I blankly boarded the carriage of the Duke Geyrus family and looked out the window, exhaling deeply.

After the conversation with Helena, my already troubled mind became even more confused. I grabbed my aching head and shook it, trying to gather my thoughts.

Now was the time to focus on the meeting with Duke Geyrus.

As for Helena…

Though late, I would honestly confess everything and apologize.

I needed to correct my mistakes.

***

The Geyrus family.

If asked to name the most powerful family in the Empire or the one with the longest history, everyone would undoubtedly point to the Geyrus ducal family.

They held such immense power, possessed great wealth, and enjoyed deep trust from the imperial family.

“…”

Looking at the luxurious and enormous mansion, even more extravagant than other wealthy nobles, I exhaled deeply.

I thought I already knew how impressive the duke’s influence was, but actually facing its grandeur in person was overwhelming.

And this was just from seeing the mansion.

“Are you Sir Felix?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I am Alfred, the head butler of the Geyrus family.”

As I was calming myself with deep breaths, an elderly butler approached and politely asked.

I’ve seen servants of such high-ranking families often lately, but I still can’t get used to this level of politeness each time.

I also greeted him politely in return, and the old butler smiled slightly and began to guide me courteously.

“This way, please follow me.”

“Yes.”

Following the butler’s relaxed footsteps, I saw the mansion’s interior, which was as luxurious as its exterior.

Numerous servants were busily moving about inside the mansion, carrying out their duties.

Many people were moving, but it didn’t look busy or chaotic. Rather, their systematic movements felt like the workings of a single machine.

Inwardly impressed, I followed behind the old butler, and the servants standing where we passed stopped their work and greeted us politely.

Those who had bowed resumed their work after we passed.

Once again, I was amazed at how smoothly everything operated.

“This way, please.”

Following the butler’s polite and courteous guidance, I was led to the innermost room on the mansion’s third floor, where I waited for the butler’s instructions.

After confirming that I had stopped behind him, the butler carefully knocked on the door with a small gesture.

Knock, knock.

“Your Grace, Sir Felix von Astria has arrived.”

“…Let him enter.”

The voice that answered the butler’s words was deep and masculine. Realizing that this voice belonged to Duke Geyrus, I took another deep breath.

From now on, I needed to be fully alert.

Creak.

The door to the duke’s reception room opened. The old butler opened the door and quietly stepped aside, waiting for me to enter.

Looking into the open door, I slowly moved my feet toward the room. As I entered, I heard the sound of the door gently closing behind me.

It closed with a click, and I calmly stood in front of it, taking in the interior of the reception room.

The interior of the reception room was simpler than I expected. A deep red carpet was on the floor, and in the center of the room was a table surrounded by leather sofas.

On the table were two cups of tea, still steaming, and Duke Geyrus sat in the most prominent seat on the sofa.

His hair, turned white by the traces of time, was neatly swept back. His red eyes, identical to Cain’s, were shining brightly, and though there were wrinkles on his face, they didn’t make him seem old.

Rather, even the wrinkles seemed to be a tool to feel the weight of the years.

Duke Papyrus von Geyrus.

He is currently said to hold the greatest power in the Empire after the Emperor and Crown Princess Ashillya. At the same time, he is a loyal servant who has the power to shake the balance but dedicates himself to it.

Such a man.

“You have come.”

The moment he saw me, he stood up and greeted me formally, catching me off guard.

“…Ah, it’s an honor to meet you. I am Felix, the second son of the Astria Count family.”

“I am aware.”

Seeing me flustered and greeting him formally, Duke Papyrus smiled slightly and sat back down, extending his hand to offer me a seat.

I carefully sat on the sofa where the teacup was placed, looking at him with tense eyes.

“Welcome to the Duke Geyrus family manor.”

“…”

But that tension of meeting an imperial duke.

The tension of not making mistakes and the fear of the truth I would learn through conversation with him.

“New protagonist of this world.”

It could only shatter into pieces at his single statement.

***

“…What do you mean by that?”

“It means exactly what I said.”

Unlike my confused appearance at his words, Papyrus was utterly calm.

Seeing him leisurely take a sip of tea, I also felt my throat dry. I quickly took a sip of the hot tea and exhaled deeply.

After exhaling the hot sensation that had entered my body along with my breath, I looked at him with blank eyes.

Me, the new protagonist of the world?

It was impossible. Is that even possible in a female-oriented romance fantasy in the first place?

“It means that you, Sir Felix, are the new protagonist of this world.”

“That… can’t be possible.”

I answered his words while trying to maintain my composure. But rather, he tilted his head as if he didn’t understand my words and asked back.

“Why do you say it can’t be possible?”

…How should I explain this?

Should I explain that this world is actually a world inside a novel, and the genre of this novel is one where I can’t be the protagonist?

How many people would believe that in the first place? Is the protagonist that Duke Papyrus is talking about really referring to this world?

Or am I just making assumptions unnecessarily?

For a moment, numerous thoughts flashed through my mind. But in the end, I concluded that I should remain silent.

Perhaps reading the traces of numerous worries on my face, Papyrus nodded slightly with a faint smile.

“You seem confused. Then let me change the question.”

“…”

“How did you come to encounter this world, Sir Felix?”

I couldn’t help but take a deep breath at his question.

…He knows.

He knows that I’m not originally from this world.

“A book? A story? Or, what did you call it in your world?”

“…A web novel.”

I could have not answered. But if I tried to deflect the question, I wouldn’t be able to get the answer I wanted.

So I had no choice but to answer his question. Hearing my words, Papyrus stroked his chin and nodded.

“Web novel…? That’s difficult. Judging by the word ‘novel,’ it seems it was a book.”

“That’s correct.”

“I see. That’s why you can’t accept that you have become the protagonist.”

What in the world is this person?

Such a thought flashed through my mind. How could he so calmly accept that I came from another world?

At the same time, how could he so nonchalantly accept that this world is a world inside a novel?

It was a problem I couldn’t understand.

“But, it’s the truth. You, Sir Felix, have become the protagonist of this world. Miss Sylvia, unfortunately, has been pushed out of her position.”

Papyrus smiled bitterly, his red eyes gleaming. As his eyes turned towards me, I felt an eerie sensation as if he were seeing through my heart.

“…Did you know that Sylvia was originally the protagonist?”

“I, or rather, our family has always been.”

“…Always been what?”

Duke Papyrus silently nodded at my question.

“Observers of the world. That is the truth of the Geyrus family.”

“If you say observers, perhaps…”

“If you’re asking whether the writing in your world was written by us, that’s not the case. We can only read what someone else has written. We cannot intervene in it.”

I thought the Duke Geyrus family might have written the novel, but he flatly denied that fact.

But anyway, it meant that he could also read that novel.

“So you already knew it was a novel?”

“That’s not it.”

“…?”

“Whether it’s a video, a play, writing, or speech, we can only read it all as it’s converted into text. We have no other powers.”

Duke Papyrus took another sip of tea and resolved my doubts.

I exhaled deeply and asked a question.

“Then why are you so certain I have become the protagonist?”