CH 10

Does the sub male lead really look like my husband in my previous life? —That kind of curiosity sprouted in my mind as I realized that this world was inside that novel.

It wasn’t because I still had lingering feelings for my husband.

If I were to describe my love for my previous life’s husband in terms of color, it was black. It might have been pink at first, a cloud-like emotion perhaps akin to the dress I was wearing now. But over time, it turned red because of jealousy, pale blue, then a shade of gray that was neither warm nor cold—just a garbled mix of colors that, in the end, became murky and turbid and ultimately black.

Black, like an abyss.

As though there was nothing left.

While recalling the past, I saw the huge doors slowly yawning open on both sides. I slightly went on my tip toes because I couldn’t see well.

“Rin, are you curious about His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Next to me, my brother burst into a chuckle as he asked. Hearing his comment, I felt my cheeks getting a little warm.

“No, that’s not it…”

But even as I tried to deny it, David’s expression had already become colored by mischief.

“This older brother feels deeply heartbroken. I watched you grow while showering you with praises and saying how pretty you are, but now that you’re all grown up, you won’t even look at your older brother.”

I wasn’t sure whether he knew what kind of effect he had on me, but whenever David acted this way, I felt my heart strangely sinking.

“No… I like you the best in the world, Brother.”

And I wasn’t only saying that to appease him. I truly meant it. The only people who were precious to me right now were my family.

“Ah, Rin, be careful. Come here.”

The crown prince and the duke seemed to have entered. People made way for them, and so we were naturally pushed back into the corner once more.

David blocked other people from the front so that my dress wouldn’t become crumpled. As a result, I wasn’t able to see the crown prince and the duke as they passed by. Even so, I looked up at my older brother with a bright smile.

My brother usually did patrols at the garrison, and so he was good with the sword, and he had a sturdy physique. His shoulders, which were side enough to cover me, were so reliable and admirable that he attracted the attention of the women back in our fief.

“Thank you, Brother.”

“There’s so many people. I’ve never seen this many before.”

“Me, too.”

I peered out belatedly, so I didn’t get to see the crown prince and the duke anymore. They seemed to have moved to a more private place already.

Perhaps the emperor or the saintess were about to arrive so they could take the seats of honor.

And the opportunity to see them came at once.

“The beloved daughter of the Asteras, Her Holiness the Saintess is entering! Everyone, please observe silence!”

It was a stricter warning compared to when the crown prince and the duke came in. Noticing that the voice had changed from the doorkeeper’s voice earlier, it seemed like the person who announced the saintess’ entrance was from the temple rather than a palace attendant.

Just like before, the double doors yawned open, and people made way. This time again, David shielded me from other people, but for the briefest of moments, there happened to be a short gap where I was able to get a clear view of the saintess as she passed by.

“…Seo-yoon?”

In that short moment, I recognized who the saintess was. How could I not know who that was?

It was the S-Class Guide from my previous life who would always come over whenever Ciel was not at home.

She was the same person who said that a B-Class Guide such as myself wasn’t suited to Ciel, and that if I knew any shame, I should step down and give up on him on my own.

Why was she here…?

I could feel my vision shaking as I was exceedingly confused. How could it be possible for someone I met in my previous life to appear in this world? Wasn’t this a world inside a novel?

…Was it truly just a novel?

Immediately after her entrance, the proclamation of the emperor’s presence rang out, but I could no longer hear it clearly. I turned my gaze towards the seats of honor because I couldn’t believe that it was Seo-yoon who I saw.

It was frustrating because I couldn’t see them properly—there were too many people around—but soon, the emperor arrived at the throne on top of the platform, followed by the saintess. The crown prince also followed after.

As the daughter of the god of the stars, the saintess had a higher position than the crown prince.

Standing where the seats of honor were, I confirmed that familiar figure of hers. Glossy black hair, black eyes, fair skin and features that were certainly different from that of the other people in this world.

Everyone burst into admiration, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

That was definitely Seo-yoon. I didn’t mistake her for anyone else.

My forgotten emotions suddenly surged up. Towards that woman who always undermined and tormented me—it seemed as if the emotions I harbored against her had yet to disappear, like the lingering attachment I still had towards my husband.

I felt suffocated by the boiling resentment within me.

At that time, there was one other person who belatedly stepped up towards the seats of honor.

The man who was responsible for escorting Her Majesty the Queen towards the platform had a slow but graceful gait as he walked. Even with just the sight of his back, I couldn’t help but feel that the man over there was not the novel’s sub male lead. That’s my ex-husband.

It was as if the first time I met him was beginning anew. My surroundings were bustling with life, and yet all movements had turned slow yet clear—as if everything was playing in slow motion.

My gaze was fixed upon him as though possessed. My breaths hitched to a stop.

He looked younger than how I remembered him, but it was certainly him. He turned slowly to face the hall, and the moment I saw his face, I let out a breathless gasp.

Over 190 centimeters tall, wide shoulders, long limbs, sculptural features.

It was not my imagination that the prose depicting the sub male lead in the novel felt similar to my husband.

And I couldn’t help but think that the novel had described not a man who was similar to him, but truly my husband himself.