I object.

I'M SORRY I HAVE TO do this in front of everyone.

But my parents left me no choice.

I can't marry you.

I'm so sorry.

Summerine repeated the words in her mind as she walked down the carpeted flower-lined ramp. Whoever it was that had been hired to be their venue stylist was a genius, with the entire ballroom transformed into a lantern-lit forest of glow-in-the-dark flowers.

Everyone was also staring at her like she was the most radiant bride—-and not one of them seemed to notice the way her parents were guarding her every move like a warden that was ready to have her arrested at the slightest provocation.

Summerine refused to be intimidated and focused on practicing the first and most important words of her speech.

But as soon as she reached the end of the ramp, she felt like fainting anew as she sensed her bridegroom taking his place next to her.

I...I...I...

O...O...Oh, this was impossible!

"Before I join these two in holy matrimony, would anyone here care to step forward in objection?"

Half of her was determined to ignore his existence. But the other half of her had the inexplicable urge to steal a peek at the stranger her parents had arranged for her to marry.

"Very well, then..."

On the day he had visited her home, Summerine had already fainted before she could see what he looked like, and he was long gone by the time she woke.

"We are gathered here today—-"

Maybe...maybe she could just turn his way ever so slightly...and just have the tiniest look?

"To join Ryu Harcourt and Summerine Chan in marriage."

Yes, a tiny look wouldn't hurt at all. Right?

"Do you, Ryu, take Summerine to be your lawful spouse?"

Summerine turned ever so carefully towards him.

"Yes."

And then she ever so slowly lifted her gaze to his.

"Do you, Summerine, to be your lawful spouse?"

Oh. My. Gosh.

Was it not the craziest and cruelest of coincidences that she was a closet otaku for almost her entire life...while the man standing next to her happened to be the sizzlingly perfect embodiment of what a bishounen would've looked in reality?

The longer she stared at him, the more she felt as if she was sucked into the pages of her favorite josei manga, and she was now living the life she had always dreamed of.

His hair was a gleaming shade of black, his eyes dark and piercing.

And his face, oh, his face.

It was just so, so beautiful that only his chiseled jaw saved it from being too pretty.

And his height. And build. And—-

"Summerine?"

So lost was she in the surreal perfection of his looks that she answered without thinking.

"Y-Yes?"

People suddenly laughed, and the sound yanked her out of her thoughts. What was so funny? She had only said—-

"By the power vested in me—-"

Oh gosh, I said yes.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Summerine was still in shock as her bridegroom gently turned her to face him before lifting her veil.

"You may now kiss the bride."

His head lowered.

NOOOOOOOOO.

And he cupped her face.

I can't. This can't be happening.

And it didn't.

Because her bridegroom had already stepped back, the whole ballroom had erupted in thunderous applause, and not one of them had realized that the man she married had only faked kissing her.

The judge smiled at both of them before turning to their still-cheering guests. "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Ryu Harcourt!"