Deep into the night, in the bedroom of the Biford family’s second son.
A boy drenched in cold sweat jolted awake from a nightmare.
Eight years old, with black hair and dark eyes. His features were still youthful yet strikingly defined—undeniably handsome.
But no amount of charm could hide the terror etched across his face.
His name was Karl—a reincarnator from Earth. He’d lived eight years in this world.
The Biford family wasn’t extravagantly noble, but comfortably wealthy. His father held the title of Baron.
As the second son, Karl had been betrothed since childhood to the Sovani family’s young lady.
If it were a normal engagement? Sure, a pretty wife sounded great.
But this was an uxorilocal marriage—and it would cost him his life.
Since childhood, Karl possessed a secret ability: he could see his own death nodes, predicting his death flags.
He saw it clearly—if he married into the Sovani household, twenty years later, he’d be branded a traitor (the banner-waving, emperor-toppling kind) and executed.
Yes. *Traitor.*
Because his fiancée, the Sovani eldest daughter, dreamed day and night of rebellion and claiming the throne.
Marry in? He’d be executed alongside his entire family.
How could he walk blindly into that trap? Into certain death?!
Of course he’d break the engagement! Cut all ties!
He’d planned to bring his parents tomorrow to the Sovani manor and deliver the classic breakup line: *“Don’t look down on the underdog.”*
But tonight—just moments ago—in a dream, he saw another death node.
Break the engagement tomorrow? He’d be assassinated that same day. Silently. Mysteriously.
HELP!!! WHAT THE HELL?!
Why would breaking it off get him killed?! Offended someone? Angered the Sovanis?!
No way to dodge it. No clue who, where, or how.
Worse—the node was unchangeable. Triggered inevitably by one event.
That event? The breakup.
Stuck.
Break it off? Die tomorrow. Keep it? Die with the family in twenty years.
No way forward. No way back!!!
Just then, the bedroom door opened gently.
A woman in a nightgown stepped in—graceful face, elegant curves, radiating warmth.
“Mom? What brings you here so late?” Karl asked.
This was Daley, his mother in this life.
She smiled, sat beside him, and stroked his head. “Just checking. Worried you couldn’t sleep.” Her voice turned firm. “Don’t fear. If you don’t want this engagement, we won’t do it. I’ll handle it tomorrow. No matter what.”
Karl’s chest tightened. *Tomorrow’s death node…*
He forced a helpless smile. “Mom… I thought it over. Let’s not break it. It’s not good for our family—or the Sovanis.”
“?”
Daley blinked. A literal question mark hovered over her head.
“But before bed, you swore: *‘Break this engagement or I’m not a man!’*”
“Kids change their minds. Breaking it? Impossible. In this lifetime? Never. If I don’t marry in, who will? My brother? With his personality? Nah.”
(Karl’s elder brother was his late aunt’s son, raised in the Biford home. Karl still called him *big brother*.)
Daley sighed softly. “You’re too sensible… it breaks my heart. If your father and I were stronger, you wouldn’t have to endure this.”
Karl smiled. “It’s fine. The Sovani house isn’t a den of danger. They won’t mistreat me.”
*Just a villainess wife. No big deal.*
“True. Rest well. Tomorrow, you’ll meet your lovely fiancée.”
“Mm.”
After she left, Karl sank onto the bed with a deep sigh.
Break it? Die tomorrow. Keep it? Die later.
Twenty years > tomorrow. Survive now.
And that future death node *was* changeable.
Maybe in twenty years… she’d change her mind?
Ten years to guide her—swap “emperor” for “virtuous wife and devoted mother.”
Shouldn’t be hard, right?!
He’d do it! Mold her into the gentle wife who supports her husband, raises children, cooks meals…
Karl drifted to sleep, hope flickering in his chest.
------------------------------------
Next day. Karl arrived at Count Sovani’s manor with his parents for their first meeting.
A silver-haired girl stood practicing sword swings with a wooden blade. Crimson eyes gleamed; porcelain-doll features promised breathtaking beauty—even at eight.
“Freya, come greet them. This is your future husband… and in-laws.”
Count Sovani—round belly and all—called from the pavilion.
Freya glanced over, walked up reluctantly, bowed.
“I am Freya. Pleased to meet you, Uncle, Aunt.”
She turned and left, wooden sword still in hand.
The Count chuckled. “Apologies. Freya’s shy. Not talkative.”
“No trouble at all. My boy’s the same around strangers,” Daley smoothed politely.
Baron Elter spoke up. “Let the children talk. Karl, go chat with Freya.”
Karl nodded, approached. Ignoring the maid nearby, he seized Freya’s wooden sword.
Freya froze, eyes flashing confusion.
Karl locked onto her crimson gaze.
“What’s your life’s ambition?”
Without hesitation:
“To become emperor!!”
Karl snatched the sword, snapped it over his knee.
“NO! Your ambition is to be a VIRTUOUS WIFE AND DEVOTED MOTHER!!”
He shouted—loud enough to shake the garden.
*THWACK!*
Freya’s fist slammed into his cheek.
“TO HELL WITH YOUR ‘VIRTUOUS WIFE’! *I’M* BECOMING EMPEROR!!!”
…
…
Seasons turned. Ten years flew.
Every day, Karl visited Freya—training magic, earnestly “educating” her away from rebellion toward hearth and home.
Today: their wedding day. Karl officially married into the Sovani house.
Freya sat on a petal-strewn bed in a snow-white gown, cool elegance melting into tender gaze as Karl approached in black formalwear.
He gently brushed her cheek.
“Freya… what’s your life’s ambition now?”
She lowered her head, voice soft as silk:
“My life’s ambition is…”
…
“To make *my man* the emperor.”
Karl: WTF
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
