"Ysavel."

I heard a voice calling me from my sleep. I open my eyes and found myself in a strange room. Wait, room? Shouldn't I be inside the carriage? Why am I inside a room? Did we arrive at the Saiven Kingdom without me knowing? But it's impossible.

I look at my arms, and my brows immediately furrow when I didn't see any rashes. What is happening right now?

I heard movements from my side, and the door of the room suddenly opens. Pearce, who wears a poker face, walks inside the room and casually sits on the sofa in front of me.

"Are you just gonna stare at me and lay on that sofa?"

I immediately get up from lying on the sofa and sit up straight. What is Pearce doing in here? Isn't he supposed in the Kosmo?

I look around the room, and all I can see is a plain wall and the sofa we are sitting on. Where am I? I wait for him to explain things to me, but he isn't talking. He just sits there and stares at me.!

I look at Pearce warily. This guy has a sharp tongue and loves to make insulting remarks. Maybe he's thinking of something to say to me. Perhaps an insult again?

Pearce didn't mind me staring at him and casually takes the teapot and pour tea into the teacup before he takes it and sips it.

Why does it looks Like I'm the one who visited him? And not the other way around.

I just stare at him. Dumbfoundedly. Did he come here just to sit and sip tea? Is his life in Kosmo so boring that he looks for me?

Pearce puts the teacup down, and he looks at me straight in the eyes. "It's been days, but you still haven't changed."

I immediately stiffen when I heard what he said. Did I do something wrong again? Did I mess things up again? With a shaky voice, I ask, "I'm trying my best not to make mistakes further. Please, give me some chance. I-I just need-need som-"

Pearce shakes his head and cuts me off, "What are you saying? I didn't say you made a mistake. Why are you so anxious?"

I am still mentally preparing myself to explain myself to him when I heard his words. What? I didn't make a mistake? "But didn't you just told me that I still haven't changed? I thought...I thought you were referring to the task."

Pearce rolled his eyes. "That's what I am talking about," he points his hand at me.

Me? What's wrong with me?

I heard him snort. "What's wrong with you? You're still dumb. You didn't even change even after what you heard and experience in Kosmo. I thought you would be wise enough. But you didn't. You're still the old you. Dumb and stupid. I don't understand why the other Virtouse wants to help you. It's still a mystery to me."

I blink my eyes at him. Trying my best not to argue with him. She's a Virtouse Ysa. You cannot argue with him. I take a deep breath trying to control the urge to reply to his mocking remarks.

"May I know what brings you here if I didn't do anything wrong?"

Pearce raises the teacup again and takes a sip before answering me. Isn't he enjoying this much?

"The Virtouse wants to say to you that they are happy and satisfied with what you are doing. At least you're not that dumb to force what you want."

"I'm sure that's not the only reason why you're here. The Virtouse wouldn't ask you to come here just to say you are all satisfied with what I am doing. It doesn't make sense."

Pearce nods his head. "I have another reason why I am here. As you know, the Virtouse and I could see what is happening in this fictional world. We could also know what you are thinking." He paused and stared intently at me. It's as if he is reading my eyes.

What does he mean they know what I'm thinking? My eyes immediately widen when I realized what he meant. "Do you mean you know that I have a talk with myself?"

Pearce nods his head. "You got it. It's also the same reason why I was sent here to talk to you out of my will." He rolled his eyes again. "Teague wants to send you a message." Pearce takes some candies from the bowl on the table.

Teague wants to send me a message?

"He notices that you were so anxious and worried about the feelings you have with Prince Fraser."

"I don't have feelings for him!" I immediately snap at him. Where did he heard that I have feelings for that boy?

Pearce shakes his head. "You still don't understand how it works, eh?"

I frown. "What do you mean?"

"Csille and you are considered one person now. If one has feelings for a character, you will love the character too."

"So, it's Csille's own feelings? I'm right!" I laugh happily. "I knew it! How can I fall in love with the character I made? I must be insane if that happens. Also, Prince Fraser is just a fourteen years old boy. How can I fall in love with a minor? That's not love. It's pedophilia."

My smile immediately froze when I saw Pearce looking at me like I am the dumbest person alive.

"Are you deaf? Or you just don't understand what I mean?"

What? Did I misunderstand things again? Didn't he just say that if Csille has feelings for Prince Fraser, then I would definitely have feelings for Prince Fraser too? It's not that I really have feelings for him. It's because I was influenced by Csille's own feelings.

"You're really hopeless. I doubt it if you could finish the task. With your stupidity? I'm pretty sure you'll cause this world to perish too."

He leans on the sofa and crosses his arms. "I didn't mean that the feelings you have right now are Csille's feelings. It's your own feelings, Ysavel Vlahos. It's not Csille's feelings. Csille loves for Prince Fraser is toxic. Unlike you, she wouldn't dare to let Prince Fraser go. But you, you push him away. The pain you're feeling before? It's not Csille's feelings. Csille's emotions and thoughts are lock up to her own spirit. Even if you share a body with her, her own feelings won't linger around if you control the body."

I immediately froze on the spot because of his words. Is it what? The feelings I have for Prince Fraser are my own feelings? I am also in love with Prince Fraser?

I slump on the sofa. No, no, no, that's not true. There's no way I will fall in love with Prince Fraser. How can I fall in love with him? Pearce is probably joking with me. Yes, he's joking! Right!

However, my hope was instantly shattered when I heard Pearce's following words. "Csille's own existence was solely made for her to love Prince Fraser. So, even if she isn't the one controlling the body, you will still love him because you are existing as Csille Lauretré. Is that your own feelings? Yes, it is. As I said, Csille's feelings were locked up inside her spirit. So, whatever you are feeling right now is your own feelings. Is it true love? Yes, it is. Even if you put any spirit inside Csille's body, it will end up falling in love with Prince Fraser too. Do you now understand it?"

I shake my head at him. I couldn't still process the information he gave me. It's my own feelings? MY OWN FEELINGS?!!

Do I really have feelings for him? But how? How did I fall for him?

Pearce rolled his eyes. "I just explained to you the reason why but you still don't understand it? You're really hopeless, Ysavel." He then shakes his head.

Well, if you just explain it to me properly, I would probably understand it. I want to roll my eyes at him too.

Pearce sigh. "I'll explain it in the simplest way. Csille was born to love Prince Fraser, and no matter who's the spirit inside Csille's body, it will fall in love with Prince Fraser no matter what. Why? It's because this fictional world will do anything to follow the plot you have written. Csille will always be in love with Prince Fraser."

"But Aaline and Soiartze said that I couldn't fall in love with any characters or else I would endanger everyone."

Pearce shakes his head. "This is the reason why we didn't want any spirit say anything to a new spirit. What Aaline and Soiartze said is also true, but it's only applicable to their case. Aaline and Soiartze aren't supposed to fall in love with the male lead. That's against the plot of the story. It's also the reason why the world they live in falls apart. They did things against the plot because they are in love with the male lead. However, your situation is different than theirs. Your character, Csille, is destined to fall in love with the male lead. This world wouldn't fall apart even if you fall in love with the male lead because that is what's supposed to happen."

So, it's still safe even if I fall in love with him?

"Are you dumb? Didn't I tell you that it's inevitable that you would fall in love with him? So, why are you still asking a question?"

I forgot that they could hear my thoughts. "So, you're here just to tell me that I am really in love with Prince Fraser?"

Pearce shrugged his shoulders. "The Virtouse thought you need help since you already started talking to yourself. Which, by the way, I think is a dumb move. You do know you cannot talk to yourself. In the end, you just convince yourself to the belief you want to believe. I'm also here to remind you that you need to find the head of Virtouse, who is living in the fictional world. The other Virtouse are worried that you're forgetting that you still need to find the book. If you want to finish the story, then you need to find the book."

I am about to ask him how and where to find the head Virtouse when Pearce snaps his hand. When I open my eyes, all I could see is the ceiling of the carriage I am staying in.

Am I really in love with Prince Fraser? I sigh. Pearce already mentioned that it's my own feelings, but I still couldn't believe the truth. How can I fall in love with a fourteen year old Prince Fraser? Isn't that an absurd thing to do?

But Pearce already confirmed it for me. How can I argue with that fact? I get up in frustration. Why am I in love with Prince Fraser?

But I don't think that's what matters the most right now. Pearce said that I need to find the head Virtouse. But how can I find the head Virtouse? How can I find that person if I don't even know his appearance? What does he look like? Where could I find him?

I sigh and look outside the window. I guess, I'll just find a way when I get into the Saiven Kingdom. Maybe I could find some clues there.

It's still early in the morning. It seems like I haven't slept enough. After I sneaked out last night, I immediately went back to the carriage, although I still take an hour before I could finally enter the carriage since there are guards guarding the place.

I fix my beddings and am about to walk outside the carriage when I remember how I look like. It's only been two days. It would still take some time before my rashes heal. It also means I still have few days before I could get out. When the time comes, then I won't have an excuse to avoid Prince Fraser.

I need to think of another way to avoid him. One way or another, I need to push Prince Fraser away.