Instead of the Heroine, I Married the Male Lead

 

 

Warm sunlight enveloped me.

The faint sound of birds chirping could be heard.

 

“Mmm.”

 

Today, I lifted my unusually heavy eyelids.

It was one of those days. It was a day when I felt tired, but my eyes were wide open.

I pulled the rope beside me, and Sophia walked in shortly afterward.

I dipped my hand in the wash water she had brought and gasped.

 

“Is this a dream? Why is it warm?”

 

My family thought it was a waste for me to use a heating stone.

Although they didn’t entirely withhold it from me, they rarely lent it to me, I can only use them when everyone is sound asleep. 

So for me, even warming up the water for washing was a luxury.

 

“It’s not a dream.”

“But why is it warm……? Oh, is it the end of the month?”

 

Sometimes, if I saved the heated stone like a miser, there would be some left at the end of the month.

Sophia brought warm water at those times.

 

“No, it’s the beginning of the month.”

 

I stared at her and pulled my hand out of the water.

Then I grabbed her hand and spoke softly.

 

“Sophia, is something troubling you? Do you need someone to rely on emotionally?”

“What’s the point in saving heating stones when I’m trying to escape from this wretched place anyway?”

“Sophia…… you can quit anytime you want, but I can’t. Well, I suppose running away might be better than this…”

“Miss.”

 

Sophia called me with a serious expression.

 

“What…?”

 

Did I say something wrong?

As I replayed my words in my mind, Sophia suddenly slapped my forearm.

 

“Did you forget that you had an engagement ceremony with Duke Wintbell yesterday?!”

“Oh.”

 

That’s right.

I married the male lead instead of the female lead yesterday.

 

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

 

The novel I possessed, “To You, Who Has No Regrets,”  was just as its title suggested—a romance novel featuring a male lead who truly had no regrets.

Despite the many negative reviews, it was a novel that exceeded my imagination. I thought the male lead would just be pretty trash, but to my surprise, a frustrating female lead followed along as well.

The indecisive and whimsical female lead, whose head was full of flowers, misunderstands and is disappointed alone before running away from the male lead.

While the male lead certainly had his faults, every time he tried to explain, the female lead, for fear of getting hurt, pushed him away with harsh words.

Enduring the frustrating plot, I read all the way to the latest episode, where it was announced that everything would be resolved in 2 episodes.

 

[Anonymous User: Can everything really be resolved in 2 episodes?

 └ChikaChikaBoomBoom: Is it really possible?

 └Ozzie’s Wizard: LOL. To me, this novel is just okay. It’s not great, nor is it terrible. It’s just okay.

 

Watching the heartfelt comments quickly become top comments, I set notifications for the novel.

Because of my personality, which compels me to see things through to the end, whether they’re good or bad, I had to watch them until the end.

It was only 200 won anyway, so I figured watching it would be less uncomfortable than not watching it.

And just as I was about to check the release date of the latest episode…

I was possessed.

I was the friend of the heroine from the beginning, a timid extra with a shitty family and fiancé.

At first, I denied the reality, but humans are animals of adaptation, so I eventually adjusted. I even gave advice to the heroine here and there.

Living as things unfolded, today arrived. You see, the heroine cheated with my fiancé, so I decided to enter into an arranged marriage with the male lead instead.

 

“Miss. A close friend of mine just got a job at the Information Guild, so I ask for a favor.”

 

‘I probably already know what she’s going to say.’

 

I nodded to indicate she should go ahead and try. 

After clearing her throat, Sophia began to speak.

 

“His name is Kaien Wintbell. He’s 27 years old and has been a Duke for 5 years. The Wintbell Dukedom is famous for producing transcendent individuals through generations, and of course, the Duke himself is a transcendent individual.”

 

To add some context, you can think of transcendent individuals as superior versions of humans.

They have quick mental faculties, excellent physical conditions, and are aesthetically pleasing.

Among them, the most prominent feature of a transcendent individual is their ability to use aura alongside magic. Aura is a special power distinct from magic, possessing formidable strength.

While everyone possesses varying degrees of magic power, only transcendent individuals are able to use auras.

However, there’s a price to pay for this ability. 

The more one uses Aura, the more inexplicable pain they suffer.

And only the ‘suitable match’ can alleviate this pain.

If a certain level of compatibility is reached, they are referred to as a suitable match.

However, since it’s extremely difficult, finding a suitable match becomes a lifelong task for practically every transcendent individual.

 

‘In essence, it’s like a guide bus.’

 

It’s similar to a world in which Espers can use their abilities and guides to alleviate their pain.

And Nadia, the heroine, had the ability to take away Kaien’s pain.

 

‘No.’

 

She doesn’t.

Their compatibility rate is only 30%.

In terms of efficiency, it was not much different from 0%. Thus, it required more than just light contact but rather intimate physical contact, which, as a result, sparked sexual tension.

 

‘I wonder how far I should go.’

 

I felt a bit reluctant to engage in excessively intimate physical contact, just like in the original work.

 

“The Duke doesn’t have any lovers or mistresses. Oh, and originally, he couldn’t ascend to the dukedom because he was the second son. However, an unexpected accident involving his brother’s death forced him to assume the dukedom.”

 

Just like the original.

 

“And as for the Duke’s three sizes…”

“Wait, hold on!”

 

Suddenly, as the topic of three sizes came up out of nowhere, I urgently interrupted Sophia’s words.

 

“How do you know about that?”

“Well, they told me?”

 

Sophia giggled and then, with a hot breath, leaned in close to me.

 

“No, miss, you shouldn’t be ashamed of something like this. It’s incredibly important! If Hans and his wife are having issues, why aren’t they getting divorced? There must be a reason! You’ll find out when you get married!”

 

Thinking of a gardener with tanned skin and a muscular body, I shouted out.

 

“Enough already!”

 

Worried she might continue, I swiftly snatched the note from her hand.

 

“Oops! That’s the information I got by emptying out a month’s worth of my salary!”

 

I folded the note neatly and tucked it into the pocket of my pajamas.

 

“Enough of this; now tell me about the atmosphere at the mansion. How was it yesterday?”

 

Sophia pursed her lips and replied.

 

“Well, it seems like all three of them were quite shocked yesterday.”

“Understandable, given that I switched fiancés and entered the ceremony hall.”

 

Since the engagement ceremony was originally pushed by our side, my fiancé, or rather, my ex-fiancé’s family, were not pleased and did not even show up at the venue.

It was actually a good thing for me. It meant that no one would cause a scene.

Kaien, who confidently entered the venue arm in arm with me, even nudged the MC.

When I shot him a pointed look, he promptly started the ceremony. 

Despite a few slips where he mistakenly referred to him as Emon, Kaien graciously overlooked them.

After the event, my family sweated profusely as they explained to the nobles who attended the engagement ceremony. And I took advantage of that opportunity to go home alone.

Sophia’s brow furrowed as she counted the minutes.

 

“…they should be here soon.”

“Philome!!”

 

Just as Sophia finished speaking, the door burst open as if it were about to break, and my mother appeared.

 

“What’s going on here, huh?”

 

My mother approached me quickly.

 

“Why don’t you answer me right away?!”

 

No, you don’t give me time to speak, and yet you complain that I don’t respond.

 

“It’s the same situation as you’ve seen.”

 

I simply stated the truth, but my mother’s face turned red with anger, and she raised her hand to hit me.

I quickly checked her hand.

Luckily, there was no large ring on her finger.

Mmph!

 

‘Ouch, that stings.’

 

As I staggered, Sophia quickly came over and supported me.

 

“Why did you come in as Duke Win… Wintbel instead of Emon?”

 

I let out a deep sigh.

 

“Mother, I told you. It’s the same situation as you’ve seen. There’s no special reason.”

“This… this is truly beyond frustrating!”

“Sir Emon eloped with Nadia.”

 

Upon hearing those words, my mother’s expression changed every second before she spoke.

 

“…You lost your fiancé to Nadia because you couldn’t be affectionate as a woman.”

“Ha.”

 

It was a predictable remark.

While I was feeling bewildered, the door suddenly creaked open again.

It seems like my door is about to give out soon. It’s already an old door, and hearing it creak like that makes me wonder why it hasn’t fallen off yet.

 

“Mother!”

 

Ugh, he’s here too.

I rubbed my forehead.

With Aiden’s arrival, I was certain today would be even more exhausting. 

However, contrary to my expectations, Aiden shouted with a pale face.

 

“Duke Wintbell has come to visit!”

“What? Why?!”

 

Aiden’s gaze turned toward me.

 

“…he’s looking for my sister.”

 

Nice timing.