'Arghhh...'

Pain throbbed in my head as if I had been struck by a truck.

'Hmm?'

"Wh-What did you say?"

A voice echoed.

'Who?'

'Uh?'

I couldn't hear my own voice.

What was happening?

I tried to look around to locate the source of the voice, but my movement was restricted.

'!'

However, my vision was clear. In front of me stood a girl, radiating beauty beyond imagination. "Beautiful" would be an understatement for her ethereal appearance. She could easily compete with Ephera's allure – and trust me, I'm not exaggerating Ephera's charm.

Wow.

Her long golden hair cascaded down her back, complementing her sapphire eyes. Adorned in a blue dress that perfectly accentuated her model-like figure, she was an absolute sight to behold.

Perhaps she was a model, or perhaps she was attending a lavish party. Her dress hinted at an event that demanded elegance and grace.

Hold on.

If I was facing her, that meant I was in her presence.

I tried to shift my gaze around, but my head wouldn't budge.

"Come on, Aur-"

"Do not utter my name with your repugnant mouth."

Ah.

She seemed livid at...

At...

...me!

What the hell?

My lips were moving involuntarily!

"Aurora, you're my fiancée, so..."

Once again, words tumbled from my lips as if of their own accord.

It felt like I was trapped within my own body.

And what was that spineless tone?! I sounded like a blundering nerd.

"No longer, Edward. As I've stated, I am terminating the engagement between us."

Aurora's glare seared through me.

It marked the first time a girl had ever directed such intense anger and repulsion my way. I was at a complete loss for how to react.

But...

Why was she glaring at me?

I hadn't done anything!

Hold on...

Observing her more closely...

She seemed awfully familiar...

It couldn't be...

I looked again, scrutinizing her features.

It couldn't be true!

Golden hair, those sapphire eyes, her graceful bearing...

No way!

She was unmistakable!

Are you kidding me?!

She was one of the heroines from the game, [Princess And Dragon].

Yeah...

I'd spent countless hours engrossed in that game, to the point where mistaking her for anyone else was impossible.

It was really her.

But what was going on?

How was this even possible?

Was this a dream?

Yeah, it must be a dream.

Even my encounter with that man in Tokyo...

"You can't do this!"

'I spoke' again.

"The en-engagement was arranged by the King and my father!"

I felt a wave of revulsion at the way I was speaking. It was as if I were desperate to marry a girl I didn't even know. Moreover, 'I felt' a bizarre sort of attraction towards her.

Fuck!

Someone, please get me out of this dream!

"My father gave me the choice, and Duke Falkrona consented as well."

"F-Father agreed..."

A maelstrom of anger and sorrow swirled within 'me,' knowing that 'I' had allowed this to happen. 'My' fists clenched. It was clear that 'I' wouldn't just let this pass.

This guy was truly pathetic.

Being trapped in his body was nothing short of a nightmare for me. I was compelled to watch as the girl nearly spat in 'my' face.

"Th-then!"

I stammered pathetically, gawking at her. I was practically drooling. No, I was already drooling!

Damn it!

Aurora's glare intensified.

"How about one night!"

"What...?"

Aurora's icy words reverberated in the hall.

"One night with me! And I'll end it too!"

'I' exclaimed with fiery eyes, tears of supplication streaming down 'my' face.

...

I truly wished the ground would swallow me whole.

"I'm leaving."

Thankfully, she didn't even grace me with a response before departing.

"Ah!"

Finally!

I could control 'my' body.

...

But something was off.

Thud!

As I attempted to take a step forward, I stumbled on my own feet, collapsing to the ground like a toddler.

"Cursed dream!"

Fury coursed through me, making me want to set everything ablaze.

"Ah... ah... ah..."

Several deep breaths followed, as I felt an unexpected weariness.

I hadn't done anything and yet I felt so tired.

Was I really reduced to the state of a toddler?

However...

Something felt peculiar.

This body...

I felt heavier than normal.

"Eh..."

With hands resting on the white porcelain floor, I scrutinized my reflection.

!

I had chubby cheeks. A pinch confirmed that they were undeniably plump!

Are you kidding me?!

I was fat.

Really, truly fat.

I wouldn't be surprised if I weighed 150 kilograms.

"She's gone."

"!"

I spun around.

Another beautiful girl stood there.

Black hair, grey eyes...

I recognized her too.

She was a [Sub-Heroine] from the game.

Elona Falkrona.

The daughter of Duke Falkrona.

This time, anger surged within me as I looked at her. It was so intense, I felt almost suffocated. But why?

Wait...

I scrutinized my face for the umpteenth time.

Finally, I found the name associated with this body.

"Brother, what's wrong with you?"

Elona's voice dripped with disgust as she eyed me.

Yeah.

The shocking turn of events had made me oblivious to the truth.

That character, that body...

In the game, he wasn't this plump, so I didn't immediately realize.

Even then, Princess Aurora's former fiancé...

Now, ex-fiancé.

I should have caught on when I realized that too...

But now, it was all too clear.

I was exactly as Elona said, her elder brother.

Edward Falkrona.

The heir to the Falkrona Dukedom.

And also...

A [Main Antagonist] of the game [Princess And Dragon].