Kana slowly opened her eyes. An unfamiliar ceiling and luxurious room interior came into view. It felt nostalgic, just like when she first started working as a supporting character.

‘Even my clothes are different.’

She checked her changed appearance in a thin, comfortable white dress and carefully stretched her body. Her stiff condition had improved considerably.

Just then, a short-haired maid exuding a businesslike atmosphere entered. Wearing a crisp, neat maid uniform, she spoke politely.

“Lady Kana Round, you’ve awakened.”

“Where is this……”

Kana’s voice came out slightly hoarse. The maid carefully examined her complexion while answering.

“This is Lord Kiriel’s mansion.”

“Ah. Then my change of clothes……”

“I took care of that, so please don’t worry. Now I’ll fetch some water and bring him back.”

Kana silently nodded while half-sitting up and leaning against the pillow. The maid bowed politely and withdrew.

Shortly after, Kiriel and the maid carrying a tray with a water glass entered. While the maid set the water glass on the bedside table, he just blinked in disbelief before suddenly embracing her.

“Miss Kana, you’re finally awake. I was so worried thinking something was wrong!”

“……Lord Kiriel, I can’t breathe.”

Kana tapped his tense arms. Kiriel startled and released the embrace.

“Oops, sorry. I didn’t mean to……”

“It’s fine. I’m thirsty, so I’ll drink the water first.”

Kana emptied the water glass in one go. Kiriel watched somewhat tensely before taking out healing water from his chest, uncorking it and handing it to her.

“Here, drink this healing water too. I got it from Lady Serade.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Kana felt strange even as she accepted and drank the healing water.

‘For a sub male lead, instead of lavishing things on the female lead, he’s getting things from her……”

It was surprising considering how sub male leads in other novels devoted themselves to female leads they couldn’t end up with.

‘Whatever. The moment the sub male lead confessed to a background supporting character, it was already over. I received help and my star rating is safe, so let it go.’

Having organized her thoughts, she opened her mouth to learn about what had happened.

“Lord Kiriel, what happened after I collapsed for me to be here?”

“First, Lady Serade examined your condition as soon as you collapsed. She said fatigue and excessive energy consumption were the cause. You received her treatment and I brought you here.”

“Then to my family……”

“Of course I told them I’d keep you. I made up an excuse for why you collapsed, so just match the story when you return.”

His voice was quite serious. Kana flinched unconsciously before asking another question.

“……Ah. Then what happened with the guild work?”

“Your party members said they’d handle it well. Check if you’re worried.”

“How long was I collapsed?”

“……4 days.”

“What?”

“Ah, I informed the Round family about this part too.”

Kana’s face turned pale at his explanation. Though she had expected and prepared for something, she hadn’t imagined it would be that long.

‘This is bad. It’ll be tough dealing with various situations.’

While she tightly gripped the blanket covering her, Kiriel let out a deep sigh and added.

“You don’t know how anxious I was. They said there was nothing wrong with your energy, but you just wouldn’t wake up.”

“Ah.”

“……You said you’d be careful and return safely.”

Though he glanced at her lightly, his voice was full of upset emotions. Noticing this, Kana hesitantly answered.

“Well, I meant to, but things got bigger than expected……”

“I understand the situation was unavoidable, but call me before pushing yourself that hard.”

“I didn’t want to involve you when you have nothing to do with the request I received.”

Kana firmly shook her head. If the underground waterway scene had flowed normally as originally intended, she wouldn’t have needed to call him. Kiriel sighed looking at her consistently upright nature.

“……I explicitly tell you to use me but you’re like this. It’s part of your charm, but at times like this it breaks my heart.”

“I’ll consider it next time.”

She awkwardly smiled and responded formally. Kiriel nodded.

“Good. So did you check what you wanted to confirm?”

“Yes.”

“What was it?”

“Well…… There are restrictions.”

Kana let out an awkward laugh while putting her index finger to her lips. Kiriel stroked his chin and furrowed his brow.

“Hmm, is it because the Second Prince and Lady Serade are engaged and treated as a set?”

“Something like that.”

“We’re both tired because of strange restrictions. If only we could find a solution soon.”

“Don’t worry too much. I’m sure you can find it even if it takes time, Lord Kiriel.”

“True.”

He smiled warmly at her encouragement. Kana took a moment to catch her breath before carefully bringing up.

“Oh right, what happened with that corrupted spirit?”

“For now it hasn’t leaked outside and only those who need to know are aware of the incident.”

“……I see.”

It’s the same flow as ‘Fake Saint’. But such incidents piled up to eventually become the swamp that caught Riden’s ankle and dragged him down.

Kiriel snorted and added cynically.

“Well, it’s certain the First Prince was involved. After causing that trouble at the monster hunting demonstration too…… He’s quite bold to do this while under probation even with Her Majesty the Empress protecting him.”

“Oh my, really?”

“Yes. At this rate it wouldn’t be strange if he caused an aura rampage as a backlash from using curse-type magic.”

Kiriel openly mocked and showed antipathy toward the First Prince.

Though he didn’t know, Riden’s aura rampage was surprisingly a real event that would happen. She kept quiet about this for the sake of the other person’s mental health.

As silence fell, Kana unconsciously gently rubbed her stomach. Kiriel, who had been slightly on edge, instantly softened.

“Miss Kana, are you hungry?”

“Hmm, I feel a bit hungry.”

“Let’s have soup since putting food in an empty stomach suddenly would upset it.”

“Yes.”

Kiriel had the maid bring warm, soft soup. While she slowly ate the soup, he contacted the Round family through his work communication orb.

The gist was that she had woken up well and he would bring her back after letting her rest.

Kana decided to return after tidying herself up after finishing her meal.

Just before returning to the mansion, she sincerely expressed gratitude to him.

“You helped me in the underground waterway and even took care of me…… I was too flustered to say it earlier, but thank you so much.”

“Don’t mention it. Don’t think you owe me, just use me freely.”

“How could I do that?”

“There you go again. Others are desperate for opportunities but you won’t take them even when given, Miss Kana.”

“……Haha.”

Thinking she already used his power more than enough, Kana could only let out an awkward laugh.

Kiriel used teleportation magic to take her to the front of the Round mansion.

* * *

Viscount and Viscountess Round with serious expressions and a restless Lena stood in front of the Round mansion’s door. After Kiriel left, she awkwardly greeted them.

“……I’m back.”

“Welcome back. How are you feeling now?”

“I’m better after getting plenty of rest.”

Kana slightly lowered her eyes. Viscount Round looked at his daughter while letting out a deep sigh.

“You don’t know how shocked I was when I got the contact from the Tower Master. The child who said she was going to the guild suddenly collapsed. How hard did you push yourself training……”

Fortunately, it seems Kiriel had covered up by vaguely attributing it to guild work without mentioning the underground waterway incident. The request was guild work too, so it wasn’t completely untrue.

As Kana maintained a solemn expression, Viscountess Round sent her a worried look.

“We’ll always support and cheer for your path…… but we don’t want to hear news like this. It’s good to work hard at everything, but don’t push yourself too much.”

“Yes. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Though they were her parents by setting, Kana thoroughly yielded to them.

When Kana returned to her room after receiving their concern, she noticed letters and a chest containing spirit stones. Lena who followed explained.

“His Highness the Second Prince delivered that chest. I’m not sure but he said it was to repay what he owed.”

“Ah.”

As she felt during the monster hunting demonstration episode too, the male protagonist in ‘Fake Saint’ was very thorough about repaying debts.

Kana first put all the spirit stones in her ring’s subspace. Lena pointed to the letters with her finger.

“Those letters are from Miss’s friends and other ladies.”

“You organized them well. I’ll look through them slowly, so you may go.”

“Yes.”

After Lena withdrew, she checked the letters, communication orb, and Four-Colored Leaf Guild badge. Though she was only unconscious for 4 days, things were in quite an uproar.

Kana hurriedly sent replies and also made contact through the communication orb and badge.

Except for Letie, Denia, Aila, and Cellie who knew the detailed circumstances, she vaguely explained that she collapsed from overworking on guild duties.

Only after receiving worried and affectionate scolding from acquaintances for a long while could she finally find time to contact her industry friend.

— Round, I heard from Olivia that you collapsed?

“……Yes. Please stop talking about that now. I’ve already gotten quite an earful from other characters.”

Kana hung her head weakly. Though she was grateful, dealing with it had been quite exhausting.

Considering his industry friend’s mental stability, Alderaan held back.

— Alright. Hang in there.

“Thanks.”

Her expression softened considerably. He paused briefly before getting straight to the point.

— According to Olivia you overworked yourself on guild duties…… but the real cause was the underground waterway scene, right?