OMNGD Chapter 1

Chapter 1

It was the wedding day of the House of Grand Duke Valenstein and the House of Marquis Lutenberg.

As the torrential rain finally subsided, the clear chime of crystal bells echoed softly through the tranquil hall.

Brilliant chandeliers cast their light upon pristine white marble.

A red carpet stretched forward.

Layers upon layers of peony petals covered its surface, and over them stepped the bride.

Yet instead of wearing the smile of someone blessed on her wedding day, the bride’s face was clouded with sorrow.

Fortunately, the deep veil concealed her expression, but every step she took felt as though it marked the turning point of a person’s fate.

The reason for her overwhelming anxiety lay in the identity of the man she was about to marry.

Grand Duke Caesar Valenstein.

The Emperor’s only nephew and third in line to the imperial throne.

He was one of the Empire’s greatest beauties and possessed immeasurable wealth.

People joked that every single brick laid in the imperial capital of Trannel had passed through his accounting books, and the number of mines he owned was too great to count on both hands.

Combined with his striking appearance, it was no surprise that his name was always at the center of noble society.

Today, that very man was marrying Lady Adelia, the infamous “wild mare” of the aristocracy.

Naturally, sighs echoed throughout the rows of noble ladies seated among the guests.

Peeking toward the veiled bride, they hid their lips behind ornate fans and whispered quietly.

“Is that the famous daughter of the marquis beneath the veil?”

“That’s right. I still can’t believe that reckless girl is becoming the Grand Duchess.”

“I almost feel sorry for His Grace… Forced into a marriage he never wanted because of the Emperor’s decree. If only he’d married someone else earlier…”

“Shh! She’ll hear you!”

Not only could she hear them—it felt as though every word pierced straight into her ears.

No matter how well they hid behind their fans, they were speaking far too loudly to go unnoticed.

Nor were the young ladies the only ones gossiping.

The assembled nobles exchanged whispers among themselves, shaking their heads with furrowed brows as they commented on the marriage.

It was an atmosphere entirely out of place for a wedding that should have been overflowing with joy.

At last, amid everyone’s attention, the groom appeared.

Taking the bride’s hand, he led her forward.

Though the veil obscured his features from her perspective, merely standing beside him was enough to make his overwhelming presence felt.

Hundreds of eyes remained fixed upon him.

His platinum-blond hair, the symbol of the imperial family, shimmered beneath the light, while his gray eyes resembled exquisitely cut diamonds, glowing with an elegant brilliance.

The more perfect the groom appeared, the greater the pity the guests felt for him.

As solemn silence filled the cathedral, the bride cautiously glanced toward the man holding her hand.

His eyes were devoid of warmth.

Emotionless.

Dry.

Even his measured footsteps carried an unmistakable air of boredom.

He simply wanted this meaningless ceremony to end.

The bride was fully aware that he had made no effort to match her pace.

But she had worries far greater than his indifference.

Everything felt unnatural, as though she were wearing clothes that did not belong to her.

The extravagant wedding gown weighed heavily upon her body, and her stiff arms and trembling legs made it difficult to keep pace with him.

Then—

She stumbled.

Just as she was about to fall, Caesar instinctively tightened his grip on her hand and pulled her into his arms, one arm wrapping securely around her waist.

It was a completely unconscious reaction.

Finding herself suddenly inches away from his face, her cheeks flushed bright red.

Had it not been for her veil, everyone would have seen.

Embarrassed, she clenched her right fist until her knuckles turned white.

“Careful.”

His gentle voice brushed against her ear.

To everyone watching, it appeared to be nothing more than a considerate groom catching his bride before she fell.

Soft gasps spread among the guests.

Looking down at the bride beneath the veil, Caesar’s expression remained unchanged.

There was no affection.

Not even the slightest hint of interest.

To him, this was no different from moving a piece of furniture or catching a sword before it hit the ground.

Ashamed of having blushed for no reason, Adelia quickly straightened herself and continued walking beside him.

At last, the seemingly perfect couple stood before the officiant.

Smiling warmly, the priest began the ceremony.

“On this blessed and beautiful day, a new union has been born. Before Heaven and these many witnesses, do you both swear to choose one another through every changing season and every trial life may bring, and to love each other until the end of your days?”

“I swear.”

“…”

The bride should have answered next.

Instead—

Silence.

Her lips refused to move.

The tension had frozen her voice.

As the awkward silence stretched on, murmurs rippled through the wedding hall once more.

Finally regaining her senses, she managed to speak in a trembling voice.

“I-I swear.”

“You may now seal your vows with a kiss.”

Caesar slowly lifted her veil.

The thin fabric slipped away, revealing her fair face.

Her expression was stiff, her cheeks glowing red with nervousness.

He studied her quietly for a brief moment before lowering his head and pressing a light kiss against her parted lips.

It was only a fleeting touch.

Yet somehow, that made it linger even longer.

She felt as though she had crossed a river from which there could be no return.

“I hereby declare the union of the two houses.”

Amid splendor and lingering emotions, the magnificent wedding ceremony finally came to an end.

After the wedding ceremony ended, the bride was escorted away by her attendants to prepare herself.

She now wore a sheer white negligee beneath a silk robe, the delicate fabric barely concealing her pale skin. Fragrant oils had been rubbed into every inch of her body, their intoxicating scent filling the bridal chamber.

A bride on her wedding night should have been eagerly awaiting her new husband.

Instead, she paced restlessly around the room, unable to hide her anxiety.

Pressing a hand to her throbbing forehead, she suddenly turned toward the mirror beside the sofa.

“As I thought…”

“What am I supposed to do?”

It wasn’t the flush staining her cheeks or the provocative nightwear that troubled her.

It was the face reflected in the mirror.

Adelia’s face.

Because the woman staring back at her was unmistakably Adelia, she hadn’t been able to relax for a single moment throughout the wedding.

Countless thoughts raced through her mind, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t think of a way out of this impossible situation.

She wasn’t Adelia.

To be precise, the soul inside Adelia’s body—the person occupying it—was none other than Luna Ellen, Adelia’s personal maid.

Luna had no idea how this had happened.

The last thing she remembered was the day before the wedding.

Like any other day, she had finished her work before joining Adelia for tea and sweets.

Adelia had always treated Luna like a younger sister, and spending quiet afternoons together had become part of their ordinary routine.

Nothing about that day had seemed unusual…

Except—

‘It’s like I’m wearing clothes that were never meant for me.’

‘I’ve always wanted to leave… to go somewhere far away, Luna.’

‘But once I become the Grand Duke’s wife… I’ll spend the rest of my life watching my husband’s mood… watching the Imperial Family’s mood… trapped inside a gilded cage.’

Although others envied her glamorous life, Adelia herself often described it as nothing more than a beautiful shell with nothing inside.

Over time, her frustration had only grown worse.

She sought excitement wherever she could, spending time with one man after another, causing trouble throughout high society, until people began calling her the ‘Wild Mare of the Aristocracy.’

To outsiders, she probably looked like a spoiled noblewoman who simply didn’t appreciate her privileged life.

But Luna, who had remained by her side for years, knew Adelia’s despair had always been genuine.

Even so…

That didn’t explain any of this.

‘Did Lady Adelia do something…?’

‘Did she somehow switch our bodies?’

But how could anyone possibly exchange bodies?

And who would steal someone else’s life simply because they didn’t want to get married?

No matter how she thought about it, none of it made any sense.

Luna felt as though she were losing her mind.

It was bad enough that she’d been forced to stand in for Adelia during the wedding.

Now she was expected to spend her wedding night with Grand Duke Caesar Valenstein.

‘The most handsome man in the Empire… and I actually married him…’

Under normal circumstances, she might have been awestruck by that thought.

Without realizing it, she recalled the moment on the wedding aisle when Caesar had caught her before she fell.

And then…

Their brief kiss after exchanging vows.

His perfectly sculpted nose.

His sharply defined jawline.

Those cool, elegant eyes.

His face had seemed less like that of a human being and more like a masterpiece painstakingly carved by a divine craftsman.

Even now, she could still remember the faint fragrance that lingered around him whenever he drew near.

Yet that wasn’t what disturbed her the most.

He was Adelia’s husband.

And before long…

She would have to face him while pretending to be Adelia.

The mere thought made her heart pound uncontrollably.

“N-No…”

“I have to stay calm.”

This marriage had been decreed by the Emperor himself.

The union between the two noble houses was already set in stone.

If she refused it now, the Marquis’s family—the family that had taken her in and raised her since childhood—would surely suffer the Emperor’s wrath.

But if she told the truth…

No one would believe her.

They would simply think she’d gone insane and lock her away.

In the end, Luna had no choice.

She had walked into that wedding hall wearing Adelia’s face because there had been no other path open to her.

She couldn’t run away.

She couldn’t stop the wedding.

She couldn’t reveal the truth.

She was trapped.

Just as panic threatened to overwhelm her once again…

Her gaze landed on the refreshments prepared inside the bridal chamber.

An elegant assortment of sweets.

And beside them—

The ceremonial wine meant for the bride and groom to share on their wedding night.

Luna stared silently at the cups.

A nervous swallow escaped her throat as an uncertain thought began to take shape in her mind.

‘Perhaps…’

‘If I drink enough…’

‘Maybe I won’t be so afraid when he comes.’