Chapter 001
It was a truly bizarre sensation.
It felt as though I had been submerged in water and then suddenly yanked to the surface—a tingling shiver that swept from the top of my head down to my very toes.
“My Lady! Are you alright?”
“Oh my! The bride has…!”
“Shall we call for a doctor?”
The voices of several people nearby buzzed all around me.
After hearing came the sense of touch.
A pair of thick hands wrapped firmly around my body, pulling me into a strong embrace.
And then, I felt a violent heartbeat—
“Gasp!”
Following a natural sequence of events, I snapped my eyes open.
“Uh…”
The moment I jolted awake as if startled from a dream, my vision was filled with deep violet eyes.
Within those irises, which possessed a mysterious light capable of enchanting anyone, there was a look of unmistakable displeasure.
The face that had been so close soon pulled away, and the full view of the man’s face entered my sight.
This wasn’t exactly the kind of thought I should be having when I couldn’t even grasp the situation, but…
‘Wait, what? He’s insanely handsome.’
Despite his icy expression, he possessed the kind of looks that made you want to linger nearby just to get a good look at him.
His hair was pitch black—or perhaps a shimmering ink-color that looked like the night sky.
A high, straight bridge of a nose and a sleek jawline.
On this man’s face, which looked as though it were meticulously sculpted out of straight lines, the most striking feature was definitely the eyes I had just locked onto…
“What kind of trick is this now?”
At that moment, a voice as heavy and imposing as his features flowed out.
Like a resonance spreading through a cave, his deep bass voice vibrated through his large frame and echoed around me.
However, unlike his pleasant voice, his tone was incredibly sharp.
Even as he demanded to know what I was doing, he shoved me away.
He was so strong that I stumbled from the force, and only then did I notice the hem of the pure white dress I was wearing and my silk gloves.
‘Is this… a wedding hall?’
Why on earth am I dressed in a gown like this?
Leaving the confusing situation aside for a moment, I stood up awkwardly, following the man who was already striding away.
The scenes that entered my sight one after another created the illusion that I might be drifting through a dream.
This place was a small chapel, and in front of the man and me stood an elderly man in priest’s robes with a flustered expression.
“Are you alright? Should we resume the ceremony…?”
“Just proceed with it!”
Before I could say anything, a hysterical voice rang out from behind us, sounding as if it might rip through the air.
It was a noblewoman dressed in the height of luxury.
Clad in a bright red dress and draped in jewels, she crossed her arms and tilted her head with an annoyed air.
Seeing that the elderly clergyman couldn’t say a word despite her sharp, raised voice and ostentatious attire, she seemed to be someone of high status.
Beside her, I saw a middle-aged man sitting with a perpetually cold face.
He waved his hand dismissively, as if telling them to just get on with it.
“Sigh…”
At that, the young man standing next to me let out a deep sigh and furrowed his brow.
Now that I was standing, I realized the man was quite large.
One glance was enough to see his sturdy build and tall stature.
I had to tilt my head back quite a way just to barely meet his eyes.
Staring at his face, I had a sudden intuition.
‘This is definitely…’
The “Romance Fantasy Possession” I had only ever heard about!
“Ahem! Then, we shall resume the wedding ceremony.”
My mind was a mess, but honestly, this situation didn’t feel half bad!
My greatest strength is having a maximum level of adaptability.
‘First, let’s do a quick check. I can stand.’
Both legs are sturdy. Limbs are intact. Okay.
My vision was a bit dizzy earlier, but let’s just count that as an aftereffect of the possession.
Five fingers on each hand. My toes… they seem fine when I wiggle them.
Ah, did I get a bit shorter?
While I was busy wiggling around and exploring every corner of my possessed body, the priest’s words continued relentlessly, regardless of what I was doing.
“We shall now have the declaration of marriage. Your Grace, Grand Duke Zenos Celeste, standing here under the grace of God. Do you swear to take Lady Renée Blanche, the daughter of the Marquis, as your Grand Duchess, and to fulfill your duties with love and faith?”
“…….”
Was it because of the slow, quiet voice unique to clergymen?
Most of it went in one ear and out the other, but a few important words stuck in my mind.
‘So that man is a Grand Duke, huh?’
Well, with a face like that… is he the male lead of some romance fantasy novel?
But no matter how much I searched my brain, names like Zenos Celeste or Renée Blanche didn’t ring a bell.
In the first place, I was terrible at remembering names—not just of novel characters, but even of the people around me.
The biggest problem resulting from this was that, although I had clearly possessed someone, I had no idea what novel this was.
‘My past life as a print addict is really coming back to bite me…’
From web novels to academic theses.
Because I had devoured anything in print without discrimination, all sorts of information had turned into mush and mixed together in my head.
‘Ugh. Whatever.’
Still… at least my husband’s face is satisfying?
With those looks, he has to be at least a second male lead, so he must be a main character in this story.
To someone like me, whose ideal type criteria is firstly looks, secondly looks, and thirdly height and physique, his appearance was quite appealing.
While I was inwardly admiring the man’s looks with great sincerity, the Grand Duke—who had been hesitating beside me for a long time after hearing the priest’s question—finally spoke in a voice that was heavily suppressed.
“I…… swear.”
Wow. He doesn’t sound like he’s swearing at all?
Actually, as someone who had suddenly gained a husband the moment I snapped to my senses, I wasn’t exactly thrilled with this situation either.
“Lady Renée Blanche. Do you swear to take His Grace, Grand Duke Zenos Celeste, as your husband, to fulfill your responsibilities as Grand Duchess, and to spend your life together with sincerity and respect?”
Uh, well……. I literally just met him for the first time though…….
But of course, in this situation, the only thing I could say was:
“I swear……”
……What else could I do?
“Now, before God and all witnesses, I declare that these two have officially become husband and wife. May this bond be sacred and shine forever as a glorious union.”
As if getting rid of a headache, the priest finished his words in a hurry and quickly left.
At the same moment, the Grand Duke’s tightly shut mouth opened.
“Today will likely be the first and last time you and I face each other like this.”
“…….”
Whoa, really……?
Am I being separated the very moment I get married?
Before I could even open my mouth to say anything:
“I assume you came here prepared to endure at least this much?”
“That’s……”
“Do not expect any husbandly duties or obligations from me. I, in turn, expect nothing from you.”
Hey, let me get a word in too!
Honestly, I didn’t have much to say, but who would feel good being told to just shut up and live like a ghost?
‘What’s his deal? He doesn’t look the type, but he sure is talkative.’
I don’t really like talkative men.
Plus, he has a personality disorder?
“…….”
My interest cooled down instantly…….
“Since this is equally uncomfortable for both of us, just live quietly as if you aren’t even there. Try not to catch my eye if possible.”
Mhm, sure. It looks like I’m out of luck when it comes to husbands, doesn’t it?
Since I’ve never really benefited from anyone in my life anyway, it didn’t really bother me.
The Grand Duke, who didn’t hide his contempt from beginning to end, walked away with heavy footsteps.
The few servants who were there followed him out like an ebbing tide, and the interior of the chapel soon became chilly.
In any case, the only official guests attending this wedding were that middle-aged noble couple.
Even then, the middle-aged man soon followed the Grand Duke out.
‘Are those people on the Grand Duke’s side? Or mine?’
That question was resolved shortly after.
“……Lowly thing.”
It was a malice several times deeper than the Grand Duke’s.
The noblewoman with the venomous eyes checked to see that the chapel was empty before snapping coldly.
“It seems the Grand Duke and we are of the same mind. How fortunate. So, continue to know your place as you always have, and just live as if you are dead, as if you don’t exist.”
Just then, a small maid approached without a sound and bowed politely.
“Greetings. I am Betty, a maid of the Grand Duchy. I have been assigned to serve as the Grand Duchess’s personal maid from now on.”
“I leave my daughter in your care. The child is so ignorant of the ways of the world that she’s practically a fool. As her parent, my worries are endless.”
So, to summarize…….
This flashy noblewoman is the bride’s mother? My mother?
The Marchioness of Blanche changed her attitude the moment someone else appeared, spreading her fan and acting refined.
Of course, she didn’t forget to glare at me behind the fan as if she wanted to kill me.
The frost-cold gaze shooting from behind the fan gave me goosebumps, and I reflexively shrank back.
I caught myself thinking that I was actually relieved the maid had arrived.
“I will do my best. Um, but……”
At that moment, the maid’s voice, which had been professional and emotionless, suddenly sounded troubled.
“What is it?”
“T-The Grand Duke has just departed in his own carriage……”
“Oh dear. And what about the bride?”
“He said she should take the Blanche family’s carriage……”
“My, we don’t have any spare carriages left for that. Are there no other carriages from the Grand Duchy?”
“There are only the ones for the servants and…… the luggage wagon. I am terribly sorry.”
“…….”
Oh.
Day 1 of being possessed into an unknown novel.
……This isn’t going to be easy, is it?
