“Alright.”

Kana placed her hand on his. They danced elegantly with precise movements in time with the rhythm. As they spun around, the hem of her light green dress flared up like a blooming flower and then settled down.

“Lord Kiriel, you dance very well.”

“So do you, Miss Kana. I’m surprised we’re so in sync without having practiced together.”

Kana chuckled at his response. This was the result of her body becoming accustomed to it while working. She hadn’t practiced dancing separately in ‘Fake Saint,’ but her movements naturally fell into place.

Kana offered a modest reply.

“You’re too kind. I’m more surprised that someone who must have devoted himself solely to magic is leading so skillfully.”

“I’m a quick learner.”

“They say talented people often excel in other fields too. It seems to be true.”

Kana responded playfully to Kiriel’s confident words. Thanks to their decent dancing skills, their conversation flowed smoothly even as they danced.

They danced for about three more songs before stopping. Kana unfolded her fan and gently fanned her face as she spoke.

“We ended up dancing longer than expected.”

“It’s fine, even if it wasn’t intentional.”

“Same here.”

They moved to a corner to avoid the dancing crowd. There were gazes focused on the two resting. To be precise, the gazes were concentrated on Kiriel.

Seeing Kiriel glancing at the direction of the stares, Kana spoke first.

“Lord Kiriel, I’ll rest here, so feel free to converse with others.”

“Alright.”

Given his background, it was difficult for him to focus solely on his partner. Kana watched his leisurely departing figure and took a breath.

As she reached for a wine glass on a nearby table, someone else approached. A man with wavy olive-colored hair and resolute olive-colored eyes.

Kana recognized him immediately.

“You’re Lord Alderaan Short, Lady Olivia’s brother, right?”

“Yes, Lady Kana Round. I apologize for interrupting your rest, but may I request a dance?”

“Of course.”

Sensing that he had something to say, Kana readily accepted his request. Though they met for the first time, he gave off the impression of being a fellow supporting character like her.

As they danced to the music, Alderaan spoke first.

“Filling the role.”

“Of a supporting character.”

“In a novel.”

“Don’t get too absorbed.”

Their conversation, muffled by the lively music, revealed that they were both supporting characters. Kana smiled and used spirit summoning to subtly block the sound before speaking.

“Wow, I was wondering if it could really be the Alderaan I know when I heard the name, and it really is!”

“Long time no see, Round. By the way, the surrounding noise is already blocked, do we really need to lower our voices?”

“Of course we do. Even small matters should be handled cautiously, you know?”

“That’s just like you.”

The two smiled at each other. They had worked together in the same novel before and were quite familiar with each other. Just in case, they had blocked the sound, but Kana lowered her voice as much as possible when she spoke.

“I thought someone might join when I learned that the maximum number of people allowed in ‘Fake Saint’ was two, and I’m glad it’s you. What brings you to this novel?”

The Alderaan she knew was very combative. He often entered novels where battles, rather than romance, were the main focus. He let out a deep sigh.

“I had no choice. ‘Fake Saint’ was the only novel I could enter.”

“Oh my, same here.”

Kana clicked her tongue in sympathy, familiar with the situation. Alderaan lamented.

“Is it a crime to have worked too often to quickly gather star ratings and enjoy them?”

“Exactly. They should update the list of supporting role actors who frequently go to work.”

“Right. Get to work, Otherworld Library.”

“That’s right!”

Kana actively agreed with his words. Around that time, the song ended. Shaking his head as if there were no other options, he quietly suggested.

“Round, shall we move to the terrace?”

“That would be safer.”

The two finished their dance, poured wine into glasses from a nearby table, and slipped out to the terrace.

Thanks to the other nobles being busy socializing, the terrace was empty. A cool breeze brushed their cheeks.

Without any prior signal, they both raised their glasses and clinked them together. While each took a sip of wine, Alderaan spoke up.

“I was concerned about the first person who entered, but it’s a familiar face, so I’m relieved.”

“Right. Which side are you on?”

“Of course, I’m on the protagonist’s side. I’m the brother of Olivia, a supporting character who supports the female lead. I’ll be on the male lead’s line as a civil official.”

Kana nodded as she listened to Alderaan’s explanation.

“Since we’re on the same side, it’ll be easy to cooperate if needed. But it’s surprising to see you as a civil official…”

“Don’t even mention it. It’s so frustrating. I prefer fighting intensely, not sitting quietly with a pen and looking at documents. I seriously feel like quitting.”

Alderaan’s gentle demeanor, fitting his role, quickly turned fierce. Even though he was a civil official in this novel, the aura he had built on the battlefield didn’t disappear easily.

Kana gently patted his shoulder, trying to comfort him as he expressed his discomfort.

“I understand how you feel, but don’t do that. If you quit in the middle, your star rating will drop. Let’s stick it out until the end and go back together. We can earn additional star ratings too.”

“I know in my head that’s what I should do, but… Ugh, taking on a third-rate martial artist role in a martial arts novel would be more fun than this.”

“Well, people in that world are quite straightforward. I still vividly remember buildings often getting destroyed by martial artists’ sword fights when I worked in that genre.”

Kana reminisced about her past experiences with a wistful expression. It was a romance fantasy set in a martial arts background, and she had to be extremely cautious due to frequent incidents.

“But isn’t it good that the dynamic situations are so vivid? This is just…”

“Don’t be too pessimistic. Calm situations also give a peaceful feeling, which is nice.”

Kana patted her friend’s shoulder, trying to cheer him up. Alderaan smiled faintly at her comfort.

“True, you did prefer calm settings without major issues, didn’t you?”

“Absolutely. Even though getting hurt or dying in a novel isn’t real, the mental fatigue accumulates. I think emotions are also energy. If you overuse them, you get worn out and lose strength.”

“That’s a good point.”

Alderaan agreed with Kana’s explanation, which she emphasized with gestures. After all, working in novels that consumed a lot of energy required longer recovery periods.

In the silence, Alderaan noticed the pure pearl ring on her hand and abruptly asked.

“Round, is Celia with you this time?”

“Yes. Since it’s a world with fantasy elements, I can summon her. Can’t you handle at least some aura?”

Alderaan was a supporting role actor who mainly focused on battles. Even if he was set as a low-talent supporting character, his experience and skills accumulated across various novels couldn’t be ignored.

As expected, Alderaan nodded affirmatively but with a self-deprecating smile.

“Yes, I can use it. The problem is that there’s no chance to use or reveal it in ‘Fake Saint.’”

“Hmm, how about using it during the monster hunting festival? You know, the one held in the north during summer.”

Kana recalled an episode from ‘Fake Saint.’ Although there was no responsibility for injuries, there were no conditions for participation, so it wouldn’t greatly disrupt the setting. Alderaan’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Hmm, that’s a good idea.”

“If you want, I can give you an embroidered handkerchief. Anyway, my character is supposed to give a handkerchief to someone.”

Kana had been pondering whom to give the handkerchief to in that episode, and giving it to an industry friend seemed like a perfect scenario. Alderaan laughed heartily at Kana’s subtle suggestion.

“Great, it’s mutually beneficial. As expected of you, Round.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Kana grinned broadly and shrugged her shoulders. Alderaan took it a step further with his opinion.

“If it’s bothersome, you can just embroider it roughly. It’s a lot of work, after all.”

“Oh, come on, that’s a bit much.”

“Why not? After all, I’m the one receiving it, who’s going to complain?”

“I’ll think about it.”

Kana, who found it hard to tolerate sloppy work due to her nature, held back her response. Knowing her disposition, Alderaan didn’t press his opinion further.

The two shared a cheerful atmosphere, making eye contact and laughing.

Alderaan voiced a question he had since the first time he saw her at the banquet.

“By the way, how did you end up partnering with the sub male lead? Kiriel didn’t originally have a partner, right?”

“He often came to the mansion because he was working with Father. He asked me first, so I accepted. Well, I can handle this kind of variable.”

Alderaan clapped vigorously in admiration of Kana’s confident attitude.

“Wow, that’s the confidence of an experienced person. With a competent person like you, we just need to see it through to the end.”

“Let’s both do our best. Let’s rest here for a bit and return to the hall before the chandelier falls.”

She needed to witness the scene and make appropriate comments at the right time, in a way that highlighted the novel’s female protagonist, Letie.

As the topic turned back to work, Alderaan gave a wry smile.

“Right. You’re going to be busy.”

“What can I do? It’s my job.”

“True enough.”

The two sighed deeply at the thought of work, then changed the subject and enjoyed a pleasant conversation.

* * *

Meanwhile, Kiriel was conversing with various nobles, including those from the four great families, when he glanced around. For some reason, his partner, who had said she was going to rest, was nowhere to be seen.

Liriel found her younger brother’s constant glancing around unsightly. Unable to bear it any longer, she tapped Kiriel’s shoulder and whispered.

“Kiriel, I saw Lady Round dancing with a man and then heading to the terrace.”

“Oh.”

Kiriel unhesitatingly left the group and headed towards the terrace. As expected, there were two people there, just as his sister had said.

One was his partner, Kana Round. The other was…

‘Alderaan Short?’