IPDE 12

Chapter : 12

Even If I’m an Extra, I Refuse the Death Route (12)

After a brief conversation, I returned to the banquet hall with Riela.

Riela headed toward where the nobles had been earlier, and I naturally followed behind her.

Huh? Everyone’s gone.

The nobles who had been gathered chatting earlier were nowhere to be seen. Only Argen remained.

“Have they all gone back already?”

When Riela asked with slightly surprised eyes, Argen answered with a gentle smile.

“It’s about time things started to wrap up.”

“Oh, you’re right. Marquis Argen, were you waiting for me?”

“The dessert was so delicious that I lost track of time.”

Whether it was courtesy or sincerity, the atmosphere between the two of them warmed immediately.

Perhaps because it was a meeting between the main characters, the air around them felt different.

So much so that I even felt like I’d become an eyesore.

I should step back and just watch.

I needed to keep an eye on the situation anyway, so I was about to greet them and turn away when—

“Um…”

“This dessert is rather unique. Quite refreshing in many ways.”

Argen picked up one of the macarons I had made and spoke.

Riela then looked at me and smiled brightly.

“The person in charge is right here.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Argen’s gaze shifted to me.

Being looked at by both main characters at once felt oddly unsettling.

“Haha… hello, Marquis Argen. My name is Irenea.”

When I greeted him with an awkward smile, Argen offered his hand for a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a brief conversation.”

For some reason, I felt unusually noticed today.

First the female lead, and now the male lead as well.

I was a little flustered, but there was no real reason to avoid it.

“Please, go ahead.”

I stepped forward instead of back and signaled that I was ready to talk.

With eyes full of interest, Argen began asking me various questions.

“What is this dessert called?”

“It’s called a macaron.”

“Oh, even the name is quite distinctive.”

“Besides what you see here, it can be made in many different colors, with a variety of fillings inside, or even added toppings.”

As a pâtissier, there was nothing more gratifying than someone showing interest in my desserts.

As I answered sincerely, I found myself enjoying the conversation quite a bit.

“No wonder Lady Riela, who always chose the head pastry chef’s desserts, accepted this.”

“This carrot cake is also really delicious.”

“Carrot cake?”

Argen looked at Riela with slightly surprised eyes.

“Yes. I actually really dislike carrots, but even I didn’t feel any resistance eating it.”

“Making a cake with carrots… You truly seem talented in many ways. I couldn’t tell at all either.”

“I think so too.”

It felt strange to be showered with praise by the protagonists when I was nothing more than a mere extra.

“Oh no, you’re flattering me.”

To think I was directly conversing with characters I’d only ever observed from across the pages of a book.

It was only now that the reality of having entered this story truly began to sink in.

“Ah!”

I snapped out of my wandering thoughts at Riela’s short exclamation.

“Marquis Argen, may I ask you a favor?”

Riela looked at Argen with a bright, delighted smile.

With a smile like that, it felt like no one could refuse her outright.

“Of course. Anything.”

“I was wondering if you might write a letter of recommendation.”

“A letter of recommendation?”

“Yes.”

Argen stroked his chin and fell into brief thought.

Soon after, he nodded slowly.

“Very well.”

At his answer, Riela clasped her hands together and looked at me as if she’d been waiting for it.

“That’s wonderful, Irenea.”

“Ah—yes. Thank you.”

I bowed my head to Argen and thought to myself.

Everything had flowed so naturally that I didn’t even have time to think about what was happening.

I didn’t even know what the recommendation was supposed to be for.

Judging by Riela’s reaction, it seemed like a good thing.

But perhaps because of the expression I’d seen earlier, an uneasy feeling lingered in my chest.

Time passed quickly, and the banquet hall, once filled with people, gradually emptied, leaving many vacant seats.

It seemed the banquet was finally nearing its end.

The nobles still remaining were probably those closely tied to the imperial family or allies of Duke Tennent.

“Huh?”

As I wandered around slowly cleaning up, I spotted Iat entering through the doors.

I hadn’t seen him for a while—perhaps he’d appeared now that it was time to wrap things up.

“Is that a relief?”

Even after I left, the two protagonists continued talking for quite some time.

I kept watching, worried that Iat might see them together.

But until their conversation ended, Iat never showed his face.

Did the story change this much just because I survived?

Originally, the protagonists were supposed to meet when the banquet was already well underway.

If my memory was correct, a young nobleman who had long harbored feelings for Riela would approach her when she stepped into the garden for some fresh air.

At that exact timing, Iat would be absent, having grown weary of the nobles’ scorn.

And the one who resolved that situation was none other than Argen, the male lead.

A textbook beginning to a romance.

But today, Riela hadn’t set foot in the garden even once by the time the banquet ended.

And she’d already met Argen, who was supposed to appear then.

“I don’t know. As long as things turn out fine.”

At any rate, it was a relief as long as nothing went badly.

My exhausted body was screaming for me to hurry up, finish cleaning, and collapse into bed.

“Irenea.”

While stacking empty plates, I looked up at the sound of someone calling my name.

“Oh, Serena.”

Serena took the plates from my hands and said,

“You should head in first.”

“Huh? No, there’s still this much to clean up.”

Even though we’d tidied up along the way, so many people had eaten and drunk that plenty remained.

“There are lots of hands, and you worked extra hard making desserts from early on.”

“That’s why I rested during the day. I’m fine—let’s finish together.”

At this point, with the protagonists still present, I couldn’t rule out something happening.

Even though I really wanted to go rest.

“…Irenea, look over there.”

As we stacked plates together, Serena whispered in a low voice.

“Hm?”

“That man over there—doesn’t he seem strange?”

Following Serena’s finger, I saw a gaunt man holding a bouquet of roses.

The way he walked slowly with his head bowed made him seem undeniably suspicious.

“I agree. He does seem a bit odd—huh…!”

Before I could finish speaking, I gasped and covered my mouth.

The moment the man lifted his head, his face was revealed—utterly haggard.

For a brief moment—just a very brief moment—our eyes met as he looked around.

In that instant, a sickening premonition ran through me, and goosebumps broke out all over my body.

“What should we do? Should we call someone?”

Seeing his condition, Serena stamped her feet nervously.

Something felt very wrong.

“…I think we should. I’ll keep an eye on things here.”

“O-okay!”

Serena hurried off, and I pretended to tidy plates while watching the man’s movements out of the corner of my eye.

…What is it?

As if he’d spotted something, the man suddenly stopped.

The way he twisted his lips into a grin looked anything but sane.

He changed direction and began walking slowly again.

I followed his path with my eyes.

…Riela?

For some reason, Riela was standing there alone, absentmindedly.

As if she absolutely had to be there.

And in that moment, I was certain.

That man was the stalker from the original story.

What do I do? If this continues…

With no idea when Serena would return with help, the distance between the man and Riela kept shrinking.

I hurriedly looked around for someone to ask for help.

Thankfully, I spotted Argen and Iat not too far away.

“Your Highness!”

According to the original story, I should’ve told the male lead—but I needed to change the narrative.

Perhaps because of that, the moment I saw them, I naturally headed toward Iat.

“What is it now?”

Iat looked at me with an indifferent expression.

“There’s a suspicious person. I think he’s heading toward the lady.”

“…What?”

I subtly gestured toward where the man stood.

“He does look suspicious.”

After observing the situation briefly, Iat began walking toward Riela.

I followed a short distance behind him.

Before long, the man had reached Riela.

“L-Lady Riela…”

In a hoarse, cracked voice, the man stammered as he called her name.

Riela’s eyes widened in brief surprise when she noticed him, but she quickly smiled.

“You’re Drain, the son of Baron Ketten, correct?”

Perhaps pleased that she recognized him, Drain’s cheeks flushed red.

“T-this… please accept it.”

Drain held out the bouquet of roses he was carrying.

“Oh my, roses. Thank you.”

After that short exchange, silence fell.

Without saying a word, Drain stared at Riela with hollow eyes.

As the silence dragged on, Riela seemed to grow uncomfortable and spoke cautiously.

“Is there something else you wanted to say…?”

Even then, Drain stood motionless.

Then, just as Riela carefully stepped back—

“Then I’ll be—ah!”

Drain suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Riela’s wrist.

“…Come outside with me for a moment.”

Riela, her face pale as paper, struggled to pull her wrist free.

“Drain, please let go—!”

Drain wore an excited expression, as if he couldn’t hear her at all.

At that moment, Iat—who had already approached—seized Drain’s wrist and twisted it.

“Ugh…!”

“What do you think you’re doing.”

Iat flung Drain’s arm away as if tossing aside luggage and glared at him, his brow deeply furrowed.

Overwhelmed by the pressure, Drain hesitated, rubbing his wrist.

“Hah.”

Then, as if nothing had happened, he sneered at Iat.

“Are you insane?”

Anger steadily rose on Iat’s face.

Looking down at him as if from above, Drain muttered,

“The crazy one is you.”