# Chapter 9
<“Are you okay?”>
I tried to talk to him because something seemed strange, but he couldn't answer. Before I could understand what was happening, the man suddenly fell from his chair.
"what is going on?"
Edmund started, confused. I rushed to check on the fallen man.
The occurrence of a situation that is not in the novel most likely means that I, an outsider to this story, caused it.
The man was still having difficulty breathing, and hives were appearing on his body. This sounds like the anaphylactic shock you've heard about.
But we made sure of all allergies while preparing the delegation's food.
So, what's going on...?
I quickly recalled the menu in my mind. The steak was definitely not a problem. The man hasn't touched the dessert plate yet. So, the last food he ate was fish.
“Fish? Pantul fish?”
The bantul fish used in the dish is fish caught from the Imperial South Seas, and is expensive, but it contains an alkaloid poison that does not disappear even with cooking. Therefore, the poison must be removed very carefully while preparing the ingredients.
“Call a doctor immediately!”
At Edmund's screams, someone hurriedly ran over. Can this man survive until the doctor arrives?
I grabbed a lemon that was next to the tea set.
"What do you do?!"
Edmund shouted, but I ignored him and squeezed the lemon into the man's mouth.
How many non-literary texts did I read while solving university entrance exam questions? History, philosophy, economics, law, politics, physics, chemistry...all diverse subjects. Among them, there was definitely useful information for daily life.
In one of the questions, there was a topic about “bee sting.” If a wasp stings you, its venom is alkaline, and applying an acid will help neutralize it. That's all I can do now.
While I was praying that it would have any effect, the doctor arrived and quickly began examining the symptoms, then gave the man antivenom.
“It was a great first aid.”
The doctor praised me, and the other members of the Aryan delegation began to bow to me again and again.
I remembered the language teacher who used to emphasize that reading is always beneficial, and I laughed.
The charts, the bean meat recipe, the first aid...they were all experiences from my previous world.
"good job."
After things calmed down, Edmund tapped me on the shoulder and said, “So, will you go out on a date with me?”
“If you mention dating again, I will fire you immediately.”
Oh, that's so cruel, threatening my livelihood!
I frowned and muttered, “The date is very difficult.”
“Do you have to ask for an appointment two or three times a day?”
“Okay, I'll only ask once a day. Is that okay?”
Edmund did not answer, as if he thought the matter was not worth responding to. But I'm not in a situation where I'm choosing, so I'll just ask for an appointment once a day from now on.
“Anyway, I promised a reward, so say something other than dating.”
Non dating? I wanted to ask him, “Have you ever tried giving a doll to an angel?” Or “Have you been shot while hugging a doll and running away?” But because of that cursed necklace, every time I tried to open my mouth, I felt pain in my heart.
“...Chocolate!”
“Chocolate?”
"Yes, that chocolate you threw away. I can't afford it because it's too expensive, and it was a limited edition."
Edmund frowned at my words. He wouldn't refuse, would he?
“I said it was a bonus!”
“…I will ask the palace chef to make chocolate.”
"No! I want those from that store, limited edition!"
“...Are you saying I have to stand in line?”
“I'll stand in line with you!”
I answered quickly.
“Okay, I will wait for you tomorrow at nine in the morning in the square!”
Edmund finally realized that I had gotten an appointment indirectly, and tried to call me, but I pretended not to hear and ran away.
***
Today, Edmund's schedule was empty.
I prepared myself carefully, and the streets were bustling, as befits a festival. Will Edmund really come?
I arrived early for my appointment and started walking around. Despite the early hour, the smell of grilled meat wafted from the stalls. It looks delicious!
“Huh, all this for that chocolate?”
“Wow, you really came?”
I thought he might not come, so I felt emotional when I saw him. It is true that Felix was with him, but seeing him outside the office was the first time.
“You were the one who asked me to come.”
Edmund muttered as he advanced, then turned back to me.
“So, where is that chocolate?”
"here!"
I went ahead and started talking about different topics.
“I live in a temple, so it's hard to eat sweets.”
“I lost my memory during the civil war due to some trauma, perhaps due to gunfire.”
“I met a boy who was shot in the hand, and I want to find him.”
She talked a lot, but Edmund showed no reaction, just looking at the line wondering when it would end.
“Finally, we bought it.”
Edmund combed his straight hair as usual and gave me the chocolate.
The set of chocolates was twice as expensive as what I had bought him previously.
"Thanks!"
“I gave you your reward, didn't I?”
He seems worried that I'll change my mind.
“Sure, I'm satisfied. I'll eat it carefully!”
“Okay, I'll go now, and you...”
As Edmund was leaving, we heard an annoying sound.
“Leave me!”
“What is this? This girl also speaks Empire?”
"Exactly, if she speaks our language, that's even better. Come on, we'll give you 10 cranes, how about you spend the day with us?"
This dialogue... where have I heard it before?
“Felix.”
"Yes."
Felix moved quickly at Edmund's signal. When the uniformed man approached, the rioters quickly retreated.
The girl bowed in thanks.
“Thank you for your help, I was in a difficult situation!”
Her shiny silver hair swayed as she bent down. Her bright brown skin, her red eyes a little darker than Edmund's.
She is from the Voglich people. In contrast to her sexy body, her face was gentle, and she smiled warmly at me.
“…I've never seen a Fugliese speak the Empire so fluently before.”
When Edmund spoke, she extended her hand, but he did not shake it, so I shook it instead.
“Hello, I'm Ecla.”
Ecla? The heroine of this novel?
“I'm Olivia.”
As I introduce myself, I regret asking Edmund to buy chocolate today. She canceled the event that was supposed to bring them together, but they met anyway.
“I came because of the trade negotiations tomorrow, I didn’t expect to face such a situation.”
She ran her hand through her silver hair in an elegant, swan-like motion.
I remembered Lucid saying that Edmund preferred sexy women. The Eclat was indeed quite to his taste.
I compared my body to hers and sighed. A crushing defeat, of course.
“Trade negotiations?”
Edmund took a step forward upon hearing this.
“Tomorrow’s next Voglich actor is said to be an old man.”
"Haha, right. He's my grandfather. I'll be his translator."
So, they were destined to meet anyway.
“Where did you learn empire?”
“I believe that the people of Voglisch cannot remain isolated forever. To claim our rights in the empire, we must communicate first, so I studied hard.”
Eclat smiled with her beautiful red eyes, and her long eyelashes swayed like the wings of a butterfly. The heroine of the novel was indeed very beautiful.
“Your pronunciation is good. Have you considered working for the Empire?”
Edmund proposed work to her without knowing her abilities, and he also fell in love with her at first sight in the novel.
“Of course, if the opportunity arises. If the Empire starts accepting the Voglish people, maybe it will happen one day.”
She smiled as she imagined that moment, and a strange atmosphere flowed between them.
Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand.
“You were here?”
It was Lucid.
Yesterday was the day of the event organized by Edmund, and today is the day of the event organized by Lucid. But why is he here?
“His Highness the Second Prince?”
Lucid looked at me and Edmund, then his eyes stopped on Eclat.
In the novel, these three were in a love triangle. Is fate unavoidable?
Lucid couldn't take his eyes off Ecla, while Edmund frowned as he looked at them.