I Got Stuck In My Favorite Webtoon

Chapter 1 Happy New Year?

It's 11:51 pm in the office on New Year's Eve. The cold-relief tea on my desk has gotten cold and when I step into the kitchen for more hot water, I feel a wave of exhaustion rush through me. I force myself to jog in place while I select which honey I want to add into my tea.

After I've finally settled on the manuka honey, I force myself to look alive.

I'd spent this past week promising my family I was closer than ever to my promotion as Senior Marketing Manager and that by this time next year I wouldn't have to work these crazy hours.

My phone buzzes with their incoming video call.

"Happy New Year," my mom exclaims. She holds the phone so close to her face that all I can see is her nose and mouth. One of my siblings snatches the phone away and turns the camera towards her.

They're all standing next to each other, admiring the fireworks.

"Happy New Year," I say as cheerfully as I can without attracting attention from anyone in the office. I stifle a yawn as I try to look as happy as possible. When I realize it looks like I'm in pain, I absentmindedly take a sip of hot tea and burn my tongue.

Without any notice, they run back inside and gather around the kitchen. Our little dog barks in annoyance only stopping when my youngest brother picks her up. My little sister flips the camera and points to the small colorful dishes of mochi on the kitchen table.

"Mom wants you to get your mochi," my little sister yells into the phone. "She said it's important."

"Umm," I mumble. "I'll see what I can do." I pocket my phone and peep from the kitchen to see if anyone has noticed absence. Luckily, everyone seems to be too preoccupied to notice me. I grab my tupperware of mochi from my desk and hurry back into the kitchen.

Placing a few white pieces onto a pretty plate, I microwave it for a couple of seconds before smoothing azuki bean paste on top.

After mom inspects the mochi on the plate in front of me to make sure it's the one she's made, she launches into the same speech she does every year about unity.

On the count of three, we eat our mochi to symbolize sticking together as a family.

The only emotion I feel as I chew is guilt.

"Lilia?" I hear someone call my name. "Has anyone seen Lilia?"

I mute my phone and peep around the corner to see my boss' assistant making a beeline to the kitchen. Thankfully someone interrupts her and points her to the women's bathroom at the opposite side of the office.

"Oops, I have to go now!" I apologize as I wave goodbye to my family. "Happy New Year!"

My mom gives me a disappointed look, but I try not to let it bother me. I rush over to my desk and quickly shove the rest of the mochi in my mouth before shoving the plate into the dishwasher. After I've finished washing my hands, I hurry to my desk with my cup of tea.

I'm in the middle of analyzing another spreadsheet when my boss' assistant reappears. She glances at the cup of tea and then back at me. I stop what I'm doing and wait to hear what she has to say.

"Sarah says you can go home now and that you can take tomorrow off," she informs me as her eyes linger on my cup of tea. "Happy New Year!"

She flips her hair and heads back to her desk. I'm sure she'll report to my boss that I look tired and that I'm working while sick again, but I know it'll secretly work in my favor. My boss is known for hiring workaholics and people pleasers who can't say no.

I shove my laptop into my bag and grab my coat before anyone can ask me for something else. The walk back to my townhome is surprisingly pleasant, with families still admiring the last round of fireworks. They wish me a Happy New Year and I give them a friendly wave back, not wanting to talk.

By the time I get inside my townhome, I've begun to feel dizzy.

I usually work whenever I feel sick but this time I've pushed myself way past my limit.

Even though my body is screaming for me to crawl into bed, I force myself to take a warm shower and finish my skincare routine.

The last thing I want is to eventually look as tired as I feel.

Using the little energy I have, I finally crawl into bed.

As much as I need to go to sleep, I don't want to step into the New Year feeling like this.

I pick up my phone and check to see if my favorite webtoon author has released their latest work – a fun romantasy that takes its inspiration from ancient China.

Over the last couple of days, I'd seen influencers rave about the main lead characters with half of them rooting for the Prince and the other half rooting for the Legendary General.

"Finally," I whisper to myself. The Webtoon begins on a snowy wintery day and focuses on the main character, Lady Sora, the daughter of an advisor to the emperor and an illustrious noble lady from a royal family from a different kingdom.

She's perceptive, kind, and the type of main character I actually want to root for.

All I know is that there's a plot twist in the story that all the influencers were calling unconventional.

My eyes begin to shut when I get to the part where Lady Sora discovers she's going to be sent to the Imperial Palace as a bridal candidate for the Emperor's favorite son. I'm about to fall asleep when I notice my phone has begun to glow. The screen becomes so bright that I have to close my eyes.

When I open my eyes, I'm no longer in my cozy bed.

Instead I'm standing in the middle of an empty courtyard that's filled with fragrant plum blossoms. Snow flurries around me landing in my hair.

I'm about to raise my hands to brush the snow off my hair when I notice my nails are a light pink.

Most of them are covered with silver and pearl nail guards.

Gone are my two piece winter pajamas and scarf, replaced by layers of silk robe.

The only layer of protection I have against the snow is a floor length cloak trimmed in white fur that flutters behind me.

My hair is no longer flowing down my shoulders.

Instead, I can hear a slight tinkling noise as I shake my head.

Fear rushes through me. My heart begins to quicken and my stomach churns. I squeeze my eyes shut again praying that when I open my eyes again I'll be back in bed. But when I open them I am still here. All alone in this snowy courtyard.

"Please." I can hear my voice when I speak. "I need to go home."

Everything goes still. Flurries of snow halt mid-air and I can hear the faint sound of bells ringing. I whirl around to see if someone's coming from behind me. Yet no one is here.

"You have reached your limit," a voice declares. "So now you have been sent here to learn the value of things outside of work."

I try to take a step forward but trip on my robes when I realize the shoes that I'm wearing are like nothing I've worn before.

They're like raised wobbly platforms that I can't balance on.

I fall forward, catching myself with my hands.

What's worse though is the shock of cold that comes from the snow.

"What?" I hear myself say as I examine my hands for any sign of injury. "I work hard so I can provide for my family."

The voice laughs. I try to get up, but fall again. Irritated, I whirl around to see if I can find the owner of the voice. Still, no one appears to be in the courtyard but me.

"Now you must finish the story to go home," the voice answers. "I will return when the time is right to tell you what you must do."

"What?" I exclaim. "I'm only on Chapter 1! I have no idea what happens in the rest of the Webtoon."

Panic rises in my chest. I pull the winter cloak closer and force myself to think of what to say. But I'm so scared that nothing comes to mind.

"Please, I'm sorry," I acknowledge my mistake. "I shouldn't have overworked myself and I wish I could take it back. Please give me the chance to prove myself to you."

No response. Everything resumes as if nothing happened at all. I sit in the snow, completely speechless. This has to be a dream, right? I fell asleep reading the Webtoon. So all I have to do is wake up.

None of this is real. It can't be.