MFKIWMLL|Prologue

Prologue

It had undoubtedly been a perfect day.

She had successfully delivered her speech as the valedictorian, and the academy’s graduation ceremony went off without a hitch.

After dining with her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Valentino, and her good-for-nothing sibling who was worse than a sworn enemy—

She spent some time appropriately and was on her way home when…

“Doesn’t this seem a bit strange?”

Evelyn slightly furrowed her brows at the sight before her.

The carriage had stopped not at the marquis’ estate, nor the duke’s residence, but at a secluded mansion.

‘Where even is this place?’

A faint sigh escaped Evelyn’s lips as she glanced around.

What truly bothered her, though, was how calm and indifferent her fiancé remained.

As she shot him a sharp glare, Axion returned it with his signature languid smile and asked,

“What is?”

“This isn’t the marquis’ residence.”

Despite being engaged for over ten years now, Evelyn still couldn’t figure out what went on in her fiancé’s mind.

‘Is this another form of his twisted torment?’

While she rubbed her throbbing temple, Axion’s deep, mellow voice brushed against her ear.

“Of course it isn’t.”

“What…?”

Before she could even react to how close he’d gotten, one of his deep dimples appeared clearly on his cheek.

“Because this is our newlywed home.”

At that, Evelyn’s expression contorted instantly.

The words that had hovered on the tip of her tongue countless times over the years finally slipped out.

“You lunatic.”

“That’s right, a lunatic.”

Axion curved his lips into a loose smile.

The moment she met those red eyes—tinged with danger and madness—Evelyn’s heart began to pound precariously.

‘Why is he looking at me like that…?’

Surely, that obsessive gaze was meant for the original female lead.

Swallowing hard, Evelyn stepped back from her fiancé.

Then, steadying her trembling voice, she asked,

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“You know best, Evelyn.”

She had tried to pretend not to notice, but perhaps it was time to admit it—

That his obsession was no longer aimed at someone else.

“You’re not seriously trying to start something with me now, are you?”

“Well, what do you think?”

As Axion’s strong arm gently wrapped around her waist, his faint scent tickled her nose.

Evelyn glanced around, then slowly looked up at him.

Axion’s red-tinted eyes gleamed intensely, like a predator locked onto its prey—unyielding and persistent.

“Don’t worry. I don’t want you to hate me.”

Before Evelyn could even consider whether to believe those words, a hot breath brushed the nape of her neck, then receded.

“But I guess I’ve messed up.”

“…Messed up how?”

Axion’s red eyes, which had been staring at her with a beast-like intensity, soon softened tenderly.

moistening his lips with his tongue, he continued in a much gentler tone,

“Turns out, I’ve started wanting to lock you up just like this.”

“…!”

Why the hell are you trying to lock me up, you crazy bastard?!