It seemed that the topic of the play was brought up as one of the hot topics at Ophelia’s salon. Kana answered absentmindedly.

“Yes, well. That’s right.”

“Then that’s great.”

As if he had been waiting, Kiriel took out two tickets from his pocket and showed them to her. They were tickets to a popular play in the capital these days, and they were VIP seats at a high-end theater.

While Kana narrowed her eyes and stared, Kiriel continued speaking.

“I happened to get two tickets and thought it would be nice if we could go together. Do you have time next week?”

“I do have time… but do you really want to watch it with me?”

Kana tilted her head. She couldn’t understand his intention.

After all, having seen all kinds of magic, an ordinary play wouldn’t catch his eye. In fact, he was someone who would rather watch a magic demonstration than a play.

Kiriel took a deep breath and answered slowly.

“Yes. Since you seem interested enough to attend Countess Dearon’s salon, it would be comfortable to watch it together.”

“Oh, I see.”

To Kana, his words sounded like he was saying it was okay because she didn’t cross the line by revealing unnecessary personal feelings. Her appropriately reserved and straightforward attitude must have been comfortable for him.

‘Oh, come to think of it, in The Fake Saint Was Real, it was mentioned that the Master saw Letie at the theater, right? Judging by the tickets, the seats are far from the main characters, so it should be fine.’

Kiriel, unaware of her inner thoughts, carefully observed her tightly closed, plump lips. Unable to endure the silence, he asked again.

“Miss Kana, what do you think?”

“Sounds good.”

Kana readily accepted. She had been contemplating whether to get tickets or not, so it was advantageous to go along with him. Kiriel immediately handed the tickets he was holding to her.

“Then I’ll come to pick you up on the day of the appointment.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Kana bowed her head in thanks and tucked the tickets into her pocket. As they reached the last painting, Kiriel glanced at her.

“Miss Kana, we’ve seen all the paintings in the exhibition. Are you going to stay?”

“Yes. It’s an exhibition by a close friend, so I plan to stay longer. If you’re busy, you can go ahead.”

“…Alright then.”

Kiriel answered somewhat stiffly and awkwardly, then used teleportation magic to disappear. Kana pretended to look at the paintings while circling the area, then quickly left the exhibition hall.

* * *

Back at the Round mansion, she sent a letter to Evie, mentioning her impressions of the exhibition and the paintings that left a deep impression, expressing how enjoyable it was.

Around that time, the communication sphere on the desk lit up. It was Alderaan’s code. Kana immediately took the call from her industry friend.

“Alderaan, what’s up?”

— Round, a spy from the First Prince is lurking around me. Should I take care of him?

Alderaan’s voice was calm and languid, considering he was talking about eliminating someone. Kana raised her eyebrows.

“…Did the Second Prince catch the First Prince’s spy?”

— Yes.

“Then leave it alone. There’s no need to go against your core settings to help the Second Prince. Whether we go this way or that way, as long as we reach the conclusion, it’s fine. The protagonists will overcome any trials on their own.”

The rule of all novels was that the protagonist would win in the end. Especially in romance novels, an incapable male lead was an unacceptable setting.

Alderaan, who had always eliminated any eyesores in whatever novel he entered, couldn’t hide his uneasy feeling.

— Hmm, is that really okay?

“Of course. Right now, the villains are still rational and only harboring caution. Even if they keep a spy, they won’t blatantly attack the lower ranks. Oh, but if there’s a sign of being ‘expelled,’ then eliminate them.”

A chilling aura flashed in her vibrant green eyes. Considering the disadvantages of being expelled from the novel before her work was done, it was only right to eliminate the responsible characters.

Alderaan agreed with his industry friend’s cold words and asked.

— Got it. How’s your situation?

“Hmm, except for the annoying quarrels from partnering with the sub male lead, the Master, it’s going smoothly. The female lead is in her second round, so she handles things well.”

Kana shrugged. Letie must be busy moving around too. Based on her knowledge from before the regression, she would move cautiously. Alderaan agreed and added.

— It’s convenient to have a protagonist who has regressed. Since they know things, the development usually goes smoothly.

“Right. I hope it continues to flow well until the end.”

Kana closed her eyes and opened them again, determination gleaming in her green eyes. Alderaan casually asked.

— How about Kiriel Curtis?

“It feels like we run into each other quite often, so I plan to keep an eye on him. If he shows interest in the female protagonist, I can be relieved.”

Kana tapped her fingers on the desk. Regardless of his personality, the Master of the Magic Tower was a capable sub male lead.

‘Ultimately, he will be a strength to Letie, but I can get some help in the process too.’

It was a relationship that would end once the novel concluded. When the supporting character who filled the role to stabilize the unstable world left, that role would disappear or change. The characters would also become erased existences.

— Alright. You’ll handle it well. I’ll contact you again next time.

“Since we’re on the same side, anytime.”

Kana slightly raised the corners of her mouth and ended the communication.

* * *

A week later, the day of the promised play with Kiriel arrived. Kana dressed neatly but put more effort into her appearance than usual.

Although it wasn’t something she had asked for, Lena and the other maids, upon learning about her date, worked diligently with a sense of determination.

After finishing her preparations and receiving the inexplicable cheers of the maids, Kana was discovered by Viscountess Round as she emerged. The Viscountess, who had intended to have tea time with her daughter during her free time, widened her eyes slightly.

“Kana, are you going out?”

“Yes, I have an appointment. Is there something you wanted to tell me?”

Kana looked at her mother. She smiled awkwardly and then quickly got to the point without dragging it out.

“Yes. Actually, it seems you need to go to the west next week.”

“Oh, is it because of the magic stone mine or the sapphire mine?”

According to the setting, the Round family owned a villa, a magic stone mine, and a sapphire mine in the western region. The magic stone mine belonged to Viscount Round, and the sapphire mine belonged to Viscountess Round.

Naturally, their daughter Kana had the authority to freely use both mines. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that at least half of each mine was hers.

Viscountess Round nodded seriously and affirmed.

“That’s right. I’ll explain the details when you return. Have a safe trip.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Kana finished her brief conversation with her mother and left the mansion. Outside, the Curtis family’s carriage had already arrived. Kiriel, dressed impeccably, stepped down from the carriage.

“Miss Kana, you look great.”

“Lord Kiriel, you too.”

Kana accepted Kiriel’s escort and got into the carriage. They headed straight to the theater.

Since it was a famous theater play, quite a crowd had gathered, but they were able to move directly to the VIP seats with the guidance of the staff. Kana quickly scanned the audience as she sat next to Kiriel.

Letie, Richard, Cordelia, and Riden were seated nearby. Even from a distance, the awkward atmosphere was noticeable.

“Who are you looking at like that?”

“I thought I saw some familiar faces.”

Kana shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. Following her gaze to the ‘familiar faces,’ Kiriel frowned. He whispered quietly, looking very annoyed.

“I heard they’re on opposing sides… I hope nothing troublesome happens.”

“Right.”

Unfortunately, his wish would not come true. It was unlikely that the protagonists and villains would meet without any conflict. Kana turned her indifferent gaze to the stage.

The play began. The title was ‘The Moment When Intersecting Hearts Align.’ It was a typical love story where the male protagonist regrets losing the female protagonist and then finds her again.

The prickly male protagonist becomes attached to the female protagonist who comforts him but denies it. The female protagonist, having no feelings for the male protagonist, erases her existence and leaves after achieving her goal.

Later, the male protagonist remembers the female protagonist through a handkerchief and dreams, finds her, and they come together.

While everyone was engrossed in the play, Kana secretly yawned. Her long, delicate eyelashes fluttered slowly.

‘Boring.’

She had already seen many similar plots while working, and wasn’t she simultaneously playing the role of both actor and audience in a live novel? Naturally, she felt no excitement.

Kana glanced at Kiriel sitting beside her.

Even in the slightly dim space, his sculptural profile shone. However, his face was extremely expressionless. He seemed as uninterested in the play as she was.

“Lord Kiriel, are you bored?”

“I’m fine.”

Although he was subtly immersed, he was momentarily surprised by her whisper, which softly touched him like down feathers, but did not show it. Unaware of his surprise, Kana answered calmly.

“That’s a relief. I thought you were watching it with me reluctantly.”

“No. I was the one who requested it in the first place.”

“I see.”

Kana nodded indifferently. Kiriel, looking at her expressionless face, asked without realizing it.

“Miss Kana, didn’t you like it?”

“It feels like they forced a happy ending, but it’s alright.”

At Kana’s frank and dry comment, Kiriel hesitated. It was different from the usual comments of others who would say it was touching or heart-wrenching. His eyes narrowed.

“…Which part felt forced?”

“The scene where the male protagonist brings back the female protagonist. She had finished her work, erased her presence, and left, but they loosely tied it together with a dream and a handkerchief. It’s unsettling.”

If Kana were the female protagonist, she would have ruthlessly rejected the male protagonist. After all, she had finished her work and left quietly, so being chased after would be annoying.