I Became the Substitute for the Runaway Heroine

Odette’s heart plummeted as her eyes widened in shock.

“Why… why are you here?”

As her fleeing consciousness slowly returned, a terrifying realization struck her.

He must have heard everything I said just now.

“W-were you waiting for me to wake up so you could…?”

“That wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”

Candlelight flickered over Caesar’s bare chest, making his muscles ripple like molten steel.

His dark, tousled hair framed his sharp features, contrasting against his smooth, pale skin.

Her gaze trailed lower—his lips, deep red, full and tempting, like ripe fruit.

The heat in her throat made her gasp for air.

For a fleeting moment, she almost leaned toward him, drawn in by the temptation.

But—!

“B-bathroom! I need the bathroom!”

Odette, who knew the original story, forced herself to resist the urge to throw herself into his arms.

The desire and impulse she felt now were not real—they were merely a reaction to his overwhelming presence.

“This isn’t me. This is just Caesar’s charm affecting me.”

Escape first, think later.

If she could just make it to the bathroom, she could stall for time until Caesar fell asleep—then she’d sneak away.

With that plan in mind, she staggered toward the bathroom.

But then—

A strange silence fell over the room.

Something felt off.

When she turned back, the entire room was foggy, as if covered in mist.

“What…?”

How could mist be forming inside a room?

She didn’t know why—but she was overjoyed.

If she couldn’t see Caesar from where she stood, then surely he couldn’t see her either.

“Now’s my chance!”

Odette ran toward the door.

What she didn’t realize was that her feet never touched the ground.

She was running on air, kicking at nothingness.

“The door is moving away! What do I do?! It’s running from me—!”

No matter how fast she ran, she got no closer.

Then suddenly, the world flipped upside down.

And the next thing she knew—

She was back on the bed.

Lying beneath Caesar.

“What just happened?!”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

His strong hands pinned her wrists down, his body looming over hers.

Odette blinked, her breath hitching at the sight of his face up close.

“This is insane. He’s too good-looking.”

“I’m… I’m not ready yet.”

“Ready?”

“For the… the thing with the bedpost. You know, when you tie me up. That doesn’t happen until after the heroine gets pregnant and runs away… I haven’t even run away yet, so isn’t it too early for that?”

Caesar froze, blinking in disbelief.

Then, a low, deep laugh rumbled from his chest.

“What? Pregnant? Ha—hahaha! You’re going to have my child?”

His rich, velvety laughter sent a shiver down her spine.

Odette gulped.

“I should not have brought that up.”

What if he took her words seriously and demanded she bear his child right now?!

“…I’m barren.”

Caesar narrowed his eyes.

“What?”

“I was born without a womb.”

“Should I check?”

“No! I lied! I’m sorry!”

“If you weren’t sick, I would’ve been angry. Don’t lie to me again.”

Caesar’s fingers brushed her face, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Even that small touch sent a terrifying jolt through her chest, setting her entire body ablaze.

Her lips parted slightly, her tongue flicking out to moisten them.

Caesar’s gaze darkened as he stared at her mouth.

“Why are you so flushed? Your lips, your eyes… are you already getting hot?”

His gaze dipped lower, landing on her heaving chest.

“That’s impossible.”

Odette hastily shook her head.

“No! My eyes just always look watery. Like a puppy!”

She squirmed, trying to escape from beneath him, but he effortlessly pinned her wrists to the mattress.

“Most women throw themselves at me. But you—”

His voice dropped, his blue eyes narrowing.

“You’re uncomfortable with me?”

“I-I just don’t like men.”

A pause.

“…I don’t mean I like women, either!”

“You keep spouting nonsense, not realizing how serious this is.”

Caesar’s fingers caught her chin, tilting her face up toward him.

His playful smirk vanished, replaced by a stern, unyielding gaze.

“Listen carefully, Odette. Tonight, you cannot leave this room.”

Her breath caught in her throat.

“Anderson’s spies are lurking all over the estate. I caught the maid who tried to poison you, but we’re not safe yet.”

So—she really had been poisoned.

Even through her hazy mind, a cold wave of clarity washed over her.

“Mary… was bought by Count Anderson from the very beginning.”

She remembered it now.

As she drank the poisoned tea, Mary had smiled and said—

“Would you like another cup?”

Her eyes burned as she tried to hold back tears.

Caesar noticed.

“Why are you crying?”

“My head hurts.”

Odette’s voice trembled, her eyes welling with tears.

Was it the betrayal? The malice of Count Anderson?

“If they were going to kill me anyway… they could have at least skipped the theatrics.”

They never intended to let her live—yet they had tormented her first, whispering nightmarish threats at every opportunity.

Telling her that Caesar was a monster, that he tore demons apart with his bare hands—

That she would meet the same fate.

“I will never forgive them.”

If she was going to die anyway, she wasn’t going to go alone.

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she muttered bitterly,

“Count Anderson and the butler planned to kill me and hold a funeral in Lady Amelia’s name.”

“They actually thought I’d fall for such a crude trick?”

Caesar’s voice was flat with disdain.

“That’s why they sent me here—so they could poison me after. They wanted the rumors to spread… that you had murdered your own wife.”

Caesar was both a hero and a feared figure.

“Because he commands an invincible army.”

The Emperor, who saw him as a potential threat, might have been pleased if Caesar was framed for murdering his own wife.

But now that the Count’s plan had failed, what would happen next?

“Please let me go. I… I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Hmm. No, I don’t think so.”

“Wh-why not?”

Caesar let out a soft sigh, brushing away her tears with his thumb.

Then—

The mattress shifted as he sat up, before lowering himself again, cradling her face between his hands.

And then—

His lips pressed against hers.

But—it wasn’t a kiss.

Instead, something bitter flowed into her mouth.

A medicinal liquid, thick and pungent, seeped down her throat.

It had a scent similar to herbal medicine.

“The antidote.”

The warm liquid trailed down, a strange heat settling in her stomach.

“Good girl. You finally swallowed it properly this time.”

Caesar repeated the process, gently coaxing the medicine down her throat.

Then, in a low murmur, he asked,

“If I let you go, do you think the Count will spare you?”

“Why don’t you let me go and find out?”

“The moment you step out of this estate, you’ll be dead.”

His words struck a chord.

The butler and the head maid’s faces flashed in her mind.

They were watching this room, waiting for an opportunity.

Without hesitation, she whispered,

“Interrogate the butler, Derrick, and the head maid, Anna. They’ve already been bought by the Count.”

Caesar stilled, his voice dipping into dangerous silence.

“That’s impossible. Derrick was my father’s man. He managed this estate for years in my absence. And Anna… she came with my mother from her family’s estate.”

“Seven years is a long time.”

“…….”

“No one expected you to return from the war alive.”

Caesar’s eyes darkened, his expression unreadable.

As Odette drifted toward unconsciousness, she heard his voice—

“Then… whose side are you on?”

Even as sleep claimed her, she barely managed to whisper—

“Of course, I’m…”

She never finished the sentence.

“My lady, I’ve brought your breakfast.”

“My lady?”

Odette had been staring at the estate’s outer wall, lost in thought.

“There’s no way I could climb over that without a ladder.”

A maid approached her, bowing deeply.

“My lady?”

Odette blinked.

“M-me?”

“Yes, my lady.”

She groaned internally.

“Yesterday, they called me ‘miss.’ Now, I’ve been promoted overnight?”

She wasn’t ready for this.

Her body still ached terribly—she could barely sit upright after spending four days bedridden.

The poison had been so strong that her mouth had become raw, her eyes bursting with broken blood vessels—forcing her to wear an eye patch for days.

The physician had told her she had only survived because she was born with a naturally strong constitution.

Which was just a polite way of saying—

“You should have died.”

She sighed.

“I think I finally understand what it means to have one foot in the grave.”