Lola shut the reading app on her phone, her face filled with disappointment.
"Ugh… it was such a good, light story, but why did Moran have to suffer like that?" she complained, unable to accept the cruel fate of her favorite character, sacrificed by the author.
"Sure, the main leads got their happy ending, but why did Moran, my precious second male lead have to die? Poor guy! He became the villain just to make the prince look better! No one even knew how much he sacrificed." She hugged her pillow tightly, frustration bubbling inside her.
"Moran, just come to me instead! Forget the heroine, I love you for who you are. That author's so cruel! If I were writing this story, I'd give Moran a happy ending. At least… at least he wouldn't have to die!"
Her voice echoed in the quiet of her small room. She bit her pillow in frustration as the glow from her phone dimmed on the bed. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. The main couple got their fairytale ending, while her beloved Moran was reduced to a tragic footnote.
"Ugh, enough whining! I'll just leave a comment!" she declared. "Don't worry, Moran, I'll fight for your justice!"
Fueled by passion, Lola reopened the app. Her fingers flew across the screen, driven by the fury of a betrayed fan.
"Dear author 'Sand Bottle', I'm a devoted fan of your novel. But I'm heartbroken over Moran's death. He sacrificed so much, yet he was misunderstood until the end, just to strengthen the main character! Please, write an after story about his deeds or a sequel to show how good he truly was. Let the world know how noble Lord Moran really is."
"Hehe… I could write even more, but the comment section's too short. I'll just post another one!" she said, giggling proudly.
And so, she did. Again. And again.
"Please, Sand Bottle! Write another story about Lord Moran. I really love him!"
Her comment spam continued relentlessly.
"This is for you, Moran," she whispered with conviction.
Ding dong… ding dong…
Her wall clock chimed. Lola blinked.
"Huh? Midnight already?" she mumbled, startled. "Ugh, novels really make me lose track of time. Whatever, I'll continue Moran's justice tomorrow. Let the heroine enjoy her prince, I'm the one who truly loves you, Moran."
She snuggled under her blanket, hugging her pillow tightly. Her eyes fluttered closed as she imagined Moran's face in her arms.
"Tomorrow, I'll fight for you," she promised softly before drifting off.
***
"Miss… please wake up, it's already late."
"Mmm… five more minutes…" Lola mumbled, turning over lazily.
"But, Miss… Lord Alex is waiting."
"Who?" she grumbled, half-asleep. "Who the heck is Alex? Can't he wait? Doesn't he know I was crying over my boyfriend Moran all night?"
"Mi… Miss…" The maid's voice trembled nervously.
Lola frowned. Something felt… off. "Wait—'Lord Alex'? And why is there a maid in my room?" she muttered.
Finally opening her eyes, she froze. A young woman in a maid uniform knelt on the floor before her, pale and frightened.
"Huh? Where am I? What is this place?" Lola asked, confused. The last thing she remembered was reading Moran's tragic death scene. Could she be… dreaming?
"Ah, so this is a dream," she said with a sigh of relief, sinking back into the bed. "At least the mattress is comfy…"
"Miss… Lord Alex is still waiting," the maid stammered again.
Lola groaned, clutching her blanket. "Let him wait," she muttered and tried to go back to sleep.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Her eyes shot open. "WAIT! what did you just say?! Who's Alex?!" she sat up, wide-eyed.
"L-Lord Alex Andrea, your fiancé… he's waiting in the dining hall."
"…My what?" Lola blinked, then burst into laughter. "My fiancé? This has to be a dream! Don't tell me, I'm inside a novel or something?"
Her brain buzzed for a moment before her eyes sparkled with realization. "Wait a second… Alex Andrea… the prince of the Sunlit Kingdom protected by the Goddess of Light?!"
The maid nodded hesitantly.
Lola gasped dramatically. "Aaaaah! Moran! I'm coming!" she yelled, jumping out of bed and sprinting for the door, still wearing her pajamas and barefoot.
"M-Miss! Please wait!" the maid cried, chasing after her.
---
Lola dashed through the corridors like a storm. "Moran! I'm coming for you!" she shouted with burning determination. But before she could go any farther, a low, irritated voice stopped her.
"So, you're running around shouting another man's name… while I'm waiting for you?"
Lola turned around, and nearly forgot how to breathe. A tall man with golden hair and piercing blue eyes stood behind her, looking both confused and annoyed.
"Oh… oh my God! The male lead!" she exclaimed, her jaw dropping. Her eyes sparkled as she scanned his flawless face. "Wow! You're so handsome!"
Alex blinked. "What are you doing?" he asked in disbelief.
"Just admiring perfection," Lola replied dreamily.
"Miss, please... compose yourself," the poor maid whispered as she hurried up, draping a cloak over Lola's shoulders.
"Sorry, Alex, but I don't have time! I need to find Moran before I wake up!" she said, waving her hand dramatically. Before Alex could respond, she bolted off again.
"Alicia!" Alex called out, using the name of the body she now inhabited. When she ignored him, he sighed and followed.
Lola ran endlessly through the halls. "Moran! I have to find you! This might be my only chance!"
Then, a deep, cold voice echoed behind her.
"Hm. So the rumors were true. Our future queen really is just a reckless girl without grace or manners."
Lola froze, turning slowly.
There he was.
A tall man with sleek black hair and piercing eyes walked toward her, his every step confident and commanding. The air around him seemed to darken, his aura sharp and magnetic. His chiseled features, his broad shoulders, everything about him screamed antagonist perfection.
Her heart skipped. "M-Moran…?" she whispered, eyes widening.
Then, her excitement exploded. "MORAN-SAMAAA!!!" she screamed, practically glowing with joy as she sprinted toward him.
But Moran didn't move. And when she reached out, he slapped her hand away. Hard.
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the hall. Everyone froze. Lola stared at him, stunned.
"I… I felt that… Why does it feel so real?" she thought in panic, her palm tingling with pain. "This can't be a dream…"
Moran's icy eyes locked on her.
"What do you think you're doing?" he asked coldly. His voice, low and sharp, cut through the air like a blade.
Lola's breath caught in her throat. The disdain in his eyes was unmistakable. Her heart raced, not with excitement this time, but confusion.
"Wait… this isn't a dream?" she whispered, trembling. "Why… does everything feel so real?"