“Emily.” 

It was a terribly low and sweet voice. His pronunciation of “Emily” was so smooth and graceful that she was confused for a moment whether he had called her.

“This way.”

He carefully took her arm. Wearing a long tailcoat and a boutonniere on his chest, he was, as expected, Killian, the groom, with a face that was more perfectly handsome than rumored. The intense, dark eyebrows under the straight forehead were slightly scratched by a scar of unknown origin. Inside the deep-set eyes, there were subtle gray irises, and the towering nose boasted a perfect shape which harmonized with his sharp angular jawline, revealing a deep masculine beauty. Also, the tightly closed lips had a classic beauty but at the same time looked cold. He was so tall, too, that even the taller-than-average Emily had to tilt her head to see his face.

Emily decided to set aside her resentment towards her parents for a moment when she saw Killian’s handsome face, which was horribly handsome enough to give up everything. Then, quietly, she folded her arm around Killian’s and started the bride and groom march. The banquet hall was frighteningly quiet except for the music that was playing.

‘But what’s bothering me so much?’

Emily’s little insecurity from before marriage reared its head again after seeing Killian’s face. 

‘I feel like I’m missing something very big.’

Emily watched Killian’s face secretly, careful not to be seen, and was startled.

‘Gray eyes?’

The thought came to Emily’s head as if she had been struck by lightning. The gray eyes of the Starr family! It was a defining characteristic of the male lead in <Flowers Blooming in Hell>, a book she had read in my previous life. Since the male lead’s name was Daniel Starr, then this person must have been his father, Killian Starr.

‘Wait a minute, then am I playing the role of Daniel’s biological mother who dies while giving birth?’

It was so lamentable and absurd that it took my breath away to think of such an important detail during the wedding ceremony. 

‘Among the books I read in my previous life, it was my favorite book, so there’s no way I can’t remember it. How could this be? I’m an extra among extras!’ 

Emily swallowed her tears of resentment.

How was their relationship as a couple? Was she happy? Is there a mandatory copulation day? While Emily was shaken by various thoughts, the ceremony had passed, and the ring was on her hand, and the time for the promised kiss had finally arrived.

She felt Killian’s hand lifting the veil. Emily involuntarily flinched and pulled her head back. 

‘Kissing alone doesn’t make babies, get it together Emily!’  

She immediately reprimanded herself, closed her eyes again, and waited for him to kiss her. 

“This completes the oath between the two of you.” 

Emily furrowed her brow and opened one eye. Was it because she was so nervous that her face was paralyzed and she couldn’t feel it? There was no kiss, let alone the feeling of their lips touching, but the ceremony was over. Killian just pretended to kiss and winked at the officiant to end the ceremony. As she stood there with a feeling of unease, about to protest, Killian called over the nearby attendant. 

“Giovanni, you can take my wife to her room.”

As Emily looked up at Killian with eyes full of questions, he opened his mouth. 

“Since today’s schedule must have been tiring, skip the reception and rest in your room.”

Killian’s behavior was absurd, for the new bride to rest in her room without greeting the guests! 

But… she looked around the hall once more. Yes, it’s impossible to greet guests and mingle among these scary people. No matter what Killian’s intentions were, Emily was also not confident of holding out until the reception. She quickly accepted his words and decided to follow Giovanni’s guidance.

Usually, in the Bancent Empire, where Carpatheism is the state religion, most weddings took place in temples. However, despite being a Carpathian, Emily married outside of the temple due to the strong insistence of the groom’s side. Having gone through various troubles, Emily didn’t care whether the wedding was held in a temple or a castle. But as she walked through this maze-like path, she began to have frightening thoughts.

“Surely, I won’t be confined here…”

Emily thought she had spoken quietly, but Giovanni’s hearing was twice as keen as others. He pretended not to hear her mumbling and quickly led her to the front of the room.

“Well then, I will go ahead. Please rest comfortably inside.”

“Oh, yes, please go ahead.”

Giovanni scrutinized the madam’s face. He doesn’t know if the madam noticed that he treated her with more respect than he usually does with other people. Giovanni withdrew, feeling uneasy.

When she entered the room, a maid was waiting to change her clothes. Emily felt a strange sense of relief when she saw her. With the help of a maid, Emily changed into a comfy dressing gown and was then bid goodnight by the maid, leaving her alone in her room to think.

A smile soon appeared on Emily’s face as she realized that she had been reincarnated into a novel. Since the original story hadn’t even begun, and she had a minor role that would pass by in a single line, it wouldn’t have a big impact.

“Yes! I should embrace simplicity!”

***

Translator note: I like how she isn’t getting to caught up in the original work ~ Mae

Kofi:https://ko-fi.com/maetranslations