Real or Fake

Another morning dawned.

Luo Wei sat alone on a bench in the garden, quietly gazing at the sea of flowers.

His mind, however, was restless, piecing together fragmented memories from his dreams, trying to assemble them into a coherent whole.

For several days now, he had been dreaming more than he ever had in his entire life. What's more, these seemingly bizarre dreams felt incredibly real to him.

Cities, schools, cases, a sheriff, and a little girl with blue eyes...

It was as if he had truly lived through those experiences...

In stark contrast to Luo Wei's peaceful life in the countryside, the other "Luo Wei" seemed to live a thrilling and exciting life. Strangely, he didn't find those events far-fetched; they felt natural, as if they were meant to be.

Luo Wei felt trapped in a "cocoon," where his days repeated monotonously, far from the life he truly desired.

Perhaps it was an innate curiosity and thirst for exploration, but he longed for the other Luo Wei to be the real him.

As he pondered, as usual, the white-haired maiden in a dress found him.

Ophelia sat down beside Luo Wei.

"Didn't you sleep well?"

This time, it was Luo Wei who looked curiously at her.

Ophelia's cheeks were a bit gaunt, and her usually lively eyes carried a trace of fatigue.

"It's all because of you..." She pouted.

"Me?" Luo Wei blinked, looking innocent.

"You don't sleep well at night, and it's affecting my sleep too!" She crossed her arms and said this.

"Can insomnia be contagious?" Luo Wei looked at her helplessly, "Or maybe you should get a massage from Caroline."

"Hmm... That might not be a bad idea..." She lowered her head silently.

She quickly changed the subject.

"In a few days, we'll need to prepare for our wedding. How are you doing with your noble etiquette, my dear gentleman?"

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she looked at Luo Wei.

"Don't even mention it..." Luo Wei groaned.

Horseback riding, attire, manners, dining etiquette, ballroom etiquette...

There were far too many rules for nobility. He had been learning these under Caroline's tutelage almost every day, leaving him no time to think about anything else.

So, sitting here in the morning to admire the flowers had become Luo Wei's rare moment of peace. Only during this time could he truly clear his mind.

However, a lingering doubt had been buried in his heart, resurfacing recently due to these events.

Logically, as a fallen noble, he should have learned these things as a child.

Yet, he couldn't remember any of it. Caroline had to teach him everything from scratch.

Ophelia seemed to be lost in her daydreams about the future.

"Are you tired of this life? Once we get past my father's approval, we'll travel the world!"

"We'll visit every city! Taste all the world's delicacies!"

The mere thought of these adventures filled Ophelia with happiness. She smiled warmly at Luo Wei.

But Luo Wei's expression was slightly dazed.

Why... did those words feel so familiar?

Had someone said them to him before?

Suddenly, a girl's voice emerged faintly from the depths of his memory.

'We can go to the flower garden of Eden Castle. I hear it's incredibly beautiful, with tulips stretching as far as the eye can see!'

'Let's visit Brugge, the Empire's most famous port. It has food from all over the world. We can shop and eat every day, and it won't get boring in a year!'

Luo Wei clutched his head in pain.

Every time he tried to recall, it felt like this.

It was as if some unseen force was controlling him, preventing him from remembering. Layers of "cocoon" were sealing him in, and every attempt to break free was met with excruciating pain.

"Luo Wei?"

Seeing his painful expression, Ophelia didn't show her usual concern.

Her gaze was complex as she cautiously asked, "Did you... remember something?"

Luo Wei almost blurted out these troubling thoughts.

His eyes quickly scanned Ophelia, and he said insincerely, "No... It's just a lack of sleep..."

"Is that so?" Ophelia narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Luo Wei, tell me the truth."

"What truth?"

Ophelia stared at him intently. "Are you thinking about another woman?"

"No?" Luo Wei asked, puzzled, "Why would you say that?"

Ophelia gave a cold laugh.

"Last night, while you were asleep, you kept calling out a woman's name..."

"A woman's name?" Luo Wei was shocked, "Who?"

He desperately wanted to know who that name belonged to. It was crucial to him.

But Ophelia saw through his thoughts. She said coldly, "You're so eager to know who she is? Do you like her?"

Seeing her unusually sharp expression, Luo Wei suddenly laughed.

He thought of an excuse and explained, "Of course... In the dream, she's always chasing me. Can't I ask the name of my pursuer?"

Looking at her still unamused expression, Luo Wei continued to comfort her, "What if she really exists? I'm just being prepared, that's all."

"Is that so?" Ophelia snorted, glaring at him.

"Of course! It's just someone from a dream. Don't be jealous over nothing~"

Luo Wei chuckled and opened his arms, ignoring her resistance, pulling her into a hug.

Settled in his embrace, Ophelia finally calmed down a bit.

But the resentment was still evident.

"I don't want to hear that name tonight!"

Her eyes, tinged with dissatisfaction.

"Alright, alright!"

Luo Wei quickly agreed.

But in his heart, he thought, how could he control what he dreamed about?

Ophelia continued, "Your sleep is getting worse. Tonight, use the medication."

Luo Wei paused.

"What?" Her expression was half-amused, half-suspicious, "Not willing?"

Luo Wei quickly thought it over and decisively nodded.

"I'm willing."

"Agreeing so readily?" Ophelia sat up, her gaze even more suspicious.

"If I say no, you'll be even angrier." Luo Wei looked at her helplessly, "You're really hard to deal with..."

"I'm doing this for your own good!!" Her voice immediately rose.

It was sharp, almost hysterical.

Luo Wei stared at her in surprise. Her pale eyes were suppressing a hint of madness and obsession.

Through those eyes, he didn't see concern or anger...

But a hidden fear, a deep-seated worry. She was afraid of something...

Indeed.

Luo Wei was now certain that Ophelia wasn't acting out of concern for him, as she claimed.

She had another agenda.

But Luo Wei still agreed.

Because he also wanted to sleep peacefully. He wanted to continue that dream.

He had to find out the girl's name, and, most importantly, who he really was.

Before he knew it...

Luo Wei had begun to doubt the world around him.

...