~Chapter 4~
When I said yes, Linus flashed me a perfect grin that looked like he could catch anything I threw at him.
He laughed, then asked,
“How about tomorrow?”
“Sounds great!” I beamed, and he smiled even wider.
Honestly, I thought my life was doomed when we got sucked into that dungeon, but this turned out pretty okay, right? I even made a walking buddy with a face like honey.
Just as I was about to step back into the Gate, Linus grabbed my arm.
“Airevet, if that’s the same Gate we came through, it’s dangerous to just jump in.”
“Why? What’s dangerous?”
“That thing was floating above us. If it disappears and we fall, we could get hurt.”
He was right—the Gate had hovered about five or six meters up.
That’s a scary height if you’re not an awakened fighter.
I couldn’t just say “I’m awakened, no worries!” so I stared at him until he reached out his hand.
“If you’ll let me, I can help you.”
I took his hand—and realized what he meant only after he scooped me up and stepped into the Gate.
“Hold on tight.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, and before I could say anything, he plunged through. In an instant, we were back under a clear blue sky—and he set me down safely.
My walking buddy definitely had awesome reflexes.
He gently smoothed my crumpled skirt and bowed a little.
Beyond skilled, he was the height of gentlemanly manners.
I looked up: the scary red Gate was completely gone.
The talking chubby cat had vanished too.
The Butterfly Garden was bathed in spring sunlight and looked so peaceful it felt like a dream.
I wished it really was just a nightmare—I pinched my cheek, and yup, it hurt.
I turned to Linus, feeling a bit glum.
“Let’s go back. We’ve been gone too long.”
“We should.” He said he had someone to meet and quickened his pace.
We hurried back toward the center, where the tea party had been.
It felt oddly chaotic, like maybe the engagement announcement was over—people were packing up.
I scanned the tables for Rene and Christine but instead saw my father striding toward me.
“Airevet, where have you been?”
“Father.” I greeted him.
“You disappeared without a word. A weak girl like you shouldn’t be wandering off.”
His tone was gruff, but I spotted the worry in his purple eyes.
My dad, Duke Lloyd Titanoa, was known in the story as a strong supporter of Crown Prince Haid.
No one ever mentioned he had a daughter in a coma for ten years—but there I was.
They said he used magic to keep me alive all that time. In the book, he was cold and calculating—but only someone who loved me would do that.
We were both awkward around each other, so we’d been keeping our distance ever since I woke up.
“I just went for a walk. Sorry.” I chose a quick apology instead of inventing a long excuse. I definitely couldn’t say I’d been in a dungeon.
Dad frowned—then Linus stepped forward.
“I’m the one who caused the delay. Airevet was merely showing me the garden.”
Oh man, I thought he’d spill everything.
Instead, sweet Linus gave my father a smooth, plausible excuse—and winked at me so only I noticed.
I tried to smile back, but my dad’s frown deepened. He turned to Linus, looking him up and down.
“And who might you be?”
“Please excuse my manners. I am Linus Pictian.”
“Linus… Pictian?”
That was the first time I’d heard his full name too.
My dad’s expression softened.
“Pictian? I’ve heard you came to Arendel. I’m Lloyd Titanoa—your father and I go way back.”
Wait, what? Linus was a duke? Dad’s friend’s son, no less.
Suddenly Linus made even more sense as high-born royalty, not just some background guy.
I looked at Linus in new awe as he shook my dad’s hand with real ducal poise.
“I’ll arrange a proper meeting soon,” Dad said. “Today’s hectic—please excuse me.”
He turned back to me and dropped a bomb.
“The Crown Prince’s engagement announcement has been canceled. You should stay home.”
“Wha—?” Canceled? That announcement is literally the first scene of Secret Romance in the Butterfly Garden! The dungeon showed up and now the original story’s unraveling too.
When we got home, the Titanoa mansion was in an uproar.
The maids fussed over me like I was made of glass, and even the family physician hovered, worried.
After a thorough check, he pronounced me perfectly healthy and left.
But the maids—especially my personal maid Ruby—still looked uneasy.
“Airevet, you must be tired. Would you like to rest?”
“Ruby, it’s not even evening yet. I’ll just nap for now.”
“Would you like a book if you get bored?”
“I just want to sleep.” I yanked the blanket up over my nose and closed my eyes. Ruby kept bringing me boring books to improve my “noble education,” I guess. She even promised a tutor soon—obviously not an easy life of lazy honey-drinking.
And now a dungeon popped up in the garden.
Seriously, where is my life going?
Anyway, at least the dungeon vanished without incident.
Imagine if I’d had to fight monsters in front of Linus!
Right—Linus.
I pretended to sleep, then bolted upright and asked Ruby,
“Ruby, do you know anything about Duke Pictian?”
“The late Duke Pictian? You mean the one who passed away recently?”
“No, not him. The new Duke—Linus Pictian.”
“Oh, you mean the mysterious new duke?”
“Mysterious?”
“Well, the previous Duke Pictian never named a successor. His death and the title transfer were sudden, so society is full of rumors about the new duke’s identity.”
“Rumors like what?”
“Oh, all kinds. Some say he’s an illegitimate child. Others claim he’s not really the late duke’s heir but some imposter. That sort of talk.”
So even in this world, fake news runs wild.
But honestly? Linus is the epitome of perfection.
The fact he was just a background character in this world’s balance of characters was the true oddity.
