Their romance storyline only begins on the second playthrough?

Chapter 10 Even Lilith gets mistaken for a lover one day...

Rod pushed open the door and walked into the living room.

He had just lit a small incense burner, so the living room was filled with a comforting fragrance.

But now, because of this guy outside, the whole house feels like a cigarette has been lit in a latrine—disgusting…the aroma and the musty smell are all mixed together.

Rhodes grew increasingly dissatisfied with the "witch" outside, and spoke as he reached the doorway:

"Is there something you need?"

dong dong——

The knocking sounded again.

The witch outside actually responded to Rhodes' greeting:

"Um... Senior Rhodes, I'm a student at the medical school. I heard you came back from the witch, so I brought some medicine to treat you."

"Hmm?" Rod narrowed his eyes.

He clearly released the aura of a demonic seed, yet he still acted... Was he trying to create a sense of panic to scare him?

Rhodes didn't seem to care.

After all, this is his first time facing an enemy, so it would be best to get as much information as possible.

He grinned and opened the door.

The moment the door opened, the appearance of the "witch" outside came into Rhodes's view.

She was a girl with jet-black hair that was messy and sticking out in a tangled mess, and a thin and frail figure.

Her eyes were timid, like a mouse's, but when Rod actually opened the door, she was stunned.

She didn't expect Rod to actually open the door.

Is Rhodes mentally challenged? How can she not sense this obvious demonic aura?

Suddenly, she was startled and snapped back to reality after being tapped on the shoulder.

"Wow!"

At that moment, Rhodes smiled gently and said:

"I don't need any treatment, but you obviously want to chat with me, right? Then come in and let's talk."

Rod turned around with a sense of relief, then went to the soft sofa in the living room, pointed to the sofa opposite him, and then sat down on the other side.

"Please have a seat," Rod said politely.

"What...?" The witch's face became uncertain, and her mouse-like eyes narrowed slightly.

This guy... clearly knows she's a witch, yet he dares to chat so calmly? Is he just putting on an act?

Unable to sort out her thoughts, she had no choice but to go inside, since she wasn't afraid that Rhodes would kill her.

However, instead of sitting on the sofa as Rhodes suggested, she looked around.

She looked up at the sky, then glanced around, and smelled the air.

"It smells wonderful, it's so luxurious... Is this where nobles live?"

"Your little haven together, senior Rhodes and senior Felicity, is so lovely. The Emperor's matchmaking is truly enviable... You two are such a wonderful couple," Bellica exclaimed, clasping her hands together.

Putting aside Rhodes, Lilith, who was inside the house, immediately dressed and her eyes turned hostile upon hearing those words.

Rhodes also shook his head:

"Couple? We're just friends... um."

This is true.

Felicity, the second princess of the Linlank Empire.

After leaving the Melanie Empire at the age of eleven due to various troubles, Rhode, as the eldest son of the ruling family of the Melanie Empire, the Chivenlans, came to the Linlank Empire for further studies.

During his time in the palace, he naturally got to know Princess Felicity, who was of equal noble status and the same age.

They have known each other for over eight years now, and have been intertwined with each other for almost half their lives. Therefore, they can certainly be considered childhood sweethearts.

However, childhood sweethearts are just childhood sweethearts.

Felicity didn't have much of a view on so-called love; all she felt for Rhodes was gratitude for being saved when she was young and friendship.

Of course, to be precise... she didn't understand what love was, so how could she possibly say she "liked" Rhodes?

Felicity didn't like it, and Rod had even less reason to like that troublesome little guy.

Although Rhodes and Felicity have a simple relationship, there are many rumors about them. After all, for people in high positions of power, even the word "marriage" is associated with power.

Of course, these rumors were not without source; at least, it was obvious that Felicity's father, Emperor Linlank, deliberately arranged for Rhodes and Felicity to live together.

Ultimately, however, they were just living together, and Felicity didn't even live there most of the time.

Therefore, everything Rhodes said was true; they were just friends.

But Berekka was surprised.

"Huh?" Bellica covered her mouth, as if in shock. "You've been living together for over a year, and you're still just friends?"

"...You're being a bit presumptuous. She doesn't like me, and I don't like her. Is there a problem?"

"Eh... But everyone knows that as a royal princess, Felicity and you, as the future heir of the Melanie Empire, are bound to be together."

Rod frowned. "Do you still want to talk? Is your mother still alive? What business is it of yours what I do with your personal affairs? If you don't want to talk, then just do it."

Bellica's feigned shock vanished instantly after Rhodes explained the situation.

A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips as she spoke:

"I'm sorry, I've never had a mother since I was little."

"As for taking action, there's no need for that."

But how can you say that your relationship with Senior Felicity is a private matter? Everyone knows that royal matters are also matters for the public.

Honestly, if you two hadn't run into any problems, you would definitely have ended up together, since this is a national method of socializing.

only……"

bump--!

The door was suddenly pushed open.

Then, Lilith's voice came from it—

"Hurry up and get it done, Mr. Rhodes."

Lilith's haughty gaze suddenly fell on the two of them, and she directly interrupted Bellica.

At this moment, Lilith's face was as calm as a doll's, as if she didn't care about life or death;

Despite this apparent facade, her face actually conceals extreme dissatisfaction.

Lilith couldn't stand it.

Unlike Rhodes, she only wanted to kill the witch quickly and didn't have the habit of showing concern for her before she died.

Most importantly, this guy has been saying things that displease her ever since he came in.

Felicity knew who he was, of course. He was a key figure in rebuilding the Linlank Empire and unifying its forces after its fall, and he was also her and Rhodes's subordinate and teammate.

Being together is simply impossible, okay? At least she won't allow others to gossip like that.

At this moment, Bellica was slightly taken aback. She had never expected that there would be a girl in Rhodes's room.

Ah... her face looked strange, and she felt nauseous.

As expected of an aristocrat, he clearly has a girlfriend he lives with, yet he still brings back a strange woman, and this is only about an hour after they escaped danger.

"No wonder Senior Rhodes kept saying they were just friends... So, it's because there's a third party involved? He doesn't want to hurt her feelings?"

"?"

"?"

thump—

When Bellica finished speaking, the atmosphere was shattered like a hammer blow.

Lilith paused for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening, pointed to herself, and said:

"What do you call me...?"

"A mistress? What else could it be? This is someone else's home, what are you doing in their bedroom?"

"!" Upon confirming Bellica's words, Lilith's pupils contracted sharply, and her emotions exploded in her mind.

Little three?

I?

Are you kidding me?

Lilith's body began to tremble.

Although she knew that Rod and Felicity had no relationship at all, it was really hard for her to be rational when she, the real one, was labeled as the "other woman".

The problem is, is she going to explode now?

Does she have the right to erupt?

The truth is, she's neither the person Rhodes likes nor his girlfriend, so she has no right to explode.

Lilith's anger was trapped in her chest, and only the suppressed rage in her eyes could be seen radiating from it. But then, something even worse came out—

"Why are you wearing Felicity's clothes? It's disgusting," Bellica said with a sneer.