“Why would you need to guard a normal citizen in here? What’s so special about that person? You’re a Lauretré. Why not use the guard of your family?”

    “Because I don’t want to. My father, the Count, is already busy with things in here. Most of our people are busy helping my father. I don’t want to take a person from our guards because we’re already understaffed.”

She keeps silent for a moment. “Why do you need to guard him? Did he do something? If it’s against the law, I’m sorry, Lady Lauretré, but I wouldn’t do that.”

I look back at her. “Don’t worry. It’s not against our law. I wouldn’t dare to endanger my whole family. He saves me before, and as a way of showing gratitude, I want you to protect him.”

“Protect him from what? Bandits?”

I wanted to say about the traitor, but my mouth wouldn’t let me. “Yeah, he lives alone, and some bandits tried to rob him the other day. I’m just worried for him. He works hard on fishing and selling his fishes. So he could eat one meal a day, but those bandits got the nerve to rob him off. That’s unforgivable.”

No! Csille! You need to tell her about the danger. You need to say to her that both of their lives will be endangered. Talk Csille! Talk!! I tried to move my hand but I couldn’t. I tried a couple of times to move any part of my body until I couldn’t bare the pain I’m feeling. Every time I’ll try to move my body or say something against what I’ve written in the notebook, I could feel like I’m dying inside.

Paislee sighs and shakes her head. “Lady Csille, I really appreciate your offer. However, I don’t think I have the right qualifications for that. I’m sorry.” She then walks towards the door and opens it.

No! Csille! Don’t walk away. You need to tell her! Tell her! But my body walks towards the door. No! No! Please Csille. You love Prince Fraser, right? Please, save him. I’m begging you. I tried to talk to the force that controls me, which I think is the original Csille. However, my body continues walking and ignores my plea. Csille, please.

   My foot stops on its own. “I’ll be waiting for your reply. I will meet you here in two days. I hope by that time, you already made up your mind.” Then it continues walking outside.

    Csille! Why? Why don’t you listen to me? I tried to talk to Csille again. However, it just feels like I’m talking to no one. I tried to move my body, and it moves. I can move again! I try to walk back to the house of Farren, but every time I would walk back, I would lose control of my body again.

    I just want to talk. Why wouldn’t you let me do it?

__________

     Later that night. I had a very long dream. I dream about the time I am still in the real world—the time when I met the little girl.

   “Since you help me, I’m giving this to you. You want to be a writer, right? Write your next novel on this notebook, and you’ll be famous for sure, but you should be-”

    I was about to take the notebook when my eyes got blurry and when the blurriness gets away. The scene in front of me changes. It’s the night when I was finishing half of the novel. Every letter I am writing, I remember it now. I was about to read the last chapter of what I’ve written in the notebook when I feel a strong wind. All the things around me got blown away. I tried to hold the notebook tightly when it was also got blown away by the strong wind. It’s as if the wind intentionally takes it.

    When I opened my eyes, it’s the scene in the Palace of the Vrawyth Kingdom. It’s the first meeting of Prince Fraser and Csille. Then it fast forward to the time when Prince Fraser is talking about the The Parallel Universe book. Prince Fraser hands me the book for me to read it but before I could even open the book. A blinding light engulfs the whole place.

   When I open my eyes, I am already in the house of the writer of the book. But this time it is different. I am all alone. There is no Rufus or Brother Pascal with me. I walked towards a door that has a light. I opened it nervously. I am expecting to be blinded by the lights like the way before. However, only a silhouette of a man welcomes me. His back is facing me.

   I couldn’t really say if the man is older or younger than me. However, I’m pretty sure he is connected with the writer of the book The Parallel Universe. I tried to walk towards him so that I could see his face. But when I try to move my feet, it wouldn’t move anymore. Just like how I could lose control of my body.

   “Ysavel Vlahos, the writer of the novel, King, are you Gay? How have you been doing? What is it feel like to live in a world you made?”

   I was stunned for a moment. How could he know I’m the writer of the novel? Wait, I think I’m missing something. How could he know that this world is only a made up world? That I am the one who created everything and everyone in here? Who is he?

Before I could even ask him a question, he answers it. It’s as if like he could read what’s on my mind. “How did I know about the novel? Of course, I know. I’ve read some of your novels before. And I must say you really got potential as a writer. How did I know that this world is made by you?” He laughs. “I don’t think it’s time for you to know. It’s too early for that. You’re not ready for that. Who am I? You’ll know in the future.”

I tried to walk towards him or even tried to talk to him. However, none of them works. My foot won’t move. I could move my mouth, but I couldn’t produce any sound.

“My time is very short. I can only leave you a short message. Don’t try to change what you’ve written in the notebook,” the man pause for a moment. “Or else this world will collapse.”

I am still processing what he said when I feel like I am falling over a high story building. However, instead of falling to the ground, I was awakened in my sleep. Sweating, I look around. It’s my room in the western region. Relieved, I get up from my bed.

What does my dream mean? I couldn’t change what I’ve written in the notebook because if I do, this world will collapse? Is it the same reason why I couldn’t control my body when I try to do something against what I’ve written?

____________

    Two days after. I went back to Paislee’s house to know what’s her decision. Although, I already know what will happen. And since this a scene I’ve written in the notebook, I don’t have control of my body again. Everything I will do and say today will be based on what I’ve written in the notebook.

    “Lady Lauretré, you’re early.” She welcomes me inside and offers me the same loaf of bread she offered me the last time.

    I decline it and signals the maid outside to enter and bring the basket of fruits and vegetables.

“I guess you already made a decision.” I gestured the maid to put the basket down and leave. “I hope you wouldn’t mind. I brought you a little gift. You should eat healthy food if you will guard him. I need someone strong enough to protect him.”

Paislee looks at the basket of fruits and vegetables. “You shouldn’t have bothered. Anyways, thank you for the gift. I appreciate it.”

“Farren, let’s go straight to the point. So, what is your decision? Do you agree to guard him?”

Paislee looks at me and sighs. “Are you sure you could help me become a royal guard in the palace of Vrawyth?”

Bingo! I knew it. It really follows what I’ve written in the notebook. She will agree to this because she thinks it will be safer for her to live in the capital of Vrawyth. Also, Paislee’s biggest dream is to be the first female knight of this world. Never in this world’s history that a female becomes a knight.

The same reason why the King and Queen of the Aeslaerean Kingdom don’t want her to be a knight. How could Paislee let go of the opportunity to be a real knight?

“I am the Count’s daughter and the fiancée of Crown Prince Fraser.” Csille! How can you say that in front of the female lead? “The future Queen of the Vrawyth Kingdom. Do you think I don’t have enough power to make you a royal knight?” Heyy! You’re mistaken, Csille! You’re mot the future Queen of Vrawyth. It’s Paislee.

I tried to talk to the force that controlling my body. However, even though how many times I tried to talk to her. It seems like she didn’t hear anything.

I’m pretty sure it’s the real Csille. The one who controls my body is Csille Lauretré, the real villainess of the story. When I first came here, I was wondering where is the real Csille could be? She didn’t have any illness when I take over her body. So where did her soul goes? And now, I think I know the answer. She’s within me. She’s within my body. Every time what I’ve written come true, it’s Csille who take over this body.

Paislee nods her head. However, I could still see the hesitation in her eyes. She’s hesitating because she knows how sensitive the relationship of Vrawyth and Aeslaerean Kingdoms. One wrong move, and it will be the cause of war. If she agrees to be a knight, what will happen if she gets caught? The Aeslaerean Kingdom will be labeled as a traitor. Vrawyth will think that the Crown Princess was sent here to become the spy. And that’s not a good thing. Can she really do it? Can she really be selfish?

“You’re still hesitating? I see. If that’s the case, then I wouldn’t bother you, Mister Brichagnac.” My body stands up on its own. However, before I could even walk a step, Paislee already grabs my hand.

“I will do it!”

My eyebrows raised. “You will? Are you sure now? You see, Mister Farren, you could decline if you don’t want to. I won’t force you to do something you don’t want. It’s against our family code.” Family code my face, Csille! We both know how ruthless you are. You don’t even follow your family code. Talk about hypocrisy. I wanted to roll my eyes at what she says.

Paislee takes a deep breath. “I’m sure. As long as you promise me that I could become a knight, I will do my best to guard that person.”

“Okay, I promise you. In the name of the Lauretré family, I promise to make you a royal knight as long as you do what I said. However, can you let go of my arms now?”

Paislee withdraws her hand. “I’m sorry, Lady Lauretré. I got carried away. It won’t happen.”

My hands wave on its own. “Don’t mind that. I will see you tomorrow at the same time here. I will explain everything to you tomorrow and will introduce you to the person you will be guarding.”

“I understand. Should I ready myself? Oh! However, I have a problem.”

Of course, you have. You will ask how will you make a living if you will protect the Crown Prince.

“How will I survive if I wouldn’t work as an apprentice of the blacksmith?”

“I thought you understand it already. The day you agree to become the guard of that person, it also means you’re working for me. All the expenses will be paid by me. You will receive a weekly allowance of one hundred fifty Centimes. Is it enough?”

One hundred fifty centimes? Are you kidding me? One centimes is equivalent to ten dollars. If Paislee will receive one hundred fifty centimes, then it means she will receive one thousand five hundred dollars every week. That’s a lot of money for someone who lives alone. And Csille got the nerve to ask if it’s enough? Girl, I know you’re rich, but can you stop being too boastful?

   Paislee nods her head. “Okay, I understand. When will I start?”

    My eyes stare at her. “Tomorrow. I will explain everything tomorrow, and after that, you could already start.”

   Paislee nods her head. “I will be going now. You could ask me questions tomorrow if you have one.” After that, my feet walk outside the house.

    The moment my feet step outside. The force that is controlling my body disappeared in an instant. I look back at the house of Paislee.

    Princess Paislee, I’m sorry. As much as I want to warn you but I cannot. If I do something against what I’ve written in the notebook, I’m afraid this world will collapse.

   I stop on walking when I realized something. If this world will collapse, does it mean I will die too? If I die, does it mean I will never come back to the real world? Just the thought of this made me shivered. Oh, dear! Please no. I don’t want to be stuck in here. I miss Lena. I miss my old life.