: The Original Story

"Ysa, I love this novel of yours. I just don't understand why they rejected it before," Lena grumbled while reading the first half of the "King, Are you gay?" novel.

I've been working on it for a few days now, and since Lena is currently on leave, she volunteered to proofread it for me.

"It's not the same novel I've submitted. I've revised it. Although I still prefer the old version of it," I said, sighing as I continued mopping the floor of our apartment.

Lena and I share the apartment, and she's currently on leave, giving her plenty of free time. Since I haven't published a book yet, I don't need to go to our office regularly, only when I need to submit my manuscript or discuss any concerns about my novels.

 ""Is that so?" She sets the notebook aside and shifts her attention to me. "What was the original version like then? You mentioned you preferred it, didn't you?"

  I put aside the mop for a moment and sit beside Lena to describe how the story unfolded in the original version.

"The initial version had a lighter tone and was less complex. Csille, the villainess, was initially portrayed as a kind character who was beloved by everyone, especially the Crown Prince Fraser, with whom she had a close relationship. However, Csille's demeanor changes when she notices the prince's growing interest in his royal guard, Farren, who is actually the disguised crown princess, Paislee. Feeling neglected, Csille becomes clingy and seeks the prince's attention, ultimately straining their relationship."

 Lena interrupts me with a wave of her hand, signaling me to pause. "So, let me get this straight. Prince Fraser and Csille were actually a couple before Princess Paislee came into the picture? And now, Princess Paislee is the one who caused the rift between them?"

 I shake my head. "Yes, Prince Fraser liked Csille, but it wasn't enough for him to marry her. So, Princess Paislee didn't come between them. Csille only thought that way because she grew up with Prince Fraser, and their engagement was decided by the King and Queen when they were children. So, she believed she had a right to Prince Fraser."

"I see, but in some sense, Csille's perspective is somewhat valid. She's the fiancée of Prince Fraser, so at least she has the right."

I shook my head once more. "Not exactly. Their engagement isn't official, so it's incorrect to assume she has a claim over Prince Fraser. Besides, he hasn't shown any romantic interest in her."

"So, Csille's the one in the wrong here?" 

I sighed and reached for the notebook, flipping through the pages until I found a drawing of Prince Fraser and Csille from their youth.

 "You could argue that, but it's not solely her fault." I showed her the picture of Prince Fraser and Csille. "They look happy together, don't they? It's just that Csille assumed something that was never going to happen. And that's where everything changed. From being an angel, she turned into a demoness. She became mean and cruel, doing everything she could to sabotage the relationship between Prince Fraser and Princess Paislee."

"I feel a bit sorry for her. Despite always being there for the Prince, he still chooses Princess Paislee. But wouldn't trying to force oneself onto someone only widen the gap between them?"

 I nodded in agreement with Lena's words. "Exactly, and Csille realized it too late. By then, Prince Fraser was already deeply in love with Princess Paislee. With no other option, Csille had to come to terms with the situation and let Prince Fraser go. That's the contrast with Csille in the first version."

"Csille's cruelty didn't stem from her innate character but rather from her reaction to pain and selfishness. Her relentless pursuit of something beyond her grasp led to her downfall, resulting in her attempts to sabotage Prince Fraser and Princess Paislee's relationship in a misguided bid to win him back. Regrettably, her efforts failed, and reconciliation with the Prince proved elusive. Now I understand why you preferred the original depiction of Csille," Lena say as she examined the drawing in my hand. "I, too, like that Csille."

"It's a shame I can't portray her in that light. I have to make Csille cruel, manipulative, and selfish. I dislike how the Csille in the second version lacks character depth and development. It's as if she's inherently mean from the beginning to the end of the story."

Lena gazes at the drawing once more. "I believe this version could work well too. Stories like these tend to resonate with many readers nowadays. But I'm curious, why did you choose to write in this notebook instead of typing on your laptop? It's the first time I've seen you write by hand."

I glance at the notebook given to me by the little girl. It's the same one I use for writing the "King, Are you gay?" novel. Her words come to mind, reminding me of her message.

"Since you helped me, I'm giving this to you. You want to be a writer, right? Write your next novel in this notebook, and you'll surely become famous. But you should be-"

Trying something new won't hurt. I don't have much to lose anyway, except maybe this being my final chance at becoming a writer. "I just thought I'd give it a shot. You never know, a change might be exactly what I need, right? Anyway, do you think it's good? Will people enjoy it?" I asked Lena, curious about her thoughts on the novel.

"I believe it holds promise. The initial chapters have already drawn me in. Though, I do find Csille quite irritating. Her hypocrisy bothers me. But overall, I think readers will enjoy it."

I felt a surge of joy hearing Lena's feedback. Could this be the breakthrough I've been hoping for? "Are you serious? You're not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?"

 Lena rolls her eyes at me. "You're my friend Ysa, but I wouldn't dare lie to you about your novels. Remember the last one I proofread?"

 I recall how Lena critiqued the last novel I asked her to proofread. She was blunt about its flaws. She was furious at my writing style back then. It was my first novel. That's why it has a lot of flaws. 

 I smiled awkwardly at Lena. "Certainly, how could I ever forget that? You advised me relentlessly for a month to quit writing because of it. Later on, you declined when I attempted to have you proofread my next novel. But I couldn't blame you. When I read it myself, I cringed too. It's a good thing I'm improving now. But I do hope this won't be my final novel." I glanced at the notebook.

Lena then hugged me. "Of course it's not! Even though I've often urged you to quit writing, I still believe in your talent. So, don't lose hope, okay? Your name will surely become prominent in the writing industry. And if that happens, don't forget you have a very loyal best friend who's also a policewoman, ready to support you every step of the way, okay?"

I embrace her and chuckle. "Forget about you? Never! And speaking of being big, didn't we talk about heading to Big Bowl restaurant today?" Lena jumps up and pulls me toward the door. "Oh, how could we forget that? Let's go. Your novel made me hungry!"

It's our usual ritual, dining out at Big Bowl once a week, a favorite local spot where we're regulars thanks to our friendship with the owners.

After our meal, we returned home, and I resumed work on my novel, making headway on the first half. The plot unfolds as Csille uncovers Princess Paislee's secret identity and schemes to disrupt her relationship with Prince Fraser.

"It has a long way to go. But how will I make Csille's character even more evil? Should I make her threaten Paislee to leave Fraser behind? But if I choose that path, how will I proceed afterward? Or should I have Csille expose Paislee's lies instead? But that might not work either." I slumped my head on my table, feeling overwhelmed.

"Why is it so difficult for me to turn Csille into the perfect villain?" I lamented, glancing at my old manuscript. "Maybe it's because deep down, I still hope that the old Csille will return. But she won't." Frustrated, I ran my hands through my hair.

"Since I have no other option now, I'll just have to turn you into a real villainess. I'm sorry, Csille."