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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Golden Statue
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When I was the hero, I was so strong that my body was practically just a shell for my power, so I could withstand the penalties.

But being reckless in this body was another story.

Adrian’s body was so frail that overlapping penalties could kill her from shock.

A hack author who kills off even the protagonist wouldn't guarantee the life of a supporting character.

‘Better play it safe. If I die before the finale, it's game over.’

I swallowed my anger and put on a cold expression. The corners of my mouth quivered.

“Piache, eavesdropping is nothing to be proud of. Return to your room and reflect.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

Piache stood up from her chair with a dejected expression.

Perhaps because this wasn't the first or second time she'd been dismissed from a meal, Piache didn't protest.

“Piache, where are you going?”

“T-to… my bedroom, my bedroom.”

“Who said to go now? Finish your meal, take a walk in the garden, and then you can go when it's time for your nap.”

“…What?”

Piache’s eyes went wide.

The maids waiting in attendance all wore expressions of surprise.

‘What’s with them?’

All I did was tell her to eat and take a walk to digest. Was that really so shocking?

‘So this is the kind of person who wouldn't even say that to a child… Adrian, you’re really something else.’

She must have never been moved by beauty or felt her heart ache at something cute. I wonder if she's ever even had a good laugh.

‘What on earth did she find joy in?’

I spoke in a voice that felt completely devoid of warmth.

“Sit back down.”

“Yes…”

Piache tilted her head, returned to the table, and sat down quietly.

“Let’s eat.”

“Th-thank you for the food.”

As I ate, I secretly snuck glances at Piache.

‘She’s wearing a yellow dress. She looks like a little chick.’

Piache was just too cute for words.

Well-mannered and sweet-natured.

Watching her was enough to make the corners of my mouth turn up into a smile before I even knew it.

‘Look at her eat so diligently. Eat up, eat up. Don't be picky now. Good girl.’

Piache didn't make any noise with her utensils and didn't spill any food.

‘How strictly must she have been taught for a four or five-year-old child to eat more cleanly than me… Huh?’

Wait a minute. Now that I think about it, Piache looks a little pale.

Is she sick? She seems to be stuttering quite a bit, too…

Reining in my sudden concern, I feigned a cold tone.

“Piache, are you feeling unwell?”

“N-no? P-Piache is s-strong!”

Piache frantically waved her tiny hands.

‘Ugh, so cute. Maybe I was just seeing things?’

I have a weakness for small and cute things, but I haven't been around children much.

So it was difficult to tell if she was sick or not just by her complexion.

‘Seeing how well she's eating, she seems fine.’

After the meal, Piache lingered nearby.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“Um… Duchess.”

“Speak.”

“C-can’t I go with you?”

“Where?”

“F-for a walk…”

Piache shyly held out her hand, soft as a kitten's paw.

‘This is… insane…’

A wave of dizziness washed over me. The creature before me was lethally cute.

Fighting back tears, I pushed her hand away.

“Do I look like I have that much free time?”

“N-no… I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Piache turned away with a very disappointed expression.

I wanted to comfort her, to pat her slumped shoulders, but I couldn't.

‘I’m sorry, Piache. I have a mountain of things to figure out right now. I promise I’ll play with you later.’

That damn hack author only gives instructions at important crossroads; I have to figure out the rest myself.

Therefore, gathering information about the protagonist and understanding the main characters was urgent. That way, I could deduce the events that would become the core of the novel.

By gathering those events, I would design the optimal path to the ending. It was a process so tedious and complex that just thinking about it made me want to throw up.

I watched Piache return to her room before heading to the drawing-room.

As soon as I sat on the lavish sofa, a middle-aged man poured me tea.

He appeared to be in his forties, and his ramrod-straight posture hinted at a rigid personality. He was likely the butler of this estate.

[Step 1: (Without even glancing at the butler) What is on the schedule for today?]

Oh, so he is the butler.

“What is on the schedule for today?”

“A council of nobles is scheduled for noon. The location is the Grand Conference Hall in the Imperial Palace.”

“The agenda?”

“It concerns the creation of a golden statue of the hero, Lady Adela Helsington.”

The tea that was smoothly going down my throat suddenly stopped.

I spat the tea right out.

“Pfft—”

“My lady! Are you all right?”

The butler hurriedly handed me a handkerchief. I wiped the liquid dripping down my chin.

“What, *cough*, are they making?”

“A golden statue of the hero, Lady Adela Helsington.”

“…And what are they going to do with it?”

“They plan to extensively redecorate the Grand Plaza to commemorate His Majesty the Emperor's 56th birthday. They say they will create a statue of Lady Adela Helsington and place it in the center of the Grand Plaza.”

“Don’t do it!!!”

“Pardon?”

The butler asked back, looking flustered. He seemed a little frightened.

I closed and opened my eyes, composing myself.

“Who proposed this motion?”

“It was the Third Prince, Leonhart Genetic Philio.”

“…Prepare for me to attend the council.”

“It has been a long time since you've attended a noble council. Will you be all right? It is a meeting you may miss without consequence.”

“No, I will absolutely attend.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

I left the drawing-room and went up to my bedroom. My face grew hot as my insides boiled with rage.

‘Leonhart! What in the world are you thinking? A statue of me!’

If he thinks I'd be happy about a statue of myself, he's completely delusional.

The moment that statue goes up, I'll never be able to go near the Grand Plaza again. Out of sheer embarrassment.

‘I already have a mountain of things to do, and now you’re pulling this?’

The more I thought about it, the stranger it was. It's not like Leonhart doesn't know my personality… Why would he do something like this?

‘Could it be… revenge?’

It made sense for Leonhart to be angry with me. I did die and leave them all behind.

‘Yeah, he must have felt betrayed.’

I knew my companions would be hurt.

But changing the ending was impossible.

I, too, wanted the novel to end quickly so I could return to my original world.

Of course, the time I spent with my companions was joyful and happy.

I was even overwhelmed by the thought that this is what it means to have friends.

But no matter what, I couldn't erase the fact that this was all inside a novel.

Once I became aware of that reality, everything felt meaningless.

Even when I was laughing and chatting, feeling a deep sense of friendship, or moved to the verge of tears, the thought, ‘The author probably wrote this scene, too,’ would make my heart grow cold.

That's why, during my time with them, I suffered from a terrible loneliness.

I wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Several times a day, I would remind myself that I had to go back.

I was afraid of growing more attached. Afraid I'd want to stay by their side. Afraid the guilt and longing for my parents would fade.

‘So don't hate me too much.’

I'm already being punished.

***

“My lady, the carriage is ready.”

“Very well.”

It wasn't just one carriage that had been prepared.

One dazzlingly ornate carriage and two ordinary-looking ones.

Five maids were waiting for me in front of them.

‘They’re all on the thin side. Does Adrian not feed them?’

“These are the girls who will be accompanying you today, my lady. Is this acceptable?”

“These girls… all of them?”

“Shall I call for more?”

Is Adrian facing death threats or something? Why take five maids just to go to a meeting at the Imperial Palace?

‘No wonder they prepared two extra carriages…’

I glanced at the empty air. Thankfully, no directive appeared.

“Reduce it to one.”

“…Pardon?”

“It's a hassle, so I said to reduce it to one.”

The butler, who had been staring at me with a look of disbelief, hurriedly bowed his head.

“Y-yes, of course. I understand.”

The butler called one of the maids from the line.

Her face was familiar.

It was the red-haired girl who had helped me dress in place of the maid I'd assigned to clean the laboratory.

“You will take this girl. Luna, attend to her ladyship well.”

“Yes, Butler.”

Luna opened the carriage door and then knelt below it.

“My lady, will you step up?”

“…”

Is she seriously expecting me to step on her thigh to get in?