Chapter Text
I hate truck-kun. Seriously, I hate those clichés. But here I am.
It’s not like I wanted to die but this, this is pure torture. You can’t just run over someone and, instead of letting them die peacefully, isekai them into another world.
This should be illegal.
Then, you would think I could at least be a cool, strong character.
But no.
I’m just an NPC. But not just an NPC, no, the first bride of the tyran of the north, Yoo Joonghyuk. Because I transmigrated into one of the webnovels I read, ‘Opening the heart of the cold tyran’.
It was a Romance, fantasy story. You heard I said first, right? I, the bride, would get arranged to marry the cold duke. But then I would die a few years later.
I think it was because the tyran didn’t need his bride anymore when he found the love of his life, Lee Soewhola.
I would just be left to die, so why even bring me here?
_ _
When I woke up, he was walking to an altar in a white gown. I didn’t understand what was happening.
My mind was filled with confusion. A few minutes ago, I was walking back home from work. Now, I was getting married? My long veil trailed behind me as I walked forward, my footsteps echoing in the massive room. But when I came to halt before the man at the altar-my future husband-everything clicked together.
I was going to die. Again.
Was dying once not enough?! I was standing right in front of the male lead of a web novel I was reading…before I got hit by truck-kun. And worse, I was his bride! The one who was doomed to die.
There was no mistaking him. It surely was him, I couldn’t forget those eyebrows, seemingly drawn by a single, uninterrupted stroke of a famed artist’s brush. A nose and chin shaped in perfect angels that defies any attempts to measure them through mere devices of men. And a pair of deep eyes-seemingly carved out of a beautiful jewel, containing all the misfortune found in this world.
“So, you’re my bride.” It wasn’t like a question, more like a statement. I nodded silently, not sure what to say. How could I get out of this situation? He hummed at my answer, not even glancing at me, before the priest began speaking. “Do you, Yoo Joonghyuk, take Kim Dokja as your bride?” Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t even hesitate. “I do.”
The priest turned my way. “Do you, Kim Dokja, take Yoo Joonghyuk as your husband?” I felt Yoo Joonghyuk’s gaze drill holes in the back of my head. “I do.” How do they even know my name? His wife had a different name. “You may now kiss.”
He lifted the veil of my face, before leaning closer and rapidly kissing my lips. It was a swift brush of skin-completely devoid of affection, but it was enough to still make my breath hitch. Damn protagonist!
The moment it was over, Yoo Joonghyuk snapped his head away. As if looking at me any longer was an absolute chore.
After the ceremony was over, I was dragged along to ride back to his manor. It was a massive carriage. And throughout the long way back, he didn’t even glance at me once. He just sat there, arms crossed tightly, staring out of the window with a clenched jaw.
He seemed displeased with me, but honestly? That could help with the divorce. So that was perfect. Bu…did I look so bad for him that he had to forcefully avoid my gaze?
We arrived at his estate and he immediately walked away. One of the servants came walking my way. She introduced herself. “Hello, I’m Yoo Sangah, one of the maids. Shall I give you a tour of the estate?”
I nodded with a warm smile. “Yes please, that would be great help.”
The estate seemed really familiar. However, that was surely only because I read the webnovel for so long.
His estate was really big, so it was getting pretty late when the tour was finished. She brought me to our shared bedroom. …A shared bedroom. I didn’t want to sleep next to him, but what could I do?
At least, I had a bigger chance of dying here.
The maids helped me change out of my bridal clothes, so now I was just sitting on the bed in my nightgown. I tried to understand why I was here and what’s happening, but I didn’t have enough info for that. I knew nothing.
The door opened, but I didn’t need to turn around to see who it was. I could just feel him. The room’s temperature dropped a few degrees with his presence.
I didn’t dare look up as he walked past me.
When he came back, he just stood there. He didn’t say a word. After a while he just huffed and walked to the other side of the bed.
I quickly shuffle down on the bed, trying to not make too much noise. We laid back to back, I was relieved that it was a big bed so we didn’t touch.
But it didn’t help me with overthinking every breath. I tried remembering the plot, seeing when the best time would be to ask for a divorce. It would be a bit weird if I already asked for a divorce and I still had some time before Lee Seolwha would come.
In the story, he lived a few years with his wife before Lee Seolwha would arrive and steal his heart.
If I want him to accept my divorce request, I could firstly try to avoid him as much as possible. We don’t need to get close. But, that’s easy since he always went away in the story.
Secondly, for more outside information, I could always ask Sanga-sii since she will know more.
Thirdly, I still need to find out what I would do when the divorce gets finalized. I’m not just going to like that.
I felt my eyelids becoming heavier. I tried to fight it but sleep quickly took over.
_ _
I slowly opened my eyes as the first sun rays filtered through the curtains.
Since when was my bed this comfortable?
Oh, right…I wasn’t home anymore.
It wasn’t freezing cold as it has been yesterday, but why was there a heavy arm around my waist?
…Huh?
Huh?!
I slowly turned around, looking at the novel protagonist. When he was lying there, without any menacing aura or glare, just peacefully sleeping.
He looked…kinda cute. I’m not into men, obviously, he’s just objectively cute like this.
But ugh, this is such a cliché!
And I’m not the female lead! If he wakes up and sees me here, my entire survival plan is completely ruined. He would definitively just execute me on the spot.
So I definitely needed to get out of here before he woke up. I tried prying his arm off my waist but his grip only tightened. At least I hadn’t woken him up, but I really need to escape before he wakes up. I tried prying it off a second time, but he only let out a low grunt and refused to let go.
When I finally was about to escape, he opened one eye. He glanced towards the window, then back at me.
“Still early, go back to bed.” He muttered.
Before I could even process his words, he wrapped his arm back around my waist, pulled me closer and closed his eyes again.
I froze. This was not normal. That was absolutely not how he was supposed to have reacted. I’m was certain his relationship with his first wife wasn’t this good in the novel. He shouldn’t have behaved this way…it wasn’t in the script. This wasn’t the way he acted.
I hadn’t done anything…right?
I want to change the plot, but definitely not like this. Besides, I’ll just make everything right again.
I didn’t move, and gradually the soft, comforting scent of black wood began lulling me back to sleep.
_ _
I hadn’t meant to fall asleep again.
But when I woke back up, the sun was already higher and this time, I was completely alone. I scrubbed my eyes and sat back up, looking around the empty room.
Someone came knocking on my door.
“Come in.” I called out.
Yoo Sangah came in, followed by twomaids. “Good morning, Duchess.” She said with a polite bow. “His Grace has requested your presence for lunch today. We are here to help you dress.”