Chapter 8
“Is this the right spot?”
Muttering to myself, I searched every corner of the garden.
If my memory was correct, there should be a large tree sturdy enough to climb and a precariously tilted bird’s nest.
Just as a nostalgic memory of meeting a rabbit here as a child began to surface, I found what I was looking for.
“Eureka!”
I cheered inwardly and scanned the area around the tree I had discovered. Luckily, I spotted a place where I could hide myself and watch without being noticed.
I hurried over and sat down there. With my heart thumping in excitement, I adjusted my posture and quietly waited for the heroine to appear.
Any minute now, Eveline would come along and climb that tree. Because she needed to fix that dangerously tilted bird’s nest high above.
Who knows how long I waited before the person I had been anticipating finally appeared.
As in the novel, Evelyne—uninterested in the banquet—would wander through the garden out of boredom and then happen upon the bird’s nest in the tree.
When she slowed her steps and looked up at the tree, I picked out a piece of popcorn and popped it into my mouth. The golden kernels were still crunchy.
Mm. Very nice.
“Oh, what should I do?”
Evelyne’s soft voice drifted over. Before I knew it, she had climbed the tree and was now stuck, unable to find a way down.
What do you mean “what should you do”? Just wait a little.
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than someone approached the tree.
Oh!
“…What are you doing up there?”
Male lead #2—Kenneth von Esvande. The empire’s youngest and most successful duke.
I kept my excitement in check as I shoveled popcorn into my mouth, careful not to make too much noise.
But wow, his voice was nice.
“Uh… who are you?”
Evelyn asked blankly, staring down at the duke who had addressed her.
Kenneth’s face betrayed the shock of someone blindsided by the fact she didn’t recognize him.
Oh man, that’s hilarious. She’s an exchange student—of course she might not know.
I stifled my laughter at the oh-so-predictable reaction.
“Do you really not know who I am?”
“No… Should I? Ah, maybe you’re His Majesty of this place…? No, that can’t be.”
Still stuck in the tree, Evelyne spouted that ditzy line, looking bewildered. Kenneth, watching her, suddenly let out a quiet chuckle.
And I had to cover my mouth to keep from bursting into laughter.
First the crown prince chuckled, now this guy? Is that some kind of male lead passive skill?
“Um, could you stop laughing and help me down? I can’t get down on my own…”
“What made you climb up there in the first place?”
“The nest…”
“The nest?”
“Yes, the bird’s nest looked like it was about to fall, so I was trying to set it straight…”
After saying this, Eveline gave an embarrassed little laugh.
Kenneth replied with an “Alright,” then caught her as she jumped down.
Oh ho, that’s a much faster development than the crown prince’s case.
Fish #2 was overtaking Fish #1. Not that it wouldn’t even out later anyway.
But for some reason, perhaps because of the breeze, I couldn’t hear their voices as clearly anymore.
I was growing frustrated at catching only bits and pieces of their conversation.
I wanted to know!
After waiting a bit longer with no improvement, I decided to get a little closer. Just one or two steps.
But the moment I stepped forward—
Crunch!
“…?”
I froze at the loud noise under my foot.
Oh no…
It was the sound of me stepping directly on a piece of popcorn I must have dropped earlier.
It must have been an especially crispy one, because the sound was sharp and clear—and Kenneth had good ears.
“Who’s there!”
Busted. I couldn’t believe I was caught because of popcorn.
Suppressing a sigh, I stepped forward without hesitation. If it had come to this, I’d just play the role of a passerby. I could make up an excuse easily enough.
But just as I was about to speak casually, I locked eyes with Kenneth at close range—and froze.
Deep navy eyes, lowered and steady. The moment our gazes met, a strange familiarity rose from deep inside me.
What was this?
I knew those eyes. I’d seen that look before.
That was… that was definitely—
No way, this bastard…
The realization hit and an expletive followed.
Kenneth was looking at me the way you’d look at a sasaeng fan.
A… sasaeng?
My mind went blank.
I suddenly recalled a heated conversation I’d once had with a friend about extreme celebrity stalkers, back when news broke that a popular star had been in a car accident caused by one. The disgust we’d felt toward sasaengs had been at its peak.
I had hated them to cockroach levels. And now this guy was looking at me like I was one?
I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even speak.
Kenneth frowned slightly, as if annoyed by my silence. His sharp-featured face cast in shadow was objectively a stunning sight, but I was in no mood to appreciate it.
The shock of being treated like a stalker upon first meeting had fried my brain.
He twisted his lips.
“I’ve been avoiding the banquet hall entirely, but… how tiresome. How did you find me?”
His voice was cold.
That jab snapped me back to my senses.
Excuse me? What kind of fresh nonsense was that?
I wanted to snap back in kind, but he was a duke, and I was just a baron’s daughter.
Suppressing my irritation, I chose my words carefully.
“Sorry, but I think you’ve got the wrong idea. I’m far more interested in my popcorn than in you, Your Grace.”
To add credibility, I even pulled the bag from my pocket and showed him.
But his eyes barely lingered on it for a second before he gave me another disdainful look.
“Then why were you hiding there?”
“Because popcorn has a strong smell and it didn’t feel right to eat it inside the hall, so I was looking for somewhere comfortable.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that?”
“It’s the truth.”
The words spilled out unpolished, my mind reeling from his overblown ego and distrust of humanity.
“I’m telling you, I wasn’t stalking you!”
“They all say that.”
What is wrong with this guy?
My face twisted involuntarily in disbelief.
Not that I couldn’t somewhat understand where he was coming from. In the novel, he’d been hounded by obsessive women since childhood—enough to develop gynophobia. Of course, that phobia magically vanished in front of the heroine.
So I could give him a grain of understanding… but still.
“Look, all I’ve got right now is popcorn, so I’ll stake it and swear—I was not following you.”
Despite my heartfelt protest, his icy stare didn’t waver.
Seriously? I even put the popcorn on the line!
As irritation bubbled up, I found myself wanting to jam a piece of popcorn right up that perfect nose.
“Enough.”
Eveline stepped in.
She blinked her pretty green eyes and moved between us.
I felt Kenneth’s attention shift from me to her.
Staring at her back, I couldn’t help thinking how nice her hair looked swaying at her waist. She didn’t even take special care of it, according to the setting. Lucky girl.
“You’re being too harsh. She said she wasn’t following you.”
Well now, that’s a windfall.
Eyes fixed on this unexpected ally, I began silently cheering her on.
Go on, girl! Give him hell! If I say it, it’s a death flag, but if you say it, it’s a love flag!
“Even if she was following you, would that really be such a problem?”
…Wait, what?
My cheering stopped.
She was defending me… in entirely the wrong way.
Hold on, miss? That’s not it at all.
“She’s not trying to harm you. It’s probably just pure admiration—”
No, it isn’t!
“Don’t you feel sorry for her?”
Oh, for crying out loud.
I realized she wasn’t my ally at all. In her mind, she was being an angel, but to me, she was the clueless husband reinforcing his mother’s worst suspicions about his wife.
I have said multiple times that I am NOT some lovestruck stalker!
While I silently fumed, Kenneth stared at her, then spoke.
“You’re meddling in something that’s none of your business.”
“Hmph. Only because it’s worth meddling in.”
“Why defend someone unrelated to you? You don’t stand to gain anything.”
“I don’t understand you. Do you only help people if there’s something in it for you?”
I wanted to butt into this conversation. Evelyne’s line had a glaring flaw.
You’ve never actually helped me, you know?
But whatever the case, Kenneth seemed intrigued. His expression changed as he looked at her.
Sensing the odd shift in the air, I frowned.
Wait a second… this atmosphere…
I glanced between them. The way their gazes tangled wasn’t normal.
This situation…
It was the kind that called for more popcorn. And then Kenneth spoke in a low voice—
“Interesting. Amusing.”
<SYSTEM: Male Lead #2 has evolved into a Fish.>
I blinked at the mental pop-up.
What? No way.
According to the novel, Kenneth was supposed to enter Evelyne’s “fish tank” on their second meeting. But here he was, already delivering those “I’m watching you now” and “I might like you” lines on the first meeting.
The fact he said both at once made it obvious—he was already a fine specimen of fish.
Huh? Why’s the plot moving so fast? Is this… my fault?
Squinting, I formed a likely hypothesis: I had unintentionally acted as a foil to make Eveline’s charm stand out even more.
A creepy “stalker” caught red-handed making lame popcorn excuses versus a heroine who helps others selflessly… of course he’d fall for her.
Not only a supposed sasaeng, but now also fertilizer for romance. The side character’s lot in life, I guess.
I sighed, deflated, and shoved a handful of popcorn into my mouth.
Fine. You two have your fun. I’ll just eat my popcorn.
I chewed with the resignation of a nihilist.
Still tastes good, though.
Crunch, crunch.
The noise drew Kenneth’s gaze my way again.
The thick disgust in his eyes hadn’t lessened, but I didn’t even care anymore.
Raise your brow at me all you want, I thought, arching mine right back.
His irritated voice came next.
“Aren’t you leaving?”
Yep, that’s him, alright.
In the book, his lack of manners was charming. Experiencing it in person? More like a fast-track to high blood pressure.
I had no intention of leaving just because he told me to.
My unmoving stance must have gotten under his skin, because the furrow between his brows deepened.
And then, in true Kenneth fashion—
“Pathetic. I can’t comprehend people like you. This woman may pity you, but I doubt it’s possible to feel pity for something whose very existence is repulsive.”
I immediately took back my earlier claim that I wasn’t mad. Oh, I was mad.
I decided right then I wasn’t going to just go home quietly. That way lay an early grave from stress.
Turning to Eveline with all the intensity I could muster, I asked, “You heard that, right?”
“…Yes?”
“Honestly, it’d be strange if I stayed quiet after that, wouldn’t it? You understand, right? I’m counting on you. You’re nice, so you’ll take my side, right?”
She blinked at my rapid-fire words, then nodded without thinking.
The moment I had her agreement, I grinned and closed the distance to Kenneth in quick strides.
He looked startled, but still had that “What could you possibly do?” complacency.
Perfect. Stay that way.
When I was close enough, I swiftly jammed a piece of popcorn into his perfectly sculpted nostril.
