The freezing air wicked away his body heat. The frigid cold penetrated his entire body, making him shiver unconsciously like a reed swaying in the wind.

The shaky voice faded inconsequentially into the night as he struggled to fight his drowsiness. His blurred vision landed on a little boy concealing half of his face behind a mask. Moonlight reflected off the boy’s gleaming silver hair and bewitching crimson eyes. He was enchantingly picturesque.

Taehyung awoke wrapped in soft sheets as a streak of sunlight trickled through the window. Slowly and reluctantly, he opened his eyes.

Your Highness? Who are they talking about? Taehyung scrutinized his surroundings in confusion. A wall-mounted mirror encircled by an ornate frame caught his attention. Yet the reflection staring back was not the face he remembered. Emerald-green eyes shimmered softly in the light. Long platinum-blond hair cascaded down past slender shoulders to his waist. Days later, Taehyung realized this setting was eerily identical to an R-19 romance novel he had read in his previous life. The Beast and the Lady. A romance fantasy—a twisted retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Two cursed beasts, Jeon Jungkook and jeon Richard, would fight fiercely for the heroine’s love: Diana

Taehyung had transmigrated into taehyung’s role, Diana’s half-brother in this rewritten fate. From a young age, Taehyung had been arranged to marry the Crown Prince, Jeon Jungkook. However, shortly after seeing Jungkook’s cursed appearance, Taehyung had thrown himself into a freezing lake on their wedding day. That incident left an irreparable wound in Jungkook’s heart. The Crown Prince shut himself off completely, becoming cold and ruthless, trusting no one until Diana eventually lifted his curse. In the end, Jungkook lived a miserable life—never chosen by her. According to the original story, Taehyung should have drowned, his frozen body retrieved from the lake by Jungkook himself.

She likely assumed Taehyung intended to demand an annulment.

Taehyung had no intention of abandoning Jungkook. He couldn’t leave him like this—not when he had the chance to rewrite Jungkook’s miserable childhood. Taehyung had nowhere else to go. Born to Count Bellacian’s first wife—who died shortly after childbirth—Taehyung was never wanted. The count remarried and had Diana, whom he cherished.

Knowing Taehyung wouldn’t survive under his roof, Count Bellacian sent him away as Crown Princess—no, Crown Prince Consort in all but name. Taehyung hadn’t jumped into the lake solely because of Jungkook’s appearance. He had done it because his family had abandoned him. The maid led him to Jungkook’s bedroom.

Taehyung suppressed the ache in his chest. This wasn’t the terrifying beast from the novel.

Jungkook looked like a frightened rabbit.

Taehyung sat on the edge of the bed. Jungkook instinctively scooted away. Taehyung caught his trembling hand and gently removed the mask covering half his face.

It was the truth. Despite the curse, Jungkook’s appearance was breathtaking—silver hair, crimson eyes, delicate features sculpted as if by angels.

In the original story, once his curse was lifted, Jungkook possessed the most captivating face on the continent.

A lie. But one Jungkook needed to hear.

You’re lying, Jungkook. The one he truly loved waa Diana

The one Jungkook love is Diana The Emperor knew this, which was why the marriage had been arranged. And of course, Count Bellacian would never send his precious daughter. So Kim Taehyung had been sent instead.

“…!” Jeon Jungkook immediately darted away and hid behind the enormous bed. What was wrong with him? It wasn’t as if Taehyung had suggested anything inappropriate. The Bellacian family possessed the power of light. That was how Diana would later remove Jungkook’s curse. Taehyung also carried that bloodline, though his power was far weaker. Jungkook’s curse didn’t only affect his appearance—it caused constant pain. The colder it became, the worse it grew. After jumping into freezing water to save Taehyung, the pain must have been unbearable. But Jungkook wasn’t the type to complain. Physical contact was necessary to use the power of light—just as expected in an R-19 romance novel. Taehyung only intended to sleep beside him while holding hands.

Where did the fierce Jungkook from the original story go? Instead of a ferocious beast, a timid and adorable child sat before Taehyung. Would this little rabbit truly grow into that cold, merciless man in ten years? Human growth was truly mysterious.

Jungkook’s already large eyes widened further, his entire face flushing red as he froze. Taehyung clasped both of his hands.

In the original novel, the pain of the curse lessened when Jungkook held Diana’s hand. But Taehyung’s power didn’t seem to work very well. Now that Taehyung had transmigrated into this world, he wanted to help Jungkook—who would suffer until he met Diana—but his light was far weaker. Taehyung loosened his grip and slipped Jungkook’s hand beneath the quilt. Suddenly, Jungkook hugged him tightly from behind.

Taehyung couldn’t see his face, but he heard the tremble in Jungkook’s voice. He was crying. Such a crybaby.

Jungkook’s face turned red as he hurried back onto the bed.

Taehyung took Jungkook’s hand and looked straight into his crimson eyes.

Just as there was an Heir of Light, there was also an Heir of the Curse in the Imperial Family. Emperor Dayhyung, the founder of the Empire, once loved the Goddess of Light. She granted him her power, allowing him to establish the Empire. But after becoming Emperor, he betrayed her and fell in love with another woman. Enraged, the Goddess cursed his bloodline. The Heir to the Curse would bear black inscriptions on their body. When they spread completely, death followed. None of the heirs survived to adulthood. In the original story, Jungkook was driven to the brink of death on the night he turned eighteen. Taehyung held Jungkook’s hand tightly and hooked his pinky around his.

Jungkook pressed his lips together, trying to endure it, but soon broke into tears. Taehyung wrapped his arms around him, and Jungkook calmed instantly. His breathing evened out, his eyelids fluttering shut. Taehyung held him until they fell asleep together.