Chapter 40

[Enjoy BGM carefully selected by professional AI for romance novels. Only 1 cash/month! Enhance your immersion in every chapter.]

It even whispered the ad copy, like some seductive ghost trying to sell me Spotify Premium.

I blinked at the status window.

…Wait. Was that an ad?

They were actually charging me for background music now?

[Watch the ad to earn 0.5 cash.]

Before I could even click “No thanks,” the ad had played, the jingle chirped, and a neat 0.5 cash had landed in my account.

Well. Money’s money.

Chin propped on my hand, I stared at the balance and thought, Should I just go for it? The BGM was decent. The vibes in the library? Not so much. Might as well splurge a little.

One tap later, I had a shiny new [BGM 1-Month Subscription].

The subscription was front and center in the cash shop banner—looked like a new feature. But wasn’t stuff like this supposed to be prepared before launch? Why did it feel like the devs were rolling out patches based on my activity?

Whatever. If it’s real-time feedback, great.

The music kicked in. Soft strings. A gentle violin.

I picked up my pen.

[Character Buff ‘Masterful Copywriting’ ON]

Scratch, scratch.

The pen’s rhythm melted into the melody. I was so immersed that when someone spoke, I nearly flung the notebook across the room.

“Do you think the wind changes have anything to do with the monster attacks?”

“Ugh—!”

Alex.

He was casually sitting on the desk, like this was his living room.

“Your Highness!” I clutched my chest. “Could you please make some noise?!”

One brow lifted. “You didn’t hear my footsteps in this quiet room?”

I didn’t. The music had me in a productivity trance. Stupid AI.

He didn’t comment further—just leaned in, eyes scanning the open notebook.

Then he picked it up. Flipped a page.

“…The monster attack doesn’t seem tied to the wind, right?”

I gave him a withering look. “Are you asking me because you think I know?”

“You always act like you do,” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

I couldn’t even argue. But seriously?

Still, I sighed and summoned my buff.

“Operator. Demon Info Search.”

[Buff ‘Demon Information Search’ ON]
[Monster ‘Hongche’ appeared due to a system error. Not connected to Winter Kingdom’s natural environment.]

Figures.

I turned to Alex, trying to sound smarter than I felt. “Those demons came from the upper demon territories. They didn’t cross Samgeom’s route, so it’s not about the wind.”

“Why are you so sure they’re from the demon territory?”

“Excuse me? You’re the one who said I know everything. Now you’re fact-checking?”

He chuckled, low and warm.

Annoying.

Still, I offered the rest: “The red monster replicates from a main body. Once that core dies, the others vanish.”

Alex didn’t reply. He just stared.

…Uncomfortably hard.

I gripped my pen tighter. “Should I write that down, or…?”

“No,” he said quietly.

Then he gently closed the notebook over my hand. “Rest. You’ve had a rough day.”

I blinked. “Yeah. Life-threatening ordeal and all that.”

He nodded but didn’t leave. Just stood there awkwardly. Arms crossed. Brows slightly furrowed.

Why was he fidgeting?

“I don’t like making excuses,” he muttered, gaze flickering toward me.

Okay…?

“I didn’t mean to leave you behind,” he added.

Ah.

That.

“That wasn’t my intention. I don’t know why I did it. But… I’m sorry.”

Wait. Was this… an apology?

My jaw dropped. “Are you apologizing right now?”

I wanted to laugh. It was so unlike him.

Also… it wasn’t his fault. Isis had brainwashed the male leads to get me out before the bug exploded. He probably didn’t even know what happened.

But I couldn’t say that. How could I tell him—Hey, this is just a game and you’re coded to like me?

These people had emotions. Personalities. Growth.

Even Isis knew that.

Alex glanced at me again. “You’re not hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

“Your wrist?”

“My what?”

“Allen said your wrist looked sore. Said she’d—he’d—take notes instead.”

His tone was laced with mockery. So petty.

Why are you like this?

“Don’t worry about it. I told Allen I was fine.”

“Good.” He didn’t even try to sound sympathetic.

See? This is why I don’t feel bad for him. Apology or not, he still acts like a smug brat.

But then his gaze lingered on me for a second too long.

“Are you sure?”

“Just a sore thigh. Hit the ice earlier. It’s nothing.”

“Alright.”

He turned to leave.

The soft violin continued. The room was bathed in candlelight, gold flickering over dark wood and a red woven carpet. And—God help me—Alex didn’t look half bad in it.

Tall. Broad. Golden eyes in the low light. Hair dusted with snow.

My heart stuttered.

Wait, wait, no. Was I… catching feelings?

NO.

He stood.

“See you tomorrow, Daisy. Sleep well.”

And he left. Just like that.

No dramatic exit. No flirt. Just a gentle parting and the soft click of the door.

I stared after him like a lovesick NPC.

No. Absolutely not. This was a background effect. BGM-induced delusion.

I grabbed my pen and furiously resumed writing.

After finishing the day’s report, I got up, opened the safe, and tucked the notebook inside.

That’s when I noticed it.

My thigh didn’t hurt.

No soreness. No bruise. No stinging.

I froze.

Lifted my skirt—carefully.

Gone.

The bruise was completely gone.

That bastard.

He healed me.

When? Why?

I bolted out of the library and into the snow, heart racing.

But he was gone. The field was empty. Just moonlight on snow.

“Why did you heal me?” I muttered into the dark. “You said you wouldn’t use your powers on people.”

No answer, of course.

I stood there, dizzy with questions I couldn’t ask.

“I don’t get you at all.”

---

By the time I got back, someone was waiting.

Allen.

He was sitting on the fence outside my quarters, posture too stiff to be casual.

“Your Highness?”

He didn’t move. Was he asleep?

I reached out and touched his shoulder.

He stirred, eyes slowly opening.

“Why are you sitting out here? It’s freezing.”

He didn’t answer. I pressed my palm to his forehead—and flinched.

Ice cold.

“Come inside.”

I helped him through the door, threw more wood on the fire, and hung the kettle.

“What happened?”

“Nothing,” he murmured, voice cracked. “Just wanted to see if you were okay.”

I stared. “I’m fine.”

The water boiled. I poured tea and handed it to him.

He accepted it silently. Then, from his coat, he pulled out a brown envelope.

“What’s this?”

“Medicine. For bruises.”

Inside was a silver tin.

I knew that logo.

An embossed A. The world-famous female healer. Her ointment healed everything.

“You went to the Autumn Kingdom?”

“You know the place?”

Of course I knew. That clinic required appointments booked a month out. How did he get this?

Wait. Right. Charming face. Duke status. Probably bribed someone.

He stood up.

“It’s improper to linger in a lady’s room,” he said. “I just came to drop this off.”

“Allen—”

He paused in the doorway.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “You didn’t have to go to this trouble.”

He’d always looked out for me. Quietly. Without making it weird.

Even when I was hurting, he noticed. Even now, he’d brought me something I didn’t even ask for.

“If you ever need anything,” I added, “just let me know. I’ll help however I can.”

He smiled faintly.

“Don’t forget that.”

And then, as he stepped out—

“I’ll definitely come to you for help someday.”

The door clicked shut.

I stood in silence for a moment.

Then quietly muttered,

“…I didn’t just dig my own grave, did I?”