Chapter 20: Finally, the original protagonist appears.

A month has passed since the ducal couple and Darius died.

Their carriage fell off a cliff, and all three bodies were found.
The injuries, the fall’s traces, the surrounding terrain—no signs of foul play.
It was purely an unfortunate accident.

Noble society whispered of conspiracies, but the conclusion was simple: bad luck.
Hearing the report, my chest felt heavy.

I knew this was coming.
The game’s timeline marked their deaths at this point.

But hearing it as reality was different.
I knew they treated Cedric unfairly, with no familial warmth.
Still, losing acquaintances hit hard.

This past month was a whirlwind for Cedric and me.

First, the funeral.
For the Gilbert ducal couple, nobles and royalty gathered in droves.
In black mourning attire, we stood for hours.
Too much grief seemed improper; too little, cold.

The preparations were exhausting.
Then came an audience with the king.

Cedric needed formal recognition as the new head of the Gilbert ducal house.
In the royal audience chamber, he knelt, bowing gracefully.

His tall frame folded elegantly, and watching from behind, my heart warmed.
After that, more social events.

As the “new ducal couple” and “young lord,” we were invited to several galas.
There, appraising, doubting, mocking gazes pierced us.

An eighteen-year-old inheriting a dukedom wasn’t unheard of, but it was rare.
Especially for a “neglected second son” never meant to take the title.

It’s natural others would doubt.
We weren’t yet fully accepted as the ducal couple.
But we had to press on.

After the social season, we tackled the ducal duties’ handover.
The study’s desk overflowed with documents—tax reports, merchant contracts, knight assignments.

Cedric and I sat side by side, reviewing each one.
Without the previous duke and duchess’s verbal guidance, it was tough.
We relied on papers and servants’ explanations.

It was a dire situation.
But we were fortunate to have studied ducal responsibilities beforehand—not by chance, but because I knew from the game that Cedric would inherit.

Cedric might think it coincidental, but I’d ensured he learned.
I studied my role as duchess too.

The handover was grueling, but we managed.

After a relentless month, a calm evening finally arrived.
We’d fully moved into the main Gilbert ducal residence.

We used to live in a separate mansion, but as the ducal couple, we had to use the main estate.
In one of its spacious rooms, Cedric and I sank into sofas.

I sipped tea, catching my breath.

“Good work today.”
“Thank you, Amelia. You too.”

Cedric leaned back, exhaling deeply.

“It’s finally settling down.”
“Yes.”

I nodded.

Losing the ducal couple and completing the handover in a month was remarkably fast.
Normally, it’d take three months or more.

Cedric balanced academy duties with his new role.
I handled tasks from morning to night, barely managing.
He approved essentials before heading to the academy, attended classes to maintain his top rank, then returned to tackle documents and assignments.

His brilliance left me in awe.

(As expected of my favorite…)

But even he couldn’t hide his exhaustion.
The workload and academic demands were immense.

Cedric rarely showed fatigue, but now, slumping on the sofa with faint shadows under his eyes and a pale complexion, it was evident.

Setting down my tea, I suggested, “Now that work’s calmed, how about a break somewhere?”

He looked up, smiling brightly.

“Sounds great. I’m excited for a date with you.”

My cheeks warmed.

A date…

Knowing he looked forward to it thrilled me.
My heart fluttered.

“I’m excited too.”

His smile widened.

“Let’s plan. We can’t stray far from the capital, but maybe the palace gardens or a day trip to a lake on horseback?”
“Anywhere’s fine, as long as I’m with you.”
“Ugh, you always say things like that.”
“It’s the truth.”

The relaxed mood made me exhale softly.
It’d been a while since we talked like this, just as husband and wife.

“How’s the academy?” I asked, setting my cup down.

Becoming a duke didn’t automatically boost his status there.
If anything, failing to maintain his top rank could draw criticism.

“I’m getting more tea party invitations. And professors are overly considerate, saying things like, ‘If it’s not a bother to His Grace.’”
“That sounds… tricky.”
“A bit. But the coursework’s the same. I just do what’s needed.”

His usual calm tone.
Then his expression shifted, as if recalling something.

“Oh, by the way.”
“Yes?”
“Unusually, a transfer student is joining the second-year class this year.”

My eyes widened.
My heart leapt.

A transfer student.
Second year.
At the magic academy.

That meant—

(The game’s protagonist is finally enrolling…!)

In the game, the protagonist transfers into the year below Cedric’s, starting the story.
Events unfold, she meets the love interests, and romance blooms.

(The game is truly starting.)

My hand trembled slightly on the teacup.
Calm down.
Stay composed.

But my heart pounded.

“I see,” I managed calmly.

Cedric didn’t seem to notice.

“Yes. A woman, apparently.”

A woman.
Yes, the protagonist is female.

A commoner with exceptional magical talent, transferring to the academy.
She falls in love with Cedric and other targets.

I took a deep breath.

“Interesting. What’s she like?”
“Not much detail yet, but her magical talent is supposedly outstanding.”

I nodded.
Yes, the protagonist is exceptional.
She has unique gifts.

And she’ll meet Cedric.

(I mustn’t get in the way.)

My chest ached.
But it’s the right thing.

For Cedric’s happiness.
To let him have the game’s happy ending.

“It’s rare for someone to transfer to the capital’s magic academy. She must be remarkable.”
“Perhaps.”

Cedric replied with little interest.

(The game is starting.)

The protagonist is coming.
Events will follow.

And if Cedric falls for her—
I’ll step aside.
I’ll divorce.

His happiness comes first.
That’s my role as the “villainous wife.”

It hurts, but it’s right.
I told myself so.