As far as I knew, she didn’t have a speck of magical talent. For her to have summoned a powerful transcendent like Michalis…

“Is, is Ines alright? No, she was bedridden… So that was the price for summoning you.”

“That’s right.”

It was a relief that Michalis responded to the summons. If it had been another transcendent, she would have almost certainly been devoured.

“What on earth was she thinking…?”

Recently, Ines had truly surprised me multiple times.

No matter how blinded by love she was, to commit such crazy acts consecutively.

It seemed too suspicious to be merely out of jealousy.

Ines was sensitive, but by nature, she was rather timid. That’s why in the original story, while the Crown Prince went through me and Lina, her name was never mentioned even once.

‘How could Ines, who didn’t have the guts to pull my hair once, end up like this…?’

Suddenly, a realization struck me.

Since I, who was a villainous supporting character, had become the heroine, the position of the villainous supporting character was left vacant.

In romance fantasy novels, the villainous supporting character, though not prominent, had a very important role.

They were indispensable in confirming the love between the heroine and the hero, an essential consumable in the romance plot.

Ines must have taken over that role.

The future of a villainous supporting character was predictable. Ines would cause a major incident inappropriate for her status and would end up being killed by the heroes.

Though we didn’t share good feelings, I couldn’t let her walk down the path of self-destruction. When a villainous supporting character caused trouble, the cleanup naturally fell to the heroine and the heroes.

It was enough that someone else had to clean up Enril and Lina’s mess.

“Still, since you already refused, nothing much will happen, right?”

“I can’t guarantee that. While I refused out of consideration for my relationship with you, who knows what blind fool might get caught. Her grudge against you is very strong, and such negative emotions tend to attract flies. She seems like a rather fragile young lady, so I’m a bit worried.”

Despite his words, Michalis’s expression was as relaxed as if he were watching a fire across the river.

“Anyway, thanks for letting me know. I hate to impose, but could you help me one more time since you’ve already assisted me?”

“If it’s a small favor.”

“I’m planning to visit Ines now. I’d like you to accompany me. It would be easier to question her motives with you there.”

“That’s not difficult.”

Michalis swiftly transported me to the Poel Ducal Residence.

“Sigh…”

Though I arrived boldly, I couldn’t help but sigh when faced with the grand mansion.

I knew sneaking in was better since I wouldn’t be welcomed even if I came during the day, but I didn’t like the idea of going through such trouble to meet a woman, especially one who wanted to kill me.

But I had no choice. It was better to endure a bit of inconvenience than to escalate the situation.

Peeking through an open window, I saw Ines lying on the bed. Judging by the medicine bowls and wet cloths, it seemed the maid attending her had stepped out for a moment.

I immediately went inside and shook the deeply sleeping Ines awake.

Though I wanted to splash water from the silver basin, I held back considering she was ill.

Ines quickly woke up to my rather rough touch.

“Who, who…?”

“It’s me. Lou Dronay.”

Seeing me as soon as she opened her eyes, Ines scrunched up her sleepy face.

“Lou Dronay? Of all people, why… such a wretched dream…”

“I agree it’s wretched, but it’s not a dream. I don’t want to stay long either, so wake up quickly unless you want to be splashed with water.”

Fully awake at my words, Ines quickly sat up.

“Lou? Is, is it really you? Why, why are you here?”

“I heard you were doing something foolish, so I came to persuade you before you caused more trouble.”

“What nonsense are you spouting, barging into someone’s bedroom without permission? If you don’t leave immediately, I’ll scream!”

“Do as you please. But before that, just see who I brought. I brought a huge figure, and you know who it is, right?”

I pointed out the window with my finger.

As she followed my gaze, her face turned as white as a sheet.

“We meet again, Ines. Do you remember me?”

Michalis greeted Ines with a friendly smile. Her face, changing colors by the second, was quite a sight.

“How did you… summon him…? Don’t tell me you summoned him like I did?”

The innocent Ines couldn’t even make an excuse. She confessed so easily that it was almost anticlimactic.

“Even though I look like this, I am the girl of the oracle. I can easily be acquainted with one or two transcendent beings, don’t you think? I heard you commissioned quite an interesting task to my acquaintance.”

“I, I just wanted to help this country and His Highness the Crown Prince! I know something unusual is happening in the capital. If I summon a powerful being, I can alleviate his troubles…”

“Summoning is not child’s play. Have you ever thought about the accidents that could happen if you summon a transcendent being that you can’t control? Moreover, the wish you asked of Michalis was not for something like that.”

“That, that is…”

Ines, who was hesitating, suddenly lifted her head and glared at me.

“You are of no help to His Highness the Crown Prince! You claim to be the girl of the oracle, but all you do is play around with men! I am not a foolish idiot like you. Do you know the rumors circulating in the capital? Horrible monsters are flocking to Arcadia, right? Exactly from the moment you received the oracle!”

This time, I was at a loss for words. To be precise, I missed the timing to respond because I was swallowing my curses.

‘What the heck, damn it…’

Ines, perhaps misunderstanding my silence, glared at me triumphantly.

“I am different from you, who only attracts monsters. As his true mate, I will prove my worth directly to him!”

“Ines. I won’t say much, so listen carefully. Whatever you do for the Crown Prince has nothing to do with me. Honestly, I don’t think I’ll die by your hand. But don’t overstep your bounds. The price you’ll pay for just one man is too high for you to bear. You wouldn’t want to die a tragic death at a young age, would you?”

“Just one man?”

Ines let out a chilling laugh.

With bloodshot eyes, she burst into a hysterical laughter, looking like a madwoman.

‘At this point, she’s just a madwoman, isn’t she…?’

“To you, he may be just one man, but to me, he is my whole world. What right do you have to advise me when you don’t even understand that? Do you think I’ll be scared by your words?”

I got goosebumps hearing her say the exact lines that I had said to Lina in the original story.

No, I didn’t even have to go back to the original story. Until just a few months ago, wasn’t the Crown Prince my whole world too?

I forcibly shook off the rising memories of the past and tried to persuade her in the kindest voice I could muster.

“Alright. Let’s say you successfully summon another transcendent being. Would he want to make a contract with an ordinary human like you? You alone wouldn’t be enough, so you’d probably have to sacrifice another life as an offering. Could you stain your hands with the blood of innocent people?”

“The blood of innocent people…?”

Ines’s eyes trembled pitifully. It seemed she was the type who could commission a murder but couldn’t kill a bug herself.

‘Is she giving up now?’

Of course not.

She soon covered her ears with both hands and started spouting whatever she wanted to say.

“Ha, just because His Highness shows you a little favor, you can’t see anything else, can you? But I won’t be fooled by your clever tongue. Watch what I can do. I’m not afraid of anything. In fact, I’m looking forward to proving my worth to His Highness as soon as possible!”

‘This girl is completely out of her mind, isn’t she?’

Well, if she were the type to listen to reason, she wouldn’t be a villainous supporting character in the first place. I knew that better than anyone because I used to play that role.

While pondering another way to persuade her, I heard footsteps from afar. The maid who had left was returning.

“Miss, who are you talking to?”

The maid asked curiously from outside the door, and the doorknob rattled as if it would open any moment.

‘I have no choice.’

Though it felt uneasy, I decided to end it here for today and hurriedly left Ines’s room.

***

“What should I do…”

Seeing Ines’s state with my own eyes made me even more anxious.

They say an ignorant person with conviction is scary. At this rate, she would definitely summon another transcendent being soon.

I looked at Michalis intently.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Michalis, you’re a vampire lord, so you’re very strong, right? Other transcendents wouldn’t stand a chance against you, would they?”

“What are you planning?”

Michalis looked at me with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.