Jaeho blinked against the bright sunlight streaming into the room, his head pounding. The lavish palace around him felt more like a dream, one he wasn't sure he wanted to wake up from. His body, sprawled out on a grand bed covered in silken sheets, ached from the awkwardness of having no idea how he'd gotten there.
It was only when he looked down at himself that the full weight of the situation hit him. He was wearing ornate armor, pieces of it shining with gold and silver, making him look far more heroic than he could ever hope to be.
But Jaeho wasn't a hero. Not in the traditional sense, anyway. He had been a simple merchant before—unremarkable, ordinary, a man trying to make his way in the world. So how, exactly, had he ended up in this kingdom being hailed as the legendary Hero of Prophecy?
Oh, right... He remembered now. The whole kingdom believed he was their savior, the one destined to defeat an ancient evil threatening the land.
Jaeho groaned. If only they knew the truth.
Just as he was about to collect his thoughts, the door to his room swung open.
"Master!" The voice was soft but firm, carrying the unmistakable authority of someone who had been by his side through thick and thin. Enter Kaia, his assistant, who had followed him through the chaos of yesterday's coronation.
"Are you awake, Jaeho?" she asked, her bright green eyes scanning the room. She was a striking figure, with dark hair tied into a neat ponytail and wearing practical clothing that was as far from the royal finery surrounding them as one could get.
Kaia was one of the few people who seemed to know the truth about his identity, or at least suspected it. She was loyal, always a step ahead of him when it came to managing his supposed "heroic" duties. And, though she acted calm and composed, Jaeho could see a spark of amusement in her eyes. He wasn't sure whether it was because she found his predicament funny or because she found him hopeless.
"I'm awake," he replied with a groan, sitting up and rubbing his temples. "Kaia, this is too much. I'm just a regular guy. How am I supposed to save an entire kingdom?"
Kaia crossed the room to stand beside him, unfazed. "Master, you don't have to worry. You're doing fine. Just act like the hero they think you are, and they'll follow you. We've got this."
Jaeho stared at her in disbelief. "We? We? Kaia, you know I have no idea how to even hold a sword, right? I'm not some legendary warrior."
She raised an eyebrow, as if surprised by his lack of confidence. "You're doing fine so far, aren't you? The kingdom believes in you, Jaeho. And for now, that's all that matters."
"Believe in me?" Jaeho nearly shouted. "They think I'm some godsent hero. What if they find out I can barely tie my own shoes, let alone fight some mythical beasts?"
Kaia's lips twitched with a barely concealed smile. "If you're worried about that, don't. I'll make sure everything goes smoothly. You just need to focus on your role. No one will suspect a thing."
"Right," Jaeho muttered, clearly unconvinced. "And how exactly are we going to pull that off?"
Before Kaia could answer, there was a loud knock at the door.
"Jaeho! Are you ready for your royal audience?" The voice came from the other side, and it was unmistakable. Princess Elira, with her exuberant energy and all-too-adoring smile.
Jaeho's stomach twisted into knots. "Oh, no… not again."
He looked at Kaia, desperation in his eyes. "I can't go out there. I don't know what I'm doing. What if I mess everything up?"
Kaia sighed and crossed her arms. "Don't worry, Master. You just need to be confident. They're expecting a hero, so give them one. I'll be there to help with whatever comes up."
With a resigned sigh, Jaeho pushed himself off the bed. He had no choice. He could either keep up the charade or risk exposing the truth. Neither option seemed particularly appealing.
As he opened the door, Princess Elira stood there, her radiant smile lighting up the hall. She was dressed in royal garb, with intricate jewels adorning her hair, looking every bit the part of a princess from a fairy tale.
"Jaeho! There you are! Ready for your first royal ceremony?" She clapped her hands, excitement practically oozing from her.
Jaeho forced a smile, trying his best to look the part. "I—uh, yes, of course, Princess Elira. Lead the way."
As he followed her down the ornate hall, Kaia fell into step behind him, a reassuring presence at his side. Despite his overwhelming panic, Jaeho couldn't help but notice that the hall was filled with well-wishers, all smiling at him like he was the world's greatest hero.
He wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
---
Outside, a group of knights stood at attention, their swords gleaming in the sunlight. They bowed to him as he walked past, their admiration obvious.
"My Lord Hero, we are at your service," one of the knights said, his voice filled with reverence.
Jaeho could only nod awkwardly in response. They really think I'm some kind of god, he thought.
Princess Elira led him to a large podium where a crowd had gathered, their eyes fixed on him. The cheers were deafening, and Jaeho had to fight to keep from stumbling.
"People of the Kingdom!" Princess Elira's voice rang out. "The Hero of Prophecy, Jaeho, has arrived!"
The crowd erupted into applause, and Jaeho felt his face burn. He could barely look at them, knowing they were all cheering for a man who had no idea how to wield a sword, let alone save a kingdom.
But as Elira continued to speak, extolling his virtues and praising him as the kingdom's savior, Jaeho realized something: as long as everyone believed in him, he could keep pretending.
He just had to figure out how to avoid embarrassing himself too much.
And so began the life of Jaeho, the Fake Hero—a man who had no business being a legend but was somehow fooling everyone around him.