CHAPTER 30
From that moment on, Adèle began to show through Adrian.
Forcing her to sleep, making sure she ate…
Everything she did—her watchful eyes, her quiet attentiveness—reminded Rusfell of Adèle.
Even her tone—cold and authoritative—was betrayed by the warmth in her gaze.
To Rusfell, Adrian and Adèle were no longer distinguishable.
But he had no proof. It was all just a feeling.
So he told no one.
Owen and Leonhart would just think he’d fallen for her tricks.
While Rusfell was lost in thought, Owen gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m not blaming you, Rusfell. Please don’t misunderstand.”
“…I hid the paper doll. We can spy on the Duke anytime now.”
“Well done. Really.”
One had been hidden in a useless guest room, but the other was in the study. That should be enough.
‘Still, I feel like I betrayed my friends… It weighs on me.’
Rusfell silently bowed his head, and that’s when Leonhart spoke.
“Rusfell, you’re saying she really made this all by herself?”
“I did come up with a few mechanisms. But I never would’ve thought of them without her draft plan. That much is certain.”
Leonhart furrowed his brow and reviewed the plans again.
He had attended the academy with Adrian. He knew how absurd this was.
She was the kind of person who flatly refused even her professors’ assignments.
Who do you think you are, making me work?
‘And now you’re telling me she was hiding skills like this all along? I don’t even know what’s real anymore.’
Leonhart, flipping through the plans with a cold eye, stopped at the last page.
“This is…”
A bird’s-eye view of the grand plaza.
Paths stretching from a central greenhouse, trees planted in harmony, cozy benches, charming sculptures. It was beautiful, perfectly balanced.
But that wasn’t what surprised him.
The atmosphere—it was nearly identical to the sketches Adèle used to doodle.
Granted, she only scribbled on napkins or dirt, and there were clear differences on closer inspection.
So maybe this, too, was just his imagination.
Just like how Adrian reminded him of Adèle.
‘But still…’
That strange feeling he’d had in Adrian’s bedroom resurfaced.
A sense that he needed to keep her close. Keep an eye on her.
Come to think of it, that might be the better strategy.
‘If I keep her close, it’ll be easier to see what tricks she’s planning.’
“You two should join the grand plaza construction team. Owen, take charge of safety. Rusfell, you handle the magic.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
“…Fine.”
Once Leonhart roped Rusfell and Owen into the project, he called for Esir.
“You summoned me, Your Highness?”
“I need to see His Majesty. I’m returning to the palace.”
“Will you be showing His Majesty the plans?”
“Our dear Duke seems desperate to be involved. I’ll grant her wish.”
“…What do you mean?”
Leonhart merely smiled.
To Duke Ebrante,
His Majesty the Emperor was greatly pleased with your grand plaza construction plans.
As a result, the project has been revised according to your proposal, and you have been officially appointed as a consultant.
Congratulations.
Congratulations?
‘Are they out of their minds?’
CRUMPLE!
I crumpled the imperial letter into a mess.
Fine. Let’s say the emperor really did like the plans.
Even if I still couldn’t understand why Leonhart would show the stalker’s plans to the emperor, I could blame that on his overly righteous personality.
‘But why the hell am I being dragged into this? When did I ever say I wanted to be a consultant?!’
Why do they even need me?
They already have the plans. Just follow them! So why bring me in?
‘This was that damn author’s goal, wasn’t it? Force me to make the plans just to trap me into joining the project!’
“Ugh, my head…”
It was seriously starting to throb.
The more I saw of Leonhart, the more I was convinced—he was either going to kill me or expose my identity. One or the other.
And I needed to survive until the ending without anyone finding out who I really was.
Leonhart was currently Threat #1.
That alone was reason enough to stay the hell away from him.
Why the hell would I agree to be a consultant?
I tossed the crumpled letter onto the silver tray held by the butler.
“I need to send a letter to His Majesty.”
“What shall I write?”
“Thank him, but decline due to health—”
[Step 3: (With a smirk) Seems they know talent when they see it. Accept the role.]
‘That damn author… This was the plan all along, wasn’t it?!’
Crack.
At this rate, I was going to grind my molars to dust. I forced my jaw open.
“Fine. ‘Seems they know talent when they see it. Accept the role.’”
“…Weren’t you planning to decline?”
“Did I stutter?”
“N-no, ma’am. I’ll send it right away.”
The butler, sensing danger, hurried out.
Left alone in the study, I clutched my head. My forehead was burning with frustration.
“Now I get it.”
The trash author wanted Leonhart and me to hate each other—yet also kept forcing us to cross paths.
There was only one reason for such a contradiction.
‘They want my identity to be exposed.’
If that happened, I wouldn’t be able to return to my original world even after the novel ended.
‘What the hell…’
Once Part 2 ended, I was supposed to be nothing but a leftover character. So why were they so desperate to keep me here?
Wait a second.
‘Don’t tell me… they’re planning to write Part 3?!’
No matter how I thought about it, that was the only explanation.
I let out a hollow laugh.
Had the author gone off the deep end because their work flopped?
‘You promised you wouldn’t write more! You said it was the final ending!’
Back then, I hadn’t noticed it, but now I could see all the loopholes.
‘Right. You promised no Part 3—but you never said anything about retiring. You’re planning to possess me into another series.’
I got goosebumps. The author’s obsession was revolting.
‘No matter what, I must hide my identity. Let’s see who wins.’
At least it was just Leonhart I had to watch out for.
If Owen and Rusfell got involved too, I’d be screwed.
Just then, the butler carefully opened the study door.
“Master.”
“What is it?”
“An invitation from the Third Prince.”
“An invitation?”
Leonhart didn’t strike me as the party type…
“Bring it here.”
Invitation
◈ Event: Grand Plaza Plan Briefing (Presenter: Adrian Ebrante)
◈ Location: Third Prince’s Palace
◈ Time: Tomorrow at 10 PM
We kindly request your attendance.
I read the invitation—and burst out laughing.
I hadn’t even sent my letter accepting the position, and yet they were already inviting me to the briefing.
They knew I’d accept.
– Rian! Is that a party invitation? Are we going to a party?
“It’s a briefing for the plaza plan. And I’m the one presenting.”
– What?! They didn’t even ask for your consent?!
“The best part is—it’s at 10 PM tomorrow.”
– How did they know you have absolutely nothing better to do?!
“Even if I was busy, they’d have scheduled it then.”
– Huh? Why?
“To mess with me.”
– Is Leonhart looking to taste your Wind Cutter or what…? Don’t go, Rian.
“I could skip it. I’d just have to deal with rumors that I ignored a direct imperial appointment.”
– F* the rumors! What’s scarier, gossip or a punch? Right, Gnome?**
– ………
Naturally, I wasn’t planning to go.
‘It’s not like rumors will actually kill me…’
[Step 3: Adrian summoned Luna.]
I had a bad feeling.
Still, I rang the bell to call Luna.
“You called, Master?”
[Step 3: Tomorrow night, we’re visiting the Third Prince’s palace. Prepare the most extravagant dress you can.]
Called it. Not even surprising anymore.
“Tomorrow night, we’re visiting the Third Prince’s palace. Prepare the most extravagant dress you can.”
“Understood, Master.”
Luna responded with grave determination. I was already dreading what kind of hideous, sparkly thing she’d bring.
“…?”
Even though I’d dismissed her, Luna didn’t leave.
She wandered the study, pretending to tidy up.
Sweat trickled down her back—and that’s when I remembered.
‘Right… this is just like that day.’
That day, Luna had been unusually distracted.
Anxious, unfocused, lost in thought to the point she missed my orders.
“Luna.”
“Yes, Master!”
She had been fidgeting with books, pulling them out and shoving them back in.
She rushed over quickly.
“Do you… have something to say?”
“Pardon?”
“There’s something you want to tell me, right? Isn’t that why you didn’t leave?”
