LPSB 17

I collapsed into a deserted corner of the corridor, completely drained of strength.

Before I knew it, the message indicating that “Auto Mode” had begun appeared. That familiar sensation of having my freedom taken away crawled through my body.

I messed up…

If the switch to auto mode had been just a little faster, I would’ve been in real trouble.

The host of the tea party had caused chaos and left the scene. Anyway, everyone already knew what kind of personality Shuen had, so most of them would probably just shrug it off.

Still, it bothered me a little that I had left Izhael behind there.

But in auto mode, if I stayed next to Izhael, I had no idea what kind of insane things I might do. This was the best option.

Through several rounds of auto mode, I had learned something—if there are no people nearby, even in auto mode, I don’t go completely out of control.

It was proof of just how much of an attention-seeker Shuen was. Watching the remaining time slowly decrease, I endured.

<<Remaining time: 2 minutes 21 seconds>>

Already half of it had passed. I was just praying nothing else would happen.

“Lady Shuen.”

A voice suddenly echoed through the silent space, and I almost screamed. I spun around and saw Izhael standing there, looking at me.

“Why are you following me?!”

I wanted to wave him away immediately, but of course my body didn’t listen. My lips moved on their own.

“Didn’t I tell you not to call me ‘lady’? Can’t you even understand words, beast?”

I could never get used to Shuen’s outrageous way of speaking.

It felt like she got worse over time. At this point, I’d believe it if someone said she took lessons in how to speak like trash.

But Izhael was strange. He was staring at me as if trying to measure something. Then suddenly, he let out a small laugh.

“…Huh?”

His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were completely cold, without a trace of amusement. If I hadn’t been in auto mode, I would’ve instinctively stepped back.

Izhael walked closer and slowly drew the sword from his waist.

He must not have been training long, but his grip on the sword was unnaturally natural.

The sight of the blade glowing a sharp blue sent chills down my spine.

In my past life, I had only ever used kitchen knives or bread knives. This was my first time seeing a real sword up close.

He was still so young—was it really okay for him to use something so dangerous?

I was briefly worried for my favorite character, but then a strange sense of déjà vu hit me.

“Wait a second… is this—?”

A bad feeling crept in. My lips, completely beyond my control, started speaking again.

“So you think you can learn swordsmanship without even knowing your place?”

I tilted my chin arrogantly and looked at Izhael.

“Go on then. Try stabbing me.”

My heart dropped.

It was the exact moment the “wait-and-pay” scenario I had seen in the coin reward system became reality.

I quickly looked at the message.

<<Auto mode is in progress.>>
<<Remaining time: 1 minute 3 seconds>>

Seeing the exact same numbers as in the novel made me even more furious.

“Did the seconds really have to match too?!”

Izhael raised his sword as if he really intended to cut me down.

There was no hesitation in his face.

My mind went blank.

Was I really going to die at the hands of my favorite character like this?

I only tried to avoid a meaningless death ending… I never imagined I’d die even earlier than the original story.

I desperately shouted inwardly toward Izhael.

“I even took your side earlier! How can you do this?!”

Of course, my voice only echoed inside my head. The proud, arrogant Shuen Felicita still held her chin high and smiled.

I’m done for. Really done for.

Whoosh!

The sound of the sword slicing through the air rang clearly.

“Ahhh! Please, spare me!”

If this were a novel, this would’ve been the end.

But in reality, time just kept moving instead of showing “to be continued.”

Even with my eyes shut tightly, I felt nothing.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

<<Remaining time: 10 seconds>>

The floating message was blurry. Izhael was right in front of me.

So close I could feel his breath.

The sharp edge of the sword pressed against my neck.

9 seconds, 8, 7…

As the numbers calmly decreased, my heart pounded faster and faster.

Izhael stared into my eyes and spoke quietly.

“Be honest, Lady Shuen.”

“……”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

It took me a moment to understand what he meant.

Why I kept tormenting him and speaking so harshly?

Because I’m Shuen Felicita.

Because that’s the role I was born to play—the villain who bullies the protagonist and gets hated by readers.

In the original story, Izhael only suffered because of Shuen.

Compared to that, things had changed a lot now.

The household servants no longer ignored him. Even if he wasn’t at the academy, he was receiving lessons from private tutors.

I wasn’t able to give him everything, but I was trying in my own way.

The only problem was this mouth that ran wild whenever auto mode activated.

If it weren’t for the system, I could’ve treated him much better.

While thinking that, I felt a little unfair—but I quickly corrected myself.

I only knew all this because I read the original story. For Izhael, who knew nothing, it must still be painful.

As I pitied him, auto mode ended.

I could feel my body’s senses returning, but I still couldn’t move.

The sword was still at my neck, and Izhael’s gaze made it hard to breathe.

If I got stuck in auto mode again, I was really done for.

And then it happened.

A cheerful chime rang.

<<Emergency! A quest has arrived.>>
<<Quest: Pat Izhael’s head>>
<<Remaining time: 30 seconds>>

What?

I flinched so hard that a sharp pain ran through my neck.

“Ugh…”

As I moved, the blade slightly cut my skin.

Izhael frowned and lowered the sword a little. It stung, but it wasn’t serious.

The real problem was something else.

<<Quest: Pat Izhael’s head>>

Are you kidding me?

What kind of quest is this?

At this moment, with a sword at my neck, I’m supposed to pat his head?

If readers saw this, they’d spam the comments with “LOL.”

• Is this a new suicide method? lol
• Hitting the back of his head would be easier
• This is the first time I’ve ever felt bad for Shuen

And right now, Izhael had a sword at my throat.

How was I supposed to pat his head?

No matter what excuse I made afterward, I’d look insane.

I struggled internally.

I could ignore it… but 100 coins as a reward made it too tempting.

Especially now that I understood what “wait-and-pay” really meant.

What do I do…?

While I hesitated, the timer kept dropping.

<<Remaining time: 14 seconds>>

Fine, whatever.

I held my breath and reached out toward Izhael.

He tightened his expression and raised the sword again, but I didn’t stop.

My trembling fingertips touched his head.

His hair was softer and finer than I expected.

Like someone cautiously petting a wary stray cat, I moved my hand slowly.

Izhael’s eyes widened slightly.

It felt like time had stopped.

Breaking the awkward silence, Izhael spoke.

“…What are you doing?”

Hearing his low voice, I quickly pulled my hand back.

Without realizing it, I had patted him three times because it felt too nice.

Izhael looked at me in complete confusion.

Then the quest completion chime rang.

<<Quest completed!>>
<<Reward: 100 coins has been granted.>>
<<Total coins: 100>>

Yes! 100 coins!

I almost smiled brightly, but forced myself to hide it.

Instead, I put on an annoyed expression.

“Be grateful I even fixed your hair. Do you know how dirty you look?”

“……”

Izhael silently stared at me.

Then he slowly lowered his sword.

It seemed he never intended to kill me in the first place.

A warm feeling spread in my chest.

‘As expected, my Izhael is an angel.’

No matter what I do, he still can’t hurt anyone.

Of course, that would change when he grows up and falls into darkness.

At that moment, footsteps echoed down the corridor.

I stiffened.

Swords could only be drawn in the training grounds inside the mansion.

If I was caught holding a sword, Izhael’s reputation would be ruined.

I quickly pulled him into the corner and blocked him from view, lowering my voice.

“Hurry up and put the sword away!”

<<Warning! Inconsistent behavior detected.>>
<<Cumulative warnings: 1>>