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Chapter 01
It was a very strange sensation.
Like suddenly being pulled from underwater to the surface, a tingling that ran from head to toe.
“Milady! Are you all right?”
“Oh! Lord Shin…”
“Shall I call the physician?”
Voices buzzed all around me.
After hearing, came touch.
A large hand gripped my body tightly.
And then the pounding of a heart—
“Gah!”
I opened my eyes as expected.
“Uh…”
As if waking from a dream, my vision immediately met a pair of deep blue-purple eyes.
Their irises shone with an almost hypnotic light, yet contained unmistakable displeasure.
The face that had been so close quickly moved back, revealing a full view of a man’s face.
I had no idea what was happening, yet one thought crossed my mind:
Whoa… he’s stunning.
Even with that cold, indifferent expression, his appearance somehow made me want to linger and just look.
Pitch-black hair, sparkling almost like the night sky.
A straight, high nose, and a smooth jawline.
Every line of his face seemed carved with precision—but the feature that caught my attention most was the one I had seen before…
“What trick is this?”
At that moment, his voice, just as commanding as his features, resonated.
Deep and powerful, it seemed to echo as if in a cavern.
Yet the tone was sharp, not pleasant.
As he asked what I was doing, he pulled me away.
His strength was overwhelming, and as I staggered, I noticed my pure white dress and silk gloves.
Wait… is this a wedding hall?
Why on earth was I dressed like this?
Leaving that chaotic thought behind, I awkwardly followed the tall man as he strode forward.
The sights that followed felt almost dreamlike.
We were in a small chapel, and before us stood an elderly priest with a flustered expression.
“Are you all right? Shall we continue the ceremony…?”
“Just proceed!”
Before I could answer, a hysterical voice erupted from behind.
A magnificently dressed lady, adorned in a bright red gown and dripping with jewels, crossed her arms and tilted her head with obvious annoyance.
Despite her flashy attire and sharp tone, the elderly priest did not speak, so she must have been someone of high rank.
Next to her sat a middle-aged man with a cold expression, gesturing impatiently for the ceremony to move along.
“Haah…”
The young man beside me sighed deeply, frowning.
Standing up, I realized just how large he was.
A solid, tall frame. I had to tilt my head way up to meet his gaze.
Sneaking a glance at his face, I realized:
This is definitely…
I had been reincarnated into a romance fantasy novel!
“Ahem! Then we shall continue the wedding ceremony.”
Though I was overwhelmed, this situation wasn’t entirely unpleasant.
My greatest strength: maximum adaptability.
First, check if I can stand. Legs sturdy, arms intact… okay.
My vision had been a little dizzy, but that could be blamed on the sudden body switch.
Fingers—five. Toes—wiggling them, all fine.
Height… maybe a little shorter?
As I carefully examined the body I had inhabited, the priest’s words continued without pause.
“I will now pronounce the union. Under God’s blessing, His Excellency, Grand Duke Genos Celeste. Do you pledge to take Lady Rene Blanche as your duchess, and vow love and fidelity?”
“….”
Perhaps due to the priest’s slow, quiet voice, most words barely registered—but certain key words stood out.
So that man is the Grand Duke, huh?
With that face… he was likely the male lead of this romance fantasy.
But no matter how I searched my memory, I didn’t recognize the names Genos Celeste or Rene Blanche.
I barely remembered the names of people around me in real life, let alone in novels.
The biggest problem: I had clearly reincarnated into someone’s body, but I had no idea which novel.
Damn, all that book addiction has finally caught up with me…
From web novels to academic papers, I had read everything indiscriminately.
Now all that information was a jumbled mess in my head.
Ah, whatever.
At least… the husband was attractive.
At worst, he was probably the secondary male lead, but he seemed important in this story.
For me, whose ideal was first face, second face, third height and body… he was appealing.
As I admired his face inwardly, the Grand Duke hesitated beside me before speaking in a heavy tone:
“I swear…”
Oh. That doesn’t sound very swearing at all.
Honestly, as someone suddenly married, I wasn’t thrilled by the situation either.
“Lady Rene Blanche, do you take His Excellency, Grand Duke Genos Celeste, as your husband, to fulfill your duties as duchess with devotion and respect?”
Uh… we just met.
But the only answer I could give was:
“I swear…”
Is there anything else I could say?
“Now, before God and all witnesses, I declare the two of you officially married. This union is sacred and will shine as a glorious bond.”
The priest quickly stepped aside, finishing as if clearing a bothersome task.
The Grand Duke’s lips, closed until now, finally moved:
“This is probably the first and last time we will face each other.”
“….”
Wait, really? Just married, and already separated?
Before I could speak, he continued:
“You shouldn’t expect any duty or obligation from me as your husband. I will expect nothing from you either.”
Ugh, can I even talk?
Honestly, who would feel good being told to just shut up and live?
Wow, he talks so much… doesn’t even look like it.
A chatterbox man, and a jerk at that.
“….”
Suddenly, my interest waned.
“Since this will be uncomfortable for both of us, just live quietly, as if you don’t exist. Stay out of sight as much as possible.”
Hmm. Looks like my luck with a husband is… gone.
Never mind—I’d never relied on anyone anyway.
The Grand Duke left with heavy footsteps, not hiding his disdain.
Few attendants were left, and the chapel soon emptied.
Official guests? Only the middle-aged noble couple, and soon they too followed him out.
Are those people on the Duke’s side, or mine?
The question was soon answered.
“…Vile thing.”
The lady beside him sneered, far crueler than the Duke himself.
She checked the empty chapel and coldly snapped:
“Seems the Duke and we share the same intentions. Fine by me. As always, you will know your place and act as if dead, unseen.”
At that moment, a small maid approached silently, bowing politely:
“Greetings. I am Bettira, servant of the Grand Duke. I will serve as the personal maid to the Duchess from now on.”
“Take good care of the girl. She’s naive and clueless about the world. As her parents, we are deeply worried.”
Wait… so this elegant lady is the mother of the bride? My mother?
The Duchess Blanche, as soon as she appeared, flipped her demeanor like a fan, projecting refinement—yet her icy gaze behind the fan made me shiver involuntarily.
Thank goodness for the maid…
“I will do my best. Um, but…”
Suddenly, the maid’s voice, previously neutral and professional, wavered with concern.
“What is it?”
“Th-the Grand Duke left in his carriage…”
“Oh! What about the bride?”
“He instructed to use the Blanche family carriage…”
“But we don’t have one available. Is there no other carriage at the Duke’s estate?”
“Only the servants’ and the luggage carriage. My apologies.”
“….”
Day one of reincarnation into an unknown novel.
…Not going to be easy.
