CHAPTER 2 – THE DELICIOUS MAN

When he woke up, he was lying in a bed with light blue lace. An unrealistically spacious room. The ceiling was also impossibly high. Tae-ram forced his dazed mind to wake up to the absurdity of the situation.

Startled, Tae-ram sat up and looked around.

The wardrobe and table looked very luxurious, even to someone who didn’t know much about furniture. The gilded doors had small lion heads on them. A large, beautiful chandelier sparkled and shimmered on the ceiling. It was the kind of room a princess would jump out of. He’d never been to Versailles, France, but this is what it must have looked like.

“What the hell is this, a kidnapping, a dream, a hidden camera?” 

Tae-ram slapped his cheek several times. It hurts.

He rolled and rolled in his hangover-ridden mind, but the absurdity of the situation was too much for his brain to handle. He was just confused.

As he stood there, something flew in front of him. 

[What?]

An unidentified creature hovered in the sky.

“Eek! A bird, a bird talks….”

Tae-ram rubbed his eyes with both hands in disbelief. The mysterious creature was still floating in the sky.

[What a noisy human]

It was the size of a palm, yellow and round. Black eyes that looked like they were sprinkled with black sesame seeds. It had a tiny beak and wings. Like a child’s doodle, the yellow bird flapped its wings and fluttered around Tae-ram like a young fly.

“Am I crazy for having visions?” 

Tae-ram pinched his cheek this time. It hurts again.

[Do you like to beat yourself up?]

He had a lot of questions, but he asked the one that bothered him the most.

“Hey, you. I mean… What’s wrong with the way you talk? Where did you learn Korean? It’s weird.”

[Stop being silly and get this.]

Yellow threw something at Tae-ram, who was still confused. Tae-ram somehow caught it. It was a novel with an all-too-familiar cover.

“?The Delicious Man??”

[This is a fictional world.] 

“What the hell does that mean?”

[I don’t feel like explaining, just look in the mirror.]

Tae-ram, whose head felt like it was going to explode, couldn’t think of anything. He did as he was told and stood in front of the mirror.

“…This is me?”

Tae-ram marveled at his reflection.

His hair, which had turned to dog hair due to bleaching, was now shiny silver, like silk. His eyes, once a normal color, now had a hint of gold in them, like they were set in amber. His skin was always fair, but now there was not a single blemish to be seen. It was as white and transparent as a porcelain doll made of flour. It was an unrealistic beauty.

Tae-ram couldn’t believe his eyes. He felt like he had become a noble and refined character.

He made faces at his reflection in the mirror, and the man in the mirror mimicked his every move. Tae-ram stuck his finger in his nostrils, and the reflection did the same. He even tried scrunching up his face with his palms, but his beauty remained intact. He realized he wouldn’t be able to play the game of boasting about his looks with his friends anymore. All that came to his mind were frivolous thoughts.

Yellow observed Tae-ram being absorbed in his changed appearance and finally spoke.

[Stop looking in the mirror, please.]

“…Honestly, I like it, but why did I change like this?” 

[Because of the force.]

“Force?”

[Force is the power to keep the story going as it was in the original. Your role is the main character, and your appearance has been calibrated to fit the original setting.]

“What about the original… My novel?”

[Yes].

“Tell me more.”

Tae-ram’s expression grew darker and darker as Yellow continued.

Force is a power that tries to reproduce the original work, and the higher the error rate, the stronger it is triggered. The error rate is determined by Tae-ram’s behavior.

“What happens when the error rate increases?”

[The force will assimilate you into this world, and you will lose your memories of the original world.]

“…What?”

[Instead, you’ll see the ending of the novel, and you’ll be able to return to your original world.] 

“Is there any other way?”

[This is the only way to go back.] 

“What are you?”

[I am a fairy born to fulfill a will.] 

“Whose will?”

[I can’t answer that because of the prohibition.]

“I’m the creator, so I assume I have a right to be heard?” 

[I can’t answer because of the prohibition.]

“You won’t answer the most important question?”

[I’m frustrated too! But if I tell you, I’ll….] 

“What happens if you break the prohibition?”

[I’ll cease to exist….]s

Tae-ram didn’t even bother to argue further when he saw Yellow’s sullen expression. The yellow blob was the only thing that could explain this situation, and he couldn’t just disappear. Tae-ram calmed him down and pried out as much information as he could. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much.

Why this novel… What was he guilty of in his past life and he has to experience the dark history.

?The Delicious Man? was the first novel that Tae-ram wrote with the help of Min-ah, and it was full of provocative material, clumsy writing style, and choppy plotting.

The biggest problem was that he couldn’t remember any of its content. A cold sweat began to run down Tae-ram’s back. Still, it was his work, so maybe he’d remember it as he went along. It would work.

Tae-ram pushed down his anxious and uneasy feelings and quickly organized his thoughts. It was a moment when the mental strength he had gained from publishing his novel and overcoming fifty thousand malicious comments shone through.

[I forgot to tell you, there’s one more person besides you.]

Yellow’s casual remark sent Tae-ram’s mind spinning again. 

“There was another victim besides me? It’s not like it’s a one plus one….”

[Someone with a connection to you.]

The military had destroyed his connections, so he had no idea. The only thing that came to mind was Min-ah. Well, anyone would be better than being alone.

“Is it a woman? A man? What’s their name? Can you tell me?” 

[If anyone….]

Just as the yellow creature was about to say something, there were three knocks on the door, quite rough knocks at that.

“It’s not like a debt collector or anything. It’s annoying when it’s an important moment.”

Tae-ram was about to open the door without a second thought when Yellow warned him.

[What you say and do to people on this side of the world affects the story.]

Yellow’s words stopped Tae-ram in his tracks. If the person outside the door was a major character, and if he acted out of character, the error rate would increase.

“Can you see where we are in the story?” 

[Open the book and you’ll see.]

Taking Yellow’s advice, Tae-ram hastily opened the novel and the door swung open.

A man with a dazzling appearance that could rival any celebrity stepped into the room.

Caught off guard by the unexpected intruder, Tae-ram was momentarily speechless. The uninvited guest was extremely handsome. His platinum hair glistened in the sunlight, as beautiful and colorful as a gang of grains of sand. His mysterious, deep amethyst eyes were especially impressive. Tae-ram was nervous and stuttered.

“You, who are you?”

“Are you the human, or rather, senior Han Tae-ram?”

The uninvited guest’s fine forehead furrowed. No, he barged in without permission, so why was he annoyed? Tae-ram felt a little irritated at the intruder’s presumptuous attitude.

“That’s right… Who are you?” 

“Haah… You really are senior.”

The uninvited guest let out a long sigh and clamped his mouth shut. Tae-ram felt an ominous sense of foreboding creep up on him at the familiarity.

“And you are Lee Se-ho?” 

“…Yes.”

Tae-ram decided to cancel his earlier thought that anyone would be better than being alone with the dirty premonition that wouldn’t go away.

“I’m possessed by Kirik Lu Persian, the main character in your novel.”

* * *

According to Se-ho, Tae-ram’s name was the same as in the original world. 

“Is it because the main character is an ordinary college student?”

“I think my appearance has changed a bit because of the description in the book, ‘He’s like a rabbit as white as snow,’ but I’m glad I have a senior who’s a writer. I don’t know anything about the later contents.”

“What? You said you’ve read all my novels. Why don’t you know?”

“I only read the beginning of The Delicious Man and closed it. The writing style was sloppy, the content was disjointed, and I couldn’t get through it.”

Se-ho’s words were similar to Tae-ram’s analysis of his writing. It was his first novel, so it was clumsy and sloppy, but strangely enough, hearing it from Se-ho made his stomach turn. Tae-ram closed and opened his eyes once to keep from getting angry.

“Anyway, you don’t know the contents either, do you?”

“You too? You should know, you’re the writer.” 

“…It’s been a while, so I don’t remember much.”

Embarrassed, Tae-ram involuntarily avoided Se-ho’s eyes. 

“Hah… You’re pathetic.”

“What?”

“I do remember the beginning quite clearly. Let’s start by completing that part.”

At Se-ho’s disrespectful glare and pathetic comment, Tae-ram’s pent-up anger switch was flicked.

“Why do you have to speak in such an unpleasant way?”

“Don’t act tired.”

“Tired of what? I’m the one who’s tired of being with you.” 

“Don’t get all hot and bothered….”

“That’s because you keep arguing!”

 “You’re the one who’s arguing!” 

“When did I ever do that!”

“Even now!”

Se-ho, who was about to shout, clenched his fists tightly and barely controlled his impulse. 

“…That’s enough, I want to finish this novel quickly so I can get out of this shitty situation. I don’t like you, but I’ll cooperate as much as I can.”

Tae-ram felt a tightness in his chest for some reason at Se-ho’s dagger-like words, but he pushed it away.

“I don’t like you either….” 

“He’ll be here soon.” 

“Who?”

Se-ho sighed again when he saw the innocent look on Tae-ram’s face as if he really didn’t know anything.

“The narrator of ?The Delicious Man?. Amil, I mean. You haven’t read it yet?” 

“I mean, what?”

“The novel! You must have gotten it, right?” 

“Oh… I was going to read it anyway….”

Se-ho cut Tae-ram off mid-sentence. 

“What the hell were you doing?”

“I was going to read it, but you came in!”

“The next part is coming up, so you better catch up.” 

“Okay, I will read it!”

Tae-ram yelled and nervously opened the book.

* * *

?The Delicious Man? Page 1

The maid, whom I am close with, used to call the prince a charming prince. She always said that a pure and pitiful flower-like maiden who perfectly suited the prince would appear as if by fate.  

At first, I didn’t think much of it, but as I listened and observed, I gradually became captivated by the story. 

Ah! My name is Amil, servant of the Runever Empire. I’m 18 years old, and I’m a potential crown prince because of my ability to spread the word…

The prince is the strongest and coolest man in the world. He’s the youngest Swordmaster in the empire, and he’s such a genius that during his time at the academy, he developed a theory of magic so practical and brilliant that it changed everyone’s lives forever. Everyone says he’s going to be a great king, marry a beautiful queen, and live to see another day.

But time marched on, and the prince grew well past the age of marriage. I thought inwardly that there was no such thing as fate, only delusion. Until he came along.

His name was Han Tae-ram. He is said to be God’s representative from the other world, or so the people in the castle call him, so I thought. He suddenly appeared from the sky during the prince’s coming-of-age ceremony. He was floating in the river, unconscious, and the prince swept him up and carried him to safety. It was like a scene from a fairy tale.

I still don’t know what the overwhelming emotion was that I felt when I saw them together. When I asked the maid about it, she said that I am now a comrade in protecting the Kirik-Tae-ram couple, so I should cosplay as an ordinary person more convincingly. Somehow, the hidden excitement seemed cool, so we decided to do it together.

“Amil! Don’t just stand there, quickly deliver Prince Kirik’s breakfast!”

“Yes. I’ll go. I’m going.”

The cranky butler was always getting on my case.

“Get a grip. Hold the tray straight.”

“Should I take it to Prince Kirik’s room?”

“He said he’s having breakfast with him today. To the guest room.” 

“Yes, I’ll be there.”

Oh, my goodness! I’m so glad the two are having breakfast together. Prince Kirik often stays in the guest room with Tae-ram these days. I wish I could see something as beautiful as that last time.

I haven’t told anyone yet, but I have a grand dream: to be the author of a history book, and I’m starting by recording what’s happening around me. Every day, I observe the daily life of Prince and Tae-ram.

Today, as a budding historian, I will continue to observe everything with a mission.

* * *

Closing the book, Tae-ram squeezed his eyes shut. He felt like he was going to die of shame.

At that time, it was popular to parody literature, so he used ?The Love Room Guest and His Father? as a motif… It was so funny when he wrote it while giggling with Min-ah, but when he looks at it again now…. he just wants to die.

Except for the part he just read, the book was all blank.

He has to fill in the rest of the book, right? With that asshole. The only good thing is that he remembered a little bit from the beginning.

The Delicious Man is a novel written in the third person. The narrator, Amil, observes and cheers for his two favorites, Prince Kirik, and the main character. The main character was a flashy pretty boy, a delicate and lovely flower boy with a hint of coquettish charm. He unknowingly captivated men of all ages and races. From the prince to a god, a dragon, and even a demon king… Later on, he is swept up in a tumultuous affair that even he cannot control, and the novel ends with him falling in love with the prince and marrying him.

“Do you remember a bit of it?” 

“The main outline is somewhat clear..”

“Somewhat? That’s such an underwhelming comment for a senior.”

“Don’t judge my life. I have enough on my plate without you….”

Tae-ram felt the swearing coming up to his chin, but he held it in. There was no point in arguing, he thought. But Se-ho wouldn’t let him off the hook.

“How can you forget what you wrote?” 

“You should have been in the army. It resets your brain.” 

“You have a bad brain, don’t you?”

“How smart you are!”

“At least it’s better than yours. For your information, I’m at the top of my year again.”

Se-ho smiled triumphantly. Tae-ram was getting tired of hearing him talk so condescendingly, thinking it was some kind of talent.

“You’re good, yeah. I’ll give you that, so why don’t you stop now?”

Tae-ram’s declaration of surrender didn’t stop Se-ho.

“It’s a childish, lighthearted, volatile novel that even the person who wrote it had forgotten about.”

“Hey, are you done talking?”

“Am I wrong?”

“You… You only write modern pieces where people die like falling leaves!”

Se-ho glared at him wordlessly. Tae-ram felt a chill run down his spine at the fierce gaze. Se-ho, already a big guy, seemed to have grown even larger with an intimidating presence.

Though frustrated, Tae-ram felt like he was about to be overwhelmed. Prince Kirik was supposed to be a Swordmaster. Maybe it’s just his mood, but he feels like he’s bursting with life… Still, it was embarrassing to walk away.

“What if you glare at me? Ha, I’m not scared at all.”

When Tae-ram glared at Se-ho, Se-ho laughed and balled his fist tightly. It was a very large fist, and Tae-ram was intimidated, but he didn’t let it stop him.

Yeah. He’s not worth a damn! He’s just getting a slap on the wrist. There are no cops here. …Ah! He doesn’t know! If he’s going to beat him up, then so be it!

“It’s not like I said anything wrong!”

Se-ho found Tae-ram’s low-key threats cute, like a kitten purring.

“You’re such an annoying person.”

Se-ho stalked toward Tae-ram. Even though he was just walking.

Tae-ram felt a strong sense of pressure, like a mouse in front of a cat. Unconsciously, he took a step back. The next thing he knew, a cold wall was pressed against his back. There was nowhere else to go.

“Why are you suddenly so quiet? Talk to me like before.”

That’s right! Tae-ram reflexively closed his eyes tightly. Se-ho looked down at him and smirked.

“Did you get tired?”

Just when Tae-ram had made up his mind to pounce on Se-ho, kill or be eaten, Yellow who had suddenly appeared shouted, 

[Amil’s here!]

“…What?”

“Stay put.”

Se-ho clicked his tongue and clutched Tae-ram’s face with both hands. Then he pressed his thumbs to Tae-ram’s chin, forcing him to open his mouth.

“What are you doing….”

The next moment, a soft, plump piece of flesh slid into his mouth.

It was unmistakably a tongue. Se-ho’s tongue swirled mercilessly inside Tae-ram’s mouth in a wild motion. It was a crude tongue tease, full of force, not a soft touch.

His breath caught in his throat as he thrust deeper and deeper. He clutched at Se-ho’s hair amid his inaction. Se-ho frowned slightly, but the kiss didn’t stop. It only deepened, devouring his breath.

“Haa…!”

“Haa….”

After a moment of embarrassment and shame, Tae-ram felt better and better. As Tae-ram’s breathing slowed, Se-ho’s tongue moved differently, stomping around inside Tae-ram’s mouth. The erotic sensation made his legs go limp. Se-ho wrapped his arms tightly around his waist to keep him from falling.

It feels good… Not like this! Not like this… Tae-ram’s mind was a mess, but he desperately tried to keep it together. The Se-ho he knew was not a man who acted without reason. Amil was here, so he must be playing by the book.

Tae-ram desperately tried to think of what the main character should do next. He rebelled at first, refusing to accept the prince. Let’s think. He has to rebel.

Han Tae-ram! Yes… Headbutt! Tae-ram pushed Se-ho as hard as he could and smashed his head into his face.

Se-ho was thrown off balance by the sudden impact and staggered, but fortunately didn’t fall. To be honest, he was being a little rough on purpose, trying to pick on Tae-ram. Still, he hadn’t expected such a strong counterattack.

Se-ho gently touched his nose, which felt like it was about to bleed, and recited the macho line he had prepared for Tae-ram.

“You’re always so new and stimulating, I like it.”

Contrary to the words of liking, Se-ho’s voice oozed irritation. The fierce look in his eyes told him how angry he was. A mixture of guilt and satisfaction welled up in Tae-ram.

Does it hurt much? He must have hit the right spot. Well, at least he acted according to the original, since the main character rejected the prince at the beginning.…

Having finished his self-justification, Tae-ram opened his mouth to continue the story. “Y-you got what you deserved for acting out. You scared me.”

“It doesn’t even scratch the itch, but next time be careful, hurting royalty gets you in trouble. It’s not pleasant when you get punished by someone else.”

“Anyway, why did the prince… Why, why are you coming so close again?”

“You have such a cute face, I can’t help but want to touch you.”

Despite his sweet words, Se-ho’s actions were harsh. He grabbed Tae-ram’s arm in a vicious grip as if to rip it off. There was no mistaking that there was more force than necessary in his grip.

“It hurts! Let go!”

Tae-ram’s voice was not an act, but a sincere cry. All sorts of curses were being hurled at Se-ho in his head.

“Oh no. I guess I was too harsh.”

Se-ho dragged Tae-ram away like a piece of luggage and slammed him down on the bed. Tears stung his eyes as his back ached, but whether he liked it or not, Se-ho was playing the part.

“Good boy. Be quiet, I won’t be rough.”

Se-ho climbed on top of Tae-ram, their faces getting closer and closer together. Their lips were about to meet.

There was a hiss and the sound of something breaking. Se-ho shouted sharply.

“Who is it!”

“I-I’m sorry.”

The boy was sobbing and clutching his head. The floor was littered with smashed dishes.

Amil, right? Cute as a flying squirrel. He was smaller than he had imagined, and he thought he looked like a small animal. It was exciting to see his character come to life.

As Tae-ram admired Amil, Se-ho approached him and carefully helped him to his feet, dusting him off with a gentle touch.

“Are you hurt?”

“My prince. Please punish me.”

“It is all right. I don’t want to punish you for something as small as this.” 

“But….”

“…Consider it my way of repaying you for always helping me.” 

“…Thank you.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell the butler.”

Se-ho smiled softly, and Amil’s hardened expression melted like snow. Tae-ram felt goosebumps on his skin as he watched Se-ho play Prince Kirik to perfection.

It’s a completely different personality, and the theater world is missing out on a tremendous amount of talent.

Revitalized, Amil spoke up. 

“Well, then, Prince. I’ll bring back breakfast!”

“Breakfast is done, bring back some light refreshments around two o’clock.” 

“Yes! Understood.”

Amil replied cheerfully and scurried out of the room like a small animal.

With the door closed and the pretension gone, Tae-ram flopped down on his bed.

“I’m tired….”

“Get up. Senior. I want you to try to match it simply.”

“I’ll just rest for a bit.”

“No time to rest, Amil will be here soon with refreshments.”

Unmasked as a prince, Se-ho wore an eerily blunt expression, and Tae-ram, who hated him for not giving him anything, grumbled in annoyance.

“I’ll just lie down for ten minutes. Okay?”

“Are you sulking at me? I’m the one who needs to be comforted.” 

“You just bossed me around all you wanted, you little shit!”

“It was all an act. That’s the kind of character Prince Kirik is.”

“Well, well. You’re quite the actor.”

“And you’re the troublesome brat, aren’t you? You seemed serious with that headbutt earlier. If I had fallen for it, the error rate would have gone up for sure.”

“Well, the main character was supposed to resist from the beginning…”

“It was more desperate than necessary. Can you be sure there were no emotions involved?”

Tae-ram was momentarily at a loss for words at Se-ho’s precise point. 

“Look at it. You’re too emotional and impulsive.”

“…I’ll be careful in the future, so don’t nag me.”

“I’m not nagging, I’m worried. I don’t want me to be the victim of your rash behavior.”

“Who do you think you are? I don’t like it either.” 

“It’s your novel in the first place!” 

“Are you saying this is all because of me?”

“At least it has something to do with you, think about it.” 

“I don’t know! It’s driving me crazy!”

“It’s driving me crazy too! I want to get out of here right now!”

“It’s me who wants to get out! Why do I have to go through this with a wimpy brat in my past life?”

“I didn’t ask for it either. It was disgusting!”

Disgusting? This face? Tae-ram was inwardly shocked by Se-ho’s blunt words. Tae-ram used to have pride in his appearance. With the buff from the setting, he boasted an angelic appearance, but now there was no need to mention it.

“Then why did you act so intensely earlier? You could’ve just pretended to fool Amil with your eyes!”

“That was because of you, senior!”

“What did I do!”

“…Nothing.”

Se-ho, who was getting just as heated as Tae-ram, suddenly fell backward. Tae-ram grunted and refused to let go of Se-ho.

“What is it? Say it till the end! What did I do?”

“I thought it would cause a big problem if we were caught pretending. That’s why.”

“Tell me honestly. You enjoyed kissing me, didn’t you?”

There was a moment of silence as Tae-ram’s words gained momentum. Tae-ram lowered his head, embarrassed by his own words. Se-ho’s face was as red as an apple.

[What are you both doing?]

At Yellow’s words, both of them shouted at the same time.

“We didn’t do anything!”

“We didn’t do anything!”

[That’s good, but check the book. It’s filled with a few more pages.] 

“The novel! Where did it go? It’s gone!”

Tae-ram’s novel was nowhere to be found. 

[It appears when it thinks it’s needed.]

Tae-ram strongly believed that he needed the book, just like Yellow said, and it appeared in his hand.

* * *

?The Delicious Man? Page 13

No matter how many times I knocked, there was no response, and I knew I shouldn’t, but I peeked through the doorway and saw the prince and Tae-ram. They were too close for a casual conversation.

I watched in silence, my heart pounding….…

The prince pushed Tae-ram up against the wall, and passionate kissing began! I didn’t even take a breath to concentrate, and I marveled at the prince’s rougher-than-usual language.

Tears welled up in Tae-ram’s large pupils, and the baby-like chubby cheeks blushed red with embarrassment. I couldn’t resist getting closer to take a better look, but in doing so, I made a big mistake.

I dropped the tray of food in my fascination, and in my embarrassment, I fell flat on my face and repeated my apologies. The prince, to my surprise, helped me to my feet.

* * *

As Tae-ram read the additional pages, Se-ho, who had been lost in thought, spoke up.

“I think I understand something.” 

“What?”

“How the page fills up.”

Tae-ram cringed again at the patronizing look in Se-ho’s eyes, but curiosity won out over anger.

“I don’t understand, so explain it to me.”

“Actually, I did some experiments earlier. I wanted to see how far we were allowed to go with our behavior, so I acted differently from the original.”

“You did?”

“Didn’t you know that? It’s the book you wrote.”

“…Keep talking.”

As much as he hated to admit it, Tae-ram thought that the bratty junior in front of him had a better grasp of the situation than him. It must be true that he was the top in his class, right?

“I don’t think we need to copy every single line and action from the original, just the main plotline.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m pretty sure. Throwing you on the bed was a different behavior in the original. In the original work, he kisses the instep of the foot, carefully hugs him, and gently lays him down.”

“You did that on purpose, it hurts like hell!”

With his back still throbbing, Tae-ram finally lost his temper with Se-ho. Se-ho didn’t give in and started arguing with Tae-ram.

“Didn’t you hit me in the head with all your might!” 

“I did it according to the original!”

“No, you didn’t! In the original, it was just a gentle push, not a brute hit like that.”

“A brute hit? Do you want me to hit you again?”

“You’re not a child, but why are you acting so childish?” 

“Who’s the one acting like a child!”

“Do you still not see my red nose?” 

“Would you like to see my backside, I’m sure it’s bruised?”

Tae-ram pulled up his top. His bare skin was exposed.

“Oh, okay, don’t take it off.”

Se-ho, greatly embarrassed, squirmed and moved to pull Tae-ram’s top back down with a careful touch.

“Get off me, who started it, look at you. Let’s see who’s worse!”

“We’re out of time, so let’s leave it at that.”

Se-ho flipped open the novel he was carrying and held it out to Tae-ram. New pages were being generated at a frightening rate. The contents were all Amil’s delusions. In his mind, Tae-ram and Se-ho were building the Great Wall of China. The embarrassingly graphic description made the two of them dare not read it closely.

“…Alright, let’s just pretend it didn’t happen.” 

“…Understood.”

“Anyway, as long as we follow the main plotline, the error rate doesn’t go up.” 

“The jewel is still intact, so I’m sure of it.”

“Jewel?”

“You don’t know anything. The red jewel embedded in the front of the book gets cloudy when the error rate goes up.”

A little stung by Se-ho’s sighing voice, Tae-ram calmed down.

After that, the two stopped fighting, exchanged information, and went over the story. After a quick script, they were ready to welcome Amil back.

As 2:00 approached, Tae-ram became nervous like a new actor about to perform for the first time. Earlier, he’d gotten the momentum going and managed to pull it off, but if he messed up, would he be here forever?

He’ll be here forever, right? He feels like he’s going to throw up.…

Se-ho spoke to Tae-ram, who couldn’t hide his nervousness. 

“Are you worried?”

“No, I’m completely fine.”

“There’s no need to bluff.” 

“Oh, I’m not!”

“Calm down. Your failure is my failure. We’re in this together now.”

“…Uh, yeah.”

At the sound of Se-ho’s low, calm voice, Tae-ram was able to shake off some of his nervousness.

“…Thank you.”

“Let’s do one last check before Amil gets here.”

“Yes! So, the main point is that the main character wanted to go back to his original world and…”

“Apologize to the prince for what happened earlier and makeup.”

The two exchanged lines several times, and Tae-ram, who had gained a certain amount of confidence with repeated practice, even relaxed a bit.

* * *

At two o’clock, Amil arrived, bringing out a tray of luxurious refreshments. 

“Excuse me.”

Crisp apple pie, steaming pumpkin scones, and pudding topped with large strawberries. All Tae-ram’s favorites, just like the world he’d created. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast, but the desserts looked so tempting that he couldn’t resist. He loved to eat, and he’d always hung out with Min-ah, who ate three meals a day, plus dessert.

“Prince. Can I eat this?”

It was a failure from the first line, but Tae-ram decided it was okay. Of course, Se-ho didn’t think so, and his face stiffened sharply.

“…Of course.”

“Thank you.”

Tae-ram picked up one of the strawberries with his hand for dignity’s sake and brought it to his mouth. A sour flavor spread in his mouth. It tasted like honey.

“Tae-ram, the fork…” 

“Let me do it.”

Though Se-ho wore a bright smile, his hand holding the fork trembled noticeably. He seemed conscious of Amil.

“…You’re an important guest, so I’ll take special care of you.”

“I, too, will serve Tae-ram with all my heart.” 

“Thank you. Amil.”

Whether Se-ho and Amil were having a cordial conversation or not, Tae-ram destroyed the strawberry pudding and moved on. He slathered a still-warm pumpkin scone with orange jam and shoved it into his mounded mouth. The scone was crisp on the outside but moist on the inside, and the jam was tangy.

“You’re a good eater. Is there anything else you need?”

Se-ho called out to Tae-ram, hiding the harsh air currents, but Tae-ram was too busy eating to answer.

“Han Tae-ram.”

The moment his eyes locked with Se-ho’s, Tae-ram felt sorry for him. 

“I’m sorry I’ve been so ravenous. I was a little hungry….”

“No, you’re not. You look adorable when you eat well.” 

“I’m embarrassed.”

“Just telling the truth. It’s cute.”

Se-ho suddenly stood up and walked over to Tae-ram. 

“P-prince?”

“Oh, no… Your pretty got a bit messy.”

Se-ho raised his hand, and Tae-ram reflexively closed his slimy eyes. He’s not going to hit him for eating something, he thought, and his body stiffened. Fortunately, Se-ho’s hand merely brushed away the crumbs from his mouth.

Relieved, Se-ho leaned in closer and whispered in a low voice that only he could hear.

“If you don’t do it right, I’m going to make Amil clean up all the dessert.” 

“Sorry. I’m just hungry….”

“Pull yourself together and do it right.”

Tae-ram nodded vigorously. Se-ho’s words about putting away the dessert were like dry air. He hadn’t even touched the apple pie yet, and his heart was racing. Feeling a sense of urgency, Tae-ram blurted out the line he’d practiced earlier.

“I’m sorry about earlier, Prince. I was so surprised.” 

“I must have acted roughly to scare you.” 

“No, I’m the one who dared to put my hands on you.” 

“It’s okay. All misunderstandings between us are cleared up now, right?”

“Yes.”

Now all Tae-ram had to do was smile shyly and hug Se-ho. He moved his facial muscles as best he could. Unlike Tae-ram’s smile, which was very awkward, Se-ho’s smile at Tae-ram was quite natural.

“Can you be mine?”

Despite his soft voice, Se-ho’s eyes weren’t smiling. Instead of being excited, Tae-ram was scared.

“I have a crush on the prince, but I can’t.” 

“Even though I want you so badly?”

Tae-ram felt like his limbs were going numb.

“What on earth is the problem?”

“I miss my parents so much. Huhuhu.”

Tae-ram mimed crying and threw himself into Se-ho’s arms. It was a flawless performance. Tae-ram opened his eyes to look at Amil, and to his relief, he was listening with a twinkle in his eye. He must be safe.

“Don’t worry. I’ll help you as much as I can.”

Se-ho pulled Tae-ram into a tight embrace. Despite his size, Se-ho’s embrace was comfortable. Tae-ram burrowed deeper into his arms, feeling the warmth.

“Amil. You may leave now. I’ll stay with him until he calms down.”

“Yes! Very well, then I’ll put the refreshments away.”

At Amil’s words, Tae-ram dug his nails into Se-ho’s back. Se-ho gritted his teeth against the pain and whispered to Tae-ram behind Amil’s back.

“What’s wrong?”

Tae-ram replied coldly.

“Apple pie. Leave it.”

“…Okay, take it easy. It hurts.”

His hands relaxed.

“Leave the refreshments. No one should come into this room today.” 

“As you wish.”

Amil left with the sound of the door closing behind him. As his footsteps faded into the distance, Tae-ram spoke, his voice softening.

“Is he gone?” 

“Seems like it.” 

“I should check if the pages have been filled properly. You must be relieved to have secured provisions.” 

“Don’t be sarcastic.” 

“Rather, can you step away now?”

Tae-ram immediately pulled out of Se-ho’s arms. 

“Oh… Sorry. Let me check the book!”

Embarrassed, Tae-ram hurriedly took out the book. When he saw the number of pages added, he felt proud.

“At this rate, we’ll fill it up in no time.”

“I was worried when you were eating like a starving maniac, but I’m glad it’s over now.”

“You’re being an asshole again!”

“I’m just telling you the truth.”

Guilty as charged, Tae-ram opened his mouth to retort but shut it. No matter how hungry he was, he had to admit it, and he suddenly realized that he wouldn’t have been able to finish the page if he’d been alone.

“…Please be good to me in the future.” 

“What?”

Se-ho could only stare blankly at Tae-ram’s outstretched hand.

“We’re supposed to work together. We’re in this together. Let’s stop fighting.” 

“You’ve always been the one to pick fights.”

“Hey, come on!”

Hesitantly, Se-ho grabbed Tae-ram’s hand. 

“Please do the same for me.”

Se-ho’s eyes softened and the corners of his mouth curved upward. Unlike the fake smile he wore when he was playing the prince, it was a nice smile that naturally seeped into his heart. He’s handsome, Tae-ram thought with renewed admiration.

* * *

Meanwhile, a red-haired man was watching them from a distance.

His eyes sparkled with curiosity and interest from beneath his deeply pressed hood.

“Pretty, unusual. An unfamiliar soul I haven’t seen before.”