Chapter 39
I had spent half my life in the hospital with an incurable disease, and reading web novels was the only joy I had.
The protagonists in those novels loved and were loved in my place, enjoying ordinary yet extraordinary lives that I had dreamed of.
I projected myself onto them, loving and being loved in their stead to comfort myself.
But the end was always nothing but an unbearably painful emptiness.
So I prayed.
“God… please make me the protagonist of a novel in my next life.”
With those words, I died.
And then…
I really did enter a novel, just as I had wished.
“Why did it have to be Luina!! Why! Are you mocking me?!”
I became the villainess with an incurable disease instead of the protagonist.
***
Luina Aubert.
The youngest daughter of a distinguished family, she was a girl with impossibly beautiful features.
She was the woman who monopolized the male leads’ affection and earned the envy of countless readers.
She was a fake protagonist.
The author apparently didn’t like her: Luina was saddled with an incurable disease and a prickly personality that drove her away from the male leads.
Then, calling her the true protagonist, the author added a character named Aria Meltz.
Naturally, the male leads transferred their affections from Luina to Aria.
Consumed by jealousy, Luina tormented Aria, but each time, the male leads appeared to protect Aria and hurt Luina emotionally in return.
Even angrier, Luina tried to have Aria expelled from the academy, but even that was prevented, and Luina was expelled instead.
Having lost the will to live, Luina went to the frontier, suffered for the rest of her life, and eventually died from her incurable disease.
I was so sad watching Luina that it felt as though I were looking at myself.
It was heartbreaking that she had been given the same circumstances as me, only to have everything taken from her before she died.
When the readers who had cursed the author at first later began cursing Luina, it hurt as though I were the one being insulted.
But then I became that very Luina.
That taught me something.
God exists, and He enjoys watching humans suffer.
***
Please, stop already…
“Luina… I’ll always protect you. I’ll never make you cry again. You only need to trust me.”
Don’t lie. You’re going to leave. You’ll disregard the faith I placed in you as though it means nothing.
“I’d heard that the youngest daughter of House Aubert was beautiful, but I never imagined she would be this beautiful. Ahem! Would you grant me the honor of dancing with you?”
Don’t lie. You’re going to throw me away. You won’t even look at me.
“Don’t get too close to the prince. You’ll only make yourself suffer. But… I understand why the prince likes you…”
Don’t lie. You don’t understand. You’re the one who’ll make me suffer.
“Your Highness, I’m the one who promised to escort her today. Please yield.”
“Then you should have come earlier. Making a lady wait is no way for a gentleman to behave.”
“I’ll go on ahead while you two keep talking. We’ll be late for the start. Come on.”
Please don’t… Don’t make me hope like this…
Why are you being so kind to me?
Why are you making me this happy?
How much are you planning to torment me?
How much are you planning to hurt me…
“Luina… I like you. Ah, no, I wasn’t asking for an answer! I just… wanted to tell you how I feel, that’s all. Well, I’ll be going!”
“Luina! That fellow confessed to you, didn’t he? Thanks to him, I realized it. I like you too. You’d better choose carefully. Though, in the end, I’ll be the one you choose.”
“Luina Aubert… I’ve heard about you. You’d make a wise decision, wouldn’t you? You’re that kind of woman. But you haven’t left me out of your choices, have you?”
Liars… Why do you make things so hard for me?
You’ll disappear from my side as soon as that girl appears anyway.
That’s… our fate…
***
I knew it, but even so, I deliberately pretended not to.
This was the first happiness I’d ever experienced in either of my two lives, and it was wonderful.
Being loved was such a delightful thing.
Every day, my heart fluttered with excitement, and I couldn’t stop smiling.
Even while denying them in my heart, I couldn’t reject the sweetness they gave me.
Fooled by that sweetness, I indulged in foolish fantasies.
‘What if I entered the novel from its initial draft? A version with no incurable disease, where Luina lived happily for the rest of her life like this.’
‘Yes, that must be it. It’s already different from the original story. I received confessions before even enrolling in the academy!’
But that was nothing more than a sweet dream.
“…In the end, Elise died. I need to go right away. Luina, I’m sorry, but go to bed without me tonight. All right?”
“Honey, that poor girl… She was supposed to have nothing but happiness ahead of her. Why did this happen…? Even God can be so cruel.”
Elise Rintz died.
Upon hearing the news, my head began to ache and my stomach began to burn.
I dropped the spoon I was holding and collapsed onto the floor beneath the chair.
The day Elise Rintz died held two meanings.
One was the day the ‘witch’ awakened.
And the other was…
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
The day Luina Aubert contracted an incurable disease.
I became a terminal patient once again.
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“Oh my… How can she be so beautiful? It isn’t that clothes make the woman—Cecilia herself has wings, so any outfit suits her.”
Of course. I’m Father’s daughter. It’s only natural.
“Ria… you… This is dangerous. Darling, what if men who fall in love with her at first sight come rushing over?”
Don’t worry, Father. You’re the only man who could ever come rushing at me.
Once I had put on my dress, applied my makeup, and finished getting ready, everyone praised me when they saw me.
But I was even happier that Father was shocked.
Heehee, surely you won’t think of me as just a little child anymore.
I could feel Father’s heart pounding as he escorted me.
Ah… So you’re conscious of me, are you? How could I be this happy…
If Father and I eloped together now, it would be truly romantic.
But that really is just a dream, isn’t it.
So what comes next is important.
I need to meet lots of people and find one.
A bride for Father.
That’s what this social debut is for.
***
In short, the debutante ball was a success.
Thanks to Godmother’s support, none of the people hostile to me attended,
and people of both sexes fell for me at the sight of my beauty.
A few became too enamored, but I made sure they could never think of me again.
It irritated me a little, but as usual, I didn’t let it show.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a bride for Father.
Women with decent looks had low status, while women of high status had merely ordinary looks.
No one could compare to Miss Luina Aubert.
That day, Father had clearly been captivated by Miss Aubert’s beauty.
I nearly got jealous, but fortunately, I managed to hold it in.
I suppose it has to be Miss Aubert.
She’ll satisfy Father in every respect—looks and family, ability and talent.
To make that happen, I have to enter the academy.
I wasn’t eager to, but for Father’s and my happiness, it can’t be helped.
Still, it’s fortunate that I’ll be able to see Father at the academy.
Heehee, I’m looking forward to it.
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I finally enrolled!
The Kingdom Academy of my dreams! I’ve been admitted!
Surely wonderful, happy days will follow one after another, right?
“Eek!”
Oh no! I was so excited I couldn’t contain myself, and ended up causing an accident.
I ran into a senior. What if I get scolded?
“Who the hell was it!”
Th-this is bad!
He looks really angry!
I shouldn’t have done this on my first day… Maybe I really should have stayed quietly tucked away in a corner, just as Father told me…
“I’m sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going and—!”
I hurriedly bowed my head and apologized several times, and thankfully, the senior forgave me!
“What, a freshman?”
“Y-yes! My name is Aria Meltz. I enrolled today!”
“Ha… I can’t even scold you for this. Watch where you’re going.”
“Thank you!”
What a relief. He was handsome, and kind-hearted too.
For some reason, my heart is fluttering. Is this love…? Just kidding, hehe!
When I entered the dormitory after suppressing my excitement, I found an incredibly cute, pretty girl there.
A girl like her is my roommate! I must be incredibly lucky.
“Hehe, hello. My name is Cecilia Asil. Nice to meet you.”
“Hello! I’m Aria Meltz! Nice to meet you too!”
Cecilia even seems kind. Such a bright smile!
I thought I should learn from her.
“But Miss Meltz. Pardon me for saying this upon our first meeting, but could you take off your clothes?”
“Y-yes?! No?”
Huh…? Is my roommate a pervert, despite how she looks?
I never imagined she’d bluntly tell me to take off my clothes…
“Hmm… Your breasts are really large. I’m jealous. Since you’re already undressed, would you spread your legs too?”
“What have you been talking about this whole time!”
This is bad! She’s not just a pervert—she’s a complete pervert!
What should I do? Should I tell the dorm supervisor…?
“You’re clean. You have a hymen, too. It seems you’ve never masturbated either. Am I right?”
“Of course! U-uh, yes? What am I saying….”
Huh… Why am I naked?
Why am I spreading my genitals in front of someone I’ve never even met before…?
“Your family background is a little lacking, but at least you’d make a decent concubine. Get dressed again and forget what happened here.”
“Ahh… ugh…”
Me?
What?
What?
Huh?
“Hehe, hello. My name is Cecilia Asil. Nice to meet you.”
…Ah, right. I need to greet my roommate.
“Hello! I’m Aria Meltz! Nice to meet you too!”