Intrigue

Crumpled

"Oh my god... You're pretty?!" Rowan said with shock, tracing his voice.

"Is that the only thing going through your mind right now?!" Alisa said with what he could only assume as irritation.

"Well, what else am I supposed to think? You're pretty! For the first time in forever!"

"I could literally kill you. You know that, right?"

Rowan huffs and crosses his arms, looking at his best friend who was now his favorite character from a novel that he had obsessed over in the past, and by past, he means his past life. Yes, he'd already gotten over his past life, he didn't have anything of significance to him there anyway, the only thing he cared about was his girl best friend, platonically of course. And since she apparently transmigrated with him, then he didn't miss anything at all, since she was with him already.

"You wouldn't do that, you love me~" Rowan said cheekily with a playful smirk.

"Oh shut up." Alisa rolled her eyes but didn't deny it, she looked around her surroundings with furrowed eyebrows.

"Where are we? I mean, I know that we've transmigrated into that... Novel you've read, but do you know where exactly we are?" Her voice was laced with confusion.

Rowan looked around too, surveying his surroundings. Was this place in the novel? This looked strangely familiar... But he didn't know where exactly this was, he didn't even know what part of the novel they were in. It probably wasn't from the beginning though, since they both looked like they were around their mid-twenties already. He sighed, what a pain.

"I'm not sure... But this definitely isn't the beginning of the novel, since we're both probably in our mid-twenties..."

Rowan widened his eyes, they were both already in their mid-twenties... That means... That the female protagonist has already met her harem... The female protagonist... His best friend.

He slowly turned to look at Alisa, a blank look on his face. Alisa shifted uncomfortably from his blank stare.

"Uh... What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"The female protagonist has already met her harem... You're the protagonist..."

Alisa had a slight look of disgust on her face, she scoffed and crossed her arms.

"Ugh... Yeah, no, gross... I don't want a harem full of men... Bleh... Disgusting, i don't even want to think about it..."

They both stood still for a moment, not speaking until Rowan turned his back on her and huffed. Alisa raised one of her eyebrows in confusion.

"What? What's wrong with you? Come on, man, don't keep secrets from me." She said with cautious irritation in her voice.

Alisa didn't say anything before slowly turning to face her, he was... Sulking?

"Wha... What are you sulking for, you bastard? You're the one who got us into this novel!"

She angrily put her hands on her hips, Rowan whined and looked away.

"Aww... How come you get the harem... I've got to live in the villains body! That's so unfair..."

Alisa rolled her eyes, ugh, he was such a baby, why was she friends with him again?

"Ugh shut up, I get it, you want the Harem, but you don't get it, not my fault. Why do you like harems anyway? They're always so weird..."

Rowan gasped in offense, he dramatically put his right hand on his chest with an exaggerated look of offense and hurt on his face.

"How dare you! Harems are not weird! Ah... The men are always so handsome! Some of them are cute too, you know! All of them are so loyal to the main character too... Oh, what I would do to live as a main character in a harem novel... Hmph... But I live as a villain here, so unfair!"

They both bickered, unaware of their surroundings, they both didn't even hear the approaching footsteps coming their way, they only noticed when they heard a voice.

"Rowan! What do you think you're doing with Lady Alisa!?"

Rowan raised an eyebrow and looked at the source of the sound. When he saw who it was, his eyes widened and his jaw dropped a little, it was... Magnus! The Second male lead that would join the female protagonists' harem! The Third Prince of Athenaia Kingdom! Oh god... He was... Beautiful! Handsome!

Black raven hair with ocean blue eyes that would make you fall deep inside them if you stare too long. He was the strong knight type male lead, a stereotypical male lead, but he was still so handsome?! How is that even possible?! Rowan thinks he'll have a nosebleed from the attractiveness, but what really did it for him was the two other men behind Magnus...

The two other harem leads! The one on the right, Sage, was the Second Prince of Athenaia Kingdom. He was the scholarly male lead.

Light brown hair that would make people swoon when the sun perfectly hit his hair, making it shine a little with a gold hue, the same but so very different blue eyes. His blue eyes were like crystals, making you freeze and stand frozen, but so very beautiful when you look into them.

Rowan's insides twisted at the sight of him. He knew the novel said that the male leads were handsome, but damn, they weren't only handsome, they were absolutely ethereal! Rowan's eyes flicker towards the man on the left, and he ultimately feels a warm liquid trickling down his nose after the beauty he has just seen.

The man on the left was the Crown Prince, the man every woman has ever dreamed of, the source of wet dreams from women and probably also some men.

Kai, the author's favorite male lead since his name actually had a slight meaning. It was based on an immortal in a chinese myth.

Long hair that almost reached to his hips, the same brown color yet a little darker than the Second prince's hair, his hair also faded into a dark black at the end, his eyes were also blue, but a darker shade, it also had a twinkle of purple in them if you stare hard enough, damn, they were all so beautiful! Who gave them the right to look like that? He hears someone call his name, but he can't stop staring at the three ethereal Harem male leads.

All three of them had a shocked and bewildered look when they were looking at him, their eyes were flickering between him and someone else beside him, he continued to stare at them, eyes flicking quickly between the three of them.

"Rowan! Hey! Stop day dreaming! You have a nosebleed! Do you want to die of blood loss or something?!"

Rowan snaps out of his trance and looks beside him. Oh gosh, he forgot that Alisa was still there, a drip caught his attention, he turned his eyes on the ground, a drop of blood was spreading on the grass, he immediately lifted his hand to cover his nose, embarrassed that the Three Prince's saw him like that.

"Ah... Damn... Uh..."

He stuttered, not knowing what to say. He glanced at the three Princes and then looked at his best friend. She was giving him a face that seemingly said 'did you really just get a nosebleed by looking at them?'

Rowan felt his cheeks heat up. God, how embarrassing! Ugh, he never wants to show his face in front of anyone ever again! Who gets a nosebleed after looking at three absolutely beautiful men? Looks like he did, Rowan pouts while looking at Alisa, his hand still covering his bleeding nose.

"Oh come on, you can't blame me...!" He whined at her, making sure his voice was low and not noticeable.

Alisa's hand was on his shoulder. She looked irritated but also slightly worried. He softly sighed and flashed her a reassuring smile, not wanting to worry her.

"Uh... Lady Alisa! Are you alright?"

The two both looked at the three (handsome) men. They all looked confused, but they were mostly looking at Alisa with worry, right... Yeah, hey! You are probably confused about the roles here, right? Maybe not, but I'll still explain it!

Coincidentally, his best friend, Alisa, had the same name as the Female Protagonist in a popular Harem novel he was last reading, and he also had the same name as the villain of the novel! He had to admit, having the same name as someone in a novel you liked was really cool, he wasn't that proud that his character was a villain but oh well! At least his name was mentioned. Anyway, the plot of the novel was simple.

The Protagonist has been an orphan since childhood, founded by a Baron who was in huge debt for some reason? The novel never stated why. Anyway! The Baron did his best to take care of the little girl. As always, the little girl was kind, naturally smart, gifted with the aura of pure happiness. You know, all that stuff a reverse harem protagonist should have!

The Baron was invited to a party that was held in a Kingdom. The protagonist is invited as the Baron's daughter as well. The Baron buys one last super expensive dress just for her, and they go to the party, all that stuff, and then the protagonist finally meets her Harem at the party! Yay.

First, she meets the son of a well-known and powerful duke. He was cold to her but then quickly softened up around her because of her positive and bubbly attitude. They talk, and she eventually leaves him. Later, she gets lost and suddenly ends up in the Kingdoms garden. It's a cold-moonlit place, beautiful and pretty. She stays there for some time until she meets the Third Prince. He falls for her. All of that. She meets more male leads and they all fall for her because of her looks, personality, and all of that...

Yeah, cliché, but you know, he liked reverse Harem novels, so he personally loved it! Besides, he also liked teasing his best friend for having the same name as the Female Protagonist! See, his best friend was the absolute opposite of the Female Protagonist, sure she was sometimes kind, but that was only sometimes! She was smart, but he would never tell her she was. He didn't want her ego boosting up. Oh yeah! He was the villain! Alright so...

The novels villain, Rowan, was a powerful Crown Prince from another Kingdom. He was obsessed with the Female Protagonist, even going as far as to stalk her and making his knights and servant follow her just to get information on her. He was undoubtedly handsome, but he was not kind, the opposite, in fact! He was an absolute tyrant. Cruel, obsessive, gross, creepy, you know, all that. But he was also strong and powerful. What didn't help was that he was from an extremely powerful Kingdom.

Obviously, he died at the hands of the Crown Prince of Athenaia. A gross, cruel, brutal death, it made Rowan almost want to throw up while reading that part...

Oh, looks like his time is up! Sorry! Hopefully he explained it well enough! Back to the story! Wait, what? Stop breaking the fourth wall? Hm... He'll try! You can't stop him if he really can't hold himself back though!

"Prince Rowan, what exactly did you do with Lady Alisa?"

Ah damn, Rowan looks towards the voice, and— woah! Well, hello there handsome— wait, why is First Prince Kai in front of him? Help? Wow, he has a broad figure, he was probably packing— sorry, lost in thought.

Rowan glanced beside him, only to see his best friend suddenly far away from him? She was being held by Third Prince Magnus. She was looking at him with a worried expression with a hint of mild irritation, probably because she was being held back by the two Princes holding her. Prince Magnus was holding her arm and looking at her with worry. Second Prince Sage was holding onto her shoulder, also looking worried, but he was mostly looking at... Him? Sage was looking at him with suspicion. Wow, did he think Rowan did something? Understandable, but it still made him feel offended.

"Prince Rowan, I ask you again, what were you doing with Lady Alisa?"

Rowan flinched from the icy voice and looked back at the Crown Prince currently in front of him. Kai was looking at him with suspicion, restrained anger, and... Something else he couldn't identify...

Look, he liked hot men, especially when they were mad, since they just looked intimidating and even more hot, but this? Rowan feels... Irritation. He is irritated. Who does this hot man think he is? Why is he basically towering over him? Damn, why was Original Rowan shorter than the three Princes?! Not fair!

Rowan feels his eye twitch, he wipes the blood that came from his nose, thank god the nosebleed stopped, he glares at the Prince in front of him and suddenly speaks up without thinking.

"I'm sorry for not answering you at first, Prince Kai. I was merely having a conversation with Lady Alisa before you and the other two showed up, ultimately disrupting my conversation with Lady Alisa."

Oh damn, since when was he this bold? This was very new for him. He was shameless, but he wasn't bold! Did he regret saying those words that were obviously laced with sarcasm? Nope, not at all, no shame, absolutely none. Well... Okay yeah, that was stupid because now, all three Princes were looking (glaring) at him with shock but also... Yeah, there's that thing again, looking at him with an emotion he couldn't describe! His best friend's expression was like an open book to him though.

Her expression specifically said 'you dumb, stupid i***t, why would you say that? It's like you want a death sentence. Why do you have to be so stupid all the time?'

...

Yeah, he was uh... He was fucked... Rowan already feels sweat creeping up on him... Well, his life in this new world was nice while it lasted. Goodbye everybody! Ehe...

Oh god, what should he do? He's surrounded and is being glared at by three beautiful, handsome, amazing men! With his stupid and ugly, but now pretty looking best friend! He was so fucked... Also, he's pretty sure he landed on something. Where was it again?

Rowan looked at where he had landed. A piece of crumpled paper.