Chapter 5
The words that came out of Caesar’s mouth were as cold as ice water being poured over me. My face flushed hot from the shock.
“…What?”
“I asked, what trick are you trying to pull?”
He still wore a smile, but the atmosphere he gave off was razor-sharp. The hope that had briefly flared inside me crumbled away as my face cooled down. Only then did I instinctively realize—
Caesar really hates me. And not just a little—he despises me.
I was stunned. Truly stunned. When playing the game, Caesar was always kind from Valerie’s perspective. But facing him here in reality, he was nothing but cold. I guess it makes sense. After all, I’m not the protagonist of this game.
[Mission: See the Heroine Valerie’s Hidden Ending]
The game spelled it out clearly: the heroine was Valerie. That wouldn’t change. The moment I carved into my bones that I wasn’t the main character, I also accepted that the usual romance-fantasy “rules” wouldn’t apply to me—now or ever.
“…A tri—trick, you say…?”
Cough, cough.
The small sound of coughing came from behind me, and Caesar’s icy blue gaze shifted away. His eyes moved without hesitation toward Valerie. He bent down, lowering himself to her level, and his voice softened.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
“Ah…”
Valerie was drenched in cold sweat. Her soft pink hair clung damply to her delicate forehead, and her pale lips trembled as she spoke.
“…Duke Icarud. You… saved me earlier, didn’t you?”
“I’m glad you’re alive.”
“I ought to thank you properly, but…”
“Ah, don’t try to get up.”
His voice, stopping her from struggling upright, was gentler than spring breeze. No matter how cold his character was written, he was always warm toward the heroine. As expected, the sharp frost in his tone had melted away in an instant. Naturally, he didn’t spare me even a glance. I felt like an awkward extra wedged between the two main characters, fidgeting with my skirt hem because I had no lines, no role to play.
Remember this. I’m just a side character nobody cares about.
“Valerie Dona. You’re the orphan who grew up at the Donatella Convent before coming to the capital to find work, right?”
“Yes.”
“And of all places, you ended up at the Duke of Kainan’s household. How unfortunate.”
“…You know about me?”
“If it concerns the Empire, there’s very little I don’t know.”
A faint smile lingered at his lips—at the same time, bold text shimmered before my eyes.
[New character ‘Caesar Icarud’ has been unlocked.]
[The <Intelligence> tab in the character status window has been activated.]
“…!”
Just like the game. Once you had your first conversation with a male lead, a related stat would unlock. For Caesar, it was <Intelligence>.
[Character Status Window]
[Health: 5/999]
[Charm: 67/999]
[Intelligence: 1/999]
[Magic (Locked)]
[Swordsmanship (Locked)]
[Holy Power (Locked)]
[Nobility (Locked)][* Player Affection: 13/100]
Sure enough, the <Intelligence> tab was now available. Normally, you had to seek Caesar out yourself, but thanks to his visit, it activated automatically. But that wasn’t the real issue.
Oh no. Caesar’s here to take Valerie with him!
According to the original story, Valerie would’ve been kicked out of House Kainan and collapsed on the streets. Caesar, passing by, would have rescued her—that was their destined first meeting.
He would then employ her at his Lavigny Hotel, the main stage of the game, where she’d naturally meet the other four male leads.
But because I survived and stopped Valerie from being expelled, the story never began.
My interference derailed the scenario. So the game adjusted—Caesar himself came here to fetch Valerie.
Still, something about it didn’t add up.
Wait. Would a duke personally come to collect a mere maid? That’s way too far-fetched.
While I wrestled with confusion, their conversation carried on.
“When the lady was in danger, you didn’t hesitate to jump into the sea.”
“…It was only the natural thing to do.”
“Loyal people are hard to come by—especially nowadays.”
“Pardon?”
“What I mean is, Miss Valerie, you’re very valuable to me.”
A faint smile graced Caesar’s lips—then his cold gaze swept over me.
“Gaudy trinkets are everywhere, after all.”
“!”
A gaudy trinket? And commonplace at that? He meant me, no question. I bristled, but picking a fight with a male lead was pointless. I forced myself to take a step back.
Endure it. For the hidden ending. Don’t fight him.
“Would you like to work at House Icarud, Miss Valerie?”
“…What?”
Of course. He was recruiting her.
This is bad. If Valerie goes with him, I’ll lose her completely!
And if that happened, the outcome was obvious: I’d be cast out of my family’s lands along with the Duke of Kainan, with nothing left but a bleak “game over.”
Like hell I’ll let that happen.
I gathered what courage I had and stepped toward Caesar. My hands trembled, but I feigned calm. His brows arched in clear displeasure.
“Ex—excuse me, Duke Icarud.”
“…What is it?”
“Valerie is my precious char—no, my maid.”
He gave a short laugh, dripping with scorn. His icy gaze crushed my confidence.
“Precious? Since when did you ever think of your maids that way?”
“Well…”
“The capital is full of stories about you replacing them whenever you’re in a mood. Miss Valerie here has lasted the longest.”
So even Triciaren, my body’s original owner, had been a tyrant. I found myself unconsciously nodding.
“Do you have anything more to say?”
“….”
No, I didn’t. The bright red numbers in the affection window said it all: [13/100]. Barely ten percent!
Not even sweet Valerie ever dislikes anyone… yet she hates me. I’m doomed.
Then came Caesar’s cutting voice.
“How can you live without the faintest trace of conscience?”
“….”
“Miss Valerie risked her life today, diving into icy waters to save you. And yet you haven’t even summoned a physician. What have you been doing?”
Hey! I was unconscious too, you know. And I did call for a doctor—they just haven’t arrived yet.
But I couldn’t say that aloud. I only clenched and unclenched my skirt hem.
“You heard earlier—I saved your life today.”
“…I’m grateful. I’ll make sure to repay you.”
Pfft.
Caesar turned his head slightly, mocking me with an open smirk. His expression screamed, What could you possibly offer?
I was reaching my boiling point.
What the hell do you want from me? If I thank him, he mocks me. If I apologize, he sneers. Enough already!
“If you insist on giving me something…”
He stepped closer, closing the distance in a heartbeat.
Wh—what is this?
His piercing blue gaze made it hard to breathe.
“…Send Miss Valerie to serve as my maid. In exchange for saving your life.”
“….”
“To your savior, that’s the least you can do, isn’t it?”
He wasn’t wrong. But I couldn’t agree. If I let Valerie go now, I’d be abandoned, game over.
This isn’t a resettable game anymore. I have to embrace the role of Triciaren Bay Kainan, for real.
“…All right. Understood.”
I dropped my shoulders and stepped back, lowering my head to look pitiful.
“Valerie, go with the Duke of Icarud.”
“Milady?”
“I must have treated you horribly before… no, I did. I’m sorry.”
Tears welled in my eyes. Seeing them, Valerie’s face softened with pity. Caesar, meanwhile, looked unsettled by my sudden change in demeanor.
“…What is this supposed to be?”
“Ever since I fell into the sea, it feels like… someone erased my memories. There are gaps everywhere.”
That was actually true. I knew nothing of Triciaren’s past life—she wasn’t even a named character in the game.
“You’ve lost your memory?”
Valerie’s pink eyes widened. Beside her, Caesar stared at me with a look that screamed, What kind of nonsense is this? But I couldn’t stop now.
I have to make Valerie too compassionate to abandon me.
Tears trickled down my cheeks.
“Milady…”
“Thank you, Valerie, for saving my life. I’ll never forget it.”
“…!”
“You’re sincere and kind. Wherever you go, you’ll be loved. I’m sorry for everything. And thank you.”
Pale and trembling, Valerie tried to rise from the bed but collapsed again.
“Please take care of her, Duke Icarud.”
I forced a final trembling note into my voice, then turned away slowly. I didn’t wipe my tears, making sure they glistened on my cheeks. My faltering steps completed the image of a tragic, lonely figure.
I told you—I’m a veteran of this game.
I knew Valerie’s heart inside and out. She was the classic pure heroine type: gentle, warm, unable to ignore anyone suffering. Which meant, of course—
I hadn’t taken five steps when Valerie’s voice rang out, firm and clear.
“Duke, I’m sorry. I can’t go.”
See that?
In the end, I’ll always win this game, Caesar Icarud.
