The Duke and the Girl from Nowhere

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Rules of This World



The next morning, Yuna woke to birdsong and silk sheets.

For a second, she thought it was one of those hyper-realistic dreams where she was in a fantasy K-Drama and had a snarky, sword-wielding Duke low-key flirting with her between glares.

Then she opened her eyes.

Nope. Still here.

Still in corset world.

She groaned and flopped back into the pillows.

Soo-Min knocked gently before entering. "Good morning, my lady. The Duke requests your presence in the library after breakfast."

Yuna sat up. "Of course he does. Why use a phone when you can send an entire servant?"

Soo-Min blinked. "A… what?"

"Never mind. What's for breakfast?"

In the dining hall, Ji-Hwan was already seated, perfectly composed. He nodded once as Yuna entered.

"You're late."

"I was mentally preparing myself to be confused again," she said, taking her seat. "What are we doing today? Tea with time travelers? Fencing lessons with Shakespeare?"

He ignored her sarcasm. "I thought it best you were introduced to our world's customs. What's expected of you. What isn't."

"Oh boy. Here comes the etiquette lesson."

A faint twitch of his brow — amusement? Annoyance? With him, it was always a fine line.

"Most noblewomen know how to walk, speak, and behave within society. You are… lacking context."

"Thanks. Love the encouragement."

They relocated to the library — an enormous room with walls of books and a long table that looked like it had hosted centuries of secret meetings.

Ji-Hwan laid out a series of documents, each covered in elegant calligraphy.

"These are basic principles," he said. "Titles, manners, expectations. I suggest you read them."

"Homework? Seriously?"

He folded his arms. "You claim to be from a world of learning, yet you complain like a child."

She mimicked him under her breath. "You complain like a child."

"I heard that."

"You were meant to."

Ji-Hwan stared at her, unblinking, until she finally cracked and smiled.

Hours passed.

Yuna sat with her cheek against the table, groaning softly. "If I see one more rule about how to hold a teacup, I'm going to scream."

"Perhaps you'd prefer a sparring session."

She blinked. "What?"

"You seem restless. Physical training might suit you better."

"Are you seriously suggesting we fight?"

A pause. "Not fight. Train."

"I'd rather fight."

Outside in the garden, Ji-Hwan handed her a wooden practice sword. She held it like a baseball bat.

"No," he said. "Like this."

He stepped behind her, adjusting her grip — his hands briefly covering hers, his voice low.

"Balance. Focus. Your body must respond before your mind catches up."

Yuna tried not to notice how close he was. Tried not to notice the heat of his touch or the way his breath brushed her ear.

"This is way too intimate for a sword lesson," she thought to herself.

He let go, stepping back.

"Again."

By sunset, she was exhausted, sweaty, and covered in grass stains.

"You let me win," she accused.

"I did not."

"You totally did. No one glares that much and still misses on purpose."

He didn't answer.

Instead, he offered her a hand. She hesitated — then took it.

"Do all girls in your world speak like you?" he asked as he helped her up.

"Only the cool ones."

His lips twitched — that same almost-smile she was beginning to recognize.

And just like that, the air between them shifted again.

End of Chapter 5 💫

© 2025 AKByeol. All rights reserved.

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Original story published on Webnovel by AKByeol.


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