A Blend of Romance and Fantasy Chapter 19

Chapter 19

“I should’ve known the moment I saw that brown checkered handkerchief—how can someone have this little sense? He might as well have asked for the year the Imjin War started.”

I clicked my tongue—

…then froze.

Wait.

What year was it?

“…Damn it.”

Flustered, I quickly wrote doenjang jjigae with the quill that appeared midair.

The Imjin War question was too hard. That’s all. Not my fault.

My cheeks heated up.

Behind me, the little red dragon flicked its tail.

“Your face turned red. Did that bastard write something about courting you? No matter how ridiculous he is, he’s still male—of course he’d be weak to pretty females.”

“…What kind of nonsense is that?!”

Startled, I grabbed the dragon and shook it.

“Are you insane?! Who talks like that?!”

“I complimented you! Why are you reacting like this?! Stop shaking me—I’m getting dizzy!”

I shook it a few more times anyway—

and suddenly, the papers in front of me changed.

They expanded—

and expanded—

until they became a massive book. Thick enough to rival a brutal exam prep guide.

Then Korean text appeared above it:

[This is a reconstructed copy of Song of Sky, Fire, and Moon from memory.
It includes characters, plot, and worldbuilding.
I thought you should know before going to Blake.
If you don’t want it, burn it.
If you input the answer again, it will revert and activate a binding spell.]

“….”

I stared at it blankly.

The dragon slipped free from my hands with a poof.

“I-I’m leaving!”

“No, you’re not.”

I snatched it out of the air again.

“I need to send a reply.”

* * *

Leonard sat at his desk, buried in paperwork.

Distance meant nothing—documents flowed through magical communication crystals.

Being a prince didn’t mean rest.

It meant more work.

Then—

CRASH.

A stack of documents collapsed.

Leonard sighed and removed his glasses.

“Ignis. No matter how irritated you are, don’t knock things over.”

“Do I look calm to you, you insignificant creature?! I am a great dragon—and you use me as a messenger?!”

A small red dragon waddled out from under the papers.

“Ignis, go back to your nest.”

Leonard began drawing a summoning circle—

but Ignis suddenly pulled something from its belly pouch.

“That female gave me this.”

“She’s not ‘that female.’ She’s Princess Charlotte of Singcester.”

“To me, all of you are just females.”

“…I see.”

Leonard rubbed his face and took the object.

“A miniature book?”

“I’m going to sleep.”

“You’re not going back?”

“Your bed is better.”

Ignoring him, Ignis climbed onto the bed and curled up.

Leonard let out a hollow laugh—

then tapped the tiny book.

Korean text appeared.

[Name the BTS member who best fits my type.
(Hint: K S J)]

“…This is absurd.”

Still, he smirked—and wrote the answer.

The book expanded instantly.

On the cover:

Everything About Romance Fantasy

…So she’d compiled everything too.

Charlotte.

Her face came to mind.

She was beautiful.

The heroine of this world might be called the most beautiful—

but beauty is completed by expression.

And Charlotte—

was always smiling.

That made him curious.

Had she lived happily enough to smile like that?

Had changing fate been difficult?

Was she happy now?

He had long since stopped expecting happiness.

For him, this world had only ever been—

pain.

Despair.

If he could return to his original world, he would accept without hesitation.

If everything he’d done here could be undone—

he would pay any price.

But time didn’t move backward.

So all that remained was—

atonement.

“….”

The familiar headache returned.

Without realizing it, Leonard began rubbing the ring on his pinky finger again.

Endlessly.

* * *

The next day—

Aurora stormed into my palace.

“Charlotte! If you liked him, you should’ve said so sooner!”

“And if I had, would you have helped me?”

“Of course not. I would’ve blocked you with a three-tier tray.”

She crossed her arms firmly—

but her eyes were sparkling.

“Oh, but seeing him blush yesterday… that was unforgettable.”

“…”

“Still, I came to stop you.”

“Aurora, I have no intention of giving him up.”

“But you only like his face, don’t you?”

…Direct hit.

I said nothing.

Aurora smiled knowingly.

“Then marry Duke Myers instead. He’s handsome too. His personality is terrible, but if you can handle the prince, you can handle him.”

“…What kind of logic is that?”

I sighed.

“Love isn’t something you endure. And besides, Duke Myers wouldn’t marry me unless it’s a contract marriage.”

“What? No, he’s in love with you.”

“…Oh. Interesting plot twist.”

Aurora ignored me.

“I’m serious! You rescued him from slavery. People fall in love with their saviors.”

“…Like you and my brother?”

“…!”

Aurora froze—

then immediately started rambling about Erdan.

I tuned it out.

“No one falls in love over just one thing.”

“Charlotte, you read all those dramatic stories and still don’t get it? People fall in love instantly all the time.”

“…What have you been reading?”

“Here.”

She handed me a serialized romance paper.

I slipped it into my sleeve.

“Anyway, Duke Myers isn’t that kind of person.”

He’s the classic regret-type male lead.

Cold first.

Regret later.

“You’re stubborn,” Aurora sighed. “Fine. Then go to Blake—with Duke Myers.”

“…What?”

“It’s His Majesty’s order.”

I blinked.

“He wants it—and the duke agreed willingly.”

…That was unexpected.

Cedric Myers.

Going voluntarily?

For me?

…No.

More like for Singcester.

Still—

That face…

That national-treasure-level face…

It couldn’t just go to waste.

Out of sheer responsibility—no, guilt—

I jumped to my feet.

“I need to go see Duke Myers.”