Chapter 6

Forte stood up with eyes telling me not to, but that wouldn’t be enough to break my stubbornness. Which were thanks to the things that happened with Sonot.

‘I am afraid I will encounter a man who is different inside, unlike his appearance.’

I put on a stiff expression as Sonot came to my mind while I put down the letter opener.

‘I’d rather be with Grand Duke Theavritte who is honest than being deceived by men that are complete strangers.’

Surely they didn’t know Apollyon was an honest person. One thing they knew, Sonot was a landmine.

A dangerous land that might explode at any time and place I stepped at.

So I needed someone to protect me from Sonot.

There was no other way, and the Grand Duke, who could defeat enemies and monsters, seemed to be reliable about keeping me safe.

Later on, several arrangements were made about the marriage.

It was a political marriage of the aristocracy, so we didn’t have to get to know each other unlike usual relationships, and the arrangements were quickly made by the elders of our families.

Just like that, even the wedding date got set…

“Why is everything going so fast?!”

I was dumbfounded to see the red circle marking the date on the calendar.

You’re promising to spend the rest of your life together with me, yet you’re going to set a date immediately without even seeing me and talking to me in person?

The two families didn’t communicate much. Still, wouldn’t it take at least half a year to prepare for a wedding?

The steps of the wedding like wedding photography, reservation of the wedding hall, sending out invitations which would take at least two or three months got taken out of the preparations. Even in the novel, it took two months for the main characters to get married.

My intention was to date the young, wealthy, and good-looking male lead. But why were we getting married instead of dating…?

The sense of reality that had left me for a moment quickly returned.

Just because this was a fantasy world didn’t mean it wasn’t real. Which meant I shouldn’t be acting without thinking.

This place wasn’t Korea. Still, the fact that marriage was an important thing that shouldn’t be rushed didn’t change.

The difference between marriage and being together was obvious. I only focused on having a romantic relationship with the male lead.

Yet, the arrow I thoughtlessly shot was flying with a terrifying speed towards the marriage.

In the end, everything turned upside down long before the original story even began…

“How could I be this ignorant…”

When I slammed my forehead to the pillar next to the make-up table, Serena, who was brushing my hair, was startled.

“M-my Lady, are you all right?”

“Huh? Ah, yes…”

“My Lady’s forehead is too red…  Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Yes, no need to worry.”

Serena had an expression in the mirror saying ‘You don’t look all right at all’. The red forehead was too obvious on my white skin. Before Serena said anything I opened my mouth.

“Are other noble marriages this fast?”

“Pardon?”

“1 month didn’t even pass since I accepted the proposal. It’s amazing… that we will already be having the ceremony.”

“The Grand Duke must be in a hurry. He urged us to skip all unnecessary procedures and made arrangements quickly.”

“Why the rush?”

Twenty years old wasn’t the age of marriage. Serena’s face seemed troubled after the words I mumbled.

“What is it? Is there something wrong?”

“That…”

“It’s alright, you can tell me.”

She stopped brushing my hair at my urging. Then slightly leaned forward to my ear and whispered.

“Well, his previous… wives all ran away. So…”

“Are you afraid that I’ll run away as well?”

Serena covered my mouth with both hands since I replied loudly unlike her whisper. No one heard anything. She was overreacting as if it was a state secret that shouldn’t be overheard.

“Still it’s understandable.”

“Pardon…?”

The first fiancée falling sick and the second fiancée running away were likely to cause trauma.

“I won’t run away, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

I murmured as I stared at the dress that’s already taken out for tomorrow.

If I was in a hurry, I would surely miss one or two important things. Yet Apollyon prepared everything with great care, making no mistake. Actually, as soon as my wedding dress was ready, we could hold the ceremony.

Without any previous preparation, the Grand Duke Theavritte completed everything in an instant. What a meticulous and delicate man he was.

I, who was slamming my head to a pillar five minutes ago, was once again thinking positively about him.

Thinking of him preparing everything one by one with care made me laugh.

Selena, who was not very talkative, quickly ironed the dress and veil she took out, and then ran out of the room.

I’m sure I looked crazy to her.

I didn’t know if I should be angry at her for acting like this towards her master or just ignore her, so I laid down on the bed.

Tomorrow was the day I will be going to the boutique to check up on my finished wedding dress. Once I mentioned the Grand Duke Theavritte’s name; everyone showed me their finest dresses and accessories.

As expected, being young and rich was the best…

After I came to this world, I realized that it’s better to be positive than being in a rush all the time. So I forcibly let go of all my worries and focused on positivity.

***

“Ack, what’s this?”

I felt something slippery and heavy under my feet.

“H-how come animal excrement is here…”

“I’ll hold the gardener accountable right now!”

As soon as I woke up the morning warmth welcomed me, or maybe it was the excrement which soon had gotten rid of.

“It’s alright.”

I calmed down the panicked servants and ordered Serena to bring me a new pair of shoes.

I took off my shoes which were heavily stained with supposedly a wild dog’s excrement and put on a new pair of black shoes. It wasn’t a shoe I cherished but stepping on an excrement first thing in the morning made me feel terrible.

There were only a couple of steps left to the carriage.

“Is it bad luck…?”

I looked up at the sky with concern yet there wasn’t even a single cloud.

“Can you get me an umbrella just in case? A pair of boots as well.”

“Yes, my lady.”

I had a feeling that something was going to happen but the weather was not the problem.

Feelings become reality. That’s why adults were nagging me to be careful all the time.

Not surprisingly, as soon as we left the territory, a carriage stopped in front of us. I was wondering what terrible driving that is, only to see the familiar insignia.

“My lady… I’m afraid I’ll need you to come outside.”

With the call of the driver, I clenched my teeth and got out of the carriage.

“Petunia.”

“…Sonot.”

I got out hoping that it would be someone else. However, the one blocking the road was no one other than Sonot.

I approached Sonot, who was just standing with his hands in his pockets.

“What are you doing?”

“You were avoiding me. So I had no choice but to come see you.”

Sonot replied as he shrugged his shoulders. His voice was full of arrogance.

“I believe I contacted Quintons about how I don’t want to have any relationship with them. Didn’t your servants tell you?”

“Ah, if you’re talking about your whining, I have heard it.”

…Whining?

I doubted my ears. What part of that sounded like whining? It was obvious he had some hearing problems.

“If it was a provocation to change my mind, it was successful. I admit it.”

“…Have you gone mad?”

Oh man, if he was in Korea he would have been stoned to death. 

I was facing a man who couldn’t understand the difference between yes and no. Even the dog next door understood that he can’t excrement in our garden. Yet he wasn’t even as intelligent as a dog?

“Sonot, have you been under a lot of stress these days? Or maybe you couldn’t sleep properly…”

“Why are you asking this all of a sudden? Do I look like someone who’d lack sleep because of stress?”

“That’s weird… If it’s not for that, why aren’t you understanding shit…”

“What?!”

Sonot roared loudly. He was only now getting serious. Yet in the novel, he was described as a clever villain.

What the hell happened to him in such a short time span to make him dumb? Or was he supposed to be stupid from the start? However, if he were to be against the male lead, they had to be on the same level to some extent. So, did that mean the male lead, Apollyon, was also on his level?

“Petunia, I don’t know who got into you.”

That’s what I wanted to say.

“After trying this much, isn’t it time for you to accept?”

“…Trying this much?”

“You sent letters, you sent your servants, and in the end, you even came to me in person.”

I had to admit, that was quite a lot of work.

“But what to do? I don’t even have a grain of affection for you anymore. So can you also let go of me?”

“You’re so stubborn.”

“Yes yes. I’m being stubborn~ Now please get out of my way~”

“…Petunia, you’ve gone mad.”

“I’d better get a check-up at the hospital before I get any crazier. Could you please make way for the emergency patient?”

“No matter how much you hate me, how could you ever think of marrying Apollyon Theavritte because of me…”

“Yes~ I’m going to get married… what?”

I looked at Sonot, making an expression to him for the first time. I didn’t know since I didn’t have a mirror but I was sure I looked disgusted as if I chewed a bug.

“Wh-what did you say…”

“Aren’t you marrying the Grand Duke to get back at me?”

“…?”

“I’m here to stop you from ruining your life because you want to get even with me.”

…What was this bastard talking about!