wedding night? A beast’s daughter deserves to be mounted like one. Get on all fours.”

“Save me! I can’t do this. I don’t want a beastly man—I want a refined one!”

And now, the moment had come.

As the carriage pulled to a stop before Caesar Maes’s estate, Odette, pale as a ghost, turned to the servants.

“The master arrived at dawn and has just woken up. I’ll take you to him now.”

The butler’s voice was polite, but his cold, sharp gaze made it clear—any suspicious behavior, and she wouldn’t live to see tomorrow.

“Treacherous rat.”

For seven years, while Caesar had been away at war, the butler and several servants had pledged their loyalty to Count Anderson.

Now that Caesar had returned, they were on edge, terrified that their corruption would be exposed.

That explained their tense, wary attitudes.

“They’ll be watching me closely and reporting everything to the Count.”

And if she made one wrong move? The Count would order her execution immediately.

Which meant—

Odette discreetly removed her diamond earrings and slipped them into the butler’s hand.

“I trust you’ll take good care of me.”

“W-What is this for?”

“The diamonds and sapphires are too big—they’re stretching my earlobes. I hear they’re quite valuable.”

Meeting the head maid’s gaze, she took off the other earring and handed it to her as well.

“I hope you two share them nicely. And I’d appreciate it if you remember—we’re on the same side.”

The butler and head maid exchanged glances before promptly pocketing the earrings.

“Ahem. You must be thirsty from your journey. Would you like some tea?”

The bribe worked faster than she expected!

“I was just feeling parched. That sounds wonderful.”

“I’ll brew it for you!”

To Odette’s surprise, Mary flashed a bright smile and stepped forward.

As she sipped her tea, Odette pondered how to survive her meeting with Caesar.

“It seems there’s only one way.”

Her fingertips trembled as she set down the empty teacup.

“Master, the lady has returned from her family’s estate.”

“Let her in.”

A deep, low voice sent a chill down her spine.

As soon as Odette stepped into the room, the butler shut the door behind her.

It didn’t slam—but the soundless finality of it made her feel as though she had been thrown into a beast’s cage.

Yet—the room was empty.

“Huh?”

A subtle yet intoxicating scent brushed past her nose, drawing her gaze involuntarily toward the terrace.

The curtains swayed in the breeze, revealing a broad-shouldered man with a powerful, commanding back.

“He’s… huge.”

His frame was even more imposing than she had imagined.

And yet, his waist was narrow, the belt of his bathrobe tied so loosely that the ends nearly touched the floor.

The well-defined muscles of his calves peeked out beneath the robe.

They say a man’s strength is in his legs—and if his calves were this thick…

“Wait, what am I thinking?!”

Just as she was about to slap herself back to reality—

Caesar turned.

His piercing gaze landed on her.

The moment Odette met Caesar’s gaze, her heart felt like it had stopped.

“He doesn’t seem human.”

If a god of beauty existed, he would surely look like this.

His very existence was a work of art.

His piercing blue eyes and sharp nose exuded noble elegance, while his strong jawline radiated unyielding determination.

And then—his lips.

Those lips, flushed a dangerous shade of red, were too sensual—corrupting his divine beauty with a single decadent stroke.

What would it feel like if those lips touched her skin?

The thought alone sent a shiver down her spine.

“Now I understand what it means to be dangerously beautiful.”

Lowering her gaze, Odette stammered.

“Y-you’ve returned safely…”

“And who exactly are you?”

Caesar cut her off.

Had she been caught already?

Her hands shook as she held the tray the butler had given her. The tea inside the kettle rippled over the edge.

“P-perhaps we could discuss this… over some tea?”

Odette had performed this task countless times before—her hands did not falter as she poured the tea and arranged the cups neatly on the table.

Once she was done, she bowed slightly, still holding the tray.

Caesar’s footsteps approached.

His scent grew stronger, and soon, she could see his feet before her.

His robe hung loosely, exposing his powerful thighs and calves with every step.

She held her breath as his presence loomed over her—so close that his breath tickled the crown of her head.

“Why isn’t he stopping?”

When her nose was practically touching his chest, Odette couldn’t bear it any longer.

She dropped to the floor, prostrating herself.

“I—I am Lady Amelia’s personal maid!”

She had spent the entire journey thinking and thinking—

And she had reached only one conclusion.

Expecting Caesar to not recognize his own wife was delusional.

He had hated the Anderson family for his entire life. There was no way he wouldn’t recognize the daughter of his enemy.

He had probably investigated everything beforehand.

Knowing him, he wouldn’t have left a single detail unchecked.

So her only chance of survival was to tell the truth—

And beg for her life.

“Lady Amelia ran away. I was forced to take her place. Please—go to Count Owen Anderson and take your revenge!”

Count Anderson had killed Caesar’s father and murdered his sister.

And as if that weren’t enough—he had become young Caesar’s guardian, only to abuse him and drain the Maes family’s wealth.

In the end, he had sent Caesar to war, hoping he would die on the battlefield.

“I know the secret passage into the Anderson estate. I can draw you a detailed map. If you send an assassin, no one will ever know.”

“The back entrance through the storage vault? Or the underground passage that connects to the stables?”

“H-how do you know that?”

He already knew about the secret passages?

And yet, he hadn’t killed the Count?

Why?

“How did you find out?”

She couldn’t exactly say “I read it in a novel.”

So she fumbled for an excuse.

“I-I just happened to notice while cleaning… I have a keen eye for details.”

No way he’d believe that.

Even she wouldn’t believe that.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she flattened herself against the floor, trembling.

Rustle.

She heard the soft folding of fabric—Caesar was lowering himself.

Then, his voice, whispering against her ear—

“Look up.”

“W-what?”

“I said, look up.”

Odette slowly lifted her head.

The glacier-blue depths of Caesar’s eyes glowed with an unnerving brilliance.

It felt as if invisible threads were binding her in place, tightening around her body, making it hard to breathe.

“Did you use enchanted eye drops?”

“E-enchanted what? Those are expensive, aren’t they? I-I would never use something like that!”

“Your hair?”

“M-my hair? It’s naturally blonde!”

“I see.”

Caesar finished his inspection—

And his red lips curved upward in a slow, satisfied smile.

A smile so dangerously seductive.

It stole the breath from her lungs.