Chapter : 62
Honestly, I’ve lasted long enough.
My spine, which had been standing in an unnatural posture for far too long, sent a signal that it wanted to lie down on the sofa.
I quietly slid down, and Yurielle jumped up with a flutter.
“……Milady?”
There were too many people around for her to speak loudly, but her eyes seemed to scold me.
My body, already defying gravity, barely rested on the arm of the sofa.
“…….”
In mid-air, Yurielle’s gaze met mine fiercely.
Isn’t it okay to just lean slightly instead of lying completely?
This isn’t a formal occasion… isn’t a comfortable posture for a relaxed conversation perfectly fine?
I tried to hold my ground, but I couldn’t win against Yurielle.
Before her gaze could “kill” me, I straightened up, and Viviana, seeing this, called for a maid.
“Bring a cushion here.”
“Oh my.”
Viviana gestured for the maid to place a cushion under my head.
“Please lie down comfortably.”
“Haha. Is that really okay?”
When I smiled awkwardly, Yurielle’s eyebrows tilted like the hands of a clock at 11:11.
“Of course. There’s nothing you need to worry about here.”
“Then I won’t refuse……”
I leaned back on the cushion and settled comfortably.
I ignored the glaring girl who clearly wasn’t pleased.
Snacks within arm’s reach and a cushion that smelled pleasant and felt soft…
Lying there, watching the beautiful fabrics and jewelry was actually quite fun.
I could almost feel sleep coming.
Unlike my leisurely state, everyone else was very busy.
“How about this one? It’s a trendy design these days.”
“Hm… looks nice.”
Viviana and Eloy were leaning over, examining dress sketches Madame Suje had brought.
The two, peering at the book together, lifted the sketchbook toward me.
“Miss Selene, what do you think?”
Nearly dozing off, I slowly blinked and looked at the sketches.
The pages flipped. After looking through a few, one design caught my eye.
I imagined Viviana wearing that dress—it would look quite pretty.
“This is lovely. I think it would suit you to have a design that shows your shoulders, Viviana.”
“Really?”
“Your neck is slender and beautiful… the bodice should be fitted… and if you put your hair up, it would look amazing.”
As I finished speaking, Madame Suje snapped her fingers and called an assistant waiting by the door.
“Bring the sample dress.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Watching everyone bustling about, Eloy’s voice reached me.
“Then what about me?”
Flipping through the sketchbook, Eloy’s eyes sparkled as he looked at me.
I rolled my eyes at his cute, mischievous face.
Someone that adorable and lively should be shown off everywhere…
“Do you have one with lots of frills or lace? And a matching hair accessory. I’d like a pale pink that highlights my hair color…”
Mumbling into the cushion, Madame Suje’s hands immediately started moving.
While the two tried on sample dresses and placed their orders, I dozed off before I realized it.
I didn’t even notice I had fallen asleep. When I opened my eyes, I knew immediately I was dreaming.
The space around me was pitch dark; I could see nothing beyond my immediate surroundings.
As I struggled to sit up from the awkward floor position, a voice I’d never heard echoed in my ear.
“Wow, you can see everything from here?”
It wasn’t frightening. I turned my head to find the source.
But in the darkness, there was no one capable of making that voice.
It’s a dream, so I’ll wake up eventually.
I lay back down, stretching lazily.
The voice continued speaking to me.
“You’re someone who came in by mistake, right?”
“Yes. How did you know? By the way, who are you?”
“You’ve been through a lot.”
What? Are they teasing me?
I ignored the teasing tone and rolled onto my side.
“Life’s manageable.”
“Is that so? Then would you like to stay there?”
The tone seemed as if they’d release me if I wanted but wouldn’t force me.
I chuckled softly.
“If I don’t want to stay, what choice do I have?”
“I was going to send you back.”
Adjusting my arms to lie comfortably, I froze.
“Is that possible?”
“Yes. But you have to decide now.”
Wait… this isn’t a dream?
I fell silent, thinking carefully.
Strangely, I trusted this voice.
It didn’t feel like nonsense from a dream.
I pondered.
‘If I could really leave…’
I’d already captured the Demon King; my job was done.
There was nothing more for me here, and this wasn’t even my world, so if there was a way back, I should take it.
I wanted to use my phone a bit…
And eat chicken or tteokbokki…
I sat up and said,
“If I disappear, it won’t affect this world, right?”
“That, I don’t know.”
“That’s a terribly irresponsible thing to say.”
The voice chuckled softly.
“Irresponsible? It’s a world that has nothing to do with you anyway.”
“……Now it does.”
The voice clicked its tongue.
“How long do you think you can keep influencing this world?”
“I don’t want to influence anything.”
“When your role ends, life will be worse than nonexistence.”
“……I want to live quietly as a supporting character.”
“If you can leave, wouldn’t it be better to leave?”
I was momentarily speechless, as if they’d read my thoughts.
“If you want to live, keep living as you are.”
“……Are you sure there’s a way?”
If there’s a way, leaving is the right choice.
“There is. Decide quickly.”
I lowered my head and looked at my palm.
I could feel my heartbeat all the way to my fingertips.
Biting my lip, I raised my head toward the void.
“But… why are you speaking informally?”
I blinked my blurry eyes.
I had woken from the dream.
Whether the dream was real or not, I chose to stay here by my own will.
This was now my world too.
I couldn’t go back carrying the uneasy thought that my absence would ruin it.
‘I guess I just missed the chance.’
I rubbed my eyes with my hands.
They said I could leave when the story ended; I just had to wait.
‘I want to see Sirinyu happy.’
Even if it seemed pathetic, I had no one to argue with.
I looked around as my vision cleared.
I hadn’t slept long; Eloy and Viviana’s outfits had just been decided.
Madame Suje approached me, blinking.
“Miss Selene, which design would you like?”
Suppressing a yawn, I opened my mouth.
Isn’t it about time to go home?
I sat in the dining room, idly fiddling with a napkin.
Despite repeatedly declining, I had been invited to dinner.
Even though I was already stuffed from dessert,
“The kitchen maids made some extra effort because your friend came, milady.”
How could I just leave?
Also, seeing Viviana and Eloy, who had gotten so close while choosing outfits, being so excited, I couldn’t ruin the mood.
With drooping shoulders, I ate the appetizer bread and widened my eyes.
‘The bread really is different in a rich household.’
It was fragrant and delicious. The butter flavor wasn’t overpowering but clung to my mouth in a way that whetted the appetite.
Savoring the bread, I observed Viviana and Eloy across from me.
‘They actually coordinate really well.’
The two dipped their bread into the soup in the same order.
When they first met, they had even chosen the same dress.
Today, as they picked fabrics and accessories, they kept choosing the same things, sparking a subtle rivalry.
‘I guess it’s better if they get along. They really understand each other.’
I swallowed that thought along with the bread.
If I spoke it aloud, who knows what complaints I’d get.
The two, unaware of their synchronized actions, simultaneously looked up at me.
“By the way…”
“Miss Selene, have you chosen a dance partner?”
“Ugh……”
Caught off guard, I choked on my bread.
“Oh my, are you okay?”
“Y-yes…”
I wiped my mouth with a napkin and smiled awkwardly.
“Have you two chosen?”
When it’s awkward to answer, asking back is best. I asked, and the two glanced at each other.
“Viviana will go with her fiancé, and I haven’t chosen yet because I don’t have one.”
“Viviana has a fiancé?”
Surprised, I asked, and Viviana looked at me as if I were strange.
Why is she looking at me like that?
“Who is it? Someone I know too?”
Tilting my head, Eloy asked in a puzzled voice,
“You mean Miss Selene doesn’t know?”
