CH 2

I read the message twice from the beginning until the end with my mouth wide open.

The author’s reply was like this…

[ It’s not that I forgot, it was planned from the beginning. The reason Archen didn’t appear in the middle was because he died. Have a nice day. ^^ ]

…Was it planned?

And what, death…?

After some time, I eventually calmed down and snapped my fingers in frustration after some time. As I pressed the reply button and wrote with the speed of light, my last string of reasoning had been snapped a while ago.

[ Author, I’m the person who the last message.

I can’t help but reply because it’s so absurd. How could you do that? You didn’t plan to include Archen in the epilogue…? Does it make sense to mention characters with only one line and those with minor roles but leave out Archen, who was a major supporting actor?

Besides, he’s dead? I’m dying of sadness right here, how could you kill him? Why would you do that…?

If you planned his death, you should have mentioned how he died in the novel. As an author, don’t you have any affection for the character you created? It’s not okay to treat him like an unwanted character. Although there are only a few readers who like Archen, there are still a few who like him. ]

Needless to say, the protest I wrote was filled with question marks.

However, after pressing the send button, my monitor turned off and my vision became dark. When I woke up again, I already possessed Carinne’s body. I kept staring at the beautiful woman in the mirror, and there was only one thought that came to mind the moment I realized I possessed her.

‘I have to save my favorite character…!’

I had to save Archen, who was killed by an irresponsible author, no matter what, and see him walking around alive until we reach the end of the story.

However, apart from my will to save Archen, there was one big problem: I had no idea how he died. Wouldn’t I have to know how he died to find a way to save him?

‘Ah, wait.’

A paragraph from the original story went through my head out of the blue.

[ …The flowers were in full bloom.

Thinking the scene was so beautiful, Archen laughed bitterly. Was it because the flowers blooming with vitality contradicted his situation? Still, it was something he had to accept and something he needed to handle alone. He had no intention of telling anyone the secret until the last moment… unless it was his life partner. ]

It was Archen’s monologue when he followed the Duke and the female lead at a festival.

Since then, he did not appear so it could be said that he disappeared from the story after that. I didn’t pay much attention to it because I thought the author had forgotten him, but when I looked back at it now, I couldn’t help but question it.

Aside from the grief felt in each word, the word ‘last moment’ came from a certain context.

What was the secret that must be kept until the last moment? I sensed that the secret was deeply related to Archen’s death. Having read the original story until the end, I may be able to save him if I had known the details.

And, to find out the secret…

I couldn’t help it…

…Well, it was not that I didn’t really like it either.

Nonetheless, I had to be Archen’s life partner. What could I do if he didn’t want to tell the secret unless I became his life partner? I couldn’t suddenly visit him and ask him what the secret was, and the information was limited if I just kept guessing how he died.

Therefore, I came to the conclusion that to save Archen, I had to make him my own. It wasn’t so bad, and it was a conclusion that I liked.

…Actually, I like him very much.

Anyway, that was why I came running to the Duke’s residence.

I also had a hidden desire to simply see my favorite character’s face. Deep in my heart, there was an intention to meet Archen and curry favors with him, and thus take the first step to become a life partner.

Back to reality, I remembered again why I came here. The nervousness that made my heart pound suddenly turned into a fighting spirit and was on fire.

‘I’ll make this man mine someday.’

Oh, of course, I had to find out his secret to save him.

I gazed up and could see Archen’s exhaustion from waiting after I finished organizing my thoughts.

‘What was the question again? Ah. Duke Lucas wasn’t here, so what brought me here?’

Soon after, my loud voice came out as I finished deciding.

“Archen, I’m here to see you.”

* * *

The reality was different from Carinne’s expectations.

‘Was it too abrupt…?’

Ah, but it was already too late to regret. Archen’s face was stiff as he sighed again and swept his bangs with one hand as if he was frustrated.

Carinne realized one thing after seeing the tiredness from his jewel-like blue eyes.

…She chose the wrong option.

“The Duke will not return until evening. Is that okay with you?”

He gave her a cold reaction.

It was clear that he thought she was lying to enter the mansion. Even though it was unfair, it was inevitable because she possessed Carinne’s body, not anyone else so it was natural for Archen to misunderstand.

“I don’t mind.”

A person’s impression wouldn’t last forever, so she could just do well from now on.

Carinne answered calmly.

“All right. Come on in.”

As he opened the door, Carinne stared with a look of anticipation. The mansion was large and had a complicated structure, so people would get lost if not guided.

She walked quietly after Archen.

His straight blond hair fluttered every time he moved. Although she wanted to touch it once, she endured it with extreme patience. One day, she’d make this man her own and touch it as much as she wanted.

As she walked with her insidious innermost thoughts, she reached a hall. A sofa and glass table were placed in the room.

“You can wait here.”

Archen confirmed that Carinne was sitting on the sofa, turned around and tried to leave as if he had nothing more to do.

‘B-but, it hasn’t been long since we met…!’

If he went away like this, it would be useless to come this far. Thinking so, Carinne called him urgently.

“Wait, wait!”

“What can I do for you?”

“Ahaha… that’s…”

After all, she didn’t come here just to see the Duke’s mansion. Meanwhile, as she smiled awkwardly to buy time, he was still expressionless. What would be a good topic? For a moment, Carinne tried to recall the original story.

“I heard you’re a mage, right?”

Mage, scholar, librarian, chancellor, aide… this was a list of occupations that made Carinne’s heart beat, and Archen was two of them.

A mage and an aide.

It was considered very rare. Her eyes twinkled as she waited for an answer, and he answered reluctantly.

“…Yes.”

She thought she had asked something too obvious.

Even though his reaction hurt her, it had already been done. She just needed to continue the conversation somehow. Fortunately, since she had read the original story so many times that she knew the settings related to Archen, she had a lot to talk about.

‘What should I say first?’

Carinne, who was worried, decided to praise him first. No one hated compliments, and she knew that much about him.

“I heard you’re very talented. You graduated at the top of your class. I’m sure you…”

She glanced at his reaction after talking until there, but there was not even a movement on his expressionless face.

Was it because he was embarrassed?

However, it was Carinne herself who somehow became embarrassed after praising him. It became difficult to see his face, so she turned her head while twisting her hair.

“…I wish I had an aide like you. I’m not jealous of anything else from Duke Lucas, but I’m jealous of that one thing.”

Perhaps because she was happy to talk to him, she had a hard time keeping her expression straight as the corners of her mouth kept going up. Carinne was afraid that she would look strange if she smiled for no reason, so she strengthened her facial muscles and barely held back her smile.

There must be a reaction now. Several expected answers passed through her head.

‘I’m flattered, I’m embarrassed, and so on.’

While she tried hard to listen, there was no answer. There was only an awkward silence for a moment.

‘Oh, no…’

When Carinne scratched her head awkwardly, he uttered in a low voice.

“This won’t change anything.”

Huh? What was he talking about?

Carinne raised her head, seeing the unexpected reaction. His extremely cold blue eyes made her feel somewhat chilly. She had a bad feeling about this.

“Our relationship won’t affect the Duke and Princess’ relationship.”

‘What does that mean?’

Carinne sat awkwardly, musing over what Archen had said, and her face crumpled when she realized the meaning of the words. Archen said it in a good way, but it was more direct than she expected. What he meant was, ‘Do you want to get close to me to get the Duke? Dream on.’

Still, that was not it. Carinne shook her hand in a hurry.

“No, that’s not that…”

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

It was too late.

His eyes were on her as he left while the thin thread of his blonde hair fluttered lightly. After greeting her with his salute, it seemed that Archen would leave the drawing room and would not return until Duke Lucas arrived.

They couldn’t end their first meeting like this. At least he should give her a chance to make up for her failed first impression…!

As she thought that, Carinne decided that she had to talk to him and catch him. She tried hard to think, but she couldn’t think of a way. So just as he was about to turn around, she shouted randomly as something came to mind in a hurry.

“I don’t like the Duke!”

Oh, she failed to control her tone.

As the cry echoed through the hall, her cheeks were a little hot but the effect was certain. Archen stopped his steps as he was about to go out and glanced back at Carinne. There was a look of wonder in his eyes.

She needed to say something now.

At that moment, all kinds of thoughts swirled in her head, but as it turned out, there was no need to do that.

He uttered, frowning with a bewildered expression.

“Then, you’re saying you like me?”