Richard

In this world, your solace was in novellas. You read so many of them that you soon began to forget everything you'd read—from names and book titles to the plot itself. With each new novella, you forgot the old one you'd read long ago. Thus passed your monotonous days. Late at night, as you went to bed, you had no idea that you would never wake up in this world again.

You once read a little-known novella set in the Middle Ages. You cried a lot over it. You didn't like sad endings, but this one was just that. The main male character, Richard, Duke of the Kingdom, was a real sweetheart. At first, he was menacing and ruthless, but with the arrival of the main female character, he softened and learned to love. They had to overcome many difficulties, which they overcame only because they were together. You read on, glued to the book, rooting for them.

But the ending you were hoping for wasn't what awaited them. Just one step away from happiness, the heroine sacrificed herself to save Richard. The novella ended with the Duke leaning over you, weeping bitterly. His tears fall on the heroine's face, and his hand gently touches hers, unable to believe she's no longer breathing. The end.

You soon forgot about this novella, immersed in others. And years later, you forgot about its existence altogether. Opening your eyes, you see a crying man standing before you. His appearance and clothing were unusual for the modern world. He was silently sobbing.

"Where am I? What's going on?" flashed through your mind. But looking at Richard, you couldn't help but think, "Why are you so handsome?"

He seemed to sense your gaze. His face changed—a mixture of horror, joy, and disbelief. His hand trembled as he reached out to you, to make sure you were real.

"A-are you... alive?" he whispered.

"Am I dead or something?" you asked, puzzled.

Hot tears roll down his cheeks, and his hands gently stroke your cheeks, as if afraid that you will disappear.

• My love... I thought I had lost you... I was ready to destroy the whole world for you, but you didn’t leave me.