I thought while returning from the Crown Prince’s Palace to the Second Prince’s Palace.

‘With this, I’ve almost prevented Empress Patricia from tormenting Demian over the throne issue.’

Though I couldn’t block it completely, it seemed Demian would no longer suffer persecution as before.

“Is it time to return to my place now…”

The time spent at the imperial palace was somehow glamorous and splendid, like the life of any noble lady, but I had things I absolutely needed to do.

I couldn’t leave Jinjijo Transportation unattended for long. I had to think about the monsters and Bonnie, and Marco, who had joined the business, trusting only in me.

When I eventually leave the imperial palace, it would be best to visit Philia Islands first.

After organizing things there so they would run well even without me, I could return to my office in the capital.

I couldn’t stay in Philia Islands forever when the person I loved was in the capital.

Just as I arrived at the Second Prince’s Palace and stepped out of the carriage.

Not far away, I saw a familiar woman standing.

“Olivia…?”

Come to think of it, I still hadn’t read the letter she sent.

At that moment, a strange question suddenly occurred to me.

‘Olivia wouldn’t know that Yerena and Anya are the same person, so how did she send me a letter?’

Finding this fact peculiar, I initially tried to avoid Olivia.

But no sooner had I taken one step than her head turned toward me.

“…!”

Our gazes met in midair.

I took a couple of steps back, while conversely, Olivia approached me with quick steps. To prevent me from running away.

She, whom I seemed to be seeing after a very long time, was still beautiful.

Despite frequently engaging in combat, her face showed no damage.

“Did you read the letter I sent?”

She greeted me very warmly.

“Ah, not yet.”

“Oh my. Since we’ve met like this by fate, I’ll tell you the contents of that letter directly.”

I nodded. Olivia’s gaze, looking down at m,e felt intensely hot.

“It said I wanted to meet you.”

“M-me? Why me so suddenly?”

“I was curious if you were the same person I knew… but just exchanging a few words, I can tell. Lady Yerena, you are indeed Anya.”

“…!”

I couldn’t hide my surprised expression.

“You’re wondering how I knew?”

Completely caught up in Olivia’s pace, I nodded.

“When your hood fluttered, I caught a glimpse of your face.”

D*mn that old-fashioned hood!

I recalled Demian’s specially made hood where his face was barely visible.

I should have asked him to make one for me, too!

“Of course, I didn’t know your identity from the beginning. I visited the guild several times but couldn’t find you, so I was worried. In the midst of that, I came across terrible news.”

“Terrible news?”

“That the guide from the Center, who was thought to be dead, was alive and well, and that Lord Benjamin had kidnapped and imprisoned that guide.”

Oh no. So that news had spread.

…Well, Benjamin received so much attention that even what he ate for lunch became gossip.

It was inevitable that such a major incident involving kidnapping and imprisonment would become known.

“Guide Yerena’s face was prominently featured in the Center’s newsletter. And it was identical to the face of the person I knew! At that moment, I realized. That you were pretending to be dead and living under a different name.”

Indeed, she had the sharpness befitting the female protagonist of a novel. I couldn’t deny it.

“…Everything you said is correct.”

What came in response to my clean admission was a statement full of sympathy.

“How difficult has it been for you?”

“Pardon?”

“People at the Center were saying that Baron, Lambert, and Benjamin tormented you a lot. I know how unpleasant those three men’s personalities are, so I understood immediately.”

“Haha… But I’m fine now.”

I had completely escaped from them and no longer needed to hide my identity. I even gained a man I loved and a bird.

I was quite content with my current life. To the extent that the past suffering from those three ruffians didn’t hurt anymore.

“But what brings you here, Lady Olivia?”

“You can call me Olivia comfortably.”

Olivia gave a gentle smile and lightly tousled my hair. Despite being another woman, my heart fluttered slightly.

“Yes.”

And with Olivia’s next words, my relaxed mind became alert.

“I… came to see the detained Benjamin.”

“B-Benjamin?”

Could it be that Olivia was worried about Benjamin?

If Olivia had been fond of Benjamin all along, while I inadvertently interfered and caused problems in their romantic relationship…

“Yes. I was curious to see how he’s imprisoned. A high-nosed man thoroughly broken down and in handcuffs… doesn’t it make your mouth water?”

Olivia slowly licked her lips with the tip of her red tongue, as if her mouth was actually watering.

‘…This doesn’t seem like an innocent kind of liking.’

For some reason, I felt a chill run down my spine.

***

I was now walking down the dark corridor of the imperial prison.

It was because of Olivia, who suggested we go see Benjamin together.

I couldn’t possibly refuse Olivia’s request as she looked at me with sparkling eyes.

Demian, who had gone to a formal dinner, probably hadn’t returned yet, and with Bless accompanying me, a very brief visit should be fine.

Moreover, Benjamin had been treated so he couldn’t use his abilities.

In other words, he was now close to just an ordinary man with slightly more strength.

‘There’s no need to fear Benjamin, who can’t use his abilities.’

Olivia said she was able to enter the prison thanks to the Countess, who had become her patron.

Diana’s mother, whose daughter died before her flower could bloom, was treating Olivia like her own daughter.

This content had occasionally appeared in the original work.

The Countess’s help had played a part in why Olivia, without any backing, wasn’t easily pushed around by the male leads.

Soon we arrived at the end of the prison. Benjamin was right there.

Despite his poor condition, Benjamin sat upright with a straight back, and his gaze lifted upward. He seemed to have heard our presence.

Soon, that gaze fixed precisely on me.

“…Yerena?”

“Lord Benjamin. I’ve come too.”

Only then did Benjamin glance at Olivia standing beside me.

“Olivia. Why are you here?”

“To check how broken down you are.”

“Your impression after checking?”

“You were always sensual, but your broken appearance seems even more decadent.”

“Are you completely insane? Just because idiots like Baron and Lambert like you, do you think I’m easy too?”

“I was just giving an honest assessment.”

“When I get out of here, you’ll be cut from being my guide. Remember that.”

Why is the relationship between these two so poor? It seemed there had been something I didn’t know about.

“Is it because I informed on you?”

Olivia let out a sneer.

Wait, informed?

I held my breath and focused on this interesting conversation.

“About how Lord Benjamin bought monsters from the black market and had them attack Chelsea Center.”

“…!”

C-could she be talking about the Chelsea Center attack incident that happened just before I was kidnapped by Benjamin?

To tie down Duncan’s feet by attacking the Center? What a thoroughly planned kidnapping.

“I didn’t intend to find out, but I happened to learn about it at a place I frequent, so I personally informed on you.”

Olivia briefly looked at me while mentioning ‘a place I frequent.’ As if that place was the Hot Potato Guild.

“That’s why you can’t easily get out of this prison, right? Haha.”

“Are you really insane? Why are you doing this to me? We used to get along well.”

“Get along well? After you treated me roughly, equating me with Lady Diana.”

“That was…”

“But Lord Benjamin. I didn’t completely dislike you.”

“…What?”

“My personality isn’t entirely pleasant either, so I’m attracted to people with similar personalities.”

“You’re completely insane.”

…I had forgotten for a while.

The fact that Olivia was portrayed as a crazy person in the original work.

It seemed I was properly witnessing that aspect only today.

“Regardless of my being crazy about you, you’re crazy about Lady Yerena, aren’t you?”

Benjamin’s persistent gaze touched me again.

Benjamin’s face, which had been severely frowning as if he would devour Olivia, gradually relaxed.

He called me with a newly gentle face.

“Yerena. It’s not too late even now. Choose me.”

No, you’re far too late to the point of no return.

Just as I was about to answer, the face of the Duchess, who resembled Benjamin, came to mind.

And naturally, I thought of Sarang, who had been kidnapped by the Duchess, just like me.

“I won’t choose you, but could you grant my request?”