DTRAF 04

Chapter 4

I Don’t Accept the Male Lead’s Love Advice!

“Lysa, you don’t even know where the book is. I should come with you!”

I jumped to my feet and hurriedly, though gently, grabbed Lysa’s wrist.

You want me to be alone with the male lead who hates my guts?!

He even gave me a final warning the last time we met!

I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen if I ignored it.

“You can just look around while you search.”

“You two stay here and talk while I find the book.”

“Do we really have to? Or how about all three of us go together?”

“I want to browse quietly by myself.”

“Besides, it’d be even better if Reinhardt apologized to you while I’m gone.”

“I’ll be back soon!”

Click.

Thud.

Before I could stop her, Lysa slipped free from my grasp and disappeared out the drawing room door.

I stared blankly at the doorway she’d left through.

Deliberately avoiding the intense gaze fixed on me.

“I distinctly remember warning you.”

Eek!

My desperate wish that he’d simply ignore me went unanswered.

I swallowed the scream threatening to escape and calmly sat back down.

“This meeting wasn’t my idea.”

“So… um…”

“There must’ve been some kind of misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?”

Reinhardt let out another mocking chuckle.

“Then why don’t you also call it a misunderstanding…”

“…that you told Lysa seeing me gives you strength?”

“That…”

Think.

Come up with an excuse.

“I wasn’t in my right mind because of the fever.”

“I must’ve said something strange.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

The excuse I’d thought wasn’t half bad was met with nothing but icy skepticism.

Fair enough.

I wouldn’t believe it either.

I wanted to say something else.

Anything.

But Reinhardt’s piercing glare was terrifying.

Especially the longsword hanging at his left side.

According to Amelie’s diary…

Reinhardt Biender was the Empire’s prince and the commander of the First Knight Order.

Realistically, someone like him wouldn’t simply attack a civilian.

Still…

Whenever I imagined that sword someday taking my head…

A chill ran down my spine.

“And another thing.”

“I’ve found something irritating since earlier.”

Reinhardt frowned at my trembling.

“Hm?”

“You’re His Highness the Prince.”

“I’m only the daughter of a baron.”

“Of course I should speak politely.”

“It’s creepy.”

“Stop.”

“But still—”

“I suggest you don’t make me repeat myself.”

“…Fine.”

Whatever.

Have it your way.

Honestly, I was tired of arguing anyway, so I dropped the formal speech he’d demanded I stop using.

I definitely wasn’t intimidated.

Not at all.

Mercifully, Reinhardt didn’t say another word.

Instead, he leaned back against the sofa, closed his eyes, and made it abundantly clear he didn’t want to continue the conversation.

Seriously.

He starts talking first, then decides he’s done?

What an incredibly self-centered guy.

Still…

He really was worthy of being the male lead.

Watching him quietly, I was once again struck by how unbelievably handsome he was.

No one back in Korea looked remotely like this.

As I admired his face…

My eyes drifted upward.

Where everyone else had an emoji floating above their head…

Reinhardt had a padlock.

Right.

Team Leader Jjo said I had to unlock achievements before I could see the worries of major characters.

The ability I’d received came with restrictions.

The concerns of the story’s important characters—including the protagonists—were hidden until certain achievements were completed.

“Amelie Garnet.”

I nearly jumped.

Reinhardt suddenly opened his eyes and called my name.

Caught staring, I instinctively flinched like someone who’d been caught committing a crime.

“I wasn’t staring at you!”

“I was just looking around and happened to glance your way!”

“…Forget that.”

With a casual wave of his hand, he cut off my excuse and leaned slightly closer.

“Stay out of Lysa’s way.”

His face remained as cold as ever.

His voice carried the unmistakable tone of an order.

“If you’ve ever considered Lysa your friend…”

“…then at the very least…”

“…don’t become an obstacle to the dream she’s worked toward for so long.”

On the surface, it sounded like another warning.

But…

It was actually a plea.

Please.

Just this once.

Don’t get in her way.

Until now, all I really knew about Reinhardt was that he was the male lead.

Yet those few words alone made one thing perfectly clear.

Lysa meant more to him than anyone else.

“Well, now…”

That’s wonderful news!

The male lead was already openly showing how much he cared about the heroine.

That was fantastic for me.

The sooner those two got together…

The sooner the villains would make their entrances and exits.

And the sooner I could reach the ending.

Seriously.

This was the best possible development.

“I was already planning to do that.”

“You were?”

Suspicion crept into Reinhardt’s previously serious gaze.

To prove I meant every word, I nodded vigorously.

“I never appreciated how precious Lysa was.”

“There’s no better friend than her.”

My goal from now on was simple.

Convince Reinhardt that I’d never hurt Lysa again.

I couldn’t produce actual tears…

So I simply touched the corner of my eye with one finger.

“As Lysa’s friend…”

“I’ll support her.”

“I’ll help her.”

“From now on…”

“And forever.”

So you…

Go confess to Lysa already.

I’ll take care of all the minor villains.

My plan to reach the ending officially began that day.

---

The moment Reinhardt and Lysa left…

I threw myself into work.

First, I searched for the best fruit available.

Eventually I found blueberries…

And a rare fruit unique to the Biender Empire called papaberries.

I simmered both kinds of berries with sugar.

Then let the mixture mature for three days.

The result was a delicious fruit syrup with the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.

Why had I suddenly decided to make fruit syrup?

Simple.

It was a peace offering.

No matter how many times I claimed I’d never bully Lysa again…

Reinhardt would never believe me.

I’d already inherited Amelie’s terrible reputation.

In his eyes…

I was probably nothing more than a vicious scheming villainess plotting behind everyone’s backs.

So instead…

I’d improve my reputation by winning over the people around the protagonists.

At the same time…

I’d investigate whether any minor villains lurking in the Knight Order intended to interfere with the main couple.

“The weather’s perfect for fruit ade.”

The blazing sunlight.

The occasional refreshing breeze.

And the constant ringing of swords clashing together.

I stood outside the training grounds where Lysa was practicing.

Today’s mission:

Introduce everyone to my homemade fruit ade.

“Amelie!”

There she is.

My first target!

After only a few minutes, Lysa came running toward me from the distance.

She was drenched in sweat from training.

Yet she still looked as dazzling as an idol performing on stage.

I’d never really fangirled over anyone before.

But I imagined this was exactly how meeting your favorite celebrity felt.

“Training must’ve been exhausting.”

“You look more exhausted than I do.”

“What’s all this?”

Lysa’s eyes widened as she noticed the stack of crates beside me.

“I brought drinks.”

“For everyone.”

“To help you all stay energized during training.”

“My goodness…”

“You even brought ice?”

“Just coming to see us would’ve been enough!”

“You’ve all been working so hard in this heat.”

“I couldn’t possibly come empty-handed.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Come inside.”

The servants accompanying me quickly carried the crates into the training grounds.

Finally.

I’m in.

Once the servants departed and the knights began organizing everything…

I slowly surveyed the entire training ground.

“Looks like everyone carries worries.”

The sea of floating emojis before my eyes was both overwhelming and strangely comforting.

I carefully scanned above each knight’s head.

Looking for…

A padlock.

But wherever I looked—

Hearts.

More hearts.

Even more hearts.

The Second Knight Order was full of young knights.

Apparently romance was all anyone here could think about.

Not a single padlock in sight.

Fine.

Time for Plan B.

My personal radar immediately locked onto everyone with heart emojis.

“Oh?”

Three young knights caught my attention.

All three constantly hovered around Lysa.

Whenever she tried to carry something…

One of them rushed over to take it.

Whenever she wiped away sweat…

Another instantly offered his handkerchief.

Come on.

That’s obviously a crush.

Exactly.

The real reason I’d come to the training grounds wasn’t to see Lysa.

It was to find the men secretly in love with her.

Because unrequited love among supporting characters often became the seed of future villains.

Sure, I’d hoped to find someone marked with a padlock—the sign of an important original character.

But since there weren’t any…

I’d settle for discovering minor villains instead.

And eliminate the problem…

Before they caused trouble.

My beloved heroine deserved nothing but a road covered in flowers.

As for the male lead…

Well.

He could walk beside her if he wanted.

“Would you like me to leave the ice here?”

One of the three knights I’d been secretly observing suddenly spoke to me.

Good.

How considerate.

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Completely unaware of my rather dark intentions…

The knight answered curtly before returning to Lysa’s side.

All right.

Time to put my plan into action.