WTSP - 25

Am I the only one who finds this situation awkward...?

Watching Brilline and Serdel sip their tea with completely nonchalant expressions left me feeling uneasy.

They didn’t seem bothered by my presence between them—a scenario unimaginable in the original story.

Brilline, nibbling on a butter cookie, shot me an enigmatic smile.

Mindful of Serdel’s presence, she addressed me formally—something she hadn’t done before.

“Is something troubling you, Empress? Your expression seems off.”

“Oh, no. I just didn’t expect His Majesty to be here.”

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I can gladly excuse myself.”

“No, that’s not necessary.” I waved my hand lightly to indicate I was fine.

This was a confrontation I’d eventually have had to face anyway.

The discrepancies between the original plot and the current dynamics between these two demanded acknowledgment...

As I traced the rim of my teacup with my fingertip, I decided to pose a question to them.

“Were you discussing something important? Did I interrupt? If it’s alright, may I ask what you were talking about?”

“We were discussing yesterday’s incident. The matter of you waking up in my bed,” Serdel said bluntly.

“I was truly surprised to hear that Your Majesty spent such intimate time with Her Highness...” Brilline added.

In the original story, Brilline would have stormed out in anger, furious at Serdel for even associating with another consort.

She was possessive, wishing for Serdel to avoid interaction with anyone else—including Uriel.

But the Brilline sitting before me now showed no signs of rage.

For a moment, I wondered if she was mocking me, but that didn’t seem to be the case either.

It’s clear now. My reincarnation into Ophelia has changed something fundamental. The once-passionate lovers, Brilline and Serdel, are no longer bound by their original roles.

It was as if they had developed independent identities, no longer constrained by the plot I had written.

Could it be because I haven’t finished the novel yet?

Or perhaps the flow of the story had shifted entirely after I lost the ability to write it.

Could I even ask outright, “Do you still love each other?” It was impossible.

I couldn’t figure out where to begin untangling this mess. A faint sense of helplessness settled heavily on my shoulders.

As if reading my expression, Brilline smiled gently and looked at me.

“Did you enjoy your time with His Majesty? Don’t worry too much about it. After all, you’re also one of his consorts. I think it’s perfectly understandable.”

“...Do you really mean that?”

“Of course. Even as Empress, how could I monopolize the sun of the empire? I wish for everyone to get along well.”

To emphasize her point, Brilline maintained a calm demeanor, showing no signs of holding yesterday’s events against me.

Serdel, too, appeared unfazed, sipping his tea with his usual detached expression.

The world I knew has completely fallen apart. What should I do now…?

From the start, I wasn’t even sure if it was possible to restore everything to its original state.

Serdel and Brilline were no longer the protagonists of my novel—they had become fully independent beings.

Facing reality head-on, most pieces of the puzzle began falling into place.

Perhaps it’s best to let things unfold naturally.

They were no longer creations of my imagination. Until now, I had unconsciously expected them to adhere strictly to their pre-written roles.

But dictating how others should behave or predicting their actions wasn’t right.

With that realization, I felt a little lighter.

Brilline continued to stare at me intently, her gaze brimming with curiosity—just like when we first met.

“Whatever is weighing on your mind, try to relax. I hold you in high regard, Empress.”

“It seems you’ve grown close to the Empress, unlike your strained relationships with the other consorts,” Serdel remarked.

“What’s there to strain over? We simply don’t see eye to eye.”

“...Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”

I slowly turned my head to study Serdel’s profile.

Though his face remained impassive, it radiated charisma and sharp beauty. Under the light, his green eyes shimmered with an ethereal glow.

As they quietly resumed their conversation, I listened half-heartedly while sipping my warm tea.

The sweet yet slightly bitter aroma of black tea filled my mouth.

________________________________________

“Your Highness, please slow down a little! You walk so fast...”

“Ah! Sorry, Lena. I was in such a hurry to get back to my chambers and rest. I’m feeling a bit tired.”

Just as Serdel and Brilline had been discussing the upcoming festival, Captain Harpin of the knights arrived at the Empress’s quarters.

“Apologies, Your Majesty, but there’s something urgent that requires your immediate attention.”

Something seemed to have happened, as Harpin wore a troubled expression while summoning Serdel.

Even with the abrupt interruption, Brilline remained composed, calmly bidding farewell to both Serdel and Harpin.

As soon as they left, Brilline turned to me and raised one corner of her lips in a faint smirk.

“You should go too, Empress. You looked bored.”

For a fleeting moment, her gaze lingered on my hair.

Had she noticed that I’d been lost in thought during their conversation? A wave of awkwardness washed over me.

I quickly bid her farewell and made my way back to the Empress’s quarters.

Pompoo, who had clearly grown restless during the dull exchange, popped out of my hair with a soft pomf! as soon as we exited the Empress’s palace.

“Pompoo, was staying still that difficult for you? Next time, just stay in the room and play by yourself. It’s not that I don’t want to bring you along—it’s just that I worried you might get bored.”

“Pompom! Poooonng!”

“You’re impossible, you know that? You have no intention of listening, do you?”

“Pom!”

The brazen reply drew a hollow laugh from me.

Shaking its body like a dog shedding water, Pompoo vibrated once before looking much more refreshed. With renewed energy, it darted off somewhere in search of entertainment.

Given its free-spirited nature, trying to keep it contained would be futile. I shrugged lightly.

More pressing, however, was the lingering strange sensation I felt after conversing with those two.

Though I had resolved to let things flow naturally like water, putting that mindset into practice wasn’t as easy as I hoped. I needed some time alone to sort through my thoughts.

Unconsciously, I exhaled a deep sigh.

Lena’s eyes widened with curiosity as she piped up in an inquisitive tone, her face brimming with questions.

“Did something serious happen during your conversation? You look a bit pale. Did Her Majesty say something to upset you?”

“It was nothing special, really. The Empress was kind to me. Oh, Lena, I heard there’s going to be a royal hunting tournament soon?”

“Oh my, so you overheard us chatting about it yesterday? Yes! There’ll be a festival that day too. We might get to eat all sorts of rare and delicious foods!”

“You sound so excited. I think I see drool forming.”

I teased her by poking her cheek with my index finger, letting out a light laugh. She puffed up her cheeks in mock indignation, looking utterly adorable.

“I hope Your Highness enjoys this year’s festival. Before becoming Empress, you were always cooped up in your room because of your health.”

“Ah, yes, that’s true. But hearing your stories about various festivals made them fun for me.”

“Hearing about them and experiencing them firsthand are completely different! The festivals held in the palace will be exquisite—so refined and grand!”

Could they really be that enjoyable? Lena’s excitement seemed to ride the spring breeze straight into my heart.

As we chatted idly about this and that, making our way toward the Empress’s quarters, a sharp, piercing sound clanggg! sliced through the air.

Everyone around us froze, their gazes snapping toward the source of the noise. A cold tension rippled through the once-peaceful atmosphere.

...What’s going on?

The mood was anything but ordinary. Sensing something amiss, I turned my head toward where the sound had come from.

There, I saw a group of people standing rigid, their faces tense.

Something must’ve happened.

“Oh my, what’s all this commotion…? Shall I go check, Your Highness?”

Lena stood on tiptoe, her curiosity evident.

Though I couldn’t see clearly through the crowd, it appeared someone was kneeling on the ground.

...Who is that? Are they kneeling right now?

In the imperial palace, where everyone’s eyes and ears were perpetually open, who could have caused such a disturbance?

Just as the question formed in my mind, a chilling voice cut through the air, sharp and frosty like thorny brambles.

“Clean it up. Do it with your own hands.”