"…What?" Aria asked, her voice suddenly devoid of the anger and bitterness that had just consumed her. The idea that Latina, too, had been a protagonist in her own story could only mean one thing.

"The first… novel…?" Aria's voice wavered.

"Yes. I was once the protagonist of another world. But even in that lofty position, I achieved nothing and ultimately met an unexpected death, leaving an indelible wound on those around me. Especially on someone you are quite familiar with."

There was no mention of this in the fragments of the broken world. It was a secret Latina had …