Chapter 1
What does it feel like when something you only vaguely imagined actually comes true?
I mean, I’ve read posts online about people winning the lottery and thought, “Wow, I want to win too.”
But of course, I never won. I never even bought a ticket, so how could I?
That’s the kind of daydreams I usually had—things with zero chance of happening.
So the idea of being possessed into a story I liked? That was something that only happened in books or dreams. Totally unrealistic.
People joke about being careful of “reincarnation trucks” on exam day, or not picking up mysterious glowing marbles on the street. But those were just jokes to pass time, a little wish to escape boring reality and live in another world.
I never seriously wanted it to happen.
Even if I loved a novel, it’d be too hard to live in a world without cell phones or the internet. And besides, it’s impossible, right?
But now—right in front of my eyes—was the female lead I adored most, Aria Maynard.
“…What the heck?”
Yes. I had possessed my favorite novel. And not just anyone—I became the female lead’s childhood friend!
***
There are lots of ways people realize they’ve been possessed.
Some see a game-like message window. Others just suddenly notice something feels off.
But in my case? I realized it because Aria’s older brother threw a ball at me. By accident. And it hit my head.
Since my body was naturally weak, I wasn’t playing with the other kids—I was just watching from the side. Then, thunk!—a soft rubber ball smacked me right on the head.
“Ahhh!”
The sound was surprisingly loud for a small ball, and I let out a scream. At the same time, memories that didn’t belong to me started flooding in.
My head hurt and I felt dizzy, but I clenched my legs and managed not to fall.
And then—like some newbie possession bonus pack—unknown memories just kept pouring in.
Wait. Hold up. Is this… real? Is possession actually possible?
“Are you okay?!”
Aria’s brother, Daniel, rushed over with a pale face. I didn’t even notice I’d cursed out loud.
“This dream feels way too real…”
I looked up at him, touching my shoulder.
No, this had to be a dream. It had to be. I loved this novel so much I’d read every chapter during serialization, bought the print version, and even re-read the e-book until it was worn out. Of course I’d dream about it.
“…But why doesn’t it feel like a dream?”
My thoughts didn’t last long. I reached out and pinched Daniel’s cheek.
“Ow!”
Why didn’t I pinch my own cheek? Well… his cheeks looked so soft and squishy, I couldn’t resist!
Both siblings stared at me with worried expressions as I muttered to myself.
“Did Riela hit her head too hard? Aria, go call a doctor!”
“O-okay! I’ll go right now!”
No! Don’t leave!
I reached out to stop my precious Aria, but the one who grabbed my hand was Daniel.
“Riela, do you feel dizzy? Do you feel like throwing up? Any fever?”
His eyes were filled with genuine concern. After all, even if it was just a soft ball, it had made quite a loud sound when it hit me.
This was supposed to be a dream, or just my imagination—but the warmth from his hand felt so real.
Wait. Don’t tell me… this is really happening?
I stared at him more carefully. His pinkish hair that reached the nape of his neck, his deep lake-blue eyes—those were exactly the features of the Maynard family from the novel.
Even if I could see it with my own eyes, it was still hard to believe. In the end, I pinched my own cheek.
“Ouch!”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Y-yeah! I’m fine!”
I covered my sore cheek in a panic, but Daniel didn’t look convinced.
“You already have a bump on your forehead.”
He pointed at the middle of my forehead. When I touched it, sure enough—it was swollen and hot.
Just then, I heard someone call my name.
“Riela!”
Ahhh… my favorite character just called my name. I could die happy right now!
…Wait. If I possessed her world, does that mean the real me died?!
The realization hit me for a moment, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it—the doctor had already arrived and started asking me questions.
Even then, my eyes never left Aria Maynard.
Yes. My ultimate bias had always been the female lead. Not in a romantic way, but more like how a fan adores their favorite idol.
The story I’d fallen into began with the downfall of Aria’s family, the Maynard dukedom—the oldest noble family in the empire.
Why did they fall? Because Aria refused the emperor’s marriage proposal.
The harassment that followed was cruel and relentless. The only one who stood by her side was her brother, Daniel.
Daniel begged his friend—and the crown prince—Leonit to stop. But instead, Leonit sent Daniel off to war. And in that war… Daniel died.
Then Leonit returned to Aria and proposed again, standing over the ashes of her family.
“Come to me, Aria. Unless you want to die too.”
Her answer was simple.
“No.”
Who could marry the man who destroyed their family?
Leonit laughed at her refusal, saying:
“If you have nowhere else to go, you’ll come crawling back to me.”
Watching her family and home destroyed before her eyes, Aria vowed to take revenge.
She sought out allies, even marrying Count Knox under false pretenses, and after years of struggle, they finally overthrew the emperor.
In the end, it wasn’t about rebuilding her family—it was about proving that death wasn’t the only way to achieve revenge.
The novel ended with Aria and Knox finally realizing their feelings and confessing.
…But that’s all way, way in the future.
“Brother! How could you do this to Riela when you know she’s not healthy?”
“I didn’t mean to! It was an accident!”
“Look at her forehead! You need to apologize right now!”
The siblings bickered over my injury as I touched the bandage the doctor had just put on me.
“Aria, I’m really not hurt.”
“Really?”
“Really. See? It doesn’t hurt when I touch it.”
Press.
“Ow!”
“See?! It still hurts! You need to rest. Don’t forgive my brother until you feel better!”
Uh… that hurt because you pressed too hard…
Aria ignored me, puffed out her cheeks, and grabbed my hand tightly.
It had already been two years since “Riela” had come to the capital for treatment. Even with famous doctors, her condition hadn’t improved much.
Wait… why am I even sick? My body doesn’t feel that bad.
I could walk and run fine. Breathing wasn’t hard. Sure, I felt a little dizzy from the ball, but nothing serious.
If it was curable, great. But if this was some incurable illness with a time limit… that was another problem.
“Riela.”
“Mm?”
“No matter what, don’t forgive my brother. Promise me.”
Aria’s voice was serious as she frowned at me.
Oh my god, she was just too cute! I clenched my fists to keep from squealing.
I held out my pinky. “Promise.”
How could I ever refuse her?
Aria’s cheeks turned red as she hooked her finger with mine. She even told me I had to stay completely still, not move a muscle, and not even open the door for her brother.
Trying not to laugh, I agreed.
“Play with me when I get back from lessons, okay?”
“Of course. Be careful.”
“Don’t move from bed, no matter what!”
I gave her a firm fist pump in response. She returned it with a serious look, as if making a grand vow.
When the door closed, I finally relaxed and lay back down.
Time to think things through.
First: I’ve possessed someone.
Second: I’m the female lead’s childhood friend.
Third: The true villain of this story is Leonit, Daniel’s friend—and the future emperor.
Fourth: “Riela Hound” doesn’t even exist in the original novel.
Well… not exactly. Aria did mention in a side story once:
“If I ever had a daughter, I wanted to name her Riela.”
That was it. Just a few lines.
I’d always wondered what kind of childhood friend Aria had. Never once did I imagine it would be me.
“Oh right… now I remember…”
Memories started to settle—my past life as Kim Eun-ha. My death had been so stupid it was almost embarrassing. Maybe some god had pitied me and tossed me into this world.
Either way, I wasn’t worried. I had read this novel so many times my phone battery had died. If anyone was prepared for this, it was me.
This was what it meant to be a veteran newbie.
Smiling with satisfaction, I raised my fist toward the ceiling and shouted:
“Aria, I’ll make you the happiest person in the world!”
