I Don't Know the Original, I'm Too Busy Trying to Make a Living-Chapter 190

Throughout the meeting, Penelope hadn’t spoken much, but by the end of it, she was utterly drained.

As she tried to collect herself, Rianel approached her.

“You have quite the spirited secretary. How exactly did you discover someone like Ivetta?”

“Caught her kissing her boyfriend under the school wall,” Penelope thought, clearing her throat. She knew that wasn’t the answer Rianel was looking for.

“He probably wants to hear how I recognized her talents and hired her as a secretary.”

Penelope decided to keep her explanation brief.

“I was lucky.”

“An amusing answer, in many ways,” Rianel replied, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

Penelope felt a bead of sweat roll down her back.

“Wait, could he be interested in Ivetta?”

She immediately became wary. The last thing she wanted was for Rianel to take an interest in Ivetta.

Ivetta was an indispensable asset. Her competence had significantly lightened Penelope’s workload. The idea of losing such a capable secretary to Rianel made Penelope uneasy.

“What if they get married?”

Everything else could be ignored, but not the original story. Penelope couldn’t forget that, in the original novel, Rianel and Ivetta were married. Whatever the reason, the author had paired them together, implying they were destined for happiness.

They wouldn’t divorce, they’d have children, and they’d live a blissful life—the author had guaranteed it.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

That thought stuck in Penelope’s throat like a thorn.

“So this is why transmigrators in romance novels are always so insistent on following the original story.”

She finally understood why other transmigrated heroines worked so hard to match the original couples. Now that she was in the position of potentially derailing a canon pairing, she felt the same discomfort.

Looking at Rianel’s subtle yet intrigued gaze toward Ivetta only made her more uneasy.

“Wait a minute. Wasn’t Rianel trying to court me just a little while ago? How can someone’s feelings change so quickly?”

A strange sense of betrayal bubbled within her. It was absurd, given that she had already rejected him, but feelings were never rational.

“Get a grip, Penelope. Have some dignity. This is ridiculous.”

She reminded herself that Rianel had every right to find his match and be happy.

“And if that match is Ivetta, it’s...”

Slap.

Penelope slapped her own cheek without thinking. Rianel visibly flinched, startled.

“You’re aware that self-harm isn’t a healthy habit,” he said.

“Oh, there was a fly,” Penelope lied, trying to play it off. Rianel seemed to accept the excuse and nodded.

He changed the subject.

“I hear you’ve started a new business venture.”

“Oh, you’ve heard about it?”

“The buzz has reached even Pellar. It seems the outskirts of Halo are quite lively.”

“Well, it was time to start something new. There are so many projects I want to pursue,” Penelope replied.

Rianel gave her an admiring look.

“People who are called geniuses truly are remarkable.”

“I’m not a genius. Ahwin might be, though.”

“In my eyes, you certainly are, Penelope,” Rianel said sincerely.

Penelope could only respond with an awkward smile. Compliments were exhausting in their own way. At this point, she began to think it wasn’t so bad to let people believe she was a genius—it at least spared her from being underestimated.

At that moment, a familiar voice interrupted.

“The meeting’s over. Why are you still here?”

“Ahwin.”

Ahwin stood at the entrance, arms crossed, his expression clearly sour. It was obvious he was displeased to find Rianel and Penelope alone together.

“I was just about to leave,” Penelope said quickly, walking over to Ahwin and taking his hand. Calming him down was now her top priority.

Rianel, watching the interaction, couldn’t hide his surprise at how close the two seemed to have become.

“Expressing affection so openly in front of others...”

Penelope continued to surprise him with her unexpected boldness. While she seemed to care about appearances, moments like this showed a completely different side of her.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness. The two had officially become a couple. Though it had been clear for some time, seeing it with his own eyes stirred an uncomfortable warmth in his chest—jealousy.

As Rianel watched, Ahwin’s icy gaze turned toward him.

“Watch your eyes.”

“Pardon?” Rianel asked, feigning innocence.

“Don’t look at someone else’s partner like that. Do I need to spell it out for you?”

“Overly possessive men aren’t very attractive, you know,” Rianel shot back.

Ahwin gritted his teeth, and Penelope, caught in the middle, panicked. If left unchecked, they looked ready to draw weapons—though one of them would probably opt for a magic bullet instead of a sword.

“These two can’t be in the same room without fighting. These precious troublemakers...”

“Ahwin, how about we go on a lunch date?” Penelope blurted out.

“Out of nowhere?”

“It’s not out of nowhere. We haven’t gone out in ages. Let’s get some fresh air and have a °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° meal together.”

“You’re not trying to avoid staying here with Rianel, are you?”

Penelope flinched. He had hit the nail on the head.

“This lazy magician has sharp instincts at the weirdest times.”

Deciding to be shameless, she countered, “So what? You don’t want to go? Should we just stay here and eat?”

“...No, let’s go,” Ahwin relented.

Penelope smiled. She always found Ahwin endearing when he dropped his pride and acted straightforwardly.

“We’re short on time. Should we just fly to the gates?”

“What’s gotten into you?”

“I realized it’s not scary when I’m piggybacking on you.”

Ahwin couldn’t help but soften his expression.

With one last warning glance at Rianel, Ahwin took Penelope’s hand and led her to the window. Penelope jumped onto his back, and Rianel could only stare, dumbfounded.

Click.

The window opened, and the pair disappeared into the sky like something out of a fairy tale.

Rianel stood in silence, watching them until they vanished from view. A swirl of emotions churned within him, the strongest of which was jealousy.

And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to want to separate them. Their bond was so pure it was almost childlike.

“Without Penelope, the Tower Master would probably be alone for the rest of his life.”

Rianel was certain of it. Only Penelope could draw Ahwin out of his solitude. Without her, he would never have sought a partner.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps broke his thoughts. Giselle, Penelope’s personal maid, appeared, her expression flustered.

“Don’t tell me... they flew off again?!”

Giselle looked ready to cry. Preparing a meal for her master only to have her disappear without a word—such a reckless mistress!

Giselle then noticed Rianel and turned to him.

“You’ll be staying for lunch, right?”

“...”

“Right?”

Caught off guard, Rianel nodded. Giselle heaved a sigh of relief.

“Good. Please head straight to the dining hall. Don’t wander off, okay?”

With that, she dashed out of the room. Rianel let out a quiet laugh. He was already growing fond of this lively and warm household.