IWBTVCF 04

Chapter 4

“…Yes.”

After hesitating, I told the truth.
If I was going to become friends with Kyle, Darius would find out sooner or later. There was no point hiding it.

Darius slowly smiled.

“So Kyle stood you up. And this food was all meant to be eaten with him?”

“Yes. He looked hungry, so I said I’d bring him something to eat.”

“I see. Then I’ll apologize instead. That child always pushes people away. The commotion earlier in the banquet hall also started because he brushed off a boy who tried to talk to him. I wish there was something I could do for him…”

His eyes darkened with complicated emotions.

“I envy you and Simon. You two are close. I’m a useless older brother…”

“Ries!!”

An angry voice from far away cut him off.

Ah! He was about to say something important! I almost got to hear how things really are between the brothers!

Before I could complain in my heart, the troublemaker stormed over and knocked me on the head.

The sweet, dreamlike moment ended.

“Ow!”

“You said you were going to the restroom! Where have you been wandering around?!”

I glared at Simon while holding back tears. Darius quickly stepped between us.

“Whoa, calm down, Simon. I asked her to keep me company while I was skipping out.”

“What? You did?”

Darius… you’re taking my side? I’m touched.

Simon looked back and forth between us, trying to judge the truth.

“Yes. Unlike you, who has no sense of humor at all, your sister is very entertaining.”

Darius lightly patted Simon’s shoulder. Simon clicked his tongue.

“You took her without telling me and played around for two hours? I thought she might have collapsed somewhere.”

Right… the original Ries had been seriously ill just ten days ago. Seeing the sweat on Simon’s temple, I felt a little guilty. He really must have been worried.

“And didn’t you forget? We were supposed to introduce you to your mother.”

Ah… right.

Darius ran a hand through his hair awkwardly. Now it was my turn to help.

“Oppa, I want to go home! My feet hurt!”

I shook my Mary Jane shoes dramatically.

“My stomach feels weird. I’m getting chills.”

“Oh no. You must have stayed out in the cold too long. Shall I call a doctor?”

Darius asked with concern, completely fooled by my fake illness.

“It’s okay. I think I’ll feel better if I rest at home.”

I secretly winked at him.

“Did you hear that, Simon? The Count’s house isn’t far. It’s better for her to go home and rest. Let’s greet my mother another time.”

Nice. He understood the signal.

Simon scratched the back of his head, clearly disappointed. But he couldn’t ignore his “sick” little sister.

“I’ll invite just you siblings next week.”

Darius quickly added. Simon’s expression immediately brightened.

He really knows how to handle my materialistic brother.

“Fine. That’s a promise. Let’s go home, you troublesome brat.”

Simon turned first, and Darius and I followed a few steps behind.

Darius leaned slightly and whispered,

“Lady Ries. You’re really okay, right?”

“Of course. But… will you really invite me too?”

“If you don’t want to come, you don’t have to.”

“No! Please invite me! You must!”

I answered shamelessly. He smiled and nodded.

After getting into the carriage, I suddenly shouted out the window,

“Darius oppa! Happy birthday again!!”

His eyes widened for a second, then curved gently as he waved at me.

Ah… I’ve succeeded as a fan.

Talking and eating together was already more than enough. And now he’s inviting me again!

I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy—even in my previous life. My dull, gray world felt like it was filling with color.

I must reform Kyle.
Even if I fail—if I have to break his legs, or take the knife in Darius’s place—I’ll change the ending somehow.

Darius, I’ll protect your life!

It turned out I didn’t even need to fake being sick.

As soon as we returned to the Count’s estate, my condition suddenly worsened. Maybe my body still hadn’t fully recovered from the illness ten days ago.

I fell asleep like I had fainted and only woke up the next afternoon.

“Was it really not a dream?”

I stood in front of the full-length mirror and lightly slapped my cheeks.

Only ten days after transmigrating into my favorite novel, I had met my favorite character.

It still didn’t feel real.

To organize my thoughts, I sat at my desk and took out a small notebook.

I need to review the original story of <Golden Oath>.

The male lead, Darius, is the eldest son of Duke Selfius Dierne, the greatest swordsman in the kingdom and commander of the royal army.

The Dierne family was a proud and noble house that produced military officers for generations. As the eldest son, Darius grew up carrying great expectations.

Then one day, a beautiful and bold maid named Adele appears in his life.

Adele shakes his perfect world. They fall in love, but the wall of status stands between them. Because Darius despises his father for having an illegitimate child with a maid, he eventually pushes Adele away.

Later, after hearing his father’s final words, Darius realizes what truly matters. He goes to confess to Adele—

“The rest was completely infuriating…”

Kyle, his half-brother, learns from Duke Selfius’s will that his entire life was built on lies. Furious, and after even Adele chooses Darius, Kyle finally turns dark.

He decides to destroy the entire family and stabs Darius.

Darius confesses his love to Adele… and then dies.

When I read that scene, I was so shocked and angry I could barely breathe.

The author probably wanted a tragic, lingering love ending. But I had waited so long for their happy ending.

Fortunately, the original story doesn’t start for another five or six years. The murder happens nearly ten years from now.

That’s plenty of time to guide Kyle onto the right path.

I’ve corrected a wild child before. I can do it again.

But to make that plan work, I need to get closer to the Dierne family. Also, I want a front-row seat to Darius and Adele’s romance.

“Simon may be close to Darius, but I don’t really have a strong connection to either brother.”

Meeting them at occasional banquets isn’t enough. I need a better excuse.

After thinking hard, I got hungry and shoved the notebook back into the drawer.

Food first.

I’m still not used to pulling the bell cord to call a maid, so I went to the dining room myself.

As I walked down the stairs, I heard heavy footsteps running behind me.

“Ries! Are you alright?!”

I turned and saw Count Brante running toward me from the end of the hallway.

“…Father.”

“Simon just told me you were unwell since last night!”

“I was just tired. I’m just hungry now.”

“That’s a relief… I shouldn’t have let you go!”

“It’s okay.”

He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led me into the dining room. The warmth of parental affection felt unfamiliar and made my stomach feel strange.

Inside, the maid Millie, who was pouring tea for Simon, brightened when she saw me.

“My lady!”

“Hi, Millie.”

“I heard you weren’t feeling well last night.”

“I’m completely fine now. Just hungry.”

“Yes! Please sit. I’ll bring your meal right away.”

I sat down. In the past ten days, I learned that Millie had served Ries since childhood and was her closest maid.

“Just in case, call the physician for a checkup,” Count Brante ordered.

“Yes, Count.”

Millie quickly left the dining room.

Ah… I missed the timing to refuse.

Just then, Simon, who was leaning back with his legs crossed, lowered his newspaper and clicked his tongue.