* * *

 In the novel, Royan was known by the nickname ‘Ice Wolf.’

It was a nickname given to him because of his cold demeanor, despite being as beautiful as an ice sculpture.

While reading, it seemed like a somewhat cringeworthy nickname, but upon actually meeting him, Reibella couldn’t help but perfectly understand that nickname.

He was truly a perfect protagonist.

Just as the princess had immediately seemed like a ‘protagonist,’ so did Royan. From his pure silver hair to his well-defined features and those wolf-like purple eyes.

His mere existence made him a protagonist.

‘But why are you here!’

Why was Vicheravali’s direct descendant and only heir in this annex?

‘……Should I run away?’

She wanted to flee immediately since a potentially life-threatening being was carrying a sword. She wanted to run far, far away, to a place where she wouldn’t be seen.

But she couldn’t move rashly. She knew not to turn her back on a predator.

‘Right, what have I done wrong anyway.’

She didn’t even know how this child thought of her yet.

Perhaps he might even welcome having a new family member?

‘Let’s greet him.’

And if there were any misunderstandings, let’s clear them up.

That she didn’t want to be adopted.

That Felicity abusing the princess was just a misunderstanding, that she had served loyally as the princess’s food taster.

‘Alright.’

Taking a deep breath and making her decision, Reibella curled up her lips. Then she forcefully unstuck her frozen feet.

Tok. As she took a step, her footsteps mixed with his once again.

As they grew closer, Reibella smiled brightly.

“Excuse……”

She had only meant to greet him, but before she could react, the sword in his hand grazed past her ear.

It happened so suddenly that Reibella could only freeze in place like a statue.

Thump, thump.

The beautiful boy with silver hair approached Reibella, who stood completely rigid. Then he warned her in a voice as cold as his expression.

“Don’t show yourself before me.”

Glaring at her with eyes that seemed capable of killing, he walked away with light but slow, tired steps. She heard the sound of a sword being pulled from where it had been stuck.

Until his presence disappeared completely, Reibella couldn’t take a single step. She could only wait quietly for all noise to fade away.

Damn it.

Regretting that she should have just gone to sleep. 

* * *

 Using yesterday’s warning as fertilizer, Reibella vowed and vowed again never to lurk around Royan again.

But…….

“Since yesterday, the young master has been staying in the annex.”

Before even half a day had passed, Reibella’s firm resolution crumbled like a sandcastle swept away by waves.

“……Why is the young duke there? Instead of staying in the main building……”

“Yes. He had been staying in the main building, but suddenly said he wanted to come to the annex.”

Ah…….

That meant she could run into him here at any time from now on.

‘But how am I supposed to not be seen!’

Were all the novel’s characters personality disasters? How could they create this situation and then threaten someone not to be seen?

‘They’re quite different.’

While Duke Vicheravali was surprisingly nice unlike in the original work, his son seemed to have an even worse temperament than she’d known.

Phew, as she sighed, Charlotte smiled sweetly and continued speaking.

“Don’t worry! Young master is a kind person. I’m sure he’ll become a reliable older brother.”

He was so scary and fierce that she couldn’t get near him. He tried to kill her with a sword the moment he saw her.

“By the way, Miss. How did you hurt your ear? Did you really just fall?”

“Uh, yeah……”

“As expected, like glass……”

Charlotte muttered barely audibly with a shocked expression, then started making terrifying plans about wrapping her from head to toe whenever she went outside.

……It’s summer though?

“Um, Charlotte?”

“When I first saw Miss, I thought cotton candy had turned into a person, but what if you melt while bathing?”

Charlotte made a serious expression and said to Reibella.

“Although Miss refuses Sir Philip’s examination, I still think it would be better to get checked.”

“It’s fine. You already treated the wound again, Charlotte.”

“No. If Miss doesn’t receive proper treatment, my life might be in danger. The knights said Miss is weaker than a newborn baby in Louvindisi, and told me to take very good care of you.”

“I’ll explain that well to them. If they hear I got hurt after just one day, everyone will think I’m clumsy.”

“What bastard would……”

“These things can happen. Right? Charlotte.”

At Reibella’s plea, Charlotte eventually let out a long sigh in resignation. Then she crouched in front of Reibella and met her eyes.

“Miss. I’ll listen to your request this once, but from now on, there will be no compromising when it comes to your safety. Because you will become Vicheravali’s only lady.”

“……Yes, thank you.”

“I’ll do my best to make sure the wound doesn’t leave a scar. Don’t worry too much.”

When Reibella nodded, she relaxed her stern expression and smiled.

“Ah, if you’re not busy, the Duke would like to see you for a moment, how about it?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

She had been thinking of going to see Duke Vicheravali anyway now that she’d unpacked. She needed permission to go out to find a merchant group heading to the Kingdom of Baribe.

“Then how about seeing him now? It’s just the right time for the Duke to have refreshments.”

Is that so. Looking at the time, it was indeed good timing for tea after lunch.

Thinking she should get it over with now that it came up rather than putting it off, Reibella immediately stood up, and Charlotte went ahead to open the door.

Reibella stepped out, feeling slightly awkward at receiving such courteous treatment after so long.

And…….

As if waiting for that moment, she came face to face with the boy coming out from across the hall.

……What is this?

‘Why are you coming out from there?’

Since he started staying in the annex yesterday, it seemed he was in the room across from hers. It was suspicious that in such a large building, he was specifically in the room directly across the same hallway.

“……”

“……”

Startled by his gaze colder than the northern winter, Reibella unconsciously dropped her eyes.

He strode past, brushing by Reibella. Though described as striding, being still a boy, his movements were light.

Reibella slowly raised her head while listening to the small, light footsteps growing distant. She could see his back as he quickly put distance between them.

And behind Royan, another boy with brown hair glanced at her, made an unpleasant expression, then turned his head away sharply as he followed Royan.

Looking at Charlotte in this incomprehensible situation, Charlotte had an expectant expression as she lightly clasped her hands together and cheered her on.

So you were the culprit.

“This must be wonderful for Miss! To have such a splendid young master becoming your brother!”

Whether she hadn’t seen him threatening with his eyes, or was pretending not to see, was unclear.

“Young master must be happy about Miss becoming his sister too! He looked at you for 10 whole seconds!”

That wasn’t looking with happiness, it was threatening to gouge out my eyes.

Hopefully, the feeling that this maid would cause many sighs in the future was just an imagination.

 * * *

 Despite some complications, Reibella arrived at Duke Vicheravali’s office without being too late.

Duke Vicheravali, whom she was meeting again after exactly one day, remained unchanged. One might think what could change in just a day, but Duke Vicheravali truly hadn’t changed at all.

Even down to the clothes he was wearing.

It seemed he had started working immediately upon arriving at his territory and hadn’t left his office for even an hour until now.

What was amazing was that despite this, he still looked clean enough that one might expect him to smell of flowers.

Could it be magic?

Anyway, seeing this, she could somewhat understand why Charlotte had been so eager to send her to Duke Vicheravali.

They must have thought that ‘a child he cared about enough to adopt’ would be able to draw their master out of his office.

And regrettably, their prediction was accurate.