Chapter 1
Emily was the sole heiress of the fallen Count Sinopé family.
Well, to be precise, even the title “heiress” felt like too much—her parents had died leaving nothing behind but a mountain of debt.
The options left for Emily, the ruined count’s daughter, were few. The only viable one? Marry a man willing to pay off her debts.
Unfortunately, that man happened to be none other than Killian Starr, the head of the most notorious mafia family in the Vancent Empire.
Living with memories of her past life, she couldn’t shake the feeling that his name was strangely familiar. It wasn’t just because Killian was famous—it was something more unsettling, something she felt she was on the verge of remembering.
“Nanny, stop crying already.”
The new bride, dressed in a white gown, smiled awkwardly as she wiped away her nanny’s tears.
Though her family had gone bankrupt, Emily had still been a cherished, well-brought-up young lady—the only daughter of a count.
And now that precious young lady had become the wife of a man treated like a thug. It was no wonder the nanny was a mess.
“How can I face your parents in the afterlife if you die because of this marriage?”
“Well… honestly, wouldn’t they be the ones ashamed to face me?”
Unlike other nobles, Count and Countess Sinopé had been far from cunning. They were warm-hearted and trusting. Their guarantees had ballooned into insurmountable debts, and in the midst of it all, they were swindled in a business scheme. Traveling between cities to settle their debts, they were ultimately killed in a carriage accident.
“Ahem… you look even more beautiful today, and it breaks my heart.”
The nanny changed the subject, fussing over Emily’s hair near her ear.
Emily had eyes the color of aquamarine—clear, sky-blue eyes. One painter, while attempting her portrait, had even lamented that there was no pigment in the world worthy of her eyes.
Her rich, curly chestnut hair, bold brows, flawless fair skin, and delicate yet striking features all screamed nobility.
“With looks like yours, you could probably blind at least two men with a glance.”
“Are you telling me to cause a bloodbath at my wedding?”
Emily completely missed the point of her nanny’s remark. Just then, a light knock sounded at the door.
“The ceremony will begin shortly.”
The nanny’s expression darkened even further as the reality of the situation drew near.
There were no male relatives in the Sinopé family to walk Emily down the aisle. It was a house known for its lack of heirs. Therefore, in a rare twist, the bride and groom would walk in together. Emily hadn’t even met Killian before today, but she still appreciated his considerate gesture.
“Nanny, I hear my future husband is extremely handsome.”
As the moment to finally see Killian’s face approached, Emily’s mouth went dry with nerves. She had received many proposals aside from his, after all.
But most were from noblemen ten years her senior, looking for a second wife.
Compared to that, young, wealthy, and handsome Killian seemed like the better option.
“Hmph. Well, at least you’ll have something nice to look at while you suffer.”
The nanny still wasn’t thrilled with his background, and she pouted.
Killian was known for his extraordinary looks, despite his infamous reputation. So much so, in fact, that even his enemies were rumored to have frozen mid-battle, bewitched by his appearance.
Recalling those rumors, Emily checked her appearance one last time, then allowed her nanny to help lift her gown’s train as they headed to the ceremony.
When they reached the entrance, attendants approached with utmost courtesy. They adjusted her veil and gown once more and gently reminded her:
“When the doors open, Lord Killian will be waiting. Please walk naturally and take his arm as you enter together.”
“Understood.”
Emily swallowed hard.
At last, the doors slowly opened, revealing the inside of the hall. But was this truly a wedding? The all-black decor made it look more like a funeral.
In the guest seats were men dressed in black coats, black trousers, and black fedoras, exuding a chilling, dangerous aura.
Unconsciously, Emily took a step back. Seeing them sparked a sudden doubt.
Should I really be going through with this marriage?
She knew how foolish and meaningless that thought was at this point. But the reality hit her hard only after seeing this terrifying crowd.
Paralyzed by fear, she couldn’t move.
“Emily.”
A low, velvety voice called her name. The way he pronounced “Emily” was so smooth and elegant, she wasn’t even sure he was talking to her at first.
“This way.”
He gently took her arm.
Wearing a long tailcoat with a boutonnière on his chest, the man was indeed her groom—Killian. And he was even more handsome than the rumors suggested.
His sharp brow bore a subtle scar, and under it were mysterious, deep gray eyes. A high, regal nose and chiseled jawline amplified his rugged masculinity.
His lips, though classically beautiful, had a cold, indifferent air. And his tall, towering frame made Emily—who was already taller than average—have to tilt her head back just to meet his eyes.
Emily, temporarily forgetting her resentment toward her parents, decided she could overlook a lot in exchange for that impossibly perfect face.
She quietly took his arm, and they began their walk down the aisle. Aside from the music, the hall was eerily silent.
But why do I feel so uneasy?
A creeping discomfort that had started before the wedding returned in full force after seeing Killian’s face. It felt like she’d forgotten something huge.
Discreetly, Emily glanced at Killian’s face again—and flinched.
Gray eyes?
Suddenly, her mind lit up like lightning striking her skull.
The gray eyes of the Starr family!
They were a defining trait of the male lead in the novel she’d read in her past life, A Flower Blooming in Hell.
The male lead’s name was Daniel Starr.
Which meant this man—Killian Starr—had to be Daniel’s father.
Wait a second… am I the birth mother who dies after giving birth to Daniel?!
Realizing this during the wedding left her speechless with disbelief. She was so stunned, she could barely breathe.
She couldn’t believe she had forgotten something this important—especially about her favorite novel from her past life.
Then again, I was barely even a background character…
Emily blinked back bitter tears.
What was their marital relationship like again? Did they get along? Were there… obligatory marital nights?
Lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed the ceremony progressing. Suddenly, a ring was on her finger, and it was time for the vow and kiss.
Killian reached up to lift her veil. Emily instinctively flinched and pulled back.
A kiss won’t get you pregnant, Emily, calm down!
Ashamed of her overreaction, she closed her eyes and waited for him to kiss her.
“And with this, the couple’s vows are complete.”
Emily opened one eye, frowning.
Had she been so tense she’d gone numb?
No—Killian hadn’t kissed her at all. He had only pretended to, then subtly signaled the officiant to end the ceremony.
It felt more like she’d been rejected before she could reject him, leaving her with a sour feeling.
Then Killian called over a close aide.
“Giovanni, escort my wife to her room.”
Emily looked up at Killian with questioning eyes.
“You must be tired after today’s events. Skip the reception and rest in your room.”
No reception? It was almost unheard of for a bride to skip greeting the guests. But…
Emily glanced around the room again. These guests didn’t exactly look approachable.
No matter Killian’s reason, Emily found herself agreeing. She didn’t think she could survive a reception with those people.
She nodded and followed Giovanni without protest.
In the Vancent Empire, where the state religion was the Carpa faith, most weddings were held in temples.
Emily, a devout Carpa follower, had wanted a temple ceremony too. But the groom’s side had insisted on holding it at the Starr estate.
After everything she’d been through, Emily didn’t care where the ceremony was held.
But as she walked down the long, maze-like halls, a dreadful thought took hold.
“Surely… they’re not going to lock me up or anything, right?”
She whispered it to herself, but Giovanni’s hearing was far sharper than average.
Pretending not to have heard her, he quickly escorted her to her room to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
“I’ll take my leave. Please rest well.”
“Yes, yes, thank you.”
Giovanni gave the lady of the house a careful glance. He had treated her more politely than anyone else—but he wasn’t sure she’d noticed. Still feeling uneasy, he withdrew.
Inside the room, a maid was waiting to help her change. Seeing another woman gave Emily an odd sense of relief.
With the maid’s assistance, she changed into comfortable loungewear. Once alone, Emily sat deep in thought.
Now fully aware that she’d been reincarnated into the novel’s world, she began to consider how she might survive.
And then—she smiled.
After all, the original story hadn’t even started yet. She was just a one-line extra.
Nothing she did would matter that much.
“…That’s it! I’ll make sure I get kicked out!”
