CH 7

Even after being led out of the office by the servant’s hand, Delia couldn’t come to her senses.

‘Don’t worry? Shouldn’t you be the one worried, Kaiel?’

Just in case, she waited for the system’s notification that he was enraged, but the system was also silent. He hadn’t felt a shred of anger, not even for a moment.

It was she who was struggling and trembling the whole time she was trying to poison him, while he remained perfectly calm.

The more she organized her thoughts, the clearer it became.

‘Kaiel already knew I was trying to kill him.’ 

She didn’t know since when, but he definitely knew and let it slide.

Delia stopped dead in her tracks.

“Go on ahead.”

The servant quietly stepped back, noticing her expression. It was because Delia looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment.

As soon as the servant disappeared, Delia started running aimlessly. Her head felt like it was going to explode.

‘Is this right?’

She thought her weak heart had ruined everything, but it was highly likely that something had been off from the start.

But since when?

To make matters worse, the system started to bother her.

Ding.

[Failed to eliminate the villain ‘Kaiel Ceder’.]

[If a retry is not detected within 24 hours of failure, a penalty will be imposed immediately.]

[23:59]

Delia was dumbfounded when she checked the system window.

Strike while the iron is hot, was it?

With things like this, she couldn’t back down now. She had to see it through now that she had made up her mind.

But what was she supposed to do for a retry when she had already failed the seemingly easiest method of poisoning?

Delia, who had run all the way to the palace gardens, let out a rough breath.

She couldn’t tell if it was sweat or tears running down her cheeks.

She lifted her head sharply and looked up at the sky. 

She envied the moon, which seemed to be floating alone outside this chaos.

‘I used to be a third party too.’

She never imagined she would get so deeply involved.

It was then. A dark shadow suddenly appeared in her tear-blurred vision, blocking the moon.

She couldn’t see well due to the backlight, but his blonde hair, shining in the moonlight, was particularly noticeable. Soon, her eyes met his clear blue eyes.

It was Niol.

“Miss Averbit, what are you doing here……”

His softly curved eyes instantly filled with concern as he recognized her face.

“Have you been crying?”

Delia, regaining her composure at the sight, quickly turned around. As she roughly rubbed her face with her sleeve, he held out a handkerchief.

“Wait, wait. Wipe your face with this. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“Thank you.”

While Delia was composing herself, Niol stood beside her, looking at her anxiously.

Indeed, no one would have cried in front of the Crown Prince because of a personal matter.

Seeing him, who never lost his composure, looking flustered and concerned because of her, Delia felt her confusion subside a little.

Niol asked cautiously.

“No one from the Imperial Palace has been bothering you, have they?”

“No.”

“Are you still feeling unwell?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Perhaps because of Lady Rant……”

“You don’t have to worry about me so much, Your Highness.”

Niol realized he had been bombarding her with questions and let out a chuckle, rubbing his face.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry so much. But still……”

He said, taking the handkerchief back from Delia.

“It’s not good for you to be standing here alone at night with such an expression. You never cease to amaze me, Miss Averbit.”

Niol had regained his composure, but his eyes were constantly observing her every expression.

“If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed or anything, come find me. I’ll do everything I can, whatever it may be.”

Delia looked up and stared at him intently.

His expression seemed sincere, as if he meant every word.

“I mean it.”

Delia had a question mark pop up in her mind.

‘Why is he being so nice to me, just like this afternoon?’

Delia had known from the beginning that Niol had a sense of rivalry with Kaiel. Whether it was achievements, skills, or public perception, the two had lived their entire lives being compared. 

Moreover, the Emperor favored Kaiel, his son born out of wedlock, and the Empress, while disapproving of Kaiel, often belittled Niol by comparing him to his half-brother.

Therefore, it was only natural for Niol to see Kaiel as a rival.

‘That’s why I thought he was trying to get under Kaiel’s skin through me.’

To think he’d go this far?

As if sensing the suspicion in Delia’s eyes, Niol spoke with a hurt expression.

“You don’t believe me, do you? I’m being completely sincere, Delia.”

Delia quickly turned her head away.

“D-Delia?”

Delia looked flustered as Niol’s way of addressing her completely changed.

“People in the Imperial Palace won’t look kindly on you addressing me so informally. You’re in a position where your reputation is important, Your Highness, so you should be even more careful.”

Niol shrugged nonchalantly.

“I don’t care what those people think. And……”

Niol took off his coat and draped it over Delia’s shoulders.

“You were the first to call me by my name, Delia.”

‘When did I?’

Delia searched her memory and shook her head.

“I’ve never done that.”

Niol chuckled.

“It’s fine even if you don’t remember. It’s fine as long as I do.”

Seeing his smile, Delia felt her tension ease, and she started walking alongside him. 

The cool night air felt refreshing as she cleared her head for a while. 

While she walked, Niol’s scent, a faint musky aroma, wafted from the coat draped over her shoulders, tickling her nose.

How long had they been walking like this?

Delia, who had been lost in thought, suddenly asked.

“Have you ever harmed anyone, Your Highness?”

“Huh?”

Niol, who had been quietly walking beside her, not wanting to interrupt her thoughts, widened his eyes at the unexpected question.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever been asked that question in my life.”

With a serious expression, Delia asked another question.

“If you had to be killed by someone, Your Highness, how would you prefer to die?”

Niol was silent for a moment, then spoke with a serious face.

“Have I done something wrong?”

“What?”

Delia quickly waved her hand.

“No, no. That’s impossible!”

But Niol stopped walking, his face even more sorrowful.

“You wouldn’t want to kill me, would you, Delia?”

Yes, at least this was a normal reaction.

If someone he was close to was trying to kill him, he should be sad or angry!

But Kaiel didn’t even bat an eye, his expression unchanged.

‘What the, really……’

Delia racked her brains.

“No, Your Highness. I just, I had a nightmare…… and that’s what happened in my dream……”

Niol’s crestfallen face returned to its original state.

“Judging by your expression, it must have been a terrible nightmare. Did you have to hurt someone?”

A nightmare.

Delia could finally describe her current situation in two words.

‘Yes, this is a nightmare.’

Kill Kaiel and return to reality, and it would all be over.

All of this would just be a bad dream.

As she pulled herself together and wondered what method she should choose for her next attempt, Niol continued.

“It seems the person in your nightmare wasn’t someone you hated that much.”

“What?”

“It’s obvious that you’re this distressed, so it can’t be someone you hate.”

Niol faced Delia and smiled gently. His blue eyes sparkled under the moonlight.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t care what method you used, Delia. Because I know your true intentions wouldn’t be behind it. And the other person would know that too. So, don’t worry too much about it.”

* * *

Delia let out a sigh as she changed into her nightgown.

‘Don’t worry?’

Both Niol and Kaiel had told her not to worry. 

How was she supposed to interpret that?

‘What do they know……’

But their words were somewhat comforting. 

Whether it was from Niol’s coat or her own skin, a faint musky scent lingered around her.

As Delia put her changed clothes in the closet, she took out a small box from the corner.

Inside was a small self-defense dagger.

As she took out the dagger, the moonlight reflected off the blade, illuminating its sharp edge. She couldn’t help but gulp.

“I can do this.”

Delia took a deep breath and hid the dagger in her waistband.

If he really knew everything, getting caught wasn’t the problem anymore.

The problem was his reaction afterward. 

What kind of person would tolerate such a thing, not once, but twice! 

Delia clenched her jaw.

Even if it was just because she was afraid of the aftermath, she had to end it with this attempt.

Kaiel didn’t harm innocent people. 

However, he was endlessly cruel and merciless to those who had sinned or were his enemies. 

‘I’m no longer innocent.’

It wouldn’t be strange if Kaiel came looking for her right now and pointed a sword at her. 

‘I have to end this.’

Delia waited anxiously until the night had fully descended, and only when the moon, which had risen high in the sky, began to descend did she leave her room.

Her footsteps silently crossed the annex corridor, heading towards Kaiel’s bedroom.

In the quiet hallway, the system’s notification rang out particularly loud.

Ding.

[The system has detected an opportunity.]

[Eliminate the villain ‘Kaiel Ceder’ and fulfill the author’s responsibility.]

[21:03]