Chapter 146

A bittersweet scent tickled my nose.

I opened my eyes with a soft smile. Lying right beside me, Dante grinned.

“Morning, darling. Sleep well?”

“…The food is delicious… Mr. Cha Dohwan.”

“Who?”

“Gasp!”

My mind snapped into focus. I shot up as if spring-loaded.

Crash!

The vase on the bedside table fell. In my startled flailing, I had knocked it over with my arm.

‘What was that memory?!’

A restaurant rented out just for us, Cha Dohwan’s bright smile, a wonderful dinner, a glass of wine. Cha Dohwan’s hand gently taking mine…

“I’m going insane…”

I buried my face in the bed. My body grew warm, as if I’d had a racy dream.

Dante rolled over like a lazy cat and tapped my shoulder.

“Have a nice dream?”

“N-No.”

“Who was in it to make you blush like that? I’m getting jealous.”

“I said it’s nothing. And who gave you permission to be in my bedroom…?”

My words trailed off. I stared at Dante, mesmerized.

‘He looks… exactly like Cha Dohwan, doesn’t he?’

Chills ran down my spine. Shinwoo looks just like Johan, and Cha Dohwan looks just like Dante.

‘Two people who look exactly like figures from my past life. Could this be a mere coincidence?’

— Anonymous Constellation: When coincidences pile up, they become fate.

— Anonymous Constellation: This has to be the Administrator’s doing. No one else would pull something like this.

— Anonymous Constellation: But I heard Johan wasn’t transmigrated. I tried to probe him a while back, and he seemed clueless. What kind of transmigrator doesn’t know what a cell phone is?

— Anonymous Constellation: Maybe he was reincarnated??

— Anonymous Constellation: Yeah, if he drank from the river of forgetfulness during reincarnation, it’s natural he wouldn’t know.

— Anonymous Constellation: Holy!! That’s it!!

— Anonymous Constellation: This channel is run by the Administrator, right? It’s not like bringing living people over; reincarnating a couple of dead ones should be a piece of cake.

‘Reincarnation?’

It was a revelation. Why hadn’t I thought of that?

Just then, a message appeared in the chat that I couldn’t possibly ignore.

— Anonymous Constellation: Since it’s come to this, I’ll say it, even if it gets me banned from the chat.

— Anonymous Constellation: Official word from the Administrator. Two humans have been reincarnated in Channel 32.

— Anonymous Constellation: They’re the ones you’re thinking of.

Two reincarnated humans.

‘The ones I’m thinking of…’

They might as well have spelled out their names. This was practically a confirmation.

‘Shinwoo and Cha Dohwan were reincarnated. As Johan and Dante!’

I stared at Dante, covering my mouth. My heart pounded like crazy.

Until now, I felt like I’d been dropped all alone on an empty planet…

Just knowing that two people who walked the same path as me were here was enough to scatter my loneliness, even if they didn’t remember me.

Overcome with joy, I moved to throw my arms around Dante, but then…

‘Wait!’

…I stopped myself.

‘But who is Shinwoo, and who is Cha Dohwan?’

Based on looks alone, Johan is Shinwoo, and Dante is Cha Dohwan.

Seeing Johan automatically brought Shinwoo to mind. It was impossible not to equate the two. Even Johan’s most meaningless actions felt similar to Shinwoo’s.

‘But that was before I knew they were reincarnated.’

Would the Administrator really have let them reincarnate with the exact same appearance as their past lives?

‘It couldn’t be that simple.’

If Shinwoo and Cha Dohwan were truly reincarnated together, judging by appearances would be foolish. I had to ignore their faces to get closer to the truth.

‘Then is this man Shinwoo?’

As I studied him intently, Dante took my hand and placed it over his chest.

“See how my heart is racing? It’s your fault. For looking at me so lovingly.”

‘…Shinwoo would never be this smooth.’

Shinwoo wasn’t this seductive, nor this languid, nor did he exude this air of decadent charm.

‘Is he just Cha Dohwan’s reincarnation, then?’

But I’ve felt traces of Shinwoo in Dante, too. Even though he looks nothing like him. How does that work?

The more I thought about it, the deeper I fell into a labyrinth. I shook my head roughly.

‘Damn it. This is even more confusing.’

It was then.

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock—

Someone was rapping quickly on the bedroom door.

“Lady Astell! I heard something break! Are you all right?”

Johan? It seemed he’d rushed over after hearing the vase shatter.

“I’m fi—”

Before I could finish, Dante clamped a hand over my mouth and spoke for me.

“We’re fine.”

“That voice… Your Highness? Are you with Lady Astell right now?”

“Exactly. So could you leave? You’re interrupting.”

“…My apologies, Your Highness.”

His voice was flustered. Soon, Johan’s footsteps faded away… then grew closer again.

“Lady Astell, are you with His Highness of your own free will?”

“No— Mmph!”

Dante pressed his hand more firmly over my mouth and brought his face close.

“Answer, and I’ll kiss you.”

Always running his mouth… As if he’d actually do it.

Normally, my fist would have already flown, but the mere possibility that he could be Shinwoo made me hesitate.

Instead of giving Dante a black eye, I bit down hard on the hand covering my mouth.

“Ah…”

Only then did Dante pull his hand back, his brow furrowing slightly. He looked utterly dumbfounded.

“You really bit me…?”

“I warned you. I’m a mad dog.”

Wiping my mouth, I scrambled off the bed just as Johan knocked again.

“Lady Astell? Why aren’t you answering? May I come in? Lady Astell!”

“Come in!”

The moment I spoke, the door flew open. The Paladin, perfectly dressed despite the early hour, froze when he saw me.

“…”

“Hm? What is it?”

I followed Johan’s gaze downward.

My pajamas, wrinkled from struggling, and my disheveled hair.

And my mouth, which must have been red and raw from where I’d just rubbed it.

To an outsider, it would look like Dante had forced himself on me.

“Um… Sir Johan, I can see why you might misunderstand. The situation is very different from how it looks… Sir Johan!”

Shing.

Johan drew his sword and pointed it at Dante.

“I, Johan Scha Nute, challenge Your Highness to a duel.”

Johan’s aura grew so intense it was almost painful. Yet Dante remained sprawled on the bed.

“On what grounds?”

“For the crime of treating the woman I love with disrespect! Bring your sword.”

“Oh, there’s no need for all that…”

Dante ambled out of bed and picked up the fire poker standing by the fireplace.

“This will be enough.”

“I wish for a fair duel. Pick up your sword.”

“That’s why I chose this. A duel should be fair.”

“…You won’t regret this?”

“I’ve never regretted anything. I already know how this ends.”

Dante twirled the fire poker, testing its weight. The movement of his muscles was clearly visible through his half-unbuttoned shirt.

Johan may be ranked fourth, but his opponent was a Sword Master. This was by no means a duel in Johan’s favor.

“You two can’t possibly be serious about this nonsense, right? You’re not children, stop it—!”

Clang!

Johan’s sword and Dante’s fire poker clashed.

Dante’s playful expression had turned terrifyingly grim. A murderous intent flickered in his dark, sunken eyes, as if he truly intended to kill Johan.

“Your Highness! Sir Johan?”

There was no room to intervene. Both of them fought with a terrifying ferocity, as if determined to see this through to the end.

“I said, stop it! You’re going to get hurt!”

The clamor of metal nearly drowned out my voice. The two men paid me no mind and continued their duel.

“You bastards! I told you to stop!”

Are their ears blocked? No matter how loud I screamed from the sidelines, neither of them spared me a glance.

Just then, Dante’s swordsmanship shifted, as if to say playtime was over.

It was a level of power I had never seen when he fought me. At this rate, Johan could be seriously injured.

Sure enough, after easily parrying Johan’s sword, Dante launched a fierce attack.

One by one, cuts appeared on Johan’s body. Some were bleeding.

Dante was toying with him, like a cat playing with a mouse until it collapses from exhaustion. It was a one-sided game from the start.

I couldn’t just stand by and watch any longer. As I was about to summon Arondight, Dante struck.

The sharp tip of the fire poker was aimed squarely at Johan’s neck.

“Ye Shinwoo!”

Both men froze simultaneously and looked at me. The bedroom fell silent in an instant.

“What… did you just say? Who?”

“Lady Astell, Ye Shinwoo? Who is that?”

Johan tilted his head. Ah! That’s what Shinwoo does when he’s curious…

‘Is this really the time for that? Get a grip.’

I pressed my lips together and hardened my expression.

“I don’t know. What did I say?”

“Huh? Didn’t you just say… Ye Shinwoo?”

Johan glanced at Dante as if seeking confirmation, but Dante didn’t even look at him.

“The Princess just said ‘Ye Shinwoo.’ Who was she calling?”

“You must have been so engrossed in your little brawl that you started hearing things. Real mature. Were you actually planning on killing someone?”

“I-I’m sorry, Lady Astell.”

“I did nothing wrong. You saw it, Princess. The Paladin was the one who challenged me.”

“So you’re saying you were in the right? I don’t want to see either of you, so get out now!”

Dante pouted. Ah! That’s the habit Shinwoo has when he’s sulking. Cute…

‘To think I find that man cute… I’m doomed.’

Fortunately, Suren arrived at just the right moment. He looked extremely flustered about something.

“Guild Master, you have visitors.”

“Who is it?”

“The entire Council of Elders.”