Chapter 55
The patient denied it hysterically, thrashing about. Whatever. "Readers imagine themselves as the novel's protagonist. That's the charm of novels. But if the novel is reality, that would make the author a creator god who built the world... Do you think you're the god, the author of this novel?"
"......"
"You got drunk on the joy of becoming a beautiful protagonist and turned your back on basic common sense. Date men in reality."
"Who the hell are you to butt in!"
"I heard it from the lady who wipes her grown daughter's ass and pulls her wheelchair?"
That's why I couldn't say anything nice to this patient. It was her ignorant attitude—utterly oblivious to her parents' love and sacrifice, fixated only on romancing handsome guys. Even an uneducated beast wouldn't be this selfish.
"A-ass...?"
"If she can't do it herself, someone else has to. Isn't that obvious?"
"......"
Shame surged through the patient, and she covered her flushed face with her palms.
"You're not the beautiful lady of a count's family. You're wearing adult diapers—"
"Stop! Please stop! I get it, just stop talking...!"
"...Fine."
Was it because life in this novel world was no longer happy? Unlike Magic Boy Choi Kang-min, Kim Eun-jeong—now the count's youngest daughter—didn't plug her ears and deny it blindly.
But still, she wasn't waking up.
I wasn't disappointed, though. If a little prodding like this could wake her, things wouldn't have escalated this far. Now the real work began.
"Miss Kim Eun-jeong. Every man who loved you met a tragic end. The emperor was castrated and became a laughingstock. The prince was dethroned. Baron Pimaang died on the battlefield. Oh! And one even became the lady's pet."
Currently enduring treatment worse than a beast's as payment for breaking off the engagement!
Excluding the desert kingdom's prince, whom I'd personally persuaded at the orphanage in Chimac County, they all met miserable fates.
"I don't want to hear it."
"Aren't you curious about your future as the empress of a fallen empire?"
"That's bullshit! I didn't marry the emperor...!"
"But people don't think that way. They believe you clouded the wise emperor's judgment, leading to the empire's downfall."
The real cause was the naval battle they should have crushed—losing repeatedly without inflicting a single casualty. But the original novel's setup had the emperor as "beloved by the people," so all the blame fell on the protagonist! What a shame.
"That's so unfair..."
"Originally, they planned to skin you alive and hang you at the capital's gates."
I toned it down for the patient's mental health. The original plan was far more inhumane and cruel.
"Save me!"
"Don't worry. The emperor bargained for your safety to stabilize the empire, so it didn't happen."
"Th-that's a relief..."
"But it's still bad. You've been sentenced to lifelong service at the orphanage. No dating, no marriage. That's the castrated emperor's wish."
"......"
I toned this down for her mental health too. As if she'd only serve at the orphanage? Better she didn't know.
"Miss Kim Eun-jeong. Do you still want to live as Anjilina Chimac?"
"...Help me."
"I don't have that power."
I could guide her out of the sweet dream, but the choice was hers.
"Liar! You have mysterious powers like that woman!"
"...By any chance, was she wearing a black pointed hat?"
"Yes!"
"......"
That explained how she whisked from the kingdom to the empire in an instant. A witch's intervention.
"Send me to a safe country! I'll even become your wife if you want!"
"...Miss Kim Eun-jeong. There's no safe country for you in this world. Let go of your attachments and accept reality."
"No...!"
"I've said all I need to. Think it over slowly while you serve."
"I'd rather die...!"
"Then die. Stop tormenting your parents."
"......"
Irritation exploded, and I spat venom before turning away.
* * *
"Lord Molrang Count. May I ask a question?"
Knight Valentine, who had stayed silent the whole way to my bedroom—the second most opulent in the imperial palace—finally spoke. Her lips, held back so long, parted, and she fixed me with an intense gaze.
She really held out a long time.
I applauded her patience and professionalism as my escort. I nodded.
"Of course. Just not too many."
"Are you leaving for another world?"
"Yes."
I was impressed by Knight Valentine's insight, piecing it together from snippets she'd overheard. Maybe it stood out more compared to the stubborn patient refusing reality.
"Can I come with you?"
"No."
"......"
"Don't misunderstand. It's not because I dislike you, Knight Valentine. It's impossible."
The two were entirely different.
"I know. I know you don't dislike me, Lord Molrang Count."
"Thanks for understanding."
I wondered how she knew, but the mood wasn't right to ask, so I stayed quiet.
"When do you leave?"
"Around when Anjilina Chimac wants to die."
"Not many days left, then."
"Yeah."
"......"
"......"
A flood of emotions hit me at the thought of parting from this beautiful knight who'd shared big and small moments with me.
If this were reality... Damn! What an idiot...
A bitter smile crept up at my own hypocrisy—after needling the patient, here I was, lingering on this novel world.
"Last question."
"Go ahead."
"Can I call you oppa?"
"......"
I stared at an irresistible demon.
* * *
Kim Eun-jeong was just an ordinary woman who loved romance fantasy novels. Her mental fortitude wasn't strong.
Proof? She abandoned the protagonist's life after just one day of public trial and forced service.
As evidence, "...What a shitty feeling."
After spending dreamlike time with Valentine, I was ruthlessly yanked back to cold reality.
The furniture and appliances—clean, plastic-finished designs—weren't as luxurious as my imperial bedroom, but they reminded me my mind was back in the hotel room.
Valentine...
Her final image—clinging to my fading form, sobbing uncontrollably—lingered in my head.
"Hm..."
A call device lightly gripped in my right hand, as if meant to summon her the moment I woke.
Squeeze.
Soon after pressing the red button, Section Chief Seo Hye-ju unlocked and entered the room.
"You woke up early."
"Section Chief. How long was I out?"
"It's been 14 days as of today."
"Feels short."
Toppling two love-crazed nations and building a vast empire had taken no small time. And only 14 days? Bizarre, but I wasn't complaining.
Lucky.
Muscle atrophy would mean grueling rehab. Waking sooner was nothing but good.
"Urgh...!"
The moment I tried sitting up, my unused muscles screamed in agony.
Gurgle!
My IV-dependent body wailed with hunger too...
"Hold on. There's porridge in the fridge."
Section Chief Seo Hye-ju warmed some in the microwave and handed it over.
"Thanks."
"Did everything go well?"
"Yeah. She clung to her delusions until the very end, so it was rough. And there was unexpected interference."
"Interference?"
"Yeah. A witch smuggled the cornered patient to the empire."
If Prince hadn't caught Kim Eun-jeong and she'd escaped, we could've wrapped it up without going that far. Navigation, naval battles, sea gods, conquest, counts... and Valentine. Experiences I hadn't anticipated when planning with Section Chief Seo Hye-ju.
"A witch... The one from Choi Kang-min's dream?"
"Exactly."
Vrrr—
Then her pocket buzzed—smartphone vibrating.
"Hello—"
(Teacher! Eun-jeong spoke! Thank God! I thought we'd lost her...!)
The aunt's excited voice blared from the phone. The patient's mind had returned to reality, just like mine.
"I'll head there soon."
(Thank you, teacher! Thank you so much!)
"Thank Kang Moon-soo, not me. I just assisted."
(Okay!)
Click.
Ending the call, Section Chief Seo Hye-ju gave me a wry smile.
"Kang Moon-soo. How's it feel to save a family?"
"Just... numb."
"Hmm~ You look like a male who failed to mate. What happened in the dream?"
"That obvious?"
"Very."
I shot a glare at her mischievous grin.
"Not checking on the patient?"
"Listening first."
"I had a knight who taught me swordsmanship."
"A novel character?"
"Yeah. You'd remember the name, Section Chief. Valentine. The woman who cheated with the protagonist's fiancée..."
"Must've been a stunning beauty, then."
"Yes."
"Prettier than Miss Song Seon-yeong?"
"......"
No-win either way, so I dodged her gaze.
"Well?"
"Pleading the fifth."
"Be honest. My lips are sealed."
"Still no."
"Tsk."
She backed off easily, though disappointed.
"...Different aftermath from Choi Kang-min's case. You're wrecked."
Empty.
"Sounds like you had a lot of good times in there."
"I'll tell you later."
"Looking forward to it."
"Go tend to the patient now. Leave me be. She got villainized at the end—real suffering."
"I can imagine. Romance and adultery are a thin line."
"..."
Easy for her to say, ignorant of medieval brutality.
"Rest up."
"Yeah."
After she left, I finished the now-cold porridge and sank into the sofa.
"......"
A gaping hole in my chest. Valentine's absence—always by my side under escort pretense—hit hard.
It's a novel. A dream.
Sorting my turbulent heart, I gazed at the exotic view outside. Tourists, poles, smartphones, asphalt, concrete, cars... My medieval-attuned senses slowly readjusted to modern life.
Ding-dong!
As I recovered bit by bit, the doorbell snapped my attention.
"Who is it?"
"Open the damn door!"
"Huh?"
A very familiar girl's voice made me flinch.
"Hurry up!"
"Um... Why are you mad?"
I asked cautiously at the door.
"What? Quit yapping and open it!"
No dice.
"Okay."
Click—
The lock disengaged, and my guest flung the door wide.
"Hey!"
"Hi— Aack?!"
Thwack! A shin kick sent me screaming to the floor.
"You deserve more! What? 'Absolutely no moving'?"
"S-Song Seon-yeong...?"
"Want another? Say it right!"
"...Seon-yeong-ah?"
"Missed you♪"
More vibrant than at our Elmolrans Hospital farewell, she beamed before me.
Why is Song Seon-yeong here?!
Her long legs—responsible for my bruised shin—teased from under a short blue dress.
"Eyes up here!"
"Ahem."
Blame her for my wandering gaze.
"How's the body?"
"Uh... Shin aside, good."
"Good to hear!"
Striding in, she crossed her legs on the sofa.
"Nice seeing you after so long, but how'd you get here?"
"Why? Can't I come?"
"Not what I meant."
Her prickly side was unchanged.
"Shooting."
"Shooting?"
"I'm a swimsuit model now. Wearing it too. Wanna see?"
"No."
"...Look."
"Okay."
Reunited Song Seon-yeong looked blissfully happy.