~Chapter 4~
“Lysa, you don’t even know where that book is. I should go with you!”
I jumped up from my seat and carefully but urgently grabbed Lysa’s wrist.
Being left alone with the male lead who hates me? Impossible.
‘Especially since he already gave me a final warning last time!’
I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen if I ignored that.
“Don’t worry, I’ll just look around slowly. While I’m finding the book, you two can talk.”
“Do we really need to? Why not just all go together?”
“No, I want to look alone. And it’ll be even better if Richard apologizes to you while I’m gone. Okay, see you soon!”
Click. Slam.
Before I could stop her, Lysa shook my hand off and disappeared out the door.
I stared blankly at the closed door, forcing myself to ignore the sharp gaze burning into me.
“I definitely warned you.”
Kyaaa!
My prayer that he would just ignore me didn’t work.
I swallowed the scream that almost burst out and sat back down as calmly as I could.
“This meeting wasn’t my idea. So… um… it’s a misunderstanding. Yeah, there must’ve been a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding, huh.”
Richard sneered again.
“Why not say it was a misunderstanding when you told Lysa I gave you strength?”
“That was…”
I needed an excuse. Anything.
“I must’ve been out of my mind from the fever and said nonsense.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that?”
What I thought was a decent excuse was met with a cold reply.
Fair enough. Even I wouldn’t believe it.
I wanted to explain more, but his sharp glare was terrifying.
Especially with that sword at his side.
According to the diary, Richard Biender was both a prince of the empire and commander of the First Knight Order.
He wouldn’t recklessly harm a noble lady like me… but the thought of my neck meeting that blade one day still made my spine go cold.
“And another thing. Why are you using polite speech with me?”
Even as I trembled, Richard still found something to pick on.
“Well… You’re the prince. As a viscount’s daughter, it’s only natural for me to speak politely.”
“Creepy. Stop it.”
“But still—”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“…Fine.”
Fine. Have it your way.
I dropped the polite endings he hated.
…Not because I was scared.
Thankfully, Richard shut his mouth after that. He leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes as if telling me not to talk anymore.
‘Unbelievable. He started talking first and now he’s done already? Still… he really is the male lead.’
Watching him quietly, I couldn’t help but admit again—his looks were enough to mistake him for an angel.
In Korea, I would never have seen a face like his.
I tilted my gaze up and noticed something above his head.
Instead of an emoji like everyone else, there was a lock.
‘Right. The worries of the main characters only unlock after certain achievements.’
The ability I received came with limits.
Important figures like the hero, heroine, and major roles from the original novel were locked. Their worries could only be revealed after meeting conditions.
“Amelie Garnet.”
Ack!
Richard suddenly opened his eyes and called my name.
I flinched like a guilty person caught red-handed.
“I wasn’t staring at you! I was just… looking around and our eyes happened to meet.”
“…Forget it.”
With a simple gesture, Richard cut off my excuse and leaned forward.
“Don’t get in Lysa’s way.”
His face was colder than ever, his words more of a command than a warning.
“If you ever thought of her as a friend, then don’t stand in the way of her dream.”
It sounded like a warning, but it was actually a plea.
Just this once, don’t interfere. Let Lysa follow her long-time dream.
All I knew was that Richard was the male lead, but these short words told me clearly—Lysa was precious to him.
“…Well, isn’t that good news.”
This was perfect!
If the male lead was already openly showing his feelings for the heroine, then the story would move faster.
The sooner they got together, the sooner the villains would appear and be dealt with. That would bring the ending closer!
No better development than this.
“I was planning to do that anyway.”
“You were?”
His serious eyes were still doubtful.
I nodded hard to prove my innocence.
“I didn’t realize how precious Lysa was before. There’s no friend better than her.”
From now on, I needed to convince him I wouldn’t harm Lysa.
I even pretended to wipe tears from my eyes.
“I’ll support and help Lysa as her friend, always. Without change.”
So hurry up and go straight to Lysa, Richard.
As for the minor villains, I’ll handle them.
My plan for the ending started here.
As soon as Richard and Lysa left, I moved quickly.
I searched for good fruits, bought blueberries and a rare fruit called papaberries grown only in the Biender Empire.
I added sugar, boiled them, and after three days of fermenting, they turned into a sweet, tangy fruit syrup.
Why fruit syrup, you ask? Simple—it was tribute.
No matter how much I said I wouldn’t hurt Lysa, Richard would never believe me. He was already full of prejudice against Amelie’s past.
In his eyes, I was a wicked, scheming villainess plotting in the shadows.
So I had to win over the people around them first. Build a good reputation.
And while I was at it, I could also look into whether any small-time villains were lurking around the knights.
“Perfect weather for some iced drinks.”
Strong sunlight, occasional breezes, and the sound of swords clashing again and again.
I was now at the training grounds where Lysa would be, ready to present my tribute: iced drinks made from fruit syrup.
“Amelie!”
‘Here she comes. My target!’
After a short wait, Lysa came running from afar.
Even covered in sweat, fresh from training, she looked like a stage idol—cool and beautiful.
I had never been a fangirl before, but this feeling had to be what fans felt when they saw their favorite star.
“Training must be hard, right?”
“You must’ve had it harder bringing all this. What is all this stuff?”
Her eyes widened at the boxes stacked beside me.
“Drinks to cheer you on. Enough for the other knights too.”
“You even brought ice? Just you being here is enough!”
“How could I come empty-handed when you’re working so hard in this heat?”
“Thank you so much. Come on, let’s go inside.”
Servants carried the boxes into the training grounds, and soon the knights began helping set things up.
‘Finally inside.’
I carefully looked around while everything was being sorted.
“As expected, everyone has worries.”
The sea of floating emojis above the knights’ heads was dizzying but also exciting.
I scanned them closely, searching for one without a lock.
But everywhere I looked—hearts, hearts, more hearts.
The Second Knight Order was full of young men. No locks, but a lot of hearts.
Fine then. Time for Plan B.
I focused on those hearts.
“Oh ho.”
Three knights especially caught my eye.
They followed Lysa everywhere—snatching things out of her hands, offering handkerchiefs to wipe her sweat.
‘That’s definitely interest.’
And that was my real reason for coming here.
Because side characters with one-sided love were seeds for new villains.
I would’ve preferred finding a lock that marked an important original character, but if none appeared, then I’d go after the small fry first.
And eliminate them before they could cause trouble.
The lovely heroine deserves only flower paths.
And fine, the male lead can walk beside her too.
“Shall I put the ice here, Miss?”
One of the knights I’d been eyeing came over to ask me. Good boy.
“Yes, thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
Not knowing my dark thoughts, the knight answered bluntly before returning to Lysa’s side.
‘Alright then. Time to put my plan into action.’
