CHAPTER 01
“Ha! Persistent, aren’t you?”
Swish!
Once again, I scoured the front page of the newspaper today.
Will the Emperor get married today? Tomorrow? The day after tomorrow? The next day…?
But years have passed waiting.
In the original story, the Emperor with insane stamina didn’t even meet a woman—he didn’t reveal his real name or face, staying silent! Yet ruling the empire thoroughly!
Since his ascension, the once-corrupt empire had progressed astonishingly.
The old, rotting noble faction was crushed, and he built his own unique ruling system by appointing new, talented officials.
So then why—
Why won’t he get married?!
“Aren’t his ministers slacking off? If the Emperor works this hard, shouldn’t someone tell him to take a break and get married already? Or better yet, settle the succession issue while he’s at it? That’s only logical, right?”
Ughhhh!
That damned Emperor.
I trembled as I clutched the newspaper.
“Please just get married already! Anyone will do, just get it over with!”
“Enya.”
A soft, low voice called my name.
I turned to greet the man entering the room with a bright smile.
“Dale!”
“You’ll hurt yourself if you run like that.”
As I rushed to give him a light hug, Dale smiled shyly.
His face flushed, and he couldn’t even return the hug—too embarrassed.
Which made him even cuter.
“Dale, are you done with work now? Another all-nighter?”
“I’m sorry. There was more work than I thought…”
“I’m not blaming you. What if my husband collapses from overwork?”
Dale flinched at my concern, unable to meet my eyes, but clearly happy.
Yes, if I had to get married, it should be to someone like this.
Not a pushy lunatic like the Emperor in the original story who claimed to be “in love,” but a gentle, considerate, domestic, devoted (and handsome) man.
I leaned lightly on the (handsome) arm of my man, satisfied.
“Seriously, you leave early and come back late every day. I worry.”
“If I get sick, I trust that you’ll treat me, Enya.”
I blinked at him in disbelief, and Dale chuckled sheepishly.
“My wife is a brilliant healer, after all.”
“But wouldn’t it be even better if you didn’t get sick?”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
I hugged him a bit tighter, savoring his broad, warm chest.
He even smelled good.
The greatest prize from fleeing my noble family to avoid marrying the Emperor and escaping to the countryside—
My (handsome) husband.
Ah… really. They should just retract the Empress decree and marry someone else already. I’m never going back. They can look for me all they want.
I thought to myself, hugging my beloved husband tightly.
Wishing that stupid Emperor would hurry up and get married already.
Without knowing… he already married me.
Everything began a few months ago.
“Miss Healer, are you really not thinking about getting married? Not even a little?”
An old lady who often picked up medicine asked me.
Time to leave this place soon.
I wrapped up some herbs as I glanced at the calendar.
“Okay! Grandma! Don’t take that cold lightly—make sure you take every bit of the medicine on time, alright?”
“Eh, I asked if you’re thinking about marriage?”
“Nope~.”
“Oh, come on. What about meeting my grandson?”
“If he’s handsome.”
The old lady grinned.
“He’s really good-looking! That enough?”
“If he’s rich, too.”
“He’s been working since he was young. He probably has plenty saved. Is that really enough for you?”
“Sorry! Truthfully, I’m not thinking about marriage at all.”
I set the medicine down and rejected her kindly.
“Such a shame. I really like you, you know. Why won’t you marry?”
“But Grandma…”
I quickly cut her off.
“Last time, you pretended to take the medicine but dumped it in the field, didn’t you?”
“Oh, you’re so cheeky! When did I ever—hee, heehee… Ah! I forgot something at home. Thanks again!”
With that, she bolted.
She probably wouldn’t take the medicine properly again, but I’d done all I could.
“It’s already evening.”
I started closing the shop.
Grandma, I just saved your grandson.
It had been three years.
For the past three years, I wandered from region to region, living as a drifter.
Now, it was time to leave this village too.
And there was only one reason I never settled anywhere.
Because I was a criminal?
No.
“That damned Emperor…”
I pored over the newspaper again.
Another article praising the Emperor for defeating the old noble faction, implementing new policies, and subjugating monsters.
But not a single scoop like ‘The Emperor Falls in Love with a Mysterious Beauty!’
The reason I’ve been wandering for three years—
To avoid marrying the Emperor.
“Enya, His Majesty the Emperor has issued a decree. He wishes to make you Empress.”
Three years ago, I was notified—more like assassinated with words—that I was to marry the Emperor.
Why, when the original story hadn’t even started yet?
That’s when I realized—
This was a warning that my future was headed for ruin even before the plot kicked in.
The moment the decree arrived, I fled my home and began my runaway life.
Luckily, it was a success.
But now… even that’s about to end.
One of the Emperor’s recent policies was a residency law reform.
The official reason was to supplement the imperial military by counting the population accurately—but the truth?
He was dismantling the noble class’s foundations, starting with the census.
He personally initiated an empire-wide population survey—no longer left to the lords.
Meaning: every household would be recorded.
It started in the capital and would soon spread east.
I have to head south before then.
The south had the lowest population and would be affected last.
Was this my tenth move? Eleventh?
I’d moved so many times I’d lost count. Packing was second nature by now.
Whoosh!
I burned all my traces and packed a single trunk.
“Magic pouch for endless herbs—check. Fake ID—check.”
All set.
“My next destination: the Grunvalt Count’s domain in the south.”
And so, I hit the road once more.
Two weeks later by carriage, I finally arrived in Grunvalt.
A vast land with a small population, Grunvalt was even quieter than I’d imagined.
It was the most peaceful and expansive place I’d ever drifted through.
Located in the empire’s far south, the land was wide but infertile, jobs scarce, and the population heavily aged—a unique territory.
“Looks like rain.”
I looked up at the cloudy sky.
“The address is… this way.”
The address I was given was written on a small note.
Since Grunvalt had so few people, the houses were very spread out.
I made my way to the place introduced by a local real estate agent and aide to the lord.
“This must be it.”
A soft yellow brick house on a gentle hill.
White fence, red roof—a neat, well-kept home.
Three floors, including the attic. Perfect for two, maybe a bit much for one.
“But he said this place had issues…”
He’d told me it had a ‘quirk.’
But also that this was the only house ready for immediate move-in.
I expected something creepy or cursed, but this is great.
Compared to neighboring homes, it was just as lovely.
I dragged my heavy trunk to the front door.
“The key should be in the mailbox.”
Reaching into the old box next to the tree, I found a small key.
Rumble…
Thunder cracked across the sky.
I hurried inside and locked the door.
“Wow…! It even has all the furniture!”
They said it was weird, but the house was fully furnished—sofa, table, chairs, everything clean and sparkling.
Maybe someone left in a hurry?
It seemed like they’d left nearly everything behind.
I flopped down onto the sofa.
“Just missing firewood.”
There was even a fireplace—only the firewood was lacking.
Is this a haunted house?
Otherwise, why would a place like this go for a quarter of the usual rent?
“The house has a… small issue? But there’s no real problem… living in it… probably…?”
If a place was this nice, I could live with a few bugs. Or maybe someone had died here? I could live with that too.
The most important thing was—it was the perfect hideaway from the Emperor.
Still lying on the couch, I looked at the stairs.
Even the wooden staircase to the second floor was spotless.
A caretaker must’ve cleaned it.
It was in far better condition than any of the dozen or so places I’d stayed in.
All that was left now was to pray the Emperor would marry someone—anyone—soon.
“Why is he still waiting for me?”
He probably had his reasons.
In the original story, I was supposed to marry the male lead—the Emperor.
But it was a loveless, political marriage.
In the original, I was fated to die because of that marriage.
I figured if I held out, he’d eventually choose someone from a more compliant noble family.
But no.
For some reason, he’d waited three whole years for the runaway bride.
Why? Why only me?
Rumble…
Thunder crashed again, this time accompanied by a flash so bright it turned my vision white.
“Better grab firewood before the rain hits harder. I think the shed’s in the back…”
But as soon as I opened the door—
Thud!
“KYAAAAAHHHHH!”
Something suddenly fell forward.
“A giant bug?! No… wait, a man…?!”
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Why was there a strange man passed out at my doorstep?
