Clementine Yvern.

I'd heard that name before. She was the protagonist in the novel I used to read every night after work to relax.

The story goes like this. Clementine was living a quiet life in a village with her mother when one rainy night the door of their house was knocked down by a boy who looked no older than 14 years old, and from that moment on her life changed.

This boy was hurt and asked for their help. The mother and Clementine took care of the boy and gave him something to eat.

He stayed with them for a week and at first he was distant and didn't talk much. But as the days went by he opened up more and more.

His name was Noah and he was from far away. He told them he had been kidnapped and had escaped. They were after him and so he had to hide so Clementine watched him in the mornings when her mother went to work.

But one morning when her mother was away and the two children were alone in the house an unexpected visitor came looking for Noah.

This visitor was Duke Yvern who, up to that moment, was looking for Noah to bring him back to the palace. Noah was the heir to the throne and Duke Yvern had gone there to rescue him.

He was to leave with Noah but Clementine insisted that they wait until her mother came because she would be distressed if Noah did not bid her farewell.

But when at last her mother returned at last and saw the Duke she was surprised and so was Duke Yvern. It was then that it was revealed that he was her father.

So Clementine and her mother were now living with the Duke in his mansion but the story doesn't end there.

Of the noble families, none accepted her and her mother, except Noah and a friend of hers whom the novel barely mentions her from Clementine's accounts. And that friend is Alina Kaymec, which is me.

The novel ends with Clementine and Noah's marriage but beyond that I don't remember anything else. It was a cliché story about the power of love and overcoming difficulties. I always fell asleep from exhaustion reading it.

Is this all a coincidence or am I really in the novel? No way! This can't happen.

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"Lady Alina" said Mary, who was still waiting for my answer.

"I got distracted for a moment, sorry." I replied.

"Don't apologize to me, my lady. What about Lady Clementine?"

"Mary, perhaps you can tell me a little about her?"

"Certainly. Lady Clementine is the daughter of the Duke of Yvern. The Duke found her and her mother when she was twelve years old. She doesn't have a very good reputation in high society but you, my lady, accepted her and made her your friend when you saw how others treated her."

What? This all fits the novel. It can't be! I have entered the novel and taken Alina Kaymec's place! I can't believe it. What am I going to do?

"But don't worry, I'll tell her you're having trouble remembering." Mary added at the end.

"Thank you, Mary. You can let her in now." I said and she left the room immediately.

Soon, Clementine was in my room.

She was so beautiful that she really did look like a leading lady in a novel. Her blonde hair made her face fall over her shoulders in nice curls and her eyes were cheerful and kind. As soon as she walked into the room, the whole place lit up.

"Alina! I'm so glad you're all right! I heard you were sick a week ago but I couldn't come. Besides, how could I come if you were unconscious? But now that you're awake, I couldn't not come." Clementine said when she came in and sat down next to me.

She sure talks too much.

She was talking so much and so fast that no matter how hard I tried to understand I couldn't. Before I could answer, she kept talking.

"Mary told me you've been having trouble remembering since you woke up. Is that true?"

"Yes..." I was finally able to say.

It was very convenient to say I didn't remember anything and I was glad I could get away with saying I didn't remember anything.

"Do you remember me?" he asked me.

"No, I’m sorry."

"Oh, don't apologize. It's okay. I'll remind you of everything. First, we've been friends since I found my dad and I've been living with him. That was about six years ago. The first time we met I was sitting alone in a corner and..."

I couldn't interrupt her even though I knew most of what she was saying.

After she told me the whole story she seemed cheerful.

Then, we continued to discuss various topics and gossip about the aristocracy that took place when I was ill.

"And then Lady Tavitha told her that she was too indecent to come into her house." Clementine seemed to rejoice at this story.

"Really? Just because she wore a red dress to a lunch tea party?"

"You know how it is. Noblewomen pay a lot of attention to those things and it's best to follow their fashion if you want them to like you."

I may not have known what she was talking about or the persons to whom Clementine was referring, but the time passed very pleasantly.

"My God, it's getting dark! I must go back, or I'll worry everyone. You know how my father does every time." Clementine said at last, laughing.

"Thank you for coming, Clementine. I really had a great time." I told her as I waved her off.

"Oh, please, call me Cleo like you used to."

"Okay, Cleo."

She's talkative but nice and pleasant. I like her.

Then she left with a smile that went all the way to her ears.