OIPM 2

Chapter 2

“I, really… got possessed into a novel?”

It wasn’t certain yet, but even that assumption alone was shocking enough. Enough to bring back the confusion that had barely settled.

“Why would I end up inside a book…? What, because I regretted not finishing it before I died?”

Just for something like that, I got thrown into a novel? It sounded ridiculous, but right now, this was the only explanation that made any sense.

“Even so, being inside a novel’s world? This is not okay!”

Novels were fiction meant to be enjoyed. They were not meant to become reality.

Even if it was a world where I could meet the male lead I had once liked enough to dream about meeting him in real life!

More importantly, there was a serious problem if this really was the world of .

“The genre of that novel was romantic fantasy.”

To be precise, the “fantasy” part was the issue. A class system? That I could adjust to somehow.

But in this world, there were things like aura and divine power—unreal abilities—and monsters called demonic beasts that looked like animals.

Just thinking about having to live in a completely different world from mine was terrifying.

And in someone else’s body, no less.

Knock—knock.

“Ena? Are you in there?”

A strange woman’s voice came from beyond the closed door.

“A person?”

Before I could respond, the door suddenly burst open and a woman with red hair stepped inside.

“Of course you’re here. Hurry up and come out! You’ve got a performance!”

“A performance? What…?”

“What, is pretending not to know everything your new concept this time?”

“Excuse me?”

“Why are you suddenly using honorifics? Never mind, we’re busy—talk later!”

The woman shoved me forward, telling me to move quickly.

“W-wait—!” I barely had time to react before I was pushed all the way to the back of a stage.

“What is this…?”

While I was still confused, the curtain rose. A man I had never seen before stood alone on stage, wearing a uniform with a sword at his waist, speaking lines to himself.

While I stared blankly, the red-haired woman from before shoved my back again.

“What are you doing? It’s your turn!”

“W-wait a second!”

“Wait nothing! Go on!”

Her strength was surprisingly strong. I couldn’t resist it, and before I knew it, I was standing in the center of the stage.

The first thing I saw was blinding lights and a crowd of people.

I stared at the audience in a daze when the man who had been speaking on stage walked toward me.

“Sarah, you are as beautiful as ever today.”

His voice rang out loudly, as if through a microphone.

But more than that, I was startled by the thought that suddenly surfaced in my mind.

‘The next line is supposed to be my greeting.’

What?

How do I know that?

Then I realized the man’s line sounded familiar.

‘This is from the script I saw earlier.’

Only then did I understand why the red-haired woman had pushed me here after showing me that script in the room.

Still, the situation was too sudden. I could only blink in confusion.

The man knelt in front of me and extended his hand.

“Your beauty leaves me no choice but to kneel again today. Please grant me your greeting, my lady.”

He signaled me with his eyes. Hurry up and say your next line.

Only then did I realize his words were an ad-lib not written in the script.

‘So this is a stage.’

Once I recognized the situation, a sense of duty surged in me not to ruin the performance. My hesitation was brief.

“Please stand up.”

My voice echoed clearly across the stage.

‘There’s no microphone… yet it carries this well.’

I was surprised internally, but I continued.

“No matter how great my beauty may be, it is not worth your knees.”

“I would kneel as many times as necessary for you.”

Following my ad-lib, the man continued smoothly with his own.

‘He’s experienced on stage.’

After that, he naturally led me through the performance.

The problem was what came next.

I had managed to speak earlier, but I had no idea what my next line was.

Fortunately, that worry turned out to be unnecessary.

When it was my turn again, the lines naturally surfaced in my mind just like before.

But as I acted, I started to feel dissatisfied.

‘Why isn’t he giving me my turn?’

The man kept delivering almost all the dialogue alone.

He wasn’t completely ignoring me, but he only gave me small lines while dominating the rest himself, and my patience was slowly wearing thin.

If I had no idea about acting or had stage fright, I might have been grateful… but unfortunately, I didn’t see his behavior kindly.

Soon, it was my turn again.

‘He’s probably going to take over my part again.’

And as expected, he did exactly that.

‘I can’t just stand here.’

Watching him quote even my lines and speak them himself, I quickly reviewed the script in my mind.

The lines came naturally, but usually only right before I needed them.

To change this situation, I had to actively remember the script. Fortunately, we were still within the section I had read earlier.

And the next part was…

‘Valer was supposed to visit Sarah’s house briefly before leaving.’

In this scene, I was supposed to hand him the cloak he almost forgot on the coat rack.

That was Sarah’s role.

‘But at this rate, he’ll just take it himself again. I need to move.’

I decided to wait for the right moment.

The man, who had been carrying the stage alone, finally paused—seeming tired.

‘Now!’

I seized the opportunity and quickly grabbed the cloak hanging on the coat rack.

The man looked startled, but that was just the beginning.

“Wait a moment, Valer. You forgot this.”

“Uh….”

Apparently not expecting me to deliver a line, his mouth opened and closed awkwardly.

I smiled and continued.

“You left it behind last time too and had to come back. I’m glad I get to see you again, but considering those waiting for you, you should take better care of it. So please take it.”

The first part was an ad-lib, but the latter part was from the script.

The man’s eyes widened in realization. But he quickly regained his composure and continued his turn.

From then on, he began to properly alternate lines with me, and I responded in kind.

As we matched each other’s rhythm through several exchanges, his gaze toward me changed.

‘Not bad.’

That was what his eyes seemed to say. He no longer dominated the stage alone.

In the end, the performance was a success. Even though the lines came naturally to me, there were a few rough moments since it was my first time on stage.

Fortunately, the man helped guide me through those parts, allowing us to finish without major issues.

Clap, clap, clap—

Applause filled the hall as I bowed.

‘I did it.’

A smile naturally formed on my face.

“Haa… haa…”

I was out of breath from constant movement and speaking, but I kept smiling as I continued the stage greetings.

The curtain fully closed. Only then could I finally straighten up.

“Here, take this. Want some water too?”

The red-haired woman from earlier approached, handing me a towel and a cup.

Too exhausted to speak, I nodded and took them.

“Here.”

I took the cup and drank immediately.

Ah… I feel alive again.

After wetting my throat, I finally spoke.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. But what was that today?”

“Huh?”

“You delivered every line perfectly! And your expressions were so varied too! Did you overcome stage fright?”

Stage fright…?

“Come to think of it. At first you could barely speak, so I thought it was your usual self.”

The man who had acted with me on stage joined the conversation.

“But halfway through, you suddenly stepped in and acted so smoothly—I was really surprised. I don’t know how you overcame it, but it was impressive.”

I felt slightly flustered.

‘Then the early awkwardness was because I supposedly had stage fright?’

So he thought I had stage fright and was still the lead actor?

The lead role is the most prominent character in a play.

Naturally, it requires strong acting skills—so how was someone like that cast as the lead?

Just as I was about to ask, I heard hurried footsteps echoing loudly.

A brown-haired man rushed onto the stage.

“Ena! Lord Casaro is looking for you!”

He shouted loudly.

‘Ena? Who is he calling? Me? Or the woman next to me?’

I tilted my head in confusion when the man gestured to me impatiently.

“What are you doing standing there? Hurry up.”

Me?

The woman next to me lightly tapped my shoulder.

“Go on. Lord is calling you.”

So I really am Ena?

Not knowing anything only deepened my confusion. I was glad I could at least communicate, but also scared.

I might be exposed at any moment.

Should I have confessed from the start? Said, “I’m someone else”?

But even if I had, they probably wouldn’t have believed me.

Even I could hardly believe this situation.

While I was lost in thought, I followed the man named Bill.

“Ah, Ena!”

A voice called out, and before I could react, something huge was shoved into my arms—a massive bouquet of flowers.

“Today’s performance was excellent! As expected of you, Lady Ena!”

“Ah, th-thank yo—”

I tried to respond reflexively, but froze.

Because someone’s hand was placed on my waist.

‘What…?’

Looking sideways while still holding the bouquet, I saw a short middle-aged man I had never seen before.

A man I had to look down at.

“What’s wrong?”

“Um… your hand…”

“Hmm? My hand?”

“Why is your hand… on my waist…?”

“Why, you ask? I’ve always done this.”

He always did this?

Was I in some kind of relationship with this old man?

Of course, people had all kinds of tastes in the world—but not me!

No, how could it be this guy…?

While I was still confused, he kept his hand on my waist.

“Ena really feels like my daughter. So beautiful.”

Daughter? Ah, of course.

So it wasn’t a romantic relationship.

He must just be an audience member giving congratulations.

Just as I thought that—

“I think you understand what I mean, don’t you? So today, maybe a little more…”

His hand slid lower.

The moment I realized where it was going, my mind went completely blank with rage.

My body moved before my thoughts did.

I lifted my leg and kicked him.

“Hey, you sexual harasser!”