Chapter 1

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Translator: Vine

Chapter: 1

Chapter Title: Too Easy Being the Grand Duke Heir's Wife (1)

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#1.

I died and ended up possessing the ex-wife of my favorite character from my all-time favorite novel.

I thought it was the sweetest deal ever, but that illusion didn't last long once I realized the ex-wife kicks the bucket early.

And wouldn't you know it, I possessed her right after a year of marriage, when things between the couple had turned ice-cold.

But giving up is for quitters!

This had to be a gift from the heavens.

'Oh, who cares. Since I'm here anyway, might as well ogle my fave's face to my heart's content until I drop dead.'

The life of a successful fangirl doesn't come easy.

Maybe because I had no regrets left in my old life, dying didn't scare me—it felt more like scoring a bonus round.

If I'm gonna stan, I might as well be a happy stan.

That was my goal for this new life.

A loud commotion echoed from Archid's study.

With a knot of anxiety in my stomach, I slipped the master key I'd copied ahead of time into the lock, flung open the door, and barged right into the middle of the lesson.

What I saw made my heart sink.

"Madam."

Archid looked utterly distressed.

He was pressing a handkerchief hard against his forehead. From what I could glimpse, it was stained red.

And there on the floor lay a scattered quill and an overturned ink bottle.

That alone told me everything about the source of the racket.

'How dare you lay a hand on my Archid's face? You're even more of a scumbag than I thought from the book?'

I swallowed my boiling rage and shot a glare at Baron Rork, who stood there with his hands clasped behind his back.

He seemed a bit thrown off by my sudden appearance but quickly schooled his expression into something neutral.

"Young Grand Duchess, the lesson isn't over yet."

It was clear from his look that he wasn't thrilled about me interrupting.

I ignored him completely, keeping my eyes fixed on Archid as I replied.

"I heard weird noises coming from in here."

'No scars on that face, please... It's national treasure level.'

I wanted nothing more than to rush over, dab antiseptic on that pale skin, and slather on some ointment.

"Just a minor mishap. Nothing to worry about—please head back."

Baron Rork smiled leisurely, trying to soothe me. But his words only stoked my fury higher.

'A minor mishap?'

I stopped pitying my husband's gashed forehead for a second and leveled a glare at Baron Rork.

"You call scarring the Grand Duke Heir's face a minor mishap?"

"Oh dear, you've misunderstood. It was simply an accident during corporal punishment."

"An accident during corporal punishment?"

"Yes. The Young Grand Duke refused the punishment in a most undignified manner and tripped on his own, cutting his face on an innocent quill."

"You expect anyone to buy that, Baron Rork?"

"You think I'm lying? Go on, Young Grand Duke—tell her. Am I wrong?"

Baron Rork shot Archid a sleazy grin.

Archid didn't answer. He just bit down hard on his lower lip.

To Archid, who'd endured all sorts of verbal abuse and beatings from the baron, the man was terrifying. No doubt he'd try to cover it up, just like always.

'Not on my watch. You think I'm gonna put up with this crap again?'

I beat him to the punch.

"This isn't punishment—it's abuse!"

"What did you just say?"

Baron Rork adjusted his glasses, his displeasure plain as day.

Not content with me—a mere woman—crashing his sacred lesson, now I was raising my voice at him. He was fuming.

"Do you have any idea if you'll regret saying that?"

He tapped his cane on the floor like some self-important judge, puffing up his chest.

Obviously trying to intimidate a kid like me.

He got away with treating us like dirt because his sister was the lover of Archid's father, Grand Duke Hadellus.

The grand duke doted on his mistress and showered her brother—the baron—with favors too.

Blissfully unaware that it could all vanish like a mirage overnight.

'Hah, your precious father-in-law's got a wandering eye down there. You'll be out on your ass in a month.'

I recalled the original story, smirking with one corner of my mouth.

The baron caught it, and his face stiffened.

He must've taken it as outright disdain. I didn't care—I held my head high, utterly unintimidated.

"Are you threatening me right now?"

A twelve-year-old girl acting all high and mighty? His face turned every shade of red and purple.

The secluded young duchess who never left her quarters was suddenly meddling in his lesson and dismissing him outright. He was livid.

"It's not a threat—it's advice."

He ground his teeth, growling his response. His arrogance, backed by the grand duke's favor, was infuriating.

Foxes riding tigers' backs strut around thinking everyone's scared of them.

And in their stupidity, they delude themselves into believing they're greater than the tiger itself.

Overlooking the fact that the tiger could rip out the fox's throat with a single swipe whenever it felt like it.

But what could he do?

Grand Duke Hadellus was as fickle as boiling porridge.

Sure, he was head over heels for Lady Rork now, ready to hand over his liver and gallbladder. But once the novelty wore off, that was it.

The baron didn't seem to grasp how dire his situation was.

Grand Duke Hadellus brooked no challenge to his authority.

He'd even behead a cherished lover without batting an eye.

And Archid was the grand duke household's one and only heir.

Sure, he carried the shameful label of bastard, but he was undeniably next in line.

Just because the grand duke and duchess ignored him didn't mean everyone else could. The baron was a fool.

'I've put up with enough. But touching my Archid's face?'

I had no intention of letting this slide.

Baron Rork had made a grave mistake.

I knew the future—a clever, ruthless villainess and diehard Archid stan!

How dare you mess with the villainess's fave. Got some guts, huh?

I swallowed my rage and pointed at Archid's forehead.

"What kind of tutor cracks open the Grand Duke Heir's skull under the guise of punishment?"

Confusion flooded Archid's eyes at my outburst.

Can't blame him—his wife, who'd always despised him, was suddenly jumping to his defense.

'Don't worry, Archid. I'll protect you.'

I shot him a quick wink, just for his eyes. He flinched, trembling.

"Crack open his skull? Such crude language, Young Grand Duchess."

Assuming I was worked up, the baron chuckled.

Like he could squash me easily. Brimming with confidence, he declared:

"I'll admit today's punishment was a bit rough, but that's all because the Young Grand Duke didn't bother with his prep—"

He was going to blame it on lack of prep this time.

"Prep? You mean this?"

I cut him off mid-sentence and nodded at my maid, Hanna.

No point listening to the end from a tutor who didn't even treat me like a young duchess.

If you come in hot, expect to go out hotter—that's the way of the world.

Hanna wheeled over the mobile bookshelf at my signal and positioned it in front of the baron.

Even at a glance, it was an insane amount for one day's prep. Archid was smart enough to skim it all, but that was it.

The problem? The baron expected him to memorize every last word. Legs crossed, I asked:

"You think this is doable in one day, Baron?"

"Most noble heirs handle this volume. Perhaps the Young Grand Duchess, being a lady, wouldn't know..."

"Why wouldn't I? I've got a brother."

I interrupted again, and his face hardened.

I knew it irked him when I cut him off. That's why I did it on purpose—to rile him up and make him slip.

"Ah, yes. Viscount April, so you must know."

He pressed down on his twitching eyebrow, sneering. He could still hold it together, apparently.

Not that I thought he'd survive my hellish barrage unscathed.

I grinned wickedly. Moments like this made me think the original villainess wasn't half bad. She could cut people off all she wanted, and they'd just chalk it up to her personality.

"Good, now we're getting somewhere. I was starting to think I'd have to buy you a hearing aid."

"Hea—hearing aid...?"

"I've watched my brother's lessons plenty before marriage. Even half of half of this was overwhelming."

"How unfortunate. Most manage this much..."

Stubborn as ever, he doubled down. Exactly the reaction I wanted. Clutching my chest dramatically, I gasped:

"Gasp! Are you calling my brother a total dimwit right now?"

"What? No, I never—"

"You just did. Most handle this, but Viscount April struggles, so he must be a dimwit!"

"No! That's not what I— Ah, Viscount April's still young! He can surely..."

"Right, my brother's only fifteen—so young. But Baron Rork, doesn't that apply to my husband too?"

"Pardon?"

"Are you playing dumb, or are you actually dumb?"

"Wh-what...!"

"Guess you're actually dumb. Let me spell it out: how old is my husband this year?"

"He's four— Ah."

Baron Rork finally remembered Archid's age and clamped his mouth shut with an "oh crap" look.

My barrage of hearing aids and dimwits had caught him off guard.

I grinned triumphantly, victory assured.

"To repeat: my dimwit brother—as you called him—is fifteen this year."

"......"

"By your logic, shouldn't we praise the still-young Grand Duke Heir for reading all these books?"

"But the Young Grand Duke will be grand duke someday. To catch up on thirteen years of gaps, one day isn't—"

"Gasp! Now you're insulting my husband as a bastard with nothing in his head?"

"Young Grand Duchess! I never said that!"

He jumped to defend himself, but I steamrolled right over.

"What a letdown, Baron Rork. I thought you were sharp..."

I looked him up and down, sighing deeply.

"Now I see you're just a dimwit teacher who blames students for your own shortcomings."

With that parting shot, I tsked my tongue theatrically.

His face flushed purple as he stormed toward me.

"Are you done talking?!"

He looked ready to brain me with his cane any second.

'Whoa, things are going even better than planned?'

I waited eagerly for him to grab my shoulder, eyes gleaming.

Touch me even with a fingertip, and I'd show him what real villainy looks like.

That's when it happened. Archid, who'd been staring blankly the whole time, stepped in to defend me.

"Step away from my wife."