‘Walking through campus with Nathan, I’m nervous…!’

The soft glow of the street lamps lit up Nathan’s handsome profile.

Thump thump.

‘Nothing beats Nathan’s beauty for improving eyesight. Wow, it’s so divine I could die. I feel like I’ve achieved enlightenment.’

Step step step.

Click clack. Click.

‘Nathan walks fast. I should walk faster too…?’

I tried to match his pace, but his steps gradually slowed.

Step. Step.

Click. Click.

Before I knew it, we were walking side by side under the moonlight.

It was thanks to Nathan’s consideration for me, wearing high heels.

‘He seems cold, but he’s so thoughtful underneath.’

How could I not love Nathan when he’s like this?

Princess Ratina is a fool.

In the original, Nathan played the second male lead who quietly supported Ratina behind the scenes.

He willingly offered his home as a hideout for her to reclaim her rightful place, covering all the expenses.

Ratina, like many typical romance-fantasy heroines, was oblivious and only realized much later.

‘That’s why Northern Grand Duke Calesto, who appeared so late, stole her away.’

Even up until the day of the female and male lead’s wedding, Nathan never showed or boasted about his feelings.

Just like now.

‘My poor baby, it’s heartbreaking. Nathan deserves to be happy…’

I quickly wiped away the tears welling in my eyes and glanced sideways at Nathan.

The sounds of insects and the laughter of students passing through campus followed us like background music.

Because Nathan walked so slowly, it felt like time had been stretched and laid out along the path.

The path narrowed occasionally.

Whenever people passed us, I had to walk close to Nathan’s side.

His fingertips kept brushing my forearm as we walked side by side.

Each time, goosebumps rose and heat flushed up my neck.

Thump thump.

‘It’s really a spring night. I’m having a heart attack. I won’t be able to sleep tonight.’

But that’s okay.

Truly.

“Why were you crying just now, Miss Mirabell Pearl?”

Nathan, who had been walking forward, stopped and turned to face me.

We stood at a small path leading from campus to the dormitories and villas.

“No, let me rephrase. How much do you know about me?”

Nathan’s face, pale as the white moon, faced me.

“What?”

His out-of-nowhere question left me frozen even after answering.

Those cold, deep blue eyes were staring at me.

Nathan, as smart as he was, was also sharp.

‘How much do I know about him? Is he asking because he already suspects something?’

I blinked slowly, caught off guard.

Standing beneath the full moon that filled the night sky, Nathan looked unreal.

That atmosphere stirred me, urging me to confess everything I knew.

The things I endured to save Nathan started bursting from my mind without the permission of reason.

‘Don’t get swept up. There’s no way he knows I’m a transmigrator. He’s probably just sensing something.’

I deflected. “How did you know I was crying?”

“I just saw it. You were sniffling beside me. How could I not notice?”

So he was watching, even though it seemed like he was only looking ahead.

With no choice, I gave my usual excuse. “Professor, don’t mind it. My allergies get worse in the spring.”

Nathan sighed. “I’ll ask again. This time, I’m not asking as your professor, but addressing you as Director Mirabell Pearl.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“From the interview to the entrance ceremony and orientation, you’ve acted as if you already knew me.”

“Ah.”

“Why are you treating me this way?”

As soon as I heard his question, a wave of regret came crashing in.

I should have held back a little longer before trying to find out where his Name is engraved.

‘I got carried away because I was too happy.’

At first, I thought this was just a child-rearing story since I had possessed the youngest daughter of a baron’s household.

‘If only I had possessed Ratina. I would’ve divorced immediately and come running to you.’

My parents and siblings doted on me, but I couldn’t adjust to the world of the book and fell into depression.

Then one day—was I eleven?—I overheard my family talking about the youngest genius ever admitted to the Platine Empire’s Imperial Academy.

That’s when I realized this was the world of Ratina.

From then on, Nathan became my reason to live in a world where I had none.

Imagine what kind of effort it takes for a background extra to become a tycoon and meet the second male lead. I’ll leave that to your imagination.

‘The truth is, you’re my favorite. I came to save you. You don’t have long to live!’

I couldn’t say that out loud, so I masked my feelings and answered as casually as I could.

“I said it’s because I respect you.”

“Those eyes… They don’t look like eyes filled with respect.”

“……”

“I can read eyes. I know how someone looks at someone else, and how they don’t.”

Nathan’s gaze darkened ominously.

Ugh, my heart hurts.

‘Did he notice the difference in Ratina’s eyes when she looked at him versus when she looked at the male lead Calesto?’

He couldn’t possibly have missed the warm undercurrent between them while living together with Ratina and Calesto.

‘I don’t know how to respond. I don’t want to hurt him with careless words…’

“As a student of the Imperial Academy, do you like me? Or do you like me as Director Mirabell Pearl of The Destiny?”

It felt like someone had struck the back of my head with a bat.

“Yes. There’s someone I like at the academy.”

Did he hear that? I never expected him to be paying attention to our game.

“When did you hear it?”

“I have good ears. Maybe it was the alcohol, but everyone was talking so loudly.”

A flush spread from the nape of my neck to the crown of my head in an instant.

Stupid Bae Mira. No, Mirabell!

I was ashamed of my carelessness. But I didn’t feel like denying it.

“Yes. I like you. No, perhaps more than that, I want to protect you.”

A favorite is a favorite, and a boyfriend is a boyfriend.

Setting everything else aside, I genuinely cherish and like Nathan Christopher as a person.

As a devoted fan of [For Princess Ratina], I even fantasized that if a Name ever appeared on my body, I hoped it would be Nathan.

Maybe that’s why I ended up living in this book.

More than anything, when I see people breathing right in front of me, I can’t possibly think of them as mere characters in a story.

I pressed a hand to my trembling chest and continued, “I want you to live, Professor.”

“Phew—”

Nathan covered his face with both hands and let out a long sigh. After staying like that for a while, his shoulders—broad and exposed under the open sky—quivered faintly.

He was laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“You say the same things as President Avent Yuval. He told me before to find my Name Mate through The Destiny. Said it was the only way to survive.”

So that’s what the president told him.

“Yes. I feel the same. I’ve been wondering how to say it, but I’m glad it’s out now.”

“I don’t want to.”

Nathan lowered his hands and shot me a piercing glare.

“I’ll give you a discount.”

“……”

Honestly, money doesn’t matter.

What matters to me is Nathan.

“It’s not about money. It was never going to work in the first place.”

Ratina, of course.

‘I expected this kind of response, but I didn’t think he’d be this firm…’

My heart started to race with urgency.

“The Destiny will find another method soon.”

“Something like… Name deletion?”

“Yes.”

“I like things the way they are. I don’t want to have my heart broken twice.”

Could it be… he meant he didn’t want to erase the name of Ratina engraved on his body?

“You’ll die if you don’t, Professor.”

My voice rose a little. I was frantic with worry that he might give up on life.

Nathan responded with an indifferent expression, as if it was someone else’s problem, “I didn’t know so many people cared about my life… How amusing. Then, that’s enough of this conversation with Director Mirabell Pearl.”

“Professor, please wait.”

“Miss Pearl, just fulfill your duties as a student. I don’t want to have this kind of conversation again. Especially not with a freshman.”

“…Ah.”

“The dormitory is that way. Goodbye.”

Nathan pointed behind the hill.

Then he began walking in the opposite direction.

‘This is insane. He’s completely snapped. So he’s just planning to wait for death? A man who’s surpassed Mana Control Level 15?’

It’s like living with a time bomb strapped to your chest.

“Huh? What’s this?”

I suddenly felt a chill down my spine and looked around.

A creeping sense of dread made the hair on my arms stand on end.

‘Don’t tell me… those bastards have reached this far?’

Nathan?

Nathan must not get caught up in this.

Frantic, I raised my voice toward the direction he had gone.

“Nathan! It’s dangerous!”

I called out to save him, but to my surprise, Nathan had already turned back and was shouting at me.

“Duck! Mirabell!”

In that moment, everything in my vision slowed like a scene before death.

Ah, so this is what people mean by your life flashing before your eyes.

Huh?

But before I knew it, Nathan was in front of me.

Time, which had slowed, snapped back to normal, and I frowned as I looked at Nathan.

‘No way. Why are you here—’

Bang!

The gunshot shattered the night air.