Chapter 183

The Hallway of the Winter Kingdom Palace.

The walls were lined with grand murals, and the windows opposite them framed a serene, snowy landscape.

Nox smiled as he looked at the frescoes, seemingly lost in thought.

Angelica, standing beside him, didn’t understand the expression on his face.

These weren’t paintings meant to inspire joy.
Bodies engulfed in flames, people screaming, others impaled by spears of ice—each mural vividly captured the brutal war between the Winter Kingdom and the demon tribes.

She recognized the scenes.
She’d studied them under Daisy for months now.

They depicted the infamous war in which the former Winter Kingdom emperor recklessly invaded demon territory—the same war that had led to her homeland’s collapse.

Since returning to the palace, Nox had acted increasingly imperial.
He now lived in the emperor’s quarters and had restricted access to the third floor and above to himself.

This was Angelica’s first time seeing the third floor.

Then Nox’s voice broke the silence.

“Do you know what this war was about, Lady Angelica?”

“Ah, yes. Lady Daisy taught me. It was the war the last emperor waged on the demon tribe… around sixty-five years ago.”

Nox smiled slightly.
“It seems your studies paid off.”

He turned back toward the mural.

“Ironically, the final days before our fall were the Winter Kingdom’s golden age.”

His voice, though light, carried a cold undertone.

“I plan to restore that glory.”

Angelica’s eyes drifted from the fairytale-like scene outside the window to the brutal mural on the wall. She sighed and lowered her gaze.

“I’m not sure what the concept is here.”

It had been a month since she followed Nox to the Winter Kingdom.

As its acting representative, Nox had diligently begun rebuilding the nation.
With his experience leading the Association, the kingdom was slowly becoming stable again—functional, even.

The people liked him.
Nobles, commoners—he had earned their trust.

Some even joked the Winter Kingdom princess didn’t need to wake up anymore.

Every time she heard it, a bitter feeling crept into her chest.

“I’m a princess of the Winter Kingdom too…”

The snow had melted, but she hadn’t found her place.

Worse still, the anxiety gnawed at her:
Nox had stopped asking her to use her fire ability two weeks ago.

Had he given up on her?

Angelica clenched her fists. Her fingers were pale from the tension.

Now that Nox had reclaimed the Presencia family’s territory and treasury, he had no need for a powerless royal.

He had everything—wealth, power, public support.

And a useless fireless princess was a liability.

The Winter Kingdom Association had split into two factions:
One wanted to restore the royal family. The other supported Nox as emperor.

At first, when Angelica and Veronica were discovered, they’d all pinned their hopes on the royal line.

But upon seeing the extent of Veronica’s abilities—creating candles at best—they had reevaluated.
Veronica hated work. She didn’t want to be queen.

She was bright, innocent, and completely unfit to rule.

Half of the Association turned to Nox.

The other half still clung to hope.
Maybe, they said, a future child born to the royal line would wield real power.

“Only Veronica and I are caught in this mess.”

The last princess still slept, unaware of any of it.

So this had to be settled by her.

Angelica’s hands trembled slightly.
She had made her decision the night before: she would survive.

She would choose Nox.

The male lead doesn’t kill the user.

As tempting as it was to ask the other players for help, she decided to endure this herself.

“This is my story. I’ll find the answer.”

She stared at Nox’s broad back, swallowed, and took a step toward him.

“Mr. Guild Master…”

“Yes?”

Her hand tightened around a handkerchief.

“There’s something on your shoulder. Let me wipe it off.”

Nox turned slightly. His shoulder looked perfectly clean.

“It looks fine to me.”

“It’s white, so it’s hard to see. There’s some bird droppings on it.”

She played innocent as she reached for him.
He didn’t seem suspicious.

But he was tall—too tall. Even if she tried to hug him, their collars wouldn’t meet.

“Can you lean down just a bit more?”

He complied, and Angelica stood on tiptoe, pulling his shoulders toward her.

She tilted her neck. Beep.

A sound rang out, and a status window appeared.

[‘Nox Presencia’ has been added to the slot.]

“It worked!”

Embarrassed, she pulled away quickly.

But something felt off.

Nox remained still, crouched.

“President…?”

She hesitated.

He slowly stood, eyes no longer warm—but sharp, like ice.

“Lady Angelica.”

“Y-Yes?”

“I just remembered something urgent. I’ll excuse myself now.”

“O-of course.”

He bowed stiffly and walked away.

Left behind, Angelica blinked and clutched the hem of her skirt.

That’s strange…

Nox had always been polite to her.
Even if it was fake, he was careful.

But this was the first time he’d looked at her that way.

A chill crept down her spine as the AI chimed in.

[Adding a male lead to the slot will automatically apply the user’s keywords to him.]

Her eyes widened.

She didn’t expect it to happen instantly.

“What keyword did it apply?”

[The keyword currently applied to ‘Nox Presencia’ is #HateCouple.]

“What?! Hate Couple?!”

Her knees buckled.

Sure, she liked the trope—when reading.

But living it?

No, no, no.

“Cancel it!”

The system offered options:

[#TimeLimit]
[#CoerciveRelationship]

None of them were better.
She was doomed.

Just then, a status window blinked:

[Did you accidentally add the male lead?]
[Preorder the Slot Removal Ticket! Discounted for 3,600 cash!]

Of course it’s an ad.

---

Later that night, I glanced out the window.
As expected, Johann appeared.

“Were you waiting?” he asked with a smile.

“Yes.”

I stood from the couch and joined him at the window.

“I’ll be in the Winter Kingdom for a while.”

“Something happened?”

I nodded and sat on the sill, sensing a long conversation ahead.

“Knox is harassing my friend.”

Angelica messaged me yesterday.

She said Knox was trying to isolate Veronica in the north and threatening the royal faction.

He’d divided the Association into two:
His supporters, and those loyal to the crown.

Now he was imprisoning royalists, banishing Veronica—and proposing marriage to Angelica as the solution.

It was political blackmail.

Worse: the “#HateOfficial” keyword had activated on Nox.

Delicious for a novel.
Horrifying in real life.

“Angelica’s stuck in the palace. She’s miserable.”

Johann listened quietly, then asked:

“[Is this something Daisy can handle?]”

“What?”

His brows furrowed.

“[Human political battles are dangerous. I’m worried.]”

I smiled and shook my head.

“Don’t worry. I’m not getting into politics.”

Angelica didn’t want to marry Nox.
She drew the line when he messed with her brother.
She had a strong sense of right and wrong, deep down.

“I’m going to help her with something simpler.”

He tilted his head.

“I’ve read a lot of books.”

I smiled confidently.

“I know at least ten ways to break an engagement. The books have all the answers.”

Johann didn’t fully understand, but nodded.

“[Should I come with you?]”

“No, it’ll be crowded. Besides, the demon king might return. You’re safer here.”

“…How long will you be gone?”

“A week?”

He sighed.

I squeezed his hand.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Johann stared at me for a moment, then nodded.