Chapter : 15
“Even If I’m an Extra, I’d Like to Avoid the Death Route” (15)
“I saw it.”
“…What?”
“I said I saw it. The madness.”
“How could you?”
“This neck—this is from when I got hurt back then.”
After chewing over my words for a moment, Edwin ground his teeth.
“What did you just say?”
“Calm down and listen.”
“That bastard did this? He swung a knife at you, is that what you’re saying right now?”
No matter how kind a face someone had, a face twisted with rage was nothing short of terrifying.
He was clenching his fists so tightly that his fingertips had turned bright red.
“I said calm down and listen.”
“I’ll kill him right now.”
Edwin grabbed the hilt of the sword at his waist and sprang to his feet.
“Hey—sit down!”
I stood up as well, following Edwin as he spiraled out of control.
Then, with all my strength, I smacked him hard on the back.
Edwin froze completely, then stared at me with a dazed expression.
“…Irenea?”
“Sit down. I’ll explain.”
Guess they were right when they said a good beating was sometimes the cure.
Still looking stunned, Edwin obediently sat back down.
Worried he might suddenly explode again, I scooted a little closer to him.
“There’s nothing certain yet, so I can’t explain properly right now.”
“What?”
“Anything. But one thing is for sure—the prince isn’t a dangerous person.”
Edwin looked utterly unable to understand.
Explaining everything honestly wouldn’t work anyway; I doubted he’d believe it.
And even if we were family, he wasn’t my real family. I couldn’t trust him completely either.
“If something dangerous happens one more time, I’ll quit then.”
“……”
“I promise. So please, just let this one go.”
I raised my pinky finger and held it out to Edwin.
After hesitating for a moment, Edwin slowly nodded and hooked his finger with mine.
“One more thing.”
“Hm?”
“If you gain even a little certainty, tell me.”
I felt strength go into Edwin’s pinky where it was linked with mine.
“Okay.”
“Everything. No matter what.”
“I said okay.”
For someone with such a big build, he had a surprisingly childish side.
He was probably being completely serious, but honestly, it felt a bit like he was whining.
“…Ha. And your wound?”
“It’s almost healed. I just don’t like the scar showing, so I’ve been wrapping it.”
“I see. It gets cold once the sun goes down. Let’s go inside.”
Only then did a faint smile appear at the corner of Edwin’s mouth, as if he’d finally relaxed.
The next day.
Today’s dessert was pudding.
Beneath the springy custard pudding, I’d layered sweet caramel syrup.
Looking at the pudding in its pretty glass jar made a satisfied smile spread across my face.
“Wow, what’s this now?”
Serena, who had come up beside me before I noticed, asked in an excited voice.
“It’s called pudding. Cute, right?”
“Yeah, it kind of looks like jelly. It looks delicious. Is it hard to make?”
“No, this one’s easy.”
“Then, you know…”
Serena fidgeted with her fingers, dragging out her words like she had something to say.
“Hm?”
“Could you maybe teach me how to make it…?”
“Sure.”
“Really? You mean it?”
“Of course. Let’s find a time.”
“Yay!”
Serena bounced on her feet, expressing her excitement.
“Oh, right. Are the ingredients expensive?”
“No, there’s nothing special in it.”
“That’s a relief. I was going to just buy something from a dessert shop, but there weren’t many kinds and it was so expensive.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I see you making things here all the time, so I went without thinking—and was totally shocked.”
You could really feel how underdeveloped the market was.
Of course, prices would vary depending on the ingredients, but since the techniques themselves weren’t widespread, prices were bound to be higher overall.
‘Maybe I should start a business later.’
If the story wrapped up well, I might actually be able to make a living here using the skills I had.
Enough to seriously consider it, at least.
Though right now, with no idea when I might die, it was probably unrealistic.
“By the way, why dessert all of a sudden? Is it a gift?”
“Huh? Uh… yeah.”
At my question, Serena’s face flushed bright red as she visibly panicked.
Oh? Something smells fishy here.
“…Serena.”
“Huh? Yeah?”
“You have someone you like.”
“Kyaa!”
When I asked teasingly, Serena covered her face with both hands, completely flustered.
Ah, youth is nice.
“Irenea, it’s a secret, okay?”
“Okay, but who is it?”
Her face was blooming with a smile that showed no sign of fading.
“I don’t know his name yet. He’s someone from the knight order.”
“Oh, really?”
“Actually, I once tripped in the hallway.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, and he found me and ran over to help me up.”
Serena wore an enraptured expression, clearly reliving the moment.
“When I thanked him and saw him up close, he was just—so, so handsome.”
Clasping her hands together, eyes sparkling—she was unmistakably a girl in love.
“So I wanted to give him something in return.”
“I see. I hope it goes well.”
“Thank you, Irenea.”
Watching Serena so full of excitement stirred a mix of emotions in me.
It felt strange, and enviable.
And a little bitter, too.
I’d never liked anyone in my life—not once. And of course, no one had ever liked me either.
It was a feeling that seemed forever out of reach for me.
“Don’t you have anyone you like, Irenea?”
“…No.”
“I see. If you ever do, I’ll help you for sure!”
“Thanks.”
Though I doubt that’ll ever happen.
“Here already?”
In front of Iart’s office.
Thankfully, unlike yesterday, Edwin greeted me with a bright expression.
“Yeah.”
I was thinking Edwin would knock like yesterday, but even after a while, there was no sign of the door opening.
“Should I knock?”
“Oh. You can just go in. Since you come at a set time, he said not to knock.”
He could’ve told me earlier—I’d just been standing there awkwardly.
I carefully opened the door and stepped inside, and there was Iart, just as he’d been yesterday.
“Your Highness, I’ve brought dessert.”
Just like yesterday, he only nodded without taking his eyes off the documents.
When I set the pudding down on the table, he stared at it intently, which was unusual.
“…What is this?”
“Oh, it’s called pudding. You scoop it together with the syrup underneath and eat it.”
After eyeing the dessert suspiciously for a while, Iart picked up the jar.
Then, using the spoon I’d brought, he carefully took a bite.
Watching my favorite character eat dessert I made.
Saving this straight to my mental gallery.
Seriously, how can someone look this handsome even while eating pudding?
It’s like he’s filming a pudding commercial all by himself.
“Hmm.”
Thankfully, it seemed to suit his taste.
That someone with that face liked sweet things—I was deeply grateful for that as a fan.
“How is it?”
“Well, it’s not bad.”
Seeing him prepare the next bite right away, it clearly meant he liked it quite a bit.
A satisfied smile naturally spread across my face.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
It might be awkward if I kept watching him eat, so I was about to excuse myself.
“Wait.”
Just as I turned around, Iart stopped me.
He rummaged through his desk drawer, then took out a small box.
“Here.”
The box alone radiated luxury.
But why was he holding it out to me?
“What is this?”
“Take it.”
I accepted the box, confused.
Ah—was I supposed to give it to someone else?
“Who should I pass this on to?”
“What?”
At my question, Iart’s brows furrowed sharply.
Was that not it?
“…Ha. It’s yours.”
“What? Mine?”
Iart nodded irritably, as if daring me to make him repeat himself.
What is happening?
Is Iart… giving me a gift?
There isn’t something weird inside, right?
Even as a fan, this was confusing.
“Um… may I open it?”
At my question, Iart lowered his gaze and waved one hand dismissively.
Taking that as permission, I carefully opened the box.
‘Wow… what is this?’
Inside was a scarf—pure white, embroidered with small floral patterns.
It was far too lovely, not something that seemed like it would suit me.
“Um, why are you giving me this…?”
When I asked with a flustered expression, Iart glanced at the bandage wrapped around my neck and said,
“I don’t like the look of you walking around with bandages, so I’m giving it to you.”
So… this is to cover my wound?
I lifted my gaze from the scarf to look at Iart’s face.
He wore a blunt expression, betraying no emotion at all.
But still—
His slightly reddened earlobes told the real story.
‘Cute. He’s embarrassed.’
Even though he acted brusque on the outside, this was proof he was actually a good person.
“Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”
“Do whatever you want. Now go.”
“Yes. Enjoy your dessert!”
Holding the closed box tightly to my chest, I left the office.
After the day ended and I returned to my room, I spent a long time admiring the scarf Iart had given me.
A gift from my favorite character.
No matter how much I savored this feeling, it wouldn’t be enough.
“Should I try it on?”
Holding the scarf, I stepped lightly in front of the mirror.
This way once, that way once.
Then I realized.
“…I don’t know how to wear a scarf.”
Strangely enough, I was good at making desserts, but completely hopeless at things like this.
Looking at the scarf draped all wrong, it honestly seemed worse than not wearing it at all.
I tried for a full thirty minutes, but the result was still disastrous.
If only there were internet—I could’ve looked it up.
Author, really.
If you’re going to mash all kinds of things together, you could’ve included the internet too.
My frustration turned into misplaced resentment.
“Ugh, forget it.”
I gave up and headed back to the bed, when the book on the bedside table began to glow.
It seemed like an episode was starting.
I slowly approached and opened the book.
[Episode 2. Outside and Inside]
[Keywords: Truth, Lies, Plans]
It was the same as always.
A vague, deliberately unhelpful book.
If the outside and inside are different, then of course there’s truth and lies!
And secret, underhanded plans, too.
…So am I supposed to find that?
“No, but you should at least tell me who.”
How many people are here right now—couldn’t you at least tell me whose outside and inside I’m supposed to uncover?
It was yet another situation that left me completely at a loss.
Outside and inside.
I started by thinking through the main characters one by one.
Who seemed like they might be different on the outside and inside?
The first person who came to mind was Iart.
Cold on the outside, warm on the inside.
But that was already subtly shown in the story itself.
At least until he let everything go and was consumed by madness.
“Let’s exclude Iart for now.”
And then, the very next person I thought of made me pause.
Someone I couldn’t easily dismiss as “probably not.”
