IPDE 13

Chapter : 13

Even If I’m an Extra, I Refuse the Death Route (13)

“…What?”

Iat twitched one eyebrow, his gaze turning murderous.

“Madness? That’s what’s truly insane, isn’t it?”

Is he trying to get himself killed?

There was no way the crown prince would just let slide the things a mere baron’s son was spewing at him so brazenly.

He really was more unhinged than expected.

“You sure do love running your mouth, just because it’s attached,” Iat snarled, grinding his teeth.

As the situation suddenly escalated, the attention of everyone around them began to gather.

The surrounding murmurs grew louder, but the two men seemed deaf to it, glaring at each other as if they meant to kill.

“I can make Ruelle happier than you ever could.”

Drain’s eyes were filled with madness.

“How painful it must be, staying by the side of a deranged crown prince….”

With a look full of misplaced pity, Drain turned his gaze toward Ruelle.

“I already know everything. That you’ve been waiting for someone to save you. Come with me, Ruelle. I’ll rescue you.”

At Drain’s words, spoken with absolute conviction, Ruelle’s face filled with shock.

“What are you even—!”

“I know. You’re being forced to stay by his side. I can’t just stand by and watch you endure the scorn of countless nobles while stuck next to a lunatic crown prince.”

“Hey!”

“Rather than living beside a crown prince in name only, come far away with me and live happily.”

From the way Drain rambled on, intoxicated by his own emotions, it was clear there was no rational thought left in him.

In his world, it seemed to be just Ruelle and himself.

‘No, but when are people coming?’

The nobles’ murmuring was growing louder by the second.

There should have been knights guarding the area.

Yet, as if by design, not a single one was in sight.

“Ruelle…!”

Before anyone realized it, Drain was charging toward her, his eyes unfocused.

Thud!

Before the distance between them could close, he was slammed to the floor by Iat’s hand.

“Ugh….”

“So words won’t get through to you.”

Iat stepped in front of Ruelle, who was cowering in fear.

“Seize him at once!”

At Iat’s shout, knights who had been far away finally revealed themselves and rushed over.

And at that moment—

“If only you… if only you weren’t here…!”

Drain muttered as he slowly got to his feet, clearly having lost all reason.

Reaching behind him, his hand fumbled at his waist—and something glinted.

‘…A knife!’

Pulling out a small, shining dagger, Drain poised himself to charge at Iat.

There was no time to think. My body moved on its own.

“No!”

All eyes turned toward me as I rushed in.

Using all my strength, I shoved Drain aside, losing my balance as we both fell.

“What is this now?!”

Along with the shrill shout, a familiar pain flared near my shoulder.

Blood dripped from the tear in my clothes, splashing onto the floor.

“Irenia!”

The moment I heard Ruelle’s voice, Drain was already lunging at me with crazed eyes.

‘No…!’

He was too close. There was no way I could dodge.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to avoid the clearly flashing blade before me.

‘…What?’

I should have felt a sharp pain from being stabbed somewhere, but instead I was enveloped in a strange warmth.

I slowly opened my tightly shut eyes and found myself held in someone’s arms.

“Let go! Let me go! Ruelle!”

Through my narrow field of vision, I saw Drain struggling wildly as the knights dragged him away.

Letting out a breath of relief, I finally lifted my head—and saw a familiar face.

“Marquis… Argen?”

“Are you all right?”

Argen asked, his eyes full of concern.

“Ah, yes! Y-yes, I’m fine.”

I hurriedly pulled myself out of Argen’s arms as I answered.

“You’re bleeding quite a lot.”

Following his deeply furrowed gaze, I checked my arm.

The wound didn’t seem very deep, but enough blood had flowed to stain more than half of my white blouse red.

“Irenia, are you okay?”

Ruelle, who had come up beside me, asked with teary eyes.

“Yes, I’m fine. Are you all right, Lady Ruelle?”

“Thanks to you. I’m so sorry… this all happened because of me….”

As Ruelle finally bowed her head and let tears fall, I saw Iat standing behind her.

He was staring at me, motionless, his expression tangled with countless emotions.

Several hours had already passed since I lay down on the bed, yet I couldn’t fall asleep.

In the end, I got up and walked over to the window.

When I opened it, a cool breeze drifted in.

“Haa….”

Everything that had happened today churned my thoughts into chaos.

So many things I wanted to sigh out of my chest spilled over.

Just moving a little made the wound on my arm throb.

It was already the second injury I’d gotten since coming here.

There never seemed to be a day when my body was unscathed.

“…Wait. Don’t tell me.”

Something suddenly flashed through my mind.

Probability of death.

Though it hadn’t been written in the book, the first time—when it was 99%—I had basically come back from the brink of death.

And this time, too, if I hadn’t spoken with Argen beforehand, if he hadn’t stepped in…

I might have died.

“Ah, no. That can’t be it. It can’t.”

I muttered as if chanting to suppress the ominous feeling, but it didn’t help much.

The pain I had felt with my own body was far more vivid than my denial.

It seemed I was in a far worse position than I’d thought.

With a surge of anger, I glared at the bedside table where the book lay.

And in that moment—

Just like last time, the book began to glow.

“Ha.”

The moment I opened it and checked the contents, a hollow laugh slipped out.

[Episode 1. What Is Needed Most Right Now: The End]

[Probability of Death: -5%]

[Current Probability of Death: 84%]

It had been cut nearly in half compared to before.

Even though I’d been working myself to exhaustion every single day.

“Do you think I worked that hard just to lower it by five percent?!”

Feeling wronged, I hurled the book to the floor and sucked in a ragged breath.

Then, thinking it was pointless to get angry at a book that wouldn’t answer back, I collapsed onto the bed.

I decided to calm myself and think things through carefully.

What exactly was different between last time and this time?

“What did it say last time again?”

I picked up the book that was lying on the floor and checked.

Madness, dessert.

Then I mulled over what was written this time.

“Is this ‘level of intervention’… related to the keywords?”

If I thought of it that way, a lot of things fit.

Madness and dessert had both been present in the previous situation.

I’d faced madness head-on, and while I wasn’t completely sure, I’d used dessert to stop it.

But this time, the keywords were information, position, future.

There wasn’t much I could call information that I’d uncovered.

I didn’t know what position meant, but if it referred to my role, then presenting dessert at Ruelle’s birthday banquet probably fulfilled that to some extent.

Future.

Wasn’t anything clearer than that?

Seen that way, it made sense why the probability had dropped this time.

“No, then at least explain it properly. Every single thing is so unhelpful.”

I hated vague things like this.

Clear and precise was always best.

If it wouldn’t tell me, I’d just find out myself.

So that’s how it was going to provoke my competitive spirit again.

“Good morning.”

As always, I greeted everyone and stepped into the kitchen, when I heard hurried footsteps approaching.

“Irenia, are you okay?”

“Why does something like this always happen to you… are you really okay?”

It was Sophie and Serena.

They hovered around me, hands flailing, as if I might shatter if they touched me.

“I’m fine. It just grazed me—they said it’ll heal quickly.”

When I answered with the brightest smile I could manage, their expressions finally eased a little.

“Oh, right. Irenia.”

“Yes?”

“…Honestly, I don’t know whether to congratulate you or not.”

Sophie let out a small sigh, her expression complicated.

“Why?”

At my question, Serena’s face mirrored Sophie’s.

What is it now?

“…Well, starting today, you’ve been told to make desserts on your own.”

“On my own?”

What did it mean to make desserts alone?

Not helping the pastry chef like before, but creating something separately?

“That is, from now on, you’ll be in charge of making the crown prince’s desserts.”

“…Pardon?”

If we were talking about the crown prince, there was only one person.

Then that meant…

“So I’m… I mean, I’m the crown prince’s dedicated dessert attendant now?”

“…That’s how it is.”

Ah—no way.

Then the letter of recommendation Ruelle had asked Argen for last time—was that the one?

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

Being the exclusive dessert maid of my favorite character.

This felt like it went beyond just being a successful fan.

And that meant Iat had seen the recommendation and accepted it.

He’d always seemed somewhat distant—maybe he’d finally opened up a bit?

Could it be because I helped during the banquet?

“Then can I make the desserts freely?”

“Ask the head pastry chef for the details.”

“Yes!”

Unlike my beaming smile, Serena and Sophie looked deeply troubled.

“What do we do….”

Then suddenly, Serena’s eyes filled with tears.

“What’s wrong, Serena? Why are you crying?”

“The crown prince’s exclusive attendant… Until now, the maids took turns serving the desserts the pastry chef made.”

“Yeah.”

“But now you’ll have to do everything yourself. I know I shouldn’t say this, but it’s too dangerous. Especially since….”

Serena trailed off, staring at the bandage wrapped around my neck.

Right.

This wasn’t something to be happy about just because I could be close to my favorite.

My probability of death was still high, and madness could appear at any time.

But if my fate was going to be dictated by that probability anyway, I’d rather stay close to Iat.

For personal reasons, too.

“I’m fine, Serena. His Highness is a good person.”

“That’s not the problem….”

I understood exactly what she was worried about—and I was grateful.

If I hadn’t seen myself reflected in Iat, if he hadn’t become my favorite, I would’ve thought the same.

But I couldn’t exactly explain my situation.

“Don’t worry. Everything will work out.”

“Irenia….”

I smiled softly at Serena, who was looking at me with concern.

“Irenia, if things ever get hard, come ask for help anytime. All right?”

“Yes, thank you, Head Maid.”

I hadn’t been here long, but I felt a little happy that I’d met such good people.

I thought I’d been reasonably satisfied with my original life.

I used to think sharing my heart with many people was just tiring.

Somehow, I felt like my mind might change soon.