Weren’t You the One Who Was Dying? Chapter 2

“Do you know that man, Dellers?”

“Of course.”

“Who is he?”

“He’s Colonel Ehit Cloyden. Don’t tell me you don’t know him, Dapflen?”

Dellers asked back in a tone like, ‘You don’t know one of the four great stars of our academy?’

‘Ehit Cloyden?’

Only after hearing that name did I finally realize what kind of novel this world belonged to.

Ehit was the male lead of the novel Flowers Blooming on the Sea, a story set in a port city—shortened to Sea Flower.

Sea Flower, a romance novel about Navy Colonel Ehit and the female lead Ridel, who was appointed as an admiral to his fleet, wasn’t exactly known for strong plot logic.

‘The beginning was definitely bright, but as it went on, it turned into a total mess—
the male lead dies, the second male lead dies, and only the female lead survives.’

Ehit, the male lead with a Northern Grand Duke–style appearance, was a character the author seemed to have poured every good trait into.

Born into the historic Cloyden family that held several titles, he was an officer who rose to the rank of colonel in just five years—at an astonishing speed.

He had a very cold and prickly personality, but his abilities and looks were outstanding, and he was even considered the top candidate to inherit the Cloyden dukedom.

He also possessed a special ability called precognitive sight. Thanks to that power, which allowed him to see scenes from the future, he led countless naval battles to victory.

However, perhaps because the author grew tired while writing, the novel ended in a weak, disappointing way……

‘At the end, it was revealed that he was terminally ill because of the side effects of his precognition.’

Saying that he was going to die anyway, Ehit Cloyden’s ending in the original story was taking a sword meant for the female lead.

“He joined our fleet recently. He’s the one and only person to reach the rank of colonel in just five years.”

“Mmm.”

“Other than his slightly prickly personality, he’s perfect in every way.”

Dellers, who loved explaining things, swirled his champagne glass and made me completely sure that this really was the world of Sea Flower.

“They say he rejects every marriage proposal because none of them satisfy him.”

“Dellers, that man…… already has someone meant for him.”

“What? Who is it? Dapflen, did you hear something?”

I just shook my head at Dellers’s pressing questions. All the while, my eyes stayed fixed on Ehit—the man who suited the night scenery of Bellachen better than anyone else.

 

 

****

 

 

 

“……it seems so.”

“Pardon? Sir, what did you say?”

It took some time to adjust to the memories of my past life that had suddenly resurfaced.

Anyone would be the same. How could you fully keep your sense of reality after suddenly realizing the world you lived in was a novel?

I was working as a healer at the Imperial Infirmary in southern Bellachen. The infirmary was always busy. I tied my hair up tightly and tried to focus, but it didn’t go well.

“Mrs. Bella, the treatment is finished. You may go now.”

Mrs. Bella was a patient who had been visiting the infirmary often these past few days. Her clothes were shabby, yet somehow she looked oddly well-off.

“You should go home and rest for about three days.”

“Do you think so too, ma’am?”

“Go home and rest. Something important will happen soon.”

To be honest, I had already felt like I was working with only half my awareness active.

As soon as Mrs. Bella’s treatment ended, I submitted a leave request to the infirmary.

After taking leave, what I did next was something I could hardly believe myself—I camped out in front of the naval base and observed Ehit.

I usually cared a great deal about how I spent my days off. Even so, lying around in the dormitory made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable.

‘I’ve realized this huge fact—that I’m inside a novel. Is it really okay to just lie around like this?’

I didn’t even know what role I played in this story.

‘Did I forget it? My name, Dapflen, was mentioned, so why do I remember other characters but not my own role?’

So, for now, I went to the naval base. Since Sea Flower was set around Bellachen’s naval base, I thought I might learn something just by observing the place.

“Dapflen, what’s going on?”

“I came to see you, Dellers.”

I even had a good excuse to visit a friend. From that day on, I started lingering around the naval base.

“Dapflen, I have to go in now. By the way, when are you going to buy me that meal from our last bet?”

“Oh, yeah. Go on in.”

“Are you even listening? Did you really come just to see me?”

“Yeah, yeah. Go on in, Dellers.”

Hanging around didn’t suddenly make anything clear, but I did get plenty of chances to see Ehit.

Him staring seriously at the distant sea, him giving orders to his adjutants, him drinking tea alone at a nearby café.

‘I’ve never seen him smile even once.’

I sat in the café with a serious expression, quietly watching Ehit. As I did, I imagined what the female lead, Ridel, might be like.

Would she resemble her description as closely as Ehit did?

‘Then what on earth is my role?’

After wandering around the naval base for several days with no real results, I finally reached a conclusion.

‘I guess I don’t have a role at all.’

Well, not everyone had one.

Novels only described main characters and people around them, but in reality, there were countless people living in this world.

I had reincarnated as a nameless extra—but when I thought about it, that actually felt like a relief. There was nothing good about getting tangled up in the messy plot of Sea Flower.

Besides, I had a job and skills of my own. The problem was my family’s debt, but if I kept paying it off steadily, it would be gone within ten years.

I wasn’t a main character, but living a quiet life like this was far better.

For example, among the many characters in Sea Flower……

‘The role of Ehit’s fiancée is the absolute worst.’

She was a role that only briefly appeared in conversations early on, and those conversations always went something like this.

‘They say the sons of that family ran up huge debts while relying on the Cloyden family’s power.’

‘Apparently, they even tried to kill Lady Jaiman, the second daughter, because she threatened the title…… Honestly, money and titles—how awful.’

She was a character whose family was destroyed after their crimes were exposed, and who died after hitting her head from the shock.

Right, someone like that existed too! Being a nameless extra was way, way better!

That was what I was thinking on the day I decided to return to my normal life.

That day, I found a letter from my family home that I hadn’t been able to find because it was buried under the mailbox at the infirmary dormitory.

“Dapflen! Big news is waiting for you!

As soon as you read this letter, come back home!”

‘Big news?’

Judging by the three exclamation marks, it seemed like something quite ambitious.

My parents always had a childlike side to them. Surprising their children was part of that. This time, too, it felt like they had prepared some kind of surprise.

‘It’s hard to make time on weekdays, so I’ll go back home on my day off.’

My family home, Aileta Estate, was only a two-hour train ride from Bellachen. Taking about a day to visit would be perfect.

‘First, let’s go to work.’

The past few days after recalling my past life had been quite confusing.

But because of those days, I came to a conclusion: I didn’t need to think about the original story anymore. I could just live my life as it was now.

The sky was clear that day. It felt like a day with a very good omen—one where I could face my life with a fresh heart and a fresh resolve.

 

 

****

 

 

“Apparently, there’s a rumor that Colonel Cloyden is getting engaged!”

During a short break after the infirmary’s regular meeting, everyone blinked in surprise at the words of Martha, the resident information broker.

At her words, I also focused my ears. I had decided to live a life unrelated to the original story, but when Ehit’s name came up, I couldn’t help being curious.

And besides, if it was Ehit’s fiancée…… that role was bound to end in a broken engagement and the destruction of her family.

“How did you hear about it, Martha?”

“Someone saw a servant from the Cloyden family carrying papers tied with jerad flower branches.”

At Martha’s words, everyone nodded. Jerad flower branches were traditionally used to bind marriage proposals.

“So who could it be, the lucky lady who’ll become Cloyden’s fiancée?”

Oliver, the senior healer, burst into loud laughter.

People began guessing what kind of person Ehit’s fiancée might be.

“I’m so jealous. What kind of person do you think that lucky fiancée is?”

“She must be from an incredible family. It’s a proposal sent directly by the Cloyden family, who rejected every proposal that came their way.”

“Still, I’m jealous. Being Lord Ehit’s fiancée…… I’d love to live as her for just one day.”

As conversations filled with admiration and envy went back and forth, I was the only one thinking quietly to myself.

Just who was that unfortunate fiancée going to be?

At that moment, the lobby of the infirmary suddenly became noisy.

I could hear people inhaling in awe, and excited chatter spreading.

‘What is it?’

I went outside with the others.

Everyone in the infirmary lobby was staring at one spot. And standing at the center of those gathered gazes was Ehit.

‘Am I seeing things?’

Maybe it was because I’d been observing Ehit nonstop these past few days, and had just been hearing about him. A prestigious family like the Cloydens wouldn’t normally visit the infirmary in person.

But even after closing and opening my eyes……

‘It really is Ehit.’

After briefly looking around, his gaze landed on me—and stopped.

Ehit took one step, then another, walking toward where I was standing.