Chapter 24
Now what am I really supposed to do?
Ugh, this is seriously driving me crazy!
So, Leoni—who’s supposed to fall in love with the original male lead, Jaelak—is head over heels for Adrian instead…
And Jaelak, for some absurd reason, is obsessed with me?
If that were all, it wouldn’t be worth worrying over this much.
But if I don’t live this life properly, I’ll vanish, and Leoni will also be miserable.
Being trapped in a novel and then disappearing is bad enough, but I can’t stand the idea of that sweet girl becoming unhappy because of me.
There’s only one answer: I have to set things right.
I need to turn Leoni’s heart back to Jaelak and redirect Jaelak’s gaze toward her.
Neither Adrian nor Jaelak are easy to handle.
Still, the sooner I deal with this mess, the better.
As I stepped down from the carriage, I resolved to push Jaelak away.
First, I needed to cut off this ambiguous connection between us. Only then could he end up with Leoni—or not.
But how?
“Young Lady, is something troubling you?”
Perhaps it was because I’d been sitting with a sullen expression, but Ecla asked me with concern.
I felt like pouring out everything on my mind, but even if I tried to explain, there’s no way she’d understand!
“Well, Ecla, it’s just…”
“Yes?”
Still, I decided to twist the story a bit and give it a try.
Surely that’s better than worrying about it all on my own?
“This isn’t about me. I just… heard this story.”
“Okay.”
“There’s a man and a woman who are fated to love each other, no matter what.”
“Why must they love each other though?”
Ah, now how do I explain this?
“I-It’s fate. Like… it was decided from the moment they were born.”
“Oh, I see. And then?”
“But the woman has a childhood friend she grew up close to. And by some accident… that friend ends up entangled with the man of her destiny.”
“Entangled how?”
How should I put this?
“Well, let’s say he piqued her curiosity?”
“Ah, I get it.”
“So the two destined lovers get separated.”
“Oh my…”
“But that’s not the only issue. Ever since the woman couldn’t be with her fated partner, she keeps facing misfortunes. And they’re getting worse.”
“Oh no, that’s awful!”
“Right? It is awful, isn’t it?”
“Yes! So then what?”
Ecla looked at me with bright, eager eyes and then added,
“Honestly, that friend was really in the wrong. How could she do that? That’s so selfish!”
Don’t make that face, Ecla.
That ‘selfish friend’… is me.
“She must’ve approached the fated man on purpose, right? I bet he’s a perfect gentleman—handsome and flawless?”
Well, yes, but I definitely didn’t do it on purpose!
“It wasn’t intentional—it was more like an accident.”
“An accident?”
Wow, Ecla has a stubborn side.
“Yeah, it was just an unbelievable string of coincidences that led the friend to meet him first.”
“Oh, I see. But still, that kind of coincidence doesn’t happen easily.”
She thought about it for a moment, then said,
“But even a string of coincidences could be fate.”
“…”
Even coincidences could be fate.
I knew it was just a casual comment, but for some reason, it tugged at my heart.
“No, between them, it really was just a coincidence. But given the current situation… what should happen next?”
“What else? If misfortune keeps coming, then they obviously need to separate.”
Ecla, now completely immersed in the story, raised her voice in frustration.
“You said it’s fate, right? Fate can’t be defied. Those two were meant to be together no matter what.”
“Right?”
“Exactly!”
“You’re right… That is the right thing to do.”
“Don’t tell me the friend is refusing to back off?”
“No, it’s not that. If anything, the one holding on… is the man.”
“Oh my goodness.”
“What should be done in that case?”
Ecla thought for a moment, then firmly declared,
“Still, they’re friends, aren’t they? No matter what, the friend has to push him away. She needs to return him to his fated partner. That’s what fate means—something that can’t be torn apart by anyone.”
I had already made up my mind, but I slowly nodded.
Ecla was right.
From now on, I need to be more decisive.
Just then, Ecla leaned in close and asked,
“But, Young Lady… who is this about? This story is so interesting!”
“It’s nothing… Just a novel.”
“What novel? I’m dying to know how it ends!”
“I… don’t even know the title.”
Yeah… I’m dying to know how this story ends too.
We were just passing through the square near the fountain when Ecla suddenly clapped her hands as if she remembered something.
“Oh, right, Young Lady!”
“Hmm?”
“I totally forgot! It came to mind just now.”
“What is it?”
“It’s from Elrome. Apparently this play is so famous right now that everyone’s seen it!”
She handed me a ticket.
“One of the actors in the play is an old friend of Elrome’s.”
“Elrome really seems to know everyone, huh?”
“Why don’t we go see it? It’s just right up ahead—perfect chance to clear your mind.”
I was a bit tired from running around since morning. I wanted to go home and rest, but… a play did sound fun.
And more than anything, Ecla looked really excited about it.
“Shall we?”
“Yes! Let’s go together!”
“Alright, sounds good.”
Ecla balled her fists and looked positively thrilled.
We got out of the carriage and headed straight to the round theater.
“So there’s a place like this here.”
I looked up at the arched rooftop, where blue sky and brick alternated in view. The sun was warm, and the breeze was just right.
It was the first time in a while I’d really looked at the sky, always so preoccupied and anxious until now.
“Ecla.”
“Yes, Young Lady?”
“I think it was a good idea to come. It’s lovely.”
The round theater was surrounded by a small garden and privet hedges. It was grand and magnificent—like something straight out of a history book—with stone busts placed all around for added charm.
“Right? I’m so glad you like it!”
We walked for a while and entered the theater. The place was bustling with people there to see the show and merchants shouting over each other, but even that chaotic energy was fun.
“Ecla, do you know what the play’s about?”
“Elrome explained it, but I forgot. I think it’s a love story between a duke and a marquis’s daughter.”
A love story between a duke and a marquis’s daughter?
I suddenly felt parched and cleared my throat awkwardly.
“Oh my, Young Lady. What was that?”
Ecla squinted at me and gave me a gentle nudge with her elbow.
“What?”
“You were thinking about His Grace the Duke just now, weren’t you?”
“What? No, I wasn’t!”
“Sounds like you were.”
“I said no! Why would I think about the duke?”
But Ecla only smiled playfully in response.
“How about sitting over there? That seat looks good.”
I pointed toward an open seat, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.
“Yes, perfect.”
As we settled in, Ecla spoke up.
“Young Lady, I’ll go grab a pamphlet.”
“Sure.”
Even if this was a spontaneous decision, I should at least know the plot.
Maybe because it was my first time experiencing culture in this world, I felt a little flutter of excitement.
Part of me wondered whether it was okay to be enjoying this moment, but…
Anyway, as I watched the cheerful Ecla walk away—
“Mind if I sit here?”
“Yes, of course…”
A familiar voice interrupted, and when I turned my head, I saw a man I recognized.
Jaelak Cygnus.
