Her entire body was emaciated, almost like skin clinging to bones, with unknown dark purple spots covering her skin. Her swollen hands contrasted starkly with her thin body, looking anything but normal.

Her rigid muscles had twisted her wrists and shoulders into bizarre shapes.

Although her eyes were closed, Delia knew from her novel that Lady Rant’s eyes had turned cloudy and white, like those of the dead.

In her mind, Delia envisioned the deceased Lady Rant rising up and accusing her with resentful eyes.

Since entering the novel, she had only seen wonderful and beautiful things. Witnessing someone dying in such a terrible state, a creation of her own, was unsettling. No, it was horrifying.

‘No… This isn’t….’

Unconsciously, Delia took a step back. She knew it was impolite, but she couldn’t stop her legs from moving.

“Stay still.”

The Grand Duke stopped her retreat with his hand on her back and gently pushed her closer to the bed.

“Take a good look.”

Her trembling eyes unwillingly turned to the bedridden Lady Rant.

Even on a second glance, it was a sight too painful to behold.

“I’ve seen enough.”

Unable to bear it for more than a few seconds, Delia turned away from the bed.

“If you’ve researched lapocia, you should recognize the symptoms.”

Kaiel sat down on a sofa near the window.

“Is it lapocia?”

“…Yes.”

As the author, Delia couldn’t possibly not know Lady Rant’s illness. She had created this situation herself.

“No doubt about it… lapocia.”

Kaiel sighed deeply and then looked up again.

“Alright.”

His eyes, which were usually a clear gray-blue, seemed darker today.

“I see….”

After that response, Kaiel said nothing more. Delia felt her heart breaking as she watched him.

Lady Rant was one of the few precious people to him. If her appearance was hard for Delia to bear, how much harder and more painful must it be for her son, Kaiel?

‘I’m sorry, Kaiel. I’m sorry, Lady Rant.’

Delia, clasping her hands behind her back, glanced at Kaiel and then at the bed where Lady Rant lay.

They wouldn’t exist if she hadn’t created them. But since she did, they could be happy or unhappy based on her writing.

Delia keenly felt that she was the creator of this world.

A small sense of guilt quickly enveloped her heart.

‘If I was going to ignore the plausibility and end it anyway, I should have just written a story where everyone was happy.’

It was a nonsensical regret, but she couldn’t help thinking that it would have been better.

She was pulled out of her chaotic thoughts when the imperial physician entered the room. The physician bowed to the Grand Duke and placed his bag on the side table. The Grand Duke stood up to acknowledge the greeting.

“Dr. Lambert.”

John Lambert. The physician who had been in the imperial palace since Kaiel’s childhood. His skills were undoubtedly the best. That’s why the Grand Duke trusted him with his mother’s care.

As the Grand Duke approached, the physician took something out of his bag.

“I brought what you requested, Your Grace.”

A small, tightly sealed box was handed to Kaiel.

Delia could roughly guess what it was.

If Dr. Lambert was handing it to Kaiel, it had to be a lapocia research sample. And those samples always came in the form of flowers, dried leaves, and ground powder.

What was in that box was likely those things.

Kaiel opened the box and took out something wrapped in white paper.

“You said you’d prove your usefulness.”

After examining the contents, he placed it back in the box and looked at Delia.

“Dog Nose.”

He held the box out to her, indicating she should take it.

“Smell it.”

Delia, bewildered by the sudden command, took the box. Her guilt-ridden mood lifted instantly.

“What?”

The box that seemed small in Kaiel’s hands looked quite large in hers.

“What do you think it is?”

“Well….”

Delia glanced at Kaiel. His sharp, deep eyes were watching her closely, seemingly waiting for her to do something.

He wanted to verify if she was telling the truth.

Kaiel… you’re so meticulous in these things.

Alright. If having a dog nose is a skill, I should prove it.

‘My favorite character is expecting it, so I should demonstrate my ability.’

With a small sigh, Delia lifted the box, opened the lid halfway, and brought it to her nose.

…Sniff.

Narrowing her eyes as if deep in thought, Delia sniffed a few more times before nodding as if she understood.

Complying with his expectations, she quietly closed the lid and smiled.

“It’s one lapocia flower, dried lapocia leaves, and ground lapocia powder.”

“Exactly.”

“Yes, because I’m Your Grace’s Dog Nose.”

Delia handed the box back to Kaiel.

Dr. Lambert, who had been observing them, was impressed by Delia’s ability to identify the contents just by smell. He flinched at her last comment.

‘Your Grace’s Dog Nose? What….’

Dr. Lambert’s straight mustache twitched. He quickly turned to gauge the Grand Duke’s reaction.

Surprisingly, the Grand Duke, who seemed likely to explode in anger, remained calm.

But Lambert hadn’t noticed Kaiel’s tightly clenched fists, revealing his true feelings.

Had it been Delia, she would have immediately recognized that Kaiel was quite displeased.

Hiding his intrigue, Dr. Lambert asked,

“May I ask who she is?”

“…A researcher.”

Kaiel answered indifferently.

A mere researcher daring to call the Grand Duke of Tranade by his name?

Growing more curious, Dr. Lambert asked again,

“Is it alright for her to call Your Grace by name like that?”

“She’s uncontrollable.”

“Pardon?”

“She doesn’t… listen.”

Dr. Lambert was at a loss for words.

Kaiel Ceder. Before becoming the ruler of Tranade, he was a general who roamed the battlefield like the wind and a commander who led a tremendous number of troops.

He first participated in battle at the age of fourteen and became a commander at nineteen, so his skills were undoubtedly exceptional.

As a general, he was feared by the enemy for killing a dozen or so enemies with a single strike without blinking an eye.

He also punished mistakes mercilessly and trained his troops with intense rigor, making the reputation of the Grand Duke’s Imperial Knights unparalleled.

Now, having stepped down from the commander’s position to become the ruler of Tranade, it was nearly impossible for anyone of lesser rank to look him in the eye and speak to him.

The icy, astonishingly ruthless demeanor was the Grand Duke that Dr. Lambert knew.

But now, she doesn’t listen?

The woman who acted so freely in front of the Grand Duke was remarkable, but even more remarkable was the Grand Duke allowing her to do so.

The Grand Duke he knew would have harshly punished her to ensure she never did it again. He might even have beheaded her if necessary.

Dr. Lambert wondered if there was something special about her.

The face that smiled warmly and brightly at the Grand Duke… was quite pretty and cute.

And if she was also skilled as a researcher…

Dr. Lambert nodded thoughtfully.

“She may not be respectful to Your Grace, but she’s quite an attractive researcher.”

At Dr. Lambert’s words, Kaiel looked at him.

“If Your Grace keeps her around, she must be very capable.”

She was an extraordinary woman who identified the contents of the box just by smell.

“Truly a dog nose…”

Dr. Lambert started to say something but stopped, awkwardly smiling under Kaiel’s gaze. He felt he might get scolded if he continued.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

After reporting on Lady Rant’s condition, Dr. Lambert left, and Kaiel stayed a little longer before exiting as well, hoping the new researcher could be of some help.

***

“Sigh…”

Delia opened the box in her hand once more and let out a long sigh. The white paper wrapping the lapocia rustled in the wind.

‘I’m sorry, Kaiel.’

She walked aimlessly, trying to shake off her guilt towards Kaiel.

‘If I help you and cure Lady Rant, I’ll be breaking the plausibility.’

And then, who knows what kind of penalty will come next.

Thanks to calling Kaiel’s name and irritating him at the end, her plausibility score had gone up for the first time in a while.

But the plausibility she painstakingly built by mildly annoying him would crumble the moment she helped him in any way.

‘I’m sorry, truly sorry!’

Delia closed the box lid with a frustrated slap and started walking briskly.

The scenery of the Sheriton Garden quickly passed by her.

Just as she was about to turn a corner in the garden,

“Oh my!”

“Watch out!”

Delia collided with two people coming around the corner from the opposite direction before she could avoid them. The box she was holding flew out of her hand.