“Please leave the Ivrante Estate as late as possible. It would be even better if you slept there.”

“Ha……”

Leonhart brushed back his hair and muttered a curse.

He was on the verge of going crazy wanting to bolt immediately.

If not for Ashir’s urging, he would have already done as he pleased.

“Absurd.”

He couldn’t understand why he was sitting in Adrianne’s bedroom, watching over that woman.

Regardless, since he had come this far, he intended to endure until midnight.

‘That’s the only way the numbers add up.’

He hoped the rumors would spread and reach the First Imperial Prince’s ears.

And that the First Imperial Prince, believing Adrianne supported him, would become anxious.

That his mind would be distracted so he would stop interfering with the Great Plaza construction.

Thinking of that, this damn situation was somewhat bearable.

He just had to endure a little longer.

Leonhart cast an indifferent gaze out the window.

He didn’t care whether Adrianne groaned in pain right beside him or not.

He was simply waiting for time to pass when he heard a strange sound.

“……Le……o……”

“She’s gone mad.”

Leonhart chuckled. He thought Adrianne had regained consciousness and was calling his name.

Just as she had back in the Academy.

“Leo……n……”

“What?”

Leonhart’s eyes widened.

Leon? Did Adrianne just say Leon?

That was impossible. Leon was a nickname reserved exclusively for Adella.

No one else had ever been allowed to call Leonhart that.

Of course, she might have called him that when she was alone.

But Adrianne did not know that Leonhart had been called Leon.

The tension snapped into his spine as he leaned languidly against the single-person sofa.

Leonhart sat up straight and focused his hearing.

Adrianne made no further sound.

As if possessed, Leonhart rose from the sofa and slowly approached the bed.

“You haven’t woken up.”

Adrianne had not regained consciousness.

Wrapped snugly in the sheets, she looked healthier than when she’d collapsed, but she was still unconscious.

However, as if having a nightmare, she was mumbling something with a deep frown.

“Ugh……”

Leonhart leaned his head over Adrianne’s face.

Her hot breath warmed his earlobe.

Just as he frowned because it felt strange, Adrianne mumbled in her sleep with a cracking voice.

“…Ah, why do you keep… stop… talking already…”

What, it’s just nonsense.

A moment a chill flashed through Leonhart’s eyes.

Adrianne’s eyelids slowly lifted. Soon, she smiled faintly, her eyes still half-closed from sleep.

“Leon…… does it not hurt anymore?”

Leonhart froze on the spot.

It was exactly like the last time she had held his hand. That same strange sense of déjà vu overwhelmed him again.

Why did he keep feeling Adella in Adrianne?

‘Unless I’m going crazy……’

Leonhart grit his teeth.

“How does Your Grace know that name?”

“Huh?”

Asking languidly, she suddenly startled and bolted upright.

“Your Highness?!”

Leonhart’s long eyes narrowed with an ominous air.

“Just answer. Who did you hear it from?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Did you summon members of the expedition to investigate me? That’s honestly disturbing.”

“……Why would I investigate Your Highness?”

Adrianne tilted her head.

Her acting was top-notch. Her expression was so genuinely innocent that even Leonhart was almost fooled.

In his ignorant childhood, there was a time when he had trusted Adrianne.

Of course, he had no intention of repeating that stupid mistake.

While Leonhart was recalling the past, Adrianne got out of bed and looked around.

“More importantly, Your Highness, why are you in my bedroom?”

“You’re asking me that? It wasn’t me, but Your Grace who collapsed dramatically in front of so many people.”

“Ah…… right, I did collapse……”

Adrianne muttered, clutching her chest. Her complexion was not just pale, but almost blue.

Leonhart watched her quietly.

It didn’t seem like she had fainted on purpose.

That didn’t mean he had completely dropped his suspicions about Adrianne.

Until recently, she had been sending assassins to pressure him into withdrawing from the imperial succession race.

Even though she knew well that Leonhart, a sword master, could not be easily assassinated.

For such a woman to approach him in a crowded place, vomit blood, and collapse.

Naturally, her intentions were suspicious.

There was no telling what crime she might try to pin on him.

She was the kind of woman who could claim that Leonhart was a dark sorcerer who had cursed her using demons.

That was why he had no choice but to bring her safely to her home in front of everyone.

So that no one could talk behind his back.

Leonhart asked insincerely.

“Does it hurt?”

“……No, it doesn’t.”

“My suit was drenched in blood.”

Adrianne’s eyes reddened as if she were displeased.

“I am sorry, Your Highness. I will have it laundered for you.”

“I threw it away.”

“…….”

Leonhart intentionally remained silent.

Despite the pressure, Adrianne spoke with composure.

“My companions must have been with me. What happened to them?”

“Since Your Grace was covered in blood, I sent them ahead, and we came in a separate carriage.”

“Haa…… that’s a relief. Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. I wasn’t feeling well earlier and caused quite a scene.”

“What brought you to the Great Plaza?”

“I saw Your Highness while passing by. So I simply went to discuss the construction issue. There was no other reason.”

“…….”

“I didn’t go to the Great Plaza to see Your Highness, nor did I know you were there. It was truly a coincidence, so I hope you do not misunderstand.”

“A coincidence…… if Your Grace says so, then well, I suppose it was.”

“Whew……”

Adrianne nearly snapped before rubbing a hand over her face.

“The longer this conversation lasts, the worse we’ll both feel, so I’ll keep it simple. Just withdraw the statue project. If you do, I won’t appear before you again. I’ll even help ensure the construction proceeds smoothly.”

“I have no intention of doing that.”

“I’ll support your claim to the position of Crown Prince. That’s a promise.”

“Did I not tell you? I will handle my own affairs.”

“……Your Highness, it will be troublesome if you make an enemy of me.”

“Were we not always enemies? You’re talking nonsense.”

“…….”

“It’s past midnight. I’ll be leaving now.”

Leonhart stood up and straightened his clothes. Just as he turned away, Adrianne’s voice reached him.

“I wonder if Adella Helsington would actually like such a thing?”

Leonhart stopped dead in his tracks.

“A golden statue made in her own image. If it were me, I would never like— ugh!”

Leonhart stretched out his long arm and gripped the back of Adrianne’s neck firmly. The distance between them closed abruptly.

“What do you know about Adel.”

“…Is that something I need to know personally to say that?”

“It’s troublesome when you pretend to know things based on scraps you’ve picked up.”

Adrianne looked up at him blankly.

Despite having such a vulnerable spot firmly in his grasp, she remained calm and composed.

“Do not feel guilt over the death of Adella Helsington. It was not Your Highness’s fault.”

Leonhart clenched his jaw. Thick veins stood out on his neck.

He should warn her that she knows nothing, that she shouldn’t pretend to know… but the words wouldn’t come out.

‘She seems like a different person.’

She seemed so sincerely sorry that he almost doubted his own eyes.

Whether Leonhart felt guilt over Adella’s death or not, wasn’t it truly strange that Adrianne was the one feeling sorry?

Leonhart roughly released Adrianne’s neck.

No, rather than releasing her, it was more that Leonhart moved away from her.

At that moment, Adrianne stared blankly into the air, and her expression suddenly distorted.

‘What is she looking at?’

Leonhart glanced up above his own head.

‘There’s nothing there?’

Suddenly, he felt a sense of déjà vu.

‘I think I’ve had a similar thought before?’

Then, she, who had been silently biting her lip, held her forehead with a troubled look.

Leonhart stopped thinking and let out a hollow laugh.

‘Is she treating me like a headache-inducing problem right now?’

“Fine, then I will create a perfec… a proposal. Once you see it, you will definitely change your mind.”

“……Your Grace herself?”

“Yes, I will do it personally. So, Your Highness, please make a concession.”

This wasn’t how Adrianne usually negotiated.

Her father was of the Imperial Family and her mother was the previous Duchess; she had succeeded to the title of Duchess as soon as she became an adult.

Except for the Emperor, there was no one who could match her in power, so she had no need to make concessions to others.

She lived without any problems, suppressing those more capable than her, taking what she desired, and trampling those she disliked.

Since such a woman was suddenly acting rationally, he immediately became suspicious.

‘I must not fall for her tricks.’

He could just ignore her, but the problem was that he kept having a strange premonition.

That he needed to keep her close and monitor her.

Leonhart pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Let’s do that.”

“Yes……”

“Prepare the proposal, Your Grace.”

“A-ah, no, no, wait. Your Highness, that’s not what I—”

“I’ll give you five days.”

Leonhart left the dazed Adrianne behind and walked out.

After Leonhart left, I, left alone, trembled violently.

The final instruction was still floating in the air.

[Level 3: (Confidently) Fine, then I will create a perfect proposal. Once you see it, you will definitely change your mind.]

“Are you crazy? Who said you could make a proposal!”

I was sick and tired of assignments. I almost died of overwork in my fourth year of college because of assignments!

Why do I have to do assignments even in a novel? And within five days!

I followed the instruction thinking I would obviously be rejected. But to think Leonhart would accept it.

“Ha……”

Leonhart, what on earth were you thinking when you agreed? You’ll have to face me at least once more; are you sure you’re okay with that?

Undine, who appeared as soon as Leonhart left, muttered.

• Even if the body changes, the habits remain the same. How fascinating.

“Huh? Do I have some kind of habit?”

• You talk to yourself a lot. Sometimes you just stare blankly into thin air… well, it was a bit weird at first, but I’m used to it now.

“Ah…”

She was talking about my behavior whenever the instructions appeared.

Undine suddenly clapped her hands.

• Oh, right! Why did you cough up blood out of nowhere? And why did you lose consciousness! I was so shocked I almost appeared right in front of Leonhart!

“…I don’t know. I guess I was just too startled because of Ruspell.”

• No, how weak is your body that you cough up blood just from being startled? Are you sick or something?

I’d rather it be a disease so I could hope for a recovery. I couldn’t escape the penalty until the novel reached its conclusion.

“It’s nothing like that. I’m fine now.”

• I guess… but isn’t Leonhart seriously insane? What is he doing to a sick person? I didn’t know he was such a rude human being!

“Ah, that’s fine. If he weren’t the Imperial Prince, I would have grabbed him by the collar already.”

• Let’s just tell him the truth. Once Leonhart knows you’re Adel, he’ll change.

“…I told you, I can’t.”

• Whyyy? Because the Soul Transfer Art will be undone? I know that’s a lie.

My mind froze instantly. I stared at Undine with wide eyes.

“…W-what are you talking about? T-that’s n-not a lie!”

• You should stop stuttering… well, fine. I’ll wait until you’re ready to confess. Even people who love each other have secrets.”

Avoiding her gaze, I flopped onto the bed.

“Ugh, I-I’m suddenly sleepy…”

Just as I was about to pretend to sleep, Undine peered intently at me.

• Rianne.

“Y-yeah? What?”

• If you don’t want it discovered that you’re Adel, I think you need to watch your mouth first.

“What does that mean now?”

• You said ‘Leon’ in your sleep. Leonhart heard everything.

“…What?!”

I shot upright in bed.

Only now could I guess Leonhart’s ulterior motive.

 

“Did you summon members of the expedition to investigate me? That’s honestly disturbing.”

“It’s troublesome when you pretend to know things based on scraps you’ve picked up.”

 

I wondered what on earth he meant by that.

‘He thinks I investigated him and am deliberately imitating Adela.’

To him, a stalker had taken something precious and tainted it.

That’s why he accepted my proposal. To screw me over publicly.

No matter how groundbreaking or creative a proposal I create, Leonhart will have no intention of approving it.

He’ll reject it, and reject it, and reject it again, tormenting me until the preparations for the statue project are complete.

And I’ll have to keep making plans even though I know they’ll end up in the trash.

All because of that insane lousy author.

Grind, I gnashed my teeth.

“You… I’m going to destroy you.”