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~Chapter 140~
…Right. There had to be a heroine!
The male lead’s first love, Reina.
The male lead himself, Captain Ista.
The sub male lead, Karl.
“Of course there would be a heroine!”
I had even thought before—Captain Ista would eventually meet her, so he wouldn’t be lonely.
I rubbed my brow with a sigh.
“The original heroine… I never thought I’d meet her like this.”
And her condition—she looked terrible.
Her face was pale, her silver hair dry and rough.
Her eyes were swollen from crying, her body trembling like a leaf.
Seeing Mariana like that filled me with guilt.
“Honestly… I forgot about her.”
I’d just assumed that when the time came, she and the Captain would meet and be happy.
Because she was the heroine.
Unlike me—an extra meant to be killed off—she was destined to find happiness no matter what.
But me? I had been too focused only on fixing my own situation.
Even though I knew that when someone like me interferes, it doesn’t always make the original characters’ lives better.
As I stared at her—
“Elaine. Just because you’re disguised as a man doesn’t mean you are one. You can’t be with that woman.”
Karl gripped my shoulder, sharp and scolding.
“You’re already married—”
“Calm down! It’s not like that!”
“You can’t take your eyes off her.”
“Because she looks sick!”
I tried to soothe my jealous husband—jealous even of the heroine—while my mind raced.
‘What was she supposed to be like at this point in the original story?’
Right. After Reina left for Saint Portu, Ista had thrown himself into missions, traveling far and wide.
That’s when he met Mariana, rescued her, and then returned to the capital.
She had followed him to the city, full of hope, working hard in an orphanage, teaching children.
She was supposed to be bright, happy, hopeful.
But the Mariana before me had no trace of that.
One of the rare moments of light in the original grim story—was gone.
“This is my fault.”
I could guess where things went wrong.
“Captain Ista never took the mission where he would’ve met her.”
That mission wasn’t originally his—it was one of the extra missions he threw himself into after Reina left.
But because the story shifted, he never wandered outside, never rescued her.
Instead, the Pope had found her first.
And now she was trapped, exploited, and suffering.
“So the Pope was the one using her… convincing even the Emperor.”
Of course—the heroine had a kind of “story force,” almost like brainwashing.
In the novel, she had even persuaded the Emperor.
Her kindness had twisted into something dangerous here.
“Damn it.”
The guilt grew heavier and heavier.
Even if I hadn’t meant it, I couldn’t say I bore no fault.
“I should’ve asked someone to look for her… asked my family to protect her.”
I felt like I had stolen her happiness.
Clink.
“…!”
Chains. Around her ankles.
“Captain, help me!”
“Got it!”
“Wait, Elaine.”
Karl blocked me, sword in hand, eyes sharp with suspicion.
“She could be a trap.”
“I know. But we can’t just leave her.”
It felt like my responsibility.
“Please, Karl.”
He stayed silent, then pulled out my sword and stood guard in front of me.
His wariness—toward the heroine he was supposed to like—made me laugh bitterly.
I couldn’t tell if it was relief or guilt.
“I’ll help her.”
“…”
“Please, Karl.”
I gently pushed past him and stepped toward Mariana.
The closer I came, the more violently she trembled.
Her chains rattled with the shaking of her thin body.
“Has she been left in such misery that she fears even strangers?”
My heart ached.
I lifted my hands slowly so as not to frighten her.
“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”
“…”
“I want to help. You’re Mariana, right?”
I passed my sword to Ista.
He nodded and began striking the chains with the hilt.
Clang! Clang!
“Mariana.”
I called her name softly, holding her trembling shoulders. She flinched.
And I froze too.
“She’s burning up with fever…”
Was she sick? Worry rose inside me.
“Are you in pain? You can tell me.”
“…”
“We’ll take you out. Don’t worry, we’ll bring a doctor.”
“…”
“It’s going to be okay now—”
Just then—
“…Hehh…”
Tears spilled from Mariana’s blue eyes.
“Ah…”
Her angelic face made me sigh without thinking.
“I’m… really, really sorry.”
“…What?”
Sorry? Why would she be sorry?
“I… truly… I’m so sorry…”
“Elaine!”
The world flipped upside down.
‘Huh?’
I realized too late—I was on the floor.
Mariana, with strength I never imagined, had pushed me down.
Shhk.
From her hand flashed a dagger—where had she been hiding it?
Its edge gleamed with sinister light.
Tears streamed down her face, but she swung it down toward me.
‘What—’
It was too late to dodge.
The dagger glowed with a dark aura.
“…Black magic?”
As I stared at the blade in slow motion—
“No!”
A massive body threw itself between us.
Karl.
No.
“You can’t take that for me!”
Flash!
Blinding light filled the cell, turning everything white.
“Ugh!”
My vision flickered, searing my eyes shut.
“Ghh!”
Ista and I rolled on the ground, shielding our faces.
A terrible scream echoed.
The air ripped with a violent snap.
Thud. Roll.
Something fell and rolled across the floor. Then silence.
“Karl! Captain!”
I rubbed my eyes, still seeing sparks, calling desperately.
They had to be here—safe—
“Elaine…!”
Ista’s ragged voice came. Relief flooded me—
but Karl’s voice never followed.
“Karl?”
Thump-thump-thump-thump.
My heart pounded wildly. Forcing my eyes open—
“Karl? Mariana?”
My vision slowly returned.
“…”
Both Karl and Mariana—were gone.
Not a trace left.
Blink.
The Eyeball, dropped to the floor in the chaos, rolled toward me—blinking, pointing.
