Dozens and hundreds of eyes were looking at me. I was on my knees, bounded in front of them.
“Is it true that you murdered the former Emperor?”
I wanted to raise my head and check his face at the voice coming from a close distance, but I couldn’t afford it.
My whole body was clamoring in pain, and the blood that was leaking from the torn places here and there was dried up.
But the eyes that were glaring at me were more gruesome than the blood.
I was like a cow that was brought to the slaughterhouse by these guys.
“I asked if you had murdered him!”
With a voice close to a command, I finally guessed that he was a duke.
The Duke of Cherte Persia.
He was the right hand of the former emperor. A man who could be full of poison.
The tip of his sword passed by my gaze which was on the chilly marble floor. I thought I could cut off my neck without his effort.
I had mixed feelings in my head.
Soon, laughter leaked out. The first thing I thought when I was about to die was, ‘finally, this is it.’
It felt like I had finished a game.
In fact, I was an ordinary Korean office worker possessed as an extra in a novel.
Viche, the daughter of the Amelia family who secretly protected Jade, was expelled from the palace. She was a close friend of his and was framed and executed on behalf of Jade, who murdered the former emperor. Jade, who thought of her as family, was devastated by the incident and turned into a tyrant.
An extra who expressed only a few lines in the novel.
That was my duty.
I have endured life in this novel with the vague hope that if I do my part, I will return to reality.
And today is the day.
The day I return to reality.
The day Viche dies.
Finally, when I lifted my head to catch the sight of this place, I saw a man running from afar in a hurry.
Jade.
Jade’s face turned pale. He didn’t even blink when he killed his father.
His rushing appearance made me laugh somewhere. Today’s the last time I’ll ever see that kid.
My death will be a great shock to you, but you will let the world continue to flow through this novel.
Please, the ending of this novel should be a happy ending. Too bad I don’t know the ending.
I’ve been with him for 10 years, and this body’s age now is 20. Happy days, good days, and boring days were all with Jade.
I’ve always been with him and tried not to be warm to him. He’s the one who’s going back anyway. I’m the one who’s going to die.
So when you took a step closer, I had to take a step back and look away from your cute face smiling at me.
But after 10 years of hard work, I couldn’t help but feel that way.
My efforts ended up with us being friends like family.
I’d rather care for you as much as I could when you were young and scared. The cold times that I pushed you away remained in my heart.
“…That’s right.”
As my eyes met with the approaching Jade, I smiled softly and gave a late answer to the Duke.
“Stop!”
Jade shouted, who was getting close before I knew it.
“I did kill him.”
I said it again and again. Jade’s eyes were still on me. I’m glad I got to see your purple eyes for the last time.
“Viche!”
Guards blocked him from running in front of me. Don’t let him come to me.
“No. Say no.”
His eyes were shaking with anxiety.
“I killed him.”
But the same answer came from my mouth.
“You’re lying! Are you talking behind my back? Can’t you get out of here?”
“Please be happy.”
I said my final words to him.
Jade, who had been hitting hard against the guards at my words, came to a standstill.
“Are you going to die on me? Don’t do that… Don’t do that. No. I’m, I’m sorry.”
Jade flopped to his knees.
What did I do wrong…
Perhaps he’s surprised by the current situation where it doesn’t seem to be a normal accident. His friendly purple eyes were moistening with transparent teardrops rolling, and soon, it poured down like a flooded river.
“Don’t kneel. Didn’t you become an emperor for that?”
“No, that’s not the reason… So stop what you’re about to do.”
“Your Highness, no… Jade. Don’t kneel down anyone. Be a strong man.”
Yes. Be a strong person, a strong emperor, and live happily ever after meeting the female lead.
“Now my role is over. Bye Jade.”
I gave Jade my last smile. Jade’s wet eyes were constantly pouring out questions. Why, why are you doing this?
“Duke, what are you doing? You have to take down the felons.”
“No!!!!”
At my words, the Duke raised the sword from his hand.
I closed my eyes tightly.
Soon, there was a burning pain in my abdomen with a creepy sensation coming through the flesh. I got choked up.
The sound of people responding and Jade calling me grew distant. Death is still. That was true.
“Che…”
There was a familiar voice in my ears. Maybe it’s Jade.
“I’ll take the sins, and… you go live happily ever after.”
I certainly spit out the last word, but I don’t think it’s going to get to him.
Please, be happy…
Eventually, I succeeded in turning my friend into the original tyrant.
~♡~
I remember the first time I saw the kid.
Neat looks, glossy black hair, and mysterious purple eyes.
When our eyes met, I felt like I was going to cry for some reason.
It was unbelievable that the disgraced prince was more noble and dignified than anyone else. Just from a touch or a glance, he attracted people’s attention.
When I found out about his existence, I realized where this world was and was in shock.
‘My name is Viche. Who are you?’
‘…’
I thought he was timid, for he hesitated and barely said his name. It was stupid, I didn’t dare to imagine how hard it must’ve been for him to tell me his name.
Jade.
When I called you like that, you looked at me with your round, purple eyes.
“Viche.”
“Viche.”
“Viche.”
The more times you called me, the more you relied on me, and the more I felt that I had to stay away from you. The clumsy push only left you with a scar from the useless effort.
Let’s come back next winter.
“We can do it next year.”
Let’s do it when we’re adults.
I shouldn’t have promised tomorrow, the next season, the next year, or the distant future. I didn’t expect those trivial words to end up digging into my flesh.
I shouldn’t have caught you when you were weak, shining, and blooming.
‘When this is over. Yes, talk to me then.’
But, I’m sorry, Jade.
I’ll make the same choice even if I go back. This is not my world. It’s your world.
Amelia Viche.
Maybe I was a little too happy while living as you. Maybe it’s because of the kid.
Now I have to leave. If I get lucky and go back to the original world, I might meet you again in a small paper book.
Then, I wish my dear friend happiness.