•?••? ? ?••?•

Chase got up from the sofa altogether.

“Lady Iva, you have always assisted me with fresh ideas when I sought your advice for palace parties.”

“There you go with flattery again.”

As he eloquently raised his hands to the sky and flattered her, Iva casually turned her head, used to his flattery.

“Moreover, you personally hosted unforgettable birthday parties for other ladies, presenting them with cherished memories.”

Ignoring Iva, who pretended not to hear by plugging her ears, Chase approached closer and shouted in front of her ears.

“Do me a favor, consider it as saving someone’s life!”

“I don’t want to.”

“Oh, just once!”

“I said no!”

“Why do you hate it so much? You’ve done it for free elsewhere! The palace will even pay you.”

“Well… If I don’t want to, I don’t want to!”

It was Chase’s request, who had always sided with her when she died, she naturally wanted to grant him anything.

However, the reason for refusing him even when he begged like this was one and only one. That party was the starting point of the original work.

It was the party where Julian, the original female lead, first appeared as Lawrence’s family’s daughter and where Ray fell in love with her at first sight.

She’s been trying so hard not to get involved in the original work. She can’t go back to square one.

“Do you really not want to do it?”

With the continued refusal, Chase asked with a somewhat disappointed tone.

Iva almost said yes at that moment, feeling sorry for disappointing him, but she tightly sealed her lips. I’m truly sorry, but I have to think about my own survival first.

“I’ll grant any other request. How about I prepare your birthday party this time?”

“Instead of other requests, grant me this one. Consider it as my birthday gift.”

“This really can’t be done.”

“Just think about it for three more days.”

“No, I really can’t-“

“Just three days, let’s think about it a little longer.”

You’re not giving me time to think, you’re asking me to change my thinking within the timeframe.

“That’s right. I’ll think about it carefully before rejecting it.”

Iva firmly expressed her intention to refuse, showing that she wouldn’t easily change her mind.

After exchanging their words, Chase began to prepare to leave, and Iva also stood up.

“Leaving already?”

“I didn’t come alone; I came with His Highness. I’ll come back another time.”

“What? Is he waiting in front of our mansion?”

“No, how dare I make His Highness wait. Captain Ray is ill, so he went to pay a visit.”

Iva was briefly surprised but soon lifted one corner of her mouth and smiled.

“Ray. Does it make sense that he’s sick? He could even win against a bear.”

As Ray had never been sick even once in the original work, Iva couldn’t believe it at all.

“You… Are you acquainted with Captain Ray? You seem to know him quite well?”

“Well, what can I say? I just heard some things here and there.”

She pretended so as not to let Chase find out about her meeting with Ray at the restaurant and in the park.

“I think he got sick because the date didn’t go well-“

“Yes, how do you know that he went on a date?!”

“Oh my! Why are you shouting like that?”

Chase covered one of his ears and looked at Iva.

“Captain Ray mentioned it to His Highness in advance. I happened to find out as well.”

“W-who did he go on a date with?”

“I don’t know that much. His Highness said he didn’t know either.”

Please don’t tell anyone. Don’t let Claude know my name for no reason. If he knows, he’ll truly make me suffer even more.

Iva threatened the oblivious Ray in her mind, clenching her fists tightly.

“Love can make a mountain move. Haven’t you heard anything?”

“H-Heard what?”

“Among the ladies, rumors about who went on a date with whom spread quickly… Ah! Right, I forgot you had no friends other than me.”

“Are you making fun of me?”

“It means you should treat your precious and only friend well. Think about this request again in a positive light.”

Chase subtly appealed to his purpose. Irritated by his fickleness, Iva pushed him away with her back.

“Just go. Just disappear.”

“Since you’re so relentless, do you want me, your only friend to leave too?”

Grabbing the hem of his dress as if she would really throw him away, Iva hurriedly headed towards the front door.

“Going, I’m going. But seriously, think about it again. Okay?”

“I got it. You should take it easy too. Take care of your body first. You’ve lost weight.”

“I’m His Highness  Claude’s aide, how can I put myself first?”

“Then take care of yourself while assisting His Highness. It’s a win-win.”

“Fine, thank you. You should eat moderately. Your face has gotten puffy– Ah!”

“Just leave already. Do you always have to get hit first to make you feel better?”

Chase laughed even as he received a punch on his shoulder from Iva.

“Wow, you have quite a strong punch. With that, you could even beat Captain Ray.”

“Just leave quickly! Go!”

As Chase pretended to be in pain, holding his not-so-hurt shoulder, a calm and solemn voice called out his name.

“Chase.”

In a soft yet serious voice, the voice called out to Chase.

Chase and Iva turned their heads in response, recognizing the voice from somewhere.

“Your Highness!”

Your Highness?

If Chase is calling him ‘Your Highness,’ could it be Claude?

Confusion filled Iva’s mind at the sudden appearance of a second male lead.

•?••? ? ?••?•