WTSP - 58

The man exuded a strange, indefinable aura from head to toe. In response to my question about his identity, he stroked his chin as if thinking, then pulled a wooden chair over and sat down.

“Bellinipe.”

“Bellinipe...?”

“That’s my name. Wasn’t that what you asked?”

Did he really think that just throwing out those four letters would resolve this absurd situation?

Unconsciously, I clenched my fist and tried to organize my thoughts. I had so many questions I wanted to ask this sudden, uninvited guest.

Where on earth had Brillin disappeared to, how did he know Pompo’s identity, and who was he in the first place?

My mouth went dry from the rising questions and wariness. I tensed my whole body and watched him intently.

As if reading my thoughts, Bellinipe, with a playful smile, flicked his fingers once in the air.

“Don’t be so wary. It makes me want to tease you. Now, I’ll explain one by one, so don’t think too hastily. I’ve already cast a soundproofing spell. It would be troublesome if the maids outside heard, wouldn’t it?”

“A soundproofing spell...? Then you’re a magician?”

“No, I’m similar to them but a being of a different nature. Your legs must be tired from standing, why don’t you sit down first?”

As if it were his own room, Bellinipe offered me a seat.

Pompo, who had been nestled in my arms, had already hopped onto the table with a ‘pong!’ and was wagging its tail at Bellinipe. Its behavior, like a dog reunited with its owner, made it impossible for me to maintain a composed expression.

“This Pruina is someone I sent to you. It seems you’ve already become close, seeing as you even gave it a name.”

“You sent Pompo...? Why?”

“It wasn’t for the purpose of surveillance. Well, a little bit in the beginning. But more than that, let’s just say it was for your adaptation to the imperial court.”

Pompo, as always, bounced around, spinning in place to catch its tail. I turned my gaze from the mischievous fluffball to Bellinipe.

Sweeping his dark purple hair back, he leaned back in the chair and wore a languid expression.

“We’ve already met several times before. It’s just that you, Ophelia, weren’t aware of it.”

“The day I had a cold and went to bed early, there was someone who came to my room... Was that you?”

“Hmm, I certainly visited you that day too. To give you some energy. Didn’t you suddenly get better the next day?”

The dawn of the day when Ophelia’s physical strength, which couldn’t even properly lift a small, arm-sized stone, had suddenly improved dramatically.

In my sleep, I had encountered someone with dark purple hair.

Was this person... that man? But why? Had he given me strength? Because he was a magician? Or was it just a favor out of mere interest?

The more the conversation continued, the more confused I became about whether I should be wary of him or not.

But what was clear was that even if I didn’t know his identity... this moment, when he was showing me a kind attitude, was the best opportunity for me.

An instinctive thought told me that I had to resolve as many of my questions as possible right now.

I bit my lower lip and stared intently at Bellinipe.

“The amethyst earrings you’re wearing have a large amount of mana inherent in them. You’ll be able to use it after you learn how to sense mana.”

“What are you talking about? Mana?”

“I know that life in this world is still unfamiliar to you, Ophelia.”

Bellinipe tilted a cup that had suddenly appeared from nowhere and drank tea. His one sentence felt like a sharp arrowhead piercing my mind.

This man knows that I’m not from this world.

Momentary stiffness gripped my body due to bewilderment and surprise. Had he noticed that I had possessed Ophelia’s body? If so... how?

“......I don’t understand what’s going on at all. Wait, where did Brillin disappear to? Just before I came in, she was definitely...”

I had forgotten the most important fact. Looking around, I asked him about Brillin’s whereabouts. She was clearly not in this space.

Bellinipe, who had silently placed the cup on the tea table, curved the corners of his lips into a smile and spoke.

“She’s right in front of your eyes. I am Brillin Carlot.”

“......What?”

“No, to be precise, Bellinipe who has become a person named Brillin.”

It was a statement that made absolutely no sense to my logic. Even if this was a story within a romance fantasy novel, how could he be Brillin...?

As that thought reached its conclusion, a sudden idea flashed through my mind. With a dubious expression, I blurted out a clumsy guess.

“Ah. You too, like me... were you possessed? In Brillin’s body?”

“Possessed...? The concept is a little different. If that were the case, how would I be in this form?”

That was true. If he had been possessed like me, it would be right for him to continue to be in Brillin’s form.

I suddenly felt a surge of frustration at Bellinipe’s way of speaking, as if he was telling me but not really telling me, just circling around the point. As if reading my expression, Bellinipe shrugged.

“I can’t tell you yet. There’s a right time for everything.”

“Please, I beg you, explain it in a way I can understand.”

“Let’s just say I liked the character called Brillin Carlot.”

I chose her.

He continued with more incomprehensible talk. I couldn’t manage my expression at all. Thump, thump, my heartbeat quickened as if it were broken.

“It’s jasmine tea. Would you like a cup?”

With a flick of Bellinipe’s hand, the empty teacup filled with yellow-colored tea.

The moment I realized that the Brillin I knew wasn’t the Brillin I knew, all the previous sense of incongruity became understandable.

Her suddenly changed personality, the situation not unfolding according to the original story, and...

“......I feel dizzy. It’s like a dream.”

“It must be quite overwhelming to take it all in at once. I know. That’s why I’m not rushing you.”

“You chose Brillin... what on earth does that mean?”

“You have too many questions, Author-nim. Let’s sort them out one by one. We still have plenty of time, don’t we? We’ll be seeing each other for a long time, so shall we shake hands first?”

Bellinipe didn’t answer the question but instead extended a white hand quite abruptly. I couldn’t take that hand. It felt like I had stepped too close to an unknown truth that shouldn’t be touched.

His voice echoed in my ears like a reverberation.

‘Too many questions, Author-nim. Author-nim, Author-nim...’

Author-nim?

A sudden realization struck me. I stared at Bellinipe with wide eyes.

“You knew... that I wrote the story?”

“There’s nothing I don’t know about you, Ophelia.”

“Stop talking in circles and answer my question.”

“It means your story captivated my eyes. Especially Brillin among them. Her life... yes. The expression ‘I wanted to experience it’ would be appropriate.”

So, he had directly chosen my story?

Why on earth? No, in the first place, how did he even know my novel?

Dozens of thoughts tangled complexly in my head. Before I could organize my questions and voice them, Bellinipe shrugged.

“Your writing had a strange charm, Ophelia. I read it from beginning to end. More than anything, the protagonist’s setting was interesting. I had never lived the life of a commoner-born royal before.”

The corners of Bellinipe’s lips drew a smooth arc. He didn’t seem to be lying, but there were still so many things I didn’t understand.

I asked him in a slightly agitated voice, “Then me suddenly falling into this world... was that your doing too?”

“That’s right. I needed you. I apologize for bringing you here without your consent.”

“......I don’t understand what you mean by needing me. If you just wanted to enjoy Brillin’s life, you could have come in alone.”

“Unfortunately, that’s impossible. If that happened, the plausibility of this world would completely collapse. Think about it. What would happen if the future of the character Brillin Carlot, which was already determined, changed?”

“......It would affect all the stories that are yet to unfold. Brillin is the female lead of this novel, after all.”

It was an obvious statement.

Because Bellinipe hadn’t just possessed the character of Brillin, but had become Brillin herself.

If he quietly followed the established storyline, there wouldn’t be any major problems, but looking back at the Brillin I had seen so far, he didn’t seem to have any intention of acting according to the story.

“I can only touch a very small part of it. If I touch anything beyond that, this world you built will become a complete mess. So, I had no choice but to bring you along.”

“So, the world is maintained because the author, me, has become aware that the situation can change...?”

“You’re very clever, Ophelia! As expected of an author. You understand perfectly even if I just give you a rough explanation.”

Seeing him clap as if I was commendable for quickly grasping the situation, a sense of futility beyond anger washed over me.

“......So, how can I go back to Korea? You brought me here, so you must know how to send me back.”

Bellinipe pretended to ponder, tilting his head and perching on the windowsill. His expression was clearly playful, so I glared at him with narrowed eyes.

It was an undeniable fact that I had become accustomed to life here, but I couldn’t live as Ophelia Meredith forever.

What about the upcoming Summer Olympics, and who would take care of my father?

“There are conditions for going back. There are two options. The first is when I want to end this experience. But I don’t really recommend this method. I usually don’t get bored for decades.”

“......That’s certainly good news. Then, what’s the second option?”

“That’s a secret. It wouldn’t be fun if I told you everything at once.”

Fun my foot... A surge of anger rose to the back of my throat. Bellinipe, who had lightly jumped down from the window, approached me and lowered his head. It was a distance close enough for our breaths to mingle.

His white face was reflected clearly in his lilac-shimmering eyes.

“Many things beyond your imagination will unfold in the future... You can look forward to it.”