Jin stood awkwardly in front of the princess, feeling the weight of a thousand rewritten scenes pressing down on him. This time, he wasn’t the silent shadow trailing her steps. No, this time he had to be different — genuine, respectful, maybe even charming.

He cleared his throat again and forced a smile that felt strange on his lips. “Princess Elara, I realize I’ve made mistakes. I want to start fresh. May I… accompany you for a walk?”

Elara’s eyes twinkled with curiosity. “I would like that, Prince Rylan.”

Rylan. The name of the prince in the story — his new identity. Jin still wasn’t used to it.

As they walked through the garden, Jin carefully measured his words, avoiding the obsessive thoughts that had plagued the original prince. He asked about her interests, listened to her stories, and tried not to glance too often at the way the light caught the strands of her hair.

Elara laughed softly at one of his clumsy jokes, and Jin felt a flicker of something he hadn’t expected — hope.

But as the afternoon sun dipped low, a familiar unease crept in. Was this sincerity enough to change how the story would unfold? Or was the princess merely indulging the “new” prince out of kindness?

Just then, a voice interrupted their moment.

“Rylan! There you are.” The first male lead, Lord Alric, appeared from behind a hedge, his eyes sharp and assessing.

Elara’s smile faltered. Jin tensed, knowing this confrontation could change everything.

Lord Alric’s gaze locked on Jin, a hint of suspicion in his voice. “I see you’ve taken a sudden interest in the princess.”

Jin squared his shoulders. “I’m simply trying to be better.”

Alric smirked, but the princess placed a gentle hand on Jin’s arm. “Let’s continue our walk,” she said, leading Jin away.

As they disappeared down the path, Jin felt the old story’s shadow looming. The prince might have a second chance — but the game was far from over.