Chapter 1: This is a Fruitless Reincarnation 

A young man dies a meaningless death and reincarnates into a fantasy novel. What do you expect?  A super weak guy, using his knowledge of the novel to overtake the main character. He knows all the secrets, the hidden power-ups and cheats. Who knows? Maybe he'll grow strong enough to save the world. You might think so.

Haha. Not me. 

What's the use? This world already has a main character. Compared to that hero of a guy, my dark long hair and cherry red eyes pale. I rather look like a villain instead. He's strong and tall and handsome, and he gets the girl.

Well, this is a romance novel, after all.

I sighed, leaning back on the steps. I watched the other knights continue with their spar in the training grounds. The sound of swords clanging and men huffing. The summer afternoon was stifling and insects buzzed in the surrounding foliage.

I had died and woken up in a new body. At first, I thought I was dreaming. Waking up in the world of a novel? There was no way. But it was all real, very real. And when I realised who the main characters were, I accepted my fate as a side character, a background character even. There was just one issue... 

Of all things, a romance novel?

'So what if I read romance novels in my past life? Weren't romantic plays initially written by men?' I mumbled, directing my gaze to the sky. 

'What are you on about, Asher?' The man walking behind me asked, making me flinch. He was young, and had a plain looking face, with dull green eyes, hair the colour of dead grass and freckles. Yet this man was the vice captain of the guard. 

'Please ignore me, Sir Javier. I have a habit of talking to myself,' I grinned, waving dismissively. Javier looked at me, unsurprised. 

'I know it well.' He grumbled, lifting his foot. 'Now get back to training!' He kicked my back, making me jolt forward with a crash, earthy dust fading the black training uniform. The leather knee and elbow guards I was wearing left me unhurt. But my brief respite had been ruined. Javier glared at me. The other knights chuckled, waiting for me to enter the training grounds. Yeah, laugh all you want. We're all background characters anyway. I stood up, brushing myself off. I picked up a wooden sword from the stand, rolling my wrist around. I had already warmed up before I took my break, not to mention the summer heat was cooking me alive.

'Maybe I should cut my hair.' I stood in front of the knight who stepped up to be my sparring partner. He had basic looks, and I barely recognised him. Was he a new trainee?

'I've heard a lot about you, Sir Asher. They say you're on par with the vice captain.' He said, lifting his sword. He had a smirk on his face, jeering. Ahh, what a bother... I sighed mentally. For a trainee, he was certainly confident. Though at his age, I could barely hold a sword. Well, I had just woken up in this life at that time. It was difficult to digest the situation. But there were perks. This body, a twenty-one year old trainee at the time, was already physically fit. All it took was a little getting used to. And in less than a year after waking up, I officially became a knight. I gripped the wooden hilt, raising the wooden sword. 

'Mere rumours. I am nowhere near Sir Javier's level,' I replied, laughing coyly. I could still feel Javier's gaze on us. Did he intend on watching the whole match? I should end this quickly.

'But I will allow you to strike first, trainee.' I said amicably, squaring my shoulders. I was being fair; the sprightful young lad was up against a knight. He grinned and charged. He was faster than I had expected but not enough to throw me off guard. Our swords clashed and banged as we fought. It didn't take long for me to overpower him. He might have been fast, but his attacks were weak. I found an opening, and raised my sword, looking the trainee in the eye. It seemed he had good senses, his gaze freezing as he saw his impending doom. My sword came down on his faster than he could squeal.

CRACK!

'Asher!' I heard Javier shout, holding back my sword as best as I could. The trainee trembled under my attack, stupefied. I looked at his face through the two halves of his sword, plastering a nervous grin on my face. 

'Ah... sorry about that,' I said, unsurely. He gave me a disbelieving look. 'You must have picked up a weak sword. It broke so easily, haha...' I laughed nervously. Did I use too much strength?

'That's enough, Asher. Stop breaking our training equipment.' Javier whacked my head, grumbling. 

'I apologise...' I grinned sheepishly.

'Newbie, get a new sword. You'll continue training with someone else.' Javier pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. He was young, yet he acted so troubled like an old man. I wouldn't be surprised if he started wrinkling soon. Javier shot a glare at me. I didn't say that out loud, did I?

'Asher, throw this sword away. You'll complete training for today with that,' he said. I nodded my head. 

'Yes, Vice Captain...' 

I walked to the shed with the splintered halves of the sword. The training swords were made of ash wood, a durable and strong material. Yet they broke so easily. I threw the broken sword into a pile of planks. All broken swords would end up being used as firewood, in some place or another. A fuel like ash wood burned hot with few ashes.

'Should I go back to the castle now?' I wondered, though I had already started walking towards it. The path was clear and short. Sunlight sprinkled the ground through rustling trees, a warm glow in the shade. Though the trees were brimming with leaves, the Benesse Castle was still visible. Tall and magnificent, made of a bone-white stone. Ceramic tiles of a dull red decorated the roofs, which peeked out from the tops of the trees. 

Certainly, it was a fitting abode for the male and female lead.

The Duke and Duchess of Benesse. They were the main leads in the novel I had read. At least, they were. Now, they were simply people. The novel's main story had ended a while ago. Even without me doing anything, the story had progressed on its own. There was little opportunity for me to even interfere. I supposed that was the fate of a background character. 

The Duchess had overcome dreadful trials, confronted her hesitant feelings, and reached a blissful resolution with the Duke. Watching it all unfold, within the walls of the very castle I walked through, was nostalgic. Seeing the Duchess reach her happy ending, her smile as radiant and delicate as the novel had described, left a strange feeling in my chest. Almost hollow.

As though on cue, the Duchess appeared before me. 

'Oh, you're...' Her angelic voice reached my ears before I saw her. Duchess Lunaria Benesse. Creamy blonde hair, and soft pink eyes, glittering with delight. It had been three years since I woke up. Training in the Duke's guard, I had seen her face a lot. It was undeniable that Lunaria was a beautiful woman.

She gave me an apologetic look for not recognising me. And understandably so. The main character had no reason to remember a nameless character like me. 

'Sir Asher, my Lady,' I said, bowing my head with a smile back. She beamed like a flower.

'Of course! Sir Asher. Is Sir Javier not training this afternoon?' She asked. It was strange. Moments like this were never in the novel. Yet they still existed. 

She must have been sceptical of me, wondering what I was doing walking around the castle. 

'Yes, there is a training session going on. But I've already been dismissed." I said with a light smile. 

'Sir Javier let you finish early?' She started chuckling.  'I never thought you so capable, Sir Asher.' She joked. And I never thought you noticed me, Lunaria. Or was she just saying that? I smiled back hesitantly in response.  

'If I may, my Lady, can I ask where His Grace is?' The Duke, Lucien Benesse. He was a sour guy, brooding by default. Except, of course, when it came to Lunaria. I supposed it wasn't too strange to be speaking to Lunaria alone. If the male lead were here too, it might have been a main scene, one that I wouldn't be in.

'Oh, the Duke has gone to the Capital! He'll be back tonight.' Lunaria said, still sparkling. 

'The Capital?' I echoed curiously. Most of the story took place in the northern territory, a typical setting for novels like this. The Capital was seldom seen. Was it because the main arc had ended, that unusual moments kept occurring? 

'He was summoned to discuss the recent incident... My father will probably be executed.' Lunaria's smile faltered as she rubbed her neck uncomfortably. I flinched, quickly bowing my head. A feeling of guilt entered me watching her smile fade. 

'Of course, my Lady. I apologise for bringing up unpleasant memories.' Lunaria waved her hands dismissively. 

'Fret not, Sir Asher. I'm rather glad he's finally being dealt with.' I lifted my head, glancing at her. Lunaria's father, the Count, was the novel's main villain. Of course, he wasn't the only person against her, but had hurt her the most, being the cause for her suffering and rifts between her and the Duke. He had taken things a step too far when he tried to kill his own daughter for failing to carry out his plans. Not only that, he dabbled in black magic. Being relatives of the Imperial Family, the Count's actions against the Benesse House were akin to treason. 

Wait a second. 

His execution was being set. 

'Is it that time already...?' I mumbled, covering my mouth in suspicion. 

'Hm?' Lunaria stared at me with blank surprise. I waved her off with a nervous smile. 

'Ah, never mind, Your Grace. Then, may I excuse myself? I have yet to bathe before the afternoon patrols...'

'Oh, of course! I apologise for keeping you.' She beamed. 'Go ahead, Sir Asher.'

I bowed and made my leave, heading towards the knight's quarters. 

I slumped down on my bed after bathing, my hair sticking to my neck as I lay back. I stared up at the ceiling, my mind trailing. If the Count will be executed soon...

The end of the novel was imminent. The final chapter. After the Count's execution, a banquet is held. Lunaria tires quickly and Lucien takes her away. Then when she feels nauseous the morning after, and many mornings after that, her maids realise that she is with child.

It was a sweet ending to a novel full of angst. 

'Then, Lunaria will be visiting the temple in a few weeks...' My hand raised, reaching for the ceiling above. 

'Should I join her...?'