Seo Yeon, who had fallen into a strange world, found her future bleak. Had she not met Jeremi, one of the characters in this world, she would have had nowhere to go and might have starved to death without a chance to escape.

But there was no guarantee she could continue receiving help from Jeremi.

So Seo Yeon made a proposal to Jeremi.

“If you help me, I can foresee your future, Master Magician.”

“Future?”

“Yes.”

“Later on, I can help ensure the lady you like won’t fall into danger!”

Jeremi couldn’t understand what this woman was talking about at all.

At first, he had helped her out of curiosity because she had the same black hair and black eyes as the Duchess of Blake.

But then she started saying absurd things like claiming to see the future, and he was already thinking of kicking her out soon—when he heard from Reidox that the Duchess supposedly could see the future.

Thus, Jeremi decided to entrust Seo Yeon to Reidox.

When Seo Yeon arrived at the Yukandar villa, she advised Reidox that Gillian’s side would soon unleash the Spirit of Ruin upon Yukandar, and he should request help from Blake.

“The Duke of Blake is the one who placed the current king upon the throne. Would he help Yukandar, who opposes the current king?”

But Seo Yeon was certain Sikar would help Reidox.

“As far as I know, Blake isn’t loyal to the royal family. So he’ll help.”

At that point, Reidox didn’t fully believe Seo Yeon’s words.

But once he confirmed that Duke Blake was indeed hiding Kian, the royal heir of Recador, he had no choice but to believe her.

And indeed, just as she said, the Spirit of Ruin later began to wreak havoc, and when they requested aid from House Blake, help arrived swiftly.

From then on, Reidox began to trust Seo Yeon’s words.

Of course, events unfolded faster than Seo Yeon remembered from the original story, but she realized it was all because the duchess beside Duke Blake had given prior warnings.

Listening to Seo Yeon’s explanation, Yura waved her hands dismissively and laughed.

“Miss Seo Yeon, so when will we get to hear about your love story with the Marquis?”

Seo Yeon, seeing Yura’s mischievous grin, covered her face shyly with her hands and replied,

“… Not long ago.”

“Not long ago…?”

“Less than a few months. Actually, I was the one who liked him first. The Marquis found it hard to open his heart to anyone because of his late wife. And as you may know, Duchess, Lucy still struggled to accept her father’s girlfriend, so he hesitated a lot.”

They had expected a sweet, heart-fluttering tale of their meeting, but it seemed their story had been full of unexpected twists.

“By the way, you mentioned to Lord Jeremi that he’d meet a woman he’d like? Did you tell him her name too?”

“No. When I mentioned Lady Roen, Lord Jeremi didn’t seem particularly interested. So I didn’t say anything—but in the end, he met her even sooner than planned.”

I didn’t mention that I had actively worked to bring those two together.

“I see. You must have been very surprised when you first came here.”

“At first, I really was. You know, that humble house where the protagonist Kian briefly stayed?”

Of course I know. That was the very first place I searched when I arrived here.

“Naturally I know. Surely, Miss Seo Yeon, you also went straight to that house where the protagonist stayed?”

“Yes. But there wasn’t a single scrap of food there. Judging by the timing, the protagonist had only just left. Yet there was nothing to eat, so I went out to find something—and that’s when Lord Jeremi noticed me.”

At that moment, listening to Seo Yeon, I had a premonition: if people from my original dimension came here, they’d probably search first for the house where Kian stayed—just like Seo Yeon and me.

‘I should tell Sikar about this later.’

“By the way, Miss Seo Yeon. Did you ever tell the Marquis that this place is inside a novel?”

Seo Yeon vigorously waved her hands as if to strongly deny it.

“No, no. I never said such a thing.”

“That’s good. Well done. If others found out this world is a novel, they might be very shocked or deeply disappointed.”

“Right. But what about Duke Blake? Hasn’t he already realized this place is a novel?”

“Yes. He found out.”

“He didn’t say anything…?”

“He has incredibly strong mental fortitude. He accepted it almost immediately.”

Seo Yeon nodded as if agreeing it was plausible, but her expression remained doubtful.

“Still, accepting something like that so quickly and easily… He really is playing the role of a madman…”

I frantically drew an X in the air with my hand, worried Seo Yeon might slip up.

Seo Yeon, mid-sentence as if thinking, noticed my intense reaction and seemed to suddenly remember that Sikar could read my memories—she quickly covered her wide-open mouth with her hand.

Then, as if correcting herself, she smiled somewhat obsequiously toward an unseen presence and said,

“We often say geniuses are crazy, right? I guess Duke Blake, being a genius, just didn’t think much of it and moved on. Ahaha.”

She must have felt like crying inside even while laughing. After all, she’d hidden her existence out of fear of Sikar—how terrified she must be now.

She looked around nervously, trembling as if worried Sikar might appear any moment and hold a knife to her throat.

Perhaps because I’d been in similar situations before, I deeply empathized with her behavior.

So I gently held her hand.

“It’s okay. Sikar has become much more human.”

She looked startled again at my casual use of “Sikar,” and whispered,

“So… you two really aren’t just keeping up appearances?”

“It almost was, but Sikar genuinely came to like me…”

Seo Yeon stared at me not with admiration, but with skeptical eyes—as if she thought I was only saying this because Sikar was watching my memories.

But it was fine. I’d meant for Sikar to hear it anyway.

“But, Miss Seo Yeon—even whispering, Sikar will still see everything…”

She covered her mouth again and made a pained face.

“So, Miss Seo Yeon, do you plan to stay at the villa permanently?”

“Yes. I have nowhere else to go, and after staying there so long, it feels like home and is comfortable. But why do you ask…?”

“In case the villa is uncomfortable, would you consider staying at our ducal residence?”

The moment my words ended, Seo Yeon shook her head violently as if horrified.

“Oh, no! I appreciate the offer, but I find the Marquis’s villa comfortable and pleasant. I’ll gratefully accept the thought.”

Is Sikar really that scary? He’s not actually someone who’d…

Wait. Come to think of it, I was terrified of him at first too.

Perhaps because of my suggestion, or because she thought Sikar could see all our conversations, Seo Yeon, who had maintained a tense expression, put down her teacup and said,

“Duchess, I think I should leave for today. I feel I’ve made too many mistakes—I’ll come back next time after learning more etiquette from the Marquis.”

“Oh? You’re leaving already?”

“I’d like to stay longer, but…”

Seo Yeon whispered to me again,

“I’m too scared because I keep making verbal slips.”

I was as delighted as meeting a hometown friend—but so what?

Knowing Sikar can read memories, she can’t truly relax and chat freely with me.

Though I felt deeply regretful, I had no choice but to let her go.

“Alright then. Let’s go together—I’ll see you out.”

“Thank you, Duchess.”

At that moment, Seo Yeon, who had gone ahead into the hallway, turned back toward me with a horrified expression as if she’d seen something shocking.

Behind her, I saw Sikar standing in the hallway.

“What’s wrong, Miss Seo Yeon?”

Seo Yeon wiped sweat from her forehead and patted her chest to calm herself.

“Oh, I was just startled because the Duke was standing in the hallway.”

Sikar did nothing but stand there with a stern expression. But even to me, he looked quite intimidating.

Next time, I really need to teach him to smile when guests arrive.

“Come along, Miss Seo Yeon.”

I took Seo Yeon’s hand and walked with her down the hallway.

I could feel her slender hand trembling violently.

‘She must be really scared.’

Sikar walked toward me as if he didn’t care whether she feared him or not, looked at Seo Yeon, and said,

“You’re leaving?”

“Yes? Yes, Duke.”

“Then, before you go, how about a handshake?”

He was being so blatantly obvious. Seo Yeon looked at me as if seeking help.

So I glared subtly at Sikar and said,

“Sikar. No handshake.”

The moment I said that, Sikar lowered his outstretched hand—and Seo Yeon stared at me with a shocked expression.

Her eyes seemed to ask: Were all your previous words not just forced because Sikar reads your memories? Is it really true that Sikar genuinely likes you?

So I quietly nodded.

Seo Yeon covered her mouth with her hand again—her expression clearly saying she couldn’t believe what she was seeing, even with her own eyes.

Well, even I didn’t expect I could reform someone this crazy… Hmm. Maybe “reform” is still too soon.

“Your name is Han Seo Yeon?”

At Sikar’s voice, Seo Yeon blushed as if slapped and bowed her head as she replied,

“Yes, yes.”

“Visit often from now on.”

“O, often?”

“Yes. I’d like you to come often and keep my wife company.”

Why ask when you’re glaring as if you’ll kill her if she refuses? Without me here, he’d probably have drawn a knife again to ask.

Seo Yeon, gripping her trembling hands, answered politely,

“Yes. Ah, understood, Duke. I will respond to your summons.”

“The Marquis is waiting outside—go ahead.”

“Yes. Th, thank you, Duke.”

After Seo Yeon left, Sikar and I sat facing each other in the parlor, holding hands and talking for the first time in a while.

To others, it might have looked like we were affectionately holding hands—but as usual, I was just having my memories read.

“You seem in good spirits—meeting a hometown friend, I suppose.”

Of course. Meeting someone from the same place is a joyful thing, and Seo Yeon is a polite person, so our conversation was pleasant.

I suppose my belief that romance novel readers tend to be good people hasn’t betrayed me.

“By the way, call Hersia.”

“Why Hersia?”

“The Queen sent you a gift—I should reciprocate.”

Judging by Sikar’s chilling expression, that gift probably wouldn’t be a pleasant one.