Aria Blake did not sleep that night.
How could she?
She had just married the most dangerous man in the empire.
Adrian Blackwood.
The villain.
The man who was supposed to kill her.
And now… he was her husband.
The sound of the door opening made her freeze.
Her fingers tightened around the bedsheet.
Slow. Heavy footsteps entered the room.
She didn't need to look to know who it was.
"Still awake?"
His voice was calm… but it carried that same cold edge.
Aria slowly turned.
Adrian stood near the door, his black coat gone, his sleeves slightly rolled up.
Even in this quiet moment, he looked intimidating.
Untouchable.
Dangerous.
"Would you be able to sleep?"
she asked, trying to sound normal.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"Most people in your position would be crying."
"I'm not most people."
"Clearly."
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Adrian walked closer.
Each step made her heartbeat louder.
He stopped beside the bed, looking down at her like she was something… unfamiliar.
"Let's make one thing clear, Aria Blake."
Her breath hitched.
"This marriage," he continued, "is not a fairy tale."
"I know."
"If you betray me…" his voice dropped dangerously low, "I won't hesitate."
There it was.
The same line.
The same warning.
The same fate from the novel.
Aria forced herself to meet his eyes.
"I won't betray you."
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then—
"Good."
He turned away as if the conversation was over.
Aria blinked.
"That's it?"
He paused.
"What else were you expecting?"
"I don't know… maybe rules? Conditions? Something?"
Adrian let out a quiet chuckle.
"You're more impatient than I thought."
He walked toward the window, his back facing her.
"Fine. Since you asked…"
He raised one finger.
"Rule number one:
You don't leave this estate without my permission."
Aria frowned slightly.
"Okay…"
"Rule number two: You don't interfere in my affairs."
That one… was dangerous.
Because she needed to interfere if she wanted to change the story.
"I'll… try."
He glanced at her over his shoulder.
"Try?"
She quickly corrected herself.
"I won't interfere."
A pause.
Then he continued.
"Rule number three…"
This time, his voice softened slightly.
"You don't lie to me."
Aria's heart skipped.
That rule… was impossible.
Because her entire existence here… was a lie.
"I understand."
Adrian studied her face carefully.
As if searching for something.
Then—
"Good."
He walked toward the door again.
Wait—
"Where are you going?" she asked before she could stop herself.
He stopped, slightly surprised.
"Did you expect me to stay?"
Her face heated instantly.
"I—no! I just—"
"This is your room," he said calmly. "Not ours."
Oh.
That was… unexpected.
In the novel, he never shared a room with anyone.
Not even his wife.
Because he never trusted anyone.
"Get some rest," he added.
Then he left.
The door closed.
And the room fell silent again.
Aria stared at it for a long moment.
"…I'm still alive."
A small, relieved laugh escaped her lips.
Step one of her plan… worked.
But this was just the beginning.
The next morning—
Aria woke up to unfamiliar voices.
"Lady Aria, are you awake?"
She blinked, still half-asleep.
"Yes…"
The door opened, and a group of maids entered.
They moved quickly, efficiently.
One prepared her dress.
Another arranged her hair.
Another brought breakfast.
Aria sat there, confused.
"This feels too real…"
"Lady Aria," one of the maids said gently,
"Lord Blackwood is waiting for you."
Her heart skipped.
Already?
The dining hall was massive.
Cold.
Elegant.
And at the center—
Adrian Blackwood sat like a king.
He didn't look at her when she entered.
"Sit."
Aria obeyed.
Breakfast was already prepared.
But she couldn't eat.
Not with him sitting across from her like that
Watching.
"You're nervous," he said.
"I'm not."
"Your hands say otherwise."
She quickly placed them on her lap.
Adrian smirked slightly.
"Relax. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have married you."
"…That's not comforting."
"It should be."
Silence again.
Then—
"I have a question," he said.
Aria stiffened.
"Why me?"
Her mind went blank.
"What?"
"Out of everyone in this empire… why did you choose me?"
Because you kill me.
Because I'm trying to survive.
Because I know your future.
But she couldn't say any of that.
So instead—
She smiled softly
"Because you're the only one who could protect me."
Not a lie.
Just… not the full truth.
Adrian's gaze sharpened.
"From what?"
"…From everything."
For a second—
Something flickered in his eyes.
Then it disappeared.
"Careful, Aria Blake."
His voice turned cold again.
"Depending on me too much… is dangerous."
"I know."
"But I'll take that risk."
Another silence.
Then—
Adrian stood up.
"Get ready."
"For what?"
He looked at her.
This time… there was something different in his expression.
Something unreadable.
"You're coming with me."
Aria froze.
"Where?"
A small smirk appeared on his lips..
"To a place where people will be very interested…"
"…to see my wife."
Her heart dropped.
Public appearance?
That wasn't supposed to happen this early.
Something had already changed.
The story…
Was no longer following the original plot.
"I thought I knew the story…
But the moment he held my hand in public—
I realized… everything had changed."