Chapter 55 – The Youngest Daughter of the Count’s Family (18)
“I was reborn! I’m not Kim Eun-jung!”
The patient shrieked in denial.
I didn’t care.
“Readers imagine themselves as the protagonist—that’s the charm of novels. But if the novel becomes reality, the author is a creator god… Do you think the author of this novel is a god?”
“…”
“You were drunk on becoming the beautiful heroine and turned your back on common sense. Date men in reality.”
“Who are you to interfere?!”
“I heard it from the aunt who cleans your adult diapers and pushes your wheelchair.”
That’s why my words to the patient were harsh and emotional.
An ignorant beast wouldn’t be this selfish—blind to parental love and sacrifice, obsessed only with handsome men.
“A-Adult diapers…?”
“If you don’t clean them, someone else has to. Obvious, right?”
“…”
Shame surged; she hid her flushed face with her palms.
“You’re not the beautiful lady of the count’s house. You’re the one wearing—”
“Stop! Please stop! I get it, just stop…!”
“…Fine.”
Was her life in this novel world no longer happy?
Kim Eun-jung, now the count’s youngest, didn’t plug her ears and deny like magic boy Choi Kang-min.
Still,
‘She’s not waking up.’
No disappointment. If mild shock could wake her, I wouldn’t have escalated this far.
The real part starts now.
“Kim Eun-jung-ssi. Every man who loved you is ruined. The emperor was castrated and mocked by all, the prince dethroned, Baron Pimaang died in battle. Oh! One became the lady’s pet.”
Payment for a broken engagement—treated worse than an animal!
Except the Desert Kingdom prince I convinced at the Chimac orphanage, all met miserable ends.
“Don’t want to hear it.”
“Curious about your future as the empress of a fallen empire?”
“Lies! I never married the emperor…!”
“But people believe otherwise. They think you clouded the brilliant emperor’s mind and destroyed the empire.”
The real cause: failing to inflict damage in a winnable naval battle and losing consecutively.
But the setting of a “beloved emperor” funneled all blame to the protagonist!
Tragic.
“So unfair…”
“We originally planned to flay you and hang your skin at the imperial gate.”
Softened for her mental health. The original plan was far more inhumane.
“Save me!”
“No worries. The emperor traded your safety for stabilization, so it’s off.”
“Thank goodness…”
“Don’t celebrate. You’re sentenced to orphanage service until death. No dating or marriage. The castrated emperor’s wish.”
“…”
Also softened. Service won’t be limited to the orphanage.
Better she doesn’t know.
“Kim Eun-jung-ssi. Still want to live as Angelina Chimac?”
“…Help me.”
“I can’t.”
I can guide her from the sweet dream, but the choice is hers.
“Liar! You have mysterious powers like that woman!”
“…Did that woman wear a black pointed hat?”
“Yes!”
“…”
The reason she instantly moved from kingdom to empire.
A witch intervened.
“Send me to a safe country! I’ll even be your wife if you want!”
“…Kim Eun-jung-ssi. No safe country exists for you here. Let go of delusions and accept reality.”
“No…!”
“My message is done. Reflect while serving.”
“I’d rather die…!”
“Then die. Stop tormenting your parents.”
“…”
Irritation exploded into venom; I turned away.
***
“Count Amolang, may I ask something?”
Lady Valentine, silent until we reached my second-grandest bedroom in the imperial palace.
She finally spoke, eyes burning.
‘She held back a long time.’
Applause for her patience and professionalism!
I nodded.
“As much as you like. Just not too much.”
“Are you leaving for another world?”
“Yes.”
I admired her flexibility—piecing it together from overheard fragments.
Compared to the patient who refused reality and clung to delusions, her composure stood out even more.
“Can I come with you?”
“No.”
“…”
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not because I dislike you, Lady Valentine. It’s impossible.”
The two were entirely different.
“I know. You don’t hate me, Count Amolang.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
How she knew was a mystery, but the mood wasn’t right to ask.
“When do you leave?”
“When Angelina Chimac wishes for death.”
“Not many days left, then.”
“Yes.”
“…”
“…”
The thought of parting with the beautiful knight who’d shared so many moments—big and small—stirred a storm of emotions.
‘If this were reality… Damn it, idiot…’
I’d just scolded the patient for clinging to this world, and here I was, reluctant to let go?
A bitter smile crept onto my face at my own hypocrisy.
“One last question.”
“Ask.”
“Can I call you oppa?”
“…”
I’d just seen the devil I couldn’t refuse.
***
Kim Eun-jung, an ordinary woman who loved romance-fantasy novels, lacked mental fortitude.
She gave up living as the protagonist after just one day of volunteer work following the public trial.
Thus,
“…Worst mood ever.”
I was yanked from a dreamlike moment with Valentine back to cold reality.
Not as lavish as my imperial bedroom, but sleek plastic-finished furniture and appliances…
They reminded me my mind had returned to the hotel room.
‘Valentine…’
Her final image—sobbing as she hugged the fading mirage of me—lingered.
“Hm…”
The call button, light in my right hand, as if meant to be pressed upon waking.
Beep.
Moments later, Doctor Seo Hye-ju burst in.
“You’re up early.”
“Doctor, how long was I out?”
“Fourteen days today.”
“Really short.”
Toppling two love-crazed nations and building a massive empire took considerable time.
Yet only ‘fourteen days’?
Absurd, but no complaints.
‘Good thing.’
Muscle atrophy or loss would require long rehab. Waking early was a plus.
“Urgh…!”
Standing triggered screams from 14-day-unused muscles.
Growl!
My stomach, sustained by IVs, roared in hunger.
“Wait. Porridge in the fridge.”
Doctor Seo handed me warm, microwaved porridge.
“Thank you.”
“Mission resolved?”
“Yes. Though I had trouble at the very end, since she couldn’t quite let go. There were some unexpected Interference too.”
“Interference?”
“Yes. A witch helped the cornered patient flee to the empire.”
If Kim Eun-jung hadn’t escaped the prince, no empire trip—easy fix.
Sailing, naval battles, Sea God, conquest, count…
And Valentine.
When I planned it all with Doctor Seo, I hadn’t expected such a wide range of experiences.
“The witch… the one from Choi Kang-min’s dream?”
“Exactly.”
Buzz—
Doctor Seo’s pocket vibrated.
“Hello—”
(Doctor! Eun-jung spoke! Thank God! I’d completely given up hope…!)
The mother’s excited voice boomed through the speaker.
The patient’s mind had returned to reality too.
“I’ll head over soon.”
(Doctor! Thank you! Truly thank you!)
“Thank Kang Moon-soo, not me. I just assisted.”
(Yes, yes!)
Click.
Ending the call, Doctor Seo gave me a wry smile.
“Kang Moon-soo. How does it feel to save a family?”
“Just… dazed.”
“Hmm~ You look like a male who failed to mate. What happened in the dream?”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Very.”
I scolded Manager Seo’s mischievous grin.
“Aren’t you going to meet the patient?”
“I’ll go after hearing.”
“There was a guard knight who taught me swordsmanship.”
“A novel character?”
“Yes. You’ll remember the name. Valentine. The woman who had an affair with the protagonist’s fiancé…”
“Then she must’ve been stunning.”
“Yes.”
“More than Song Sun-young?”
“…”
Any answer was a trap, so I avoided her gaze.
“Well?”
“I plead the fifth.”
“Come on, be honest. It’ll stay between us.”
“No can do.”
“Aw.”
Doctor Seo backed off, though disappointed.
“…Different aftereffects from Choi Kang-min.”
I felt hollow.
“Seems a lot of good things happened in the dream.”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Can’t wait.”
“Now leave me and check on the patient. She suffered a lot at the end, branded a witch.”
“I can imagine. Romance and scandal are a thin line.”
“Well…”
She could only guess, unaware of medieval cruelty.
“Rest well.”
“Yes.”
After she left, I finished the cooled porridge and sank into the sofa.
“…”
A massive hole in my chest—emptiness.
Valentine’s constant presence, under the guise of protection, left a gaping void.
‘It was a novel, a dream.’
I steadied my heart and gazed at the exotic view outside.
Tourists, utility poles, smartphones, asphalt, concrete, cars…
My senses, so used to the medieval world, were slowly readjusting to the modern one.
Ding-dong!
As I was gradually recovering from the lingering aftereffects, the doorbell of the hotel room rang, drawing my attention.
“Who is it?”
“Open the door, now!”
“Huh?”
A familiar girl’s voice startled me.
“Open it!”
“Uh… are you angry about something?”
Standing in front of the door, I asked carefully.
“What are you babbling about? Stop talking nonsense and open it already!”
So much for diplomacy.
“Okay.”
Click—
The moment the lock disengaged, she flung the door open.
“Hey!”
“Hi— Argh?!”
Thwack!
Kicked in the shin, I screamed and collapsed.
“You deserve more! What was that—‘I’ll never move’?”
“S-Song Sun-young…?”
“Want another? Call me properly!”
“…Sun-young?”
“Nice to see you♪”
The girl, far livelier than at Elmolance Hospital, stood before me.
‘Why is Song Sun-young here?!’
Her long legs—fresh from kicking me—gleamed under a short blue dress.
“Where are you staring?”
“Ahem.”
It wasn’t my fault my viewing angle had been… altered.
“How’s your body?”
“Uh… fine, except the shin.”
“Good!”
Without hesitation, Sun-young strode into the room and crossed her legs on the sofa.
“It’s nice to see you again, but what brings you here?”
“What, I can’t come?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Her crooked attitude hadn’t changed one bit.
“I came for a shoot.”
“A shoot?”
“Yeah. I became a swimsuit model. I’m wearing one now—want to see?”
“No.”
“…Look.”
“Yes.”
The Song Sun-young I met again looked truly happy.
Valentine... TT_TT
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