Past the grand castle gates, a wide and well-maintained garden appeared, with a fountain placed between straight rows of cypress trees lining the walkway.

It was the Sheriton Palace she had imagined countless times.

Delia couldn’t take her eyes off the scenery until the carriage reached the castle gate.

Only when she saw Kaiel walking into the palace garden beyond the glass window did Delia stop admiring the scenery and snapped back to reality.

She quickly opened the door and jumped out of the carriage. Kaiel was already far ahead.

“Wait for me!”

Delia ran towards Kaiel before Ian could stop her.

“Kaiel!”

He was walking quickly, taking in the garden scenery, but stopped abruptly at her call.

Once again, she fearlessly called his name.

It was just as he was about to turn around.

“Got you!”

This time, her slender and soft hand touched his arm.

Kaiel looked at Delia’s hand gripping his arm and then at her, who was breathing heavily.

A vein bulged on his forehead.

Someone who dared to touch his body and call his name.

She deserved to die.

His gaze emitted a killing intent like a general facing an enemy.

“…Remove your hand.”

Finally, after a long pause, he forced out a suppressed voice.

“What if I don’t?”

“Do you know I can cut off that wrist right now?”

“You wouldn’t do that.”

Delia retorted boldly without losing a single word. She had a reason for acting this way.

Of course, there was also a selfish reason. But there was another reason.

Ding.

[The villain ‘Kaiel’ feels displeased.][Plausibility score increases by 2 points.]

Every time he felt unpleasant emotions, the plausibility score strangely went up. She found out belatedly due to the delayed calculation, but the same notification had appeared when she clung to his neck in the tavern.

If she made trivial jokes or retorts that made him feel unpleasant, it increased by 1 point. If physical contact made him feel unpleasant, it ranged from 1 to 2 points depending on the degree.

Delia inwardly shook her head at the absurd system.

The system seemed to operate for the happiness of the protagonist and the misfortune of the villain.

She didn’t like that her actions contributed to the misfortune of the villain Kaiel, but she had no choice. The penalties that had already worsened scared her too much to stay still.

She felt the firm arm she was holding tighten.

“You know I’ve already let you off multiple times.”

“Since you’ve done it multiple times, can’t you keep letting me off in the future?”

Ding.

[The villain ‘Kaiel’ feels displeased.][Plausibility score increases by 1 point.]

“Let go of my hand.”

Not wanting to provoke him further, Delia readily released his arm. She then spread her hands wide and waved them to show she wasn’t touching him anymore.

The more he looked at her small, frail hands, the angrier he felt.

“…I’ll postpone dealing with you for now.”

Kaiel, looking at her hands as if they were annoying, turned around and continued on his way.

Delia smiled lightly and greeted his back. She hadn’t really expected him to take her inside the palace.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Kaiel headed straight to the palace and informed a servant of his arrival, then waited in the hallway for his sister to appear.

Shortly after, a beautiful lady with long blonde hair ran towards him with a joyful smile.

“Brother!”

Ashlene Roches, the Princess of the Sheriton Empire. She was also the protagonist Nior Roches’s younger sister and Kaiel’s half-sister.

“Ashlene.”

Kaiel greeted his sister in a gentle voice.

“You even brought a gift! …Oh, it’s alcohol?”

Ashlene took the bottle of alcohol from his hand.

“It’s popular among the commoners.”

She turned the bottle around with interest. She also liked alcohol.

“I’ve never seen this kind before.”

“Somaek.”

“Huh?”

“It’s called somaek.”

“What a fun name.”

She laughed heartily. It seemed she liked the gift he brought.

The two began walking down the palace corridor.

Their conversation started with the alcohol Kaiel brought as a gift and continued with updates on each other’s lives, the new chef in the palace, changes in personnel administration, and trade issues with the eastern region.

Although it was a conversation, Ashlene did most of the talking while Kaiel listened. Even so, their conversation continued cheerfully without interruption.

However, when the topic changed to Kaiel’s mother, Lady Rant, his voice suddenly became somber.

“I’ve called famous doctors, but there’s no significant improvement… I’m sorry I can’t bring good news.”

“…I see.”

“I’ll keep trying. Don’t worry too much, brother.”

“Okay.”

After exchanging a few more words, they parted ways in front of Lady Rant’s quarters.

Kaiel stood in front of the door, took a deep breath, and exhaled shortly. Then he took out a medicinal powder made from various herbs from his pocket. His movements were quick and precise.

Shortly after, the imperial physician appeared. After reporting her status and a brief conversation, the physician entered the room with Kaiel.

***

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

A familiar voice stopped Kaiel as he was about to leave the palace reception room after finishing his work.

“You came without even saying hello. That’s disappointing.”

Footsteps approached him from behind. Kaiel slowly turned to face the owner of the voice. His eyebrows furrowed slightly upon confirming the person’s identity.

“It’s been a while.”

Kaiel gave a short nod.

“…Your Highness.”

It was Nior Roches, the Crown Prince of the Sheriton Empire and the protagonist of the novel.

Nior smiled and approached him.

“You came to see Lady Rant, right? Did you visit her?”

“Yes.”

“Ashlene must have told you, but there’s no significant improvement… I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. If you’ll excuse me….”

“How is Tranade?”

“…It’s fine.”

“I heard there was a small battle at the western border of Tranade recently.”

“……”

“Do you still personally lead the battles?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m busy.”

“There are rumors among the commoners.”

“……”

“Who is the lady you brought here?”

“I don’t know either, Your Highness. And enough, Nior.”

Kaiel finally cut his words short, unable to ignore the continuous questions. As if waiting for that reaction, Nior smirked.

“Yes, that’s the way to respond.”

Nior slowly circled around him.

“Seriously, who is she? Who did you bring all the way to the palace?”

“…Didn’t I say I didn’t know?”

“Aren’t you going to greet His Majesty? His Majesty’s health is much worse than before. He must be waiting for you.”

“……”

Kaiel, as if not wanting to converse further, politely bowed once again.

“I’ll be on my way, Your Highness.”

Kaiel turned away from him and headed towards the front of the garden where the carriage was waiting. It was unclear whether he heard Nior’s irritated laughter that leaked out from behind him.

As the sun began to sink below the horizon, Kaiel returned to where the carriage was.

The reddish sunset painted the garden of the Sheriton Imperial Palace in pink hues.

As Kaiel approached the waiting carriage, coachman Ian, who had been pacing around the carriage, greeted him in a flustered manner.

Kaiel glanced at the sweating Ian, the carriage, and the surroundings.

After scanning the area, he turned his gaze back to Ian and said briefly.

“She’s gone.”

Delia was not in her seat.

“Well, that is….”

“Where is she?”

Ian’s voice trembled, perhaps due to Kaiel’s cold tone.

“She went… towards the garden….”

***

Delia had fallen asleep in the carriage while waiting for Kaiel, but woke up to the sound of Ian briefly stepping away.

It seemed Kaiel hadn’t returned yet.

Delia got off the carriage and wandered around, exploring the palace. The grand and splendid Sheriton Palace was awe-inspiring no matter how many times she looked at it.

Unlike Kaiel, who she couldn’t stare at openly, she could look at and explore the palace as much as she wanted.

Seeing things from the novel in reality was unexpectedly fantastic.

So far, Delia had seen unfamiliar people and an unfamiliar world not described in the novel. Even though it was a world she created, she knew nothing about it and had nothing she could do.

Therefore, being able to see Kaiel and the Sheriton Palace, which she knew very well from that world, was enough to make her forget the loneliness she often felt.

Maybe that’s why.

Delia walked along the garden path, passing one tree after another, lost in thought.

The garden in front of the Sheriton Palace was intricate and beautiful, so much so that she had put quite an effort into describing it. Even Nior, the Crown Prince, often strolled there when he had no work.

She wanted to see Nior from a distance and use the Character List to find out why Kaiel’s favorability appeared as question marks, but it seemed unlikely she would see him in the vast palace.

She was relieved, thinking it was better not to bump into him directly while looking for him. If necessary, she could see him through Kaiel someday.

While strolling through the garden, Delia stopped when she discovered an apple tree in a corner of the garden.

‘An apple tree?’

Why would there be an apple tree in the palace garden? The tree, which seemed to be in the wrong place, was once cared for by Kaiel, Nior, and Ashlene.

It was briefly mentioned in the novel as part of their past story, though it wasn’t significant.

Still, it was a tree that held happy memories for the three, so she felt unexpectedly glad to see it.