Episode 3.
It was a youthful voice, but somehow it made my shoulders shrink. For a moment, everything around us fell silent. I wondered if this was what it felt like to directly experience the murderous aura often described in novels.
“Ha.”
Inyoung irritably brushed back his black hair. The faint outline of his face made him look about my age, like a boy. But he was at least a head taller than the other kids, giving off a far more intimidating presence.
At his casual movement, the market kids flinched.
*What is this atmosphere?*
Even though I was just standing behind him, my heart pounded as if it were sending out a danger signal.
*I get why they’re scared—they’ve done something wrong—but why do I feel this terrified too?*
It felt… alien.
Not just that—along with the fear, there was a faint pain, like something sharp had stabbed my stomach. Even though nothing had actually touched me, thanks to him blocking the front.
*That’s strange.*
The boy gestured at the kids with his chin.
“What are you staring at?”
“Y-you, who are you?!”
“What difference would it make if you knew?”
At his words, the market kids gritted their teeth and tightened their grip on whatever they were holding.
Whoosh! Thud!
“Argh!”
“Gasp—blood!”
With a single flick of the boy’s hand, a dagger grazed the leader’s neck and embedded itself into the wooden board behind him. Their faces turned pale instantly.
“Get lost.”
“Waaaah!”
Before he even finished speaking, the kids scattered and ran.
*W-what was that… That’s insanely dangerous.*
I got transported into a fantasy world, and something truly fantasy-like just happened…! Do people in this world all have skills like that?
I was just as frightened, but still, I moved my lips to thank him.
“Th-thank you for help—”
“Why are you still here?”
He shook off the hem of his clothes that I had been holding, as if annoyed. My hand fell away like dust from that cold gesture. Along with it, my gratitude vanished.
“Dragging others into your problems—what a nuisance. If it’s your issue, don’t hide. Face it yourself. And against mere kids… tch.”
He passed by me, speaking coldly.
*So he didn’t help me—he just got dragged into it because I grabbed him.*
Embarrassed, I muttered toward the back of his head.
“Phew, I almost thanked him!”
Then I quickly ran off.
—
“Seriously, what was that? He didn’t have to be *that* rude.”
After finishing my errand and returning to my room, I carefully retraced my memory.
Was there a scene like this in *The Suspicious Lady*? No matter how much I thought about it, there wasn’t anything like this—or a scary boy like him.
“I only saw the back of his head, but he looked pretty important. Guess he was just a random passerby. Anyone would think he was a main character.”
I brushed off my thoughts about the boy.
But one thing he said lingered stubbornly in my mind.
—If it’s your problem, don’t hide. Face it yourself.
For some reason, it sounded like he was telling me not to run away from my current situation, even though his words had nothing to do with it.
“Adoption could be a great opportunity—maybe even to become the protagonist of this world. Am I really just running away from it?”
For a moment—just a moment—I had that thought. Completely out of nowhere, like fate.
I had never been the main character in my life.
If you lined people up into groups A, B, C, and D based on how much attention they received, I’d probably be at the very end of group C.
The only reason I wasn’t in group D was because I worked tons of part-time jobs and was loved by my bosses. A reliable worker—worth every penny!
“I’m used to getting attention as a slave to capitalism, but becoming the protagonist of a whole world…?”
Or maybe God pitied me so much that He gave me a chance to become the main character through reincarnation. At the very least, a chance to live as a rich family’s daughter!
“Is that it…?!”
Drunk on my own overblown interpretation, adoption started to feel like destiny. Who decided that? Me!
Besides, Fredia’s face was already somewhat known, so finding a way to run away right now would be difficult anyway.
“I’ll get adopted into a duke’s family, live in luxury, and even receive love from a handsome male lead! When would I ever experience something like that?”
Plans are meant to change.
“First, I’ll become a noble.”
At that time, I didn’t know.
That boy was closer to a devil than a messenger of God.
—
—
A few days later, the orphanage was in an uproar. The imperial family had announced a visit.
“Director! I want to meet His Highness the Prince too!”
“Someone like Fredia meeting royalty is too much!”
“Me, me! I’ll meet Her Majesty the Empress instead of Fredia!”
“Children, be good. You all know the rule—don’t enter the director’s office unless called, right?”
The orphanage children caused a commotion, but the director smiled kindly and sent them away, then turned to glare at me fiercely.
“His Highness the First Prince wishes to see you. You must behave even more politely and quietly than before.”
“Yes, Director.”
Her gaze made it seem like she’d chew me alive if I caused any trouble. I shivered.
*How does her expression change so quickly, like taking off a mask?*
Empress Iana, known for her active charity work, visits Curtis once a year.
But this time, the First Prince insisted on meeting Fredia and begged to accompany her to the orphanage.
The kind and virtuous First Prince is an avid reader of *The People’s Daily*, a paper even the emperor doesn’t read.
Believing that understanding the lives of the people makes a good ruler, he read it—and saw Fredia’s photo. Through it, he learned about her orphanage life, dreams, and hobbies.
Of course, those were all exaggerated stories crafted to help nobles with their image.
Trying to evoke sympathy from readers, they made up appealing stories—and the First Prince got hooked.
Thus, he visits Curtis as Fredia’s enthusiastic supporter.
And then, thanks to the heroine’s buff, the First Prince falls in love with her at first sight—that’s how *The Suspicious Lady* goes.
*Honestly, it was a forced setup.*
Originally, Fredia was just an extra character in the original story before the heroine transmigrated.
The author gave protagonist-level buffs to someone who possessed an extra.
As a reader, I used to complain about such ridiculous plot developments—but now that it’s my story, I just hope that buff works so I can get adopted into a rich family.
—
A few days later, the day of the imperial visit arrived.
Unlike usual, I dressed up nicely. Meanwhile, the director dressed more modestly than usual as we welcomed the empress’s party—along with imperial reporters.
“I greet Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the First Prince.”
Following what I had learned, I bowed.
The empress smiled kindly and stroked my head. Several camera flashes went off.
“What a pretty child.”
I glanced at her as she spoke gently.
*I’m meeting someone I’ve only seen in writing. How fascinating.*
She felt different from how I imagined, yet looking closely, she wasn’t that far from her novel description.
She looked kind—soft eyes, a faint smile, and a gentle impression. Her jet-black hair and eyes made her seem calm and composed.
I stared at her, mesmerized.
*As expected of a master actress. I almost got fooled.*
Though praised as a charitable and benevolent figure—
*She’s actually a thorough opportunist.*
In the novel, she’s someone who acts solely for her own benefit.
A character with stronger lust for power than anyone else—even willing to sacrifice her own child.
*That’s why she’s holding onto someone else’s child—the one closer to the throne—while neglecting her own second prince.*
I shifted my gaze to the First Prince.
Herace Allen von Arsel.
Curly silver hair, warm green eyes, and a pleasant expression—the male lead of this story.
Though only fifteen, his height and broad shoulders made him seem older.
Noticing my gaze, Herace looked at me—not with a fake smile like Iana, but with genuine kindness.
That’s when it happened.
The moment I looked into his curious, energetic green eyes, my heart tingled.
*Huh?*
My face suddenly heated up.
*W-what…?*
What is this sudden feeling, like I’ve fallen in love?
It felt as if some invisible force was pushing me toward him.
*Is it the influence of the novel? That’s strange.*
Then I suddenly remembered feeling something similar before.
*That rude boy from the market.*
Back then, it was similar—but instead of excitement, it was fear.
*…Nah, I’m overthinking it. He wasn’t even a character in the story.*
Thankfully, my heart soon calmed down. I looked at Herace again.
Then suddenly, he smiled softly at me.
“…?”
Was this meeting supposed to start this suddenly… this actively… this *intensely*?
