This Was Not in the Novel’s Plot
Katherine had been in this world for exactly two months.
Two. Months.
In that time, she had barely adjusted to noble life, successfully avoided major disasters, and—most importantly—convinced herself that she was absolutely, positively, 1000% NOT in some ridiculous romance plot.
And then Adolfo happened.
Or rather—Adolfo and his complete lack of warning before saying something so mind-numbingly absurd it defied all logic.
"My lady," he said smoothly, like he wasn’t about to completely ruin her life. "Let’s get engaged."
Katherine blinked.
Then blinked again.
Then stared at him with the distinct expression of someone who had just been hit over the head with a very large, very heavy frying pan.
"...Excuse me?" she finally managed.
Adolfo, standing far too comfortably close, tilted his head ever so slightly, crimson eyes gleaming with mischief. "I said, let’s get engaged."
Katherine let out a slow, controlled breath. "Right. Haha. Very funny."
She clapped her hands together, fully expecting him to drop the joke. He did not.
Instead, he looked at her like she was the ridiculous one here.
"My lord," she said slowly, like she was speaking to a particularly troublesome child, "are you joking?"
Adolfo sighed. "Who said I was joking?"
"...WHAT."
Katherine immediately took a step back—then another—then tripped over her own feet like an absolute fool.
Her brain scrambled for some kind of logical explanation. Any explanation.
"My lord," she tried again, "are you feeling well? Have you suffered a head injury recently? Perhaps a very tragic accident where you hit your head on the floor—repeatedly?"
"I’m feeling perfectly fine," he replied, looking far too entertained for her liking.
"Are you under a curse?"
"Not to my knowledge."
"Then—WHY?!"
Adolfo shrugged, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. "I like you."
Katherine opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
Her soul left her body.
She had survived two whole months in this world. TWO MONTHS. And yet, somehow, this was the moment that finally broke her. NAKAKALOKA!
And Adolfo? Adolfo just smiled.
As if he knew exactly what he was doing.
As if he enjoyed watching her suffer.
And honestly? He probably did.
***
Katherine could still remember.
It all started when she decided to travel alone for vacation.
She had spent years working tirelessly, always putting her family first. Career, responsibilities, obligations—she had ticked all the boxes of a "successful" life. But somewhere along the way, she had forgotten how to live for herself.
For the first time in years, she had chosen herself. So, she booked a trip. No plans, no schedules, no one else to worry about. Just her, a suitcase, and the promise of adventure.
Or so she thought.
Because the universe had a very different idea.
She had landed with her LV trolley bag in hand, stepping down the plane’s stairs in her Prada shoes when her phone rang.
"Hello, Mamshy."
"Anak, did you arrive?" It was the voice of her loving mother.
"Yes, I did."
"Nora," Yes, her name was
There it was—the guilt trip she had been trying to avoid.
Nora felt a slight disappointment in her mother’s voice for not bringing the family along with her. She had wanted to go on this vacation alone—she had been so focused on her career that she hadn’t done anything for herself. This time, she was on her own.
She knew her family would have wanted to join her if she had told them about her plan to tour. That’s why she decided to let them know when she was already boarding the plane.
She had three months all to herself.
But now that she had said it, there was a sharp pang in her heart when she heard her mother’s voice.
"Mama, we’re always together. Next time, I’ll bring all of you. For now, I just want to be alone."
"I wish you had at least informed us," her mother replied.
"Oh, Mama, you’re something. Well, I’m heading to Immigration now. No phones allowed. I’ll call you again. I love you."
Click.
Nora heard her mother trying to say something more, but she knew it would be more drama, so she decided to end the call.
Since childhood, Nora had always been ambitious. She dreamed of lifting her family out of poverty, so she worked tirelessly, juggling her studies with part-time jobs. Determined to succeed, she earned a scholarship, graduated with honors, and quickly secured a job. Her dedication paid off when her employer transferred her abroad, marking the beginning of her meteoric rise. One achievement led to another, and with each success, she ensured her family’s well-being—paying for her younger sibling’s education, securing a better home, and providing them with a life they had only dreamed of.
As she stood in quiet reflection, her fingers brushed against the delicate "N" pendant resting against her collarbone. It was a gift from her parents—a keepsake they had saved for, presented to her on her college graduation day. Though simple, it was priceless to her, a tangible reminder of how far they had come.
Nora smiled. Now in her thirties, still unmarried, she had never regretted putting her family first. But with the family business now stable and thriving, she had finally made a decision—for once, she would prioritize herself.
There was supposed to be two of them shouldering the responsibility, she and her brother, lifting the family together. But her brother... well. Some dreams didn’t unfold the way they were meant to.
"New adventure... or not?" she whispered to herself as she stretched after clearing Immigration. She was starting to get bored with her life. She had almost done everything she wanted, but it felt like something was missing.
Hopefully, this trip would change that.
With a bright step, Nora walked out of the airport, thinking of all the possible new opportunities—
BANG!
A gunshot.
BANG!
Not one, but two. Chaos erupted among the crowd. She turned toward the source of the shouting.
"NOBODY MOVE, OR I’LL BLOW THIS PLACE UP!" the man screamed, gripping a gun.
Dressed like an airport security officer, he might have passed as one—if not for the wild look in his eyes. The terminal fell silent, fear gripping every passenger in its wake.
Nora didn’t move and quickly assessed the situation. Several armed men appeared and blocked the civilians from running.
They looked just like the terrorists from yesterday’s news. What great timing.
Nora sighed. Her long-awaited solo vacation, and now this? Was she really that unlucky?
"I wish they’d waited until I was out before starting this mayhem. My goodness."
As she was about to step onto the floor, she noticed a crying child calling for its mother. The child had been left in the middle of the chaos.
Nora glanced at the leader of the terrorists. There was no trace of compassion in his face.
He was about to raise his gun toward the child—
Something tugged at Nora’s foot.
Before she could process her fear, she ran toward the child and embraced it.
BANG.
Hot. Painful.
Nora felt a sharp pain in her back. The child stopped crying, but Nora could hardly hold back her tears from the intense pain.
"Ugh... I came here for a vacation... but this is the vacation I’m going to..."
She stroked the child’s head, forcing a smile despite the searing pain in her body.
She didn’t let go of the child.
In her final moments, she thought of her family.
She should have thrown a despedida.
She should have traveled with them at least once more.
She should have done more for herself.
What a waste...
A single tear traced down her cheek.
Had she really lived? Or had she simply endured?
Darkness wrapped around her like a gentle embrace, pulling her deeper, deeper—
And then—
Nothing.
No pain. No fear. No sound.
Just an endless, weightless void.