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Chapter 11
“It’s because you almost fell, and I caught you.”
“Who asked you to catch me?”
The uncle clicked her tongue and crossed her arms.
“I think you should start by learning how to accept other people’s kindness.”
Maybe because she used to be a gangster—or because she had died after being betrayed—
the uncle had a strong tendency to distrust others.
“What if I accept some kindness and get stabbed in the back?”
“Uncle, this is a novel world. People don’t go around stabbing others randomly. It’s not like the world you used to live in.”
Stabbing in a romance fantasy novel? Ridiculous.
Even Flower in the Glasshouse was a dark story, but not the kind where people randomly stabbed each other.
“You never know.”
“Of course, if it’s a villain, that’s a different story. But I’ll warn you if one shows up, so don’t worry. And why would the male leads stab the heroine? That makes no sense.”
“What if the heroine suddenly becomes unlikeable?”
“That’s not going to happen. And if someone stabs someone just because they dislike them, that’s a psychopath, not a male lead.”
“So my past self must’ve been a psychopath.”
“Anyway. Male leads will absolutely not stab the heroine.”
“Being overly certain about everything is a bad habit.”
“And being overly suspicious like you is also a bad habit.”
“Better than walking around smiling and getting stabbed.”
“I’m telling you, that’s not going to happen.”
Unless it was an extra like me, the odds of the uncle getting stabbed were extremely low.
Even if a villain showed up with a knife, the male leads would throw themselves in to protect her anyway.
“Anyway, you must use polite speech with all the male leads except Shamal. No exceptions. You absolutely cannot speak casually, especially to the Crown Prince.”
Speaking informally to royalty was unthinkable. It would be a miracle not to get punished for treason.
I repeatedly stressed the importance of polite speech and practiced “kind speaking”—the most important part.
The uncle, once a vice executive at a company in her past life, seemed more comfortable with informal speech. Her face kept twisting in discomfort.
Did she really hate polite speech that much?
“Now repeat after me. ‘Thank you, Your Highness.’ The key is to smile brightly while saying it.”
“Tha—”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Tha—”
Her eyes and lips twitched violently.
Honestly, even though she was technically the heroine, she looked terrifying like that.
The male leads would probably run away.
“Damn it. I can’t do this.”
She muttered a curse under her breath, dropping her mouth into a deep frown.
I sighed and wondered what to do with her.
Then—
“The Crown Prince has arrived.”
A maid knocked and announced softly.
The uncle and I locked eyes instantly.
We were doomed.
Had this happened in the original story?
No matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t remember the Crown Prince ever visiting Beatrice’s house.
Knock knock.
Again, a knock.
Then the Crown Prince’s voice came from beyond the door.
“Beatrice, are you alright? I came to visit because I heard you were ill.”
So because rumors had spread that the uncle was sick, a new event had been added, different from the original story.
Isn’t the world destruction gauge going to rise again because of this?
Suppressing my anxiety, I hurriedly led the uncle to the bed.
“Uncle—no, Beatrice! Hurry and lie down!”
The uncle grumbled but obediently lay down.
I pulled the blanket over her.
“You can act, right?”
“I’m not confident, but I’ll try.”
“Fighting! Oh, and since rumors say you’re sick, make sure you cough occasionally.”
I patted the blanket and stepped back, signaling the maid to open the door.
Soon, the Crown Prince entered.
And I had no choice but to widen my eyes.
Because above his head—
[Affection: 100%]
—was glowing brightly.
100% affection?!
At this rate, connecting him with the uncle should be easy.
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
I greeted him excitedly, holding my skirt.
But the Crown Prince didn’t even glance at me.
He walked straight toward the uncle.
The uncle cautiously watched him, then let out a very deliberate:
“Cough.”
What a fake cough.
“Are you very ill?”
But the Crown Prince pretended not to notice and looked at her with concern, reaching out.
His hand brushed through the uncle’s hair.
Her eyes immediately sharpened into triangles.
I quickly shook my head.
Please endure it, Uncle.
She clenched her teeth and endured.
It was a relief she didn’t twist his wrist off.
I sighed in relief and stepped in carefully.
“Your Highness, I’m terribly sorry, but Beatrice has injured her throat severely and cannot speak.”
At that, the uncle added another overly dramatic cough.
Please stop.
“I see.”
Only then did the Crown Prince look at me.
Golden hair like melted gold, deep blue eyes, and a handsome face like a fairy tale prince.
But I felt nothing.
Because my absolute favorite character existed elsewhere, and because I knew what he did in the original story.
“What is your name?”
“Renee from the Count Sober family.”
“I see.”
He immediately lost interest and turned back to the uncle.
Why did he even ask?
The Crown Prince gently stroked the uncle’s cheek.
Her eye twitched violently.
I grew tense.
Please don’t snap and punch him.
The uncle was glaring like she was about to bite him.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince continued his own romantic fantasy completely undisturbed.
“Don’t be sick, Beatrice.”
“Cough.”
Uncle, please stop.
After more unnecessary coughing, the Crown Prince finally stood up.
“I cannot keep a sick person for long. I should take my leave.”
I felt relieved.
At least he was leaving before things exploded.
The uncle also seemed pleased and let out even more fake coughing.
“Cough-cough. Cough-cough. Cough-cough.”
Please stop!
“Then I shall go.”
“It was an honor, Your Highness.”
I bowed.
The Crown Prince left, staring at the uncle until the very end.
Only after the door closed did I sigh in relief and approach her.
“That bastard… touching someone else’s cheek like that. Does he want his wrist broken?”
“You held back surprisingly well.”
“You told me to.”
“You did great.”
I clapped.
Even though all she did was cough.
I quickly checked the world destruction gauge.
[World destruction until collapse: 8%]
It had increased slightly due to the Crown Prince’s unexpected visit, but only a little, so it was fine.
And the uncle behaved well!
Maybe the increase was so small because she didn’t cause chaos?
At this rate, everything should be fine.
“Alright, let’s continue the lesson—”
“Oh, right, Beatrice.”
At that moment, the door suddenly opened again.
And the Crown Prince stormed back in.
