‘So what?’

His audacity was baffling.

He had watched me struggle with the assassin issue as closely as Hans. How could he say such a thing?

“Did you enjoy it? Watching me struggle?”

The sarcastic remark burst out of me.

I had believed Ian to be kind, just like the other angels.

I thought they were on my side, trusted them so much. How could they betray me like this?

Even as I confronted him, Ian didn’t bat an eyelid.

“Jiha, think about it. When exactly did you die?”

When I died?

I slowly started recalling.

First, I was poisoned while eating a sandwich.

It was my first time, and I was very flustered. I barely had time to explore after arriving in the Celestial Realm.

Second, I was killed by a carriage while trying to save Eric’s brother.

It was the incident that made me seriously start looking for the assassin after getting angry about involving others.

Next, I was lured by a magic-bound bird and fell off a railing.

By then, I had gotten used to dying.

Lastly, I was crushed by a chandelier. That was quite recent.

I died for a variety of reasons.

‘The commonality was…’

There was one.

Each death happened when the broadcast was about to get boring.

I also worried that the broadcast was getting too dull. Nothing was happening.

And then, something would happen each time.

As if to eradicate the boredom.

Ian showed a strange obsession with my broadcast. This could also be part of that obsession.

“I was helping you, Jiha.”

Ian continued.

“I provided content so your broadcast wouldn’t get boring.”

“…….”

I couldn’t retort.

Was there really such a thing as content for my broadcast? Without such events, the viewers might have already dwindled.

Even I wasn’t sure about my broadcast.

As I remained speechless, Ian smirked and walked past me.

“I’ll keep helping you. Don’t worry. I’ll shower you with points.”

With those words, he left.

Left alone, I was deep in thought.

When resurrected, the points spent on the Resurrection Ticket are refunded. Ian had always provided just as many points.

The broadcast gets its main content.

The viewers are also satisfied. The huge points given every time I resurrected showed that.

But did I really need to oppose this?

“……!”

I snapped out of the unconscious thought.

Even in a virtual world, death shouldn’t be taken lightly.

I might live in a fake world with a fake body and life, but I still had a persona.

This was definitely wrong.

No matter how many points I received.

‘This isn’t right.’

I shouldn’t earn points through such unjust methods.

‘What should I do?’

The Celestial Realm, which had felt so comfortable before, now only made me uneasy.

Did PleaseShakeACarrot and the other viewers also know the identity of the assassin?

Maybe they knew at different times, but in the end, they all deceived me.

Just for their own amusement.

‘I should talk to Hans about this…’

But then, I hesitated.

Could it be that even Hans…

Was he also unaware of this?

After all, Hans was also an angel. The same as them.

The thought that even Hans might have been deceiving me was…

“……”

Doubts spiraled, consuming my thoughts.

I decided on my next destination.

I had to leave this place first.

* * *

“Lady!”

When I opened my eyes, a few priests and Shailo were there.

I was in perfect health. It was hard to believe this was the body of someone whose soul had been absent for days.

As I looked at my hands, amazed, Shailo explained,

“Continuous divine power was infused, just enough not to harm your body.”

No wonder they all looked so drained. They had been taking turns infusing divine power into Hans and me.

Looking to the side, I saw Hans lying down with his eyes closed. I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Did you come alone? What about Angel Hans?”

“He didn’t come.”

I replied firmly.

“I came here by myself.”

“Did you two have a fight……”

“……”

“Ah, I’m sorry……”

Shailo quietly closed his mouth, sensing the atmosphere wasn’t right.

I left the room alone.

My destination was clear.

Knock, knock. After a short while, someone came out.

“What’s up?”

It was Davi, looking perplexed.

As soon as I saw Davi, my expression crumpled, and I began to cry.

“Daviyaaa―”

“Don’t cling to me like that!”

Davi was startled as I suddenly hugged him.

“I’m having a tough timeee.”

“Okay, at least step back and talk!”

He seemed willing to listen, after all. Such a kind kid.

Davi and I settled in the room and sat down properly.

I poured out everything that had happened like a venting session. When Ian’s story came up, Davi stood up with a start.

“Venecia wouldn’t do such a thing! Venecia always looks after us and, also…….”

“That’s right. It’s only towards me, after all.”

I was aware that Ian, as Venecia, was working hard. My experiences and Venecia were separate matters.

Accepting that I wasn’t insulting Venecia, Davi sat back down. I was relieved he had calmed down.

“So, you’re even doubting your boyfriend now?”

“…….”

I had no words for that. He had hit the nail on the head.

When I avoided eye contact and remained silent, Davi, holding a teacup, said,

“Before jumping to conclusions and doubting, talk first. If you leave it be, the conflict will only grow. And your boyfriend doesn’t even know why he’s being rejected by you.”

Every word was on point. Each sentence felt like it was piercing right through me.

“…I’ll try.”

After what felt like a scolding from Davi, I left the room.

I exhaled deeply.

Though sharing had eased my mind a bit, in the end, nothing was resolved.

‘Before jumping to conclusions and doubting, talk first.’

Davi’s words kept echoing in my mind.

He wasn’t wrong. I was unfairly judging and doubting Hans.

“You seem troubled, Lady.”

A priest beside me suddenly spoke up. It was the one guarding Davi’s room.

“…Yes?”

The priest, who had his eyes closed, slowly opened them and smiled slyly.

“So, are you not going to broadcast anymore?”

It was obvious who it was. I wasn’t even surprised by such appearances anymore.

“Did you hear everything?”

“Yes. The soundproofing here really isn’t great.”

“…”

I sighed. There was no privacy at all.

“No, I’m not going to. The betrayal I felt from them is too much.”

“What about the reincarnation points? Aren’t you supposed to collect them? Decided to live here permanently?”

“That’s… not it but…”

I was confused. I had no idea what to do.

Ah well, let’s just give up on thinking for now. I smiled brightly and said,

“I think I’ll take a break for a while.”

“Want to rest in the palace? Come play with me.”

“Go do your work quickly.”

“Hmph.”

Irmin whined childishly.

I decided to leave him alone and head back to the ducal mansion to rest.

* * *

“Sister! Did you enjoy your trip?”

As soon as I returned to the mansion, Selena greeted me.

Selena, smiling cheerfully, looked around and tilted her head.

“Where’s your fiancé?”

“……”

I didn’t answer and just kept my mouth shut.

For now, I just wanted to rest. I headed to my room, with Selena naturally following behind me.

“Selena, can I ask you for a favor?”

“Yes, of course! What is it?”

“Just bring the food to my room, and if Hans happens to come by,”

I told Selena firmly,

“Please let him know I wish to be alone.”

“……?”

Confusion flickered across Selena’s face.

“Did you two have a fight?”

“It’s not that, but I need some time to think.”

Avoiding conflict isn’t the answer, but I did need time to myself.

Selena seemed to understand, though she didn’t know the reason. I was relieved and entered my room.

I just wanted to sleep for now.

* * *

How many hours had passed? It was already dark outside when I was awakened by a knock.

“Jiha.”

It was Hans’s voice.

Hans was outside my door.

“Let’s talk.”

“…….”

I pretended not to hear and pulled the blanket over my head. My lips were tightly sealed.

The knocking continued for a while, then stopped.

I didn’t want to see Hans’s face right now.

What happened after that, I didn’t know. I escaped back into sleep, and Hans probably returned to the Celestial Realm, as the knocking did not resume.

Not leaving my room, I was oblivious to the outside world.

As I had more time to myself, a sense of unease occasionally crept in.

‘We’re not breaking up like this, are we?’

At this point, I felt like I wouldn’t stop Hans even if he decided to leave. I was that confused.

Maybe it should have been like this from the start. What was I thinking, a human and an angel in love? It was a foolish dream.

* * *

About 3 days must have passed.

After those 3 days, a knock sounded at my door again.

“…….”

My feelings were complex. I was inwardly pleased but also felt a sense of rejection. It was overwhelming.

I still hadn’t sorted out my feelings. After pondering, I finally spoke to the maid who had been responsible for my meals.

“Alice, please send them away politely.”

“Yes.”

The maid answered softly and left the room.

Shortly after, the maid returned.

“Lady.”

“Yes?”

“It’s someone else this time.”

Someone else?

Maybe Selena or Finley had come, worried about me. As I looked at her questioningly, the maid dropped an unexpected bombshell.

“His Excellency Kabir Heyward has come to see you.