~ Chapter : 14 ~
“C-Camilla, what are you doing?”
I hurriedly helped her back to her feet. The female lead kneeling before a side character—do you know how valuable your knees are? The female lead is practically the dignity of the nation!
“Until not long ago, I was worried about where I would eat and sleep… so I never imagined I’d dare to worry about something like this, but…”
Camilla squeezed her eyes shut and continued.
“Would it be rude of me to say that I want to major in swordsmanship? You saved me, so I want to live my life in a more meaningful way!”
The moment I heard her request and sighed, Camilla grew visibly uneasy.
I had assumed she would naturally major in magic, so I’d offered my support without even asking about her specialization.
‘Is she really planning to become a Sword Master?’
For now, I decided to try persuading her to follow the original storyline.
“Camilla, you’ve been interested in magic for years. As for swordsmanship, your sister only taught you once.”
“That’s true, just as you say, Saint Lady. But the moment Sir Iris handed me the sword, my heart fluttered more than when I first held a staff.”
It felt as though I could hear Camilla’s excited heartbeat.
“When I first used magic, it felt like I’d finally found something I could do… but when I held the sword, it felt like I’d finally found something I wanted to do.”
“Hmm…”
Of course, magic had improved Camilla’s life. Yet even by the end of the story, she continued to struggle with whether she truly wanted to become a mage.
She summoned powerful spirits, but because she wasn’t the Spirit King, she always felt a sense of regret.
Still, I had believed it was a flower-strewn happy ending. She succeeded at what she was good at, gained a handsome elite husband, and was praised by everyone for solving the mana stone formula—what was there to complain about?
“Camilla, couldn’t this just be a temporary feeling?”
I said that while deliberately looking away from her blazing passion. But she didn’t seem willing to back down.
“Saint Lady, I want to keep developing the abilities I have.”
Even in the original story, Camilla showed interest in swordsmanship.
The first time she protected herself from someone else, it wasn’t with magic, but with a branch that happened to be nearby.
And using magic in the slums drew attention.
Naturally, Camilla grew accustomed to wielding weapons she could swing like clubs.
‘After entering the academy, she even showed interest in the knight order searching for the Sword Master’s blade.’
Still, I believed that succeeding solely through magic was the safest way for her barely improved life to continue.
If Camilla started acting differently from the original story…
Would someone else discover the mana stone formula? Would she still fall in love even if her connection with Rosio weakened?
Most importantly—would she be able to be happy if she stepped outside the original flow?
“…Camilla. I recommended magic because I believed you could be happy if you worked hard.”
I clenched my hands, hoping my sincerity would reach her, then took a short breath.
“There’s a guaranteed outcome waiting for you. In reality, people don’t always become happy just because they endure hardships. Many end up exhausting both their minds and bodies without even gaining part of what they wanted.”
That was exactly how my life had been in that other world. Every time I overcame one crisis, a bigger one waited, and I received nothing in return—until I was drained dry and dropped into this world.
But Camilla’s trials in the novel were all stepping stones toward a happy ending. Like my past self—but unlike me, her suffering wasn’t pointless.
“If I go to the academy… are you saying I’ll definitely become a great mage? Maybe even an imperial mage…?”
Camilla didn’t fully grasp everything I was saying. To her, the “guaranteed outcome” probably just meant becoming a great mage.
“Even more than that. Even now, mages like you are rare! I don’t understand why you’d choose a difficult path with no guarantees. Do you know how dangerous and exhausting sword training is?”
“Of course I do, Saint Lady.”
Her tone was almost as if she were comforting me.
Growing frustrated, I blatantly hinted that she was a female lead with a guaranteed happy ending. Even if I were expelled from this world, I couldn’t let her walk a path I didn’t know.
“Camilla, you might solve research no one else could. Your magic could be praised for generations, leaving everyone in awe. And since you’re talented and beautiful, you might even catch the eye of Lord Rosio—the finest groom of this era.”
At my blatant spoiler of a happy ending, Camilla simply blinked in silence. Had her heart wavered?
“What if… I wanted to grow closer to someone else instead?”
She smiled brightly, like she had a field of sunflowers blooming behind her.
“Well…”
At my evasive answer, Camilla quickly drooped. I felt guilty, as though I’d snapped a sunflower in half, but she soon pleaded again with radiant brightness.
“Lady Esmeralda. I truly love who I am now that I’ve met you. Thanks to you, I think I’ve found the path I truly want. I’ll cherish that feeling forever.”
Faced with her resolute expression, I was left speechless.
I’d only done what felt natural for the female lead. Yet the butterfly effect had escalated to her wanting to change her career to swordsmanship.
At this point, even I couldn’t tell what would be the most “natural” development. I wasn’t an extra-writing author. My head throbbed.
“What if you regret it later? What if you’re seriously injured? What about how I would feel watching that?”
“That would be my choice as well. It wouldn’t be your fault, Lady Esmeralda.”
I didn’t want Camilla to make the wrong choice. But how could I stop such firm resolve?
The vitality of someone who had just found what they wanted to do.
The passion and talent she showed in swordsmanship.
The excitement it stirred even in those watching.
If this were truly the wrong choice, could it really be so beautiful?
“Camilla… then promise me just one thing instead.”
There was only one thing I wanted from her.
I simply wanted Camilla to live a life happy enough to forget her painful past.
That was why I’d tried to guide her along the flower-strewn path of the original story. But now that her desired path was so clear, did I really need to force her onto it?
“Whatever you do, you must be happy going forward. And if it ever becomes too hard, it’s okay to look for another path.”
I had believed correcting the original story was my responsibility, but I no longer wanted to crush Camilla’s dream just for the sake of preserving it.
If a side character stopped the female lead’s will, that would feel even more unnatural.
“Lady Esmeralda, I know what I’ve been yearning for. I’ll stake my life on becoming happy.”
“What? No—don’t stake your life!”
I let her walk the path she wanted. Living the life you want—that’s what a protagonist should do.
“If the Duke refuses to support your academy application, I’ll support you myself.”
Camilla had wanted to ask Rosio whether it was okay to major in swordsmanship, but she gave up, fearing rejection after he’d given her such an opportunity.
I didn’t know why she showed me her sincerity and tried to persuade me instead, but…
“You will, my lady?”
“Yes. I have to take responsibility. If you face difficulties in the future, I’ll look for solutions together with you.”
If I couldn’t take responsibility for the original story, then I would support the life the female lead chose.
Camilla suddenly threw her arms around me. A pleasant floral scent and warmth enveloped me.
Realizing what she’d done, she quickly apologized and pulled away, but this time I hugged her first.
“Are you an angel, Saint Lady?”
“No. I’m just unemployed…”
Maybe I was the type who invited trouble for myself. For now, I decided to watch how things unfolded from a moderate distance.
After all, even if it wasn’t about the male and female leads, I knew exactly what events would occur—and the release of the mana stone formula was still far off.
If Camilla failed at swordsmanship, painful as it would be, she might still change paths back to magic.
While comforting the female lead, I began to worry about the male lead.
‘Then… what happens to Rosio? A male lead without a female lead?’
***
Afterward, with Jenna’s help, Camilla changed clothes in the dressing room and came out. The suit was practically tailor-made for her.
The outfit, highlighting Camilla’s perfect proportions, made her look like a noble at a glance. Her face had always been beautiful, but dressed in a refined, proper suit, she was stunning.
“Camilla, it looks amazing on you.”
At my praise, her cheeks flushed pink, making her complexion glow even brighter. She lingered before the mirror for a long while.
“Even if I have to risk my life, I’ll repay you, my lady. I wish I had ten lives—one isn’t enough…”
It was a line she’d originally said to Rosio in the novel, which sent a chill down my spine. I’d only given her clothes, yet the metaphor felt a little intense.
Camilla happily examined herself in the mirror from every angle. Every time our eyes met, her happiness seemed to transfer to me as well. Her bright aura filled the room.
Then there was a knock, and another maid entered to report.
“My lady, Duke Agnes has arrived. He’s being escorted to the location for tea.”
I decided to take Camilla with me to meet Rosio, half-listening as she chattered about how the count’s territory was the most beautiful place she’d ever seen.
‘Well, if Camilla and Rosio meet today, they might show interest in each other. Rosio was concerned after hearing about Camilla’s situation—it’s not really about the location.’
With a bit of hope, we rode the carriage to where Rosio was waiting.
Our meeting was set by the lake within the count’s castle. I spotted Rosio through the carriage window. As I stepped down, he comfortably took my hand.
“It’s been a while, Lady Esmeralda.”
Rosio lightly kissed the back of my hand. It was just a formality, so it shouldn’t have meant much—yet my heart fluttered.
I helped Camilla down from the carriage, and Rosio’s gaze lingered on her suit for a moment.
I remembered the expression he’d worn at the boutique.
Ah—so when I recommended that suit, he thought I would be the one wearing it.
