Chapter 4
“Tell me, how long do you plan on causing trouble? Wasn’t it just recently that you upset Father?” Evan’s voice came as I scanned the cockpit.’’
“Considering the guards and knights haven’t arrested me, can’t you figure it out? Stop poking around,” I replied.
“Hah, Diel. You’re shameless as always.”
Then it happened.
Words appeared on the control panels of the supporting characters, unseen to the extras.
[Unlock Condition: Raise Evan’s ‘Anger’ to 70%.]
Anger… High-tier characters, meaning the main characters, had to meet that condition for control to become possible.
Normally, I didn’t bother opening it since they usually managed well on their own.
“Seeing it after a while, it does feel somewhat refreshing.”
Regardless, I’m confident I can make him angry.
“How do you expect me to pick up the mess? This isn’t even our home jurisdiction.”
I opened my mouth to provoke Evan’s anger.
“Now that it’s come to this, I have to manipulate them to be on my side.”
If they follow the original script faithfully, I’ll end up in a miserable situation.
Knowing that, I can’t just sit back and do nothing.
“You’re talking about the mainland like we’re stuck in some rural backwater.”
“Last week, and the week before that, weren’t all those things your fault?”
“….”
Evan put down his pen and stood up.
“You’ve run barefoot through the forest before. Sneaked into my study to use the teleportation scroll.”
Then he slowly closed the distance.
“How many teleportation scrolls did you tear up? Even the dumbest person would know how much damage you caused.”
His gaze, up close, was even colder.
“Or did you threaten the maids to leave last time?”
I didn’t do any of those things, but it’s interesting to listen to.
“Diel Yekaterina, you were really serious about running away.”
“Running away would be pointless anyway, why can’t you get that through your head?”
If it follows the original, Diel’s ending will be neither here nor there.
It’s better to die cleanly than to rot away in the tower for the rest of your life.
“Evan Yekaterin.”
As I thought about it, it felt like a weight was pressing down on my shoulders.
“Can’t you live without me?”
“Whaaaaaaaat?”
I chuckled to anger this B-grade model student.
“Are you scared that I’ll abandon you and run away?”
There was a Pin drop silence after that statement.
“Are you insane?”
Evan laughed sarcastically.
“Oh, anger level is rising!”
At the same time, Evan’s face, mixed with anger, came closer to mine.
[Evan’s anger increases by 13%!]
[Controllable Points: 70% ― Current Anger Points: 64%]
But Evan’s controlled his anger stopped right there.
“Hah, why would Father be so angry.”
Oh no, my aggro wasn’t enough.
Even though he’s irritated, it seems he won’t reach 70%.
Since the condition is ‘anger,’ I was quite confident.
“Did Father say such crazy things too? Bringing in those discarded by the royal family and keeping them.”
After all, Evan was one of the main characters.
It was obvious that I couldn’t open the control window easily.
“Keeping and nurturing them, what a joke.”
“…….”
“From the beginning, it was obvious they coveted my healing powers. They needed even a lowly healing power discarded by the royal family.”
I chuckled a bit more maliciously.
“Fine. The Duke must have wanted to save his eldest son, so he had to do something. I understand.”
“Diel.”
“Who are you? If you had lived because of me, you’d be kneeling and begging. How dare you act like this towards me?”
Diel was weak and under care here, that was a lie.
It was an excuse used when the Yekaterina royal family discarded incompetent descendants.
Even Diel, born with a very weak healing power, was another princess ‘discharged.’
The so-called ‘discharged’ princess.
‘Who would have known that my healing power would manifest even greater.’
At that time, the Duke was in a state of frenzy due to Evan’s illness.
So the Duke brought the discharged princess.
In this way, those chosen by anyone survived. But even those who couldn’t become that died.
‘The Duke is really lucky.’
Anyway, thanks to Diel’s healing power, Evan was able to overcome the illness.
“What if the royal family finds out that I have healing power?”
“…….”
“What if Her Majesty finds out that the Yekaterin family has been hiding it all this time?”
Even saying this, I had no particular feelings towards Evan and the Yekaterin family.
“No, before that. I will disappear to a place where you will unable to find me.”
“…….”
Since I controlled this dimension, I knew Evan well.
“In this suffocating place, I will escape from you many times to escape. Do you understand?”
Evan’s expression, which seemed relaxed, gradually stiffened.
+1%, 2%, 3%……
At the same time, his anger points kept rising.
By the time a transparent something flickered in his eyes as he glanced at me,
[Evan’s ‘Anger’ has reached 70%!]
“Ah! It’s triggered!”
Finally, lights lit up on Evan’s control panel.
“How can you say such a thing?”
But I couldn’t help but flinch slightly.
What kind of reaction is this?
“…Uh, Uni?”
It was because Evan shed a tear.
Wait, why is he crying again?
“That’s why I hate you! Because you make me miserable.”
Familiar with Evan’s demeanor in the original work, particularly in front of the female lead, this Evan felt unfamiliar.
I expected him to rage like a typical male lead, ready to storm off or explode in anger.
“Crying is not the solution for anything.”
But I said it calmly.
“Crying in front of me won’t do any good.”
I felt like I had become a cold-hearted, northern ice queen, but there were things to be done.
‘Control panel.’
I needed to focus again.
Thinking about what to manipulate, I was staring at his control panel when it happened.
[Error! error!]
“Huh?”
Suddenly, a warning popped up in front of my eyes.
[Unable to execute command.]
Boom!
“Crazy! What is this now?”
Evan’s control panel, which had been sparkling, suddenly went dark.
Meanwhile, early in the morning, at Lord Locke’s estate.
“For that day’s meal, it would be best for Chef Roshi to handle it. We should also prepare a list of swift gardeners.”
Under the command of Lady Locke, the entire mansion was bustling with activity.
“Oh, and prepare the carriage we received from His Majesty last year.”
At that moment.
“Mother.”
“Oh, Lycis.”
Lady Locke’s expression brightened in an instant as she turned around.
“You’ve come earlier than expected!”
“She quickly scanned her son’s face after several years.’’
Silver hair woven like moonlight, and eyes as purple as dusk.
The charming boyish aura had vanished, replaced by a dignified and handsome young man.
“Well done, Lycis. It’s fortunate you’re still handsome. Very splendid indeed.”
“It’s thanks to you, Mother.”
Lycis lightly kissed the back of her hand.
Truly, he was an affectionate son.
“We must hasten with the preparations for the gathering.”
However, the aftermath of their reunion was brief.
“As all the prominent nobles will be attending, you’ll need to decide on your bride soon.”
The lady urged Lycis.
“Yes, I should start negotiating with Madam Matilda right away then.”
“Mother, please calm down.”
But Lycis took his mother’s hand nonetheless.
“I already have someone in mind. I was planning to send a proposal soon.”
“What? Who on earth are you talking about?”
“Princess Diel Yekaterina.”
Lycis answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“W-what?”
On the other hand, the Countess was momentarily stunned.
“Are you, by any chance, suffering from some mental illness due to the strain of estate life?”
Princess Diel Yekaterina?
Her unfamiliar name indicated that she was undoubtedly a discharged princess.
“Goodness gracious!”
She pretended to faint, clutching her throat, but it was futile.
“Lycis, how, how can you not immediately retract those words!”
“I have an appointment to attend. I shall take my leave now.”
Lycis’s gaze at his collapsed mother on the floor was serene.
No, should I say indifferent?
“Rest well until evening, Mother. We’ll talk again later.”
With a mask-like smile, Lycis turned on his heel.
“Lycis!”
“Madam, please calm down! You know the young master’s temperament. Perhaps discuss it again in the evening.”
No matter how desperately she called his name, it was futile.
“My own flesh and blood, yet truly chilling.”
The Dowager Countess shuddered.
Even she had momentarily forgotten.
“Utter disregard and disdain.”
Yes, that was indeed the true form of Rishis.
Evan’s control panel shut down.
Of all moments, it had to be the most crucial.
“Control panel, are you insane?”
Is this some kind of glitch that would be found in a shoddy game?
[Unlock condition: Increase Evan’s ‘sympathy’ to 85%.]
After rebooting, Evan’s control panel reappeared.
With an absurd condition attached.
[Recommended route: ‘Immediately vomit blood and collapse, sincerely apologize for 48 hours.’]
Even the recommended route was laughable.
“It seems even the control panel has gone crazy.”
Just moments ago, it was as cold as the northern defense headquarters. How am I supposed to raise sympathy again?
“Even if it’s 85%… sigh.”
Apologizing for 48 hours is out of the question for now.
Could I collapse by drastically lowering Dio’s stamina index?
“I definitely can’t control Dio.”
But whether I became Dio or not, Dio’s control panel didn’t appear.
“Why are you suddenly saying that? Because of Rishis Lock?”
Evan said then.
What’s with that… I mean, who? Rishis Lock?
“Come to think of it, it was the time when the heroine was supposed to return.”
I stood up abruptly.
“That’s right. When Rishis returns, she’ll immediately get involved with Dio.”
The remnants of the crazy mess swirled through my mind.
Rishis Lock was one of the five male leads.
“They sent a letter to Marquis Lock. They even managed to sneak away a few more behind my back.”
Whatever Evan said next didn’t register.
There was no time for this.
“What conversation took place… Dio!”
“Get out of here!”
I pushed Evan aside and rushed out of the office.
“No! Even if all the main characters die, I have to survive.”
For now… I have to go there!
