IPDE 16

Chapter : 16

Even Extras Avoid Death Routes (16)

After dinner, I headed to the training grounds.

During dinner, I couldn’t focus on a single word Serena was saying as she chatted nonstop.

Since a new episode had begun, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.

I didn’t know when another life-threatening situation might arise.

Moreover, I couldn’t be certain who the keyword pointed to, but I had a guess.

“…Leela.”

By all appearances, she was clearly angelic and a good person.

But the way she acted in certain moments, and her meaningful gestures…

If this weren’t the situation I was in, they would have seemed trivial and easy to overlook.

Right now, though, even the small things had to be noted carefully.

“Brother!”

I spotted Edwin training alone in the sparring area and called out to him.

“Ireneah?”

I came here just in case, and luckily, I didn’t waste the trip.

“You’re training alone?”

“Yeah, this time of day is convenient.”

“I see.”

Edwin wiped the sweat running down his forehead and gave me a small smile.

No doubt, he was handsome—definitely no small matter.

His strong build contrasted with his almost puppy-like face, which made a surprisingly good combination.

He probably had quite a bit of popularity.

Looking closely, it seemed there wasn’t a single feature that resembled me, despite us being siblings.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Oh, I wanted to ask you something.”

The first person who came to mind when I thought about finding out more about Leela was him.

I remembered the day Edwin had gotten so angry upon hearing he had become Iart’s personal guard, and the brief silence when it was mentioned that he’d received a recommendation at Leela’s request.

“Can you wait a moment? I’ll just finish cleaning up and come right over.”

“Sure, take your time.”

A little later, Edwin approached, looking much tidier than before.

“You’ve been waiting?”

“No, where should we sit?”

“Hm, if you’re okay, shall we walk a bit? The breeze feels nice.”

“Alright.”

Edwin and I walked through the garden, keeping a comfortable distance.

I was wondering where to start the conversation when Edwin spoke first.

“What’s got you hesitating like this?”

“Huh?”

“Speak freely. Anything’s fine.”

He looked at me with a gentle smile.

After all, he was family and seemed to care about me deeply.

I could afford to be a little honest.

“Actually… it’s about Princess Leela.”

“Princess Leela?”

“Yeah.”

When I mentioned her name, Edwin looked puzzled.

“Princess? Why?”

“There are just… a lot of things I’m curious about. I wanted to know what kind of person she is.”

“Hm, she’s a good person.”

Despite calling her a good person, Edwin’s expression suggested he was pondering something more deeply.

“I guess you could say I became captain of the knights thanks to her.”

“…Huh?”

I paused mid-step without realizing it.

Looking at me, Edwin seemed confused.

“I wrote it in a letter. Don’t you remember?”

Of course I wouldn’t remember; I hadn’t even seen that letter.

“Ah, well… it’s been so long, I guess I forgot for a moment.”

I smiled awkwardly, and Edwin pouted slightly, looking a bit disappointed.

“That’s harsh.”

“Sorry, sorry. Tell me again in detail. I won’t forget this time.”

Edwin watched me fumble with a slightly grumpy expression, then let out a small, helpless laugh and continued.

“A few years ago, I competed in a tournament hosted by the Tenent dukes. I won, and that’s how I became a knight in the royal palace.”

“Mm.”

“Later, when Princess Leela became engaged to the crown prince, she helped me advance even faster in several ways, making sure I achieved deeds for the kingdom.”

“I see.”

So in a sense, Edwin was basically under Leela’s influence. I regretted bringing it up.

Then a question suddenly occurred to me.

“Brother, do you happen to…?”

“Hm?”

“Does the princess know that I’m your younger sister?”

“Of course. How often do you think I’ve talked about you?”

Right. That explained why I had the sense that Leela wasn’t showing her whole self.

Even though Leela had met me several times, she had never mentioned Edwin’s name.

“…That part bothers me too.”

Lost in thought for a moment, Edwin muttered softly.

“I’ve talked about you a lot, and I actually opposed you joining the royal palace.”

“Why?”

“As I said before, it’s dangerous.”

“Uh… so?”

“But she still insisted on asking for your recommendation…”

Edwin spoke with a slightly resentful tone, furrowing his brow.

“Hmm, I see.”

“Well, I’m sure she meant no harm, but still…”

“Yeah, I think I understand.”

It was possible Leela had forgotten her conversation with Edwin, but honestly, I didn’t think that way.

Especially since she had written the recommendation for Iart’s personal guard.

I hadn’t asked for it myself, and Leela had been present during a moment when I had nearly been killed by his hand.

The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt.

* * *

After my walk with Edwin last night, I organized my thoughts.

The conclusion was simple: know as much as possible.

What I needed now was to gather information.

I couldn’t act hostile toward Leela out of suspicion alone—not that I had the position to.

Unless something happened, there was nothing I could do immediately.

‘So I can only act when danger is right in front of me. Fantastic.’

I muttered to myself and got to work.

It made sense to ask the people closest to me anything I could.

I put today’s dessert, cracked cookies, into the oven and looked around.

The first person I noticed was…

“Serena, are you busy?”

She was the person I felt closest to emotionally right now.

“Hm? No, why?”

“Nothing, just… thought we could talk while it bakes.”

“……Shall we?”

Perhaps she secretly wanted to skip some work, because she hurried over to me.

After chatting casually, the topic I wanted came up naturally.

“I’m not that close to Melissa, but we talked from time to time. I was surprised when she ran out crying at the banquet.”

I couldn’t hide my shock.

‘Leela and Argen were already acquainted?’

In the original story, Leela and Argen knew of each other, but only properly met at the banquet.

Serena’s words suggested they were actually quite close.

When Leela became engaged to Iart, people kept it quiet, but they were such a well-matched pair that others encouraged it.

That’s why Melissa, who secretly liked Argen, was hostile toward Leela.

Even though the story was being altered, it was still early.

Moreover, this happened long before I had intervened in the story.

It had nothing to do with me.

‘What the…’

Every detail that differed from what I knew confused me.

The surface of the story I read wasn’t the whole truth.

So what did this book really want?

Until now, I had thought it was simply changing the story’s events.

But if that were true, there was something hidden beneath it.

I couldn’t shake a sense of foreboding.

* * *

Iart’s reception room.

Lost in thought, I stood blankly, when a sharp gaze made me turn my head.

A pair of blue eyes, full of dissatisfaction, met mine.

Before I could even ask why, the gaze snapped away.

‘What’s wrong with him…?’

Ah, maybe…

I realized I hadn’t even introduced the dessert today, distracted as I was.

I should’ve just told him, like before.

His sulky expression seemed almost childlike.

“Today’s dessert is cracked cookies. Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, bite-sized and easy to eat.”

“…….”

Hmm, wasn’t that right?

He usually at least nodded, even if he didn’t respond.

Today, he remained stiffly sulky.

“Your Highness?”

“…….”

“Is something uncomfortable?”

“No.”

Despite saying no, his expression was full of discontent.

I couldn’t figure out why.

Standing awkwardly, Iart’s gaze returned to me.

‘…Ah!’

I noticed where he was looking—at the bandage around my neck.

He glanced, looked away, and glanced again.

He seemed annoyed I wasn’t wearing a scarf.

“Your Highness.”

“…….”

“Your… Highness.”

“……Why?”

“I’ve never actually done it before.”

“Done what?”

“A scarf.”

Iart’s eyes widened slightly at my answer.

“……Never?”

“Yes, so I couldn’t wear one. I’ve been practicing, but it’s really hard.”

I smiled awkwardly, and his expression softened a little.

He lifted one corner of his mouth and shrugged.

“Who asked?”

Nobody asked, but I had clearly shown it anyway.

“So, it’s just been tucked away in a box?”

I smiled as I took the scarf out of my pocket.

I had meant to ask Serena earlier but had forgotten while distracted by the Leela-Argen story.

I’d ask her later.

“I’ll make sure to wear it tomorrow.”

Iart furrowed his brows and bit his lip slightly.

Something still seemed off, but there were plenty of other things for me to think about once I returned to my room.

“Then I’ll…”

“Here.”

Before I could finish, Iart interrupted.

“Hm?”

“Give it here.”

He waved one hand.

I stepped forward hesitantly and placed the scarf in his palm.

‘Whoa…’

Iart stared at it briefly, then clenched his hand and stood up.

He strode forward quickly, closing the distance between us.

I inhaled sharply at how close he was.

“Untie the bandage.”

“…Yes, yes?”

“You make me repeat myself.”

Iart frowned sharply.

I raised my hands and carefully unwrapped the bandage around my neck.

Once it was fully removed…

“…Ah.”

I could feel the warmth of his hands clearly on my neck.