1 I CHOCKED INTO MY MOCHI BALL AND DIE

The last time she remembered, she was munching on a whole ball of red bean-filled mochi when a classmate came running from behind like an ape in the forest and accidentally bumped into her, almost choking her to death.

No.

Not nearly, because it looks like she did choke to death.

Her homeroom teacher who was skinny as a matchstick once said that eating mochi was as dangerous as playing with fire. If you are not careful yet, you will regret it. Helen had once thought that the unpopular old man was making a lame joke. But now that she had died from choking on mochi, she didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

As soon as her breathing stopped, Helen felt a dark and sultry endless regret as countless hands tried to pull her to the bottom of the vast abyss. When she felt that she was prepared to go to the afterlife, she was jolted by the weak shaking on her shoulder. And the breath that had been missing has now returned in a single sigh. Goes into the lungs and shakes her a little. In an instant, Helen opened her eyes in uncertainty. She thought that she was given one more chance to smack her damn friends' head one more time before actually being called by God. So Helen hurriedly got up and prepared to take off her shoes, but, what appeared before her eyes was something she had never seen before.

A room in baroque style fills the whole view. There was a two-meter-high cabinet clock in the left corner, next to a two-door wardrobe that was even higher. In the right corner, there is an obsidian stone glass as tall as an adult's body placed next to a decorative table that looks out of place. Helen's eyes went up, and saw the painting of the stars on the dark blue canvas like the night sky on the ceiling. Her eyes dropped once more, to see a burgundy velvet carpet covering the entire floor. Moving closer, Helen found that her body was half submerged in the softest mattress she had ever felt. The only source of light is the flame from a candle holder with 8 candle branches. Placed on the nightstand right next to her. The flames swayed slowly to the accompaniment of Helen's confused breath.

"Can you not chase me every time you sleep?"

A murky and cold voice came from her left. Helen, who was still trying to digest the truth, was surprised once again when she turned her head to the side. What she saw was a man with a chain monocle propped up on the bridge of his high nose, trying to read a book with worn paper. Helen looked at him stupidly.

Not getting an answer, the man turned to her. Helen found a perfect facial image that she had never seen in her entire life. The man's face was as white as paper, looking awful when you thought carefully about it. His slightly messy curly hair was the same colour as his pale skin, paired with blue eyes that flickered in a calm rhythm.

"It's useless to pretend to be deaf around me." the man spoke once more. His book, which had a cover as hard as a rhino's skin, was gently patted on the top of Helen's head. "Move. It's cramped." After saying that, his hand pushed Helen's shoulder away and he sank back into his reading.

"...Jack Frost?" Helen mumbled.

"Are you delirious?"

Helen almost slapped her face. When she turned her head, she would see Jack Frost with a cheeky personality. And when she looked down, she would see herself draped in a sexy nightgown. This is so awkward. Did she accidentally get caught in a weird one-night stand with an equally weird guy? But wasn't the last time she was 'logged out' from choking on mochi? Is the grim reaper doing a prank? In that case, where could she wave her hand to admit defeat?

Helen was still looking at the man stupidly as the latter sighed in defeat and put down his book. He opened his monocle lens and piled it on top of the book. There is another nightstand with the same number of candles next to him. He pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at Helen with furrowed brows.

"Say. "

"What? "

"What do you want? "

"…Oh, wait." Helen patted her forehead, feeling that this was too real to be a dream. Denial is not going to help her at all in a bizarre situation. Rather than continue to be confused and afraid, it was better for her to bravely face it head-on. Helen looked at the man with her valiant gaze and tilted her head.

Even though her head was filled with hundreds of worst possibilities, Helen had a great ability to maintain a calm face in any situation. At first glance, she would look like a girl with a mature demeanour. Actually, she's not mature enough to always put broccoli in the corner of her plate. She didn't know who this person was, but it seemed like they had a close enough relationship to be bedmates. What is this, is this the secret boyfriend she never knew about? Did she have another personality that she didn't know about?

"Can you say my name?" Helen had no other choice but to find out elegantly. In order not to appear too noticeable, she trained her voice as best she could and was as friendly as possible. Anyway, she looks like an oldster no matter how she acts and talks.

Her interlocutor seemed unwilling to contribute to her ridiculous request and ignored her. So Helen cleared her throat and revised, "Ahem. I mean, say goodnight to me, and I won't bother you anymore."

"Goodnight." The man's voice was as dry as the plains of the Sahara desert.

"Ahem. Do it romantically."

It is horrifying to hear someone ask for a romantic goodnight in the manner that an Emperor would do when he asks his subjects to die horribly for the sake of the country. "...Good night, Kirsi Daciana Reverie. Satisfied?"

There was a slight shock in those calm eyes. "...What did you say just now?"

"Do you want me to hit you?"

Helen blinked in disbelief. Just this afternoon she finished reading a cheap romantic novel recommended by her seatmate. The quality of the story is so terrible that Helen makes it a joke every time. Her friend doesn't want to be the only one stuck with this rotten novel so she forces Helen to read it. Because the story is too fluffy and classic, it only takes 3 hours of school lessons to finish. Both of them insult the stupid antagonists and laugh together at how incompetent they are in every conflict. And she remembered very well that the name this man had just addressed to her was the name of the foolish villainess author used in the novel.

What's this? Is it a dream?

Helen truly slapped herself on the cheek this time. The slap was so hard that if she looked in the mirror, she would see a red handprint on her cheek. Her interlocutor, who was used to her absurd behaviour, didn't bat an eye at that.

"…Cedric Aleksander Reverie?" with half of her life in her throat, Helen said the name as if whispering a magic spell. Even though she was in complete shock, her face still had a steady expression. Like a nun, as if she had no desire.

Cedric raised an eyebrow. His wife did have a bad reputation as a freak in high social circles, and her oddity this time didn't surprise him. It's still the 2nd day after their marriage. There are many times when each other's surprising behaviours require even more time and effort to adjust. One of the most in need of adjustment is Kirsi Daciana's hobby of chasing whoever sleeps with her along the mattress just to be used as a living bolster. Cedric had spent 34 years of his life in solitude, so he still had to get used to it.

The first time they met was at the imperial New Year's banquet several years ago. At that time, Kirsi Daciana was still so clingy with his little brother, and didn't pay much attention to her surroundings. Cedric remembered her as an eccentric girl and chose to stay away, not wanting to get into any trouble with her. After that, the meeting of the two was only limited to clashing with each other in various social events in noble circles. And there was never an exchange of sentences during that time.

Cedric heard moments ago that Kirsi's relationship with his little brother had strained before the two were finally never seen together again. And not long after the news broke, somehow the story goes when Kirsi Daciana ends up on Cedric's bed and whines saying he has to take responsibility. Cedric didn't plan on being single for life so he agreed. Kirsi Daciana then changed her last name from Evander to Reverie and legally entered the imperial family tree.

The nostalgia session is over. Cedric didn't want to deal with her madness anymore so he lifted the bottom of his nightshirt and caught Kirsi's stiff face with it. He trapped Kirsi in a mortal trap between his clothes and muscular stomach and dragged her to sleep. Kirsi rebelled of course. But the effort soon became in vain. Her body gradually calmed down. Just as Cedric thought his little wife had raised the white flag, something wet and harsh hit his stomach. Cedric immediately realized that someone was trying to bite his belly with all their might. It was quite painful, so Cedric freed his grip and soon pinched Kirsi's nose. The woman gave up after her oxygen supply was cut off for 10 seconds.

Cedric watched the bite marks on his belly resignedly, commenting "Are you a dog?"

Kirsi, who had thought that she would be killed for perhaps knowing something she should not have to know, was gasping for breath greedily. Her face was red like a boiled crab. Her small mouth opened and closed like a koi fish chasing a fish pellet. She said amid her adrenaline rush, "You're the bone."

Based on the novel's timeline, Helen in Kirsi's body gradually realized her condition. The opening of the novel begins with the protagonist thinking back about his relationship with Kirsi, and sensing that she is not the soulmate he wants. She was too extreme, he thought. Her mindset was like that of most other nobles, which made the protagonist who grew up in a commoner halo feel like he didn't fit in with her. When the protagonist asks Kirsi to change for the sake of both, Kirsi refuses. So he left Kirsi. Then his fateful meeting with Viona happened. A lot of things went on before the two's relationship soured, and Kirsi, displeased with that, approached the protagonist's older brother and climbed into his bed to trick him into marrying her.

Based on the description of the novel, the protagonist gives his first experience in bed to Viona. It implies that in his previous relationship with Kirsi, the protagonist had no intimate affinity at all. Not to mention, Kirsi is still so young. She only ever had a romantic relationship with the protagonist.

The Helen inside Kirsi looked at Cedric with an expression like someone who had swallowed a whole bunch of limes. The thought that 34-year-old Cedric had slept with Kirsi who had just gone through the coming of age ceremony a year ago made her stomach ache. Keep in mind that Kirsi was the first to take the initiative, so Helen's anger was actually irrelevant.

—[Go to chapter 19 and tap the first comment section to see their appearance]—

While she was still stuck in her thoughts, Cedric had been sound asleep beside her, with half of his stomach still exposed to the air. The fake Kirsi, on the other hand, thought that she might not be able to sleep at all, but found herself falling asleep not long after. Morning came quickly. Time goes on without waiting for anyone. 'Kirsi' wakes up with a headache, witnessing that the side next to her has been empty for a long time. It was already 7 o'clock, the door was knocked on several times from outside. With a hoarse voice, Kirsi let the person in.

The person who then entered was a middle-aged woman in a neat maid uniform. Her face was very friendly when she met face to face with the young madam who was still so lazy in bed. Half submerged in a soft mattress, with a thick white blanket cradle around her. Her young madam looked like a fairy shrouded in clouds. Ready to fly if given wings.

Her name is Alruna. Kirsi remembered that this woman was the only person who would stay by the couple's side to their worst while the two were exiled. Alruna is a loyal servant who has taken care of Cedric since childhood. She is quite old, but still looks so youthful. Not much different from her master who still looks like a teenager at the age of 34.

After opening the window curtains and letting the morning sun in, Alruna pulled in a large trolley. First, she brought a basin of warm water with some flower petals in front of Kirsi. Said, "Wash your face first, Madam." If she didn't say so, Kirsi would assume it was a pot of elegant flower soup and eat it.

Kirsi washes her face. Felt refreshed in an instant. Apart from washing her face, Alruna also provides equipment for her dental care. She brought a small bowl of natural toothpaste made of rock salt, dried iris, pepper and mint leaves. The sensation is a bit strange on the tongue of modern people like her. And after her morning care routine was over, Alruna brought another trolley filled with food that was still emitting steam. There was a bowl of beef rib soup with sliced ​​carrots and radishes. A basket of warm bread fresh out of the oven, topped with garlic sauce, beaten egg white, peanut butter, bay leaf, olive oil, cloves, and milk. Alruna painstakingly cut bread for her.

"Master went to the plantation early in the morning. There seems to be a problem with the tea plantation in Aslaug," she reported to the Madam. Cedric didn't ask her to tell Kirsi about this, but her motherly tendencies decided to be the bridge of communication between the two.

"Mm." Kirsi felt it was inappropriate to hear it. She was still a stranger a day ago. Listening to other people's household affairs the next day was still awkward for her.

While stirring her beef rib soup, Kirsi noticed the radishes and carrots swimming at the bottom of the bowl. There was a scallion that just looking at it made Kirsi's belly feel uneasy. She shifted the soup bowl away and pulled out the bread basket. The slices of bread provided by Alruna made it easier for her to eat the light breakfast. She dipped the slice of bread into the sauce, intending to pop it in her mouth, but stopped as soon as the pungent smell of onions hit her nose. Her belly was wriggling. Kirsi took another plain slice of bread and ate it.

"...The food isn't suit your taste, Madam?" Everything didn't escape Alruna's eyes. Her face was sorry and worried. "Are you not feeling well?"

"No," Kirsi answered her two questions emphatically. Alruna chatted briefly as she finished half her bread basket. And when Alruna said goodbye, Kirsi independently went around the house to make introductions.

Rather than a house, this residence looked more like an old, well-maintained castle. There are many flowers around the sideyard, especially flowers that can survive the wet weather of the capital. With a giant fish pond on the other side of the residence. This 4-storey building is mostly dominated by calm colours, such as black, white, beige, and pastel. The most common home ornaments are various kinds of vases, jars, and other pottery arts. In addition, the host seems to have a special fondness for the various kinds of swords that are deliberately hung in several corners of the house. Kirsi looked at it with a hint of admiration in her eyes.

This kind of residence doesn't really suit the description of Cedric's character given by the author. Cedric's demeanour last night also didn't look like a man with short wicks who thinking without his brain. Not to mention, Cedric is often described by writers as a wild boar. Kirsi thought the man at least had a worse look than the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. But not. The person she met last night didn't quite fit the description of a wild boar. There are many dissimilarities which are quite surprising. This difference is in stark contrast.

Will the protagonist still be described as perfectly as in the novel's description? Or will he have one or two flaws like humans in general?

Busy with her thoughts, abruptly she was standing in front of the door with a distinctive carving pattern. The door was next to her room. Ahem, their room. Kirsi had already opened it when she realized she had the wrong door. The rice has become porridge. Better go all in and have a look. No matter how strange Helen was here, as long as Helen was still in Kirsi's body, no one would dare to scold her.

It is a library that doubles as a workspace. There were many books neatly arranged on shelves as high as the ceiling of the room. The extent of it exceeded Kirsi's expectations. There are hundreds of thousands of books on all kinds of topics here. Entering it feels like peeking into heaven. Amazing, do stupid people also like to read?

Unlike the original Kirsi and Cedric, who the authors repeatedly emphasize as a low-literate couple who are only interested in making the reader mad, Helen is a girl who spends most of her time eating and reading classical literature. She admired Nietzsche as much as her father. Also loves other fathers of literature like a true family.