The work was so famous and still being serialized that preventing spoilers was extremely strict, with few comments properly explaining the relationships between characters.

Since I had chosen it as my first romance fantasy novel, I didn’t want to know the plot before starting, so I never even looked at blog posts marked “※SPOILER WARNING※”.

But Ian, who was supposed to flee in the original story, somehow seemed to have absolutely no intention of giving up his position as crown prince. Having assisted Ian for over half a year and becoming skilled at reading his expressions and understanding his feelings, I felt even more confused.

When I directly mentioned Callian, Ian didn’t show any displeasure, but rather an expression that said he didn’t understand why I was saying such things. Looking at that expression made me feel like:

‘Have I become the sweet potato seller protagonist obsessed with the original story?’

“Miss?”

Only when Clara called me again did I get up from bed, despite having been staring blankly while lost in thought with my eyes open. Though I hadn’t slept at all, my mind was clear, which made me a bit sad as I realized how hard Ian had worked me for the past half year.

‘I’m the one fixated on the original story…… I’m the frustrating female lead……’

As someone who had dreamed of transmigrating into a romance fantasy novel while thinking “If I were to transmigrate into a novel, I would never act so frustratingly!”, I picked at the exquisite meal in front of me, barely eating, while Clara observed me cautiously and asked:

“Does it not taste good, Miss……?”

“Huh? No. The meals you prepare are always delicious, Clara.”

Watching Clara sigh in relief at my answer, I mechanically brought to my mouth a piece of steak that I had unconsciously cut into tiny pieces.

“I’ve never seen His Highness show his emotions like that before.”

“……”

“His Highness truly seems unwilling to lose you, Miss.”

“Ah……”

“Well, if I were to stop being your maid, I’d have to go back to the laundry and work hard washing clothes. The water will be especially cold since it’s winter, my hands will hurt, and there will be so much laundry…… But you should do as you wish, Miss. Don’t worry too much about what I say.”

I sighed as I looked at Clara, who spoke with a sad expression while telling me not to worry about what she said. Honestly, Ian’s offer was so extraordinary that hardly anyone would be able to refuse it.

There was nowhere else in the Empire where one could work with such exceptional treatment. Moreover, as Ian said, if he truly didn’t give up his position as crown prince and flee unlike in the original story, I would essentially be backed by an immensely powerful figure who would certainly become the next Emperor.

Even now, if word spread that Aide Weiana from the Crown Prince’s Palace was conducting an investigation, not only the Imperial Palace but all businesses throughout the capital would watch their step and tremble in fear. In the Empire’s class society, it would normally be unimaginable for a Count’s daughter to scrutinize the businesses of Marquis or Duke families.

Additionally, since Ian always brought me as his partner whenever he attended parties like balls, rumors of me being Ian’s lover were rampant among the nobles. Because of this, even those haughty nobles had no choice but to smile and respond to whatever I said.

Above all, I truly appreciated Ian’s policies of persistently pushing for measures that considered the poorest in this class society and legally squeezing corrupt nobles dry.

Furthermore, it felt like Ian, who despite being the Crown Prince with supreme power was essentially my direct superior, recognized my abilities. Since this was the first time in both my previous life and current one that someone had acknowledged me, I was even more conflicted. I was having a cup of tea that Clara had prepared after finishing my meal when:

“Miss, a letter has arrived from the Weiana family.”

“A letter?”

The letter handed to me clearly bore our family seal—a vine wrapped around a shield. When I had left home to become the aide to the Crown Prince, who as a member of the Imperial faction was the antithesis to the Noble faction, I had expected strong opposition and headaches, but the handwriting belonged to my father, who had exerted no pressure even after half a year.

「I noticed you weren’t present during His Majesty’s parade inspection. I was just curious about that.」

Just one line.

The letter, which contained only that single line asking about my absence from where I should have been, carried the scent of jasmine flowers that I loved.

“I should visit home.”

It felt like things I had never considered during the past half a year were about to begin.

***

“Miss!”

The Weiana family. The butler and servants greeted me with bright smiles when I suddenly visited home after half a year without any prior notice.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

When I had transmigrated into Ilena’s body, it was already the last semester at the academy, and since the Imperial Academy required dormitory living, I had never visited the family except during vacations. Moreover, thinking my father would sell me out as Callian’s spy, I had applied for Ian’s aide position immediately after graduation without even stopping by home.

During the year of adapting to Ilena’s body, I had focused solely on studying to graduate from the academy with excellent grades and become Ian’s aide to prevent the original story from progressing, but I first saw my father, Count Chesier, half a year after transmigrating, during the summer vacation.

The face of my father, whom I was seeing for the first time, was so distinctive that I could recognize him as “my father” even from 100 meters away. The same silver hair color as mine and red eyes. When I saw Count Chesier getting out of the carriage sent by the family for the vacation, I truly realized once again that I was inside a novel.

“I heard the Crown Prince’s Palace is extremely busy. Are you really alright, Miss?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince is too much. We were so sad to hear that he wouldn’t grant you vacation using the excuse of being busy……”

I could only smile awkwardly at the comment that made me realize how much I had been living as the Crown Prince’s loyal servant in others’ eyes, now that rumors of me working without vacation had reached even my home.

“We’ve informed the master that you’ve come home, so he’ll be returning from the palace soon.”

“Huh?”

I had just returned home because the original story I knew seemed strange, but I tilted my head in confusion at the butler who proudly told me he had informed my father of my visit.

This was because my father, Count Chesier, and I had an extremely awkward relationship. Even setting aside academy days, we now met every morning at the state council chamber, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where my father worked was very close to the Crown Prince’s Palace, yet we hadn’t even exchanged the most basic greetings whenever we ran into each other.

Just yesterday morning, he had stared at me intently before turning away first. People called my father “the Iron Wall Count Weiana” because he was a man with such an unchanging expression that even I, his daughter, couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“The master instructed us to contact the palace immediately if you ever visited home.”

“Father did……? Why?”

“Why? The master has been missing you so much!”

The only family in Ilena’s memories. Her mother, who had always been in poor health, passed away right after giving birth to Ilena, and with her busy father, they rarely even shared meals at home, making their relationship extremely awkward. I asked out of genuine confusion, but the head maid pointed to the central staircase of the mansion as she replied.

“Why is that picture……”

In the spacious hall of the central staircase separating the first and second floors, a large picture hung on the wall—none other than me smiling brightly in my academy graduation uniform, holding my valedictorian diploma, with my father standing beside me, looking at me.

“The master has been boasting so much about Miss graduating as valedictorian from the academy.”

“Father has?”

“Yes! And then you immediately became the Chief Aide to His Highness the Crown Prince after graduation!”

“……”

Looking at my photograph printed in an almost life-sized frame, I couldn’t help but be confused. In Ilena’s memories that I recalled, her father was the epitome of the indifferent father in romance fantasy novels—gruff and seemingly uninterested in his daughter.

“Ilena.”

“Father……”

True to the butler’s words that he had contacted the palace and would return soon, I couldn’t help but take a step back in surprise when I saw my father’s face behind me, looking shocked.

This was because my father’s face, as he looked at me, bore a gentle smile as if he was truly happy to see his daughter who had visited home after a long time. Moreover, his disheveled hair and the way he was catching his breath suggested he had come in a hurry after receiving the message.

“Has something happened? There are widespread rumors in the palace that you fought with that Crown Prince bastard. Did he do something wrong to you?”

“What?”

I could only shake my head blankly as I stared at my father’s face, who most irreverently referred to Ian as “that bastard” without hesitation.

“If something happened and you came looking for me, I’ll help you. I’ll use any means necessary to get you away from the Crown Prince’s grasp. That dog……”

“No! It’s not like that!”

I had to hurriedly cover my father’s mouth before an even more disrespectful word than “bastard” could come out. Seeing my father’s eyes widen in surprise at my sudden action, I thought: Something is extremely wrong here.

***

Since it was lunchtime and my father hadn’t eaten either, lunch was prepared immediately. Unlike the simple meal I had expected, I could only stare blankly at the table in astonishment as splendid dishes were set on it.

“We prepared all the foods that you like, Miss.”

“Uh…… yes.”

“You seem to have lost a lot of weight.”

“……”

Crunch.

At the clear sound of teeth grinding, I awkwardly smiled and touched my face. Hearing my father’s words, I did feel like I might have lost some weight from the hard work? My father, looking at me, separated the leg meat from the smoked duck roast that I loved most and placed it on my plate while saying:

“I heard the lights in the Crown Prince’s office never go out……”

“Ah, lately it’s unavoidable because of the year-end settlement and next year’s first quarter budget organization……”

“You defend that bastard so much, which is why he keeps……”

I could only be flustered as I watched my father tightly grip his knife while saying this. Am I defending anyone? Seeing me silent, my father seemed displeased and downed the wine that the attendant had poured in one go.

“Are you sure nothing’s wrong?”

“……It’s not like that.”

“……”

“Really.”

“Then that’s fine. You’re not short on money or anything?”

I knew that money regularly came from home under the name of living expenses, but I had never once used it. Partly because it felt like they wanted me to send Ian’s weaknesses or confidential information, just like in the original story where I was sent as Callian’s spy, but sadly, the biggest reason was that I simply had no time to spend money.

“I earn a lot of money.”

“If he’s making you do unreasonable work and trying to bribe you with money……”

“I told you it’s not like that, really!”