The Archduke’s Fabulous Fake Marriage

A 10 Billion Gaut Deal

“One hundred million. I’ll buy her for one hundred million.”

The voice wasn’t loud, but it echoed through the underground space. The rowdy auction house instantly went silent. I reluctantly lifted my head to see who it belonged to, but I was too high on drugs to make sense of anything. I wanted to see the man who would buy me, but my vision was blurry.

“One hundred million gauts, one hundred million gauts! Any other takers? This exotic girl is about to be sold for 100 million!” the auctioneer yelled frantically.

But everyone remained silent. It was too high a price for just one slave.

She had silver eyes that burned from within. If washed, her red hair would be as brilliant as a dew-stained rose. Though she was filthy, no amount of dirt and dust could stop her beauty from shining through. She most certainly has unprecedented beauty, but to spend such a huge sum on her... He really likes her that much? Or maybe they know each other?

Who was the man capable of paying that much?

All eyes eagerly turned as the man slowly walked down the stairs to the dais. He wore a mask and hood to conceal his identity, yet I had a vague idea of who he was. I just couldn’t believe it.

“No other bidders? Then... sold! Sold for one hundred million gauts!” The auctioneer’s announcement buzzed as if from a distance.

I looked up at the man. The place was dark, but he shone brightly. His blond hair was dazzling, and his blue-gray eyes were emotionless beneath his mask. The man’s mere presence was overwhelming. No one dared to say it aloud, but everyone could guess who he was, including myself, because this was a novel, after all.

“You’re a mess.” He stood in front of me and frowned.

I stood all alone in the middle of the spotlight, but he put his cape around my bare shoulders. It covered the scars on my bony arms and shoulders. With shaking hands, I firmly grabbed this thin warmth.

This moment was why Villainess No. 4 would later be beheaded by the male protagonist, but I knew the man was just taking pity on me for no real reason. I was grateful to get away from the scathing stares, but that was all.

“She’s mine now, so I’ll take her with me.”

“Huh? Oh, um, of course.”

I saw another masked man pay the money on his behalf.

Apparently, I was the only clear-headed person among the dumbfounded mob. Instead of looking at the man who was now my master with gratitude and sadness… I gave him a hard sneer. Sure, I was grateful, but I couldn’t trust him.

I hardly looked threatening, so he probably wasn’t scared at all, but at the moment it was the only way to defend myself.

He removed the gag over my mouth. However, my tongue was so dry that I couldn’t speak properly, all because of the drug the human traffickers had forced me to inhale.

“But what... are you... going to... make me do... after paying... so... much...” I choked out.

The man lifted me up and laughed. “Get some sleep. When you wake up, you’ll have left this place,” he whispered, so quiet that only I could hear.

His voice was somewhat kind, but his eyes were as cold as ice. They were the last thing I saw before passing out.

Today was my seventh day of living as a character in a novel.

My world went black.

* * *

The morning sunlight woke me up with a soft tickle, but something felt off. My eyes snapped open and I sat upright.

Where am I?

My hands were finally free. I looked under the covers just in case there were iron shackles around my ankles, but there were none.

I scanned the room to see emerald green wallpaper, white furniture, and even frilly curtains. Everything clearly looked expensive, which didn’t suit Villainess No. 4, who was miserable, poor, and spiteful.

“Oh, she’s awake.”

“What? She’s awake? Finally!”

The door opened with a thud and an old man with white hair came in, followed by a huge man with narrow eyes. I quickly jumped out of bed to defend myself. Not that I had any strength left, but in case they tried to do anything to me, I would put up a fight.

“Oh, please don’t, miss. You don’t have to be on guard,” the narrow-eyed man said, trying to reassure me.

“Maynard is right. I am Theobalt, the manor’s butler. We didn’t know you were awake, so we just came to bring a few things. We’re sorry that we surprised you,” the old man explained further.

I wasn’t stupid enough to lower my guard. The world wasn’t kind to women. I could see that they were at a loss for what to do, but I didn’t care. I was just looking for a way to escape. I’d managed to avoid becoming a slave, but this was yet another danger. I still didn’t know how they were going to treat me.

“I’ve brought a comfortable dress for you to wear. I’ll put it away for you,” the old butler, Theobalt, said as he moved slowly toward the wardrobe. I followed his every move while paying equal attention to the other man, Maynard.

The birds chirping outside sounded like they were mocking my stupidity. A gentle breeze blew in through the open window, sticking a few strands of my filthy hair to my face. I angrily brushed my hair aside as I walked over to the window.

I can’t let my guard down and I can’t relax, either. Right now I must look like a poor stray cat.

Maynard stared at me and momentarily stopped breathing when he saw my face. I assumed I must be pretty. The original novel often mentioned this character’s beauty.

“This is Schubeiden Manor. We won’t harm you. You are safe here,” the butler said gently, trying to calm me down. He stepped firmly on Maynard’s feet, breaking him out of his trance.

“How long have I been here?” I asked, putting a hand on the windowsill. My voice sounded strange and rough. I must have been asleep for a long time.

“Four days. You must have been tired. We were worried because you wouldn’t wake up.”

“Four days...”

It was probably because of the strong drug. It had broken me easily, even though I took pride in my mental resilience.

Internally swearing, I stretched out my hand. “Pen and paper.”

“Oh, we have some right there—”

“Bring them to me,” I interrupted, signaling to Maynard with my chin.

He reluctantly started to move toward the items. As he approached me, I instantly scowled. “Put it down there.”

“You’re picky, miss.”

“Be quiet.”

I cannot trust anyone. They look nice enough, but I have no idea who they are.

Without looking down, I stretched out my hand and grabbed the pen and paper. My wrists had been tied up for too long that it was difficult to move them, but that wouldn’t be an issue. The two men looked puzzled, but since they didn’t know what I was about to do, they didn’t stop me. This was my chance.

I must escape while they still don’t know anything about me!

Schubeiden Manor? That name made everything clear. I was at the male protagonist’s manor.

I can’t get involved with him.

I was well aware of what happened to Villainess No. 4 after all the evil things she did by the male protagonist’s side.

I’m going to die! With every last drop of blood drained from my body!

The thought of my shriveled body made my hand move faster. I drew lines on the white paper, and soon I’d drawn a clumsy-looking bird. I opened the window wider, threw the paper into the wind, and jumped out after it.

“Miss!”

The two were taken by surprise. Though they called out to me, I didn’t look back. I was finally outside. How I’d longed to be free. The air was so fresh and clear.

Yes, I’ll fly to my freedom! I don’t want to die like Villainess No. 4!

“Miss, it’s dangerous—” Maynard and the butler stared at me, their eyes growing wide.

Of course, they couldn’t help but be surprised. The bird from my drawing had come to life, and I was now riding upon its back. However, it soon lost its power and fell to the ground.

Wow, it really worked! I was impressed with myself. I bet my life on it because I thought it would work. This definitely isn’t the world I know.

I started running the second I landed, but I groaned in pain. After days of captivity, my joints were sore and rusty.

I must draw something to ride before I get caught.

Thankfully, I still had paper. But before I could draw anything, something blocked my path, and I ran into it, quite literally. I gasped in shock.

Was it a rock? Or a tree? Whatever it was, I felt dazed from shock.

“What is the meaning of this?”

I grabbed my already swelling forehead and looked up at the voice.

But this is...

“So you’re a drawing mage.”

His voice was blunt but smooth on the ears. He was standing in front of the sun, so his face was hidden in shadow, but I could still see his sharply masculine jaw and strong lips. After a few moments, I could also see his cold blue-gray eyes, brilliant blond hair, and high nose bridge. His skin was the color of copper, characteristic of swordsmen who spent too long under the sun. He was unbelievably handsome, like the god who drove the sun chariot.

It’s the male protagonist.

He grabbed my waist so I couldn’t run, and then grinned.

“Then one hundred million wasn’t a high price for you after all.”

I knew it. I’m already screwed.

* * *

The moment I realized that I had possessed someone’s body was when I woke up inside a shabby chest, being carried like luggage. The fear I felt then was indescribable. I wanted to scream, but my entire body wouldn’t listen, including my voice. All I could do was breathe. At least I could hear just fine, even though I couldn’t see. After two days, I was able to figure out what was going on.

“Hey, be careful. That’s a first-rate slave you’ve got in there.”

“What? Then you should have marked this chest!”

“I have! See, there’s a tag, you idiot!”

“What? We’ve kidnapped too many, of course I don’t check them all!”

Sounds and air came in through the tiny air hole. They seemed to be a human trafficking gang.

But I fell asleep while reading a bestselling novel! How could this happen to me?

The overwhelming fear and surprise actually cleared my mind. I thought long and hard about why this might have happened to me, but the worst thing I’d ever done was shave my stupid ex-boyfriend’s head... without any shaving cream. After waking up, he had run home sobbing while I had rolled on the floor laughing.

Oh, maybe he’s behind this. Maybe he wanted revenge... but the mere thought dried my tears and filled me with rage.

Thankfully, my mom had raised me to be strong. After all, I could say “Don’t kill me, my family’s rich” in seventeen different languages. To be honest, my family was plain and ordinary, but my mom had once promised to get ransom money if I ever got kidnapped. Of course, after being released, I’d have to spend the next eighty years paying it off as debt... But anyway, I knew my mom wouldn’t give up on me. She’d rescue me. I just had to hold on until then.

At least that’s what I had thought until I heard what they said next.

“But this one’s too good to sell. You see, girls who cross the desert are really hot.”

“Don’t you dare touch her. Rumor has it that the imperial prince himself will participate in the next auction. Then we’ll sell her there and get rich!”

Desert? Auction? Prince? Are these code words? Wait... I think I’ve heard... no... read about this... Think... If those are clues, I have to remember. Where have I seen those words?

“And it’s not just the emperor. The sun god’s descendant might come too, so just keep an eye on our goods.”

With eyes wide open, I only filtered the necessary information.

The sun god’s descendant. The sun god’s descendant? What the... Is this... the novel?

The title of the novel I’d read to sleep was The Sun’s Descendant and His Bride.

I’d always preferred villainesses over naive heroines, and Villainess No. 4 with her difficult past had been my favorite.

No, but wait... I never asked to be her myself!