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Chapter 2
Of course, I knew that there were “special precautions a beginner should take when suddenly possessed by a poem”—or rather, by a character.
First: accept that the original story will not go according to your will.
Nothing in life goes perfectly as planned. Moreover, in these “possession” stories, the cliché is that “even if you don’t intervene, the story changes.”
Second: don’t bother trying to change the original unnecessarily.
People often think they can reform villains or masterminds to create a happy ending.
Even if I know the original story and feel I could respond, the characters in the novel also had their own consciousness.
“You mean they wouldn’t act like that?”
People are inherently multidimensional. Someone who picks up trash from the street could actually be a bad person.
And if I recklessly tried to change the original, I might end up being obsessed with the main villain myself.
Third: don’t blindly trust buffs from the possessed character.
The story doesn’t follow my plans, and the characters won’t follow my strategies.
So the mindset I had to adopt to survive in this world was each for themselves.
Everyone finds their own way. I just needed to get along with Aria.
I clenched my fists and made a resolution.
“But if I change the original story, will the heroine and hero end up together?”
Since I had absolutely no intention of falling in love with a villain, I planned to damage the original story as little as possible.
Of course, I had no intention of interfering with the main characters’ romance. What I loved was their true love, not the thought of meeting the male protagonist myself.
Besides, they only had eyes for each other. They devote themselves to loving each other, and suddenly they’re interested in me?
I swear, if that happened, I might even hurt the male protagonist. “You can’t do that to me!”
“They’re in an amazing love!”
“What do you mean?”
“Ah! You startled me!”
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest at the sudden voice, and I leapt up from my seat.
“What do you mean they’re in love?”
“There’s such a thing. Didn’t Aria tell you not to come in until I give permission?”
“It’s fine. Aria can’t beat me.”
Daniel, sitting naturally on the bed, brushed aside my bangs and said this.
I made a dumbfounded expression at his shamelessness, and he smiled cheekily.
Wow, his genes really don’t lie. Even his smile looks exactly the same.
“How’s your forehead?”
“I said it’s fine. It’ll heal with time.”
“Riella, your tone is weird. Did you eat something wrong? Should I call the doctor again?”
“Weird? What’s weird about it!”
Although there was no way he could know I was possessed, I became unnecessarily nervous and spoke loudly.
Daniel twitched the corner of his mouth as if amused by my reaction.
“Don’t laugh! Anyway, get out now! I haven’t forgiven you!”
Where does this brat get off teasing an adult!
I swung a pillow and shouted, and finally Daniel burst into loud laughter.
“Alright, I won’t laugh. And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, but I ended up hurting you anyway.”
He took the pillow I was swinging from me, effectively immobilizing me, and carefully stroked my forehead.
Thanks to the painkillers, it didn’t hurt at all, but I still pouted.
“You’re still not forgiven?”
“Go get permission from Aria first.”
“What permission?”
“Whether it’s okay to forgive you or not.”
“Then of course she won’t allow it. Aria likes me more than you.”
She likes me more than her own brother Daniel?
I forced my lips into a smile to avoid laughing, but my expression ended up twisting awkwardly.
“Your expression is weird right now.”
“No, it’s not!”
“But it is.”
“No, really!”
“Yes, it’s really weird. Like this.”
Daniel scrunched his face and mimicked me. Thanks to his good genes, even strange expressions made him look handsome.
But that wasn’t the point. I had a duty to fulfill my favorite request, and to do so, I had to get Daniel out of the room.
“Daniel.”
“Hm? Are you going to forgive me now?”
How shameless.
I glared at the twelve-year-old, who was grinning slyly, and lifted my chin.
“I’ll forgive you if you bring chocolate cake.”
“Is that all?”
Thinking it was no big deal, he smiled and got up. I raised my finger and said:
“Also, the walnut tarts and meat pies from Lill Carman. Freshly baked.”
“Do they really have to be fresh?”
He said it with drooping eyebrows, but I shook my head firmly without flinching, and a shadow passed over his eyes.
Since he was still young, he had to get permission from Duke Maynard before going out. To do that, he had to give a truthful reason.
That meant Daniel would have to tell his father exactly what had happened today, without lying, to get permission to go out.
I cast a glance at his sullen face and swallowed a smile.
“It’s okay if it’s not fresh. I just want walnut tarts and meat pies. Bring them, and I’ll forgive you.”
“Really? Promise?”
“I promise.”
I linked pinkies with Daniel and made a promise.
After that, Daniel continued to nag that I was fragile and needed to be careful, until the butler dragged him away.
“Master, Sir Cedric has been waiting for some time. A gentleman should never make others wait,” I heard. He must have hesitated and ended up late for class.
Sigh… I need to make sure Leonite grows up properly.
Otherwise, I’d get dragged into this.
Leonite’s abnormal obsession with Aria was due to his home environment.
He had grown up in a setting where he believed that if he wanted something, he had to get it by any means. The root cause needed to be removed.
In my memory, Leonite was indifferent to everything, disregarded life, and only cared about his desires.
He even used mental magic to turn Aria into a living doll.
“Well, that can be handled slowly.”
They were the main characters, but only ten or twelve years old, so there was no immediate danger.
I fell into deep thought, planning how to act from now on.
“Maybe this or that would work?”
Even though I knew the original story, I couldn’t blindly trust it, so I couldn’t decide easily.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in!”
I shouted, pulling the blanket up to my chin. The door opened silently.
“I heard you collapsed. Are you alright?”
Woah…
The Duchess with golden hair, Veronica Maynard, asked me with a worried expression.
“You must be in a lot of pain. Your face is flushed.”
That’s because you’re beautiful…!
Before I could explain, her hand landed on my forehead. Suddenly, I felt a slight fever…?
“Rinde, fetch the doctor immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The maid bowed and backed out of the room. I closed my eyes at the Duchess’ gentle touch.
“Do you feel unwell or dizzy?”
“I’m fine.”
“You always say that…”
“I really am fine.”
I smiled faintly, ignoring my slightly upset stomach. Then, another memory surfaced, triggering a severe headache.
“Ugh.”
I furrowed my brows and gritted my teeth, making Veronica pale. She shouted outside.
“Is the doctor still not here?!”
Her voice was icy. The maids visibly tensed under her gaze.
Soon the doctor arrived, fumbling inside, notebook in hand, asking about my symptoms.
“Do you feel discomfort in your stomach?”
I nodded.
“Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?”
I nodded again.
The more I nodded, the darker Veronica’s expression became.
“How is the child’s condition now?”
Her voice trembled with worry.
“Please wait a moment. Further examination is needed…”
“Ugh!”
Just as I was about to explain, an unbearable wave of nausea hit me. I couldn’t respond.
I can’t throw up in front of people!
I held my hands over my mouth, turning pale. Aria, having returned from class, stamped her feet and cried.
“Riella, don’t die!”
I’m not dying! Stop saying that! Even if I die, I’ll watch you be happy first!
I tried to signal that I was okay, but my hope of not vomiting in front of my favorite person was in vain.
“Ughhh!”
“Riella!”
I ended up vomiting everything in front of everyone. The sound made me grimace.
Something hot poured into my hands covering my mouth.
What do I do…!
I wanted to run away, but my trembling limbs wouldn’t obey.
“Good heavens, young lady!”
Someone sobbed. In life, it’s possible to vomit from indigestion! I looked down at my reddened hands, dumbfounded.
What is this?
