“Isn’t it really my fault? If I hadn’t thrown a tantrum about going to the imperial palace then, those dead knights would still be laughing with their families.”

The funeral for the dead knights was held at the grand ducal household. The tears of their families that Roa had seen through the window still lingered before her eyes.

In an instant, their sons, husbands, or fathers had died, yet they couldn’t express their resentment. Only the compensation they received for their lives remained with them.

Seeing Roa’s sad face, Yvaine opened his mouth.

“They were knights.”

They were men who had become knights after swearing to give their lives for their masters. For them, dying while protecting their master was honorable.

Knights did not fear death. Death was not a distant word for knights.

It was just that Roa, having lived in Korea, had not fully internalized this concept yet.

“If they had returned alive at the cost of your life, that would have been dishonorable for them.”

It was a cruel thing to say, but if they had failed to save Roa, their future would not have been guaranteed. The price for failing to protect their master was high.

Yvaine’s expression was resolute, noble to the bone. At this, Roa gradually found peace of mind.

“Don’t pity them. They did their best at their job.”

“Wouldn’t they have resented me?”

“Yes. Rather, they would be angry at themselves for being defeated by such men.”

They had been defeated by a syndicate that had barely learned to use a sword properly.

It was a humiliating incident that would make those who had held swords their entire lives rise from their graves if they heard about it.

“As someone who wields a sword myself, I can assure you. I would be angry at my insufficient skills.”

Those words, though possibly empty, gave strength to Roa. Yvaine wiped away the tears that had formed in Roa’s eyes with his hand.

“Don’t cry. As I said before, I’m not good at comforting others.”

“No. Your Highness’s words are comfort enough for me.”

“That’s good.”

Only then did Roa smile genuinely. Strangely enough, his comfort soothed her heart.

“Your Highness’s words are like magic to me.”

She felt an inexplicable power. Yvaine was pleased by Roa’s words.

‘I don’t know who should be saying that.’

Rather, the fact that Roa had become magic to Yvaine was something she couldn’t even imagine.

Who was helping whom. Yvaine smiled at Roa. Her eyes widened at his bright smile.

“When you’re struggling and afraid, think of me. I’ll give you strength.”

At Yvaine’s words, Roa’s face burned red. Somehow his words sounded like a confession, and embarrassment rose within her.

He suddenly entered her heart as a man. Roa felt her emotions racing, independent of her will.

Unaware of Roa’s intense internal struggle, Yvaine fueled the fire in her heart.

Yvaine leaned his head toward Roa, who had suddenly gone silent.

“Coo…… cookies?! Would you like some?!”

The startled Roa thrust the cookies she had brought against Yvaine’s chest.

She thought that if he came any closer, her face might explode.

Yvaine, taken aback by her sudden action, dazedly accepted the cookies. Roa used that moment to create distance between them.

Yvaine looked at Roa as he took a cookie from the pouch and put it in his mouth. The cookie was sweet like her.

“Would you like one?”

“No! I ate plenty earlier. Your Highness, please eat a lot.”

“But why do you keep moving away?”

Yvaine’s fundamental question stopped Roa in her tracks. Roa didn’t know why she was backing away either.

Roa approached one step with an awkward expression, but the distance between them still hadn’t closed.

As the frustrated Yvaine tried to approach, Roa stopped him. She stretched her hand into the air, desperate.

“I’d prefer if you didn’t come closer.”

“Am I being disliked again? If I’ve done something wrong, please tell me. If you want me to fix it……”

“No! Your Highness hasn’t done anything wrong.”

The problem was in her heart. Lee Seo-ha, who had first entered the novel and seen the crown prince’s face, had entered Roa’s body.

A sense of anxiety overwhelmed Roa that she might go crazy if she stayed here any longer. Roa backed away again.

“I’ll go call my brother. Your Highness, please get back to work now!”

“That’s not necessary, but… kup.”

Before Yvaine could catch her, Roa left the office and slammed the door shut. Yvaine burst into laughter at Roa’s face.

He seemed to understand the emotion that Roa was denying.

Surprisingly perceptive about romance, a satisfied smile spread across Yvaine’s face.

“She’s just so cute.”

Yvaine put another cookie that Roa had given him in his mouth and sat in his chair. The cookies were sweet like Roa and made him feel good.

The sweetness lingering in his mouth didn’t easily disappear. Meanwhile, Roa, who had left the office, leaned against the wall and slumped to the floor.

Her heart was pumping without rest. Could it be that she had come to like him?! Roa let out a silent scream.

“Roa?”

Roan, who had been waiting outside the office for their conversation to end, questioned his sister’s strange behavior. Roa looked up at her brother.

“Are you sick? Did His Highness do something?”

“No. He didn’t.”

Roa took Roan’s hand and stood up. She knew that if she lingered here, Roan would confront him.

Then Yvaine might notice her feelings.

“I was just coming out to go home now.”

Roa had no intention of going home, but she made excuses to her brother.

She thought there were many strange aspects to her behavior that couldn’t be explained by just saying she came out.

But she had no intention of going back into the office she had left of her own accord. Roa let go of the hand she was holding, afraid that Roan might detain her.

“You’re leaving already?”

“Yes, Mother will be waiting.”

Roa hugged her brother, then pulled away. Roan was disappointed but couldn’t hold Roa back since he had gotten what he wanted.

Roan watched his sister’s retreating back, then entered the office to find Yvaine smiling strangely.

‘Damn it.’

His mood suddenly soured. Yvaine turned his head at the sound of the door opening, but seeing Roan’s unpleasant face, he hid his expression again.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Your Highness. What did you do to my sister?”

“You treat me like a scoundrel whenever you see me.”

Yvaine placed the remaining cookies on his desk and interlocked his fingers. Roan was not intimidated by his fierce aura.

An invisible lion and wolf bared their teeth, wary of each other. But Roan’s wariness was not an unfounded misconception.

Yvaine’s expression changed to that of a bear facing honey when he was in front of Roa.

Until now, Roan had been at ease with his one-sided affection, but Roa’s reaction earlier bothered him.

Roa had acted as if she liked him too.

“Don’t flirt with my sister, Your Highness.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to fight for what I want. Let me give you one piece of advice.”

Without beating around the bush, Yvaine declared, ‘I must be loved by Roa.’ Roan gasped, dumbfounded.

Looking at Roan as if he would collapse at any moment, Yvaine drove a dagger into his heart.

“Go find your own romance. Don’t interfere in others’ love affairs.”

‘Stop meddling and focus on your own love life.’

Roan immediately understood Yvaine’s words. He gritted his teeth.

Others might say he was interfering in his sister’s romance. But for Roan, Roa was his life itself.

“How can I focus on romance when Your Highness is messing with both my favorite sister and my work?”

“If I reduced your workload, you would prevent your sister from even coming near me.”

Roan clicked his tongue at Yvaine’s words. He could have simply said he couldn’t reduce the work, but he deliberately grated on Roan’s nerves.

With such a nasty personality, Roan was even more determined not to give his sister to the crown prince. He wanted Roa to be loved without suffering.

“Your Highness is absolutely not acceptable. You work all the time, so Roa would be lonely.”

“Anyone listening would think I do nothing but work all day.”

“And there are too many women who like Your Highness. Aren’t you a philanderer?”

“What does it matter if I don’t give them attention? Calling me a philanderer hurts my feelings.”

“……”

Since Yvaine’s words were true, Roan couldn’t say more. The crown prince he had seen was not someone who would trifle with women.

Roan’s expression turned sulky. He felt his words were not getting through.

“Argh, I’m just saying it’s not happening!”

Roan’s cry filled the office.

* * *

“It’s an honor to be invited, Your Highness.”

Roa put the teacup to her lips and observed Reno’s unfamiliar appearance.

She newly realized that the undeniable child-like lady in front of her was actually a noble.

The corners of her mouth that wouldn’t come down, eyes folded prettily like half-moons, graceful gestures, proper mindset. This was a side of Reno that Roa couldn’t see.

Noticing Roa’s gaze studying her, Reno smiled brightly. Roa got goosebumps at the sight.

‘What are you looking at, friend?’

‘I wish you would act like this in front of me even a little.’

‘Why are you putting on airs in front of a friend?’

‘It’s not putting on airs, it’s showing minimum courtesy.’

Reno and Roa conversed with their eyes. Even without speaking aloud, they could understand each other’s words.

The years they had spent fighting had made them able to understand even the smallest changes in each other’s eyes.

However, Yvel, who still couldn’t understand their eye conversation, thought they had a good relationship, not knowing what they were discussing.

Reno and Roa would have responded with mockery if they had heard this. Yvel interjected between the two who seemed to be getting along well.

“I specially prepared tea from the East, is the taste alright?”

“It’s a tea I enjoy drinking as well. The slightly bitter taste with a lingering sweetness at the end is fantastic.”

‘Enjoy drinking, sure.’

Roa knew well that Reno wouldn’t even touch tea, saying it was bitter. It was impressive that she wasn’t making a face.

Roa clicked her tongue softly and shook her head. Reno was exceptionally good at describing flavors.

Unable to determine the truth of Reno’s words, Yvel offered sugar and said,

“The original taste is fine, but I also like adding sugar. Do you dislike sweet things?”

Seeing the sugar, Reno realized that Yvel enjoyed and preferred sweet foods.

Fortunately, Reno, who had no aversion to sweets, used the small tongs to place a sugar cube in her tea.

The sugar quickly disappeared without a trace in the hot water. Reno’s face relaxed at the sweet tea.

“Your Highness’s consideration warms my heart. It tastes very good. I must try adding sugar from now on.”

‘That means this is her last cup.’

Roa thought as she followed Reno and Yvel in adding sugar.

How transparent her thoughts were. Roa was preoccupied with deciphering Reno’s true intentions.

Meanwhile, Yvel observed the unusually busy Roa.

“Roa. Don’t you like the tea? Shall I prepare something else?”

“What? No! It’s delicious.”

Roa, who had been distracted, answered with a start. She had shouted too loudly, causing Reno to look at her.

Like a true friend, she immediately understood what Roa was thinking. Reno shrugged, looking at her embarrassed.

Reno was well aware that her own face had a thicker skin than expected.

“Roa must be surprised because she rarely sees my etiquette.”

Reno admitted with her own mouth that her current behavior was putting on airs. However, she didn’t say that everything she had said so far was a lie.

She cleverly explained the reason for Roa’s behavior and wisely chose an option that wouldn’t upset Yvel.

Roa felt deep admiration for Reno’s courage. She was truly a friend who was impossible to hate, no matter how much she wanted to.

Even for a friend, it took great courage to say in front of the princess that she was hiding her true self.

“Actually, the desire to be comfortable in front of close friends is unavoidable. Has Your Highness ever felt the same?”

Yvel considered Reno’s words.

Before meeting Roa, she could have said she never had, but after meeting her, she was beginning to understand Reno’s feelings to some extent.

Yvel took a sip of tea and felt the pleasant sweetness. The sweetness reminded her of Roa.

“Indeed, I tend to relax in front of Roa as well.”

Yvel expressed agreement with Reno’s words. She thought it would be very tiring to try to hide oneself even in front of friends.

Roa covered her reddened ears with her palms in embarrassment. It had been a big mistake to think Reno would act normally even in front of the princess.

Roa felt very sorry for not trusting her.

“I’m sorry.”

Roa quietly apologized to the two of them. Both looked at Roa and couldn’t hold back their laughter.

“Don’t laugh. I really am being serious.”

“Thanks to the princess, I even got an apology from my friend.”

Reno spoke playfully, intending to lighten Roa’s mood. Roa wasn’t unaware of this.

“Don’t make me look like someone who never apologizes in front of the princess.”

Roa answered grumpily for no reason. She was someone who knew how to apologize when she made mistakes.

Reno laughed it off, saying Roa’s words were just a joke.

Roa was embarrassed by this atmosphere where she felt like she was being teased. Her ears turned red.

‘This won’t do. It seems like we’ll part ways after I just get teased.’

Roa decided she needed to divert their attention by taking out the books she had brought. Yvel opened her eyes wide at the books piling up one by one.

She immediately recognized what they were.

“Since you mentioned last time that it’s difficult for you to buy books, I prepared these.”

Roa, who had hurriedly visited a civilian bookstore yesterday and scooped up new romance novels, took out about thirty books with Reno’s help.

The books piled up like a mountain on the already small table.

“Is this a gift?”

Being surrounded by things one loves is always a pleasant feeling.

Roa and Reno exchanged glances at Yvel’s question as she couldn’t close her mouth.

“This is our bribe to Your Highness.”

They had prepared a separate gift for Yvel.

“We’ll give you the real gift later.”

Reno continued after Roa’s words. The real gift that would make her happy was a book that could never be found in bookstores.

“You can look forward to it.”

Roa had stayed up for several nights writing various books for this day.

Of course, Reno, who was constantly on the lookout for fanfic beside her, was not helpful.

Roa, who had worked hard preparing Reno’s gift as well, felt like tears might well up. Yvel stomped her feet.

“This is enough to make me happy. You worked hard.”

Meanwhile, Reno and Roa swallowed with tense expressions. What they had prepared for this day wasn’t just new releases.

The real main event was a lecture on the romance novels that the princess loved.

Roa had no problem. The big issue was Reno, who only liked fanfiction.

Roa desperately prayed that no mistakes would come from that bomb-like mouth.

‘I hope the results of our days of preparation will show.’

* * *

Roa finally shed tears as she saw the end of the romance novel lecture approaching.

Reno, the culprit behind this situation, just stared at her with emotionless eyes.

There was no soul in Reno’s eyes, and Roa recalled the past week’s hardships with a haggard face.

D-7.

Roa had Reno stay at her house for a training camp. It was common for Reno to visit and stay for several days.

Because of this, the servants didn’t discover that they were having a training camp called ‘Let’s Understand Romance Novels’ to capture the princess’s heart.

Roa laid out the large paper she had personally procured on the floor. The width of the paper was about as long as Roa would be if she lay straight.

Reno wondered where she had gotten it from, a fundamental curiosity.

She didn’t yet know that the paper would torment her.

“What are you doing?”

Reno asked her about the empty paper with an unknown purpose. Roa didn’t answer her question.

She thought there was no need to scare her in advance and make her run away. If Reno ran away, Roa would be the one suffering.

‘Laugh while you still can.’

Roa simply wrote down general knowledge about romance novels on the paper.

Reno averted her eyes from the feast of words unfolding before her.

Even looking at it, she couldn’t understand the content. Roa raised her head after putting the final period on the extensive lesson content.

Reno swallowed at Roa’s solemn expression. A wave of anxiety washed over her.

“This is what you need to memorize over the next 7 days.”

“What?!”

“Make the impossible possible—that’s my goal now. And you have to follow along.”

Roa stared at Reno with blazing eyes. Reno backed away from her intimidating aura. But there was nowhere to escape.

“Where are you going? I’ll engrave this into your brain so it can never be erased.”

Roa grabbed Reno’s ankle and burned with determination.

That day, Reno saw a demon manifested in reality. Demons weren’t just creatures of imagination.

D-6.

Roa gave Reno a quiz on romance knowledge to see how much of the forcibly injected information remained in her head.

After taking the test under strict supervision, the exhausted Reno collapsed on the desk like melted chocolate.

Roa clutched the test paper, which was raining heavily with red marks, in both hands and glared at her.

She realized that almost none of the knowledge she had injected into Reno remained.

“Is it break time now?”

“You want a break with these grades?!”

“What can I do about something I’m not interested in.”

Reno threw a pointless tantrum. The books that she had initially found interesting were now nauseating just to look at.

Moreover, they weren’t even to her taste. Roa took out the large paper she had used for yesterday’s education and spread it in front of Reno again.

Reno’s face turned pale as she recalled last night’s hell.

“Can’t we take a short break?”

“No. I’ll make it snow heavily on your test paper.”

‘100 points is your goal.’

Roa’s goal made Reno scream. The servants only peeked at Roa’s door and slipped away.

They were curious about what was happening inside, but they didn’t want to experience that hell out of idle curiosity.

‘May they rest in peace.’

D-5.

“Where are you going? I want to sleep.”

“You went to bed early yesterday.”

“I had nightmares. I couldn’t sleep properly. The male leads you taught me about were floating around in front of me.”

“Really? That sounds like a happy dream. You must have slept well.”

Reno’s wrist was caught by Roa, and she was dragged out into the hallway.

The servants turned pale seeing them transformed into zombies in just two days.

What they had been doing was known only to the two of them, but everyone could guess that something unusual was happening.

“So where are we going? I got at least half the answers right this morning.”

Roa didn’t answer Reno’s persistent questions about where they were going.

Roa opened a firmly closed door at the innermost part of the floor where the bedrooms were located.

“Eeeek!”

A shrill sound escaped Reno’s mouth when she saw it. The room with a good view of the eastern garden had an impressive open balcony.

But what filled the inside were books and a desk in the center.

Reno instinctively knew that she would have to read all the books inside.

Roa put her in the room and locked the door with a key. The key was with Roa, and there was no corner to escape to.

“The more you read, the more you’ll understand. Don’t worry, I’ll feed you. If there’s anything you want to eat, just say so. Hehehehe.”

That day, Reno indirectly experienced a prison where meals came at set times. And that night again, men getting on their knees with aegyo appeared before Reno.

‘I want to go home!!!!’