“I understand that the invitation is an honorable thing. I just hate the idea of Roa having any connection with Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Roan spoke honestly without hiding his feelings. Feeling offended, Yvaine threw a crumpled paper at Roan.

Roan once again just turned his head to avoid the paper. The paper hit nothing and fell to the floor.

“I’m not calling her because I want to see her. I meant I would introduce her to the princess.”

As it happened, Levian Khan Yvel was the same age as Roa.

Introducing a friend was partly meant as an apology, but it was also because he wanted his secretly tender-hearted sister to have a friend she could open up to.

“They could become good friends. Yvel’s only flaw is that she tries to appear too mature.”

In short, he was offering to arrange a meeting with the princess. Roan’s eyes wavered, knowing well that Roa wanted to make friends.

“Does that include the princess’s thoughts on the matter?”

Roan hated the idea of unnecessary rumors spreading about Roa frequenting the imperial palace and having marriage talks with the crown prince.

Although he felt he should prevent his sister from getting hurt by such rumors in advance, Yvaine made it impossible for him to refuse outright.

The intelligent Yvaine knew Roan’s personality very well and negotiated in a way that Roan couldn’t refuse by using Roa Helena.

“She usually enjoys talking with peers her age, so it should be fine.”

Yvaine drove the final nail into the wavering Roan. Refusal didn’t exist in Yvaine’s dictionary. The crown prince was only satisfied when he got what he wanted.

Ngh- Roan quickly moved his eyeballs left and right. An angel whispered in his left ear.

‘It doesn’t matter if it’s the crown prince’s suggestion, if strange rumors spread, Roa will be hurt.’

Then a devil in black clothes with two horns growing on its head spoke into his right ear.

‘Make friends, and rumors about becoming the crown prince’s consort might spread. Two birds with one stone.’

“Ugh~!”

In the fierce duel taking place, the devil’s whisper applied strongly. The devil pushed the angel to the ground.

“I’ll talk to Roa about it.”

After thinking about it, he decided it would be cruel to eliminate Roa’s opportunity to make friends just because he was afraid of rumors.

Not knowing what fate this invitation would bring to Roa, Roan accepted his proposal.

* * *

“Roa.”

Roan stood in front of his sister’s door to talk with her, calling her name affectionately.

It was Roan’s voice trying not to give any excuse for complaint when he was already in her bad books, but all that came back was silence.

“I’m coming in, sis.”

Roan easily noticed that Roa was seriously angry and carefully opened the door.

No matter how carefully he opened it, the sound of the door opening reached Roa’s ears as she was ignoring him.

Roa spoke firmly to Roan.

“Don’t come in. I’ll report you.”

Roan froze at Roa’s words.

The snacks he had bought on his way home as a bribe for forgiveness couldn’t reach their owner, blocked by her firmness.

‘Oh, this is bad.’

Roan sensed that earning forgiveness would be difficult this time. Despite Roa’s intimidating aura, Roan gathered courage and approached carefully.

Roan’s dejected shoulders drooped unlike their usual posture.

“My dear Roa. Were you reading a book?”

Roan called Roa in the most affectionate voice possible.

Roa, who was lying on her stomach reading a book on the bed, pretended not to hear and swung her legs in the air.

Seeing this, Roan’s eyes caught something unusual.

‘Should I be glad she doesn’t look upset?’

Roa unconsciously swung her legs when she was happy.

Knowing his sister’s habit, Roan realized that although she was angry at him, Roa was in a good mood.

Roan felt somewhat relieved at this thought. Then he called her affectionately once more.

“What book are you reading?”

“Whether I read a book or not, what business is it of yours, dear brother?”

Roa considered pretending not to hear Roan’s voice again but eventually responded curtly.

As Roan had thought, some of her pent-up emotions had been resolved through her outing with Mikel and Monia.

“You’re still not over it, I see.”

“I plan to never get over it for the rest of my life, so I would appreciate it if you would leave.”

Roa’s gaze remained fixed on her book. Though her emotions might have been resolved, her anger toward Roan had not subsided.

It was a statement filled with the meaning ‘I still haven’t forgiven you.’

Glancing sideways at Roan, she could see him placing the snacks he had bought on the desk while sweating nervously.

“I bought your favorite snacks. Want to eat them with your brother?”

‘That looks delicious.’

The sweet scent pricked her nose. Just by the smell, Roa knew they were treats from her favorite bakery.

“I have no intention of eating with a lying brother.”

Roa’s body twitched in response to the mention of snacks. Though her mind was filled with the desire to eat, Roa deliberately suppressed her feelings.

Not noticing what Roa was thinking inside, Roan made a sad face seeing his sister not responding to the snacks.

The thought crossed his mind that he should have kept his promise to Roa even if it meant being dragged to prison by the crown prince for neglecting his duties, and he felt regret.

Roan opened his mouth glumly.

“Then I guess I’ll have to throw away these precious snacks.”

“Then just leave them there and go.”

What a cheap trick.

Roa deliberately closed the book she was reading with a sound in response to Roan’s ploy. Then she turned her body from lying down to sitting and crossed her arms.

Roan reflexively smiled at Roa’s sharp gaze. He tried his best to turn up the corners of his mouth toward the sky.

Today, smiling felt particularly difficult. But despite the difficulty, Roan had to smile.

Smiling was the last bastion left to him.

‘People don’t spit on a smiling face. Our Roa is kind.’

Roa, who could clearly see what Roan was thinking, twitched her lips to show him the cold reality.

Seeing Roa preparing to spit, Roan quickly knelt down. There was no time for hesitation.

“Your brother was wrong. Please forgive me, Roa.”

“Forget it. Don’t you think it’s time to change this pattern of doing wrong and asking for forgiveness every day?”

The days of forgiving him by compromising with her inner self that it wasn’t his  fault were now over. Roa deliberately mocked Roan’s words.

“I’m really sorry this time! Your brother won’t do it again.”

Roan looked up at her with his head bowed.

A maid passing by quietly closed the slightly open door at the familiar scene in the room.

The sound of the door closing reached Roan’s ears. There was no corner to escape to now.

Roan looked up at Roa with a pitiful expression.

“Of course you’re sorry. If Dad hadn’t taken me out, you wouldn’t even be here begging for forgiveness in front of me.”

“Haha. Is that so?”

“Yes. I hope you thank Father.”

Roan sincerely thanked his father for his excellent judgment in taking a day off for him today.

He realized that without the outing with his father, he wouldn’t have been able to even see Roa’s face for a week.

‘I need to change the subject somehow….’

Instinctively feeling that he needed to shift the topic, Roan tried his best.

“Did you like the dress you bought with Father? Show it to your brother too, Roa.”

“You’re so busy all the time, but you have the leisure to look at it?”

“Of course! Your brother even took a vacation to go play with our Roa. I did well, right?”

Roan proudly mentioned the vacation he had obtained after fighting with Yvaine.

Roa looked suspiciously at Roan’s eyes, which were asking for praise if he had done well.

“It’s real this time. Tomorrow, let’s go out together wearing the dress you bought today. Should we go boating? Or to the bookstore that our Roa likes?”

Roan felt wronged by Roa’s skeptical gaze.

His track record might be dazzling, but this time he was sincere. However, unfortunately, Roan’s sincerity didn’t reach Roa.

“I have no faith in you anymore, brother. Tomorrow I’m playing with Reno.”

Roan flinched at the name that came out of Roa’s mouth. Roan knew Reno well.

He couldn’t help but remember her, the one who always looked at him with lewd eyes, even though he didn’t want to.

‘Reno Enora’. That was Reno’s full name. She was the youngest daughter of the Enora ducal family, one of the four prestigious families, and Roa’s childhood friend.

With her four-dimensional personality, she not only brought laughter to Roa who couldn’t leave her bed due to illness but also informed her about the unsavory rumors about the crown prince and Roan as Roa’s communication warehouse.

Thinking of the lady who was good in every way except for that, Roan tried to dissuade them from meeting.

“Won’t you play with your brother tomorrow?”

“No! If you leave for work in the middle of tomorrow too, I’ll be abandoned. I can’t trust you anymore, brother. I’m going to play with Reno, so play by yourself.”

Roa’s attitude was firm, making the vacation he had obtained for his sister meaningless.

His instinct told him that no words would work this time.

Roan couldn’t blame his sister, given his karma of not being able to build trust until now.

Unable to persuade her further, Roan slumped his shoulders at the thought of playing alone tomorrow and collapsed onto Roa’s bed as if crumbling.

Roan, who had been imagining a date with his sister, lost all his strength and energy. His joy in life had collapsed.

Feeling triumphant seeing the sorrowful Roan, Roa decided to show some generosity.

She patted the shoulder of the powerlessly sprawled Roan.

At that warm patting, Roan, who had just been rejected, showed an expression full of emotion.

‘My sister is the best after all.’

Roan laid down using Roa’s thigh, which was positioned like a father’s leg, as a pillow. Roa giggled at Roan’s childish behavior, her mood improving.

Roan, who loved Roa’s smile the most, laughed along with his sister but suddenly remembered the invitation from the imperial palace.

“Ah…… Roa, would you like to go to the imperial palace with your brother?”

At Roan’s sudden proposal, Roa’s fine brow furrowed. She was a bit surprised by the rapid change in emotion.

The imperial palace was where that devil lived. Roa shuddered, her mood souring again at hearing something she didn’t want to hear.

“I hate it! His Highness the Crown Prince lives in the imperial palace.”

“Well, His Highness does stay there, but….”

Interrupting Roan’s words, Roa answered.

“Just thinking about facing the crown prince makes me irritated. I don’t want to cause an accident by hitting the crown prince.”

Thinking that the crown prince was right in front of her, the resentment inside her rose up.

Roa punched the pillow next to her with a thud.

Roan shrank his shoulders in fear of his sister’s fierce punching.

The crumpled pillow seemed to show the crown prince’s future.

It must be a talent to be hated so much by a sister who showed goodwill to everyone.

‘The crown prince is definitely a demon.’

Roan tried to calm down the angry Roa.

Actually, it would feel satisfying if his sister inflicted violence on His Highness the Crown Prince, but he didn’t want his already weak sister to suffer in prison.

“His Highness said he would introduce you to Her Highness the Princess as a form of apology.”

At Roan’s additional words, Roa’s actions stopped. The word ‘friend’ softened the situation.

Roan continued speaking, empowered by the word that was showing the expected effect.

“You’ve always said you wanted to make other friends. You’ll be able to become friends with Her Highness the Princess quickly.”

The female protagonist, huh.

Although she hated the sight of the crown prince, the fact of meeting the female protagonist appealed to Roa.

Since Lee Seo-ha entered Roa’s body and survived, Roan had grown distant from his love for the female protagonist, and Roa felt guilty about that.

The house filled with memories of his sister was one of the painful places for the original Roan in the novel.

[I know it’s not my fault, but staying at home reminds me of my sister.]

That was Roan’s answer when Yvel asked why he didn’t go home.

Roan, who used to hate home so much, now spent time at home where his sister waited, even after work and during vacations.

Unintentionally, she felt like she had become the villain who separated the female and male protagonists.

Not knowing Roa’s inner thoughts, Roan looked at her contemplating with pride.

Roan’s lips turned upward, wondering when she had grown up enough to think about making friends.

“I heard Her Highness the Princess doesn’t have friends either.”

Roan deliberately omitted the words “someone to open up to and rely on.”

He didn’t feel guilty about the lie that she had no friends, as it was somewhat true.

Having connections with someone who held the highest status after the empress practically guaranteed social advancement.

That’s why there were always many people around the princess, but she had no friends to whom she could truly open her heart.

As it happened, both Roan and Roa were from a Grand Duke’s family, which held the highest status after the imperial palace, so they had no desire for social advancement.

And since they were a family that had pledged loyalty to the imperial palace long ago, the princess would surely be able to let down her guard with them.

‘If I become friends with the princess, brother might develop an interest in the female protagonist.’

Roa decided to reconnect the female and male protagonists. One more thing Roan didn’t know was that Roa was possessed.

Since she had already read about the princess’s circumstances, personality, habits, and hobbies in the book, becoming friends would be easier for her compared to others.

“Hmm…… I’ll allow it if you promise me one thing.”

Having made up her mind, Roa deliberately set a condition for Roan. Actually, no condition was needed, but she had to get what she could.

“Yes?”

“Make sure His Highness the Crown Prince doesn’t appear before me while I’m meeting with Her Highness the Princess.”

A win-win method of not seeing a face she hated while becoming friends with the female protagonist.

Roa added that she trusted he would naturally agree, and smiled brightly.

Roan shook his head, thinking of Yvaine who was thoroughly despised by Roa.

‘Well, who can he blame.’

It was all self-inflicted, so it was hard to offer any consolation.

Roan thought that given the crown prince’s personality, he might peek in once out of curiosity, but figured it would be fine if he gave Yvaine plenty of work, since he prioritized work.

He didn’t know what a big misconception this was.

“Alright. I’ll do my best. Even if it kills me, I’ll keep His Highness the Crown Prince away.”

Though his confidence wasn’t fully conveyed, Roa hid her true feelings and nodded.

* * *

“Ooh! That’s pretty. It suits you well.”

“Right? The dresses from Rivoland Boutique are pretty, just as I said.”

Lying down like an unemployed person despite her neat appearance, Reno propped her head with one hand and picked up snacks with the other, laughing loudly.  

As Roa showed off her new dress, she seriously wondered if her friend had been a beggar in a past life while watching cookie crumbs fall onto the bed.  

Having never seen nobles before her transmigration, Reno also planted the preconception in Roa’s mind that ‘nobles are naturally clumsy.

“Sit up when you eat. You’ll get indigestion.”

“Snacks taste best when eaten lying down, you know. Want one?”

Roa knew how delicious snacks were when eaten lying down, but the place where Reno was lying was her bed.

Roa, who valued her sleeping place, couldn’t forgive it getting dirty.

“It’s not like you’re going to clean it. At least eat without spilling.”

Knowing that Roa wouldn’t be the one cleaning either, Reno pretended not to hear.

Though it wasn’t the first time her friend had shown such an indifferent attitude, Roa couldn’t hide her annoyance and sat down roughly on the bed.

The cookies on the plate floated in the air due to the bed’s rebound.

They would surely get dirty if left alone, but with a moment’s quick reflexes, Reno picked up the plate and perfectly caught the falling cookies.

Roa applauded Reno’s dedication to the cookies.

“You’re really something else, seriously.”

“I almost had to throw away my babies without even eating them. Could you please sit down more carefully from now on?”

In that short time, Roa was filled with the desire to send Reno home.

“Just go home.”

It wasn’t like she had invited her over in the first place.

Seeing Roa’s rotting expression, Reno carefully placed the cookies on the table and sat with her palms on her knees.

Feeling a sense of solemnity in her posture, Roa felt an inexplicable anxiety. With 90% probability, Reno’s seriousness brought misfortune.

“Can’t go. My brother will kill me if I go home.”

“What trouble did you cause this time?”

“Sigh…. I got caught. Sorry.”

Unable to understand the context-less statement, Roa’s mouth slowly opened.

There was only one thing that would lead Reno to death by her brother if discovered.

Roa covered her mouth with trembling hands. No way, it can’t be. Seeing Roa’s expression of denial, Reno nodded.

‘It’s exactly what you’re thinking.’

Reno silently expressed with her face that the situation Roa had hoped wouldn’t happen had indeed occurred.

“Hey! Are you crazy?”

“Don’t worry though. He didn’t find out that you were the one who wrote it.”

“That obviously shouldn’t be discovered. I told you not to take it!”

Roa shouted nervously. Knowing she was at fault, Reno watched Roa’s reaction carefully.

Roa grabbed her aching head. All she could think about now was how to hide her identity.

If it was discovered that she was the author of a book depicting romance between men, her life would be ruined.

Her family should never find out about the fantasies of their seemingly innocent youngest member. Roa shook her head at the future she didn’t even want to imagine.

‘Ah! I must have been crazy to lend it to this person.’

Roa glared at Reno, the root cause of this incident.

“Who caught you?”

“Brother Levin.”

“Hey! If the protagonist catches you, there’s no chance to fix things!”

Though she knew it was her fault, Reno, with her thick-skinned face, spoke boldly.

She convinced herself that this wasn’t her fault for getting caught, but her brother’s fault for being negligent and coming home during work hours.

Reno had a firm belief that her brother wouldn’t come home when she took the book.

“How could I have predicted that guy would come home? He usually never comes home, but he just had to take vacation and come at a time like this.”

Seeing Reno’s shameless attitude, Roa was so dumbfounded she couldn’t speak. Why on earth did I become friends with this person?

Resentment surged toward the original owner of this body who had already died. But Roa now occupied this body.

That meant she would have to bear the future pain. Roa screamed “Bak-!”

“You’re bragging about getting caught! What are we going to do now!”

“I don’t know. This is your fault.”

“What nonsense is this now.”

Roa hit Reno’s thigh loudly as she lay on the bed throwing a tantrum despite being the one who committed the crime.

Maintaining her attitude of blaming the victim, Reno rubbed her thigh where Roa had hit her and looked straight into her eyes to refute.

“Who told you to write it so interestingly? I think about it when I sleep, when I study. What can I do when my body itches all day wanting to read the book?”

Roa thought she had a remarkable talent for creating guilt.

“……”

“Take responsibility for making me like this.”

“Want another hit?”

When Roa raised her fist with a frightening aura, Reno looked at her dejectedly. Roa touched her forehead at her enemy-like friend’s pretense of being pitiful.

“The book?”

“I managed to save volume 1, but volume 2 was confiscated.”