Chapter 2

If I hadn't seen those comments today, I would've completely forgotten my place.

Clearly... beauty is a dangerous distraction.

But let the record show. I am strictly a fan of pretty faces. I don't have a single malicious bone in my body. Is it a crime to appreciate beauty?

To err is human, but to love beauty is nature. What's wrong with that?

I only acted that way before because I truly believed I was their partner.

But now, thanks to the comments, the cat is out of the bag.

Our world is just a story, and they are the male leads. And I'm just cannon fodder meant to be brushed aside.

Since that's the case, I'd better cut them loose sooner rather than later.

Hopefully, once they find their way to the real heroine, they'll decide to let bygones be bygones and spare my life.

Right then, seeing that I'd gone quiet, Fox and Silas swapped a look.

The next second, Fox lunged forward, scooped me up, and tossed me over his shoulder. "I'm giving you a physical."

My head spun as the world flipped upside down. By the time I caught my breath, he had already plonked me down on the stone bed.

He leaned in close, his deep, fox-like eyes locked onto mine. "Is this about last night..."

My cheeks and ears flared up. I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eye.

The comments were moving a mile a minute now.

[Fox, get a grip! Don't fall for her trap.]

[Don't forget Fox is a literal fox. He's definitely seen through her little act and is just playing along to test her.]

[Fox is as sly as they come and holds a mean grudge. He's just dallying with her. He'll make her pay for this later.]

[Yeah, Fox never goes soft. One time, a wild fox tried to seduce him, and that same night, he had her stewed for dinner. She was his own kin!]

My breath caught, and my whole body tensed up. I didn't want to kick the bucket just yet. I still had my whole life ahead of me.

I blinked and tried to shove him away, but it was like trying to move a brick wall; I didn't stand a chance. "Fox... I'm fine. Really. I don't feel under the weather at all."

He caught my wrists tight, his sharp-featured face completely unreadable. "And yet, you're acting like a totally different person today."

He was burning hot to the touch, and I felt my own temperature rising just being near him. But I didn't dare move a muscle.

Just then, Silas' voice drifted over from across the room. "Fox, didn't you hear her? She said she's fine."

His voice was as bone-chilling as the look on his face, and I couldn't help but shiver.

Fox gave me one last long look before finally letting go. He straightened up and locked eyes with Silas.

Neither of them said a word. They just stared each other down.

Even though they were dead silent, I could feel the temperature in the cave plummeting.

I couldn't take it anymore.

They were arch-enemies.

For the past three months, they'd been forced to live under the same roof because of me, but they still hated each other's guts. They'd come to blows over the slightest thing.

They'd already smashed eight stone beds to smithereens just from fighting.

Taking a deep breath, I plucked up my courage and hopped off the bed to usher them out of the cave once more. "I meant what I said. You two should just leave now."

I placed my hand on my chest and took an oath solemnly. "Don't worry. Everything that happened before is water under the bridge.

"When you find someone you actually love, feel free to make her your partner. I promise, I won't cling or sabotage anything between you and your future partners."

Fox parted his thin lips as if he wanted to say something, but the words seemed to fail him.

Beside him, Silas' gaze turned even icier. After a few seconds of heavy silence, he finally spoke up. "Fine."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode away.

Fox gave me one last look before following Silas out of the cave.

Once those two heavyweights were gone, I let out a massive sigh of relief. "They're finally gone."

I pressed a hand to my chest, my heart still racing. "Thank goodness, my skin is saved."

I picked up the meat Fox had left halfway done and threw it back over the fire to finish it off.

The comments were still rolling across my vision.

[Wait, this isn't right. Why is the plot going off the rails?]

[Isn't Lily supposed to obsess over Fox and Silas and threaten the heroine once she shows up?]

[Exactly. If she doesn't follow the script, how are Fox and Silas and the heroine supposed to end up together?]

[Are you guys for real? I've never heard of a destined couple that needed a villain to push them together. Are you sure they're even meant to be?]

[I second that. So far, Lily has done absolutely nothing wrong, okay?]

Reading that last one, I felt tears of gratitude welling up in my eyes.

Exactly!

I nodded vigorously and stuffed a huge hunk of meat into my mouth. Once I had my fill, I ignored the comments and started tidying up the cave.

Even though they had only lived here for three months, they had left so much behind.

There were the exquisite furs Fox had made himself, the shed snakeskins Silas had left, and the hammock they had built for me together...

Every single item was steeped in their scent.

I carefully packed everything away into a storage chest. I almost tucked away the pendant Silas had been working on too, but after a second thought, I decided to wear it.

*****

Winter was just around the corner. When they were around, I never had to worry about food. But the party was over now.

I had to figure out a way to stockpile some food and fast.

I grabbed the fishing net Silas had made for me and got ready to head out and catch some fish.

But before I could even step out of the cave, Ben Blackwood, a black bear beastman I was on good terms with, showed up.

He was lugging a huge sack of fish. "Lily, I brought you some fish," he said. "Aren't these your absolute favorite?"

The savory scent of the fish was tempting, and I felt my mouth water. But seeing the expectant look on Ben's face, I forced myself to hold back.

I knew he had a soft spot for me, but the feeling wasn't mutual.

I clenched my fists, preparing to turn him down. "Ben, I—"

Before I could get the words out, a sudden gust of wind swept through. The wild berries I had left out to dry were knocked to the ground.

I rushed over to scoop them up but ended up tripping over a stray branch.

Ben was quick as a flash and caught me. "Careful there!"