As Yvel skillfully pulled out a book, a sound that didn’t match the situation was heard.

“What are you doing?”

The bewildered Roa shifted her gaze following Yvel and witnessed an amazing sight.

The bookshelf moved backward and then smoothly slid sideways, revealing a hidden space behind it.

Surprised, Roa stood up and unknowingly followed Yvel into the secret space.

The room’s atmosphere was similar, but it had no windows and was filled with bookshelves.

‘She liked them this much?’

Inside, it was densely packed with only romance novels. Roa stuck out her tongue at Yvel’s meticulousness. It was filled with determination not to let anyone discover her hobby.

Yvel, who no longer intended to hide from Roa, placed the paper Roa had written on the desk in the center.

“This is a secret from everyone else.”

Too surprised to speak, Roa nodded silently.

The princess’s genuine love for romance, which didn’t even appear in books, was unfolding before her eyes, and she felt like laughing if she opened her mouth.

Roa tried to calm herself by leaving the secret space and sitting in a chair.

Soon after, Yvel followed Roa out. Seeing her twitching lips, Yvel lightly tapped her forehead.

“If you want to laugh, go ahead.”

Taking Yvel’s words as a signal, Roa couldn’t hold back her laughter and collapsed on the desk.

The gap between the Yvel portrayed as the exemplary female protagonist in novels and the friend in front of her was beyond imagination.

Yvel plopped down in a chair and watched Roa.

“Ahahaha, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I have nothing to hide from you now.”

The hobby that had been completely exposed was now too bothersome to conceal. Having reached a state of enlightenment, Yvel openly opened and read the book she had received as a gift in front of Roa.

A bookmark was inserted in the middle of the book she had been reading just before Roa arrived.

Roa stopped laughing and observed Yvel reading the book.

She hadn’t noticed it because it was sandwiched between other books, but the cover of the gifted book had become tattered from frequent reading.

Although Yvel had handled it as preciously as possible, the book bore traces of her hands.

“It hasn’t been long since I gave it to you. Anyone would think it’s an ancient book.”

She had thought it would wear out quickly since it wasn’t a formally published book and wasn’t as sturdy compared to others, but she hadn’t expected it to change to that state in such a short time.

Roa felt a surge of satisfaction and happiness.

It was pleasing for anyone to see a gift being cherished.

Yvel bluntly spoke out while looking at Roa, whose corners of the mouth were raised in satisfaction.

“It’s because someone accurately understood my heart and gave me a gift.”

“It’s going to tear.”

“Well, I should keep the gifted one and buy a new one. Oh, by the way. Could you tell me the author’s name?”

Yvel raised the book she was reading and asked Roa.

Yvel’s expression was slightly excited, as she had been on the verge of going crazy with curiosity because no one knew when she mentioned the title at the bookstore and showed the book.

“The person who wrote the book?”

“Yes. I want to buy one at the bookstore. I thought you would know.”

It was natural since the hope of finding the book she wanted was right in front of her. Yvel also wanted to purchase other works by the author.

A book with nothing written on it except the title, Yvel looked at it with eyes full of expectation.

On the other hand, Roa froze at Yvel’s sudden question.

“Roa?”

Yvel called out to the stiffened Roa in a confused tone. Roa’s reaction didn’t match the question that had no unusual aspects.

Yvel wondered if she had made a mistake and retraced her words, but couldn’t find any issue. Yvel leaned her face closer to Roa.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“Ah…… I’m sorry. I was taken aback.”

Roa lowered her head deeply and glanced at Yvel. Experiencing déjà vu from their first meeting, Yvel let out a hollow laugh.

‘Why is she acting like this again?’

Yvel stared intently at Roa to uncover her intentions. Roa covered her face with the book in front of her to avoid Yvel’s gaze.

“Don’t stare at me.”

“Are you being shy now?”

“It’s not like that.”

Roa didn’t put down the thick book, which didn’t seem heavy to her, and avoided Yvel’s gaze.

Suddenly confronted with a title written in ancient language, Yvel returned her head to its original position and leaned back in her chair.

She knew to some extent how to deal with Roa.

Yvel’s prediction was correct.

After a few minutes passed and there was no breathing sound right in front of her, Roa slightly lowered the book to reveal her eyes.

Her eyeballs rolled left and right, scanning the empty space.

“Perhaps you don’t know the author and that’s why you’re acting like this?”

“I know. The author.”

Roa immediately denied Yvel’s words. There was not a hint of hesitation. She couldn’t possibly not know the author.

Not knowing that Roa was the very person who wrote this, Yvel’s expression lightened at the statement that she knew the author.

“Then is it a difficult question? Perhaps the author didn’t want to reveal their identity.”

“I’m just embarrassed.”

‘What is there to be embarrassed about?’

Yvel frowned at Roa’s words, unable to understand the situation.

Puzzle pieces that seemed about to fit but didn’t scattered in the air. Yvel’s legs trembled, unable to contain her curiosity.

“I have no patience, Roa.”

Yvel was a princess. She was more accustomed to commands than requests. The instinct she had hidden in front of her friend began to stir.

The perceptive Roa swallowed when she noticed signs of Yvel’s voice changing and put down the book that had been covering her face.

Revealing herself as the author of the book required great courage from Roa.

Afraid of Yvel’s reaction, Roa clenched her fist tightly and shouted.

“That…… Actually, I wrote that book!!”

With those words, Roa collapsed onto the desk and hid her face. Her reddened ears, not covered by her hair, expressed her feelings.

‘Ah, how embarrassing.’

She had never thought she would tell anyone other than Reno that she wrote.

Yvel looked at Roa, who had shouted and collapsed on the desk, and belatedly understood the meaning of her words, then stood up.

The chair tumbled backward with the big movement, creating a loud and noisy sound. Hearing the loud noise from inside, the knights flung the door open.

“Your Highness! Is something wrong?”

“No. Nothing’s wrong. Don’t worry and leave.”

Amid the chaos, Yvel calmly dismissed the knights and locked the door from inside.

Now with no one to interfere, only Roa, buried at the desk, and Yvel, whose heart was racing from the shocking revelation, remained in the room.

Yvel picked up the book that had fallen to the ground due to her abrupt rise from the chair.

“Really? You wrote this, Roa?”

Yvel asked, alternately looking at the book and Roa. Roa couldn’t lift her buried head and nodded.

At the slight movement, Yvel covered her mouth with both hands. One second before a scream would emerge, Yvel stamped her feet.

“My goodness…… Roa!!”

“Kyaa!!”

Yvel hugged Roa tightly. Forced to lift her head, Roa met eyes with the excited Yvel.

Yvel’s pupils were full of life with excitement and joy. Inappropriately for the situation, Roa thought her eyes were beautiful.

Yvel rubbed her cheek against Roa’s. As their cheeks pressed against each other, their lips protruded like carp.

“You lovely thing.”

The fact that the author she had fallen for at first sight was her friend threw Yvel’s mind into complete disarray.

The book-buying process, which had been close to a spy movie until now, quickly flashed through Yvel’s mind.

She would no longer feel the futility she had experienced in her reality, wondering if she really had to go to such lengths to buy books in secret.

Yvel was so happy she could fly at any moment. Dozens of visions of novels that hit her heart dominated Yvel.

Not knowing her future of being squeezed by Yvel, Roa struggled with all her might to push her away.

“Y…… Yvel, let go.”

Roa, whose cheeks were squished by Yvel, desperately called her friend. Of course, the desperate cry was useless to Yvel, whose ears were blocked.

Eventually, with superhuman strength from somewhere, Yvel lifted Roa and spun her around.

With her feet in the air, Roa smelled a familiar scent from Yvel.

‘She feels like Reno….’

Reno, who became fanatical about her fanfiction, kept overlapping with the princess.

Even if she regretted not keeping it a secret, the water was already spilled. Roa felt nauseated.

“Look at me. I’m sorry.”

Discovering the dazed Roa, Yvel put her down on the floor and apologized, calming her excitement.

For a moment, Roa’s legs weakened and she staggered, but Yvel firmly held her hand to prevent her from falling.

Yvel didn’t know what to do, feeling sorry for Roa who had suffered from her excitement.

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

‘The precious author shouldn’t get hurt.’

Yvel fussed over Roa, examining her.

Following the textbook example of causing harm and then offering a remedy, Roa barely maintained her consciousness and steadied herself by placing her hand on the desk.

I’m dizzy. Roa tried to calm her queasy stomach.

“Should I call a physician?”

“I’m fine. Ugh-.”

Roa stopped Yvel, who was about to run off, and sat in a chair.

With a pale face, Roa leaned back in the chair, trying to find stability.

Yvel realized she had been overly excited and sat in a chair following Roa.

However, Yvel’s body couldn’t sit still in the chair and moved busily, fidgeting.

She needed to get an autograph, ask about other works—there was a mountain of things to do.

“When it comes to my hobby, I can’t control my excitement.”

Although her expression and words showed regret, her actions didn’t. Yvel held a book and pen in both hands and anxiously watched Roa’s reaction.

Roa blamed the original work for not warning about the princess’s madness and looked for water. Yvel, who was watching Roa, quickly rang the bell.

“Your Highness, did you call?”

A maid who was waiting right outside the door knocked in response to Yvel’s call. The maid, who would normally enter and bow, was confused by the locked door.

“Your Highness?”

At the maid’s voice mixed with confusion and the rattling doorknob, Yvel realized her mistake.

Noticing that the door was locked and the maid couldn’t enter, Yvel rushed to unlock it.

“Bring a glass of water.”

“Yes. I’ll bring it right away.”

Yvel couldn’t wait even that short time and opened the door, poking her head out to wait for the maid.

The knights’ pupils trembled at the sight of Yvel losing her composure, which was rare to see. It had been a long time since Yvel, known as the epitome of calmness, had been excited.

“Your Highness, has something happened?”

The youngest knight among them couldn’t help but ask Yvel, only to be silenced by sharp glares from his seniors.

Yvel inwardly calmed her breathing at the knight’s question. To think the knight had noticed. Yvel regained her senses.

“Ahem. It’s nothing.”

With a fake cough due to the embarrassment welling up, Yvel almost snatched the tray brought by the maid and locked the door again.

The maid who had her tray taken was perplexed but had neither the courage nor the justification to say anything to Yvel. The maid and knight in the same situation met eyes.

‘What’s going on?’

Yvel, standing at the center of the maid and knight’s confusion, hurriedly ran to Roa.

The water in the cup shook and wet the tray following the cup.

“Here. Drink some water quickly, Roa.”

Roa swallowed the glass of water Yvel handed her and a pill she took from her bag. The strong medicinal effect calmed her pounding heart.

“I’m really sorry.”

As Roa took the medicine, Yvel apologized, calming her excitement and realizing she had made a big mistake.

Roa shook her head from side to side. It was just that her body was weak, responding to even slight movements.

“But next time, please don’t spin me suddenly.”

“I’ll always keep in mind that your body is weak……”

‘⟨The Sickly Princess⟩ is canceled.’

To call such a healthy person sickly. Roa blamed the author of the original work for not informing her that the princess’s illness was just a rumor.

Somehow it was strange that there were no episodes about the princess’s health. To think this novel was about misunderstandings. Roa felt betrayed.

‘No, why is the title ‘Sickly’?’

Roa was grumbling about the error in the title when her eyes met Yvel’s.

With the book suddenly placed right in front of her, Roa awkwardly raised the corners of her mouth and signed it, satisfying Yvel’s desire.

Tears welled up in Yvel’s eyes as she experienced getting an autograph from an author for the first time.

“Is this something to cry about?”

Roa asked in bewilderment at the sight of Yvel crying.

“Yes. It’s my first time. Getting an author’s signature on a book I love without worrying about others’ eyes.”

At Yvel’s happy expression, where no falsehood existed, Roa smiled, forgetting about Yvel’s torment.

‘Right. As long as my friend is happy.’

Roa decided to think simply.

“Just let me know if you need anything. For you, Yvel, I’m prepared to sign even 100 more pages.”

“You shouldn’t carelessly say things you can’t handle.”

“It’s fine because you wouldn’t ask me to sign 100 pages.”

Since Roa’s words were true, Yvel was at a loss for words. Seeing the dumbfounded Yvel, Roa shrugged her shoulders.

“You’re having fun, aren’t you? Not knowing what a serious crime it is to tease the princess.”

“If I go to prison, I won’t be able to write. You know how important psychological factors are, right?”

Roa had found Yvel’s weakness in that short time. Yvel couldn’t counter Roa’s winning strategy for surviving in the world of the strong preying on the weak.

Already addicted to the books Roa had written, she wasn’t foolish enough to reject the opportunity herself.

“I wouldn’t dare interfere with the author’s activities. Is there anything you need?”

Yvel approached with a humble and servile attitude. Roa played along with the joke, covering her mouth with her hand and laughing hohoho, imitating a lady.

“It’s an honor just to have Your Highness enjoy my work.”

“Well. Since the author has no material desires, I can only become the author’s first fan and support her.”

Roa and Yvel looked at each other and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

The current situation was too funny. The situation that started with one book contained all emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.

“I’m sorry to deliver disappointing news, but the first position is already taken, so I can’t give it up even to Your Highness.”

“What?! Who is it? The person who took that glorious position.”

Yvel seemed upset at having her rank taken. But no matter how angry she was, she couldn’t turn back time to the moment she met Reno.

Roa winked with one eye.

“A really precious friend.”

“Are you talking about Duke Enora’s daughter?”

“You know who Reno is?”

Roa asked in surprise. With just the mention of a precious friend, Reno’s name came out of Yvel’s mouth without hesitation.

She wondered if she and Reno were such a famous pair. Roa felt something strange.

“A friend’s friend is also my friend.”

Roa looked at Yvel with a sour expression as she elegantly talked about investigating.

Yvel looked at Roa’s face and smiled awkwardly.

For Yvel, the background check was nothing unusual, but seeing Roa’s disappointed face made her feel sorry.

“It wasn’t me who did it. I just read the basic personal information that was brought to me.”

“……”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. It’s natural to check what kind of person someone is, even if their identity is certain.”

The one beautiful shining star—Roa responded nonchalantly, understanding that it was reasonable for her to act cautiously.

Having lived in a world where background checks were illegal, she had unconsciously reacted sensitively. Yvel’s expression became more relaxed.

“Next time, bring your friend too.”

“Reno?”

“Yes. Friends who like the same things are always welcome.”

‘I wonder if we can really say we like the same things….’

Remembering Reno, who had no interest in books as living beings except for fanfiction, she nodded with a sour expression.

She could manage romance, but it was somewhat ambiguous.

Roa thought she should grab Reno and give her firm instructions before coming to the imperial palace.

“It might be different from what you imagined.”

“I’m experienced. I’ve met many people who are different on the inside and outside.”

“That’s not what I meant. You might just be disappointed.”

Could Reno focus if she educated her about romance novels? Roa felt like crying.

But she couldn’t refuse Yvel’s words. Roa became rapidly tired.

Chapter 3. That Day, He Entered Her Heart

“Miss, thank you.”

Roa was blankly staring at the rapidly changing scenery outside the carriage when she turned her head at Hannah’s greeting.

Hannah, who had rushed to the imperial palace where Roa was after hearing the return order from the head butler, was on the verge of tears.

She had committed a great sin, and no amount of gratitude seemed enough for the master who had forgiven her.

Roa looked at Hannah, who was expressing her thanks, and deliberately responded gruffly.

“Who told you to quit on your own?”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t face you myself.”

After hearing that Roa would forgive her, Hannah hadn’t had a single peaceful day.

She had brought it up to her mother, who had retired but had worked as a maid for another family, and received severe scolding.

She continued to feel uncomfortable and lacked the courage to face her master.

“It’s true that I took advantage of your feelings, Miss.”

That day, Hannah had confessed her wrongdoing to the head butler. To such a person, Roa had called her “her person.”

Tears were precariously hanging in Hannah’s eyes, about to fall at any moment. Roa took out a handkerchief from her bag and handed it to Hannah.

“Don’t cry, silly.”

“I’m not crying. Just got some dust in my eye.”

“Stop lying.”

Roa dispelled the uncomfortable air with a joke. Hannah laughed sheepishly at Roa’s joke and wiped her tears with her hand.

Hannah’s eyes were red, but her expression was a smile full of happiness.

Feeling good along with Hannah’s smile, Roa put the now unnecessary handkerchief back in her bag.

“I will repay this kindness by serving you for life, Miss.”

Hannah showed such firm determination that she seemed ready to follow if Roa asked her to end her life. A trivial matter was turning into a burdensome loyalty.

Roa hurriedly waved her hands to calm Hannah down.

Having her own person was good, but she declined having someone die because of her.

“I said I’d forgive you, but what could I do when you went straight to the butler and got fired? I had to go get you myself.”

“Miss…!”

“Confessing your conscience is good, but I didn’t say I’d forgive you lightly either.”

She was confident that if Hannah were truly a bad person, the word forgiveness wouldn’t have even left her mouth.

Hannah was someone who would cry sorrowfully whenever she fainted and opened her eyes. Roa raised herself and stroked her head.

“So don’t disappear from my sight carelessly in the future.”

“Yes!”

Just as Roa was about to sit back down after Hannah’s satisfactory answer, the carriage, which had been moving smoothly, suddenly showed a large, jerking movement.

Roa, who was standing up, lost her balance and staggered.

“Miss!”

If Hannah hadn’t quickly caught Roa, something serious could have happened.

With Hannah’s help, Roa sat on the floor and tried to assess the situation with a bewildered expression.

It felt like encountering a storm in the midst of a peaceful daily life.

“Miss, are you alright?!”

Her heart was beating hard from the shock. When Roa nodded without being able to say anything, Hannah’s expression contorted.

Hannah couldn’t forgive the fact that whoever was driving the carriage today was driving so recklessly.

After confirming Roa’s safety, Hannah flung open the carriage door with a face that looked about to explode.

“What’s going on……”

Hannah couldn’t calm her anger without confronting the coachman.

But the commotion inside the carriage was nothing compared to the urgent situation unfolding outside.