My voice was coming out deep, like a man's. Why was the ground so far away? It felt like I'd gotten taller.
Just then, in a small makeup mirror, I saw a man with black hair and black eyes staring back at me.
"Heeh—" I gasped in shock. I turned around, but no one was there. Could this be… me? But how was that even possible?
Unable to believe my eyes, I touched my face. When the reflection moved as well, I stumbled back and fell to the floor.
"Hey, who are you? How did you get into my body?"
Silence.
"Come out at once! I'm talking to you!"
The bell above the door jingled, and someone stepped inside, their face hidden by the sunlight.
"It clearly says closed outside, don't you see? Wha—"
My eyes were blinded by the light. The figure leaned down. White hair gleamed in the sun, one amber-colored eye visible. His earrings swayed as he bent forward.
"La—" I covered my mouth with my hand. If what I was seeing was real, then this had to be Laoron, the second male lead from the story!
He frowned at me, then quickly yanked the ring I had just put on from my finger.
Puff!
I gasped at his sudden move. My hair fell back in front of my eyes—back to normal length. Standing quickly, I looked into the mirror again. It was me.
Laoron straightened as well. "The shop clearly said closed, yet you entered. On top of that, you put on this ring without permission. How dare you! No matter your rank, this is trespassing. I could even accuse you of theft."
Though his voice was angry, I couldn't help but feel flustered. Maybe all of this was just too much—I was at a loss for words.
"Listen, the door was open, so I didn't think it was a problem. When I realized no one was here, I was about to leave… then I saw the ring and—wait a second. Don't you owe me an explanation? What just happened back there? Did I really turn into a man? What's with this ring?"
He looked annoyed, putting the ring back in its box before speaking.
"This is my special creation, and until now I've kept its function a secret from everyone. It contains a type of magic never seen before. It grants the wearer a unique appearance and voice. I've never seen it change someone's gender before, though—that even surprised me. The ring views the wearer as its master and reshapes accordingly. To prevent a perfect match, it deliberately hides a certain trait. For instance, you have black hair, but your eyes weren't green. I had no intention of selling it… but now you've seen what it can do."
I immediately realized how useful this could be. I was preparing for a war, and being a man would make things much easier. Plus, since I looked completely different, no one would recognize me. I could stay close to the Count.
"I want to buy it! Please, sell it to me!" I said eagerly.
The mage started laughing. I didn't know why, but my heart skipped a beat.
"I said I don't want to sell it. And perhaps you didn't hear me clearly—it's extremely rare and unique. I can't simply hand it over for cheap. It's priceless."
I frowned. "I never said I wanted it cheap. No matter how expensive it is, I need it. Money doesn't matter!"
Now, he seemed intrigued again. He leaned closer, his expression serious.
"Well then, little lady. For this valuable piece… I'll take your life."
What! Was he mocking me? My life? But I needed that ring—there had to be a way to negotiate.
In a worried tone, I asked, "Isn't there another way? Why do you want my life? I could give you plenty of valuable things instead."
At that, he burst out laughing. I knew it—he was making fun of me.
Really, Laoron? Even if the story had Lylia choose Heilon, I was always on your side. Is this how you treat your fan?
"Ah, I can't stop laughing! You really believed me—ahaha, my stomach hurts." His words were almost lost in his laughter.
I scowled. "Enough! Are you going to tell me the actual price, Laoron?"
Suddenly, his laughter stopped. His face changed in an instant.
"How do you know my name? I never told you."
Oh no! I had slipped up badly. What now? I couldn't possibly say, Well, I read the novel, had a heart attack, and woke up here. I was doomed. I had messed up big time.
"Ahaha, well, I—uh, I saw it…" I stammered.
Then I noticed something—Laoron was holding the ring's box. Perfect. I found my excuse.
"Yes, the name was engraved in gold on the bottom of the ring's case. If you made it, then naturally, that must be your name, right?" My voice was steady, not a trace of doubt. Even I almost believed myself.
He flipped the box around, and his expression softened again.
"So, we're on a first-name basis now? That hardly seems fair. I don't even know my customer's name."
His hand brushed against my cheek. I pulled back.
"You will sell it to me, won't you?" I pressed.
"Hm… I'll have to think about it. You seem to adore my creation—you'd give me anything for it, wouldn't you? Except your life, ahaha. So here's my proposal: it's too important to sell, but I'll lend it to you. You said you need it—then tell me why. And share with me your greatest secret."
My secret? That's what he wants? I had plenty, but was it really wise to tell him? Still, I had to have that ring.
"If that's what you want, then I accept. But why not ask for gold or jewels? Fine, I'll give you my secret—it's also the reason I need the ring. But I need your word that you won't share it. I need to know it'll be safe."
He looked pleased.
"Very interesting. I won't tell a soul. In fact, I can make a spell for that. Once you tell me, my mouth will be sealed from speaking about it. Unless you permit it, I won't be able to reveal a word."
Yes, Laoron was a mage. A powerful one. Once his strength was discovered, even the royal family tried everything to draw him to their side. Yet, he had fallen in love with the Saintess and stayed by her side, devoting himself entirely to her.
"Fine, do it. The reason I came here is to save my father. In a coming battle, he's going to die. I learned this from a reliable source. I can't let that happen, so I plan to secretly join the war. Disguising myself will be difficult. But with the ring, it'll be much easier."
After I said that, his expression changed again. His eyes were shining—had he grown fonder of me?
"Isn't that dangerous? How can you trust your source? You're seriously going to a war!" he said, concern clear in his voice.
Was he… worried about me? That warmed my heart.
"Yes, but I can't lose my father. I can't just sit and wait for him to die. Besides, isn't my secret enough? No one else knows. If my family finds out, I'll be punished."
Laoron nodded. "I understand. Your secret is safe with me—it's enough. You're a strange girl. Will you share your name with me now?"
"Melanie. That's my name. I'll take good care of your ring. Now, if you'll excuse me…"
I turned to leave, but he suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me back toward him. My long black hair swirled in the air.
"Wait. There's something you need to know about the ring. If someone tries to forcibly remove it from you, the ring will charge with electricity to protect its master. It's designed to strike the attacker—but it will also affect the wearer heavily. You must be careful."
"Then why didn't it shock me when you pulled it off earlier?" I asked.
"Did you forget who created it?" he replied with a smile.
Fair enough. I thanked him.
"Melanie, you should return now. With the ring."
Hearing him say my name made me feel… strange. Almost feverish.
I nodded and turned away.
I was so close to carrying out my plan. The ring might have appeared before me by chance, but I instantly knew I needed it. Now, there was only one thing left to do…