Chapter 1
Idette realized she was living on borrowed time—and all she wanted was to avoid death.
Using her rough knowledge of the novel’s plot, Idette tried to pave a smooth road ahead for herself. But somehow, things only grew more complicated.
The novel’s real heroine was Lady Hanes Erbion, and her male lead was Brinnen Sheyard.
But before she knew it, Idette had ended up marrying Brinnen Sheyard—the male lead himself.
She had stolen the heroine’s man.
Not that she ever wanted him. In fact, she wanted to avoid him at all costs!
***
“Daughter-in-law.”
“…Mother. Father.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“…Ha… ha….”
Even worse—she was being adored. By her future in-laws.
It all started when Idette’s medicine business became a huge success.
Honestly, she never thought it would blow up this much. But in a way, it was a failure—for all her efforts to avoid marriage with the male lead, she had ended up marrying him anyway.
And to top it off, she even gained the title of childhood friend with the main characters.
Truly the worst!
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
In the original story, Hanes dies, a new soul possesses her body, and only then do the hero and heroine fall in love.
So why had the possessor never shown up—and why was Brinnen so obsessed with her instead?
“Do you know how long we’ve been waiting for this moment?”
Idette’s future mother-in-law, Lady Dilly, blushed shyly and held Idette’s hand tightly.
And what was worse—Brinnen wasn’t the only one obsessed with her.
Her smiling in-laws adored her so much that they swore they would never accept any daughter-in-law except Idette.
To Idette, their words sounded like a death sentence.
“We’re so grateful you’re marrying our son.”
‘No, Mother… right this moment, I’m only plotting how to escape. I don’t want to marry your son at all.’
To others, Brinnen was the Empire’s most perfect groom.
But to Idette, he was the worst possible husband.
Because marrying Brinnen meant one thing for her: death.
That was her set fate in the novel.
She was just an extra, yes—but an extra with the role of leaving the male lead scarred by her tragic end.
***
She first recalled all these memories after a terrible fever when she was a child.
The shock of realizing she was just a character in a novel, not even the heroine, had been overwhelming.
Accepting it had been nearly impossible.
Still—her will to live remained firm.
“…Mother.”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? For what?”
The duchess blinked in confusion at Idette’s sudden apology. But Idette wanted to say it now—because she was planning to ruin this wedding.
“Are you worried about the marriage? Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”
The duchess said more afterward, but Idette didn’t catch it. Smiling like a picture, she only patted Idette’s shoulder and left, saying the ceremony would begin soon.
***
Soon…
But why was there still no word?
Idette looked at the clock tower, calculating the time.
‘Where are they? They should’ve come by now.’
Ding, dong—
At the sound of the wedding bells, Idette sighed heavily.
“…Why aren’t they coming?”
Her eyes darted nervously. She fidgeted restlessly, then finally jumped to her feet.
That was when Brinnen walked into the bridal waiting room.
“Give it up. Running away won’t work.”
‘This bastard—did he come here just to irritate me?!
Idette felt despair wash over her.
She had told everyone countless times she didn’t want this marriage. But the Sheyard family wanted her too badly as a daughter-in-law, and her own parents had given in.
And so the marriage was set.
Still, Idette had tried everything to escape.
Yet here she was, dragged into the wedding hall in a gown. But Idette believed—it wasn’t over until it was over.
She still had one last trump card.
It wasn’t honorable, but she had already apologized to her mother-in-law in advance.
‘So where were they?’
Idette anxiously bounced her leg.
The accomplices she had bribed heavily to stage a fake “elopement” hadn’t shown up. She kept staring at the entrance, craning her neck.
“Are you waiting for someone?”
“Why are you still hanging around here? Shouldn’t you be greeting the guests?”
She snapped irritably, but Brinnen only smiled and said he would, before leaving the room.
Alone again, Idette slammed the sofa with her fist.
In truth, she should’ve been outside smiling brightly and greeting guests, but she had refused out of sheer stubbornness.
Normally, for nobles, it was unthinkable on such an important day—but Brinnen had gone along with it.
“…Why aren’t they here yet?”
She paced the room nervously, checking the time again and again. The deadline had long passed.
“Damn it!”
She had paid a fortune upfront to the group she’d hired to fake an escape with her, but now she realized she had been betrayed.
Grinding her teeth, Idette decided—she would just fake an elopement on her own.
She slipped out the back door she had already scouted.
***
“Where are you going?”
“…Eh?”
“The people you’re waiting for won’t be coming.”
Standing there, blocking her way, was none other than Brinnen himself. With knights guarding the door.
“You’ll marry me quietly.”
“…You knew?”
“Wouldn’t it be stranger if I didn’t? The girl who swore she didn’t want to marry me suddenly behaves meekly? Of course I’d notice.”
‘Damn it…’
Idette hadn’t expected him to be so suspicious.
“Let’s go.”
“No! I don’t want this!”
Brinnen only smiled calmly as Idette screamed and kicked while being dragged down the aisle.
“I can’t marry you! This isn’t right!”
But Brinnen carried her bridal-style, unfazed.
“This marriage is invalid! I already have someone I love!”
The parents and guests, waiting for the bride and groom to appear, clapped uncertainly, confused. The officiant stood frozen, at a loss.
“Proceed.”
“Ah—yes. Then… in blessing of this marriage between Brinnen Sheyard and Idette of the Lushe family—”
“Skip it.”
“…Then let us honor the glory of both houses—”
“Skip.”
At Brinnen’s curt demands, the officiant broke into a sweat, while Idette screamed for them to put her down.
“…Then let’s go straight to the vows. Brinnen, do you promise to love Idette until your hair turns gray?”
“Of course.”
“Idette, do you promise to love Brinnen until your hair turns gray?”
“You’re cra—mmph!”
Brinnen covered her mouth with a smile.
“She says she’ll love me madly.”
“Mmff! Mmph!”
Idette’s furious glare could’ve killed, but Brinnen ignored her.
“Continue.”
“…Then with that, the ceremony is complete.”
The strangest wedding in the Empire was over: the bride screaming, the groom unbothered.
But one thing was clear.
This marriage was wanted far more by the man.
“Idette.”
Still holding her mouth shut, Brinnen whispered to her. His gaze burned with obsession, possession, affection, and despair—so deep it sent chills down her spine.
“Now you’re finally mine.”
‘Mine? What nonsense!’
Idette squirmed and fought, but Brinnen held her fast.
“There will be no divorce. Even in death, I won’t let you go.”
‘…I’m scared. Why is the male lead like this…?’
Idette wanted to cry.
