The servants began running along with the suddenly started sprint. The Grand Duke’s house was immersed in commotion.

Passing servants were startled by Roan’s running, which was unusual, but Roan paid no attention.

‘No. Our Roa should only hear good things.’

Only one thought occupied Roan’s mind: Roa.

Roan took the stairs two at a time when they should have been climbed one by one.

Having run up to the second floor in an instant, Roan opened the door to Roa’s room.

Inside, Roa was bickering with Reno, looking at him with wide-open eyes.

Roan, who had barged in without any warning, was breathing heavily. When he saw Roa in a position about to pounce on Reno, his eyes rolled back.

“You devil!”

Roan shouted loudly. Having turned Reno into a devil, Roan roughly separated Reno and Roa and pulled Roa into his arms.

Roan’s eyes, glaring at Reno while panting, looked ominous.

Although Roan often did strange things, it was rare for him to be wary of someone without reason.

The two, not knowing what was happening, couldn’t say anything. Though he disliked Reno for spreading rumors about him and the crown prince, this reaction was too extreme.

“Brother?”

Roa tried to regain her composure and looked at her blood relative with a bewildered gaze.

The excited Roan seemed to have no time to explain the situation, but the one who resolved their confusion was Levin, who had followed behind.

“If you’re going to run away, isn’t it common sense to go somewhere unexpected, sister?”

The two quickly assessed the situation from the intense killing intent. Roa wisely avoided her friend’s gaze and obediently nestled in her brother’s arms.

Facing a crisis with no chance to escape after being abandoned by her friend, Reno clicked her tongue and said to Roan.

“……You brought along a nuisance.”

Hearing his sister’s words, deep furrows formed on Levin’s fine brow. He was so dumbfounded that he ran his hand through his hair.

‘Who should be the one feeling bad here.’

Levin could only laugh at Reno’s shameless reaction. He couldn’t understand who she took after to be so unrepentant.

The servants who had followed closed the door at the savage atmosphere. Their judgment was correct.

“You chose your own fate.”

“What?”

Reno threw away her chance to be forgiven by Levin. Levin’s hand approached the bed and grabbed Reno’s ear without giving her a chance to escape.

“Ow ow ow!”

Screams of pain poured from Reno’s mouth. Roan and Roa knew how angry Levin was right now.

“A nuisance? This mouth only says bad things.”

“What can you do if my mouth wants to say what it wants?”

Reno retorted. Reno, who had no intention of apologizing to Levin even if she died, twitched her lips and made an annoying expression.

Even Roa, who was watching, felt angry at her annoyingness. Roa read the killing intent rising in Levin in real-time.

‘She’s going to get hit soon.’

Simultaneous with Roa’s thought, Levin’s remaining hand strongly hit Reno’s forehead. It was a loud sound that was hard to believe came from a forehead.

The siblings of the duke’s family, who were sincere about hitting each other, showed no mercy.

Roa, surprised by the tremendous sound, looked at Reno with pity. Though it was self-inflicted, her friend’s pain didn’t feel like someone else’s problem.

“Since going to the academy, all that’s increased is violence! Do you practice on the students you teach?”

Reno, whose eyes were spinning from being hit, raised her voice.

“You’ve become increasingly sarcastic while I wasn’t looking? Where did you learn such a bad hobby that makes people feel ashamed?”

Levin also raised his voice, following Reno, and scolded his sister.

“Huh! Would you mind not interfering with your sister’s hobbies?”

“If that hobby is related to me, I have no choice but to interfere.”

Levin and Reno growled at each other, baring their teeth.

While hobbies should be respected, Levin had the right to interfere since the hobby that caused him shame was related to him.

Without releasing his grip on Reno’s ear, Levin searched through the bag that was sprawled carelessly on the bed.

He was trying to secure the remaining volume that he couldn’t rescue from his swift sister’s hands.

Of course, Levin couldn’t find the book that Reno had already disposed of in the bag.

“I guess you knew you’d be scolded?”

Levin calmly looked at his sister, who was in pain with her ear caught, upon realizing the book wasn’t there. It was like a scene from a horror movie.

Roa swallowed at the eerily turning head, feeling something piercing.

With tension at its peak, cold sweat ran down her back. Levin’s gaze was intense enough to kill someone without it being strange.

“You, where did you hide the other volume?”

“What?”

“That hideous book that deserves to be burned.”

Levin pulled hard on Reno’s ear, who was playing dumb. A voice filled with pain came from Reno’s mouth.

Even though they weren’t physically connected, Roa felt as if her own ear hurt too.

“Where is it, you damned sister?”

That friend needs to keep her mouth shut till the end. Roa’s anxious gaze met Reno’s.

In that brief moment, Reno and Roa conversed with their eyes.

‘Just trust me, friend.’

‘How can I trust you?’

‘In exchange, you have to show me the next book too.’

Reno didn’t miss even a brief opportunity and negotiated with Roa. Roa fell into contemplation about whether she should show the book to her careless friend.

The urgency of time made Roa make a choice she might regret.

Hoo- Roa sighed and nodded. If she could just get through this situation, what couldn’t she show?

Originally, even if she didn’t show it, Reno was the type to find and look at it anyway.

At Roa’s confirmation, Reno inwardly rejoiced and shouted at her brother.

“I already threw it away. As if I’d keep something like that!”

“What? You really want to die, don’t you?”

“Ohoho. Don’t you know the common sense that destroying evidence is essential? Has your brain been damaged from using only swords?”

“Hey, you! How could you throw such a book on the street!”

“What business is it of yours where I throw my book?”

Levin’s face turned pale blue as he imagined an unknown nobleman picking up and reading the book that Reno had thoughtlessly thrown on the street.

That book was one that definitely needed to be burned and disposed of. In that moment, anger rose to Levin’s head, and he put Reno in a headlock.

“You #@%%!!!”

Reno screamed loudly at the pain in her head. Levin didn’t back down even at Reno’s pain-filled curses.

“Shut up. You disposed of that thing somewhere without my permission! Won’t you confess nicely?”

“If you’re so upset, go find it!!! If you search the marketplace for a hundred days, you might find it!”

Reno’s noble sacrifice of offering her body—Roa took out a handkerchief and wiped her flowing tears at the final sight of her noble friend.

It was a touching real-life drama that couldn’t be watched without tears.

I’ll remember your sacrifice. You were a good friend. Roa gave Reno a thumbs up in her heart.

* * *

“Are you going to eat meat in your current state? Come eat after tidying up your head at least.”

“If you’re not going to tidy it for me, leave me alone. And I’m buying it to eat it all, so why wouldn’t I eat it?”

With a fork in her mouth, Reno retorted in a monotone voice to Roa’s question, which was accompanied by a look of disbelief.

Reno was a person who prioritized her current feelings and doing what she wanted first.

So rather than caring about others looking at her strangely, it was more urgent for her to devour the food in front of her and fill her stomach.

Moreover, Reno thought food eaten after a fight tasted better than usual.

While watching Reno eat aggressively but without spilling anything, Roa clicked her tongue.

Yet she still showed kindness by gently pushing the food that had just come out, still warm, in front of her.

“Eat slowly. You’ll get indigestion.”

“I’ve never had indigestion in my entire life.”

With tissues stuffed in her nostrils to stop the nosebleed, and her hair disheveled, Reno smiled confidently.

Roa’s expression changed at that smile, which had made her feel sympathy. Roa shook her head from side to side.

“That’s something to brag about.”

Levin, who had been watching his immature sister from the side, scolded her.

He was so embarrassed about showing a sibling fight at someone else’s mansion that he couldn’t raise his head.

Unlike Levin, Reno, the other protagonist of this incident, showed not an ounce of shame on her face.

Levin’s face turned red with embarrassment on behalf of his too-shameless sister, and he couldn’t eat his food as he bowed his head and apologized to Monia.

It was fortunate that this was a close friend’s house from childhood. If it had been another house, it would have been a shame that would prevent him from visiting again.

“I’m sorry for causing a disturbance.”

At their contrasting reactions, Monia covered her mouth.

Having returned home to find other people’s children fighting, Monia found the situation so amusing that she couldn’t swallow her food.

With her twitching mouth that she couldn’t control, Monia replied, unable to lower her hand for fear of hurting sensitive souls.

“Children grow through disputes. Don’t worry too much.”

At Monia’s generous response, Levin raised his head and inwardly sighed as he saw Monia’s twitching eyes.

He had come home despite the hassle, taking a vacation, only to be embarrassed. Levin thought that if he had known this would happen, it would have been better for his mental health to stay and eat at the academy.

Seeing Levin’s sigh, Monia changed the subject before he could become more embarrassed.

Monia looked at Reno, whose forehead was beaded with blood.

“Reno. Are you sure you don’t need treatment?”

“Don’t worry. It’s not severe, and it will probably heal after eating.”

If she went to the temple for treatment, she would return with a face without a single scar.

And since it was an ambiguous wound where one couldn’t find where the injured part was, there was less worry.

Therefore, her words, meant to show consideration so that Monia wouldn’t worry too much, came directly from her mouth without passing through her brain.

“Are you stupid? As if everything heals just by eating food.”

“That ignorant one is my sister too.”

Roa and Levin instinctively scolded Reno’s words, as if picking fights was their hobby.

They showed perfect synchronization that would make anyone believe they were siblings.

Reno stopped her spoon and glared at the two.

“……”

“Hahaha. Reno, why don’t you and Levin stay overnight? It’s late anyway.”

A chilly atmosphere began to circulate in the dining room. The atmosphere of Reno, who was silently glaring at the two, was ominous.

It was Roan who stepped in to mediate the tense atmosphere where a second round could break out at any moment.

Knowing how much of a principlist Levin usually was, Roan found Reno quite impressive.

Only Reno could turn Levin into a fierce dog with a few words and actions.

‘Our Roa shouldn’t take after Reno.’

Roan inwardly clicked his tongue. The precarious battle of nerves ended with Roan’s mediation. Reno relaxed the force in her eyes and picked up her spoon again.

Levin, who realized that this place was not his home but his friend’s, also quietly picked up his spoon and answered Roan’s question.

“No. I’ve already caused trouble with my sudden visit, I can’t impose further.”

“I’m going to stay overnight though.”

Reno answered firmly, to the point of making Levin’s refusal embarrassing.

‘You go. I will stay overnight here.’

Her firm resolve seemed to be visible on her face. Levin raised his fist again, which he had gently put down.

He couldn’t just watch his sister with words alone.

“Where did you sell your conscience? Please think about the family honor, sister.”

If only she showed some sign of contemplation, it would at least ease his mind. Her shamelessness was amazing to see again and again.

The fact that she could think of staying overnight after causing such trouble.

Even hundreds of layers of brass on her face wouldn’t be enough. Levin clicked his tongue at his sister’s brass face.

“My conscience is neatly contained in here. I’m always thinking about the family honor, brother.”

Reno brought her neatly folded hands to her chest and smiled brightly. At that moment, Levin scoffed at her.

“That can’t be true.”

Reno smiled brightly.

When Levin spoke as if he couldn’t believe his sister had a conscience, Roa actively agreed and nodded.

Ignoring the gazes of the two, Reno looked at Roa and said.

“And Roa also said it’s okay for me to stay overnight.”

“That’s true, but….”

Levin’s gaze, which had been on Reno, turned to Roa. Roa, who had suddenly become the subject of conversation, trailed off.

Of course, she had said with her own mouth that it was okay to stay overnight. Unable to refute, Roa bowed her head.

Levin’s reproachful gaze pierced her heart. Roa tried hard to look away.

“Hey, don’t look at Roa with those impure eyes. You’re scaring her.”

“Ah. Sorry.”

Roan, who could pretend to die for his sister, snapped as he saw Roa looking intimidated.

Only then did Levin notice his threatening gaze and apologized.

In the now relaxed atmosphere, Roa gently raised her head and picked up a tomato from the salad and put it in her mouth.

“Did you tell mother?”

Levin, remembering that she had fled in a hurry to escape his anger and had no time to ask for permission, spoke to Reno.

A firm determination to prevent her from staying overnight at this house was visible in his eyes.

Roa couldn’t say it out loud, but inwardly she cheered for Levin.

Roa had also come to not want Reno to stay overnight. She could see her future of being tormented by Reno at night.

“I’ve already sent a message, so don’t worry. Since when have you been so kind? I’ll take care of it myself.”

Reno snorted at her brother’s concern, who had never cared when she stayed out overnight.

At the beginning of the second round that had reignited, Roan sighed and wiped his face with his palm.

In this short time, Roan’s face seemed to have aged 10 years.

“The person in question has given permission, so just give up. Why do you two fight whenever there’s a chance?”

“I wouldn’t fight if you didn’t pick fights.”

“Hey!”

“Stop it, you kids!”

‘These kids don’t listen when I use words.’

Roan stood up, hitting the table. Reno and Levin looked at Roan with equally dumbfounded expressions.

Monia silently laughed as she watched the fiercely fighting Enora siblings and her own children, reminded of their childhood.

“I’ll have Reno sleep in Roa’s room and take her home safely tomorrow. If you’re that worried, you can stay overnight too.”

“Huh…. No thanks. She’s not at an age where she can’t go home alone because it’s late.”

Levin gave up easily and resumed his meal, which he had paused. He felt a rising desire to go home quickly as his body and mind were tired.

Roan sat down in the now quiet dining room. Today’s dinner time had been unnecessarily long.

The unusually loud sound of the clock was annoying.

“Let’s part ways quickly.”

Roan, exhausted from mediating between the two, muttered with a tired look. At that moment, Roa’s fantasy switch turned on without warning.

In Roa’s mind, a new blue book pairing Levin and Roan was announcing its birth.

* * *

“Hannah, how do I look? Pretty?”

Roa twirled in place.

As Roa moved, her skirt fluttered in the air, and the rose scent of the beauty water she had applied all over her body that morning stimulated the sense of smell.

On the day of meeting the female protagonist she had only seen in books for the first time, Roa was excited, wearing her favorite dress.

Having perfectly completed her grooming, Roa’s appearance shone to the extent that anyone would exclaim in admiration at her beauty.

Hannah, who had helped with the preparations beside Roa, responded to her question with a smile.

“You’re very beautiful, Miss.”

“Even I think I look pretty today.”

“Are you that excited?”

“Yes! I can’t have the princess hate me.”

Roa muttered with worry. Hannah spoke while preparing a small necklace in response to her words.

“There’s no way someone as lovely and kind as you would be hated.”

Roa’s face brightened at Hannah’s response. She was happy even though she knew she wouldn’t say anything she disliked.

Excited by Hannah’s compliments, Roa jumped in place with much excitement. Of course, Hannah tried to stop her with a pale blue face.

“Miss, please calm down.”

“Come on, Hannah. I won’t collapse from something like this.”

“That may be true, but there’s a saying about not taking chances.”

Hannah acknowledged Roa’s words.

She knew that no matter how weak Roa was, jumping in place wouldn’t strain her body.

But she had to consider the worst-case scenario.

At Hannah’s concern, Roa stopped jumping with a sulky face and sat in the chair. Excessive overprotection sometimes made people tired.

‘Not even letting me jump.’

Roa grumbled inwardly.

Hannah miraculously understood her mood perfectly. Hannah took out a candy pouch she had prepared in advance.

The pink cloth pouch, embroidered with white flower buds, was filled with individually wrapped candies that Roa liked.

Taking a bite of the carefully made candies in various shapes—stars, moons, people, flowers—Roa said.

“It feels like you’re giving me medicine after making me sick.”

“What a regretful thing to say. It’s all because of my concern for you, Miss.”

“Do you know how much excessive overprotection drains a person’s blood?”

“But you always need to be careful, Miss.”

With a firm tone, Hannah ignored Roa’s words and packed into the bag things needed for going out, such as the gift Roa had carefully prepared the day before, emergency medicine, a mirror, and so on.

Carefully checking that nothing was missing, Hannah finally checked the princess’s gift and asked Roa with an anxious expression.

“Miss. Is this really okay as a gift for the princess?”

“Hmm? What is?”

“It looks like a book, and I’m wondering if it’s appropriate to give to the princess.”

The gift wrapped in a rectangular wrapping paper, neither thin nor thick, was recognizable to anyone as a book.

Usually, gifts for a princess would be jewels or something precious, but Roa’s gift was a single book wrapped in light pink paper.

Hannah thought that perhaps they should prepare a gift now, instead of Roa who had rejected all the gifts prepared in the house yesterday.

Watching Hannah, Roa wagged her index finger from side to side.

“Don’t worry. It’s more precious than any other gift.”

“What on earth is it? Can’t you tell me?”

“Hehehe, it’s a secret. Only I will know the strategy to win over the princess.”

Roa wore an expression full of confidence.

The princess’s hobby, unknown even to the imperial family, was something only Roa, who had encountered her through books, could know.

Her closely guarded secret was revealed only in a side story episode where Roan discovered it, to the extent that the princess never told anyone about her hobby.

This was both the privilege and bug of being a transmigrator. Roa chuckled as she thought of the gift that would move the princess’s heart.

Hannah awkwardly smiled at her mistress, whose thoughts were sometimes unfathomable.

“By the way, can I go to the market after visiting the imperial palace today?”

“Well… Won’t that be too tiring?”

When Roa, for whom outings were rare, looked at her with expectant eyes, Hannah turned her head to avoid the burdensome gaze.

She knew her mistress was looking forward to going out, taking advantage of the opportunity to visit the imperial palace, but it was an issue she couldn’t give a definite answer to with her authority.

Roa lowered the corners of her mouth at Hannah’s ambiguous answer. Her mood, which had been floating in the sky, crashed to the ground in an instant.

Roa replied with a gloomy face.

“Why? Going to the imperial palace is already an outing, isn’t it?”

“But if you collapse like last time, the master, madam, and young master will worry.”

Hannah, who had witnessed the incident when Roa collapsed right beside her, spoke with a face that had turned pale white at the memory.