IDTRAFTML 28

~Chapter 28~

Sigh…

Even surrounded by the beautiful flowers of the Imperial Garden, I couldn’t stop sighing.

After meeting Bastian and confirming the lock emoji above his head, I just couldn’t relax.

Of all people—why did the person closest to both the male lead and female lead have to be the final villain candidate?!

And worst of all, I couldn’t tell anyone about this pain.

Pop!

“Did something happen, customer-nim?”

From the fountain bench where I sat with a heavy heart, Omok-i suddenly popped out.

“The lock emoji means you need to gain more experience before you can know what it really means, right?”

“Yes, that’s right-yop.”

“And it’s highly likely to appear above characters who play an important role in the novel, right?”

“You understand perfectly-yop.”

“That’s the problem! That’s it!”

If Bastian was really the villain, then the betrayal Richard and Lysa would feel… I couldn’t even imagine it.

And worse—Bastian knew Richard and Lysa better than anyone.

If he used that knowledge to trap them, they’d be in real danger.

Since I hadn’t read this novel before, I had no way to prepare.

“He’s not already planning something, right?”

If Bastian’s plans started now, maybe the protagonists could solve it—but since I was stuck inside this novel too, there was no way I wouldn’t get dragged in.

Whether in a good way… or a bad way.

“You seem really worried today-yop. Is it because of the lock emoji?”

“Well… yes.”

“The lock emoji doesn’t always mean the person is important. Sometimes it shows up for people connected to important characters. So don’t worry too much-yop.”

“…That’s not reassuring at all.”

Omok-i’s comfort was always lacking.

It felt like a blunt ‘T-type’ personality trying to give shallow sympathy to an ‘F-type.’

Warm but… never warm enough.

“Ah, right. I came today because I have something to give you-yop.”

“Something to give me?”

Omok-i searched under his right wing and pulled out something like a pen.

“…This is my fountain pen!”

When I looked closely, it was the same fountain pen I had in my original world.

It was a gift from my boss on Coming-of-Age Day. I had barely used it and kept it safe in my drawer.

Never thought I’d see it again inside this novel.

“Originally, you should’ve received this when the possession service started. But it was delayed-yop. It’s hard to choose the one item most meaningful to the customer-yop.”

“Why do I need something meaningful from my world?”

“Because it’s proof of the possession service, and also the key item that connects you back to reality-yop.”

Those words sounded heavy and serious.

I stared at Omok-i, waiting for him to explain more.

“You must have this fountain pen with you to keep using the possession service. And when it ends, it will allow you to return to reality.”

“What if I lose it… or it breaks?”

“Then the service ends immediately, and you’ll be trapped inside the novel forever-yop.”

“…That’s not what you said at the start!”

Why was he only telling me something this important now?!

Omok-i’s words poured oil on my already anxious heart and set it on fire.

“That’s not true-yop. It was in the contract. You didn’t read it carefully-yop.”

Shuffle.

Omok-i calmly pulled out the possession service contract into the air. The one I signed the day I woke up as Amelie.

The pages turned on their own until it stopped at the special terms.

“Look here-yop.”

Tiny letters, smaller than grains of sand.

I leaned in close to read them.

“‘If the possession item cannot be confirmed… this contract is terminated, and Romance Fantasy Love Company is not responsible for the possession service?’ WHAT?!”

What a scam company!

They had hidden such unfair conditions in the tiniest letters.

And even placed it under special terms—clearly planning to trick customers!

“I definitely told you to read it carefully-yop.”

“How was I supposed to expect you’d be this shameless?!”

“L-life is a battlefield-yop.”

“…And you dare lecture me about life?”

That was the last straw.

I grabbed Omok-i, put him on the ground, and rolled him like a kimbap.

“Kyuuup! Stop it-yop!”

“Your company treats me like a fool! You call me a customer but treat me like trash!”

“I-I’m dizzy-yop!”

“So what?!”

Omok-i’s soft, white body turned brownish like injeolmi rice cake, but I didn’t stop.

After all the tricks he had pulled, just rolling him a few times was way too soft.

At least ten times!

“Amelie Garnet, why are you sitting here like this?”

“…Eek.”

I had rolled him five times when suddenly Richard appeared.

Time usually froze when I was with Omok-i—but Richard was moving normally.

I looked at Omok-i, hoping for help, but he was too dizzy to function.

“What’s that bird in your hand?”

“…You can see it?”

“Of course I can. Why wouldn’t I?”

Oh no.

Even Omok-i, whom no one had ever seen before—Richard could see him?!

This had never happened before. Maybe because Omok-i had lost control.

“Um… I was walking, and I found it collapsed here. It looked weak, so I picked it up.”

“Must have fallen from a tree. If you take care of it for a bit, it should fly again.”

“Yes, that’s what I thought. Poor thing.”

Thankfully, Richard didn’t suspect anything.

After all, Omok-i did look like a normal bird.

I quickly stroked him gently, pretending to care instead of torturing him.

“Uurgh.”

And then—whether by accident or on purpose—Omok-i gagged dramatically at the perfect timing.

“Haha. Even birds can gag? Must’ve been really tired.”

I immediately cupped Omok-i with both hands so Richard couldn’t see him anymore, lightly tapping his head as if to say cooperate.

“Anyway, I heard you met my brother yesterday.”

“Oh, yes.”

Thankfully, Richard changed the subject—to Bastian.

“Did my brother bother you?”

“Not at all. In fact, he even helped me. He sent my nagging father away.”

“He sent Viscount Garnet away?”

“Well, it wasn’t exactly forcing him… Father just lost against His Highness.”

Of course, Father was still sulking afterward.

Eric had told me this morning that instead of blaming me, Father had spent the whole time complaining about me again.

I didn’t even need to hear the details to know.

It seemed I wouldn’t see Father at the mansion for a while.

“Richard, what kind of person is the Crown Prince?”

“My brother? He’s the kind of person who can’t stand being bored.”

“Hm. And what else?”

“That’s a vague question.”

“Just tell me how you see him. I haven’t met him much, so I’m curious.”

“…Hmm.”

Richard thought seriously for a moment.

Of course—it wasn’t easy to describe someone in a single word.

“My brother may seem lighthearted sometimes, but he’s smart and strong. His judgment and leadership are excellent. Since childhood, he’s been the person I wanted to resemble.”

“So do you two have similar personalities or values?”

“No, not really. Sometimes, I can’t even guess what he’s thinking.”

“I see…”

Richard’s answer didn’t give me anything sharp or useful, but it showed one thing clearly—

Richard really admired Bastian.

So in the end, I’d have to figure Bastian out myself.

I had hoped to get a hint, but it wasn’t so easy.

Then Richard’s expression suddenly changed strangely.

“…Wait. Don’t tell me… are you interested in my brother?”

“…What is he even saying now?”