DTRAF 03

Chapter 3

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

How long has it been since I last saw a sky like this?

Sitting at a tea table in the spacious garden, I looked up at a sky so clear it almost felt unfamiliar.

“It feels good just to breathe.”

The fresh air and the brilliant blue sky alone should have been enough to keep me occupied.

Yet…

“Miss, would you like me to bring you a book if you’re bored?”

Every time someone appeared, my eyes instinctively drifted toward their heads.

More specifically…

…toward the little emoji floating above them.

“No, it’s okay.”

I forced an awkward smile and looked away from the giant heart floating above my maid Sophia’s head.

Unfortunately, that only meant I noticed everyone else’s icons instead.

Some had hearts.

Some had money bags.

Others had little person-shaped icons.

Three days earlier…

---

“Once you can see people’s worries, it’ll be much easier to become close to them or discover their weaknesses and gather information.”

---

The compensation Team Leader Jjo had given me was the ability to see people’s worries in the form of emojis.

It didn’t tell me the exact details of their concerns.

But it was certainly useful for striking up conversations and getting closer to people.

The only problem was…

They’re way too distracting!

This wasn’t some life simulation game.

Walking around with giant emojis floating over your head made it nearly impossible to focus on anything else.

“Hey, Sophia.”

“Have you been worried about something lately?”

“My worries?”

“Hmm…”

“I’m finally going to see a play tomorrow, so I’ve been wondering what I should wear.”

Judging by the enormous heart over her head…

“You’re going on a date, aren’t you?”

“W-What?!”

“It’s not a date!”

That reaction says otherwise.

According to Team Leader Jjo, the size of the emoji reflected the depth of the person’s concern.

Which meant Sophia’s heart—larger than her own head—represented serious romantic worries.

She was stressing over what to wear on her date.

“It really is a date, Miss!”

“And it’s with a childhood friend she recently reunited with!”

“Y-You!”

“What are you telling Miss for?!”

Sophia’s face instantly turned as red as a tomato.

They already have such a cute story.

Maybe I should help them along.

I had no idea what was fashionable in this world.

But as someone from modern Korea…

I knew about personal color analysis.

“Sophia.”

“A soft pink would suit you.”

“Choose something simple—not overly decorated.”

From what I could tell, Sophia had a Summer Cool complexion.

White looked wonderful on her.

More specifically…

A Summer Light type.

Back in my old life, I’d briefly studied personal color theory because I thought it might someday be useful.

Looks like it finally was.

“Soft pink?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“And I’d recommend a white accessory for your hair.”

What would work best?

After thinking for a moment, I removed the pearl headband I was wearing and gently placed it on Sophia’s head.

“There.”

“The white pearls look perfect on you.”

“Wear this tomorrow.”

“N-No!”

“How could I possibly take something that belongs to you, Miss?”

“It’s fine.”

“Go enjoy your date tomorrow.”

“And if everything goes well…”

“Don’t forget to give me some credit.”

“Of course!”

“Thank you so much, Miss!”

Smiling, I watched Sophia repeatedly bow while clutching the headband.

If those two got together…

That would be wonderful.

And if Sophia became loyal to me because of it…

Even better.

It was all part of my little master plan.

Feeling satisfied, I picked up the diary I’d been reading and continued turning the pages.

---

I saw Reinhardt at the training grounds today.

He looked as handsome as ever.

I wish I could paint the way he swings his sword.

---

The early entries were filled with the innocent feelings of a girl experiencing her first love.

---

Lady Kennelin picked up Reinhardt’s handkerchief today.

Look how smug she became just because he thanked her.

As if he’ll even remember her.

---

That annoying Lysa Medaniel.

She doesn’t even realize what a blessing it is that Reinhardt smiles at her and talks to her.

If I were in her place, every day would feel like heaven.

---

But as the pages went on…

Amelie’s feelings twisted into obsession.

Her jealousy toward Lysa grew stronger and stronger.

Although she outwardly acted as Lysa’s close friend…

The diary made it clear she had secretly bullied her over and over again.

“What a textbook villainess.”

Characters like this rarely met a pleasant end.

Usually they crossed the line tormenting the heroine…

…and ended up being brutally killed by the male lead.

Maybe Amelie had survived until now.

But if she harmed Lysa even one more time—

For whatever reason—

She’d almost certainly be headed straight for the executioner’s block.

“Who’s going to solve my problems…?”

With a heavy sigh, I closed the diary.

Reading any further would only fill my head with things another version of me had done.

It was depressing enough already.

“Oh, Miss.”

“When Viscount Medaniel’s daughter arrives later, where should I show her?”

“Lysa’s coming again?”

Just as I was about to head back into the mansion, another disaster struck.

I’d sent her away yesterday by claiming I wasn’t feeling well.

Apparently she intended to visit again today.

Could she please just leave me alone?

Didn’t the heroine have anything better to do?

“Yes.”

“Since you couldn’t visit the training grounds because of your fever, you asked Miss Lysa to come visit you instead.”

“Oh…”

“Right.”

“I did.”

Apparently the original Amelie had spent two whole weeks pretending to suffer from a terrible fever.

Yet she’d still found the energy to arrange unnecessary visits.

“I guess I should meet her today.”

I needed to learn more about the heroine anyway.

Avoiding her forever wasn’t an option.

With another deep sigh, I headed back toward the mansion.

---

About an hour after returning home…

Lysa arrived.

And immediately dropped an enormous bomb on me.

“Amelie!”

“Guess who I brought with me!”

“Lysa…”

“W-What is this…?”

Lysa entered with an innocent smile that practically screamed,

“See? I did something nice!”

Standing beside her…

Radiating murderous hostility…

…was Reinhardt.

Seeing the complete opposite atmospheres surrounding the two of them made me want to faint on the spot.

“W-Why did you bring him?”

“You looked so weak yesterday.”

“You once told me seeing Reinhardt always cheered you up.”

“So I brought him with me.”

“…Good heavens.”

Is this what people mean by pure evil?

Hearing Lysa’s perfectly sincere explanation left me speechless.

At this moment…

She was the real villain in my life.

“I… said that?”

“Of course.”

“That’s why I sent Reinhardt to visit you a few days ago.”

“Hahaha…”

“Come in first.”

Denying it now would only dig my own grave deeper.

The safest option was to serve them tea and send them home as quickly as possible.

“Amelie.”

“Are you feeling better today?”

The moment we sat down, Lysa leaned closer and carefully examined my face.

“Yeah.”

“I’m completely fine now.”

“My physician doesn’t even visit anymore.”

“That’s wonderful!”

“I was so worried when I heard you’d caught a summer fever!”

She suddenly hugged me tightly.

Awkwardly, I patted her back.

I’d never experienced this kind of concern before.

I’d worked hard my entire life.

But even at twenty-five…

I hadn’t had a single close friend my own age.

So having someone worry while I was sick…

Then happily tell me they were relieved I’d recovered…

Felt strangely unfamiliar.

“A summer fever?”

“Even dogs don’t catch those.”

A mocking voice interrupted the warm atmosphere.

Oh right…

The male lead is still here.

Sitting with his arms crossed, Reinhardt looked at me with unconcealed contempt.

It wasn’t really directed at me.

Nor was it the first time I’d received such treatment.

Still…

It stung.

“Don’t say that, Reinhardt.”

The same Lysa who had just hugged me immediately scolded him.

“People have died from summer fevers.”

“Amelie’s health has always been delicate.”

“You know she has to be careful.”

“You’re simply overprotective.”

“Amelie Garnet isn’t as fragile as you think.”

Ouch.

“Reinhardt.”

“Maybe her fever wasn’t nearly as serious as you believed.”

Double ouch.

While the two argued, Reinhardt casually tossed out sharp observations that stabbed directly into my guilty conscience.

No wonder he’s the male lead.

His instincts were frighteningly sharp.

“Amelie isn’t the type to fake an illness.”

“Don’t say things like that.”

Meanwhile, the angelic heroine continued defending me without hesitation.

I’m sorry, Lysa…

But I actually was that kind of person.

Or rather…

The original Amelie had been.

Judging from what the physician told me the other day, the so-called “two-week fever” had been wildly exaggerated.

She’d only had a slight fever.

The doctor had merely prescribed some medicine based on her complaints.

He hadn’t even been allowed to perform a proper examination.

Which meant…

Reinhardt had probably guessed the truth.

“Lysa.”

“I’m really okay.”

Her unwavering support genuinely touched me.

But…

I didn’t need Reinhardt hating me any more than he already did.

“And I’m much healthier now.”

“So you don’t have to keep visiting.”

“You’re busy with the Knights, aren’t you?”

According to Amelie’s diary…

Lysa was about to receive a promotion.

She was on the verge of becoming the commander of the Empire’s Second Knight Order.

At such an important time…

It made perfect sense that Reinhardt disliked seeing her distracted because of me.

Besides being the male and female leads…

The two had been close friends and friendly rivals ever since their academy days.

“Then, Amelie…”

“You’ll come back to the training grounds again, right?”

“…Huh?”

Excuse me?

I was trying to create some distance between myself and the protagonists.

Yet Lysa cheerfully lit another fuse.

“You used to come cheer for me all the time.”

“Don’t tell me…”

“You’ve gotten tired of seeing me?”

Lysa’s eyebrows drooped into a pitiful expression.

Her blue-black hair was tied into a ponytail.

She was breathtakingly beautiful.

Seeing such a gorgeous woman look so disappointed instantly made me panic.

To make matters worse…

She was exactly my type.

I’d developed a crush in record time.

“I-I’ll come!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Of course I will, Lysa!”

At that moment…

I finally understood why every romance fantasy male lead agreed to every request the heroine made.

How could anyone refuse someone that beautiful?

“That’s the Amelie I know!”

“Oh!”

“Since I’m here, I should borrow that book you promised me.”

“…Book?”

Lysa gave me another enthusiastic hug before jumping to her feet.

“Yes.”

“The ancient history book.”

“I’ll go find it in your library.”

“W-Wait.”

“I’ll come with—”

“No.”

“Amelie.”

“You stay here with Reinhardt.”

“…What?”

As unpredictable as a sudden storm…

Lysa cheerfully lit the fuse on a second bomb.