Chapter 6

The Male Lead’s Love Advice?

I Refuse!

“Miss, there aren’t any fruit shops in that direction.”

“I’m just looking around.”

Ignoring Eric, the knight who once again tried to stop me from behind, I headed into the alley.

I had come to the shopping district today to buy ingredients for drinks and, while I was at it, get a better feel for the world of the original novel.

But every time I tried to head somewhere, my escort knight, Eric, found some reason to object.

Apparently, he’d only recently returned from an errand in another region. If I’d known he’d be this much of a hassle, I never would have brought him along.

“I’m not a child, you know.”

“I don’t think of you as a child, Miss. But your health is fragile, so you need to be careful.”

“Ah!”

I’d been walking fast enough to get out of breath, so when had he caught up?

All my efforts to put some distance between us were completely pointless. Eric was already right behind me again, barely two steps away.

“Eric, at least give me a little space. Look, there are guards stationed at every alley. Do you really think anything dangerous is going to happen?”

“Considering you were bedridden with a fever this past summer, I don’t think there’s any harm in being cautious.”

“That wasn’t—… Never mind.”

I wanted to protest that it hadn’t actually been a fever, but the determined look on his face stopped me.

His expression practically screamed that nothing I said would change his mind.

In other words, no matter where I went, he intended to keep treating me like I was made of glass.

“I can’t help it. If anything happens to you again, Miss, I won’t get off lightly this time either. Just like Colin.”

“Colin?”

I frowned slightly at the unfamiliar name.

As Han Yuna, I had memorized every café recipe without missing a single one. Thanks to that same memory, I’d already committed the names of every servant and knight in the mansion to heart.

So I was confident there wasn’t anyone in the estate whose name I didn’t know.

“Who’s that? Which family is he from?”

“Goodness. Have you forgotten the escort knight who accompanied you on your evening walks? You always complained that I nagged too much and only took Colin with you.”

Eric covered his mouth in shock.

I’d never even seen or heard of the guy!

It was unfair. But with Eric looking this horrified, I couldn’t exactly pretend I remembered nothing.

“Oh, right. Colin. Now that you mention it… I haven’t seen him lately. Did he go on an errand too?”

“He was dismissed for failing to protect you properly and allowing you to fall ill.”

“Uh… um…”

In an instant, I’d become the awful person who had an innocent knight fired—and then completely forgotten about him.

“I-Is Colin doing okay now?”

“Yes. He’s penniless now, but at least he left with all his limbs intact, so he’s managing somehow.”

“Ah…”

Why did I even ask?!

If only I could turn back time by ten seconds…

“Regardless of whether I end up like Colin, if anything else happens to you, the Viscount will place you under house arrest.”

“The Viscount…”

Amelie’s father, Viscount Garnet.

A few days ago, I’d casually asked Sophia and the other maids about Amelie’s family.

Every single answer had begun with a long sigh and a shake of the head.

Amelie’s family consisted only of her parents.

Whenever she and Viscount Garnet happened to meet in the mansion, everyone became visibly tense.

Because every time he saw her, he would scold her without fail.

Still… he doesn’t seem to care how much money she spends.

It wasn’t exactly surprising. A villainess growing up without her father’s affection was practically a cliché.

Still, in stories like this, wasn’t the villainess usually cut off from the family fortune too?

“Well… it’s a little strange, but being careful won’t hurt.”

Besides, I’d only planned to look around a bit today before buying some fruit and heading home.

As long as I could continue spending money freely without anyone questioning me, behaving a little more quietly than planned wasn’t exactly difficult.

“A wise decision. In that case, let’s head toward the fruit shop—”

“Huh?”

Just then, a familiar face caught my eye.

“Sir Haver!”

It was pure luck that Sir Haver had just stepped out of an upscale general store.

He turned at my call and gave me a polite bow.

“Good day, Lady Amelie.”

“Sir Haver! What brings you here?”

“I had something to buy.”

As he answered, he discreetly hid a neatly wrapped package behind his back.

That looks like a gift…

He’d moved quickly, but my instincts immediately locked onto the item he’d tried to conceal.

“If you’re not busy anymore… would you have a little time to spare?”

“Certainly. I have about an hour or two free.”

“Perfect. Would you like to have some tea with me?”

“It would be my pleasure.”

Nice.

I’d been fairly sure someone like Sir Haver wouldn’t refuse, but hearing him agree so readily still made me happy.

I could hear Eric repeatedly clearing his throat beside me, though.

“Eric, stop coughing. Let’s find somewhere quiet nearby.”

I could ignore all the silent warnings he was trying to give me.

There was no way I was going to waste this precious opportunity while that cowardly male lead wasn’t around.