IBDFSML Chapter 23

'Uh... What do you call this kind of situation again?'

I murmured absentmindedly.

'Like… giving away your hard work to someone else?'

Roughly speaking, this is exactly the kind of situation that saying refers to—everything going wrong before it even starts.

“So Sion… fell for another girl behind my back…”

Hearing my hollow muttering, Sion slightly furrowed his brow and spoke.

“Fell for another girl...? What kind of nonsense is that?”

“If that’s not it—!”

I cried out in protest.

“Then that pink and frilly fabric—who were you planning to make a handkerchief for with it!? Was it for you? Sion’s handkerchief? No, it wasn’t. Was it for Garen? No, not him either!”

“I didn’t buy it to make a handkerchief.”

“Liar! Then what? Why did you buy it?”

Sion looked at me, slightly dumbfounded by my outburst, then averted his gaze.

Then he muttered softly.

“…It’s for you.”

I squinted, as if I didn’t hear him clearly, and Sion responded with a bit of annoyance.

“I said, it’s for you.”

“…?”

I blinked in confusion.

Then I dumbly repeated his words.

“…For me?”

“Yeah.”

“Me? Lin? You mean mine?”

“…Yeah.”

I sat there, mouth agape, staring blankly at him.

“You always complain about not having spare clothes, but really, you’re the one stuck wearing the same thing every day.”

Sion slowly turned his gaze back to me.

He looked me up and down, clearly assessing my sleepwear.

“From the first day we met, you’ve been wearing that same weird outfit nonstop.”

“…!”

He was right.

I hadn’t really thought about it, but ever since I became the ‘fan fairy,’ I hadn’t worn anything other than this outfit.

‘Well… it is comfortable.’

Come to think of it, I probably hadn’t even washed it once.

‘Hmm… kind of gross, actually…’

I scratched my cheek in embarrassment.

“Uh… yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Feeling guilty for having accused my favorite person, I lightly smacked myself on the head.

‘You idiot! How dare you tarnish Sion’s sincerity with such blasphemous suspicion!?’

“Sorry for the misunderstanding, Sion.”

I apologized right away. Then, sheepishly added.

“And thank you. I really didn’t expect you bought it for me.”

To that, Sion casually responded,

“You probably jumped to some ridiculous conclusion. Whatever. It’s not like this is the first time.”

“…….”

“By the way, leave the fabric with Elda. I’ve heard she’s pretty skilled at sewing—she should be able to make you a proper outfit in your size.”

“…Sion.”

It took me a moment, but emotion finally hit me—and I suddenly threw my arms around Sion’s neck.

“Thank you! That fabric—no, that outfit—I’ll treasure it for the rest of my life!”

“…I told you to wear it, not preserve it like a relic.”

“…Maybe I should just give her the instructions myself.”

Sion muttered to himself.

Just then—

“Kyaaa!”

A sudden scream came from deeper within a narrow alley we were passing by.

“Well, well. Looks like we hit the jackpot!”

“What a prize—heh.”

“L-Let me go!”

Sion came to an abrupt stop.

I craned my neck to peer down the alley.

Who were these guys, spouting such cliché villain lines straight out of a post-apocalyptic thug handbook?

“Come on, now~ Don’t play hard to get.”

“Heh. Careful, Jack. You rough her up too much and the goods get damaged.”

Of course.

In the dim alleyway, three burly thugs had cornered a very petite young woman.

With a cold look in my eyes, I muttered under my breath.

“Wow. No matter what fantasy romance you go to, there’s always scum like this lurking around.”

It was such a textbook setup.

Apparently, Sion thought so too, because he immediately started walking toward them.

So focused were they on the girl, they didn’t even notice us approach.

“Please don’t do this! Let me go!”

A soft, delicate voice cried out from within the wall of muscle.

Hmm… Kind of an overly good voice for an extra, isn’t it?

“Hehehe, now just be a good little—urk!”

The thug in the middle suddenly collapsed with a groan.

He had been struck in the back of the neck with the sheath of Sion’s sword.

The other two jumped back in shock and turned around.

“Wh-What the hell!?”

“Don’t tell me she’s with the knights…!?”

But when they saw Sion standing alone, cloaked and still, their faces briefly showed relief, then quickly shifted to anger.

“Who the hell are you?”

“You looking to die? Mind your own damn business and scram!”

I clicked my tongue.

Even their lines were painfully unoriginal.

“Din, take the girl and get her out of here. I’ll deal with these guys.”

“Yeah, teach that scrawny punk a lesson!”

“Kyaah!”

As one of the thugs tried to drag the girl away, Sion spoke coldly.

“…You’re the kind of trash not even demon beasts would want to eat.”

“What… what did you just say!?”

“You little—!”

Apparently, Sion’s insult hit a nerve, because even the one trying to take the girl turned around and joined the fight.

“You’re gonna regret that!!”

“Die!!”

And then, moments later—

The two thugs lay sprawled on the ground side by side.

“…….”

The fight had ended so quickly—and so completely one-sidedly—that the girl who had been trembling in the corner slowly got to her feet.

She trudged hesitantly toward where Sion and I stood.

She was wearing a ragged, dirty brown robe just like Sion's, completely hiding her face.

“Uh… something feels off about her.”

She stumbled toward Sion as if dazed, stopping right in front of him.

Sensing something strange, Sion asked

“…Are you hurt?”

Instead of replying, the girl slowly lifted her shaking hands and pulled back her hood.

And then…

As her face was revealed, I held my breath.

“Huh…?”

Long, soft chestnut curls that reached her waist.

Clear, radiant skin with a soft blush.

And eyes—fresh and tender green like spring sprouts—filled with light and gentleness.

I murmured blankly.

“…Genevia?”

Yes.

It was her.

She’s the female lead of this very world—the curly-haired grand duchess from the original work, 'The Curly-Haired Grand Duchess.'

‘Genevia Lilo.’

The main story hadn't even started yet, and here it was—the fated first meeting between Sion and the female lead, taking place at a completely unexpected moment in a completely unexpected place.

“Wait a minute… What are you doing here…?”

I muttered in disbelief at the surreal scene before me.

At that moment, Genevia lifted her head and looked straight at Sion.

She must have been badly shaken by what had just happened—her green eyes trembled as they met his.

“…Who are you…?”

Even just hearing her voice felt like basking in the warmth of sunlight—it was beautiful.

‘No wonder her voice sounded so damn good!’

Sion stood silently, still gazing at Genevia.

Watching the two of them, I suddenly snapped back to my senses.

‘Wait, hold on! This is no time to be zoning out like a fool!’

This was the long-awaited first meeting between Sion and the female lead!

Sure, it happened earlier than expected, and sure, Sion wasn’t exactly in his most presentable state… but the dice had already been rolled.

‘Actually, this could even work out better!’

After all, Sion had just swooped in and saved Genevia from some disgusting lowlifes. That was plenty impactful and more than a little romantic (…maybe?).

‘Perfect!’

Still cloaked in my robe, I quickly tapped Sion on the cheek and whispered urgently.

“Sion, Sion.”

I could feel his attention shift toward me.

“Sion, I think that girl is really shaken up by what just happened. You should help her. Go on, support her and take her with us! Quickly!”

This was an opportunity.

A golden chance to rewrite the entire course of the original narrative—starting with a dramatic, alternate-version first meeting between the sub male lead and the female lead!

I pushed it a bit further.

“Actually… why don’t we just bring her to the annex? We’re short on maids anyway. Call it fate!”

“…What?”

Sion furrowed his brows ever so slightly, like he couldn’t believe what he just heard.

And at that moment, Genevia staggered.

“Ah, she’s fainting!”

I shouted, urging Sion to catch her. Instinctively, Sion reached out to steady the swaying Genevia.

It seemed like she was about to collapse into his arms—

Whoosh—!

‘…Huh?’

Instead of falling into Sion’s arms, Genevia slipped right past him.

“…?”