"What exactly do you mean?!"

Xueyi had been hounding Lorin nonstop since he casually mentioned it earlier. Even after returning to his mansion, she hadn’t let up.

"I mean exactly what I said." Lorin rubbed his forehead, regretting he’d brought it up at all.

Logically, few should know about Romon’s engagement since it wasn’t officially announced yet. Even nobles who knew wouldn’t spread rumors lightly. But Lorin had just blurted it out carelessly.

"Do you really care that much?" Lorin asked.

He recalled when he first met Xueyi—she’d dreamed of becoming empress to make everyone take her seriously. Whether she still did, he wasn’t sure.

Xueyi realized her behavior was unseemly and quickly added, "Don’t misunderstand me."

"Misunderstand what?"

"Nothing, nothing!" Xueyi waved her hands frantically. "I’m just surprised that guy’s engaged but still acts the same at the academy."

Romon had many admirers there. Like other boys, he chased Lilith too. Yet he stayed vague with his admirers, never mentioning his engagement.

Even if Romon took a concubine after becoming emperor, it wouldn’t be unusual. But how many admirers actually wanted that role? He seemed aware of it too.

"Heh, who knows." Lorin chuckled. After that night’s talk, he had a rough grasp of the crown prince’s situation.

"But for royalty, having an engagement now isn’t that strange, is it?"

According to the Bookkeeper’s intel, the current emperor—still on the throne—had been engaged at this age. His wedding right after coronation had cemented his power with noble backing.

"Not strange?" Xueyi was nobility but had zero interest in such matters. Hearing this, her expression turned unreadable.

"Ella and Oulei..." Lorin murmured the names. He knew the gist but had no clue how to handle it. "I should probably tell Lilith."

Their target was Lilith. Warning her early might help. As the protagonist, she’d likely be fine either way. But another person—someone with a complicated, close tie to Lilith—was different.

Lorin glanced at Xueyi beside him. She’d been completely used. If he didn’t warn Lilith, Xueyi might get manipulated again to hurt her. Or maybe Lilith’s protagonist aura could protect Xueyi instead.

"Lilith... again her." Xueyi’s voice tightened. To her, Lorin’s investigation was partly for her—but mostly for Lilith.

"What’s wrong?" Sensing her shift, Lorin looked down.

Suddenly, Xueyi jerked her head up—*thud*—smacking straight into Lorin’s chin.

"Ow! What was that for?" Lorin winced, clutching his jaw. That almost knocked his teeth loose.

Xueyi held her own forehead, wincing too.

She glared up at him. "What about you?"

"Me? What about me?" Lorin was baffled.

Xueyi pursed her lips. "Do you have a fiancée? Or are you hiding it like that guy?"

"Me?" Lorin burst out laughing. Seeing this, Xueyi flushed with anger and swung a punch.

"I’m asking you!"

"Whoa, easy!" Lorin blocked her fist. "Do I look like someone with an engagement?"

Xueyi kept her fist raised. "I don’t know."

Lorin laughed because his identity as the second prince was a glitch—a character inserted by some unknown god. In the original story, he didn’t exist. How could he have a fiancée?

"How could I possibly have one?"

Hearing this, Xueyi inexplicably relaxed, regaining her usual composure. "Right. You’re just a second prince anyway."

"Haha. Yeah." Before, she’d mocked him with that title. He hadn’t cared then—and still didn’t. This identity meant nothing to him.

"Besides, I’ll leave the Royal Capital soon to govern my territory. An engagement would just complicate things."

If he had a fiancée, she’d have to follow him to his lands.

"Eh... wait, what?!" Xueyi’s calm shattered. She grew even more agitated than before. "How many more things are you hiding from me?"

"Hiding from you?" The phrase landed oddly to Lorin.

"Never mind." Xueyi’s cheeks flushed slightly, realizing her slip.

"Don’t you know? I’m leaving for my territory soon to become its lord." Lorin scratched his head. Unlike Romon’s secret, this was common knowledge among nobles—it wasn’t hidden.

"Th-then...!" Xueyi’s mouth opened and closed, words stuck in her throat.

"What do you want to say?"

After a long pause, she just snapped, "Nothing!" and stormed off to her room.

Watching her go, Lorin was utterly baffled. Sure, she couldn’t stay at his mansion after he left—but this reaction seemed way over the top.

Inside her room, Xueyi slammed the door shut. She grabbed a pillow and pounded it furiously. "Why won’t you tell me anything unless I ask?! Why, why!"

Remembering recent days, her anger flared. Lorin only shared things after she pressed him—he never volunteered anything.

Exhausted, she flopped onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.