The royal garden was shining with sunlight. Roses swayed, birds chirped, and expensive chairs were placed around a polished marble table. It looked peaceful, almost too peaceful.
(Aki)Riel Arkwood sat stiffly, holding a teacup like it was a weapon.
Across from him sat Eren Valorheart, the Hero of this world. Blond hair, bright blue eyes, perfect posture… basically the type of person every girl (and half the guys) would swoon over.
But Aki wasn't swooning.
He was sweating.
"Calm down. Calm down. This is the Hero. The one who always hates Riel Arkwood. The one who kills him in every ending. Just smile and leave. Don't provoke him. Don't…"
"Lord Riel," Eren said, setting down his teacup gently. "I've been wanting to meet you."
Aki blinked. "H-Huh?"
That wasn't in the game.
In the game, Eren always said: 'Stay away from me, you villain.'
Always.
But now the Hero was smiling. A genuine, warm smile.
Aki almost dropped his teacup.
The diary didn't mention this.
"W-Wait, you've been… wanting to meet me? Seriously?" Aki asked, voice cracking.
Eren chuckled softly. "Of course. You're the Duke's son. People say you're sharp, witty… though, admittedly, also a little dangerous."
"A little dangerous? Buddy, I'm the final boss in your route! You're supposed to hate me, not… smile at me like we're best friends!"
Trying to salvage the situation, Aki decided to play safe. "Well, I… uh… I also wanted to meet you, Hero. You're… less annoying in person."
The garden went silent.
Then Eren laughed. "Less annoying, huh? I'll take that as a compliment."
"W-Whaaaat? He's laughing? At me? The Hero never laughs with Riel! He only laughs after stabbing him!"
Aki glanced at the diary hidden under his coat. No glowing. No warning. Which meant—technically—he wasn't in mortal danger.
But emotionally? He was having a breakdown.
"Lord Riel," Eren said after a pause. His smile faded into something gentler. "You saved me earlier from that cursed chair. I should thank you properly. If you hadn't noticed it, who knows what might have happened."
Aki froze. "Y-You… noticed that?"
"Yes," Eren replied simply. "Most nobles wouldn't bother warning me. But you did."
Aki's brain short-circuited.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?! In the game, that chair was supposed to explode, Eren survives anyway, and then he accuses me of planting it. Now he's THANKING me? Did I… break the script?"
For a moment, Eren leaned forward. His eyes looked directly into Aki's, as if searching for something.
"You're different from what I expected, Riel Arkwood," Eren said quietly.
Aki panicked and immediately stood up. "Nope! Wrong! I'm exactly what you expected! Evil, scheming, plotting—definitely not different! Very dangerous, in fact! Hahaha!"
He laughed nervously like a man who had stepped on a landmine.
Eren just stared at him. Then… he smiled again.
"Dangerous, huh? Then I'll keep watching you closely," he said, almost teasingly.
"No, don't watch me! Stop smiling at me! Frown! Hate me! Be the Hero who wants to kill me, not… this!"
The sound of footsteps interrupted them. A maid entered, bowing deeply. "My lords, the Princess requests your presence in the main hall."
Both Aki and Eren stood.
But as they walked side by side, Aki noticed something horrifying.
Eren wasn't looking at the Princess.
He wasn't even looking at the garden.
He was looking at Aki.
And smiling.
"Oh no. Oh no no no. The Hero is broken. The script is broken. I'm going to die in a completely new, terrifying way, aren't I?"