The Darkened Second Male Lead Seeks to Rewrite the Original Storyline

Ernie had asked to meet Ria privately, and since Ria had no particular reason to refuse, she agreed. That was why the two were now seated in a library lounge.

Ria didn’t mind; she needed information anyway. The longer she spent in this world, the more she realized how little she truly knew about it.

The more I know, the better. Who knows where this will go?

Even this setting was new to her. Ria glanced around.

When Ernie had suggested the library, she had been puzzled, but Ernie had effortlessly secured the room. It was something akin to a private study and reception room, reminiscent of the study rooms at her university. Of course, the elegance here was incomparable.

Back then, you had to reserve study rooms days in advance, swipe your student ID to get in, and submit a report afterward. Even then, there were never enough rooms.

Here, however, it seemed that a face served as an ID. The room was granted on sight, no questions asked. Everything about the facility was luxurious, with not a single trace of austerity.

The room featured a large study desk in the back, perfectly positioned by a window overlooking a colorful garden. At its center, a tea table, ideal for private conversations, sat surrounded by comfortable chairs.

Ria and Ernie occupied the tea table. Ernie, with practiced ease, rang the bell on the table.

Ding.

A soft, melodic chime echoed through the room, followed by a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Ernie called.

A maid entered and bowed deeply.

“Prepare some tea and refreshments,” Ernie instructed.

“Yes, my lady.”

Shortly after, the maid returned with an elaborate tea set. Ria watched as the sight reminded her of a hotel restaurant she had visited once with a coupon. The memory made her expression cloud over.

Money really does make everything better.

“Lady Ria,” Ernie’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Ernie dismissed the maid and poured the tea herself. It felt a little excessive, but Ria crossed her arms and assumed a haughty posture, keeping up the character she had shown the day before. She had to stay consistent.

Ernie seemed unbothered by Ria’s demeanor. Instead, she curved her crimson lips into an alluring smile, a far cry from the furious girl she had been the previous day. It was clear she had come prepared.

Ria thought back to the extra who had speculated that Ernie might have run off with her tail between her legs.

Is she here to apologize?

But what came out of Ernie’s mouth was entirely unexpected.

“Would you consider joining forces with me?”

What? Ria tried to remain unaffected, but her eyebrows twitched involuntarily.

Ernie continued, “You hate Siklaen too, don’t you?”

Siklaen was the daughter of a marquis and technically outranked Ernie, yet Ernie had no hesitation in speaking about her with disdain. Ria’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Why do you hate Siklaen?”

It was something Ria had been curious about since yesterday. She could understand why she, as Ria, might have disliked Siklaen—her infatuation with Darren was reason enough in the original story. But Ernie had no such clear motive.

The abruptness of Ernie’s arrival, coupled with the seemingly intense emotions she harbored, felt out of place.

Ernie’s beautiful face twisted in anger.

“That lowly thing… doesn’t know her place and clings to Lord Darren.”

“…Do you like Darren?”

At Ria’s blunt question, Ernie’s eyes sparkled like a girl in love.

“Yes! It was love at first sight.”

Her voice was high with excitement, so convincing it could have fooled anyone. If Ria hadn’t known better, she might have believed Ernie’s claim that her hatred for Siklaen stemmed purely from her love for Darren.

But Ria wasn’t convinced.

It feels a little too contrived.

When could Ernie have even met Darren? And why had she stayed quiet until now?

In some ways, it felt like Ernie was copying her.

Copying me? Why did that thought cross my mind?

Ria tilted her head slightly in confusion.

“Lady Ria?”

Ernie’s voice sharpened as her brow twitched.

“It’s true. I fell for Lord Darren at first sight,” she said, sounding defensive, as though Ria had accused her of lying.

“…Sure. That can happen.”

“It can! Love isn’t bound by how long you’ve known someone,” Ernie declared, clasping her hands together and wearing an enraptured expression.

Ria stared at her with a faintly disgusted look.

“And?”

“And?” Ernie echoed, leaning forward.

“My proposal. Won’t you join forces with me?”

“Oh, I…”

Ria trailed off, her thoughts racing. She remembered how Ernie had nearly revealed Siklaen’s secret. It was a secret Ria was determined to protect, no matter what.

Besides, I’m leaving the Academy soon. I didn’t manage to speak to the Duke about it yesterday, but today I definitely will…

Yes, Ria was determined to leave. Aligning herself with Ernie was not an option.

I have to leave. I have to…

Ria pressed a hand to her throbbing temple before finally speaking.

“I have no intention of teaming up with you. Do whatever you want on your own.”

Ernie frowned, clearly not expecting such an answer.

“Why?”

“That’s…”

Caught off guard by the blunt question, Ria hesitated momentarily before snapping back.

“It’s my choice. Do I have to give you a reason?”

Frowning deeply as if offended, Ria stood abruptly.

“Lady Ria! But—”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Besides, I’m done with Darren. Whatever you do regarding him, I won’t get in your way. So handle it however you like.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You didn’t come to me because you were afraid I’d interfere, thinking I’m still in love with Darren, did you?”

Ernie’s lips pressed into a thin line, clearly struck by the accusation.

It’s obvious. She doesn’t even like me—she just wants to use me.

Without hesitation, Ria left the lounge. All she had gained from the encounter was a splitting headache.

Lying in bed, Ria flipped through a history book of the Baisen Empire. Beside her lay a growing stack of books, either already read or lined up to be read next.

She was studying to learn more about the aspects of this world that hadn’t been covered in the original story.

Through her experiences, Ria had come to realize that the world she thought she knew was far more complex and detailed than the novel had portrayed. Calling it a “setting” almost felt reductive; this world wasn’t just a backdrop—it was alive.

It felt as though someone from this world had selectively written a portion of it into a book.

At this point, Ria wasn’t even sure if she was inside a novel, dreaming, or dead and living in some version of heaven.

She turned the page with an intrigued expression.

This is surprisingly fun.

Maybe it was the fantasy nature of the world, but even reading history books felt like diving into a captivating novel.

Lost in the text, she was startled by a knock at the door.

“Come in,” she called absentmindedly, assuming it was Isabel. She had asked her for some fruit earlier and didn’t think much of it.

The door opened and closed with a soft click, but no footsteps followed. Frowning, Ria finally lifted her head from the book.

“Isabel?”

Isabel stood at the door, holding a plate of fruit, looking as though she had just snapped out of a trance.

“My lady?”

“What are you doing over there?”

“Oh…”

Isabel let out a small gasp before hurrying over to place the plate beside Ria.

“I brought your favorites, my lady.”

“…Thanks.”

Ria took a piece of fruit with a fork but couldn’t shake the strange feeling.

“Why were you just standing there?”

“Pardon?”

“You seemed out of it. Even now, you still look distracted.”

Ria knew Isabel to be sharp and attentive when serving, not one to let her mind wander. The way Isabel had acted moments ago, as if she didn’t recognize her, was unsettling.

“That’s…”

Isabel hesitated, swallowing hard. Ria fixed her with an unyielding stare, silently demanding an explanation.

“Forgive me, my lady. I must be exhausted.”

“That’s fine, but—”

“It’s just… for a moment, it felt like you weren’t there.”

“What?”

Ria’s heart sank, a chill running through her body.

Isabel, mistaking the sharp tone for anger, lowered her head repeatedly, her voice trembling.

“I’m so sorry, my lady!”

“No, I’m not angry. I just don’t understand—what do you mean I wasn’t there?”

“Well…”

Isabel searched for the right words as Ria waited silently, unease prickling at her.

Does she suspect I’m not the original Ria?

After a long pause, Isabel finally spoke.

“You were definitely here, but it felt like you weren’t. As if… your body was almost translucent.”

“Translucent?”

“It must have been a trick of my tired eyes, my lady. I’m so sorry…” Isabel’s voice quivered as she looked ready to burst into tears.

Could something actually be wrong?

Ria mulled over Isabel’s words. Here but not here. Translucent. Maybe it was just Isabel’s exhaustion playing tricks on her, an inconsequential misunderstanding.

But if it’s not…

A shiver ran down her spine. It was the same gnawing unease she’d felt since Ernie’s sudden appearance.

“…Isabel, clean these up. I’m going to bed early.”

“Yes, my lady! Right away!”

Ria sat in the center of her bed, watching as Isabel bustled about, tidying the books and fruit.

First, an entirely new character who wasn’t in the original story. Now, my body looks translucent?

No, that can’t be. There’s no way.

A foreboding thought began to take root in Ria’s mind, absurd and yet impossible to ignore.

…This can’t be happening.

As Isabel worked hurriedly, Ria sat frozen on the bed, silently praying that her fears were nothing more than baseless worries.