~Chapter 12~
Ah… so cute.
Why does this guy have to be cute too?
I almost laughed along with him, but quickly turned my body to hide the grin creeping up on my face.
Today, I really couldn’t answer his question.
Nothing had changed with my situation, my father still told me not to get close to him, and there were the ugly rumors Rene had mentioned.
Maybe keeping my distance from Linus was the right choice.
But if I did that… he’d probably avoid me entirely if we bumped into each other again.
And I don’t want that.
Just imagining Linus ignoring me made me feel hurt already.
Sigh… What am I supposed to do with my feelings?
As I walked slowly, my mind in chaos, Linus matched my pace and started walking beside me.
I worried he might confess again, but he smoothly changed the topic.
“It’s a nice night for a walk.”
Of course—Linus was clever, not just handsome.
I looked at him, feeling proud, and replied with a smile.
“Yes… the sun has set, so it’s cooler now.”
Linus smiled back so brightly it was like honey was dripping from his eyes.
Really… if he doesn’t confess, what’s the point?
He’s basically screaming “I like you” on his face.
I kept walking, shaking my head in embarrassment, and my cheeks hurt for some reason.
Suppressing the rebellious corners of my mouth, we began our third walk together.
I was thinking about how I could naturally ask him about the awful rumors that he was a killer when I heard movement in the bushes.
“Who’s there?”
It was the crown prince Haid and Larienne, cautious but clearly aware of us.
So they were here too, not in the banquet hall.
I thought maybe they were having a secret meeting already—but strangely, Cheryl was with them.
What’s going on now?
There was no scene like this in the original story where Larienne, Haid, and Cheryl met secretly.
All three of them looked serious.
I had to behave properly since I was meeting the crown prince, so I bowed slightly, just as Ruby had taught me.
“Your Highness, it’s an honor to meet you.”
Haid didn’t seem to recognize my face, but he noticed Linus bowing beside me.
“You’re the Duke of Pictian? What are you doing here?”
“I was taking a walk with Lady Titanoa, Your Highness.”
“Oh… so you’re Lady Titanoa.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Airevet Titanoa.”
After the awkward greetings, I had nothing more to say.
Since I wasn’t in the original story, I planned to avoid getting tangled with them.
As I tried to quietly slip away, Cheryl muttered, staring at the darkening corner of the garden.
“Why is that… again?”
I looked in the direction she was staring—and almost fell over.
What the heck… a gate just appeared out of nowhere?!
Himong said he’d notify me immediately if a gate opened!
That useless little cat… I trusted him, and now this.
I was about to cry as I checked the gate—when, ugh, sparks of dark red shot out, and the air around it twisted.
Dungeon Break was happening right in front of Haid, Larienne, and Cheryl.
“No, wait—waaaait!!”
In an instant, Linus, I, and even the main characters of this world were sucked into the gate.
***
Once again, I landed in the dungeon in Linus’s arms.
A 2-meter-high cave, dark and smelling musty from every corner.
And a voice from behind.
“Oh my. Lady Torned, Countess Sidonia, are you alright?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Are you safe as well?”
“This looks like a cave dungeon.”
It was Haid, Larienne, and Cheryl’s voices.
The first time I got dragged into a dungeon, I felt desperate—but today, I really wanted to cry.
I had decided to tackle the dungeon alone before, partly because of me, but mostly to stabilize this world.
If monsters poured out from the dungeon, the main characters could be in danger.
If something happened to them, the world would never stabilize.
Then why the heck were the three safest people here?
The difficulty of my body-swapped life is insane… maybe I should just die.
Over my head, as I sobbed and covered my face, Linus’s gentle voice fell.
“Airebet, are you alright?”
Linus was kind as always, but I didn’t even have the energy to respond.
Protecting four non-awakened people while tackling the dungeon… does that even make sense?
And of all dungeons… it had to be an ant nest!
‘Status Window.’
I summoned my status window in my mind, and a transparent panel appeared in front of me.
***
《Airevet Titanoa》
[Status]
Immortal Queen C 95%
□□■■□■□ ■□
[Skills]
Strength Boost C – Passive
Defense Boost C – Passive
Physical Enhancement B – Passive
Swordsmanship A – Passive
“I’ll Protect You” A – Active
“Death Together” S – Active
***
It’s literally an ant nest.
95% means all the worker ants are dead, and only the soldier ants protecting the queen remain.
But the dungeon’s progress bar doesn’t matter.
The boss, the Immortal Ant Queen, literally cannot die.
I know the conditions to defeat her from my previous attempt, but soloing it is impossible.
At this rate, Linus, the others, and I will all be eating food in no time.
As I stared blankly at the status window, Linus carefully set me down and looked me in the eye.
“Airevet, focus.”
Nope.
If I focus, I’ll just feel pain when I die.
I just want to lose consciousness and die painlessly.
Larienne approached, concerned in her voice.
“Duke Pictian, I’m Larienne Torned. May I help?”
“You seem shocked.”
“I can assist.”
She held my hand gently, looking at me with her clear blue eyes, and spoke softly.
“Lady Titanoa, I’ll share some of my strength with you. You’ll be fine soon.”
Her silver hair fluttered, and a soft light surrounded her.
Larienne, the pure and kind heroine with healing powers, was sharing her power without hesitation.
Since my body was already fine, it didn’t do much physically, but it brought me back to my senses.
I squeezed her hand gratefully.
“I’m okay now, Lady Torned. Thank you.”
She sighed in relief and withdrew her power, then, with the elegant smile that had captivated Haid’s heart, said:
“I heard you weren’t feeling well, Lady Titanoa. If you struggle, let me know anytime.”
Geez… she’s so kind.
No wonder Haid can’t resist her.
I might fall for her too.
I couldn’t let a girl who would’ve had a happy ending if I hadn’t been body-swapped get eaten by ants.
Maybe there’s another way to defeat the Ant Queen.
Just as I started thinking, a red gaze suddenly appeared right in front of me, clouded with worry.
“Airevet, are you alright now?”
Wait… I just zoned out for a second, and now he’s giving me that worried face again.
A grown man looking like he’s about to cry… why is he so cute?
I let out a small laugh and replied:
“Yes, thanks to Lady Torned’s healing…”
Wait.
That doesn’t make sense…
Larienne’s healing power didn’t actually work, did it?
Non-awakened powers are nullified in dungeons.
Even nukes wouldn’t work here.
But just now… Larienne did use her healing.
