Bravely climbing the ladder, she reached for the book. The three steps of the ladder were higher than she expected, almost a meter high.

Delia tried her best not to look down as she stretched to reach the book.

However, as soon as she stepped on the outer edge of the ladder, it wobbled and collapsed under her weight.

In that instant, she instinctively realized,

‘Penalty…!’

A small anger flared up inside her against the system.

Of course it’s here.

She expected the plausibility score to drop since she hadn’t seen Kaiel for a while.

But she hadn’t expected to receive a penalty like this, in such a manner.

Outside, she could at least spread rumors about Kaiel, but inside Tranade castle, her actions to maintain the plausibility score were extremely limited.

[Penalty occurs due to a decrease in plausibility score.]

Before she could even read the annoying status window, she lost her balance and fell along with the collapsing ladder. Delia screamed in fright.

She managed to grab something, but unfortunately, it was not the bookshelf but some books, causing them to fall with her.

She was about to hit the floor, and it felt like her leg would surely break upon landing. The sound of heavy books hitting the floor echoed.

‘It’ll hurt even more if I land on the books.’

Delia tightly closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling.

However, instead of the hard floor, she felt something cozy and firm behind her.

Instead of falling to the floor, she was gently caught by two large hands.

Delia opened her tightly shut eyes and looked at the owner of the hands that were securely holding her waist. She gasped in surprise.

“Ka, Kaiel?”

Kaiel had quietly appeared beside the ladder and caught her effortlessly.

Thanks to him, her low-angled view was suddenly elevated.

Delia, stunned by the Grand Duke who silently appeared and helped her, almost lost her footing again. This time, he firmly held her arm and helped her down.

“Can’t even take out a book by yourself.”

Kaiel’s voice was filled with annoyance as he quickly withdrew his hands and stepped back once she was safely down.

His touch had been so warm that she regretted it ending so soon.

For a moment, Delia felt like the heroine of a romance comic and didn’t realize she was standing still.

He looked at her indifferently and asked,

“Are you okay?”

His half-lowered eyelashes cast shadows in the firelight from the nearby fireplace. His cool, grayish-blue eyes contrasted sharply with the warm, glowing library, making them appear even colder and bluer.

Having such beautiful eyes ask if she was okay felt unfair.

For that moment, Delia was so grateful and happy to be in this world that she almost thanked it.

‘He helped me! That Kaiel Ceder…!’

Her eyes, deeply gazing at the Grand Duke, sparkled as if they were wet with water.

“Kaiel….”

Kaiel’s eyebrows furrowed.

“I warned you I’d cut off that mouth if you called my name.”

“Did you… just help me, Kaiel?”

“……”

Even his fierce threat seemed useless against this woman.

Realizing that talking wouldn’t work, Kaiel closed his mouth and turned away from Delia, who was looking at him with teary eyes.

His gaze soon fell on the scattered books.

Kaiel’s eyes lingered on one book for a while before he looked away.

“How is the research going?”

Delia felt a pang of guilt but smiled and answered,

“It’s going well. I was looking for materials here because I lacked some.”

For some reason, she felt like she was lying to Kaiel more and more.

She hadn’t even started the research, and she couldn’t exactly say she was here to find materials for poisoning him.

Delia felt like dozens of needles were pricking her heart.

“I have something to show you. I’d like you to accompany me to the imperial palace soon.”

Delia nodded at his words.

“Of course, if you wish. How could I refuse Your Grace’s command?”

“It’s not a request, it’s an order.”

“Even more so then.”

Satisfied with her clear answer, Kaiel was about to leave when he glanced at the scattered books and gestured to her.

“Clean this up yourself.”

After taking a few more steps, he paused and added,

“Don’t send any more of those strange notes.”

With that, Kaiel quickly walked out of the library.

Watching his tall figure, she felt like he walked twice as fast as she did.

Delia watched him until he disappeared, then turned her attention back to the scattered books.

Among them was the red book on poisoning that she tried to take out.

After picking up the rest of the books and neatly stacking them on the nearby shelf, she took the red book and a few others and left the library. Her cheeks were flushed pink.

Despite everything, Delia was deeply moved by Kaiel, who personally helped her. He, who disliked even slight physical contact, caught her with both hands.

Her excitement was mixed with an unsettling sense of dread.

“…I’m doomed.”

She liked him even more now.

If she developed deeper feelings for him, she feared she would fail the mission given by the system.

She needed to hurry.

Trying to calm her anxious heart, Delia hugged the books tighter.

***

“Um… what should we do with these notes?”

A few days later, when the Grand Duke was preparing to leave for the imperial palace, a servant cautiously asked.

The Grand Duke glanced at the spot the servant indicated.

There were at least dozens of notes piled on his desk.

It was obvious who the sender of these absurd notes was.

The Grand Duke looked out the window at a woman boarding another prepared carriage.

Her crimson hair rippled with her steps. The sunlight was particularly strong, making her hair shine like the sun.

“Shall I throw them away…?”

“No.”

The Grand Duke, leaving his office, answered indifferently.

“Leave them as they are.”

***

Delia’s excitement faded quickly before she even arrived at the imperial palace.

“This is where Lady Rant resides.”

A servant kindly guided her to the door, but Delia hesitated and couldn’t go in.

She couldn’t tell if the door was larger because it was the imperial palace or if it just seemed that way. She could open it, but it looked too big to open. Or maybe she hoped it wouldn’t open.

He said he had something to show her.

Delia sighed softly.

She didn’t expect it to be his mother.

Lady Rant was Kaiel’s mother and the Emperor of Sheriton’s concubine, one of the few people Kaiel cherished.

She had been a warm supporter of Kaiel since his childhood, but unfortunately, she was suffering from worsening health due to lapocia poisoning.

All the wonderful characters, the villains, and even lapocia, the root of all evil, were born from Delia’s fingertips. So there were things she didn’t want to face. Lady Rant was one of them.

Although someone else had poisoned Lady Rant with lapocia, Delia herself had created all these events.

Unable to open the door, Delia just stood there. After a few minutes, she heard Kaiel’s footsteps behind her.

He passed her and stood before the enormous door. Ironically, his tall figure made the door seem smaller.

“Shall we go in?”

As the servant opened the door, Kaiel, who’s familiar with the place, stepped through the door with his long legs.

When he was about to enter, he turned his head slightly and met Delia’s eyes, who was standing still and blankly staring beyond the door.

“Ah….”

She fidgeted and crumpled her skirt, and Kaiel lightly knocked on the door with the back of his hand.

“Come in.”

If Kaiel hadn’t called her again, Delia would have waited outside the door until he came out.

Reluctantly, Delia moved her feet, which felt as if they were glued to the floor.

The room was immensely spacious. In the center was a large bed, where Lady Rant appeared to be lying.

Several windows along one wall were all covered with dark velvet curtains, making the room extremely dark and gloomy.

The most distinctive feature was the overwhelming smell of the narcotic lapocia.

Instinctively, Delia covered her nose with her sleeve and looked around.

Kaiel gestured to a nearby servant, who quickly ran to the window and pulled the curtain cord. The curtains parted, allowing bright light to flood in, revealing the previously hidden dark space.

“Gasp…!”

Delia almost let out a loud gasp but covered her mouth with both hands. Her pupils trembled violently.

Bathed in the light from the window, Lady Rant’s condition was indescribably severe.