(Renée’s POV)

As soon as I heard his name, my body involuntarily stiffened.

‘Oh my God! It was him! He was the one who killed Renée Blair!’

I don’t think this is the first time he’s met Renée in this timeline, but this is like… A deterrence from the original plot? Like, let me meet the guy somehow before he kills me?

He gave me and Anastasia, who was behind me, a stern look, then raised his gaze once again.

Then, my heel clattered and let out a sound. My free hand, which was no longer being held by the man, was suddenly dragged away. Surprised by the unexpected action, I looked back, and it was Anastasia who pulled my hand. 

Huh? Anastasia muttered with an unusually cold demeanor. As if she were attempting to answer the question marks above my head in the incomprehensible situation.

“I made a mistake. There was an invitation for Renée.”

Her golden eyes, which always felt warm and soft, were now cold. Though, her gaze wasn’t directed at me. It was towards the man in front of me, which was very strange. 

Who would have thought that a day would come we’re I would see Anastasia being hostile to other people.

Puzzled, I lowered my gaze and stared at her hand. Just as she said, there was an invitation with my name on it. 

I can’t believe that I had an invitation. What the hell is going on?

“Oh, is that so?”

I heard the man’s voice next to me as he answered. Before I knew it, he had come all the way next to me. Anastasia tightened her grip on my wrist.

I’m not sure what’s happening, but I know for sure. That Anastasia hates this man.

I tried to recall whether she also hated this man in the original story, but my memory was a bit fuzzy.

Though, one thing is for certain. Based on her personality, Anastasia would not openly express her dislike for someone without good reason. I know just by comparing this to how she treated me.

I wondered what the hell must have happened between this man and Anastasia, and why she had so much hostility towards him.

The man spoke in a very calm voice.

“But even if that’s the case, there’s no rule that she cannot accompany me, right?”

“Right.”

“Then the problem is solved. Will you let go of her hand? I want to go in now.”

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

“I can’t do that. Because……”

Anastasia, who was in mid-conversation with the man, pulled me in tight again. At that moment, the smell of her body pierced the tip of my nose. It had a fresh and comfortable scent.

“Renée will accompany me. Sir Fergus should go alone.”

Huh?

Am I the only one who was surprised by her words? And the fact that she will be accompanying me? No one else but me?

Anastasia was so kind as to offer to accompany me. Even though I hit her on the cheek just a few weeks ago!

“If that’s the case…Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Unexpectedly, the man gave up quickly and let go of my hand. As the firmness and warmth that I felt from his hand dissipated, my pulse suddenly slowed down. My body seemed to be regaining strength.

It was only then, that I realized.

I felt nervous. I had just encountered the person who killed Renée Blair. 

Looking up at the man, he didn’t even glance back at me as he took his steps without any hesitation. For some reason, he was headed in the opposite direction from the banquet hall.

Huh? Wasn’t he just acting as if he wanted to enter the banquet hall right away?

Though, it was a relief. The place where Renée Blair died was in the banquet hall. If that man doesn’t enter the banquet hall now, then that means I’m a little bit further away from death. I’m leaving as soon as I enter the hall…

Looking at him as he walked away, I could see that he had a stout build with broad shoulders. Well, that wasn’t surprising. He’s the only one capable of killing a dragon as if he was cutting up his food. It’s natural for him to have a good body.

I stared at the sword hanging from the man’s waist. The sword in the scabbard looked like an ornament. But I can’t be so vigilant, he killed Renée Blair with that jewellery-like sword.

“As expected… I want to go home soon.”

“You’re going home?”

Anastasia asked as I muttered in fear. For a moment, I forgot that she was by my side, and I shook my head in surprise.

“No, not now, maybe a little later.”

“Ah…. ”

Am I mistaken? Anastasia’s face suddenly turned gloomy at my words…

Following Anastasia’s sigh, there was a very awkward silence between us. To change up the atmosphere, I pointed to the invitation.

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

I was unaware that she had the invitation that I didn’t receive, but isn’t this a good thing?

“More than that, the invitation? Haha, I guess I was right that Reden did take it.”

“…Let’s go inside, Renée.”

“Are you really going to go with me?”

Instead of answering, Anastasia took my hand and walked towards the door. I was a little more perplexed at the proactive gesture than I thought.

“Wait, Anastasia. Didn’t you have to check the invitations here?”

“It’s fine now, since most of the guests have already arrived. I don’t need to do it anymore.”

Then what are you doing now?

I wanted to ask her, but I couldn’t say a word. I’m afraid that Anastasia may not like it if I asked her.

And of course I had no problem with it. Come to think of it, I’m going to the banquet with my favorite person in this world! I suddenly thought that it would be great if I could go straight back home and drink tea with my favorite person.

After a moment’s thought, the door to the banquet hall opened. Then, as if the transparent membrane that was blocking me had disappeared. A loud noise hit my ears.

The banquet hall was spacious and luxurious. It was as if various jewels were being poured out to the people. Seeing this dazzling and lively place, I felt overwhelmed.

I didn’t know that… I must have had a fantasy about an event called a banquet.

I didn’t know either, but I… I guess I had a fantasy about a banquet event.

It was then. As if a candle was lit in that daunting sight.

Ting!

It was none other than the sound of the mission notification window. However, unlike usual, the sound did not stop and rang a little longer.

Wait, this isn’t the mission successful sound.

Of course, I thought the mission would have been successful, so the sound I heard now made me feel very uneasy.

Mission Failed!
‘Since you got an invitation to enter the banquet, you did not force yourself in.’

It was said that anxious premonitions are never wrong.

My mind suddenly stopped due to the warning like a (*)bolt from the blue, as my head cooled down. After I stopped for a while, my anger rose in an instant.

(T/N: (*)a complete surprise : something totally unexpected.)

Are you kidding me right now? I even lied! And still, I failed the mission?

It wasn’t just that. Another beep sounded, and a new window popped up below the mission failed window.

Penalties for the Failed Mission are Given
-Penalty: High fever-
-Time: Half day (11 hours 59 minutes)-

“This crazy…..”

Just as I was about to spit out double curse words, I remembered Anastasia’s presence beside me and kept my mouth shut. At the same time, my head became dizzyingly heavy and painful. It was as if someone was constantly pressing my head.

Seriously, am I really going to die because of this?

-ˏˋ ━━━━━━ ʚɞ ━━━━━━ ˊˎ-

(3rd Person POV)

“Then see you tomorrow, Marquis Blair.”

Reden looked at the Count, who smiled meaningfully and walked away, with sharp eyes. To be precise, he was looking at the black cane held by the count.

For a moment he blinked slowly as if he was tired, and turned his head while drinking alcohol. Then he frowned and stared intently at a certain place.

“Sigh.”

As he inhaled, his eyes then caught the people who had just entered the banquet hall.

“Is that Renée? And next to her is… Anas…stacia?”

Horaisha, who had previously handed the letter to Reden the other day, muttered indifferently.

Just like usual, she was wearing an exquisite dress and her long purple hair was braided skillfully.

Reden continued to look at the two of them with disapproving eyes, without giving a single glance whether Horaisha was muttering by his side or not.

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

No, to be exact Reden was only looking at one person. She was dressed in an unusual dress and for some reason she looked very pale.

‘She said that she isn’t coming. And that I don’t have to worry about it.’

He muttered grumpily to himself and licked his tongue, then he gave the cup he was holding to a passing attendant. Horaisha, who was drinking alcohol at that sight, asked.

“Are you going to go there?”

“Yes. If she does something crazy here, then I wouldn’t be able to fix it.”

“If she intended to do something crazy, then she would have already done it. For example, slap Anastasia on the cheek.

‘What he said made sense. However, for some reason, the two came in together. Not only that, they are holding each other’s hands.’

It wasn’t unfamiliar to him. But it looks ridiculous. What does she want now?

“You never know what’s inside that kid’s mind. It’s too early to be relieved.”

Reden was about to walk towards them, then suddenly stopped at Horaisha’s words.

“By the way, Reneé seems strangely pale. Is she sick?”

“……”

“I’ve never seen a person with such a pale face. I heard that she collapsed recently. Hasn’t she recovered yet?”

‘That can’t be true. She wasn’t that pale this morning. Seeing that the bruise is gone, she probably put on heavy make-up to cover up the traces of her foolish self-harming.’

Reden made a reasonable judgment.

“Wait. She seems to be sweating too. Is Anastasia helping her now?”

“……”

“Look at that. She seems to have stumbled.”

‘But why does it look more painful the more I listen to it?’

While staring at Horaisha for a moment, who was talking uselessly next to him, he finally let out a sigh. Horaisha then took another step.

“Are you worried?”

“Worried?”

Reden narrowed his forehead because of what he heard, which he seemed to be hearing more frequently these days. Just like what Reneé said to him a while ago.

‘Oh, why? Are you worried that your only sister is getting beaten up by someone?’

‘What does she mean ‘I’m worried’?’

Reden laughed in vain, perhaps it was funny to think about it himself.

“You should be worried.”

“……”

“Not about that kid, but Solen.”

He mumbled as if no one could hear the last words, then he hurried to move his feet when he saw the two move. In the end, he can’t help but to go towards the two of them.

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

However, he was caught by someone that made him stop moving. It was a nobleman and Reden couldn’t leave right away, that’s why he continuously looked at Reneé and Anastasia’s location.

Horaisha smiled a little as he looked at Reden’s back and put the glass back to his lips.

Purple eyes shone sharply, as if they were filled with unexpected joy.