Chapter 1

A light story. Please read it with an empty mind...

(5 parts, posted all at once)

-- Really, a perfect villain face.

Looking at the man who appeared before her, Kaori blinked repeatedly.

He was tall enough to look up to. His strong jawline, the rugged features, and the sharp, thick eyebrows gave him a distinctly masculine appearance.

His tanned skin was hard to judge—was it natural or from the sun?

His dark brown hair, slicked back, revealed a scar on the side of his forehead.

Below his thick neck was a well-built body, encased in the formal uniform of the national army, adorned with many medals.

His aura was overwhelmingly stern. The air around him repelled others, exuding a sense of authority and a serious, intimidating presence, much like a mafia boss in a movie.

If he took off his uniform and put on a high-end suit, perhaps with a cigar, he would be perfect.

With a slow, flawless movement, the man approached Kaori.

Despite wearing military boots with studs, his silent, graceful steps were more like those of a tiger than a cat. Either way, he was undoubtedly a predator.

Kaori's heart had been pounding since he appeared.

The heat that had gathered in her head had now dissipated, leaving her pale. She must look as if she were about to faint, and the pity in the eyes of the onlookers only confirmed her fear.

However.

-- What should I do, he's so handsome...!

"Your hand."

"Y-Yes."

Her ears tingled at the raspy voice, accustomed to barking orders. She trembled and hesitantly extended her left hand.

Kaori's slender hand was caught by the thick, strong hand that matched his robust body.

-- Such a big hand!! It's so hard! But, to touch it so gently, like treating a princess!? Amazing!

His thick, long fingers, with prominent knuckles, hesitantly slid a golden ring with a blue stone onto her ring finger.

Overwhelmed with joy and embarrassment, Kaori couldn't lift her head.

"With this, you are my wife."

"…Yes."

Her eyes, moist with tears, were filled with emotion, but no one, not even the groom, seemed to understand. An awkward silence filled the room.

Sato Kaori, a former Japanese college student.

On this day, a little over a year after her trip to another world, she had become the concubine of the General of Forteria without any issues.

---

Staring blankly at the unfamiliar ring, Kaori was lost in thought.

-- Really, I got married... to someone who is like my ideal man come to life! Thank you, Christina, for giving him up!

The story is a bit long to tell.

That day—the last day Kaori was "Sato Kaori"—was a typical day at her part-time job.

Kaori's part-time job was at a wedding chapel.

Since childhood, Kaori had loved singing and even joined the church choir in her neighborhood.

After moving away for college, she used her experience to work as a wedding singer, performing hymns and gospel songs during chapel ceremonies.

It was a busy Saturday, a good day for weddings, and the venue was in full swing.

However, unlike the often rowdy reception, the solemn ceremony was always moving, no matter how many times she had attended. Kaori never lost hope in marriage.

The last couple of the day had a particularly tumultuous journey to their wedding.

Their eyes, filled with nothing but each other, reflected their deep, emotional connection, visible even from a distance.

The light filtering through the stained glass onto the beautiful dress, the sound of the pipe organ, the applause of blessings, and the tears of the bride...

-- Will I have a day like that?

Shaking her head slightly, she thought of her ideal man and wished, surely, someday.

It might be difficult to turn her dreams into reality, but every time she attended a wedding, she couldn't help but pray that she too would find a wonderful partner.

After finishing the celebratory hymn and leaving with the other members, Kaori stumbled and looked up.

Instead of the backstage corridor, she found herself in an unfamiliar foreign town.

Speechless and standing still, Kaori saw a young lady with dark brown hair tied up in a bun, wearing a colored dress—like the ones she often saw at the chapel—staring at her with wide eyes.