"You shouldn't have crossed this line, Elisha, if you didn't want it to be like this." Strong arms ensnared her unstable frame. Her thoughts blurred and an involuntary, sweet gasp escaped her lips. 'How did I end up here—' The memory surfaced. This was unprecedented. 'Right, now I remember.' That doomed future loomed: bound as a fake concubine to a depraved nobleman, consumed entirely until nothing remained. The Cartier ducal family torn apart by internal power struggles. To escape such a fate, Elisha made a desperate gamble—seeking out Lucerne, the sworn enemy of her former existence. It made sense. She understood this man across both timelines. She knew firsthand about his sadistic reputation throughout the Empire. Shackled by 30,000 gold coins in debt, 20-year-old Elisha seized her second chance. After traveling back in time, she transforms into the most skilled illegitimate daughter imaginable and approaches Lucerne—her previous master's mortal rival. "What do you need from me?" "Money. A substantial loan. In exchange, I offer myself as your agent. Every secret I possess is yours." "Why should I believe you?" "I'll serve as collateral." Lucerne studied her in silence, his gaze unreadable. "I accept. However, collateral is mine to command." "..." "Marry me." "...what?" Elisha never anticipated this twist. Her debt arrangement had transformed into a binding marriage contract.