Chapter 2:
I’m a Candidate for the Main Character?![“Lady Lorella Mayred. Congratulations on becoming a candidate for the main character. Please continue selling more shares and surpass the other candidates to become the true protagonist. An absolute being who enjoys eternal happiness in an unbreakable world—that position is yours!”]
In a dark, empty corridor where not even an ant would pass, a voice close to a scream echoed out.
“…What is this?!”
Of course, it was mine.
Was I seeing things from shock? Or had some shredded paper from earlier gotten into my eyes? I rubbed them hard with the lace curtains hanging by the window—but nothing changed.
[Total Shares Sold: 300]
Strange text glowed at the top of the status window. No matter how I looked at it, the window kept following my gaze.
Completely panicking, I shouted in disbelief.
“Shares? What are you talking about? And why won’t this thing disappear?!”
Just then—
whoosh.
With a faint deflating sound, the window vanished.
“Huh?”
I blinked blankly, then rubbed my eyes hard again. Whether it appeared or disappeared, everything about this was bizarre.
Only after calming down a little did I notice my surroundings. The corridor near Pelliert’s office—lined with display cases and expensive paintings.
I didn’t remember walking here myself, so I must have been pushed out while in a panic.
Still, even after regaining my senses, I could only stand there, staring blankly out the window.
My head kept ringing.
What on earth was that?
Since transmigrating here, I had never experienced anything like this.
A romance fantasy with a Duke of the North… having a system window? I’ve never seen that before!
Then the only remaining possibility was—
“…Did that crazy bastard cast black magic on me?!”
Yes. That might actually be it. Everything started the moment I faced him.
“I have no intention of divorcing. And you will never leave.”
His chilling voice echoed in my ears, sending shivers down my spine.
“W-What do I do…?”
I looked around frantically, then turned and began rushing down the corridor.
“I have to get out of here…!”
Mom, I think this guy is a total psychopath!
* * *
“Hurry, hurry…!”
I rummaged through the closet and pulled out a bag. I had bought it not long after getting married, in case I needed to run away someday.
Why was the latch so stiff today of all days?!
After struggling for a while, I finally opened it and stuffed in some clothes.
“And now…”
“Money!”
I hurriedly pulled out a large hidden box and placed it on the desk. Just as I was about to open it—
“…What do you think you’re doing?”
A cold voice fell over me.
My hands froze.
Slowly, I lifted my head.
At the door stood Duke Pelliert.
“…!”
I gasped, my breath catching. His expression was terrifying—so much so that even his handsome face was overshadowed by the sheer force of it.
“Bringing this nonsense to me again.”
The thing fluttering from his hand to the floor—
was the divorce papers.
“I clearly told you not to even dream about it.”
Wait… what?
I had seen those papers torn to shreds earlier. Where did that come from? And why was he here now?
I didn’t have time to think.
As soon as he finished speaking, someone rushed into the room.
Clinging to his arm, wiping fake tears—
Emma.
“I tried my best to stop her, but Lorella begged me so desperately…”
…What?
It didn’t take long to understand. After I left, Emma must’ve gone to him again with the divorce papers—and now she was pinning everything on me.
I stared at her in disbelief, but she avoided my gaze completely.
Then Pelliert, a vein bulging on his temple, declared—
“From today onward, this room is closed.”
“W-What?”
“You must be having these thoughts because you haven’t lived as a proper married couple. Move her to the marital bedroom.”
What the hell?! Is he insane?!
“No! Absolutely not!”
I instinctively stepped back, shouting.
But he ignored me and strode into the room.
With a violent motion, he shoved a chair aside—
CRASH!
The box on the desk fell to the floor. The lid flew open, and—
gold coins spilled everywhere.
“…What is this?”
His eyes changed instantly.
“…Did I ever give you something like this?”
His gaze, sharp as a blade, shifted from the coins to me.
I panicked and stepped back.
“I can explain! I can explain everything! This money actually—”
At that moment, my eyes met Emma’s.
“It must be money from the man she’s been secretly seeing!”
“…What?!”
I screamed in shock, but she continued her outrageous lie.
“Pelliert! I’ll be honest. While you were away, Lorella met another man countless times. Just last night, I saw her in the garden with him!”
What nonsense is this old woman spouting?!
“I absolutely cannot tolerate such an unfaithful woman as your wife! Divorce her immediately before she stains the Chambers name further!”
She even dared to act pitiful while saying it.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
“When did I ever do that?!”
I pointed at the coins and shouted.
“You were the one who gave me this yesterday and told me to leave! Have you already gone senile?!”
“S-Senile?!”
At that moment—
CRASH!
A loud noise rang out.
Pelliert stood there, holding a sword—
my travel bag hanging from its tip.
“…So you were planning to run away?”
His gaze was now lethal.
“W-Wait—”
“Were you planning to run off with that man?” Emma added.
This was bad. Very bad.
“That’s not true!”
But before I could finish—
He grabbed me.
“Let go of me!”
“…Another man?”
“I told you it’s a lie—!”
“Stay still.”
His grip tightened painfully.
“While I was risking my life on the battlefield… another man?”
His voice was ice-cold.
Wait… is he actually believing this?!
“That’s completely false!”
But he didn’t listen.
He dragged me through the estate. No one dared stop him.
Finally—
he threw me into a dark room.
“Ah!”
The iron door slammed shut behind me.
The room was small, with a bed and sofa…
And restraints everywhere.
Chains. Straps.
What kind of room is this?!
Through the small barred window, his cold eyes stared in.
“So that’s why you begged for a divorce. To run away with another man—and even take the duke’s money?”
“That’s not it! Your mother gave me that money!”
I pounded on the door desperately.
“Let me out! I’ll prove who’s lying!”
“Where is he?”
“No one is hiding!”
“I’ll find him.”
“I told you—!”
“I’ll cut off his head and throw it in here.”
A chilling smile appeared on his face.
“The door will only open then.”
And with that, he left.
“…Pelliert! Listen to me!”
No answer.
Only silence.
“…Ha.”
I collapsed.
“I’m really locked up…!”
I pounded the door again and again—but it wouldn’t budge.
“Open this door, you crazy bastard!”
Then—
Ding-dong!
A bright chime rang.
[“…right?” is purchasing your shares again.]
[100, 200, 300…]
“What?!”
The numbers rose too fast to read.
“Too fast!”
They paused—
Ding-dong!
[“That bastard isn’t the male lead, right?” is enraged and invests all coins into you.]
[700 shares sold. Total: 1000 shares.]
[New record!]
The window appeared again!
I stared at it desperately.
[As a reward, two bonus cookies have been baked.]
[Would you like to receive the first cookie?]
- Yes
- No
“A cookie? What is that?!”
No answer—just the blinking message.
Well… it said bonus, so it must be good, right?
“I’ll take it!”
Then—
[Cookie granted.]
A glowing stick appeared. The golden gauge inside it rapidly decreased.
“H-How do I use this?!”
Panicking, I looked around—
and accidentally stumbled forward, slamming both hands against the iron door.
CRACK—!
“Ahhh!”
BOOM!
The iron door—
collapsed like paper.
[First cookie used.]
[Escaped from the Duke of the North’s confinement.]
A new message sparkled brightly before my eyes—like a Christmas tree.
