NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2
“…Is ‘Manager’ a nickname or are you actually a manager?”
[asdf: Real]
[Please Shake a Carrot: Yes, a real manager!]
So, a manager for oversight and supervision, then. I hadn’t expected to be assigned a manager.
If they were a manager, they might as well act as my ally.
I thought it would be best to greet them first. I looked at the chat window and said hello.
“Hello?”
[Manager: ㅡㅡ]
Instead of a response, only a terse emoticon was thrown back.
‘Don’t they like me?’
As my expression showed my thoughts, someone else spoke up for me.
[Isaac: It’s okay, that one’s always grumpy]
[Isaac has been muted from chatting for 5 minutes.]
[asdf: Tsk tsk]
[MadelineTastesGood: If they’re really that grumpy, why?]
[MadelineTastesGood has been muted from chatting for 5 minutes.]
[OnlyFinley: Are they fools?]
[SaltNPepperCat: ** That’s abuse of power]
[Manager: ㅗ]
Clearly, they had a bad attitude. I understood right away.
That was enough for the greetings. Before the viewers got bored and left, I had to do something. I got out of bed and left the room.
As I came out, I saw a few people dressed as maids.
The maids glanced at me and then simply passed by, treating me like I was invisible.
[Please Shake a Carrot: Ah, so it’s right after the original story starts]
[asdf: Totally ignored, lol]
I could guess why there were no maids in my room and why the servants ignored me.
The Duke of Erpeso had firmly declared that he would no longer treat Anais as his daughter. The servants, having heard the rumors, were behaving accordingly.
If the Duke truly had given up on Anais, he would have sent her to the Grand Duke. But Selena was still set to go to the Grand Duke’s estate. This meant that Anais, his biological daughter, was still more precious to the Duke than Selena.
First, as all the original characters would be in the main house, I left the annex and headed there. Surprisingly, no one, neither knights nor guards, tried to stop me from heading to the main house despite my supposed isolation.
I had arrived at the main house, but I didn’t know the layout.
‘It would be good if I could meet Selena.’
As I was thinking this, I heard a voice from behind.
“…What?”
I turned around. A man with red hair looked at me with a frown.
I immediately recognized the man, thanks to the donation window that popped up.
[OnlyFinley has donated 100 points!]
– Fin!!! Lee!!!
Finley Erpeso. Anais’ younger brother and a secondary male lead.
With a look of distaste, Finley asked me,
“Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be isolated?”
[OnlyFinley has donated 100 points!]
– Finley speaks!!!
[OnlyFinley has donated 100 points!]
– Our Finley is so handsome!!!
[Isaac: Let’s focus on the broadcast, guys]
The reactions and donations from the angels seemed to intensify with every interaction, reflecting their excitement. It was clear that every move and dialogue here mattered to them. I needed to play my part convincingly, not just for the sake of the story, but also to gather the points necessary for my reincarnation.
As Finley confronted me, I knew I had to respond in a way that was true to Anais’s character, yet intriguing enough to captivate the audience. I readied myself to engage with Finley, knowing that this interaction could set the tone for how the angels viewed my performance in this world.
Ignoring the chaotic situation of the broadcast, I spoke calmly.
“Today marks the end of my isolation.”
“What? You still had a month left.”
“If I’m out, then it’s over.”
“…….”
Finley looked utterly incredulous.
Trying to initiate a conversation with one of the main characters, I lightly brought up a topic.
“Congratulations, Finley. I heard the news.”
Since Anais had just been stripped of her heirship, naturally, Finley would have taken over as the family heir.
Startled by my words, Finley soon scowled.
“That’s why I told you to stop your wicked behavior.”
“I was just congratulating you.”
“…Forget it. It’s not like you’d listen to me anyway.”
Finley gave up and turned away.
As Finley moved to leave, he seemed to remember something and said,
“And leave Selena alone.”
“Why?”
“…I’m the heir now.”
He meant that I should follow his ‘orders’ now that he was the heir.
How quickly he had started throwing his weight around after becoming the heir. What a promising younger brother.
I smirked.
“Sure, since the heir says so, I’ll listen.”
[OnlyPhinley: Our Finleyㅠㅠ]
[Please Shake a Carrot: lol]
[NyamNyamoo: Cute]
[KongKongCorin=3: Finley’s adorable lol]
Judging by the angels’ reactions, Finley seemed to be a surprisingly popular character.
‘I should be careful not to offend him.’
Given his apparent fan base, acting rashly might provoke backlash from Finley’s fans. It seemed best to maintain a proper distance until I got on better terms with Finley.
“Have a good day anyway.”
“Where are you going?”
Just as I was about to leave, Finley stopped me. There was a hint of anxiety in his voice.
“To see Selena.”
“Then I’ll come with you.”
“……?”
I looked at Finley, puzzled.
I wondered why he suddenly wanted to accompany me, but then it clicked.
In the original story, Finley had fallen for Selena at first sight. He must still have feelings for her. That’s why he was anxious about me going to see Selena.
“I’m not going to trouble her, so don’t worry.”
“…….”
Even though I reassured him, Finley still looked at me with distrustful eyes.
[Isaac: Trust level 0]
[asdf: I can’t even trust her.]
[PleaseShakeACarrot: LOL, Finley is totally a romantic.]
[Gold2: That’s practically a pushover, LOL.]
[OnlyFinley: ** Are you calling Finley a pushover right now?]
[Gold2: Evil characters, kick out, go go.]
[Manager: Both of you, quiet down.]
[Gold2: ㅠㅠ]
They’re having fun among themselves. I glanced over the chat window and then looked back at Finley.
“Well, alright. Let’s go together.”
Since I didn’t know the way, it was good that Finley would lead the way.
Finley and I arrived in front of Selena’s room without a word of conversation. Finley stood idly by the door.
“Aren’t you going in?”
“Why should I go into someone else’s room?”
“Then why did you follow?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
Finley glared at me.
He just came to watch. In the original work, Finley always helped Selena from behind. That’s probably why he remained a secondary male lead.
I passed the door and entered the room. Due to Finley, the door wasn’t completely closed.
A woman was crouching on the bed. Her messily cut golden hair was the first thing I noticed.
The woman’s green eyes turned towards me. Startled upon making eye contact, she exclaimed,
“L, Lady…”
It was Selena, the female protagonist.
Just by making eye contact, Selena was already trembling. She must have been terribly bullied by Anais.
“How are you feeling?”
“…”
In response to my question, Selena avoided my gaze and then replied in a trembling voice,
“I’m okay.”
She clearly didn’t look okay. It seemed like she said that just to appease me, carefully gauging my reaction.
I thought back to the original content of the novel about Selena.
Selena was a fallen noble. Although she lived like a commoner, unaware that she was of noble birth, the reason she suddenly came to live in the Erpeso ducal family was because of a single proposal letter from the ducal family.
The Heyward Grand Duchy. They, bearing the bloodline of demons, managed the demon beasts in the outer regions.
To humans, demons were highly dreaded beings. Consequently, the image of the Grand Duchy was similar.
Rumors abounded about the reclusive duke, who cut off all ties with society. Amidst this, the Erpeso ducal family had no choice but to accept the proposal due to a debt owed to the Grand Duchy in the past.
Even with his eccentric daughter, Duke Erpeso cared for Anais. Unable to send his daughter to a territory filled with demon beasts, the duke hurriedly brought in a suitable person to pretend to be of the Erpeso bloodline. That was Selena.
“…”
Selena gripped the blanket tightly.
“Lady, I know what I have to do. I have no intention of refusing.”
It seemed like she mustered a lot of courage to say that.
Selena was shedding tears.
“I’ll listen to everything the ducal family says. So, please… don’t hate me too much.”
Selena must have been terribly mistreated by Anais. The exact details of what Anais did to Selena were not described in the text. There were just one or two lines mentioning that Selena was severely bullied by Anais.
I glanced at the weeping Selena and then spoke,
“I’ll come back later.”
There was nothing I could say at the moment. Selena was still frightened of me.
I quietly left the room and closed the door. Finley was leaning against the wall next to the door.
“…Was she crying?”
“Selena? Yeah, she was.”
“…….”
Finley bit his lip, his expression troubled.
I looked at him and casually asked,
“But why is her hair like that?”
Her hair had been a mess when I saw her earlier. It looked unevenly and haphazardly cut.
At my question, Finley’s face twisted.
“Are you seriously asking that?”
From Finley’s reaction, I belatedly realized the reason.
[Isaac: Hey, you’re the one who did that.]
[Gold2: LOL, that’s hilarious.]
[PleaseShakeACarrot: LOL, Sister… Didn’t you read the original story?]
[MadelineTastesGood: I didn’t know either.]
[NyamNyamoo: ??]
It seems that in cramming the original content, I missed some detailed settings. Apparently, there was a scene where Anais cut Selena’s hair randomly.
Whether it was a fleeting part or not, there were somewhat puzzled reactions in the chat window.
Finley sighed deeply.
“Anais told her to leave it like that until her self-isolation ended. That’s why Selena also refused all the hairdressers.”
Even so, to leave her hair so badly cut like that. By now, Finley should have more influence in this family than Anais. But Selena, afraid of Anais, could not dare to accept Finley’s help.
‘Good thing I didn’t reincarnate as Selena.’
If I were Selena, I would have suffered greatly enduring Anais’s cruelty.
Anyway, after spending some time, maybe it’s time to send Finley back.
“So, back to the room…….”
Just as I was about to suggest we both head back to our rooms, the sponsorship window popped up.