IWBTVCF 01

~Chapter 1~

“Ries, I don’t think you should push yourself. Do you really want to go?”

Count Brante held the carriage door and sighed deeply. He looked very worried at his young daughter, who had only gotten out of bed a week ago.

“She’s healthy now. And it’s not far away, so please don’t worry too much,”

My older brother Simon, who was sitting across from me, answered instead.

“You said Ries could come this time. We don’t get chances like this often.”

“Dad, I’m really fine! If I feel sick, I’ll come back right away!”

I smiled brightly to reassure him. But he still gently touched my cheek.

“If you feel even a little tired, you must come home immediately. Okay?”

“Yes!”

The carriage door closed, and soon our family’s carriage moved quickly down the green road.

The soft sunlight of early spring shone outside. Tall walls around fancy mansions passed by the window, making my heart beat with excitement.

“When you see my academy friend, tell him happy birthday. He’ll introduce us to his mother, so greet her politely. The Duchess is very strict about manners,” Simon said.

“I know, I know. My ears are going to bleed,” I replied.

Thankfully, the coachman announced we had arrived before Simon could continue.

“It’s really close?”

This is basically a neighbor’s house. I’m not even mentally ready yet.

When I stepped down, I saw a huge garden and a mansion as grand as a palace. There was even a giant glass greenhouse.

Wow… it’s insanely big.

Well-dressed nobles were entering the main building. We followed them into the crowded banquet hall.

Dessert tables were filled with beautifully stacked finger foods. Soft music played under shining chandeliers.

As I looked around in amazement, I remembered why I insisted on coming here.

And then—

“Simon.”

A low voice called my brother’s name.

I turned and saw a tall, handsome young man walking toward us.

“Happy birthday. This party is amazing. I thought it was the royal palace,” Simon said.

“Thank you. My mother really loves social events.”

They laughed together.

“Oh, this is my younger sister, Ries Brante.”

Simon placed a hand on my shoulder. The handsome boy looked at me.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Nice to meet you, Lady Ries.”

Under his platinum-blond hair were bright golden eyes, curved like crescent moons.

Is this real? Is this really him?

“I’m Darius Dierne.”

Oh my god.

“Darius…”

I whispered his name. My heart felt like it would burst out of my chest.

If Simon hadn’t poked me, I would have frozen completely. I slowly lifted my shaking hand and held his.

“H-Happy birthday…!”

Everyone, look at this!

I’m holding my favorite character’s hand!!

Ten Days Earlier

In 21st century South Korea, I lived an ordinary — well, slightly unlucky — life. In my mid-20s, I died in a traffic accident.

It was the day before the webtoon version of my favorite web novel, <Golden Oath>, was going to be released.

Even while being hit by a bus, I thought,

“The webtoon comes out tomorrow…”

“Please let me live… I want to see Darius in 2D…”

Looking at the ambulance ceiling, I made that wish.

I had lived a poor life without anyone to rely on, so I had no big regrets. Only the wish of a true fan remained.

It seems God granted the part about wanting to see Darius — not the part about saving my life.

When I opened my eyes again, a bearded man hugged me while crying.

“Ries! I thought I lost you too!!”

As a fan of romance fantasy novels, I quickly realized from the setting and the people around me — I had been reincarnated.

The body I was in belonged to an eleven-year-old count’s daughter, Ries Brante.

She was the younger sister of Simon, a supporting character in <Golden Oath>. But she wasn’t even important enough to appear much in the novel.

Because she was supposed to die at eleven from a fever.

That means I took over her body right after she died.

For ten days, I recovered and adjusted to my new life. I lied and said I lost my memory because of the fever.

Then I heard Simon was going to Darius’s birthday party, and I insisted on coming too.

After giving the birthday gift I prepared, I filled my plate with finger foods and sat at the side.

Seeing Darius in person made everything feel real.

I can enjoy my favorite character not just in 3D — but in 4D!

He stood in the center, surrounded by people congratulating him. I covered my mouth to stop myself from crying.

His face is unbelievable. My eyesight feels like it improved to 13.0!

He was tall and handsome, still slightly boyish. Since he’s the same age as Simon, he must be sixteen now.

That means this is five years before the original story begins. Five years before the heroine, Adele, meets him.

That means I can enjoy the prequel before the story even starts. Even better.

My brain feels like it will melt from happiness.

Simon noticed me staring.

“What? Do you like him?”

Like him? This is basically a fan meeting!

“Competition will be tough,” he teased.

Then I noticed many noble girls surrounding Darius. Of course. He was known as the biggest catch in high society.

Poor Darius. He hates events like this.

“Ahem. Should your big brother help you out?” Simon joked.

“What nonsense? I’m just amazed by the fancy party.”

I quickly denied it.

My feelings for Darius are not that kind. He belongs to the heroine, Adele. No matter how much I love him as a fan, I would never steal her place.

It’s like admiring a celebrity.

I just want to watch the main couple fall in love and live happily ever after.

I smiled happily imagining them together.

But then—

I suddenly choked on my lemonade.

I forgot something.

The shocking last chapter of <Golden Oath>.

Darius gets stabbed by the villain. In his final moments, he promises his love to Adele and then dies.

Darius… dies.

I looked at him sadly from afar. Losing someone that handsome is a loss for humanity.

Then—

Crash!

Something broke loudly in the hall.

In the tense silence, I saw a boy standing in the center.

He looked thin and shy, with long black bangs covering his face. His expression was dark.

I immediately knew who it was.

Kyle Dierne.

Darius’s half-brother. The duke’s illegitimate son.

The villain.

The one who kills Darius.