Klaus pressed his lips together tightly, staring at me intently.

For some reason, I felt a sudden urge to cry.

“Today, Your Highness may have been the bad person to Lady Elfriede, but for many more days, you have been a good person to me. So, don’t worry about things like karma, and just keep trusting in yourself as you have done so far.”

You haven’t done anything wrong, Klaus.

“Your Highness, you were not mistaken.”

I spoke more than usual. Having poured out my thoughts, my whole body felt like it had been beaten.

Why is it that just a few words make my heart swell so much?

“Müsel.”

“Yes.”

Klaus, still not taking his eyes off me, said,

“Thank you. Sincerely.”

I clamped my lips shut, feeling that if I opened my mouth, I might burst into tears.

“Your words have been a great comfort to me. Knowing that I have been a good person to you brings me immense joy.”

His smile made me feel even more like crying.

“You’re right. There’s no need to be a good person to everyone in the world. That’s impossible, anyway.”

Klaus looked noticeably relieved.

“I’ll remember what you said, that I’m not a perfect person. I’ll learn to be content with doing my best in each situation.”

He still remembered something I’d said before.

Today, it seemed like he was determined to make me cry. Why does he keep shaking my heart?

Klaus looked at me with a relaxed smile.

“I’ve been talking about myself too much. You said earlier that you couldn’t sleep because your mind was troubled.”

Oh no, I’d rather not talk about myself.

But having listened to Klaus’s concerns, it would be odd not to share my own.

“I… ”

I looked down at the glass in my hand.

I had enjoyed such a delicious drink; it was time for me to be a bit more honest.

“That would be my way of returning the genuine heart he showed me.”

“I met a friend from my hometown in the capital, but it seems we’re no longer friends. My heart is troubled.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

Klaus furrowed his brows slightly. I smiled bitterly.

“My friend is living a completely different life here, and apparently, my knowing him well makes things difficult. I thought we could rely on each other, but it seems I’m just a hindrance.”

Klaus’s purple eyes slightly lowered.

“That’s sad, Müsel.”

“It is.”

I quickly emptied my glass of brandy.

“I tried to help him, but it all turned out to be pointless. That’s why it feels so hollow.”

Klaus looked at me, not smiling.

“A woman?”

“Yes? Oh, yes. A woman…”

I accidentally responded and then realized my mistake. I suddenly looked like a man who had been rejected by a woman.

I hastily clarified.

“No, it’s not like that. I mean, she already has someone she likes.”

“Oh?”

His raised eyebrow showed he wasn’t quite convinced.

“Really.”

“Okay, I’ll take your word for it. Just friends.”

His casual acceptance made me laugh weakly.

“Anyway, that’s how I lost my only friend. I’m truly alone in this vast capital.”

In fact, my reason for staying here had vanished. Staying would only hinder Rumi.

It would have been better to quit living as Müsel and return to my place.

Sadly.

“Müsel.”

“Yes.”

Klaus looked at me and smiled warmly.

“Then, let’s become friends. I also sincerely lack someone I can call a friend.”

I nearly burst into tears on the spot. I bowed my head deeply to prevent the tears from falling.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Don’t mention it. I should be the one thanking you for becoming my friend.”

Hearing his voice any longer would have made me burst into tears.

I quickly adjusted my posture. It was time to end this drinking session.

“I’ve stayed too long, and you should rest. It was an honor to have a drink with you.”

“Already leaving? That’s a shame.”

“The night has grown late; I should retire.”

I bowed and Klaus waved his hand.

“Alright. See you tomorrow, Müsel.”

“Good night, Your Highness.”

I almost fled from Klaus’s bedroom.

Once I reached my room, clenching my teeth all the way, I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer as soon as I closed the door.

“Huh…”

Fearing that my sobs might escape, I covered my mouth and cried.

Klaus’s offer to become friends completely shook my exhausted self.

I was grateful for his kindness and moved by his gesture.

And then it dawned on me.

“I’m doomed, damn it.”

I had fallen for Klaus.

It was foolish, but I had given my heart to a character in a novel, not as a fan of the character, but as a person.

I’m no better than Rumi, who I criticized for being too immersed. I’ve fallen too deeply into this novel, foolishly.

“Huh…”

I sighed through my tear-soaked breath.

What should I do now? There was no reason to stay in this world now that Rumi had rejected me. Yet, I still felt attached.

I wanted to be there for Klaus, to make him happy.

I wanted to see him smile more, and it seemed worth it to give everything for him.

Now, the desire to make Klaus happy outweighed my original goal of taking Rumi back to the real world.

His lover? Partner? Friend? It didn’t matter.

I just wanted to be someone he needed.

If I could fulfill that wish, it would be enough for me to just see him happy from afar.

“Foolish Müsel.”

I didn’t want to return to my real life. I had no reason to stay, yet I couldn’t leave.

What should I do?

If only I could return to my world in my sleep.

Then I wouldn’t have to suffer like this.

“Hmm…”

The alcohol made my head fuzzy.

I lay down on the floor.

It was cold.

But I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, I was still in Müsel’s body.

“Ugh.”

I ached all over and had a headache, perhaps from sleeping on the cold floor in the middle of winter without changing my clothes. Maybe I caught a cold?

Should I just rest in my room today? I can’t risk passing it to Klaus.

For a brief moment, an internal battle raged between the angel and devil in my mind. But in the end, my ingrained work ethic won.

“Even if I rest, I should at least show my face.”

I reluctantly got up, barely managed to wash and change.

Before heading to work, I visited the royal physician.

But.

“Damn.”

The physician simply sent me away, saying I didn’t have a fever. The headache was just a hangover.

So, I left empty-handed.

Tall for nothing, yet annoyingly robust. The original sub-male character of the novel must have taken good care of his health. Greatly appreciated, really.

I headed straight to Klaus’s office. My heart raced as I approached.

“Calm down, calm down.”

I took several deep breaths as I walked, fearing I might faint from hyperventilation.

As I reached the office, another guard, not Lutz, recognized me and greeted me. I responded with a faint smile.
Klaus hadn’t arrived for work yet. I looked around the empty office and then sat at my desk.

“It’s okay, I’m fine.”

I closed my eyes and focused on mind control.

After a while, I slowly opened my eyes.

“Everything will be alright.”

No one knew I had feelings for Klaus. As long as I maintained my poker face, I could keep it a secret and carry on normally.

Suddenly, the door opened. I quickly stood up to greet Klaus.

“Did you have a good night’s rest, Your Highness?”

“Ah, Müsel. Did you sleep well?”

He appeared with a neat face, showing no signs of a hangover.

Was it because I realized my feelings for him? Today, his beauty seemed even more radiant.

Like usual, he had a cup of tea before starting his day. It was a start to another ordinary day.

I was certain now. As long as I acted as usual, everything would be fine.

But then.

“By the way, you seemed to really enjoy the brandy you drank yesterday, so I brought some for you.”

“What?”

My composure shattered in an instant. I took the bottle of brandy he offered with shaking hands.

Oblivious Klaus just smiled, unaware of my turmoil.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, really… I don’t know how to thank you enough…”

“There’s no need to be so grateful for just a bottle of liquor. You’re making me feel embarrassed.”

Klaus chuckled.

I stared blankly at the brandy bottle in my hand.

I couldn’t bear to drink it. Absolutely not.