I Refuse to be a Named Character

Part 6

"Yes, Milord." With a brief nod, the masked man quietly exited, leaving Luke alone.

"I'll play by the rules while I can, but I won't let you get hurt."

He whispered a name, so quietly even he could barely hear it.

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"So you're saying that in our story, all important characters are doomed to die bloody, violent deaths?" The servant girl stared up at me with an awed expression, making me slightly uncomfortable.

"All except the main hero and main villain, yes." I nodded my head slowly.

"And that's why you don't have a name?" The young man next to her smiled with understanding.

I hesitated at his expression, but finally answered slowly. "Yes. I'm just an unimportant, nameless side character. Fading into the background."

"A nameless side character." The small group of servants repeated reverently after me, their eyes bright and excited.

"..."

Something's... off. When I had originally been asked by one of the servant's in Luke's quarters why I didn't have a name, I hadn't thought much of it. Without mentioning the "transported into a book world" bit, I had explained my theory that all important characters died terribly.

It had apparently struck a nerve.

Ever since that day, that servant had been bringing small groups to talk to me, sometimes up to several times a day. They all seemed eager to listen, despite my increasingly wary replies. Even stranger, I had noticed that the servants in the household no longer called each other by name.

What is going on?

"There you are!" A pleasant voice called out, interrupting my uncomfortable musings.

"Luke!" I turned with a smile, waving goodbye to the group I had been talking to earlier.

"He has a name..."

"Fool! His Highness is a main character!"

I thought I heard some muttering behind me, but right then Luke reached out, grabbing my hand and distracting me.

"Having fun starting a new religion?"

"Pardon?" I cocked my head to the side, confused. He stared at me for a few moments before laughing, the delighted sound making me grin back .

"Never mind, as long as you're happy." He squeezed my hand gently. "Ready for the party tonight?"

"I'm going?" The thought made me nervous. It would be the final trial, so all the princes would be there. Fetter... Graham... I swallowed uncomfortably. I hadn't seen Graham or his mother since our last run in, and I wasn't looking forward to it.

"Who else would be willing to stand by my side?"

"And you... you're participating?" I couldn't help but ask; feeling confused. In the book his character hadn't taken part in the parties at all, simply attacking the city at the night of the third party instead and trying to take the throne by force. It had been a vicious, bloody attack, every horrifying detail described. It was the final straw that made me unable to finish the fourth book Chloe had lent me.

Now I wished I had finished it despite how awful it was to read. I don't even know what happened to Luke after the attack on Western City. Was he successful? Had he gotten hurt? Anxiety pierced my chest at the thought. He was so different from his character in Deadly Crown, but I wasn't sure if it would help or hurt him.