sickly chapter 1

Prologue

It was about three years ago that I suddenly realized I was an extra in a game.

[NPC ‘Catherine Haith’ has logged in.]

[Ending Quest – Catherine Haith: Achieve a happy ending with a love interest.]

[The game will not end until you have achieved at least one happy ending.]

[Failure to complete the game will result in your marriage to your fiancé, Oswin Lyndon.]

[Would you like to begin the game?]

That was the day those strange status windows first appeared before my eyes.

This world, it turned out, was a reverse harem game with the childishly cringey title, My Husband Hunt at Heart-Pounding Academy. And I, Catherine Haith, was the younger sister of one of the love interests.

A harmonious family, an endless supply of money, and a rather lovely face. I was quite content with my lot in life, save for two small problems.

First, I was chronically ill.

Second, thanks to my cheating, garbage fiancé, I was plagued by rumors in high society.

And now, what was this? If I didn’t get a so-called happy ending, I’d have to marry a man like that? It was utter nonsense.

Thinking it was all a ridiculous joke, I chose not to participate in the game and ignored it. But perhaps because of that, three years have passed, and I still haven’t been able to break off my engagement.

My fiancé, Oswin Lyndon. His other nickname was ‘a man like the wind.’ Why? Because he cheated as regularly as he breathed.

This time was no different.

My maids, having heard from somewhere that Oswin was at it again, spoke with pale faces.

“Lady Catherine, please don’t worry. I’m sure it’s just a groundless rumor this time.”

“That’s right! Lord Oswin will surely come to see you at once!” they said, their voices chattering away as they brushed my hair, trying their best to lift my spirits as I sat on the comfortable sofa.

But there was one thing my maids had overlooked. I despised my fiancé, so I couldn’t care less.

We were politically engaged three years ago, but there was no love between us.

No, it wasn’t a matter of love—we hated each other. Vehemently.

My reasons for disliking Oswin Lyndon were simple.

He was a man of above-average looks from a respectable family, but his personality was absolute trash.

And so, crunching on a cookie from the box, I opened my mouth to speak.

“Again? He does this all the time. I doubt it’s a rumor.”

“Pardon? Oh, but…”

Their hands paused, flustered. I continued.

“I’m truly not bothered, so don’t worry about it. Ah, but if this rumor has already spread, high society will be tearing me to shreds again. How tiresome.”

Whenever my fiancé, Oswin Lyndon, flirted with various young ladies and created some sordid rumor, the blame somehow always landed on me.

It was so unfair.

Everyone pitied me, seeing me as a poor, abandoned woman. Some even seemed to think the problem lay with me.

The thought of going through that again made me lose my appetite.

I slammed the cookie box back down on the table and hardened my resolve once more.

“I’m going to break off the engagement.”

“You—you are?!”

It was the only way to survive. But there was one problem.

“…But is it that easy to call it off?”

It had already been three years—three whole years! No matter how hard I tried to break things off with Oswin, the engagement remained intact. The chilling reality of it made me want to tear my hair out, and just then, a choice window appeared before me with a soft chime.

[Are you sure you do not wish to start the game?]

The window had appeared daily for the past three years, as if desperate for me to play. At this point, I’d almost feel lonely without it.

…Could it be? If I start the game, will I really be able to avoid marrying Oswin?

For three years I had dismissed it as nonsense, but this reality of being Oswin’s fiancée was even more unbelievable.

Gulp.

I swallowed hard, my eyes fixed on the ‘Yes’ option.