How long had she run?

Like last time, her feet automatically led her to the apple tree in the corner of the garden.

The apples, now all fully ripened, had long since lost their intense unripe taste.

Delia felt the urge to pick two delicious-looking apples.

‘This time they’ll really be delicious……’

Just as she was about to raise her hesitating hand—

Ding.

A sudden notification sound rang in her ears.

Startled by the unexpected alert, Delia lowered her raised hand. Soon, a status window floated up before her eyes.

When she confirmed the words, she felt like her heart would stop.

[System has detected the presence of the protagonist.]

[Protagonist ‘Niol’ is approaching.]

Ah, no.

Delia hadn’t expected to meet the protagonist so suddenly like this.

She thought that since he was the imperial crown prince, she should ask Kaiel to arrange a more proper first meeting.

‘Why now of all times……!’

The desire to run away that she had felt when first meeting Kaiel crept up again now.

Delia immediately looked to both sides. However, not even a person’s shadow was visible in her sight.

‘Perhaps he hasn’t come right nearby yet?’

Slightly relieved, Delia turned her body in the opposite direction from where she came and hurriedly took a step, almost screaming at the object that appeared before her.

“Oops.”

An unfamiliar voice let out a small laugh.

“Careful.”

Who would have thought that what appeared right after she turned around to walk would be a person, not the path.

Delia, who almost couldn’t stop and nearly jumped into the stranger’s arms, barely managed to brake with her feet.

They were at such close distance she couldn’t see the other person’s face, but she could feel with her whole body who this person was.

How could she not know?

Pushing back the slight goosebumps that rose, Delia hurriedly stepped back and bowed as respectfully as possible with a curtsy.

“I am honored to meet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Niol Roches.

The center of this Sheriton Empire and the beautiful crown prince beloved by all was standing before her.

Recalling what she had just done, Delia raised her lowered head and added words.

“I apologize for my rudene……”

As soon as she raised her head and took in his face at a glance, Delia almost let out an exclamation.

She gave enthusiastic applause in her heart toward his face.

A clear forehead and straight nose bridge, clear blue eyes and bright golden hair. Plus his tall stature.

With a face that looked like a half-mix of Ashlyn and Kaiel, he possessed an unmistakable royal dignity that anyone would recognize.

Before she knew it, Delia began examining his face and soon felt satisfied.

‘Yes, this is it.’

Niol responded to Delia’s greeting with a bright smile.

“Pleased to meet you. If I may, could I ask for an introduction?”

His gentle voice combined with his polite manner was pleasant to hear.

“I……”

As Delia was about to speak naturally, drawn in by the atmosphere, she suddenly had doubts.

The probability of him not knowing who she was seemed slim. After all, hadn’t she been sticking to Kaiel like a leech for quite some time now!

Niol had considerable interest in Kaiel. Even if that interest wasn’t necessarily positive.

Therefore, Niol must know well about her.

Instead of adding any other introduction, Delia decided to keep it brief.

“I am Delia Averbit.”

“Ah, I see!”

Although it was a rather discourteous and perfunctory self-introduction, Niol smiled and let it pass. After all, there was no need to dwell on it when he already knew where she was from, who she worked for, and what she did.

Niol approached her with leisurely steps.

“You’re the first person I’ve seen running in this garden, so I was intrigued and followed you. I hope I didn’t startle you.”

Delia thought to herself.

Who wouldn’t be startled when the Crown Prince follows them!

Moreover, she had almost jumped into his arms.

“I was startled.”

Niol laughed out loud at her response.

“Oh dear, that wasn’t my intention.”

He suddenly extended his arm toward her.

“Since we’ve met like this by fate, may I request a walk with you, Miss Averbit?”

Despite his kind voice, Delia felt her hands and feet tensing up as she began to sweat.

‘Phew.’

Unlike Kaiel Ceder, Niol Roches had aspects that made him difficult to handle.

In Kaiel’s case, he was a character she could handle more easily because she was the author. Even though others might find it hard to approach him and fear him due to his stoic and cold expression, it wasn’t the case for her.

But Niol was different. He was a character that was even more difficult to handle precisely because she was the author.

Niol Roches possessed a personality befitting his position as Crown Prince. A cheerful and magnanimous person who stood above countless people and led them with his personality and smile.

The reasons she couldn’t casually deal with Niol were firstly, because he was the Crown Prince; secondly, because the system was on his side; thirdly, because of her guilt over him meeting a miserable end in the original work because of her.

And one more thing to mention was the unknowable inner thoughts hidden behind his charming smile.

How did she know something was hidden behind his smile?

Well, because that was the setting she had written in the original work!

While others might easily lower their guard and devote themselves to him with just one of his smiles and gentle voice, she couldn’t know what kind of thoughts lay behind that face that was smiling brightly before her now.

She was certain those thoughts weren’t malicious — as the author, she could be confident of that, he was definitely not an ill-mannered character! — but still, she didn’t feel comfortable.

“I’m honored, Your Highness. However……”

“Hmm?”

Niol was still looking at her with a languid smile.

Delia racked her brain hard as she couldn’t think of a proper way to refuse.

“I apologize, but I have urgent matters to attend to with Lord Tranade, so I must leave soon.”

At this, one of his eyebrows raised.

“If you mean Lord Tranade, he should be in an audience with His Majesty the Emperor right now.”

“Pardon?”

Suddenly?

It was strange.

Kaiel rarely visited his father, the Emperor. Even when visiting the imperial palace, he wouldn’t meet his father unless the Emperor summoned him first.

Moreover, no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t recall the Emperor summoning him at this point in the original work.

‘Did he send him?’

Did Niol send Kaiel to the Emperor?

‘No, that’s strange too.’

The reason was simple.

The Emperor greatly favored Kaiel over Niol.

Why would he willingly send his half-brother to their father who showed more affection to him than to his legitimate son?

Therefore, there was no way Niol would have sent Kaiel to the Emperor directly.

If he had done so, there must have been some purpose.

Delia glanced at Niol carefully.

Noticing the troubled look on Delia’s face, Niol didn’t miss the chance to speak. He was still smiling.

“If you’re in such a hurry, I could escort you there. Would that be acceptable?”

With him being so insistent, there was no way to decline anymore. Delia gave him a bright smile.

“It would be my honor.”

After that, Niol truly led the conversation perfectly with princely composure and skill. His attitude made Delia feel as though she was being treated like an esteemed lady.

‘To think such a person was born from my fingertips……’

It was a strange feeling. At the same time, feeling somewhat uncomfortable and searching for the cause, Delia suddenly remembered her forgotten mission.

‘I almost forgot because I was distracted. System, Character List!’

She was finally able to resolve something she had been curious about for a while.

[Character List]

Name: Niol Roches

Abilities: Charm 98, Strategy 95, Reason 94 ….

Affection: ??

As she expected, the affection level wasn’t shown for just the two central characters.

When would she be able to see that? Things might be easier if she could at least know their affection levels.

As Delia was nodding at the protagonist-worthy ability scores, she suddenly felt a persistent gaze on her and turned her head.

As soon as she turned, she met blue eyes directly. Niol spoke with a smile.

“You’re finally looking at me. I’ve been watching you all this time.”

Delia looked at him with a slightly dumbfounded expression. Niol tilted his head slightly and smiled with crescent eyes, seemingly waiting for her response.

At his deliberately playful attitude, Delia clicked her tongue inwardly.

‘Who could resist when he acts like that.’

Delia offered an appropriate response to match him.

“I’m nervous walking with Your Highness. I apologize if I was rude.”

She was showing a completely different attitude from how she acted with Kaiel. Delia herself couldn’t understand why she was being so docile.

Niol spoke without taking his eyes off Delia.

“Rude? Not at all. Though I much prefer it when you look at my face.”

Delia calmly smiled and nodded, but her inner state was far from calm.

‘This guy is a real master, unlike someone else! Whoever created him did an amazing job!’

Although she felt somewhat sorry for comparing him to ‘someone’ whom she herself had created as a virgin, experiencing it firsthand was truly impressive.

Finally breaking eye contact first, Delia looked around the garden and asked.