AEPOB 00

Prologue 00

The border zone of the Holy Duchy adjacent to the Empire.

*Dum. Doodum. Doodum. Dum-dum.*

The drumming of the imperial army, which had been audible as soon as we reached near the fortress wall, grew louder and more intense the closer we got to the main gate.

Finally, we arrived at our destination.

As I stepped down from the carriage, the firmly shut gate greeted me.

Beyond the gate, the imperial forces would be arrayed, waiting for me to come out from within.

I raised my head and saw the scorch marks left on the towering white citadel.

*’These must have appeared after Killian declared war on the Duchy.’*

The war hadn’t fully begun yet; occasionally, a few low-yield shells would fly over.

But if I stayed holed up in the Duchy like this, how far would things escalate?

So, even if I failed the mission I so desperately hoped would succeed, or even if I faced danger…

*’I have to negotiate with Killian myself.’*

The empty carriage I had just disembarked from passed between the rows of Holy Knights standing at attention on either side.

As the swirling dust settled, countless gazes focused on me all at once.

They had every right to resent me, the one who had caused this current standoff.

Yet, the looks in the Holy Knights’ eyes held only goodwill, making me feel guilty.

At last, the massive iron gate that firmly guarded the Duchy began to open.

*Kreeeak—*

Through the gap revealed by the heavy groaning sound, I could see the densely packed imperial army.

In that instant, the flag bearing the empire’s emblem—the golden lion—seemed to send me a chilling warning.

It was as if it were saying that if I continued to stay in the Duchy, this place would be crushed just like the other nations that had fallen before the empire’s lion.

Arête, beside me, cast a worried glance my way.

In response, I forced a smile as if to say I was fine. In truth, my hand holding my dress was trembling so badly it kept slipping.

I just didn’t show it.

With a nod, I finished my silent farewell to Arête. I stepped through the narrowly opened iron gate.

The moment I stepped outside, the drumming that had been echoing all along ceased.

In an instant, the imperial soldiers surrounded me.

Just as the smell of gunpowder grew stronger at the tip of my nose, the soldiers encircling me parted into two groups.

Through the gap, a man riding a black horse appeared.

I recognized him at once, just by seeing his black hair, wildly tossed by the wind, and his deep purple eyes.

He was my childhood friend who had even declared war on the Duchy just to find me.

Killian dismounted and strode towards me.

One step, two steps.

His long legs closed the distance in an instant. Soon, he was close enough to touch with an outstretched hand.

Before I knew it, my reflection filled his pupils completely.

Eyes that had been radiating killing intent moments before softened in an instant. A voice, much lower than I remembered, reached my ears.

“I finally found you. Liri, was hide-and-seek fun?”

It had been eight years.

His height, which had shot up in the meantime, and his sturdy frame made me keenly aware that he was no longer a boy, but a man.

His neatly swept-back hair and impeccably tailored navy uniform exuded an even more aristocratic air.

Yet, as if to defy the long years, traces of his former self remained.

Beneath his exposed forehead, his deep violet eyes, high and straight nose, and nicely upturned lips were arranged in order.

The facial features that had been perfectly placed even from childhood had now gained maturity, making him look like a masterpiece of art.

Was this what a siren who bewitched people looked like?

His familiar yet unfamiliar appearance felt somehow dangerous.

“Kiki—no, Killian. Why did you… ugh!”

“Liri, Liri…”

Before I could finish my sentence, he pulled me into a tight embrace.

I couldn’t breathe. But I couldn’t bring myself to voice my discomfort as Killian kept calling my name.

“Liri.”

“Uh, yeah.”

“It’s really you. Since you’re talking and I can touch you, it’s not an illusion.”

His hands, cautiously tracing me as if constantly confirming my existence, felt somehow filled with desperate longing.

*’There’s no way Killian would have searched for me like this.’*

And to try to get me back, even going to war.

His actions were so incomprehensible to me that I was terribly confused.

*Beeeeep— Beeeeep—*

—

**[WARNING!]**

**The direction of the story has deviated from the original!**

—

As if to jolt me back to alertness, the deafening warning sound and the blinking dialogue window flashed before me.

I frowned slightly, recalling the final mission that had been updated last month.

—

**[Mission!]**

**’Preserve the Original Story!’ (D-365)**

**Maintain the original story until the day you reach your 10th year here. If you fail, the ‘Final Reward’ you, the Possessor, have input will not be granted.**

—

The word ‘Original Story’ displayed in the dialogue window.

Anyone seeing this would understand.

Yes. I am a Possessor.

And one with the obligation to preserve the original story.

As a mere extra, I had to avoid any contact with the original male lead, Killian, for the sake of the mission.

That’s why I had tried to distance myself from him.

Because I wanted to use the Final Reward to return to my original world.

“……Liri.”

Killian released me from his embrace. As I emerged from my brief reverie and met his gaze, his expression was unexpectedly flat.

I thought I caught a glimpse of reproach in his eyes, but…

That couldn’t be.

We had only known each other for a year, and I had properly said goodbye to you.

*’It must be my imagination.’*

I shook my head inwardly.

Soon, Killian asked a perplexing question.

“Why didn’t you… wait for me?”

I couldn’t offer any answer.

The rocket necklace I had seen when I was in his arms.

If he had come wearing that, he would have seen my letter telling him not to find me.

Yet, if he was asking me that, I had no choice but to stay silent.

*’Because if I tell you that breaking away from you is the path I want, you’ll be hurt.’*

As I remained silent, a faint crack appeared on his face.

Killian let out a scoff, his voice rising with emotion.

“Hah, what on earth did you, to me…!”

But the rest of his words, which seemed about to burst forth vehemently, disappeared behind his tightly pressed lips.

After a moment, a deep sigh, as if trying to swallow his feelings, escaped between his parted lips again.

Killian sneered.

“……I told you to wait. But seeing you run away right away, I guess my words meant nothing to you.”

“I wrote it in the letter. That I wanted to be independent…”

And not to look for me.

It was a flimsy excuse I’d barely managed to come up with.

Maybe it was because I felt uneasy in this moment, facing him, who had always only shown me harmless smiles.

My voice, growing smaller and smaller, trickled out.

“Hah! Independent?”

Killian looked at me and chuckled, as if amused. Then, throwing his head back, he laughed loudly for a long while.

For an instant, I sensed a hint of madness. I bowed my head, avoiding his gaze.

Eventually, his laughter subsided.

Killian grabbed my chin and lifted it. Forced, I had to meet his eyes.

“Liri, you, who hated even going outside the house?”

“……”

In an instant, Killian saw through my lie. His eyes, deep as an abyss, seemed to see right through me and were about to swallow me whole.

Fear surged through my entire body at his unfamiliar aura. His momentum was chilling, as if he could melt me down to the bone with just his gaze.

“Ah, come to think of it, you acted strange ever since I said I was entering the Duke’s household. Why, did you feel a distance growing between us just because I suddenly became a noble?”

The white hand that had been resting on my chin traced an elegant arc, moving to my hair.

His touch, now as arrogant and bold as his changed status, made my heart pound with terror.

He then tucked my hair behind my ear, ensnaring my gaze.

Every single gesture of his was overflowing with leisure, as if whispering, *’Now you can’t escape from me.’*

“That’s not it. It’s just…!”

“Just that I didn’t meet the criteria for that ‘kind person’ you talked about? Tell me. What was the problem.”

“There is… no problem.”

He had never directly harmed me until now. More than anyone I’d ever met, Killian had been kind to me.

If anything, the problem lay with me. I was someone who had to protect the original story no matter what.

“Then you can just come with me. Right?”

“No. I…”

As I urgently opened my mouth, Killian pulled me into another embrace.

And he whispered softly.

“Say one more word, Abeli. I don’t know what will happen. I’m not in my right mind right now.”

It seemed no matter what I said now, it wouldn’t work. I kept my mouth firmly shut.

*’Ah, really…!’*

Now there was less than a year left!

For me, who was trying to ‘escape’ from this possessed state by completing 10 years here, this development was the absolute worst.

*’Ha… Can I really go back?’*

It seems this extra has pressed the obsession button of the male lead, Killian.