Until The Duke Begins Unrequited Love

In a world where someone begins an unrequited love, it feels as though the world is on the brink of destruction, with despair and hopelessness coexisting.Rihana knew that choosing to continue this one-sided love—even going so far as to swallow a potion that claimed it could make someone fall in love with the drinker—seemed like a crazy act."Nevertheless..."The "love potion," which made the person who drank it fall in love with the first person they saw afterward, was the object she couldn't take her eyes off."I will drink it."No response came; it was because the "recipient" was not a person but a statue in the park.Regardless, Rihana sat on the grass, as if it were a cushion under the moonlit night, and spoke."I promised myself not to give my heart to anyone, but I have lost."Pop!The cork, shaped like a cork, was pulled out, releasing a sweet fragrance from the poisonous concoction for the defeated.She loved the Duke.However, she no longer wanted to love.Drinking the love potion was the only solution to end this bitter, unrequited love."Now, I should love someone else."Without hesitation, Rihana brought the bottle to her lips.Gulp.The liquid seeped into her mouth, lukewarm and sweet.At that moment, the park clock struck midnight, ringing its bell.Dang—Simultaneously, someone stepped on the grass.The owner of the approaching men's shoes opened his mouth."Rihana."He had come.'The Someone Else.'***Rihana slowly turned around.She saw the person who would end up becoming her true love.Rihana hadn't always despised unrequited love.Her journey began eleven years ago, when she discovered the true nature of this world.Until then, she hadn't realized she had transmigrated into a romance novel; she simply thought she had been reincarnated."Which group do you belong to?"Eleven-year-old Rihana, a girl with pink hair, handed over an invitation in response to the guard's question."I'm here as a representative from the Ephenor Orphanage."The guard cleared the way and whispered, "Good luck."Of course, when you step into a noble's castle as an orphan, luck is essential.Rihana's confidence that her second life wasn't a glamorous transmigration into a romance novel stemmed from this lowly status.What romance novel involves transmigrating to such a position?The person who informed her this wasn't Earth wasn't a faithful maid but one of her fellow orphans from the orphanage.Instead of mingling with noble young ladies in a social circle, they fought over beds in cramped rooms daily.If Rihana had managed to win the battle for the window seat, everything changed when she saw the noble family seated in the VIP section.Her calm thoughts and peaceful second life lost all vitality and color, even in her blushing cheeks.'The Duke's son.'He looked like someone of her age.His vacant, pumpkin-colored eyes weren't just indifferent; they were chilling.The neat shape of his silver hair, covering his forehead, looked familiar.Distinctively, there were mysterious traces of a curse etched around his eyes.That's why she hadn't recognized him.He was the male lead from the webtoon she had read before her transmigration!'So, I was transmigrated into a romance novel?'A rough summary quickly crossed her mind.[The cursed male lead, the female lead who would break the curse, and Rihana, the pink-haired villainess from the orphanage...]'Damn, that's me.'What would happen to that villainess later on?Ah, right.She drank poison and died.Gulp.When she recalled the image of "Rihana" from the webtoon, vomiting blood and dying a miserable death, a chill ran down her spine.'I've already died once, and I don't want to go through it again!'Rihana quickly made up her mind.'Let's run away.'From this territory, from this original novel.She had no lingering attachments—no family or friends.Rihana grabbed a large napkin, packed it with biscuits and bread, and quickly left the banquet hall.Outside, grand carriages stood sparsely along the street, exuding grandeur.Rihana rolled her eyes, surveying her surroundings, then approached a carriage where the coachman was dozing off."Excuse me, sorry!"Rihana swiftly snatched the hat from the coachman's lap.Instead of paying the fare, she left some biscuits as compensation and quickly fled.In reality, she didn't resemble the villain in the webtoon that much.'But appearances can change.'Rihana wrapped her curly, long hair tightly under the hat, transforming herself into the unremarkable appearance of a boy.Her raggedy, patchwork pants, provided by the orphanage to make her look as poor as possible, helped with the disguise.With cross-dressing, food to last a few days, and her escape plans in place, she was ready to flee the original novel!Now, where would she go?'I heard the neighboring kingdom, Welzen, has good welfare for commoners.'She could live in their poorhouse until she reached adulthood.With her destination set, Rihana began scanning the carriages with sharp eyes.'Which one belongs to someone from Welzen?'People from all around attended the gathering hosted by the Viscount, so there was no shortage of carriages.The problem was figuring out which one to pick. She couldn't tell just by looking.So Rihana picked up a few pebbles.She threw one at the back of the coachman's head, who stood beside the largest carriage."What was that?"The coachman, startled, looked around, muttering to himself.It was the language of Diarese, the country where Rihana was living.That wasn't the carriage.Rihana turned to another one."Oh my, who's there?"'No, not that one.'"Ouch! What was that?"'Not that one, either.'"Damn it, get lost!"'That's it.'With her experience crawling through the crowded orphanage, Rihana slipped into the baggage compartment without the coachman noticing.'Whew. That was close.'Rihana relaxed once the carriage began to move.Thump... Thump...As expected, the carriage crossed the border, and Rihana prepared to get off when it reached a city center.'This should be the right time to get off.'Since it wasn't a city bus, there was probably no button to request a stop.But there were other ways.'Ah!'Jump out.Unfortunately, the result was dismal.Rihana tumbled off the moving carriage, grasping her shoulder.Damn it, my arm!Tears flowed down her face from the pain. Barely managing to crawl, she hid in a corner of a bustling market.Damn it, my dislocated shoulder!As her vision blurred, the market's noise reached her heightened senses."Infinite eggs for 30 crots!""Fresh vegetables, brought in this morning!""Is this bread made of rye? No whole wheat?""Come this way, sir!"The language, though rougher, was the same, making it easy to understand.Rihana huddled with her bundle of food, crouching. Her eleven-year-old body felt terribly weak.Sleep began to overwhelm her.Just before her consciousness faded, a soft, cheerful voice reached her."Hey, are you okay? Oh my... Dad, let's take him with us!"Vaguely, she saw a girl.Thud.And then Rihana fainted.When she opened her eyes, she was no longer on the street but in a soft bed.As in any typical transmigration novel, a "strange and magnificent ceiling" came into view."Are you awake?"Ah, that gentle voice from earlier.She turned her head to see the child from before, dressed in splendid clothes, standing by her bedside."You were passed out, so we brought you to our mansion. Are you hurt?"Rihana moved her arm slightly. It was bandaged neatly, as if someone had treated it.The girl continued talking, but Rihana only nodded, barely paying attention.Then, the conversation took an unexpected turn."Hey, I like you!"Startled, Rihana widened her eyes.Wait, what did she say?The girl added, cheeks reddening."I'll talk to my father about taking you in. We'll become a happy family!"'What was this about? Was this little girl in love?'"I'll be your fiancé, and you will like me too because an engagement means we have to like each other."'Kid, are you in love?''Oh my, this is too much!''I have to leave here!'Who knows if this place is a human trafficking organization or a den of thieves?