“Well, the former won’t happen and the latter will only occur when I die.”

Kana shrugged. Aila and Cellie also nodded in agreement when spirits were mentioned.

Cordelia, feeling twisted inside at her attitude resembling her half-sister’s, spewed venom.

“Is that all? Love isn’t guaranteed to last forever either. Especially since the Tower Master is known to be so capricious—though he shows kindness and treats you tenderly now, he’ll discard you without mercy once he gets tired of you.”

“What amusing words. Though I’m grateful for his kindness-based help, I’m not consumed by those feelings. I don’t blindly believe in love in the first place.”

Kana coldly retorted. Those curses would befall Cordelia, the villain of ‘Fake Saint’, not her anyway.

As Cordelia bit her lip at the unexpected response, another major villain intervened.

“Lady Cordelia, what’s taking you so long?”

“Ah, Lord Riden, I just saw a familiar face.”

“Your Highness the First Prince, I greet you.” 

Kana forcefully suppressed her dampening mood and greeted him politely to avoid criticism.

Though Cordelia was one thing, Riden was somewhat uncomfortable. As a violent high-ranking male character from the opposing faction.

Most supporting character actors avoided confronting such characters.

Riden narrowed his eyes and looked her up and down.

“Lady Kana Round. I heard you recently joined some spirit summoner guild?”

“Yes.”

Though she answered nonchalantly, Riden recalled his terribly ruined plans and the disadvantages he suffered because of them. His eyes flashed dangerously.

“……So it was you.”

“Pardon?”

“You ruined my plans!”

Riden gritted his teeth and shouted. Blood vessels were already visible in his eyes. Though he likely meant the underground waterway incident, Kana feigned surprise with round eyes and denied it.

“Plans? I don’t know what you mean.”

“You helped that bastard Richard!”

“That just happened to be the result while working.”

She rebutted in a businesslike tone. Riden, befitting a major character of the villain faction, easily ignored the background supporting character’s words and muttered ominously as if talking to himself.

“Everyone, this one and that one, they’re all busy praising only Richard and Letie…… You’re the same too. Look at you sucking up to those bastards.”

“Lady Letie is my close friend.”

“Then what about Richard?”

“He’s my friend’s fiancé and His Highness the Second Prince with outstanding abilities.”

“Don’t make me laugh! I was born first. I’m better! Mother said I should inherit the position!”

Riden burst into violent anger while raging. He seemed to be going increasingly mad since his carefully prepared plans failed while Richard gained more prominence.

Judging by how he couldn’t control himself despite knowing there were many watching eyes and rumors would spread, he must have been greatly affected by the backlash of curse-type magic. The path to his destruction wasn’t far off.

Though Aila and Cellie fidgeted restlessly wanting to step in during the ominous situation, Kana stopped them with a look saying it was fine. Since they were dealing with the imperial family and high nobles, using force would only disadvantage them instead.

Aila and Cellie understood why she stopped them. While they bit their lips feeling miserable, Kana was lost in thought.

‘Regardless of the cause, major characters from the opposing faction taking out their anger on background supporting characters is the same everywhere.’

It wasn’t particularly surprising since it was a common situation while working as a supporting character actor. Whatever he spewed, it was just meaningless noise to her ears.

Kana stared at the raging villain with expressionless eyes. Riden was reminded of the Emperor’s cold gaze in that look. He screamed like he’s being squeezed.

“Don’t look at me with those eyes!”

“You’re too excited. Let’s calm down first.”

Kana halfheartedly tried to stop him. Riden’s eyes rolled wildly and he finally raised his hand. She secretly caressed Nubes.

‘If I get hit now, counterattacking double wouldn’t cause problems with the situation or setting.’

Just as Kana who had finished calculating inwardly watched the villain directly looking for an opportunity, someone intervened to stop Riden by grabbing and twisting his wrist.

His disheveled fine golden hair and fluttering white robe were especially eye-catching. Kana’s eyes widened slightly.

‘Kiriel appears here? I definitely didn’t see him around here……”

It was such a sudden appearance it seemed like he came by teleportation magic. While she was dazed, Kiriel spoke harshly with a serious expression.

“What do you think you’re doing.”

“Tower Master?”

Riden’s fierce aura subsided considerably. Facing a formidable opponent, his anger seemed better controlled too. Cordelia who had been watching beside him also darkened.

Kiriel suppressed his flowing mana with superhuman patience while barking at him.

“Your Highness the First Prince, quickly apologize to Miss Kana and get out.”

“T-Tower Master, I think there must be some misunderstanding……”

Cordelia rolled her eyes and trailed off pitifully. Though it was a look that would trigger protective instincts in viewers, Kiriel coldly brushed her off without blinking.

“I’m already annoyed so be quiet. Do you think I’m blind?”

“……”

“Tower Master, we were just having a conversation.”

“Who raises their hand during just a conversation? Drop such pathetic excuses.”

He refuted sharply while not hiding his discomfort despite facing someone from imperial family. Riden stared at him with wavering eyes.

“……Why are you so angry?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? Who would stay still when the most precious existence in the world is threatened?”

Kiriel’s firm voice rang clearly through the quiet teahouse. Though objectively it was a serious atmosphere, Kana was more interested in his lines than the villains causing trouble.

‘Wow, he manages to say such things even in this situation.’

She covered her face with both hands feeling the gazes focused on her. Though it was embarrassing, she felt somewhat happy and reassured.

Meanwhile, gentle mana swirled around Kiriel’s hand as his gaze sharpened.

“So stop trying to change the subject and quickly apologize and leave. And of course, don’t harm Miss Kana afterwards either.”

Finally unable to withstand the Tower Master’s pressure, Riden trembled while biting his lip before barely apologizing to her.

“Lady Round, I apologize for making you uncomfortable.”

“Yes. Please be careful next time.”

“……I will.”

Riden ground his teeth and immediately left. Cordelia awkwardly stood there before hurriedly following after him.

Kiriel carefully examined her like handling fragile glass artwork.

“Miss Kana, are you alright?”

“Of course. We only clashed with words until His Highness the First Prince raised his hand.”

“How did this happen?”

“I was having snacks and chatting with guild members when Lady Serade suddenly appeared and picked a fight. I was responding moderately when His Highness the First Prince came and it turned out like that.”

Kana shook her head wearily at the annoying situation. Aila and Cellie exchanged glances and added.

“Tower Master, Lady Kana was suddenly attacked while doing nothing. The atmosphere was peaceful until they came.”

“That’s right. We watched from beginning to end, and they provoked one-sidedly.”

“Right, Miss Kana wouldn’t have done wrong first. They’re really unpleasant characters.”

Kiriel’s eyes glowed coldly. Though she tried to resolve the situation as favorably as possible worried she might face disadvantages, anger still remained in his heart.

Kana hurriedly changed the topic feeling the tense atmosphere.

“By the way, how did Lord Kiriel end up here?”

“You said before that you’d go to the guild after resting. I visited the Four-Colored Leaf Guild wanting to see you, and the Guild Master told me you had finished your work and gone to a teahouse.”

“Ah.”

“So I was wandering around nearby teahouses when I spotted you, and since the atmosphere seemed off even from outside, I hurriedly used teleportation magic to enter and found that situation.”

“I see. Though it was a coincidence, the timing was perfect. Thank you for helping in the difficult situation.”

Kana bowed her head in gratitude. Kiriel gently patted her back and answered kindly.

“I only did what was natural. If you’re thinking of writing a letter of protest……”

“Ah, that’s fine. I’ll write one if it goes beyond acceptable bounds.”

Kana declined softly. Though Riden had acted violently toward her, it was closer to him bursting out his inferiority complex toward Richard and Letie rather than truly trying to harm her.

‘Riden’s main enemies are the protagonists after all.’

There was no need to create variables by further provoking a villain destined for destruction anyway. If she had truly been in danger, she would have acted before Kiriel brought it up.

“……Alright.”

Kana apologized to her companions while turning away from him sighing weakly.

“I’m sorry everyone. The atmosphere was so nice but it ended like this……”

“No. We’re sorry we couldn’t help instead.”

“It seems ‘that incident’ was the cause, but Lady Kana handled it alone……”

“Thank you all for understanding.”

Kana smiled faintly. Aila and Cellie comforted her, who must have spent energy clashing with unpleasant types of people.

“No. The atmosphere was intense earlier so it must have been tough, I hope you recover well.”

“We’ll head back first then, rest well and see you next time.”

“Yes.”

Kana waved to them as they left. Then she gave an awkward laugh looking at Kiriel.

“Um, shall we leave too?”

“Sure.”

They left the teahouse and slowly walked the streets without saying anything. Kiriel carefully opened his mouth while glancing at her face, calm despite experiencing unpleasant and threatening events.

“Miss Kana, would you like to talk while getting some fresh air somewhere comfortable?”