
Why are people shocked that the sacrificial bride became duchess? I thought it was well known that the Duke was marrying the sacrificial bride, and that's why the MC applied for the role...

Let me try to answer this.
Apparently, the “sacrificial bride,” as the name suggest, is a shunned and unwanted position. This exist only to “appease” their god so that the so-called bizarre phenomena can be prevented to happen in the empire (not sure what’s not but most likely bad). For some reason, the oracle said that “house Gartt” must be the house to marry this sacrificial bride for the empire - almost like a requirement. Also, those who apply for it is just known to be only after the hefty reward that comes with the title. To start with, Valia, though a noblewoman, was just a country bumpkin who was raised by a mercenary - so not “noble enough.” But after many events, they got promoted to “duke/duchess” while her title was kept hidden for protection. So now that it was revealed, it shook them because of her “low breed” yet having the highest noble position just below the royalty.
Hope that helps. It’s beeeeen a while since I read this and there’s like a million and one other manga that almost has the same story.

Not a fan of the ML. Feels shitty that she did all that work to help his territory and he doesn't honor the deal, even if she made the deal with his father and not him. Instead he forces her to renegotiate to get what she already deserves for the work she already did. Making her be his fake lover feels kinda sleazy, and I'm not feeling any chemistry between them.
Imagine you're working for someone and then there's a change in management. The new boss says "you're not getting paid for your work unless you pretend to be my mistress now. No, you don't get any new bonuses for this weird request, you just get paid what you're already owed." Nahhhhh
Also why did she agree when she's supposed to be laying low in hiding???

"I never thought Freya would help me"
Boooooo they changed it from the novel. I loved this scene in the novel because she actually intentionally let Freya see her getting dragged away since she knew Freya was a little bitch who would go get everyone with the intention of exposing her "relationship" with her brother to Izek and co.

Well, you're right too. I read the novel and I know what actually happened. Maybe it's because her expression was lacking. Though, it's kinda obvious what ruby meant. She knows what kind of a person freya is that's why she was thankful that freya acted the way she expects her to knowing how shitty her personality is. And that's how freya was able to "help" her. it wasn't a genuine one or something...
Fake news. If the PD was really a chronic weed smoker, he'd be way more chill.
LMAO