I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

To think I’d see Myeong Jeha again with that rough, early-phase personality. I hurriedly tapped his shoulder.

“So this is my dream, okay? Ha, where do I even start. I dozed off on my way home after the awards ceremony, and then I ended up here, and this—!”

“So what you’re saying is, my shitty life is all just your dream? That’s interesting. Haha. Then if I get rid of you, does this reset end?”

“No, no, no. Why are you being so negative again? Anyway, what I mean is—we just need to wake up somehow....”

Why isn’t this waltz ending? I just want to run. There’s not a single person here I can reason with.

“A dream.... Fine. Then how do you wake up?”

“From what I’ve tested so far, falling doesn’t wake me up, scary things don’t wake me up, so....”

Now that I think about it, I don’t actually have a method.

‘My number one answer was supposed to be Myeong Jeha....’

But if he’s useless too, then what am I supposed to do?

“Stop thinking so hard. Executing a small girl like you wouldn’t be difficult.”

“You shouldn’t be saying that in your current position.”

“I’m just telling you to take responsibility for what you said. If you can’t give me a proper answer before the music ends....”

Myeong Jeha continued leading the dance with ease.

“I’ll assume there’s only one solution.”

Why is everyone in this damn class system so obsessed with executions?

My head spun. Think. Think. Ways to wake up from a dream....

“Shout ‘This is a dream!’?”

“Already tried.”

“Pinch your cheek?”

“Mm. Doesn’t wake me.”

He lightly pinched my cheek.

Right. Still not waking up.

“Roll down the stairs with your eyes closed?”

“Tried that too. If you don’t have anything else, then execution really is the final option.”

Execution? Absolutely not.

The music was nearing its end. I ran through every movie and drama I’d ever seen.

Then—

A cliché of all clichés flashed through my mind.

‘The most classic, time-tested cliché.’

After this scene, the male lead speaks—and the dream shatters.

Then the female lead wakes up brushing her teeth, muttering, I’ve lost my mind, I’ve lost my mind!

That overused, overly familiar {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} scene!

“K-kiss!”

At my words, Myeong Jeha curled one corner of his lips and pulled me closer.

His body—firmer than a wall—wrapped around me instantly.

“That’s a bit too obvious.”

“I take that back. I panicked after saying it.”

“But I appreciate the effort... fine. Will you cooperate?”

Cooperate with what—

Before I could even think, his face moved closer.

Instinctively, I closed my eyes.

That familiar, pleasant scent of his—

Okay, then I should wake up now. Right? I should...?

Come to think of it, how many kiss scenes has Myeong Jeha filmed?

‘Is this what experience looks like...?’

Definitely more than ten. Yeah... it has to be... otherwise... how is he this—

Every time my thoughts started to blur, I reminded myself that for a top actor, pretending to kiss in front of people was nothing.

‘But how long is this going to—when, when—’

The sensation became too vivid. My heart felt like it was about to burst from how soft his lips were.

I couldn’t take it anymore and shoved him away.

“Haah... haah....”

It felt like every nerve in my body had gathered at my lips. My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

“Haha. Just like before.”

Meanwhile, Myeong Jeha looked completely unaffected.

For some reason, that annoyed me.

The moment he finished speaking—

Crash, crash—

Glasses shattered all around us.

The champagne flutes people had been holding fell to the floor, finally breaking.

‘Well... even in a romance fantasy, there’s no way people wouldn’t be shocked by that....’

Everyone was staring at me.

Even the orchestra had stopped playing.

“This is my first time seeing such a thrilling scene in my life.”

“Same here.”

“Good thing I didn’t quit last month.”

“Feel bad for the ones who left the orchestra in their right minds.”

“Should we play the wedding march now?”

Director Gam Dajeong. Nice to see you here.

...What am I supposed to do now?

Ji Haebeom—why are you just standing there with your arms crossed?

And then—

“That is a monster.”

A voice rang out as someone stepped into the silent hall.

And I am absolutely not thankful to you for breaking the tension, Do Gyeoul.

“A creature that seduces the Crown Prince. It must have slaughtered countless people to wear a human shell....”

Do Gyeoul spoke convincingly, pointing straight at me.

“It appears to be the work of someone attempting to infiltrate the imperial palace, someone who secretly handles monsters.”

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

“As the Master of the Magic Tower, I will capture it and thoroughly dissect it to uncover the source of this incident. Ahaha!”

“No!”

“Yeah! I agree!”

My shout overlapped almost perfectly with a loud voice from the side.

‘Wait—Hong Suryeon?’

Dressed in a bright red gown, Hong Suryeon pointed her fan at me.

“I was going to make a late entrance and outshine everyone here! And you ruined everything! Execution! It’s execution! If you want to keep trade flowing smoothly with our kingdom, you need to execute her!”

“My lady, please calm down. Look—your favorite mirror.”

“I’m beautiful....”

For a moment, Hong Suryeon got distracted by the hand mirror her maid offered.

Then she snapped back.

“But what’s the point?! That thief who stole the lips of a Crown Prince so beautiful even I acknowledge it! She stole all the attention!”

The hall erupted into noise.

“So, what should we do?”

Myeong Jeha asked me, his voice tinged with amusement.

You’re smiling right now?

“Absolutely not.”

“Really? How much?”

“Very.”

“If I don’t hand you over, will you listen to me?”

As long as it’s not Do Gyeoul!

No matter how rough Myeong Jeha’s personality had gotten, he was still better than her.

I nodded quickly.

“Then here.”

He tapped his cheek with his finger.

“...What?”

“You should show some sincerity.”

You want me to kiss you while fully conscious? After we’ve already proven this isn’t a dream?

Do Gyeoul staring at me.

Hong Suryeon still fuming.

Ji Haebeom watching with folded arms.

The orchestra whispering excitedly.

Joo Junseo glaring at Myeong Jeha.

Seo Eden—who somehow appeared—waving a book titled

[The Crown Prince’s First Kiss Was Stolen, But I’m Actually His Hidden Fiancée]

Where do these books even come from...?

Myeong Jeha tapping his cheek again.

My options:

dissection.

execution.

...or this.

No.

This is a nightmare.

A nightmare.

* * *

“Ugh... Myeong Jeha... I’m not letting you get away with this....”

Inside Han Yeoreum’s car on the way home from the awards ceremony, the space was so quiet that not even music played—only her sleep talking echoed faintly.

“What’s wrong with Yeoreum?”

“Myeong Jeha hosted the film festival again today. She’s probably jealous.”

“She’s so cute, honestly. Our Yeoreum should host an awards show someday too.”

Watching her frown deeply in her sleep, Manager Choi and Coordinator Hwang smiled fondly.

The trophy in Yeoreum’s hand gleamed softly.

Special Side Story — End