Chapter One: I Took the Heroine's First Night in a Romance Fantasy
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"Ugh…"
A stabbing headache, as though pierced by needles. On top of that, an unquenchable thirst made my throat feel like it was on fire.
Yohan clutched his head and slowly sat up.
The room was dark. Judging by the faint light through the window, it seemed to be dawn.
'How much did I drink? I can't remember a thing.'
Just yesterday, there had been the debutante ball of the marquis' daughter. Despite being only the third son of a Viscount, it had been an honor to receive her invitation. Yohan remembered enthusiastically drinking as he reunited with familiar faces.
But this? This was too much. He gripped his pounding head and lowered it.
"Haa…"
A sigh escaped, bringing the smell of alcohol with it, making him feel even worse.
'This is why I usually avoid drinking…'
In his previous life, Yohan could hold his liquor without issue. But in this reincarnated body, even a single glass of wine could knock him out cold.
That wasn't all. His respiratory system was so weak he couldn't even consider smoking, and his sharp nose made even the faintest bad smell unbearable.
He could accepts not smoking, but for someone who had enjoyed drinking in his past life, the aftereffects were hard to adjust to, even as an adult.
'I swear I'm never drinking again.'
Determined, Yohan threw off the blanket covering him. But his eyes widened in shock at what he saw.
"What the—"
He wasn't wearing pants. Not even underwear. Yohan couldn't make sense of it.
He never slept without clothes—it was something he'd been taught growing up.
'Come to think of it, I'm not wearing a shirt either.'
He never went to bed shirtless. What if a maid walked in and saw him?
There was a deeper reason behind his caution.
Yohan Harsen, the third son of Viscount Harsen, was famed for his exceptional looks.
The talk of the social scene, the prize coveted by young noblewomen who would stop at nothing to claim him.
As a result, Yohan had always conducted himself with the utmost propriety, leaving no room for gossip. He was stricter than most noblewomen about his behavior.
'What in the world is this—'
Suddenly, a sharp jolt of pain struck. Yohan instinctively pressed his forehead.
"This headache is killing me."
His voice cracked from the dryness of his throat. Just as he rose to get himself a glass of water,
"…!"
But this time, A sharp sting radiated from his back. It felt as though something had deeply scratched him, and the slightest movement sent waves of pain through his muscles.
"Damn it…"
It was a complete mess. He couldn't remember what had happened, and now his body was falling apart.
"Mmm, you're awake?"
As Yohan winced in pain, a soft, clear woman's voice suddenly reached his ears.
"…?"
He couldn't comprehend the situation. Why, how, was there a woman lying beside him?
Yohan turned his head and met her gaze. Beneath long lashes, ruby-like red eyes looked back at him.
"..."
Her long black hair spilled across the bed like strands of black pearl. A fresh, fruity scent lingered around her, mingled with the floral fragrance wafting from her fingertips as she reached out to him. Each blink of her eyes seemed to ensnare him.
But his admiration didn't last long. Yohan snapped back to reality, bewildered.
Who was she? Why was she lying in the same bed as him?
As she reached out to touch his cheek, Yohan instinctively drew back and asked,
"Um, who… are you?"
"Huh?"
"Why… why are we… here together like this?"
Yohan sincerely had no idea. He couldn't remember a thing from the night before. All he could recall was drinking heavily with his friends.
"Are you saying you're going to just use me and toss me aside?"
Her whispered words, laced with cold venom, sent a chill down his spine.
Her expression darkened.
Alarmed by her ominous tone, Yohan quickly responded.
"W-What do you mean by 'use and toss'…?"
His voice cracked as he coughed. She reached for the glass of water on the bedside table and handed it to him.
"Here, drink this…"
"…Thank you."
Only after quenching his thirst did Yohan notice her body.
Bite marks. Her skin was covered in them.
"..."
Anyone with half a brain could figure out what had happened.
He and the woman beside him had shared a forbidden night.
"…I understand now. I sincerely apologize. May I ask your name?"
Denying everything or feigning ignorance would be no different from trash.
Taking responsibility was the only option, so Yohan tried to remain composed. At the very least, he needed to know which family she was from.
The societal norms of this world upheld chastity. If a woman's first time was compromised, it could jeopardize her future prospects for marriage.
Yohan had already resolved to take responsibility and marry her.
"As I told you yesterday, my name is Francia. Francia Fervache."
"..."
Hearing her name, Yohan froze, his mouth agape, unable to speak.
A name he could never forget.
The heroine of the reverse-harem, dark romance fantasy novel, "Surviving in a Romance Fantasy Filled with madmen and Villainesses."
Francia Fervache.
The only daughter of the Fervache ducal family, cherished deeply by her father, the duke.
She was the protagonist of the very world Yohan had reincarnated into.
***
Yohan Harsen. The third son of a viscount's family.
Though blessed with exceptional looks, he had always been cautious due to his lower noble status.
Not particularly bright, Yohan had managed to live a peaceful life by using his modern knowledge and the faint memories of the original story to his advantage. He was always striving for a quiet existence.
Why? Because getting involved with a noblewoman would mean disaster, if not complete ruin.
What if he got entangled with a count's or a marquis' family? As the third son of a mere Viscount, he would undoubtedly be accused of scheming to steal their daughters and likely lose his head.
But what if the woman he had a relationship with turned out to be the cherished only daughter of the empire's one of the duke family?
And to make matters worse, what if the genre of this world wasn't a simple romance fantasy, but a twisted, dark romance filled with crazy male leads and scheming villains?
'Damn, I'm completely screwed.'
Yohan could already see the peaceful 21 years of his second life unraveling before his eyes.
It wouldn't stop at him just getting entangled with the insane male leads. He'd also have to deal with the villainous women, all equally insane.
Francia, the female lead, was a character tormented by countless deranged men until she met the main male protagonist.
If Yohan got involved with her, the fallout would inevitably reach him. He would become a rival to the male leads, no doubt about it.
Yohan couldn't suppress his growing despair.
"Um, Sir Yohan? Is something wrong? You look rather serious."
"…"
"Did I do something to upset you…?"
Francia gazed up at him, her eyes trembling.
"No, not at all."
Yohan shook his head, forcing an awkward smile. He wasn't insane enough to get angry at the woman whose first night he had stolen.
"I drank far too much yesterday and don't recall much. Could you please explain what happened?"
He carefully asked, trying not to offend her. Of course, not remembering was a problem in itself.
"Well…"
Francia averted her eyes, twisting a strand of her hair around her finger.
"Last night, I was drinking alone when you approached me. You asked if I'd like to drink with you."
"Me? Well, alright… And then?"
"I gladly accepted. My family is so strict that I rarely get the chance to drink with such a handsome man."
"And…?"
"Well, we both drank too much and… ended up here. Oh, but don't worry, I don't resent you. I… enjoyed it."
In short, He had approached Francia first and made the first move.
He who had always aimed for a peaceful, modest life…
'I'm not just screwed—I'm royally screwed.'
His despair must have shown on his face, as Francia pouted slightly.
"Do you perhaps not like me, Sir Yohan?"
Her words became hurried.
"Was it because I scratched your back last night, or because I moaned shamelessly…? I'm sorry. It was my first time, and I didn't know how to act…"
Her apology only made Yohan frantically wave his hands.
"No, my lady, you have nothing to apologize for. It's only natural. I'm not disappointed in the slightest."
No, the problem was entirely with him.
"I truly apologize for not remembering. I've caused you significant offense."
Yohan bowed his head deeply, offering a sincere apology. After all, they'd spent the night together, and it was clear he was at fault.
"It's alright. I drank too much as well."
Francia slid closer, her body brushing against his arm.
"I had a wonderful time last night. It was so unforgettable… even if you can't recall it."
"I'm sorry."
Every time she mentioned last night, Yohan could only bow his head again, deeply apologetic.
"It's fine."
"…"
"We can always create new memories."
Francia leaned in closer. Her soft touch against his arm made his body respond instinctively, his lower half betraying him.
"Oh my."
Francia covered her mouth with her hand, her cheeks flushing red.
"Shall we go for another round?"
"Um…"
To be honest, part of him wanted to relive the forgotten sensations of the night before. She was, after all, a stunning woman, regardless of being the story's protagonist or not.
But Yohan's rationality overpowered his instincts.
If he went further now, there would be no turning back…
"If we do it again, it might be too much for you, Lady Francia."
Having just experienced her first night, it would undoubtedly be overwhelming for her to do it again so soon. He used this reasoning to politely decline.
"Now that you mention it, you're right."
Francia rubbed her waist, smiling bashfully. Her tongue peeked out slightly.
"My whole body is sore right now, and even sitting up feels like a challenge."
'How much had he overdone it? Yohan was utterly disgusted with his drunk self from last night.'
It wasn't that the night with her had been bad. The issue was that it had been with Francia.
'I'm absolutely doomed.'
If it had been an ordinary noblewoman, Yohan might have simply chalked it up to a moment of weakness and moved on.
But Francia Fervache was different. She was the protagonist of this world, the tragic heroine entangled with every kind of crazy people imaginable.
It was inevitable that Yohan would be dragged into her whirlwind of chaos.
'Still, the silver lining is that it's before she enters the Bureau, and the story hasn't really started yet.'
The story was set to begin when Francia and her generation—along with other characters—entered the imperial Bureau.
At that point, Francia would be officially recognized as an heir, and her status would spread through high society as the pride of the Fervache family.
From the way she participated in the party yesterday and was so relaxed today, it seemed she hadn't yet become a Imperial official.
'I should confirm, just in case.'
With an awkward smile, Yohan brushed Francia's hand gently.
"Do you currently have any official responsibilities, my lady?"
"Yes, I'm in the Imperial Bureau. I was just appointed as a special-class mage."
"Oh."
All the hopeful thoughts he'd just entertained evaporated instantly.
The story had already begun.
That meant he would have to be at the center of future events, facing off against male leads and villainesses.
'This is really a mess.'
It was a moment when his life took a drastic turn.