Chapter 0: She Heals a Wounded World

“… Huh?”  

When I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling greeted me.  

It was the kind of scene you’d expect to find in a manga or novel, but there was no better way to describe it. The usual LED lights were nowhere to be seen. Instead, a grand chandelier—something I had only ever seen on the internet—hung from the ceiling.  

“Where… am I?”  

As I slowly looked around, my confusion deepened.  

The room was far larger than I was used to. Lavish decorations adorned the space, shimmering with an opulence that perfectly suited the word *extravagant*.  

And then there was the nightgown. An elegant piece of clothing—one I had never bought, let alone worn.  

“What the hell is this?”  

Startled, I sprang to my feet—only to be completely taken aback.  

“… Huh?”  

My body felt light.  

The usual heaviness, the sensation of being weighed down as if my body were waterlogged, was gone.  

What happened?  

Moving almost instinctively, I stepped out of bed. My legs didn’t tremble. My body didn’t feel weak or sluggish.  

Then, I caught sight of a mirror standing nearby.  

I froze.  

“… Who is this?”  

Gone was the frizzy hair and the sickly, gaunt face I had always known. The frail limbs that once drew pity had been replaced with a lean, well-trained physique. Auburn hair, slightly tousled from sleep, framed a sharp-eyed face with a neutral, almost unreadable expression.  

The mirror reflected someone entirely unfamiliar.  

That was when realization struck me.  

“… Hoe Bing Hwan.”  (G: 회빙환 Hoe Bing Hwan.)

A common abbreviation used in web novels to describe tropes like regression, possession, and reincarnation.  

Had it happened to me too?  

… Then, does that mean I died?  

Strangely, I wasn’t surprised.  

I had thought about death for a long time.  

Life had been a constant struggle, and the doctors had warned me I wouldn’t live past twenty.  

Rather than fear, I felt gratitude. It was a relief that it had ended without pain.  

And now, a new beginning—a new life in a healthy body.  

Somehow, the thought excited me.  

“The Middle Ages? And… a noble family?”  

The lavish embroidery on the furnishings and the refined atmosphere surrounding me suggested as much.  

“It’s probably not reincarnation.”  

Regression was out of the question from the start.  

If this body’s memories weren’t intact, then possession made more sense than reincarnation.  

But then… what kind of story was this?  

Usually, in situations like these, people ended up in the last novel they read.  

What was the last thing I read?  

“… I don’t remember.”  

My final memories were of lying in a hospital bed, barely able to move. Even flipping the pages of a book had left me drenched in cold sweat, and holding a smartphone had been nearly impossible. I had spent my days in quiet stillness, unable to do anything.  

It must have been over a year since I last read a novel.  

“… So, what now?”  

I had always wondered why characters in reincarnation or possession stories were so calm, but now it made sense.  

Rather than fear or confusion, excitement overshadowed everything else.  

At least, that’s how I felt.  

My heart pounded with anticipation.  

A healthy body. A fresh start. The possibility of living a wonderful life.  

Hopefully, this world was peaceful and normal.  

“Young Master Ike, are you awake?”  

Just as I was marveling at my surroundings again, a woman’s voice called out, accompanied by a knock on the door.  

Korean.  

Hearing it in a place like this only confirmed that I was inside some kind of fictional world.  

And then there was the name… Ike.  

It sounded familiar.  

Not a name I knew well, but something I had heard at least once before.  

Had there been a protagonist with that name in the novel I was reading?  

“Mmm.”  

No matter how hard I tried to remember, nothing came to mind.  

“I am awake.”  

“Lady Reina will be arriving soon.”  

… Reina?  

That was definitely a name I had heard somewhere before. If I thought about it a little longer, I might remember.  

“Young Master?”  

But I couldn’t leave her waiting outside for my answer.  

“Okay, I’ll be ready soon.”  

“Yes. Shall I show Lady Reina to the reception room as usual?”  

“Please do.”  

“Understood.”  

With quiet steps, the presence disappeared.  

First things first—I didn’t seem to have much time right now, so I needed to get moving.  

Maybe meeting this guest named Reina would jog my memory.  

“…aren’t I quite late?”  

I had taken too long changing clothes. In the end, after waiting endlessly, the maid returned and helped me dress.  

When I recalled her awkward smile, I could feel my own face heating up with embarrassment.  

“Is it here?”  

I stopped in front of a massive door. The sign clearly read: Reception Room.  

“As expected… this feels strange.”  

No matter how I looked at it, this was a Western-style mansion. Seeing Korean written in such a place felt more out of place than I had imagined.  

How did the main characters in novels endure this awkwardness?  

Letting out a small sigh, I quietly knocked on the door.  

“I’m coming in.”  

Even though this was my own home, I had no idea who the guest inside was, so I figured it was best to be polite.  

“Come in quickly.”  

A quiet voice granted permission.  

It was a beautiful voice—clear and delicate, like morning dew.  

“Okay.”  

With natural tension building, I slowly opened the door.  

Inside sat a girl.  

She looked young, about the same age as this body. But something about her was different. The atmosphere. The elegance.  

I could sense nobility—it radiated from her brilliantly.  

Her long, platinum-colored hair gleamed as though bathed in moonlight. Her sharp, bright purple eyes suited her perfectly.  

Her pale skin contrasted with her red lips, yet the combination wasn’t awkward at all.  

Like a doll.  

No… she was so breathtakingly beautiful that calling her a doll felt like an understatement.  

I couldn’t help but stare.  

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”  

The girl—Reina—tilted her head, questioning my unmoving gaze.  

Only then did I snap out of it.  

“Oh, uh, right.”  

As I hurriedly sat down, she frowned in displeasure.  

“Is something wrong? You’re using honorifics oddly… Have you heard any news?”  

“Oh, huh? No. What news?”  

Had the owner of this body spoken ill of her? A sense of unease crept up my spine.  

“Well, it doesn’t matter. I may as well tell you in advance—I’m engaged to the crown prince.”  

“You’re engaged… to the crown prince?”  

“Yes.”  

Her hair shimmered under the light.  

It was a simple statement, yet it felt overwhelming.  

“…I remember now.”  

Everything came flooding back.  

No illustration could truly capture the beauty of this girl. No artist’s description could do her justice.  

Ike.  

That was the name of this body.  

Reina Rogelia.  

A breathtaking girl, engaged to the crown prince.  

And in the future, she would die—executed by beheading.  

This body, Ike, played the role of her childhood friend—the one who would serve as a narrative device to emphasize her isolation.  

She was an ordinary girl who once dreamed of happiness.  

Yet, she was cast as a villainess—a lonely, abandoned soul with no one to rely on.  

She was nothing like me.  

And yet, I sympathized with her. I understood her.  

Reina Rogelia.  

This was the world of the story where she would one day fall alone.  

My favorite story.  

The world of “She Heals a Wounded World.”