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CHAPTER 04
Back when I was the Hero, I was strong enough to survive any penalty through sheer force—but not anymore.
With this body, acting recklessly would be dangerous.
Adrian’s body was so frail that overlapping penalties could literally kill me from shock.
And in a failed novel where even the protagonist can die, there’s no way a side character like me would be guaranteed to survive.
‘Gotta play it safe. If I die before the story ends, it’s game over.’
I swallowed my anger and forced a calm expression, though the corners of my mouth trembled.
“Piace, eavesdropping isn’t something to be proud of. Go back to your room and reflect.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
Piace sulked as she stood up from her seat.
It seemed this wasn’t the first time she’d been kicked out mid-meal, because she didn’t even protest.
“Where are you going, Piace?”
“T-To… my room.”
“Did I say you could go now? Finish your meal, take a walk in the garden, and go back in time for your nap.”
“…Huh?”
Piace blinked in surprise.
All the maids waiting nearby also looked stunned.
‘Why are they like this?’
I was just telling a kid to finish her meal and take a walk for digestion. Was that really so shocking?
‘So Adrian wasn’t even that kind to a child… Amazing, really.’
He probably never got emotional over beauty or choked up from cuteness. Did he ever even laugh heartily?
‘What the hell did he live for?’
I spoke in a tone devoid of any warmth.
“Sit back down.”
“O-Okay…”
Piace tilted her head in confusion but obediently returned to the table and sat quietly.
“Let’s eat.”
“Th-Thank you for the meal…”
While eating, I kept sneaking glances at Piace.
‘She’s wearing a yellow dress. Looks like a little chick.’
Piace was honestly too cute for her own good.
Polite, kind-hearted…
Watching her made it hard not to smile unconsciously.
‘Wow, she eats so neatly. Go on, eat more, don’t be picky. That’s it.’
She made no noise with her utensils and didn’t spill a drop of food.
‘What kind of strict training did she go through that a four or five-year-old eats more cleanly than me… Wait.’
Now that I looked more closely, Piace’s complexion seemed a little off.
Was she sick? Her stuttering also seemed worse than usual…
I calmed my rising concern and asked in my usual cold tone.
“Piace, are you feeling unwell?”
“N-No! Pi-Piace is s-strong!”
She flailed her tiny hands like a little sprout.
‘Ugh, too cute. Maybe I was imagining it…’
Though I had a weakness for small and adorable things, I didn’t have much experience with kids.
So it was hard to tell just by complexion if she was sick or not.
‘She’s eating well, so she’s probably fine.’
After the meal, Piace hovered nearby.
“Do you want to say something?”
“U-Um… Duke?”
“Speak.”
“C-Can I… c-come with you…?”
“Where?”
“F-For the walk…”
Piace shyly extended a hand like a cat’s jelly paw.
‘Wh-What the hell…’
I got dizzy for a moment. The creature before me was lethally cute.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I gently pushed her hand away.
“Do I look like I have time for that?”
“N-No… I-I’m sorry…”
She turned away, deeply disappointed.
I wanted to pat her sulking back, but I couldn’t.
‘Sorry, Piace. There’s too much I need to figure out right now. I’ll play with you later, I promise.’
That damn author only gives instructions at critical moments; the rest I have to figure out on my own.
Which meant I urgently needed to gather information about the protagonist and key characters. Only then could I deduce the novel’s core incidents.
That’s how I would map out the optimal route to the ending. Just thinking about it made me want to gag—it was such a boring and complicated process.
As Piace left for her room, I made my way to the drawing room.
The moment I sat on a lavish sofa, a middle-aged man poured me some tea.
He looked to be in his 40s, with a rigid posture that screamed discipline. Must be the butler of this mansion.
[Step 1: (Without even glancing at the butler) What’s the schedule today?]
Oh, nailed it. He really was the butler.
“What’s the schedule today?”
“There is a noble council meeting around noon. It will be held in the Imperial Grand Hall.”
“The topic?”
“Regarding the creation of a golden statue of the Hero, Lady Adela Helsing.”
The tea that had been going down smoothly suddenly stopped in my throat.
I spat it out immediately.
“Pffft—!”
“Master! Are you all right?”
The butler hurriedly offered a handkerchief as I wiped my chin.
“Wha—cough—What are they making?”
“A golden statue of the Hero, Lady Adela Helsing.”
“…And what exactly is that for?”
“To commemorate His Majesty’s 56th birthday, the Imperial Plaza will undergo major renovations. The statue will be placed at the center of the plaza.”
“Don’t do it!!!”
“…Pardon?”
The butler blinked in confusion, looking slightly alarmed.
I took a deep breath and calmed myself.
“Who proposed this?”
“Third Prince, Leonhart Genetik Filio.”
“…Prepare for the meeting.”
“It’s been quite a while since you’ve attended a council, sir. Will you be all right? This is one of those meetings you may skip.”
“No. I am absolutely going.”
“…Understood, sir.”
Leaving the drawing room, I headed to the bedroom. My face burned with embarrassment while my stomach churned in fury.
‘Leonhart! What the hell are you thinking? A statue of me?!’
If he thought I’d be flattered by that, he was dead wrong.
The moment that statue went up, I’d never be able to go near the plaza again—from sheer shame.
‘I already have a mountain of things to handle, and now this?!’
The more I thought about it, the more bizarre it became. Leonhart knew my personality—why would he do something like this?
‘Wait… Is this revenge?’
He had every right to be mad. I left them all and just died.
‘He must’ve felt betrayed.’
I knew my death would hurt my comrades.
But changing the ending wasn’t possible.
I just wanted the novel to end so I could go back to my original world.
Of course, I had fun and felt happy being with them.
I even got emotional, thinking “So this is what it’s like to have real friends.”
But no matter how much I smiled or cried, I could never erase the fact that this was all a novel.
Once I realized that, everything felt meaningless.
Even during laughter, friendship, or tears of emotion—once I remembered “The author wrote this scene too,” my heart would turn cold.
And so, while living with them, I was plagued by crushing loneliness.
I wanted to leave as soon as possible.
I repeated to myself every day that I must go back.
Afraid I’d get too attached. That I’d want to stay. That my guilt and longing for my parents would fade.
‘So please, don’t hate me too much.’
I’m already being punished.
“Master, the carriage is ready.”
“Good.”
There wasn’t just one carriage.
There was a dazzlingly ornate one—and two plain-looking ones beside it.
In front of them stood five maids, waiting for me.
‘They’re all so thin… Did Adrian not feed them?’
“These are the attendants for today. Will they suffice?”
“All of them…?”
“Shall I assign more?”
Was Adrian getting assassination threats or something? Who needs five maids just to attend a royal meeting?
‘No wonder they brought two extra carriages…’
I glanced into the air. Thankfully, no guidance window popped up.
“Reduce it to one.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I said it’s too much trouble. One is enough.”
The butler looked at me like I’d lost my mind, then quickly bowed his head.
“Y-Yes, of course.”
He summoned one of the maids from the lineup.
Her face looked familiar.
She was the red-haired girl who helped dress me after the lab cleaner was reassigned.
“Take Luna with you. Luna, serve the master well.”
“Yes, sir.”
Luna opened the carriage door and knelt down beside it.
“Master, will you step up?”
“….”
Don’t tell me she wants me to step on her thigh?
