I didn't even make it to the third step.
A hand closed around my neck. Not my collar. My neck. My actual neck. Five fingers squeezing with the expertise of someone accustomed to measuring the exact force needed to not kill... yet.
The world crashed down on me.
The step slammed into my back. The air abandoned my lungs. I looked up and found two slivers of amber that no longer bothered pretending to be kind.
Ardwyn had me by the neck, lifting me off the ground with a single hand.
My boots dangled about three centimeters above the step. His royal guards had arrived. Well, most likely they had been watching from afar the whole time, just not intervening.
They stood motionless, staring straight ahead.
"Elcronne," Ardwyn said. "What did you do?"
"Breathing," I replied, my voice strangled.
He squeezed a millimeter tighter.
"You know what I mean."
"Your Highness, if you choke me to death, you won't be able to ask me anything."
Layda stood behind him, hugging her books to her chest. Her eyes darted between Ardwyn and me, unsure whether to intervene or run.
"Y-Your Highness, please..." she began.
"Stay still," he ordered without looking at her. "This is noble business."
His fingers tightened. I felt the cartilage in my throat give way under the pressure. It wasn't enough to kill me. But it served as a reminder that he could do it at any moment.
"I'll ask you once, Elcronne," he said, leaning in until his face was inches from mine. "Why did you say that to Layda?"
"To who? The book girl?"
"And on top of that, you play dumb," he hissed. "To the girl I just saved. The one you came to tarnish with your wannabe seducer lines."
Wannabe seducer. Fine. At least he didn't call me a 'loser' or a 'player', which was what someone spouting such insipid lines truly evoked.
"I just picked up her books, Your Highness."
"No. You picked up her books, told her she was an angel, and then touched her lady's hand under the excuse of grabbing the same book." His eyebrows knitted together. "Do you think you're funny?"
"No. I just think I'm fast."
Ardwyn raised an eyebrow.
"Fast?"
"You caught her first. I just picked up what fell."
Ardwyn studied me. His golden Empero vibrated around him. But the aura had changed back to the one from a few minutes ago, when we were in the hall with Lianza.
Now it was possessive.
Our beloved little prince was furious because I had flirted with something he considered his property.
"Listen to me carefully, Elcronne," he said, and his voice grew huskier, almost a whisper, which I found far more terrifying. "I don't know what game you're playing. First you block me with the D'Tariel. Now you show up here, with her, dropping lines of... what kind were they? Poetic? Pathetic?"
"Pathetic," I confirmed. "Definitely pathetic."
He tilted his head slightly, taken aback. He hadn't expected me to admit it.
"Be that as it may," he continued, picking up the thread, "I'll tell you once. Don't go near Layda. Don't talk to her. Don't pick up anything she drops, not even out of goodwill. Don't look at her ankles when she goes up the stairs."
"I haven't looked at her ankles."
"Don't interrupt me."
I tried to swallow, but the pressure on my throat made it difficult.
"If I see you near her again, I won't be responsible for what happens. Are we understood?"
I understood perfectly. Ardwyn was the type who didn't accept backtalk. He meant every word. In the web novel, he had killed three men for less.
I sighed.
Without a doubt, the crown prince would be one of the biggest threats.
One of the main mistakes of the original Dariel Elcronne was being arrogant enough to confront someone who couldn't be confronted.
He wasn't the kind of rival you could beat by facing him head-on, but unlike the previous Dariel, I had knowledge of the story, along with something much more valuable: my cunning.
Very soon, the Empero duels would begin at Mayorka. And when that day came, I would make him kneel before the entire hall and swallow every single word.
Although... there was also the matter of the Harem System. I still didn't know if it was an ally or an enemy.
And if it sent me another mission related to Layda, things were going to get complicated.
But it was inevitable. After all, she was the heroine. The protagonist. The central axis of this entire damn story.
"I think that's something she should decide for herself, Your Highness."
Ardwyn let me go. He had realized he was making himself look bad by deciding for Layda.
My boots touched the floor. My vision blurred. I leaned against the railing so I wouldn't stagger.
My collar was wrinkled. My throat hurt, and my face was probably already covered in purple bruises.
I didn't know when, and I didn't know how. The only thing I knew was that I wasn't going to let this slide. That arrogant bastard was going to pay.
The prince turned to Layda.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-yes, Your Highness," she replied, adjusting the stack of books to carry it again. "But... don't you think that was too much? He just picked up my books..."
"Don't worry about him. He's not worth it."
He looked at me one last time. Then he took Layda by the arm, gently, and guided her up the stairs.
"Kaen, Dalah, help our lady with that stack of books. And take her to... Where have they placed you?"
"North wing, near the bifurcated three-colored river."
"Beautiful place for a bedroom."
"I haven't seen it yet."
"Oh. How regrettable that I can't be there to accompany you on your first time. But duty calls."
He adjusted his cape and ran his fingers through his hair, slicking it back.
"Well, boys, take our beautiful lady to her new quarters."
The guards nodded.
I was left alone on the south wing stairs. The sun was sinking behind the rooftops. The mission was accomplished. Lianza was safe.
For today.
"He just picked up my books," I whispered. For some reason, that last phrase coming from her mouth gave me a bad omen.
Maybe it was the way she said it, with an indifferent gaze and a blank expression.
I stayed sitting on the step, rubbing my neck.
Hey, System, can you show my status?, I thought. It was normal in these kinds of novels for the System to have the ability to show you your current health and stats.
[Dariel Elcronne: Current Status]
[Neck marks from royal grip]
[Reputation with Ardwyn: -50 — "Wants to incinerate you"]
[Reputation with Layda: +8 — "Staircase Angel"]
[Remaining missions today: 3]
Is that my reputation status? It wasn't exactly what I was asking for, but either way, it was useful to know how much my relationship with others had progressed—or worsened.
I rubbed my throat again. It hurt.
Can you tell me what my Empero is? I thought. In the novel, Dariel hadn't managed to awaken his Empero, since in this world, if you aren't a noble from an important house, you have to prove yourself worthy of using it... which didn't happen, because Dariel was killed protecting Lianza.
[You suck the fun out of life...]
[But we can make a deal. If you survive today, I'll tell you what your Empero's properties are as a gift.]
Am I even strong? I thought.
[Who knows. I'd rather keep the suspense. 🤐]
To hell with it.
I stood up. My legs were shaking.
That look Layda gave. Something told me I should pay attention to it.
However, what worried me the most was that I still had three more missions left.