Chapter 1

I released the poison called novels into the Empire.

I only wrote it as a means to avoid an arranged marriage.

[The Imperial Family Seeks True Love and Romance, Hosting a Masquerade Ball!]
[Statement Released by Swordmaster Bern]
[Read it a hundred times, cried a hundred times, thought about it a hundred times.]

.

.

How did my pen name become one of the most famous figures in the empire?

Every time I released a work, it received tremendous attention and public scrutiny, and I was practically a regular guest on newspapers. It was truly a golden age—the shopping districts’ trends all changed to things related to ‘Karma’s’ novels, and you couldn’t find a bookstore or trading company that didn’t display ‘Karma’s’ books.

“Please give Edwin your precious vote!”
“Everyone! Vote for Gerard and take home delicious cookies!”

Even small events became overheated competitions that turned half the capital upside down.

I was initially flustered by the unexpectedly large impact, but gradually adapted and began to take advantage of it.

“Did you hear one of Count Stan’s knights made an expose?”
“Even at this moment, there must be people suffering from mana imbalance.”

I made money by selling merchandise and signed copies along with books.

“When exactly is the next volume of Knights of the Sky coming out?”
“Damn, why did they kill someone off again this time? Ever since Ulysses died, there have been so many character deaths.”

I deliberately ignored the occasional voices of resentment.

While I was hiding alone under the pen name Karma like that—

Flutter—

I encountered brilliant golden hair and eyes, and a sculptural beauty that forced me to acknowledge the limits of imagination.

“…This can’t be.”

The person who completely turned my life upside down.

As I began to face what I had been deliberately ignoring, another upheaval finally arrived.

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Shouldn’t reincarnators get at least one cheat ability as a special privilege?

About a year ago, after an unexpected accident made me remember my past life, I was no longer an ordinary noble young lady.

‘I have to read all of this to the end?’

While lying down reading a stuffy etiquette book, unable to bear the boredom, the moment I dropped the book on my face, the memories of a 30-year-old woman flashed by like a panorama.

Later, wondering if I might be someone destined to become a Swordmaster or Grand Mage, I tried various things, but I had absolutely no talent.

At least I was fortunate that my appearance, gained through genetic power, was decent.

Faced with a reality that was less promising than expected, over the past year I had evolved into an ordinary young lady of the Baron Blaine household, and was reasonably satisfied with my somewhat idle noble life.

“It seems Count Leonard’s family has their eye on Katarina.”
“Their third son is around the same age… it’s about time to find a fiancé.”

That was until I heard ominous talk from somewhere.

Clang—

‘If it’s Count Leonard’s third son, that’s Lucian Leonard.’

The sound of the fork I was holding hitting the plate as I dropped it rang out sharply across the dining table.

“Are you alright, Katarina?”

A maid waiting nearby brought new utensils, but I couldn’t collect myself.

Who was Lucian Leonard?

He was someone I first encountered at a gathering I was forced to attend recently, and with his characteristically arrogant and condescending attitude, he had instantly dominated the entire assembly.

‘Ah, Baron Blaine’s young lady probably hasn’t seen anything like this before?’

The sight of him boasting about his large jeweled ring with a body that looked like his shirt buttons might burst at any moment.

‘These are grapes produced only by our family… the young lady has probably never tasted them, so I’ll specially give you some.’

Even his oil-slicked face as he mentioned his territory’s specialty products.

Everything about him was completely disagreeable.

Since no one at that gathering had higher status than Lucian Leonard, everyone had to endure listening to his nonsense, though he did keep talking to me in particular.

‘Indeed, shouldn’t one marry a docile wife to be able to keep multiple concubines?’
‘Among the places I’ve visited recently, this one is the best.’

I shouldn’t have gone there in the first place.

I still vividly remembered Lucian Leonard’s face as he looked at me with greedy and sinister eyes.

“What do you think about engagement, Katarina?”

It was truly the greatest crisis of my life.

Hearing my mother Marcella’s voice, unusually affectionate, I swallowed dry saliva.

She wouldn’t ask such a thing with pure intentions.

“I… absolutely don’t want to be involved with that person.”
“Oh?”

When I answered with a thoroughly hardened expression, she didn’t ask for more reasons and calmly moved on.

“At least it would be better to decide after your debutante ball.”

My father Alexis, looking reluctant, spoke up, and I internally sighed with relief.

But Marcella, who had been sitting quietly beside him, once again continued the topic with a calm voice.

“Still, since we’ve come up to the capital anyway, wouldn’t it be better for our Katarina to find another good match besides Count Leonard’s family? I heard Hestia also found a decent match.”

When even the name of Hestia, the so-called model daughter, was mentioned, I felt the seriousness of the situation.

It meant they would marry me off even if not to Count Leonard’s third son.

The thought that my future might be completely mortgaged made me dizzy.

Having lived in this world, I had found that nobles with proper sense were extremely rare, and having felt that young nobles my age were all missing a screw somewhere—

An arranged marriage with a stranger?

I knew it was the shortcut to ruining one’s life.

So, absolutely not.

“I don’t want to.”

When that single word filled with sincerity popped out, everyone’s attention focused on me.

Ever since Lucian Leonard’s name first came up, I had completely lost my appetite.

After taking a breath, I opened my mouth to somehow salvage the situation.

“I have no desire to be engaged to anyone. So… I’d rather earn money and be helpful to the family as a member.”

In that brief moment, there was one breakthrough I had obtained by racking my brains.

The surprise was brief, and silence flowed over the dining table along with my parents’ expressions that clearly showed their complex feelings.

The first to react was none other than my mother, Marcella.

“Katarina, do you know what you just said?”

She asked with a somewhat shocked face.

For a noble young lady to say she would earn money meant throwing herself into a thorny path, abandoning her highest value.

Knowing they wouldn’t easily give permission, I answered firmly while staking my claim on the family member sitting beside me.

“Please give me a chance to challenge myself, like Callard.”

“Katarina, Callard is two years older than you.”

I lightly nodded at the minor correction. Since the Baron Blaine family had traditionally been a knight family, they were generous when it came to ‘challenges,’ so I deliberately targeted that point.

Even Callard, the only heir and eldest son, had been allowed to take the Imperial Knights entrance exam first, postponing his successor training because he said he wanted to achieve his dream.

That was also why the entire family was currently staying in the capital.

“I didn’t know you had such thoughts, Katarina. But you must know that earning money is never an easy task.”

When my father Alexis’s low voice pierced my ears, my mind sharpened and my excitement gradually subsided.

“I’m sorry if I surprised you. I can’t show results right now, but… if you give me time, I will definitely prove it. I will change my own destiny.”

“How are you going to earn it?”

Callard, who had been sitting quietly until now, suddenly interjected with a serious voice.

Unlike him, who could manifest aura even if slightly, I had no talent whatsoever.

But in my previous life, I had worked as a novelist professionally and had achieved bestseller status across genres.

I had won several awards, and my works had even been translated and published overseas.

“I want to try writing a book.”

“…A book? Not a minstrel?”

I tilted my head at Callard’s unexpected words. While being a writer wasn’t exactly a promising profession in this world, still.

“Why would I do that?”

The thought of singing and performing in front of others was horrifying just to imagine.

Leaving behind him as he coughed and avoided eye contact, Alexis spoke with a meaningful voice.

“A challenge is merely fruit that can only be tasted after countless failures.”

“Yes, I know.”

I had some confidence, but that didn’t mean I was completely certain.

The success of a work could never be guaranteed, especially considering the empire’s current literature.

Most available books were specialized texts, and autobiographies sold on noble name value were the most famous.

Being a writer was an ambiguous situation even as a profession.

So I naturally expected opposition.

But Alexis, looking at me with an unreadable subtle expression, lifted his wine glass and said:

“Until your debutante ball, do as you wish.”

“Honey, what are you saying?”

My eyes widened at the more generous permission than expected, and just as I wondered if I had misheard—

Despite Marcella’s reproachful gaze, Alexis, who firmly took my side, completely reversed the atmosphere.

“She’s not a child who would quit just because we tell her not to.”

Indeed, you know me too well.

Actually, even if I had been refused, I would have somehow earned money and become independent.

I had received permission relatively legitimately.

Afterward, along with a promise to provide support within possible bounds, the deadline was set until before the debutante ball.

“You can give up anytime.”

I ignored Marcella’s devilish whisper.

‘If I can’t produce meaningful results within that time, my freedom will completely disappear.’

So I had to succeed in a world of rampant magic and swords with only a pen.

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