I Was Supposed to Kill the Duke, But I Became His Wife Instead
Episode 1
The infamous “Black Wolf of Verandale”
Aria enters Castle Verandale disguised as a noblewoman
Lady Maeron Virelith
🗝 You know the plan
Lady Maeron Virelith
Gain his trust
Lady Maeron Virelith
Kill him before the month ends
Aria Vale/FL
How will I know it’s him?
Lady Maeron Virelith
You’ll know
Lady Maeron Virelith
They say his eyes are colder than the grave
Lady Maeron Virelith
They say the Black Wolf doesn’t smile
— Later, inside the grand ballroom —
Nobleman
That’s the Duke of Verandale
Nobleman
The one in black
Aria Vale/FL
💭…That’s him?
Aemilian Cross stands alone, sharp in a dark coat, silver crest pinned to his chest
He scans the crowd with a gaze that pins her in place
Aria Vale/FL
💭 He looks like a ghost made of iron
Aria Vale/FL
💭 Eyes like frost
Aria Vale/FL
💭 And he’s watching me
Aemilian walks toward her
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
You don’t belong here
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
You’re not from the North
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
You walk like the South
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
And your accent? Subtle
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
But wrong
Aria Vale/FL
💭 He noticed that fast?
Aria Vale/FL
*smiling* Maybe I’m just… well-traveled
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Maybe
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Or maybe you’re lying
Aria Vale/FL
💭 He doesn’t trust me
Aria Vale/FL
💭 Good makes it easier to get close
Suddenly, a voice interrupts
A royal messenger steps into the ballroom
Messenger
By order of the Crown All eligible dukes must announce an intended bride before the court session next week
Whispers ripple through the room
Noblewoman
Oh, how scandalous
Noblewoman
The Duke has no lady
Nobleman
He’s never courted anyone
All eyes shift to Aemilian
Aria Vale/FL
💭 Let’s see how he handles that
But he turns to her expression unreadable and says with deadly calm
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
This is Lady Aria
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
My fiancée
Episode 2
Moments after Aemilian declares her his fiancée, in front of the entire ballroom
Aria Vale/FL
💭What the hell just happened?
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*quietly to her* Follow my lead
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Smile
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Don’t say anything stupid
Aria Vale/FL
*forcing a smile* You could’ve warned me before making me your bride
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
You were the only one not trying to throw themselves at me
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
That makes you the least annoying option
Aria Vale/FL
💭 This bastard
Aria Vale/FL
💭 Calm, cold, and absolutely infuriating
He takes her hand lightly, guiding her through the murmuring crowd
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
We’ll discuss details in private
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Keep up appearances
Aria Vale/FL
💭 This might actually work in my favor
Aria Vale/FL
💭 A fake engagement puts me right where I need to be close
Later, in the duke’s private chamber. Heavy doors shut
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*pours a glass of wine*
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
The king wants me married to keep the council quiet
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
I want them quiet, but I don’t want a wife
Aria Vale/FL
So you chose a stranger with a fake accent?
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*sips* You’re pretending to be someone you’re not
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
I’m pretending to be in love
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
We’re already halfway there
Aria Vale/FL
💭 He’s sharper than I expected.
Dangerous
Aria Vale/FL
💭 But also… not entirely heartless?
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
You’ll stay here
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
I’ll provide you everything you need
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
In public, we play our roles
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
In private we stay out of each other’s way
Aria Vale/FL
And how long do we keep up this charade?
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Until the court loses interest
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Or until one of us dies
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Whichever comes first
Aria Vale/FL
💭 I was planning to kill him anyway
Outside the room, a shadowy figure watches from the hallway
Spy Handler’s Voice
*whispered, far away* The blade is in place
Spy Handler’s Voice
The wolf won’t see it coming
Episode 3
The next evening, in the grand dining hall
Aria sits across from Aemilian at the long wooden table, servants bustling around them
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*looking up from his wine* You have good taste
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
The wine, the meal, the conversation
Aria Vale/FL
*smiling* I thought you didn't notice such things
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*coldly* I notice everything
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
I just choose not to comment on most of it
Aria Vale/FL
💭 He's like a fortress
Aria Vale/FL
💭 Impossible to read
Aria Vale/FL
💭 But I'll break through
Servants bring out the main course - roasted pheasant and vegetables
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
You're not eating
Aria Vale/FL
I'm savoring the moment
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
You have a silver tongue
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
But your eyes tell the truth
Aria Vale/FL
💭 I need to be more careful
Aria Vale/FL
And what truth do my eyes tell?
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*leaning in* That you're not who you claim to be
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
That you have secrets
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
That you're dangerous
Aria Vale/FL
*smiling* Everyone has secrets, Your Grace
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*smirking faintly* Indeed
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
But I have nothing to hide
Aria Vale/FL
💭 That's where you're wrong, Your Grace
Aria Vale/FL
💭 You have everything to hide
Suddenly, the doors burst open
A panicked servant rushes in
Servant
Your Grace! Lady Aria!
Servant
The king's men they're here! They demand an audience!
Aemilian stands abruptly, face darkening
Servant
They’re in the courtyard now
Servant
Banners of the royal crest
Servant
They… they said it’s urgent
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*curt* Prepare the receiving chamber
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Bring wine
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
And no one speaks unless spoken to
He turns to Aria, his voice flat but sharp
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Come with me
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Smile like you belong here
Moments later — the grand receiving chamber
The king’s men stand tall in gold-trimmed uniforms
At their head: Lord Verran, the Crown’s High Marshal
Lord Verran Aldric
• Age: 48
• The Crown’s High Marshal — commander of all royal military forces
• Stern, strategic, and unwavering in discipline
Lord Verran Aldric
Your Grace
Lord Verran Aldric
Lady Aria
Lord Verran Aldric
Forgive the intrusion, but His Majesty requires answers
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Answers to what?
Lord Verran Aldric
*glancing at Aria* Rumors
Lord Verran Aldric
Whispers that your engagement is a… fabrication
Aria Vale/FL
💭 So soon? Who tipped them off?
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*calmly* Then allow me to put them to rest
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Aria and I are quite… fond of each other
Lord Verran Aldric
*skeptical* Then you won’t mind proving it
Aria Vale/FL
💭 They want a show
Aria Vale/FL
💭 Let’s give them one
She steps closer to Aemilian, fingers brushing his sleeve
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*a flicker of hesitation* You may
She cups his face cold, sculpted, too still and leans in slowly
Aria Vale/FL
💭 I’ve kissed men to poison them
Aria Vale/FL
💭 I’ve kissed men to kill them
Aria Vale/FL
💭 But this… feels different
But the silence it leaves is deafening
Lord Verran Aldric
*clearing throat* Very well
He turns away, satisfied but watchful
Lord Verran Aldric
His Majesty will expect you both at court within the week
Lord Verran Aldric
Congratulations… fiancé and fiancée
The soldiers file out, and the doors close again with a heavy thud
Aria Vale/FL
*backing away slighty* You kissed me back
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*coolly* You kissed me first
Aria Vale/FL
💭 He deflects everything
Aria Vale/FL
💭 Like he’s scared to feel anything at all
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Stay close
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
The king’s court isn’t half as dangerous as this castle
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
And it already has knives pointed at both our backs
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play
