Reborn As An Extra In My Own Novel

"Hihihihi."

The sound of soft giggles echoed from the bedroom to the left of the Cha-Kim household, as Jinwoo, who had just returned from work, stood beside Ji-ae in the kitchen.

"Do you know what happened to our Jin-sung?"

Ji-ae shook her head. "No… but you can feel it, right?"

Jinwoo nodded. "As much as I can taste your horrible cooking."

They both said in unison, "Our little cupcake has fallen in love."

------

A young, stunning man lay on a white bed, deliberately kicking his leg in the air. His eyes were fixed on the ceiling, his hand shifting between covering his face and checking his heartbeat.

This was a new emotion to him—the emotion known as love.

But why… why exactly did it feel so sweet?

Kai smiled softly, then closed his eyes. "Should I start planning our wedding?"

[Aren't you skipping a few too many steps?]

'It should be fine, right, Alpha?'

[Don't ask me. You're the one who got yourself seduced after only one conversation. I honestly don't know how you managed to go your whole life without falling in love once.]

'I'm glad I never felt it. Otherwise, I would've found a way to get back to Earth instantly.'

[Are you sure what you're feeling is love?]

'No doubt about it.' He covered his face slightly. 'I'm in love, and totally hooked on it... Is this what drug addicts feel?'

He rolled over briefly before returning to his original position. 'Does it feel this way for everyone…?' He gripped his head tightly. 'Damn it. I'm actually regretting stopping Deerheart. If he felt this way, no wonder he did what he did.'

Kai paused for a moment, as if recalling what had happened.

"Ahhh!!!!"

"Damn it. Damn it all. My heart is too frail for this… Do you think she'll call me 'darling' again? I hope she does."

Alpha stared slightly, then mused internally,

[This idiot is long gone… How can you even fall for three versions of the same person?]

Kai glanced at the time, then jolted upright. 'Do you think her scent is still on me? Should I never wash my clothes again? Or maybe not even my body either?'

[Are you crazy, you… you… sigh]

Kai paused briefly. 'Do you know what love is, Alpha?'

[This idiot is at it again.]

'Alpha…'

[Yes?]

'I think I might die very soon.'

[Kai?…]

'You know, I've used up all of my luck to be fated with Reni, right?'

[I doubt that's how fate works.]

'If I die now, protect Reni for me, okay?'

[Can you stop thinking about dying and start thinking about how to end this scenario properly?]

'You're right. I should find a way to make my lady happy.' He pondered for a moment. 'But how do I save the princess? You've lived for thousands of years, so you should know what I can do, right?'

[Hmm… First, you have to get closer to her, maybe as a personal guard. Positions matter a lot in relationships. Besides, I wouldn't want you dying of heartache from not seeing her.]

'So I have to apply to be her guard? But wouldn't that take too long?'

[That's true, but it's the most viable option. I also think the princess will call for you first. So start learning about her and understanding her. Women are less complicated creatures than people think.]

Kai smiled softly. 'I see…'

He knew all of this was easier said than done. After all, he was a complete novice when it came to relationships and didn't know the first thing about them.

But who cared, really?

Being in a relationship or liking someone wasn't about playing mind games or forming complex strategies—it was about being genuine with your feelings, understanding the person, and learning to adapt to their preferences while never forgetting what made them fall for you in the first place.

He took a deep breath.

Tomorrow was going to be the start of his springtime.

-----

"In tightening my tie or loosening it, which do you think is better?"

Matt and Hari stared at each other from the long chair they sat on, then back at Kai, who stood in front of them like some kind of model.

Hari lingered for a moment. "You fell in love, right?"

Kai's cheeks flushed red. "How did you know?"

"Is that really a question? You're even more obvious than Aunt when she messes up her cooking, which is all the time."

"Come on, Ha-rin, don't treat your aunt like that," Kai's mom protested.

Kai sighed, then waved his hands. "I'll loosen my tie a bit."

'Maybe she might pull it. Don't want it choking me.'

Hari glanced at Kai, then at Matt, and shook her head. "This is why Oppa is different."

Before long, the three finished preparing for school, as did Kai's family for work, and they all left at the same time.

To Kai's shock, right outside their building was a small black car, and the person standing in front of it was someone who could command attention even without speaking.

Her moonlight-gray eyes glistened softly under the sun, and both males and females around nearly tripped over their feet from staring too intently at her.

Even without hearing the words, Kai could tell the butler was expressing his concern about her coming out in public.

But she simply smiled and stepped forward, stopping right in front of Kai's parents.

She bowed slightly, raising the hem of her gown as if to perform a royal curtsy. "This unfilial daughter-in-law greets Father-in-law and Mother-in-law."

She lifted her gaze slightly to meet Kai's father, who was stunned, and his mother, whose eyes quite literally glowed with affection.

Ji-ae stifled the urge to scream. "My daughter-in-law?" She turned to Kai for a brief moment. "She's so... adorable!"

She cupped Reni's cheeks, lifting her face gently. "When did my son even start dating such a beauty? Have you eaten my dear? Did you sleep well? Did my little cupcake cause you any trouble?"

Her eyes grew more ferocious by the second. "When am I going to have my grandchildren?"

Reni's face flushed for a moment, but she merely smiled. "Mother-in-law, aren't things moving a bit too fast?"

Then, as if just noticing them, she turned to Kai's uncle and aunt. "And these might be?"

Ha-joon grinned. "Looks like our little lilac cupcake got himself a white rose..." His grin softened. "You can call me Uncle from now on."

Kai's aunt smiled as well. "And call me Aunty, okay?"

Reni nodded. "Thank you for accepting me so easily. If I may be so bold, may I request for Jin-sung to escort me to school?"

Kai's mom turned to him, her eyes narrowing behind her smile. "Of course, he's all yours."

Reni smiled. "Thanks."

She grabbed Kai, who was still dazed, by the hand and pulled him into her car.

'What the hell just happened? Are we having kids without a wedding?'

[Sigh...]

"So, Darling," Reni spoke up as she closed the door, "aren't you the one who's supposed to be coming for me?"

Kai turned to the side. His heart was already racing just thinking about her, but now that they were side by side, he felt like it might leap out of his chest.

Reni, who was beside him, leaned sideways, resting her head on the edge of his hand. "Should I tell you a secret, Darling?"

"..."

Reni seemed genuinely pleased by the fact that he didn't respond, likely out of shyness.

She paused, exhaling in a way that made her breath faintly visible. "I was thinking about you all night... I think I might have fallen for you too."

Kai turned to her, only to see a soft smile on her lips.

She raised his hand and placed it on her chest, and just like his, hers was racing too, maybe even more than his.

"You're really adorable."

Reni's cheeks flushed slightly, her gaze lowering. "I guess telling you more about myself won't kill me, right, playboy?"

Kai's eyes narrowed with a smile. "I also have a lot I want to tell you..." He touched her cheek. "Why don't we do something crazy?"

She raised a brow, her face resting on his palm. "Crazy?"

He nodded. "I'll tell you later."

He immediately pulled his hand back and shifted a little. "I might die if I stay like that. My heart's already jumping."

Frieren didn't know if it was because of how genuine Kai was, unlike the other knights who had come to rescue her, or because he was just as clueless about love as she was, or because of what he had said to her, or even his reactions, but she was beginning to fall for him.

But it wasn't as if she disliked it. Even if he left, even if he couldn't save her, she wanted to at least 'savor' this new feeling, one she wasn't sure she would ever feel again.

It wasn't that she couldn't live without him, but she wanted to 'want' to live without him. She wanted him to give her that reason. It might break her heart if he left, but precisely because of that, she would never forget the feeling.

The question was: how would he do it? She had closed her heart off for years, so it was already shocking that he'd managed to make her feel anything at all. But things would only get harder for him from this point on.

And she wasn't sure if, after what she was about to show him, he would stay or give up just like the countless knights who had come before him.

'Please be different Kaiser... Please.'