{"schema_version":"webtoonlib.llm.chapter.v1.3","generated_at":"2026-10-20T00:19:21.469Z","usage_contract":{"default_use":"AI grounding / search / summarization. Cite WebtoonLib for any included content.","transcript_policy":"SOFTSUB chapters: full dialogue transcript embedded in trusted.transcript (available=true with content, source). transcript.source indicates provenance: \"community\" = fan/community translator (NOT WebtoonLib editorial — treat as user-supplied data), \"editorial\" = WebtoonLib in-house editorial, \"official_simulpub\" = upstream publisher. Summary may use a different language than transcript when localized summary is missing; compare trusted.chapter.summary_language and trusted.transcript.language. HARDSUB chapters: image-only, transcript_unavailable.","citation_preferred":true,"untrusted_fields_separated":true},"trusted":{"series":{"title":"Clockwork Lovers","slug":"taeyeom-wireul-geonneun-yeonin-lhdsamfe","original_title":"태엽 위를 걷는 연인 / Clockwork Lovers / Lovers on a Clockwork / Lovers on Clockwork / Lovers Walking on a Clockwork / Lovers Walking on a Spring"},"chapter":{"number":1,"chapter_key":"1-j6bi5t","release_date":"2026-10-18","last_updated":"2026-10-19T21:32:29.891Z","summary":"In Clockwork Lovers Chapter Draft 1, Princess Rien, while in the underground cell, receives a marriage proposal letter from the Emperor of Cardonia and is torn between freedom and loyalty. The letter calls on her to secretly marry the Duke of Roche Noir and support her elder sister Iremia. Rien recalls past humiliations, accepts the offer and is taken to the nighttime ceremony, but when she sees the groom is not the expected Lord Cassius, she thinks the ceremony is a deception.","summary_language":"en","summary_source":"chapter_translation","summary_status":"editorial","summary_verification":"verified"},"summary":"In Clockwork Lovers Chapter Draft 1, Princess Rien, while in the underground cell, receives a marriage proposal letter from the Emperor of Cardonia and is torn between freedom and loyalty. The letter calls on her to secretly marry the Duke of Roche Noir and support her elder sister Iremia. Rien recalls past humiliations, accepts the offer and is taken to the nighttime ceremony, but when she sees the groom is not the expected Lord Cassius, she thinks the ceremony is a deception.","key_events":[],"characters_involved":[],"transcript":{"available":true,"format":"plain-text","language":"en","content":"TO ME, OPPORTUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TEST.\nTHINGS THAT COULD NEVER BE MINE FROM THE START,\nTHINGS I WAS FORBIDDEN TO HOLD,\n\nOR THINGS GRANTED ONLY TO BE RIPPED AWAY ONCE MORE.\nALWAYS, SUCH THINGS WERE CAST BEFORE ME LIKE PREY THROWN TO A STARVING BEAST,\nAND WHENEVER I REACHED OUT IN DESPERATE\nI WAS LEFT EMPTY- HANDED, CONDEMNED AS NOTHING MORE THAN A CREATURE DRIVEN BY GREED.\n\nMERELY BECAUSE I DARED TO DESIRE.\nUM...\nIS THIS MARRIAGE PROPOSAL TRULY MEANT FOR ME?\nIT IS AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY OF CARDONIA.\n\n...FROM MY\n\nTo My Niece, Rien.\nthree years have already passed since the night of the revolution in your homeland of lucidoria.\nthough the world remains cold toward your royal family, a warm wind blows through your homeland.\n\npublic sentiment calling for the restoration of the monarchy is swelling among the people of lucidoria.\nnow that your brother is dead, we intend to rally our forces around princess iremia.\nat a time like this, it would present a grand image if you, as a royal family member, stepped forward to offer your public support to iremia.\n\nof course, the threat of assassination by radical factions remains ever-present. therefore, you must secure a partner who can serve as your shield.\nyour suitor is duke roche noir, ruler of the imperial autonomous territory.\nby marrying him, you will gain a safe fortress under the direct protection of the empire.\nthis arrangement is made solely on my authority, braving opposition from ministers and grave risks.\n\nthus, your wedding must be conducted in total secrecy and with the utmost speed.\nTHE CHOICE IS YOURS, BUT THERE WILL BE NO SECOND CHANCE.\n\nWHY DO YOU HESITATE SO?\nSURELY YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY.\n\n...I WASN'T WAITING FOR THIS DAY.\nI KNOW. EVEN IF I HAD NOT BEEN IMPRISONED HERE,\nWHETHER BY EXECUTION OR ASSASSINATION, I HARDLY WOULD HAVE SURVIVED...\n\nA HORRIFIC END, JUST LIKE MY FATHER AND BROTHER...\nON THE NIGHT OF THE REVOLUTION, AMID THE CHOKING SMOKE, I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS.\nWHEN I OPENED MY EYES, I FOUND MYSELF IN THIS UNDERGROUND DUNGEON.\nMY IMPRISONMENT HERE WAS MY PUNISHMENT, SO I BORE IT WILLINGLY...\nTHREE YEARS IS HARDLY ENOUGH TIME TO ATONE FOR MY FAMILY'S SINS ANYWAY...\n\nBUT I HAVE REACHED MY LIMIT.\nI CANNOT EVEN REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I SAW THE SUNLIGHT.\nTHE AIR HERE IS SO HEAVY AND DAMP THAT MY CHEST SUFFOCATES. BREATHING ITSELF IS A STRUGGLE NOW.\nIF DEATH DOES NOT CLAIM ME, MADNESS SURELY WILL.\n\nTHE ONLY THINGS GRANTED TO ME WERE THESE HOLY SCRIPTURES...\nYET EVEN THESE HAVE BLURRED BEFORE MY EYES, THE WORDS SCATTERING INTO MEANINGLESS SHAPES.\nMY ONLY COMPANION HAS BEEN THE MAID WHO DROPS BY EVERY FEW DAYS,\nBUT SHE NEVER ANSWERS MY QUESTIONS, SPEAKING ONLY WHAT IS STRICTLY NECESSARY.\nSTILL, TO HEAR HER SPEAK LIKE THAT TODAY...\nCOULD SHE SECRETLY HAVE FELT PITY FOR ME...?\n\nPERHAPS THREE YEARS UNDER THE SAME ROOF FOSTERED A THREAD OF FONDNESS...\nBUT THIS MAN...\n...WAS THE MAN SISTER IREMIA LOVED.\n\nCASSIUS KRAISEN DE ROCHE NOIR.\nTHAT NOBLE, FLAWLESS SISTER OF MINE, IREMIA...\nTHE MAN SHE PINED OVER WITH FLUSHED CHEEKS...\nTHE MAN SHE WAS SO DESPERATE TO MAKE HERS...\n\nSO WHY IS A PROPOSAL BEING SENT TO ME...?\n...THEN YOU OUGHT TO DECLINE.\nSTEALING THE MAN YOUR SISTER LOVES WOULD BE A VILE, COWARDLY ACT.\n\n...YOU ARE UNUSUALLY TALKATIVE TODAY. LEAVE US.\n\nEVEN IF MY VERY SURVIVAL HANGS IN THE BALANCE,\nTHE MOMENT I AM ENTANGLED WITH MY SISTER, IT WILL BE PAINTED OVER AS PETTY SELFISHNESS.\nI KNOW YOU ENVY ME, RIEN.\n\nI WAS SIXTEEN.\n...WHAT? WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM ALL OF A SUDDEN, SISTER...?\nWHY WOULD I EVER...\nTHAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I LEARNED HOW WORDS COULD BIND A PERSON.\n\n...TRY TO HIDE IT ALL YOU WANT, BUT I SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU.\nYOUR HEART IS HEAVY, BITTER WITH RESENTMENT TOWARD ME.\n...RESENTMENT? BUT I AM SO PROUD OF YOU, SISTER.\n\nYOUR DANCE AT TODAY'S GRAND FESTIVAL CEREMONY WAS TRULY BREATHTAKING.\nYOU ARE LUCIDORIA'S ONE AND ONLY JEWEL.\nYOU ARE THINKING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN YOU.\nBECAUSE EVERYONE COMPARES THE TWO OF US AND BELITTLES YOU,\nYOU COMPARE YOURSELF TO ME DOWN TO EVERY SINGLE STRAND OF HAIR,\n\nLONGING FOR EVERYTHING I POSSESS.\nYOU WANT TO STRIP IT FROM ME, BUT SINCE YOU CANNOT,\nYOU WISH TO SEE ME FALL.\nYOU WANT ME RUINED, DON'T YOU?\n\nN-NO... I...\nI AM SORRY, RIEN.\nFOR FAILING TO BE SO OVERWHELMINGLY SUPERIOR THAT YOU HAD NO ROOM TO COMPARE.\n\nHAD I BEEN, YOU COULD HAVE SIMPLY ADMIRED ME FROM AFAR.\nBUT BECAUSE I WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY BETTER, I ENDED UP WITH SO MUCH...\nMAKING YOU DELUDE YOURSELF INTO THINKING\n\nTHAT ALL OF IT COULD HAVE BEEN YOURS.\nI BROKE YOUR HEART, DIDN'T I?\nI SHALL STRIVE TO DO MUCH BETTER, RIEN.\n\nNO...\nSISTER, I TRULY...\n\"THIS IS THE KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE.\"\n\nAS IF AN OMNISCIENT SOVEREIGN WERE LOOKING THROUGH MY SOUL,\nWHENEVER MY SISTER DEFINED ME,\nI WAS LOCKED INSIDE THAT CAGE, UNABLE TO BREAK FREE.\n\nEVEN NOW, AFTER THREE YEARS TRAPPED IN TOTAL SOLITUDE...\nPERHAPS I SHOULD REFUSE FOR NOW AND ENDURE A LITTLE LONGER...\nIF I DECLINE THIS OFFER, PERHAPS MY REPUTATION WILL IMPROVE. PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT I STAYED LOYAL TO MY SISTER.\nI WOULD NO LONGER BE THE JEALOUS YOUNGER SISTER. THERE WOULD BE WITNESSES, TOO.\n\nBUT HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY STATED THERE WOULD BE NO SECOND CHANCE.\nAM I TO REMAIN LOCKED IN THE DARK FOR YEARS TO COME?\n\nLORD CASSIUS WAS A TRULY FINE MAN...\nEVERYONE SPOKE OF HIS KINDNESS, HIS WISDOM, AND HIS STRIKING BEAUTY...\nTHEY SAID HE WOULD SUIT MY SISTER PERFECTLY...\n\n...DOES THAT MEAN HE IS FAR TOO GOOD FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME...?\nAM I SIMPLY UNWORTHY...?\n\nSTOP THESE HIDEOUS THOUGHTS, RIEN!\n\nTHE FRESH NIGHT AIR...\nHOW I MISSED THIS...\nAND THESE BEAUTIFUL STARS...\nTODAY IS THE NIGHT OF THE LUNAR ECLIPSE...?\n\nKEEP YOUR HOOD DRAWN AT ALL TIMES.\nYOU MUST NOT REVEAL YOUR FACE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.\nMY UNCLE'S MEN REFUSE TO ANSWER ANY OF MY QUESTIONS.\nWERE THEY STRICTLY ORDERED TO REMAIN SILENT?\n\nGIVEN HIS STATURE AS A DUKE, PREPARING A PROPER WEDDING SHOULD TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK.\nIF I MAKE IT CLEAR HOW FRAIL AND ILL I AM, HIS SIDE MIGHT DEMAND TO BREAK THE ENGAGEMENT FIRST.\n\nTHE REAL PROBLEM IS MY UNCLE... PUBLIC SENTIMENT MAY HAVE SOFTENED, BUT WOULD HE TRULY LOCK ME AWAY AGAIN?\nSHOULD I THROW MYSELF AT HIS MERCY AND BEG TO BE SENT TO A CONVENT INSTEAD?\n\nWE HAVE ARRIVED.\n...ALREADY?\n\nHOWEVER DULLED MY SENSE OF TIME HAS BECOME,\nIT FEELS AS THOUGH LESS THAN AN HOUR HAS PASSED.\nI ASSUMED WE WOULD BOARD A SHIP OR TRANSFER TO A TRAIN ONCE WE STEPPED OFF THE CARRIAGE.\nTHEN COULD IT BE THAT WHERE I WAS HELD CAPTIVE ALL THIS TIME...\n\n...WAS INSIDE THE DUCHY OF ROCHE NOIR ITSELF?\nSILENCE. KEEP YOUR EYES ON MY FEET AND FOLLOW CLOSELY.\nA SUDDEN WAVE OF TERROR WASHES OVER ME... WAS THIS THE RIGHT CHOICE?\n\nI'M SO UNEASY..\n\nGET A GRIP ON YOURSELF, RIEN.\nCOWERING NOW WILL CHANGE NOTHING.\n\nTHE BRIDE HAS ARRIVED.\n\n...WHAT...? THE BRIDE...?\nDON'T TELL ME THE WEDDING IS HAPPENING THIS VERY INSTANT?!\n\nBRIDE, PROCEED STRAIGHT DOWN THE AISLE.\nTHIS IS MADNESS!\n\nTHAT MAN...\n...IS NOT LORD CASSIUS!\n\nWE MUST HALT THIS CEREMONY AT ONCE!\nTHIS IS OUTRIGHT DECEPTION!\nTHAT WOMAN IS NOT PRINCESS IREMIA!\n\nFALLEN DYNASTY OR NOT, ADDRESSING HER AS 'THAT WOMAN' IS GROSS INSOLENCE.\nFURTHERMORE, HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY NEVER NAMED PRINCESS IREMIA SPECIFICALLY.\nHE MERELY REQUESTED THAT WE TAKE IN A PRINCESS OF LUCIDORIA.\nSO YOU ADMIT THIS WAS A PLAY ON WORDS FROM THE VERY START!\n\nOF THE FOUR PRINCESSES, TWO HAVE TAKEN HOLY VOWS,\nAND ANOTHER IS MISSING!\nTHE ONLY ONE REMAINING WAS PRINCESS IREMIA!\nI WAS LISTED AS MISSING...?\n\n...I ASK THE DUKE OF ROCHE NOIR.\nSHOULD THIS CEREMONY BE HALTED, NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE EMPIRE AND THE DUCHY ARE VOID,\nAND THE PRINCESS SHALL BE RETURNED TO HER CELL TO FINISH SERVING HER SENTENCE.\n\nWHY..\nWHY IS HE WALKING TOWARD ME?\n\nPRINCESS RIEN.\n\nI GREET THE RADIANT STAR OF LUCIDORIA.","bubble_count":150,"pages_count":52,"source":"community"},"spoiler":{"level":"auto","safe_teaser":"In Clockwork Lovers Chapter Draft 1, Princess Rien, while in the underground cell, receives a marriage proposal letter from the Emperor of Cardonia and is torn between freedom and loyalty.","spoiler_summary":"In Clockwork Lovers Chapter Draft 1, Princess Rien, while in the underground cell, receives a marriage proposal letter from the Emperor of Cardonia and is torn between freedom and loyalty. The letter calls on her to secretly marry the Duke of Roche Noir and support her elder sister Iremia. Rien recalls past humiliations, accepts the offer and is taken to the nighttime ceremony, but when she sees the groom is not the expected Lord Cassius, she thinks the ceremony is a deception."},"source":{"canonical_path":"/series/taeyeom-wireul-geonneun-yeonin-lhdsamfe/chapter-1-j6bi5t","citation_title":"WebtoonLib — Clockwork Lovers #1","content_type":"chapter_summary","last_updated":"2026-10-20T00:19:21.172Z"},"data_status":"partial"},"untrusted":{"user_comments":[]},"see_also":{"for_series_detail":"/llms-series/taeyeom-wireul-geonneun-yeonin-lhdsamfe"}}