For My Derelict Favorite

Kaelus, the second lead in the original story, had died.

The only reason I could live in this world, the only joy that supported my life here, my favorite.

I really didn’t expect the post-happy ending story to continue this way.

At first, I thought I was having a vivid dream. I fell asleep while binge-reading one of the complete rofan novels for the nth time, but when I opened my eyes, it was a completely strange place.

No, it wasn’t strange, to be honest, because this place was none other than a novel that I was binge-reading. It was a really interesting experience. In other words, this place was definitely unrealistic, but it had become a reality.

Anyway, I suddenly became a nameless extra in the novel.

From that day on, the world felt more alive than in VR, and I watched the “Novel.”

Fortunately, my wealth was abundant without reason, and I devoted all this money generously to give myself more status. In order to see the main characters closely, I bought the status of a fallen aristocrat. That way, I could participate in the aristocratic banquet properly. I was so excited to see Diana, Kaelus, and Helios walk by me, who was a true fanatic.

First, the heroine with long pink hair with a subtle pearl-like color, as described in the novel. Bright eyes with a mysterious mixture of blue and green, like the color of the sea at Hyeopjae Beach. Perhaps because she was the most beautiful woman in the world, she seemed to float as she walked. She had a very confident personality, fitting the role of providing the strongest cider* in this novel.

*TN: cider is slang for the feeling of satisfaction after justice is served

I went to the temple for treatment with the sole purpose of looking closely at the heroine’s face. After making a considerable donation and getting a face-to-face with the “Saintess” for a minor scratch, I could say it wasn’t a waste of money.

And the other two, who had no choice but to be tied for first place in the beauty ranking with Diana; the crown prince, who was a confident male character, and his best friend, the young marquis, who confronted Helios with Diana between them.

The male lead perfectly satisfied the needs of black-haired lead enthusiasts. With a combination of black hair and golden eyes, he was the best man in the world. Great body, face, and royal status—a character that the writer made and wrote only the best about.

And the tragic male character, Kaelus. He was originally a cool-headed and sometimes—for plot purposes—a cruel man, but with the heroine, he was the sweetest man in the world. Despite his desperate love for Diana, he was an unfortunate capable man whom she did not choose.

The plot of the original story was roughly like this.

Diana was a healing Saintess, a great priest of God who always gives love to the weak. As enchanting as her beauty, she was called the only hope in an empire full of greed and tricks.

Two men were enamored of her—Prince Helios and his best friend, Marquis Kaelus. Using their status and wealth, they helped the Saintess alongside each other and cooperated in creating a better world for her.

“Diana, you’re always right. I’ll join you.”

“Don’t forget I’m always behind you, Diana.”

Of course, there were villains who confronted these main characters. The head of the aristocracy, the Duke of Orcus, and his daughter, Princess Letona. He was a typical villain who refused to get his hands dirty and did it through others. As they faced them, the love triangle between the three main characters deepened.

Letona, the evil woman who confronted the heroine, greatly bothered Diana. But thanks to the power of a family that even the emperor was afraid of, she was engaged to Helios and aspired to become an empress in the future.

“Wouldn’t the empire’s nobility fit better with the noble blood? Not a woman born with common blood.”

“If you don’t want the Duke of Orcus to create a new Duchy, you’ll have to accept this marriage, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

The emperor’s authority was shaken inexorably by the breath of the nobles, and the crown prince was forced into an unwanted marriage over his beloved woman. Eventually, Kaelus didn’t hesitate to take the bullet as soon as he found evidence of the duchess’s crime for his friend and the woman he loved.

“The only time to root out the duke is now. If the imperial family goes out, I can be counterattacked, so I have to move alone this time.”

A decisive moment emerged for the second lead not to be chosen by Diana. It was the Duke and his daughter who induced them to drink their tea. Although they ended up killing themselves, it was just as good as the second lead killing them directly.

Diana harshly criticized the second lead’s behavior. It was the second lead’s decision to nip the Duchess in the bud, out of fear that she would face the crown prince and the Saintess again after receiving only lenient punishment, but Diana scolded it as cruel and immoral. She pointed out that it was clear that he was a marquis and that he had let the duke and princess die of their own will.

“Kaelus! How can you drive a man to choose death? You’ve pushed far too cruelly…! You don’t have the authority or the right to do it!”

Diana completely turned her back on Kaelus.

With the death of the villain, the empire regained its peace, and the novel ended with a happy wedding ceremony between Diana and Kaelus.

The decisive factor that made the novel popular was the charm of Kaelus and Helios, no matter what anyone said. Brilliant and wonderful Helios and thoughtful and gentle Kaelus. Even though he* was a nobody, he divided the readers’ hearts by showing the standard of the female lead, Diana, a powerful Saintess who poured out unrelenting words at the nobles. Some readers even commented that it was too cruel to choose one person, so some readers asked to make it a reverse harem.

*TN: He, being the author of the book.

Unfortunately, I was one of the people who was on the second lead’s side. I was also firmly caught in the lead battle some rofan readers often get into.

Even at the end of the series between the heroine and the crown prince, Kaelus still held on to his feelings for the heroine. I didn’t know how I comforted my heart while reading the ending. Our second lead will be happy later, too, and he will meet a good person who recognizes his true feelings, so he can forget about Diana and start anew.

I woke up in this body at the beginning of the novel, and by the time I saw the ending, a year or so had already passed. I witnessed the wedding ending of the crown prince and the heroine with a relieved heart. I also was able to attend their wedding party by pouring generous money.

The second lead wished happiness to the two people with a lonely smile, and I looked at him more pitifully than anyone else.

Be sure to be happy. You have to be happy.

You’re a smart man, so you won’t dwell for long on a passing first love. Please get up from this broken heart and live your life with confidence.

I prayed secretly and prayed again and again and again.

Honestly, I knew being inside a novel would be a long dream. So after watching the ending, I thought I could return to my real life. The novel was over, so I had no reason to stay. I still have a lot of work to do in real life!

To my surprise, however, the next time I opened my eyes, I was still in this novel. I was embarrassed because there was no way to know why I couldn’t solve my situation. I went to the streets in search of a clue.

And the news came like a bolt from the blue.

My favorite. My second lead, Kaelus,

He killed himself.

My eyes were swollen, and my voice became hoarse.

My favorite had passed away in extreme despair without anyone to comfort him.

I never wished for such an end. You should have lived well. You should have lived your life bravely and quickly mend your broken heart.

I no longer had any lingering attachment for this world. I couldn’t help but hate the couple, Diana and Helios, who pushed him to turn his back on the world. My affection for them as readers of the novel disappeared as if it was all just an act. I never forgave Diana and Helios for abandoning Kaelus.

I couldn’t open my eyes to reality. Life in the novel continued without meaning. In the meantime, he worked as if he wanted to collapse, collecting the behind-the-scenes stories of the main couple.

After the Saintess became a crown princess, her healing power gradually weakened. The strongest basis for making her the crown prince’s companion had gradually lost strength. The couple’s powers, which made them look only at each other, were also peeled off little by little. The fiery love between the two main characters lasted less than two years at most.

Love cools down so quickly. Then what did my favorite give up his life for? My life was full of rage and frustration.

I had no regrets about my life, so I didn’t care for my health properly. One day when I was sick to the verge of death, I clenched my teeth and went to the temple.

I collected my last remaining money and asked the retainer, “Let me see the Saintess, just this once.”

However, the retainer replied, “I can’t let a saintess who had sat on a high throne meet a humble person like you.” Saintess Diana, a priestess of the temple and a friend of the common people, no longer existed.

I lost my mind. I rushed into a small room used as a prayer room and closed the door tightly. I shouted at the god who created this world and the novel’s author.

Save my favorite!

I’ve lived without knowing why I’ve possessed this body, and my only hope, my favorite, Kaelus, somehow led me from my aimless life.

Save him or kill me. Please do something about it.

I’m exhausted. I’m going to die.

I shouted and shouted.

And at that moment, a miracle happened.

As I fell in the temple, I opened my eyes again.

Unbelievably…

I met my favorite, Kaelus.