Summary:

"That's true," Ezekiel says after a moment. "I don't even know your real name."

"And you've never told me yours." Technically true.

Athanasia and Ezekiel meet at a bookstore and Kiel has never done anything wrong ever.

At heart, the girl was a survivor. She learned, adapted, and lived. When she finally died, she didn't bother blinking when she stood up and got to learning again.

Saying her second life was lovely was an understatement. The world was a mix of modern Korea and a cheesy book she read once. Her new title of Crowned Princess Athanasia de Alger Obelia had a pretty nice ring to it. From rags to riches as the saying goes.

As lovely as the gold is, the role of a princess could be quite exhausting. You cannot just place a crown on a commoner and declare her royalty. Athanasia had to play by a new set of rules.

In a way, Athanasia surrounded herself in an ocean of gold without knowing how to swim. Every now and again, keeping herself afloat was draining. At times, it made her want to scream.

Luckily for her, Athanasia found an outlet.

It was called The Book Attic. The small building was squeezed between a clothing store and a boba shop, extremely easy to overlook. The bookstore was like a second home for Athanasia.

On particularly stressful days, Athanasia could sink into one of the chairs near the fireplace with a cup of tea in one hand and a fantastic piece of literature in the other. It was the perfect place to relax.

At least, it would have been the perfect place if it weren't for a certain someone.

"You look very cozy, Lady Angel."

Athanasia looked over her book to scowl at the albino sitting across from her. The boy merely shot her one of his award-winning smiles.

Ezekiel Alpheus was the bane of her existence.

Athanasia remembers bits of him from the original book, the cheesy one that this world is based on. Ezekiel Alpheus was the oldest son of House Alpheus, known for his soft-spoken and gentle characteristics.

What the book never mentioned was that the guy was the sneakiest bastard in the world. Well, if you weren't actively looking for the intelligent gleam in his eyes or the sharpness in his words, all you might view was a kind and caring man with those dashing good looks…

What was Athanasia saying again…? Oh, right! Ezekiel Alpheus was Satan incarnate.

Unfortunately for her, Ezekiel took a liking to her after their first encounter. (She may or may not have fallen into his arms while reading Angelfell but that wasn't relevant now)

Athanasia took a sip of her tea. "I would be even cozier if a certain someone left me alone."

If the words bothered him, he didn't show it. In fact, he became even more charming. "If only a certain angel didn't sit across from that certain someone."

"That certain angel was distracted and didn't see you!"

"What a shame," he pouts. "I've been told by many people that I have a lovely face."

Athanasia raises a brow at that. "Were those many people a part of your fan club?"

His silence was enough of an answer.

Athanasia met him again at The Book Attic. He was sitting at the same spot as before, staring into the fireplace.

The survivor in her wanted to avoid him. He was a character in the original book, a part of her downfall. On the other hand, her teenage brain demanded the need to sit across from him. That was the comfiest chair in the store.

Damn her brain!

Athanasia plopped herself across from the white-haired boy and opens Juliet Immortal.

"I didn't take you as a person who enjoyed such…novels," said Mr. Judgy McJudge Face.

"You don't know much about me," she replied, trying to focus on the book instead of that bastard's gorgeous face.

If Athanasia was looking, she would've seen that strange look that crossed the male's face.

"That's true," Ezekiel says after a moment. "I don't even know your real name."

"And you've never told me yours." Technically true.

After that, the pair fell into silence. Athanasia continued to read her book and Ezekiel was left to ponder whatever came up in that brilliant mind of his.

"…Kiel."

"What?" Athanasia finally lifted her head to look at the albino.

"My name," he answered quietly. "It's Kiel."

"…It's nice to meet you…Kiel. I'm…" Athanasia hesitated. Clearly telling him she was the crowned princess would be a mistake, so… "My name is Athy."

"Athy," Kiel tested out, sending her heart aflutter. "It's a nice name for an angel."

…

Son of a b—