~Chapter 3~
How long has it been since I looked at the sky like this?
From the tea table in the wide garden, the sky looked so clear it almost felt unfamiliar.
“Feels good to breathe.”
Just drinking tea under that bright blue sky and fresh air was enough to feel alive.
“Miss, would you like me to bring you a book if you’re bored?”
My eyes kept drifting upward whenever someone appeared.
More precisely—to the emoji floating above their head.
“No, it’s fine.”
I smiled awkwardly and turned away from the heart floating above the maid Sophia’s head.
But no matter who it was, I kept seeing hearts, coin purses, or little person emojis above people’s heads.
“If you can see people’s worries, you’ll get close to them more easily, or catch their weak points and gain information.”
That’s what Team Leader Jjolongi had said three days ago.
The reward I got was the ability to see people’s worries as emojis above their heads.
I couldn’t know the exact details of the worry, but it was useful for talking to people and growing close.
Still…
‘It’s too distracting!’
This wasn’t some simulation game. Seeing floating emojis on people’s heads made it impossible to focus properly.
“Hey, Sophia. Do you have any worries these days?”
“Worries? Hmm… Tomorrow I’m finally going to see a play, and I’m worried about what to wear.”
Judging by the big heart above her head…
“Ah, it’s a date, isn’t it?”
“Wha—?! N-no! It’s not a date!”
‘Her reaction says it all.’
According to Jjolongi, the size of the emoji shows how deep the worry is.
So Sophia, with a heart bigger than her head, clearly had a love-related problem.
She was worrying about what to wear on her date.
“Miss! You’re right. She said it’s an old childhood friend she met again recently!”
“Y-you! What are you telling the lady for?!”
Sophia’s face instantly turned red like a beet.
Their little story sounded nice. Maybe I should help?
I didn’t know the fashion of this world, but as a modern person, I at least knew about personal colors.
“Sophia, soft pink will suit you. Something simple without heavy patterns.”
In my eyes, Sophia was a summer cool tone. Since she looked good in white, she was more of a light summer type.
I had studied personal colors a bit once, so I knew.
“Soft pink?”
“Yes. And for your hair, a white accessory would be nice.”
What would look good…
I thought for a moment, then took off the pearl headband I was wearing and placed it on her.
“Perfect. White pearls suit you well. Wear this tomorrow.”
“No, Miss! How can I take your things…”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Just go and succeed on your date tomorrow. And don’t forget it was thanks to me if it works out, okay?”
“Of course! Thank you so much, Miss!”
Watching Sophia bow repeatedly with the headband in her hands made me smile.
It would be great if she and that man worked out, and even better if Sophia became my loyal person after.
That was my plan.
Feeling satisfied, I flipped open the diary I had been reading earlier.
I saw Richard at the training grounds. He looked so handsome again today. I wish I could draw him swinging his sword.
At the start, Amelie’s diary was filled with the sweet emotions of a girl in love.
Lady Kenelin picked up Richard’s handkerchief. She was giggling because Richard said thank you. As if Richard would even remember her face.
Annoying Lysa Medaniel. She probably thinks it’s a blessing when Richard smiles at her or talks to her. If I were her, every day would be heaven.
But as the entries went on, they revealed growing obsession with Richard and jealousy toward Lysa.
She pretended to be Lysa’s friend, but constantly harassed her behind the scenes.
“A classic villainess.”
And villainesses of this type rarely had good endings.
‘Usually, after crossing the line in tormenting the heroine, they get executed mercilessly by the hero.’
So far, Amelie had managed to survive.
But if she harmed Lysa even a little more?
Execution by guillotine would be waiting.
“Too bad no one can solve my own worries…”
I closed the diary with a heavy heart.
Reading more would only remind me of the misdeeds “Amelie” had committed before I arrived.
“By the way, Miss, when Baroness Medaniel visits later, where should I take her?”
“…Lysa’s coming again?”
Just as I planned to go back inside, Sophia dropped a bomb.
Yesterday I avoided her, pretending I wasn’t well.
And now she was coming again.
Can’t she leave me alone? Doesn’t the heroine of this novel have better things to do?
“Yes. Since you couldn’t go to the training grounds due to your fever, Lady Lysa asked if she could visit you.”
“Ah… right. That’s true.”
Before I possessed her, Amelie had been sick with a fever for half a month.
Yet she still didn’t neglect her unnecessary antics.
“…Guess I’ll meet her today.”
Either way, I needed to know more about the heroine.
So this time, I decided to face her head-on.
I sighed deeply and walked forward with heavy steps.
“Amelie! Look who I brought with me!”
About an hour after she returned from an outing, Lysa dropped a giant bomb on me.
“…Lysa… what is this…”
She came in smiling brightly, as if to say, ‘Aren’t I great?’
And beside her—Richard, radiating killing intent.
I almost wanted to faint.
“W-why did you come together?”
“Yesterday, you looked so weak. You said seeing Richard gave you strength, remember? So I brought him!”
“…Unbelievable.”
So this is what pure evil looks like?
I was stunned by Lysa’s innocent answer.
In this moment, she was the villain to me.
“…Did I really say that?”
“Yes. That’s why I sent Richard to visit you a few days ago too.”
“Ha… ha. Well, come in.”
I hurried to lead them to the parlor.
It was best to just serve tea quickly and send them away.
“Amelie, are you feeling better today?”
As soon as she sat, Lysa studied my face closely.
“Yes, I’m perfectly fine now. Even the doctor doesn’t come anymore.”
“Really? That’s such a relief! You don’t know how worried I was when I heard about the fever.”
She pulled me into a tight hug, and I awkwardly patted her back.
I wasn’t used to this much affection.
At twenty-five, I had never even had a close friend my age.
So having someone worry when I was sick, and saying they were glad I was better, felt strange.
“A summer fever, huh. Even dogs don’t catch that.”
The mocking voice came from the side.
‘Ah, right. The male lead’s here too.’
With arms crossed, Richard sat slouched, glaring at me with disdain.
It wasn’t the first time he looked at me like this. And it wasn’t truly me he hated. Still, it stung.
“Don’t say that, Richard.”
The same girl who had hugged me so warmly now scolded him firmly.
“People have even died from summer fevers. You know Amelie has a weak body, right?”
“You’re just being overprotective. Amelie Garnet isn’t as weak as you think.”
Thump.
“Richard.”
“Maybe the fever wasn’t as bad as you feared.”
Thump, thump.
Each sharp word from Richard stabbed my conscience.
Of course he would notice things. He’s the male lead.
“Amelie isn’t the type to fake illness. Don’t say things like that.”
Meanwhile, angelic Lysa kept defending me.
‘Sorry, Lysa… but Amelie really was that type.’
From what I heard from the doctor a few days ago, that “two-week fever” had been exaggerated.
Just a mild fever and vague complaints. She even blocked proper check-ups.
So Richard was right.
“Lysa, I’m fine.”
I appreciated Lysa’s protection, but I didn’t want to get more hate from Richard.
“And I’m much healthier now. So you don’t need to come anymore. You’re busy with the knights, right?”
According to the diary, Lysa was about to be promoted—commander of the empire’s Second Knight Order.
If she wasted time on me now, no wonder Richard was annoyed.
They had been rivals and friends since their academy days, after all.
“Then, Amelie, does that mean you’ll come back to the training grounds?”
“…What?”
Excuse me, heroine?
I was trying to distance myself from the main characters, but Lysa lit another fuse.
“You used to come cheer for me sometimes. Don’t tell me you’re tired of seeing me now?”
She tilted her brows upward, eyes drooping with a sad expression.
Her long black hair with a bluish sheen tied in a ponytail—such a beauty.
My heart skipped.
Damn it. Her face was totally my type.
“Of… of course I’ll come! What do you mean, tired of you, Lysa?”
At that moment, I finally understood why male leads in romance fantasies always gave in to the heroine’s requests.
How could you refuse when someone that beautiful asks you?
“See? I knew it! Ah, also—I’ll take that book you promised me last time.”
“…Book?”
Lysa hugged me once more, then jumped up.
“Yes, that old history book. I’ll get it from the library now.”
“W-wait, I’ll come too—”
“No, stay here. Amelie, you stay with Richard.”
“…What?”
And with that, unpredictable Lysa lit the fuse of her second bomb.
