I desperately tried to find any button displayed on the screen.
Anything that could take me out and back to the real world.
But the system screen seemed frozen, offering me no options.
[Please select your answer]
[Yes? No?]
Isn't there a third option, to take me back?
It dragged me into this web novel world on a whim, and now it's telling me to choose so casually?
I wanted to protest, but to whom?
"Lady Yuna, what's wrong with you? Why are you making such strange movements?"
Damn it!
I forgot that only I could see this system screen.
Of course, my odd behavior caught everyone's attention, including Lilia, who was still waiting for my answer.
There was no other choice.
I pressed the [Yes] button, simply because I didn't want to risk something I didn't understand.
For now, this was all I could do.
I'm sorry, Lilia…
I stood up from my seat and approached her.
Before anyone could understand my intentions, I immediately delivered a hard slap to Lilia's cheek.
Since I had already been cast as the villain in this web novel, why not embrace my role fully?
"How dare you!"
Everyone was startled, including Lilia and Kaelan.
I glanced around, noticing that all the nobles invited to the tea party were whispering among themselves, expressing their disapproval of my overly harsh manner.
Some nobles agreed with my action of slapping Lilia, as our caste positions in this kingdom made it appropriate for me to slap Lilia to teach her the etiquette of the upper nobility. Or at least that's what they believed.
I ignored the NPCs' comments.
Besides, what did they know?
If their lives were also presented with choices in a system like mine, would they just stay silent?
Hypocrites…
"This is the palace, Lady Lilia. I may call you that, but you must call me Lady Rochefort. After all, I come from the House of Rochefort.
"Please understand, Lady Lilia. Our statuses are different. I am the fiancée of His Majesty Kaelan. Please understand your position."
Silence enveloped me, creating an increasingly awkward atmosphere, especially after the hard slap I gave Lilia, leaving her cheek red and swollen for everyone to see.
[Congratulations! You have successfully completed the mission!]
[+10 points added to Lilia.]
Eh?
Wait, wait a minute!
What does this mean?
I thought by slapping Lilia, I would get social skill points.
Why did I get affection points like in a visual novel instead?
And why a slap instead of the usual method?!
Damn system, you didn't even tell me who the points were given to earlier!
"She deserved it."
"Yes. Lady Rochefort was right. She should have behaved properly."
"Just because she used to live as a commoner, she forgot the manners of nobility."
The murmurs of the crowd grew louder and louder, shamelessly supporting me for teaching Lilia manners.
If I could choose, I wouldn't want to slap or hurt anyone!
I'm a pacifist!
"Forgive my mistake, Lady Rochefort. I was indeed at fault and deserve to be punished by you."
Lilia stood up from her seat and knelt before me.
Her head tilted upward after speaking.
"Receiving such a slap from Lady Rochefort is a blessing for me."
Huh?
My eyes widened, my mouth gaping in shock as I watched Lilia take my hand and press it against her swollen cheek from my recent slap.
Her gaze was so gentle, as if my action had little effect on her.
Why were you thanking me, Lilia!?
Was something wrong with your brain?
I slapped you, you know!
I could still feel the throbbing pain in my hand from slapping you, and yet you're thanking me!
What kind of world is this?
Why were the two main characters in this story acting outside the script!?
"I won't make the same mistake twice," Yuna still looked at me with a gentle gaze, making my heart race because of it.
Wait a minute!
Why was my heart racing?
I glanced at Kaelan, who was calmly sipping his drink, as if this commotion meant nothing to him.
Male lead, why are you just standing there while the woman you love is being slapped by someone else!?
Shouldn't you approach Lilia and scold me in public, like it should happen in the novel?!
Don't just stand there, you jerk!
My mind was filled with endless grumbling.
When I glanced at Kaelan again, our eyes met.
He fell silent, stopped sipping his drink, and smiled meaningfully.
The man stood up and walked toward me.
He took my hand and pulled me away from Lilia, slipping his arm around my waist and pulling me into his embrace.
"What my fiancée said is true," Kaelan said, planting a quick kiss on my cheek that left me speechless. "You deserve it."
Why is Kaelan's personality just as messed up as Lilia's?
Why are you on my side instead of defending Lilia?
I struggled to break free from Kaelan's embrace, but as expected of a tyrannical king, the man had strength far surpassing my own.
Lilian rose from her seat, smiling sarcastically.
"Don't think he'll choose you, you fool," Lilia glared at Kaelan.
Err…
Is it even permissible for a noble like Lilia to speak so boldly to Kaelan in such a loud voice?
Does she not fear death?
"Are you looking for death?" Kaelan was furious.
His question was so similar to what I had just been thinking that for a moment I thought he had read my mind.
"That's exactly my question. Stay away from Lady Rochefort. She doesn't deserve you."
"Huh, you're so bold. She's my fiancée, of course, I have the right to defend her," Kaelan said, growing more annoyed. "Guards! Arrest him."
"You dare call the guards?" Lilia didn't look surprised or panicked as two royal guards rushed to restrain her. "What will you do this time? Punish me to death in the dungeon?"
"Good idea. Why not?" Kaelan smiled wickedly. "Take her to where she wants to go. I want to see how strong she is with that foolish determination of hers."
Once Lilia had disappeared from our sight, Kaelan turned to look at me with a gentle gaze that contrasted sharply with the one he had shown Lilia moments ago.
"Does this satisfy you?"
I didn't know what to say, so I just gave him a sullen look.
But it seemed like my sullen expression was misinterpreted by Kaelan.
"I'm glad you chose me, Lady Rochefort. Do you want to formalize our status as married starting today? What do you think?"
I swallowed hard.
Who chose you!?
Ah, that's right…
It was clear that this left me with no choice but to accept the breakfast menu prepared by Kaelan.
Hm, the notification in the system only asked me to slap Lilia in public, right?
That means I don't have to accept Kaelan's food!
Wow, I'm a genius!
"I feel unwell after handling the commotion earlier. Forgive my boldness, Your Highness," I broke free from Kaelan and bowed to him, who was confused by my attitude. "I'll take my leave now. Thank you for the meal–"
A strong grip clamped onto my left arm, holding me back from leaving.
I turned around to find the man still there, his gaze that had been warm earlier now cold and cruel.
I was terrified, but I couldn't show it in front of Kaelan.
This mentally ill man would enjoy it even more if I chose to fight back.
In short, this man had the makings of a Do-S.
"Who gave you permission to leave?"
I turned around after calming myself down.
"As far as I remember, there's no rule that says I have to accept your dinner invitation. I slapped Lilia not because I chose you, but because I had to reprimand Lilia's rudeness. That's all."
"Huh?"
I approached Kaelan and whispered in his ear. "I'm allergic to almonds, so I can't eat them. Are you trying to kill me?"
Well, it's not exactly a lie, you know!
I do have an allergy to almonds.
When I was a child, I had to be hospitalized because I had a severe allergic reaction when my grandmother forced me to eat them.
"Allergy? I don't remember you having an almond allergy."
Oh no!
I forgot that Yuna Rochefort's character really loves almond cakes!
What should I do? Should I just go ahead and do it?
"If you're going to lie, at least do it smartly—"
"I was planning to go home to rest, but what can I do?"
I swallowed hard.
This is my death sentence, staring at the almond cookies offered by this tyrannical king as I sat back down in my chair.
Well, if I'm going to die, so be it.
Almond cookies, here I come…
My trembling hand reached for the almond cookie, bit off a small piece, and ate it.
I remained silent for a moment, waiting for my allergy to flare up.
But I've been waiting for nearly two minutes, and nothing has happened.
Was it because I'm inhabiting Yuna Rochefort's old body, and she doesn't have an almond allergy?
My breath…
My breath was starting to feel tight.
My assumption was wrong.
I wasn't occupying Yuna Rochefort's old body.
It was I and my original body that had entered this world and become Yuna Rochefort.
My hand dropped the almond cookie, struggling with all my strength just to breathe.
Kaelan immediately shouted for someone to call the palace doctor, then ran toward me, his face panicked.
"I thought you were joking when you said you were allergic to almonds!" Kaelan, who was so panicked, hugged me tightly while crying. "I accidentally killed you again."
Again?
What did"again" mean?
"D-Do you b-beli-believe me now, Your ... Highness ...?" I asked softly, stuttering amid my shortness of breath.
Kaelan only responded with a quick nod, telling me to stop talking as the palace doctor arrived.
"Take her to a room. I've brought the medicine."
In my heart, I chuckled.
Can the medicine of this world cure an almond allergy?
I couldn't see clearly because my vision was blurry, but I think they took me to a palace living room.
"Kaelan…"
Kaelan, who was sitting beside me on the left, leaned his ear close to my lips so he could hear what I was going to say to him.
"You ... are full ... of yourself ... I hate… you ..."
Then my consciousness faded completely.
***