Episode 2

"Ah, my name is Ute Velvet."

he introduced himself nonchalantly when I remained silent.

"I'm from next door, or rather—"

His bright green eyes glanced sideways at the ruins. The once-standing building was now nothing but an empty lot.

"I used to live next door."

"I know."

How could I not?

Even though my life revolved mostly around work and home, I was aware of who lived next door.

Moreover, Ute Velvet was... the man I secretly admired.

Or should I say, used to admire?

'The man I have a crush on worships a cult.'

Do I believe in romance?

'Is it even possible to believe in romance?'

At this point, if it were a newfangled religion gaining traction in a neighboring country, I wouldn’t even be surprised.

He smiled kindly, displaying an unusual calmness for someone who had just lost their home. His thick eyelashes were as delicate as lark feathers—

'Get a grip.'

I clenched my hands into fists and stood up. In response, he slightly raised his umbrella.

If not for our earlier conversation, I might have naively enjoyed this courtesy…

It’s lamentable that I cannot simply accept the kindness of such a beautiful man.

‘I didn’t expect things to go well anyway.’

But finding out that my crush is a cultist and having to let go? That’s just my rotten luck.

My house disappeared in a day, I got fired on the spot, and my crush turned out to be a cultist.

‘No.’

There’s no guarantee he's part of a cult, right?

‘I might have misheard!’

He could have said, 'Do you like romance?' or 'This feels like a romantic situation!'

‘I couldn’t hear properly because of the rain.’

That’s entirely possible!

I brushed my wet hair aside and asked.

"Excuse me, what did you say earlier?"

"Earlier?"

His cute silver head tilted slightly. He then repeated clearly after a brief exclamation,

"Do you believe in romance?"

Well,

It's time to bid farewell.

‘I didn’t mishear.’

My crush was indeed a cultist.

I nodded firmly, my eyes slightly red.

"I see."

It's better to avoid arguing with such people.

I nodded calmly and took a step back.

Softly, one step, two steps…

The problem was that the distance between us wasn’t growing at all.

"Why, why do you keep following me?"

"I can guarantee I'm not a strange person."

"Everyone starts off saying that. I don’t have any money."

"I know that."

He glanced briefly at the ruins.

It felt like blood was rising in my throat.

"Would it have been better if I worded it differently? Will you give me another chance?"

"A chance for what?"

"It was my first time saying something like that. What would be a better approach?"

Why is he doing this?

He looked desperate, which made him appear three times more suspicious.

‘What reason would such a handsome guy have to beg me?’

He seemed to have countless companions as well.

Unlike me, who rarely had visitors, this man always invited people over on weekends; people who would disturb my sleep at night.

‘Could it be that all those people were in on it?’

Perhaps they were all bewitched by his stunning looks.

"I know it sounds strange, but I'm serious."

"Yes. It seriously sounds strange."

"I can't do without you, Miss Sonnet!"

"How do you know my name?"

Have my personal details already been sold?

I narrowed my eyes and glared at him. He pounded his chest with his fist in frustration.

"We’ve been neighbors for two, no, three years!"

"..."

"We introduced ourselves after I moved in. Don’t you remember?"

"It’s not that I don’t remember."

Such a handsome guy remembered my name after a single greeting.

‘Definitely suspicious.’

"You asked if I believed in romance earlier, right?"

"Yes!"

"I don’t believe in it."

"That’s okay, we can learn together!"

"I said I don’t believe in it."

"Everyone says that at first."

"The only thing I believe in is the bank account under my name…!"

"Nothing is as reassuring as money."

You know a thing or two, don’t you?

He gave a thumbs-up and laughed heartily.

"Miss Sonnet."

For the short moment I stopped walking, he quickly closed the gap between us.

His delicate features looked like they had never experienced a moment of sin.

"Please, just listen to me, even once."

What?

His long, narrow eyes folded charmingly. A fresh, cool scent brushed past my nose.

‘His face, his face, his face is too close!’

The small mole underneath his right eye was visible from this distance.

Is it okay for an angel like him to come down to earth? Is this religiously acceptable?

The words that broke through my swirling thoughts were simple.

"Alright… I’ll listen."

---

"Let me reintroduce myself. I’m Ute Velvet, a doctor."

"…Sonnet Posa."

Charming people with his looks, how unfair.

"Try it. The coffee is good here."

His curved lips were still as attractive. Not that it mattered now.

I tried to hold onto my wits as I wrapped myself in a thick towel.

The café he accompanied me to was quiet and empty. To be fair, it was pretty late.

"Would you prefer something light to eat? Soup? Bread?"

"Are you okay, Sir Ute?"

"Me?"

"Your lodging just disappeared. Even if you wanted to borrow money, you don’t have any ID…"

Just thinking about the time it would take to receive my replacement gave me a headache.

After ordering pumpkin soup and bread, he answered,

"I’m alright."

"Alright?"

"I always carry my valuables with me, for times like this."

"You knew this would happen?"

"Of course."

Should I run away now?

While I calculated what I would do with the 2 silvers and 7 coppers in my pocket, Ute Velvet explained casually,

"A cold-hearted man supporting his wife through thick and thin. It’s a common story, isn’t it?"

"Just what kind of world are you envisioning yourself to be in?"

"Romance."

"…What?"

"Miss Sonnet, this world is inside a romance narrative."

"…"

Should I go home?

"More specifically, this is a world where the protagonists of such a story reside."

Right, I don’t have a home.

The more he tried to prove he wasn’t suspicious, the more suspicious he seemed.

"Did you ever think it was strange? Why so many high-status figures are so attractive?"

"Because they take good care of themselves."

"No. It’s because they’re the main characters."

"Hmm, I see!"

I thought I had become adept at handling nonsense through my various jobs as a tutor and housemaid.

‘Still a long way to go.’

I reflected briefly.

"Anyway, if we assume this world is one of romance, what are you trying to tell me?"

"Miss Sonnet Posa."

His voice dropped half a tone, resonating softly.

He placed his hand over mine.

‘Is he declaring he won’t leave my heart alone?’

His damp silver hair glinted a faint blue under the bright light.

"Won’t you end this tiresome romance with me?"

"…"

"Sooner than originally planned."

"Why would I do that?"

"I'm sure you've heard it's better to avoid meddling in other's love affairs."

"Yes."

"But it is our fate as extras to get caught up in the main characters’ crises."

"Extras?"

He grinned and pointed alternately between himself and me.

"Have you ever been swept up in the love of high-status people? Like today."

"I have… many times."

"Many times?"

"Just this afternoon, my new master fired everyone in the kitchen."

"Then this should be easy to explain. We’ll gradually eliminate such incidents."

He leaned forward and blinked slowly.

His green eyes sparkled brightly.

"I can’t do it alone. I need someone's help."

"…Hmm."

"While I'm not sure about the male lead, approaching the female lead is extremely difficult. It could even be life-threatening."

"Life-threatening? Isn’t romance supposed to be light and bubbly?"

"Miss Sonnet, have you ever read a romance novel?"

"No."

"Not even once?"

"No."

"I see… There’s a saying that love is bloody."

※This is a metaphor which conveys the idea that love can't be without sacrifice

"And why does it have to be me that helps you?"

If he were to shout 'help!' in the middle of the square, plenty of people would come running.

The man I had admired for so long smiled reassuringly.

"Of course, it’s because of Miss Sonnet's spirit and versatility."

---

"My… spirit?"

"Of course—"

That’s a lie.

---

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