WTSP - 24

“Your Highness, please be careful.”

“Huh? Oh... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make a mistake.”

I tightened my grip on the wooden sword and shook my head from side to side, trying in vain to clear the jumble of thoughts clouding my mind.

It was no use.

Watching me fail to focus since the start of training, Rovair suggested taking a short break.

“I guess I have too much on my mind. This isn’t like me at all.”

I sighed as I stared blankly at the straw dummy made for practice. As expected, I hadn’t slept a wink last night.

When the body is exhausted, the mind becomes clearer—or so I thought. That’s why I sought out Rovair at the crack of dawn. If this was going to be my reality, I planned to push myself to the brink of exhaustion through relentless training.

Back when I was a national fencer, I used to swing my saber all night whenever my thoughts were tangled. But today, for some reason, Brilline’s gaze wouldn’t leave my mind. Each time I struck the straw dummy, only small bits of straw fluttered into the air.

Rovair, being an exceptionally skilled knight, seemed to immediately grasp my state of mind.

In fact, anyone with even a shred of perceptiveness would’ve noticed how unstable I was right now.

“When your thoughts are heavy, your body grows sluggish. Would you care for a drink of water?”

“Yes, thank you. My throat was parched anyway.”

Taking the portable leather canteen from Rovair, I blinked slowly.

Ever since I had been thrust into Ophelia’s life, countless unpredictable events had unfolded.

Even the mere fact that I had reincarnated into a fictional character felt unreal enough.

From Brilline’s personality to Serdel himself…

In the original story, Serdellius Carlot was deeply in love with Brilline. He would do anything she asked and spent most of his days with her.

Of course, their whirlwind romance lacked any real buildup—a point often criticized in the comments.

A heartbroken emperor who no longer believed in love suddenly falling head over heels for someone he met in an instant?

Their meeting and subsequent romance spanned just two chapters, making it painfully rushed and awkward upon reflection.

And yet, the fact remained: Serdel was supposed to love Brilline.

That was the setting assigned to them.

But recently, the man I encountered showed almost none of those emotions. It was unsettling.

Even yesterday, his expression held no trace of passion.

He neither defended himself against Brilline’s accusations nor chased after her when she left.

By this point in the novel, he should’ve been completely smitten…

The more I thought about it, the more inconsistencies twisted together like tangled threads.

I uncapped the water bottle and gulped down its contents in one go. The icy cold liquid slid down my throat, leaving a sharp, refreshing sensation.

“Sir Rovair, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“Anything, Your Highness. Ask freely.”

“Can the heart of someone in love… change in an instant?”

I added with an awkward laugh, “I’ve never really experienced love myself, so...”

Rovair wore a contemplative expression, as if weighing a critical decision.

Finally, he answered in a heavy tone, lowering his gaze slightly.

“Well, if it were me… I don’t think I could erase someone I love from my heart. Love doesn’t change easily, does it?”

“That’s quite romantic. Very fitting of you, Sir Rovair.”

I chuckled softly, gazing steadily at him.

Come to think of it, I could imagine him persevering through anything for the sake of love—just as he had devoted himself entirely to Ophelia.

“I’ve rested enough. I think my thoughts are somewhat clearer now. Shall we start again?”

“Before we resume, may I say one thing?”

“Of course. Speak freely, Sir Rovair.”

Rovair, who usually paused to collect his thoughts before speaking, this time began without hesitation.

His voice was calm but carried a quiet strength.

“I will always be by Your Highness’s side. So, if there’s anything troubling you, feel free to confide in me. My ears are open, but my lips remain sealed.”

What was I supposed to do with such a loyal and steadfast man?

A faint pang of guilt crept in, knowing I wasn’t the real Ophelia.

“Sir Rovair, you’re like a great tree. A sturdy tree that won’t budge even under the blows of an axe. In the heat of summer, you’d stretch your branches to provide shade, and in the cold of winter, you’d offer yourself as firewood.”

“Do you truly see me that way?”

“Yes, at least to me… you feel like that kind of presence. That’s why I want to be the water and sunlight that keep you from ever wilting. Not too much, not too little.”

How long I could continue doing this as Ophelia, I couldn’t say. The unspoken words I swallowed faded silently into the void.

Finally, I lightly grasped the wooden sword Rovair handed me and rose to my feet.

A wave of gratitude and reassurance washed over me, leaving me feeling renewed.

I absentmindedly massaged my shoulder as I gazed at this man, deep and vast like the ocean. My lips curved into a crescent moon-like smile.

________________________________________

After finishing my sword training with Rovair, I returned to the Empress’s quarters and changed clothes.

It was a simple dress, free of the cumbersome lace and jewels that usually adorned her attire.

This decision stemmed from my judgment that it would be best to meet Brilline directly and have a conversation.

Though I had no idea what she and Serdel might have discussed, it felt better to confront the situation head-on rather than avoid it.

Perhaps this meeting would also shed light on why Brilline’s personality in the original story now seemed subtly different.

After putting on the amethyst earrings I had received during our first meeting, I turned to Pompoo, who was amusing itself by creating tiny snowflakes.

“Pompoo, do you think you can stay here alone for a bit? I have somewhere to go.”

“Puu? Pom?”

“I’m going to talk with Brilline—the Empress. Have you seen her before?”

“Poooooom!”

A delicate snowflake landed softly on Pompoo’s black nose, making it twitch. The little creature sneezed—atchoo! —and then flitted toward me with sparkling eyes, clearly asking to tag along.

Watching its adorable antics, a faint smile escaped my lips.

Does this little one actually understand what I say and respond?

Pompoo, with its fluffy fur brushing against my cheek, was undeniably the cutest being in existence.

How could something exude so much charm with its entire being?

Still, Pompoo seemed well aware of its own irresistibility, occasionally using its cuteness to demand extra attention—a feeling akin to spoiling a baby too much because of how adorable they are.

I guess this is what it feels like.

I gently cradled Pompoo in both hands and met its gaze.

As much as I wanted to bring it along, I worried it might cause trouble in front of Brilline—especially during a serious conversation.

Given its mischievous and curious nature, there was a good chance it would suddenly pop out at an inopportune moment.

“Can you stay quiet, Pompoo?”

“Pom! Pom pom!”

“That’s quite a confident answer... You’ll hide quietly in my hair, right?”

“Pooooum?”

Pompoo spun once in the air, clearly unsure about its ability to stay hidden. Though not entirely trustworthy, I didn’t have many other options at the moment.

Tucking Pompoo into my silvery-white hair, I set off with Lena toward the Empress’s quarters.

As I walked, memories of the early days when I first conceived The Path to Peace flooded my mind.

Back then, I had been trapped in a sudden creative slump, even contemplating giving up fencing altogether.

At the time, even light exercise left me breathless, and I often felt suffocated, as though something was blocking my chest.

On the doctor’s recommendation to try a new hobby outside of sports, I began writing novels.

And so, the first character I created was Brilline.

Though not of noble birth, she was a confident and spirited woman. Even before meeting Serdel, Brilline was courageous, charming, and full of life.

Perhaps she embodied the ideal version of myself that I longed to become.

“Your Highness, we’ve already arrived. Shall I announce your presence to Her Majesty?”

Lost in my reminiscence, I realized we were already standing before the Empress’s chambers.

Whether my pace had unconsciously quickened or not, Lena was catching her breath beside me.

Feeling a pang of guilt as she panted heavily, I assured her there was no rush. But shaking her head, she signaled to one of Brilline’s handmaids.

Why am I so nervous? It’s not like this is our first meeting.

At my nod, two maids dressed identically opened the doors, each gripping a handle.

Keeek. The unpleasant creak of old hinges echoed in my ears.

With Pompoo nestled quietly (or so I hoped) in my hair, I took cautious steps into the reception room.

I fervently hoped nothing unusual would happen.

But life rarely goes according to plan.

“Ah?” A bewildered murmur slipped past my lips.

Facing Brilline, who wore an enigmatic smile, I blinked rapidly.

“Welcome, Empress. I was just speaking with His Majesty. Would you care to join us? Unless you have prior engagements, Your Majesty?”

“If you had another appointment, you should have mentioned it earlier, Brilline.”

“It’s not every day we get to spend such intimate time together, the three of us. Please, take a seat, Ophelia.”

Inside the reception room, besides Brilline, there was one other person present.

My gaze darted between Serdel and Brilline, my heart pounding uncontrollably—thud, thud, thud.

This was an unplanned and unexpected three-way confrontation.