The Tragic Male Lead Chose the Wrong Partner Chapter 1 - The Story of Delusion and Fraud

There’s a saying: ‘When someone dies, the first to greet them is a completed romance-fantasy novel.’

 

Normally, the story goes like this: while reading a novel, you sympathize with a certain character — “They’re so pitiful! If I were them…” — and then boom, you get hit by a truck and end up possessing that very character.

 

But in my case, I was living in a conflict zone.

 

My last memory was the roar of fighter jets and a bombing.

 

When I opened my eyes again… I was a maid named Cynthia from the Count Queensguard household.

 

Cynthia’s life, having served here since childhood, was nothing short of tragic.

 

At this point, anyone in her shoes would’ve turned dark and twisted But Cynthia was a good natured person to the core.

 

“Just like me… too kind for my own good…”

 

Assigned this miserable role in a world I didn’t even recognize, I rested my cheek in my palm with a sigh of despair.

 

I was convinced this world was from a novel because something about it felt oddly familiar, like one of the stories I’d briefly skimmed.

 

The genres I usually read were mostly romantic comedies, healing stories, redemption arcs…the kind where a bright heroine heals a broken male lead and they save each other.

 

So clearly, this must be one of those stories too.

 

“Phew… at least it’s not a dark-angsty story. I hate those.”

 

I was letting out a breath of relief in my room when the door slammed open, and the senior maid stormed in.

 

“Hey, you Essat Half-Breed.”

 

That’s what the servants of the Count’s house called me: Essat Mongrel.

 

The Essatian were a persecuted, nearly extinct race, known for their snow-white hair. Because I had white hair, everyone just assumed I was an Essatian half-blood.

 

“I’m not half-blood, I’m albino.”

 

I kindly corrected her.

 

My white hair, nearly translucent skin, and pale red eyes were due to albinism, not heritage.

 

She twitched her eyebrows at my innocent reply, then raised her voice harshly.

 

“Whatever. Still makes you a cursed white rat! Young Master Carlos is looking for you, so get moving!”

 

“Yes.”

 

Annoying bosses exist no matter the genre.

 

I stood up and headed straight to Carlos’s room.

 

I got up from my seat and went straight to Carlos’s room.

 

* * *

 

Carlos Queensguard.

 

The eldest son and heir to the Count family.

 

A handsome man with ashen-blond hair and sapphire-blue eyes, who loved living a debauched life.

 

He was definitely not the male lead.

 

“Cynthia, it’s time to repay the favor. You promised to give me your life.”

 

He wasn’t some misunderstood, redeemable type—just a plain bastard exploiting Cynthia’s weakness.

 

According to Cynthia’s remaining memories, she had committed an accidental murder at the age of seventeen.

 

She had a drunk, gambling man who called himself her father and regularly abused her. One day, while resisting, she pushed him, and he hit his head and crossed the River Styx.

 

Carlos discovered this by chance and covered up the murder. Touched by his help, Cynthia offered not only her life but also her heart to him.

 

Thus began an even more toxic relationship of exploitation.

 

“Just how long do I have to keep repaying this debt…

 

I muttered with annoyance.

 

For reference: debts involving weakness or love can only be paid off until death.

 

Either the debtor or the collector must die.

 

“This will be the last time, Cynthia”

 

Carlos, this love-debt collector no better than her abusive father, continued slowly.

 

“Two marriage proposals have come for our family.”

 

“Are they by any chance for the Young Master and Lady Helene?”

 

I excluded the second son, Edford.

 

He neither inherited the Count’s beauty nor had any ability, so he wasn’t qualified to receive any proposals.

 

“No. Both were sent by the man. Since our family only has one daughter, normally we’d have to choose one…”

 

He gently grasped my fingers and smiled.

 

“But both offers are extraordinary. After all, we are the last remaining royal bloodline.”

 

The late Countess, who died decades ago, had been a princess of the now-fallen Bariesa royal family.

 

The revolution wiped out the royal bloodline, but before that, she had eloped with the Count, leaving descendants with royal lineage.

 

Carlos continued.

 

“You will become the Queensguard family’s daughter and marry the remaining one.”

 

He was forcing the woman who devoted her life to him to marry another man. How could he?

 

“Is he handsome? I would like to see his face.”

 

If he were good-looking, he’d probably be the male lead.

 

Having read countless romance novels, my theory that the male protagonist would be the ‘Northern Grand Duke’ was wrong (the Northern Grand Duke turned out to be 95 years old), but the plot resembled the web novel <I Was a Fake Bride but Became the Real One.> that I briefly skimmed and then stopped reading.

 

In that story, the male lead eventually learns the female lead’s secret identity but pretends not to know for fear she’ll run away. A cute and sweet rom-com.

 

Watching me lost in thought, Carlos frowned slightly.

 

“You’ve been acting strange lately. Anyway, once you inherit that man’s fortune, you can spend the rest of your life with me. Just endure a bit longer.”

 

Seriously?

 

“Ah, yes!”

 

I gave a half-hearted affirmative response.

 

Since the story will unfold after finding the male protagonist, I have no choice but to take the chance.

 

Having heard such an outrageous offer, the only options were to die or live and find a way out.

 

Besides, I was pretty lucky.

 

Though I had a bad ending in my previous life, here I was, starting again inside a story that seemed to promise healing and happiness. Isn’t that lucky?

 

I decided to trust my luck.

 

Even if it wasn’t great when it came to gambling or lotteries.

 

* * *

 

The first person to come up with the fraud marriage plot was none other than Carlos’ father, the Count Queensguard.

 

He spoke to Cynthia, “This is a golden opportunity to rise in status and enjoy wealth and glory.”

 

This estate was far from the capital.

 

The Count’s children were kept out of society for safety, and their identities were mostly unknown. All they had to do was keep their servants quiet.

 

Looking Cynthia up and down, noting her rare features, the Count spoke again. “If anyone gets suspicious, I’ll handle it. Just say you lost your memory in an accident when you were young.”

 

“I actually don’t have any childhood memories..”

 

Three months since I’d possessed this body, only fragments of the original owner’s memories remained.

 

The Count clicked his tongue and changed the subject.

 

“Your husband is a war hero of the Republic and an incredibly wealthy man. He’s also the best groom.”

 

Then Cynthia asked. “Why are you sending me to the best groom instead of Lady Helene?”

 

Helene was his biological daughter and Carlos’s younger sister.

 

It was a sharp question, but in the Count’s mind, Cynthia wasn’t the smart type.

 

“Helene is going to marry the duke.”

 

“Why?”

 

“You wouldn’t be able to learn the high-level etiquette that befits the Duke’s family. It’s not something that can be accomplished with just a few days of training.”

 

He didn’t mention the ominous rumor that the groom, Brigadier General Vicente, was a bloodthirsty madman.

 

He didn’t mention the ominous rumor that Brigadier General Vicente was a brutal, lunatic murderer.

 

‘No matter how rich he is, he can’t send his daughter to a monster like that. Especially one from such a poor background.’

 

Still, the Count couldn’t reject the marriage proposal.

 

After the war, the industrial revolution sparked explosive economic growth. The marriage market became a battleground between wealthy capitalists and fallen aristocrats with only bloodlines to offer.

 

Thus, even the disgraced blood of the Bariesa royal family held newfound value.

 

So the value of the ‘Barriesa royal bloodline’ that had fallen in disgrace was bound to rise.

 

‘The last descendant of royalty, isn’t that the best thing in the bloodline market? No wonder a capitalist general and a duke’s family are fighting over her.’

 

Judging by the enormous conditions they offered, it was clear that he was gambling in the possibility of the monarchy’s revival in the future.

 

The Count couldn’t let go of this golden opportunity.

 

Cynthia, the foolish girl who would do anything Carlos said, was the perfect fit.

 

In addition, like the mythologized royals of the past, she had a distinctive, otherworldly appearance.

 

“But this is a fraudulent marriage, right?”

 

In response to Cynthia’s question, the Count rummaged through his coat pockets.

 

“If no one finds out, it becomes the truth.”

 

He handed her a red diamond necklace. It resembled her eye color.

 

“It belonged to my wife. A royal heirloom. With this, no one will suspect a thing.”

 

It was valuable, but he’d get it back soon enough.

 

“Just keep your mouth shut. If the truth gets out, you’re the one who’ll die.”

 

‘Not that you’ll live long enough to worry about that.’ He smiled thinly, hiding his thoughts.

 

Cynthia, holding the necklace, also smiled faintly.

 

‘I’m betting my life that this is a rom-com full of healing and happiness.’

 

She had no idea this world was actually a notorious tragedy with a double-suicide ending.

 

Cynthia had no idea that this place was a notorious wasteland with a ‘mutual suicide ending.’

 

It was not a healing story, but a deadly toxic one.