Chapter 10

“Miss! Did you hear? No one’s talking about anything but how you became queen of the hunt. It’s such wonderful news!” Emily chattered excitedly, the two of us sitting inside the carriage on its way back to the manor. “You’re that pleased to hear my name on everyone’s lips?” I asked. “Of course I am! We showed House Kellen’s staff who’s boss,” the maid shouted, fists clenched. Apparently, their smug attitudes for the last year had left her fairly disgruntled. “I’m going to go and teach them a lesson! Unlike a certain somebody, you didn’t win thanks to pity—you took first place after killing a bear all by yourself !” “Don’t go alone. You should take all the maids in the manor with you.” “Of course!” Emily agreed, a fierce glint in her eyes as she nodded. She seemed happier about the news than I was. I was actually disappointed that the rewards for becoming the queen of the hunt were not more impressive. Though I hadn’t completed the quest willingly, all I’d gained from the terrible ordeal was money and some reputation points. The game should have given me at least a 10 percent rise in affection with everyone. However, seeing Emily so giddy improved my mood about the whole thing. Well, I suppose this isn’t all bad. The affections for all the male protagonists, bar one, were above 40 percent. It had taken a very long time, but I was happy with the results, especially regarding the crown prince. His score had started at 2 percent, but it was now a whopping 45 percent, surpassing even Winter by 1 percent. It was to the point that I was now even debating who I should be using as my backup plan if Eckles didn’t work out. I quickly shook my head, though. No. The crown prince still isn’t a good option. I was lucky to have escaped the clearing after the award ceremony before he was able to come and find me. If he heard about the stupid things I’d said at the trial, his affection might drop again. I felt the carriage slowly come to a stop, then Emily opened the door and stepped out first. “The luggage must have already arrived!” she observed. Emily was right. Staff sent from the palace were laying out countless carcasses in front of the manor. “Wh-what in the world?” The butler and other servants who’d come out to greet us were watching with their mouths hanging open. The duke and his two sons appeared to be tucked away inside the manor already, much to my relief. They’d set off from the hunting grounds early, while I’d stayed and taken lunch at the palace before leaving. “Oh, that’s all mine,” I said quietly as Emily helped me down from the carriage. “M-Miss!” the bewildered butler exclaimed as he approached. He was stopped from going any farther, though, by a huge chest of gold set down by the attendants with a loud thud. The impact caused the lid to jerk open for a moment, and a few of the golden coins piled inside tumbled out. “Oh dear! Your coins!” Emily rushed to retrieve the coins from the ground. “Lady Penelope. I—I don’t… What is all this money?” the butler asked, picking his way around the enormous chest. “And all these animals? The duke’s and the young masters’ game arrived a while ago—” “These are my game, Pennel.” “…Pardon? I don’t understand…” “Didn’t you hear?” I said, eyeing the butler—who was oddly slow on the uptake today—as well as the various gathered servants. I gently explained, “I’m the queen of the hunt this year.” I directed that the animal skins be tanned. My plan was to have a bunch of nice clothes made for my all-in love interest with them. I was originally only planning on making a scarf… Having a whole new wardrobe made was far grander than I’d planned, but I decided to have a positive outlook on the whole thing. More is always better, right? I told the servants to butcher the meat that could be eaten and take it to the kitchen. The butler, who had seemed perplexed at first, soon approached this new task with great enthusiasm. In fact, I had a bit of trouble dissuading him from making some sort of special restorative brew from the bear’s gallbladder. Having issued most of the necessary directions, I retreated up to my room and flopped onto my bed. “Ha… There’s no place like home.” As I rolled around on the bed, a metallic clinking filled the air. What was causing the pleasant ringing sound, one might wonder? Though I’d pretended to be unbothered, I was actually deeply ecstatic with the hundred million gold I’d received. In fact, I’d been so enchanted by my newfound wealth that I’d told Emily to cover my bed with coins so that I could bask in them. Giggling to myself, I thought, I’m rich now! I’m so rich, I can sleep on a bed of gold! Grinning broadly, I scooped up a handful of the coins and threw them in the air. The smooth, shiny gold glittered in the light, shimmering beautifully. I would never have even dared to dream that such wealth would be mine back when I’d slept in a moldy semi-basement apartment with only a single thin blanket for warmth. Exhilarated, I grabbed another armful and sent them scattering over the bed. They jingled cheerfully. “What a joke.” A disgruntled voice interrupted my enjoyment of the delightful tinkling sound. “You like gold that much?” I glanced over without bothering to turn my head to find Reynold leaning in the doorway, arms crossed. Emily seemed to have forgotten to close it properly, since she’d been coming and going repeatedly, trying to organize the luggage. I scowled. “What do you want?” “How silly. Why didn’t you ask for your bathtub to be filled with coins while you were at it?” he said snidely, looking amused. Wait, that’s not a half-bad idea—bathing in gold? I easily ignored his mocking since I was in such a good mood. “I’m busy. If you don’t have anything important to say, please leave,” I said, turning my attention back to the coins. Reynold walked farther into the room and came to sit on the edge of the bed. “Busy with what? Rolling in gold?” “Yes.” “Ugh, look at you, you dummy. When are you going to grow up?” His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I…I can’t believe you have the audacity to say that to me! I froze for an instant, then spun around to glare at him. He raised his chin in the air arrogantly. “What?” “I asked you why you came,” I repeated, annoyed. Reynold hesitated instead of replying right away. I shot him a narrow-eyed glare, and he finally said, “Father…wants us to have a family dinner.” “What?” I said, sitting up in shock. “Why?” “Well, the hunting tournament ended without any of us getting hurt, and I guess he has something to say to us. How am I supposed to know?” Reynold said, carelessly shrugging. I scrambled for a response, lost for words. The campground at the hunting grounds had been luxurious, but the facilities had still been inferior to the manor. To save time, we’d had to eat breakfast together in the duke’s tent, and I’d been forced to interact with the members of the Eckhart family more often than I preferred. I’d found it bearable before the assassination attempt, but after the trial, being around them had grown increasingly uncomfortable. That was why I’d chosen to go stay at the palace instead. Now that I was back at the manor, I’d been expecting to be left to my own devices in my room… Why won’t you just leave me alone? Let me have some peace! I shuddered at the terrible prospect of having to spend more time with them. “My stomach isn’t feeling well. I think it was something I had for breakfast.” “You do realize the sun’s about to set? And yet you’re somehow only just now feeling sick?” Reynold said with a scoff, and I bit my tongue. I should have gone with lunch. I’d been so flustered that my words had come out wrong. “Might as well tell him you’ve been sick for the past four days at this point. That would be just as believable.” “Sure, go ahead and tell him that, then,” I said. “Oy. That’s enough joking—” he said, whipping around with a frown. His mouth was open as if he was preparing to say more, but it slowly shut when he saw how expressionless I was. He seemed to have realized I wasn’t joking. He ruffled his pink hair with his hand roughly. “Whatever! I’ve told you about the meal, so it’s up to you whether you come.” I planned on not going, so I kept resolutely quiet, and a cold quiet fell over the room. “Hey… Just so there are no misunderstandings,” Reynold said, seeming to find the silence hard to bear. “We couldn’t give you our game even if we wanted to. You know that, right?” “What are you talking about?” “The rules forbid family members from sharing game. It’s to prevent an unfair advantage.” This took me completely by surprise. Why was he suddenly explaining the rules of the hunting tournament to me now? And what does he mean when he says he couldn’t give me his game? The realization suddenly hit me—I knew now why Reynold was bringing this up. He seemed to think I was angry that he hadn’t given me his hunt. I was speechless for several long moments before finding my voice. “I know that.” I hadn’t known, but still. “Then why do you look so upset?” Reynold asked. “What do you mean?” “Your face usually looks like that when you’re sulking.” “That’s not what’s happening. Just forget it.” “Dammit, I wasn’t trying to gift my catches to some other girl, so don’t get the wrong idea!” he shouted. I hadn’t thought that at all, but he seemed to be convinced that I was upset with him. “Do you know how hard it is to capture small animals alive? On whose account do you think it was that I gave up hunting the beasts of prey and worked my ass off in the small-game area—?” he snapped angrily before suddenly falling into awkward silence. His face reddened, and he cleared his throat. “Hem! Ahem. Don’t be upset, okay? Tell me if you want anything. I’ll give it to you.” I was having trouble following his emotional upheaval. I told him I’m fine. Why all the fuss? I was completely happy with the coins I could even now feel under me. It didn’t seem likely, however, that he would leave until I gave him some kind of response. Let’s see, what did he catch again? I had no choice but to try to recall the game he’d successfully hunted. Raccoons, pheasants, a wildcat, and some deer. There had been something else, too… “A…rabbit,” I found myself saying. A memory of the little white rabbit made from a white handkerchief came to mind. I’d completely forgotten about the rabbit, which had stopped moving upon Winter’s departure. I’d given it to Emily for safekeeping. “A rabbit?” “Yes. I like to watch them hop around.” Reynold happened to have caught eight live ones. “All right. I’ll have the butler release them in the forest.” He nodded and finally got off my bed. He almost looked excited. “So that does it, then? Don’t be upset anymore.” “I told you I wasn’t upset.” “And come down for dinner if you can.” Since I had no intention of doing so, I said nothing. However, in the end, I was unable to go to dinner thanks to an unexpected turn of events. I fell asleep after Reynold left, still clutching an armful of gold. While I took the opportunity to laze about in my room for a few days, the servants dealt with the animals I’d left in the butler’s care. Some of the hides that had been successfully tanned were sent to a designer who specialized in gentlemen’s clothing to be made into a gift for Eckles. I was told it would take a decent amount of time to tailor the clothing, so I was forced to start out by giving him something that was quicker to make. When the butler handed me the luxurious case containing the completed gift, I immediately prepared to leave the manor. I think he should be at 67 percent if I remember correctly. I was in a hurry to check how much Eckles’s affection had risen while I’d been gone. I’d already finished getting ready by the time I realized the weather wasn’t great. “Must you go out for a walk in this weather?” Emily asked, peering with worried eyes out the window. She held an umbrella out to me. It was early morning, but the sky was so full of dark clouds that it could have just as easily been evening. I could hear the wind blowing in through the cracks in the window frame. Maybe I should just go another time… Staring out the window with Emily, I hesitated. However, I hadn’t gone to see Eckles for nearly two weeks following my return from the hunting tournament, using the excuse that his gift wasn’t ready yet. If he’d been bullied or harassed again in that time, and his affection had gone down… No! I’ll give him the gift and get back quickly before the rain begins! I hurriedly took the umbrella from Emily and and made to leave the room. “I’ll be back soon,” I said. Despite my quick steps, however, it began to pour as soon as I stepped foot on the forest path leading to the training field. I hastily opened my umbrella and looked nervously up at the roiling clouds. “Haah… That doesn’t look good.” I’d come this far already, though, so it would be a waste to turn back now. I chose to pick up my pace. I’d already asked the butler when the knights would be taking a break from their training. They only rested once in the morning, and since that time was rapidly approaching, I had to hurry. When I arrived at the training field, however, I found it completely empty. “Huh? Where did they go?” I looked around the broad clearing and continued to walk, searching. I remembered that training had ended early on the day I’d run into Eckles, which also happened to have been a rainy day. Are they taking their break early because of the rain? I walked slowly along the brush lining the edge of the training field, not really wanting to run into any of the knights who might still be lingering about. I’d walked roughly halfway around the field when I heard the sound of something slicing through the air. Tucked away in the corner of the training field, someone was standing alone in the fog, attacking a training dummy. Eckles? My eyes widened as I recognized him. I’d found him training alone in the rain last time as well. His wooden blade whizzed through the air, bits of hay flying everywhere, noisily rustling. Thick bundles of straw had been cut free and tumbled to the ground. Same as usual. I now knew that his bladework wasn’t considered to be skillful at all. If he was to move on to the next stage of his training, he needed to imbue his sword with mana and use it to slice the dummy into clean pieces, not hack it apart using brute strength. It had been quite a while since I’d last checked in on his training, but he hadn’t made any improvements at all. No matter how talented a person might be, their technique was going to be no better than any old thug on the street if they had no one to teach them. With a loud cracking noise, Eckles’s wooden sword split in two. A fragment of the sword splintered off and buried itself in the mud. Eckles stilled, shoulders heaving as he gasped for air. His naked upper body was giving off steam, and that, along with the broken fragments of his sword, set a very frightening scene for me. I suddenly felt a rush of anxiety flood through me. You know what? I’m not going anywhere near him until he’s done training. It had been my intention to quickly give him the gift and leave, but I’d changed my mind. I wasn’t going to approach him so rashly this time. Eckles paused for a moment, then reached into a crate next to him for another wooden sword. My eyes widened as I noticed the familiar faded mark on the side of the crate. It was the mark of the weapons trader from whom I’d bought over six hundred wooden swords. I guess he’s making good use of them, then. I felt less fearful watching him pull out another wooden sword as if it was no big deal. I wanted to check his affection, but he was too far away for me to see it. Left with no choice, I settled in to wait for him to finish. Eckles continued to beat at the dummy for a good while after that. I’d been observing him for some time, hidden in the trees, when he broke his third sword with a loud crack. Exasperated, he tossed the hilt away and collapsed into the mud, just lying there. I could hear the cold rain pounding against his naked chest. He’ll catch a cold at this rate… Before leaving the safety of the trees, I studied our surroundings carefully. I didn’t want a repeat of my past experience when he’d swung his sword at me and very nearly broken my neck. Only after confirming there was no immediately visible danger did I begin to take soft steps toward him. The rain must have drowned out the sound of my light footfalls, as Eckles didn’t react even after I’d come to a stop beside him. Standing near his head, I tilted the umbrella I was holding slightly forward. “Hello,” I called quietly, and he opened his eyes, blinking. His long eyelashes were heavy with dewy drops of rain. I watched as his grayish-brown irises receded, his pupils slowly dilating. “Mistress?” Eckles blinked a few times, dazed. He seemed to be questioning if I was really here. His expression made me smile. “It’s been a while,” I said. [Affection: 69%] The neat black letters blinked above his head. I was hugely relieved to see that his affection hadn’t gone down while I was away—instead, it had actually risen a tad. Eckles got to his feet slowly, and soon I was looking up at him instead of down, forced to hold the umbrella higher. “When…did you get back?” “Um. It’s been a bit,” I said, and Eckles’s eyes took on a slightly dejected quality. Apparently, no one had bothered to tell the slave who’d been shoved in among the knights that I had returned. There was a faint trace of an indecipherable emotion in his eyes as he asked, “Why didn’t you tell me you were back?” “Were you waiting for me?” “You said you’d show me a life of luxury.” Which you promptly laughed at me for saying. I wanted to laugh at how cheeky he was—apparently he’d completely forgotten his earlier skepticism. “Here,” I said, holding the lavish case I’d been carrying out to him. “It’s for you. I was a little late coming to see you since I was waiting for this to be finished.” Eckles’s eyes went round like a puppy’s. He hesitated, not immediately reaching for the case. “Go on, take it,” I encouraged. “The rain…,” he protested reluctantly. “I could never dare to receive something from my mistress with wet hands.” “It’s fine,” I reassured, pleased with his reaction. I smiled at him gently. “I came here despite the rain because I wanted to see how you looked wearing it. You don’t want it?” I adopted a hurt tone, waving the case enticingly. He hesitated for a moment longer before slowly taking the case. It snicked as he opened it with wet hands. “These are…” I watched Eckles’s eyes go wide upon registering the contents of the case. “It’s made out of mammoth tusks and the teeth of a white tiger,” I explained, smiling and satisfied with his reaction. The gift was a necklace made of fragments of tusk and tiger’s teeth. I’d had a few high-quality onyx stones added in between since it would have been boring if the entire thing were only white. The round black marbles complemented the sharp teeth and tusk fragments very well. It was a very valuable necklace, one that no amount of money could buy. I’d come to learn belatedly from the butler that there was a reason Callisto and Winter had taken second and third place. The mammoth and white tiger they’d hunted were extremely rare animals that were difficult to procure and thus hardly ever seen, except for at very large events like the hunting tournament. In turn, accessories and jewelry made from their by-products were also very valuable, this necklace especially so since it contained fragments from both the mammoth’s tusks and the tiger’s teeth. Eckles seemed aware of their value, his eyes locked on to the contents of the case. He’s my ticket out of this nightmare—I should do at least this much for the man I’m betting everything on. I tilted my head back confidently. “Do you like it?” “Mistress…,” Eckles said, tearing his eyes from the necklace with some difficulty. “This is too much…” “I’m told that in ancient Kapria, only the strongest warriors wore ivory necklaces,” I said, interrupting Eckles since I thought I knew what he was about to say. I’d read about Kapria and its ivory necklaces in a book, but Eckles likely knew more about it than I did. His home country of Delman was located on the Kaprian continent, after all… Though that entire continent now belonged to the Eorka empire. “It’s about time we got rid of that choker, don’t you think?” I said confidently, eyeing the leather necklace he wore with its yellow stone. “I told you I’d earn first place.” “…” “I’m the queen of this year’s hunting tournament.” “…” “So like you said, all that’s left is to set up my one and only knight with a life of luxury.” Eckles glanced down at the necklace again. Unable to see his eyes, which had always been the only window I had into his emotions, I grew a little nervous. I couldn’t tell if his reaction was positive or negative. Did I go overboard? I was about to ask if he didn’t like it when he finally looked up. My heart lurched—I’d never seen such strong emotion in his eyes before. “Mistress.” Eckles’s eyes glinted dangerously, like that of a predator, as he lifted the necklace from its case. He brought the hand clutching the necklace to his mouth and pressed his lips against the ivory. At the same moment, his affection spiked. [Affection: 77%] A white window appeared in front of me. <SYSTEM> You have raised a love interest’s affection [over 70%]. <SYSTEM> Affection meters will not be visible from this moment forth. What the…? As soon as I read the unexpected message, my eyes automatically flitted to the gauge above Eckles’s head. What I found made my eyes feel as if they might pop from their sockets. …It’s gone! The letters [Affection: 77%], which had been shimmering above his head only moments ago, now read [Check Affection]. The gauge, once filled with white, was now a dark red. Before I could fully grasp what had just happened, a new notification appeared. <SYSTEM> Affection will be shown as a color gauge rather than a percentage. <SYSTEM> If you wish to check affection, you can do so by making physical contact with a love interest. “Eckles…,” I finally gasped out with some effort, concerned gaze glued to the system window. My voice sounded choked even to my own ears. “Give it to me. I’ll put it on you,” I commanded, trying to smile despite my quivering lips. Eckles slowly took the necklace from his lips. I watched his plush mouth part with the ivory surface, his expression wholly entranced. Snatching it from him with the hand that wasn’t holding the umbrella, I watched as Eckles bowed his head obediently. His soaking-wet brown hair was so close to my face now that I could very clearly see the white words [Check Affection] along with the dark-red affection meter. I draped the necklace around his neck, furtively touching his hair. The action summoned a white window again. <SYSTEM> Pay [2,000,000 Gold / 200 Reputation] to view affection. <SYSTEM> Would you like to check the affection of [Eckles]? [2,000,000 Gold / 200 Reputation] “What the—,” I exclaimed without really meaning to when confronted with the sudden choice. “Mistress?” Eckles looked up at me, surprised. I couldn’t drag my attention away from the notification to acknowledge him. Dammit, how is this fair? This is a basic gameplay feature, so why is it so expensive? I gasped when a memory suddenly came to me. —“What?! I died again?! Why?” —“Dammit… Should I just give in and pay to get past this scene?” I remember I’d been tempted to just take the easy option of paying my way through Hard Mode while I’d been playing. Of course the insane game was heavily monetized. The scheme it employed to convince players to make in-app purchases was pretty sophisticated—even someone as stingy as I am had nearly fallen prey to temptation several times. I glared daggers at the window, then pressed [2,000,000 Gold], unsure how I would replenish in-game currency—I hadn’t had to deal with money since entering this world. <SYSTEM> You have paid [2,000,000 Gold] to view the affection of [Eckles]. (Remaining: 98,000,000 Gold) The new message appeared as the words [Check Affection] vanished from above Eckles’s head. [Affection: 78%] I could see that his affection had risen by 1 percent, but it didn’t make me feel any better about this new situation I’d found myself in. I realized abruptly that the money had been detracted from the hundred million gold I’d won at the hunting tournament. No! My hard-earned money! I screamed inwardly, my hands shaking. That money is precious! I couldn’t believe two million gold had just disappeared like sand through my fingers. “Mistress? Are you…all right?” Eckles asked cautiously, obviously finding it strange that I was staring silently into space. “You don’t like the way it looks?” His expression took on a vaguely forlorn quality. My attention was drawn to the fancy bone fragments now snug around his throat, resting on his naked upper body. The affection meter was hidden again. “No… It looks good on you. I like it,” I said, forcing myself to smile. I wasn’t certain I’d managed to summon a convincingly happy expression, but his unnaturally gray-brown eyes seemed to brighten at my words. “Well, I’ve delivered my gift, so time for me to go. I’ll see you later,” I recited robotically, turning away. The umbrella I’d been holding over Eckles’s head came with me. I shouldn’t treat my all-in love interest so casually, but I was struggling to process what had happened in that moment. “You’re…” Eckles grabbed my arm as I made to walk away. “You’re just leaving? After giving me this?” I froze, then turned back to regard him. It was still pouring rain, and he peered at me with a wounded expression, soaking wet. “Oh.” The pitiful sight brought me back to reality, and I belatedly realized that the abrupt end to my visit likely came across as very uncaring. I hastily returned to him. He was already soaked through again, and despite the rain pelting him and dripping down his face and into his eyes, Eckles didn’t move a muscle. “This isn’t the end, of course,” I reassured, softly shielding his eyes and swiping away some of the rainwater gathered on his face. <SYSTEM> Would you like to check the affection of [Eckles]? [2,000,000 Gold / 200 Reputation] The game responded immediately even to the slightest of touches, displaying the notification again. I clenched my teeth in annoyance. Ignoring the message, I desperately attempted to play the part of a benevolent master. “I told you I’d take care of you. I have many gifts left to give you.” “I’m not asking for gifts—” I shushed him gently. “What I mean to say is, I’m planning on visiting again,” I whispered quickly, heading off any complaints. “Both of us will catch a cold if we stay out here. You should finish training for today and return to your quarters.” “…” “You’re going to do that, right?” “…” “Yes?” I prompted when he made no attempt to reply. Eckles finally looked away and down, replying meekly, “Yes…” “That’s a good boy,” I said with a soft smile, ghosting my fingers down his cheek. I gave his chin one final pat before letting him go and turning away again. By the time I’d taken a step away from him, the smile had already slid off my face. I rushed back to my room to check on my chest of gold. I’d had it placed near my bed so I could scatter them over my sheets when the urge struck me every now and then. Hurriedly unlocking the chest and throwing open the lid, I was greeted with glittering gold. The coins were just fine. However… “My money!” I cried. The gold that had once filled the chest completely had diminished slightly. I could tell just by looking at it, since my favorite pastime recently was to just sit and stare at the box’s contents. No one would have the balls to put their hands on the treasure beloved by someone crazy enough to kill a brown bear on her own. Besides, I was the only one in possession of a key capable of opening the specialty magic lock protecting the chest, which meant not even the duke could open it if he wanted to. It appeared the system had really automatically deducted some of my gold. “Ugh… Are you kidding me?!” I slammed my balled-up fist onto the stack of gold noisily, quivering with annoyance. I was immediately anxious, knowing I could no longer see the affection meters and would have to pay in gold or reputation points to do so. Dammit! This wasn’t a thing in Normal Mode! Why does this mechanic exist in Hard Mode? I slammed my fist down on the pile several times. Two million gold? That’s so damned expensive! This game is bonkers! I had one hundred million gold, which meant I could view a love interest’s affection fifty times—or rather, forty-nine times, as I’d just paid to see Eckles’s score. Using my reputation points wasn’t an option, either, since I’d only just managed to gather four hundred, and losing them would cause me to plummet in people’s esteem once more. To think…the game wants me to waste my reputation on something so dumb. In Normal Mode, reputation had simply been a minor mechanic meant to help the heroine establish herself as the duke’s “real daughter.” It was used to bolster popularity with the servants, the love interests, or other nobles. It could also be used to skip the simple mini games that appeared during special quests. Reputation was earned automatically just by completing quests, so I’d never really bothered myself with it. This was also why I hadn’t focused any of my attention on gathering reputation after coming to this world. “If I’d known, I’d have worked harder for it,” I said to the empty room. I wouldn’t have been so rude to the servants, for starters. Biting back tears, I banged my fists on the pile of gold again. Hard Mode was far more terrible than I’d ever dreamed when I’d first begun playing. “Ha! No… I need to stay calm. I’ll reach eighty percent soon.” I took a deep breath in, trying to recover my cool. This was a feature designed to up the difficulty, and it was baked into Hard Mode, therefore definitely not something I could change. I’ll have to pay the developer a visit after I get out of here. I’ll bring a gun with me. With that grim thought in mind, I closed the chest and locked it, before rising unsteadily to my feet and collapsing onto the bed. The unexpected system feature had taken me completely by surprise, and I felt suddenly drained of all motivation. On second thought, however, perhaps things weren’t all bad. I was very close to completing Eckles’s ending—I could probably reach 100 percent easily if I just focused all my attention on him. Going forward, I’d only spend my gold on checking his affection. Maybe I’d be able to get out of this damned game without having to summon his score forty-nine more times. This train of thought made me feel much better. “That reminds me… What was with that color?” I curiously contemplated the question, recalling the system messages I’d been shown. I’d forgotten while worrying about my money, but the affection gauge had turned a dark red, similar to the color of blood. Nervously, I muttered to myself, “It’s a kinda ominous color…isn’t it?” At that moment, someone knocked at my door. Hearing this, I stayed sprawled on my bed, shifting only my head until I was facing the door. There were only a handful of people I would expect to visit, so I wasn’t too surprised when I heard the voice of the butler. “Miss, it’s Pennel.” “Come in,” I called quietly. It seemed he heard just fine, however, since the door creaked open only a moment later. I didn’t bother to sit up, remaining where I was—lying on my stomach. “Apologies, Miss. Were you taking a nap?” the butler asked as he moved inside, eyes widening. “Pardon me. Emily informed me that you’d just returned from a walk…” He bowed as he apologized. I suddenly felt awkward. Glancing at him, I said, “No, she was right. I just came in. I was resting.” “You don’t look very comfortable, Miss.” “I was about to get up. What did you need?” “His Grace…” The butler hesitated for a moment. “He is requesting your presence at a simple family lunch.” “Lunch?” I repeated, immediately frowning. I hadn’t gone when the duke had sent Reynold to invite me to dinner recently. Though it had been pretty rude of me, the duke hadn’t commented, so I’d assumed the matter to be settled. “Is there a reason I need to be there?” I asked. “I’d prefer to just eat something plain in my room.” “He said that since he had something important to speak to you about, your presence was required.” Ugh. I sighed quietly enough that the butler wouldn’t hear. I felt even less inclined to go after hearing it referred to as a “simple family lunch.” That meant I’d be forced to dine with not just the duke and Reynold, but also Derrick, whom I’d prefer never to lay eyes on again. “In that case, please have something to eat brought to me. Just some bread or maybe soup.” “I’m…sorry? But you’ll be having lunch soon, so why—?” “I don’t want to sit starving at a table full of food again,” I muttered with a shrug. “M-Miss!” the butler exclaimed, color draining from his face. “I—I assure you, nothing like that will ever happen again.” I was amused by his reaction since the butler was acting as if I had said something unfathomable. I scoffed. “What makes you so certain?” “I had all the servants working in the kitchen replaced while you were away at the hunting tournament.” Now, this was surprising news. I stared at him with slight wonder, and the butler continued in an oddly somber tone, “And you won’t be eating in the dining room today, Miss.” “Where will we be taking lunch, then?” “His Grace requested that the meal be served in the glass greenhouse.” “The glass…greenhouse?” “Yes. The fall flowers have just bloomed, and they are quite lovely. I hope you’ll be able to appreciate their beauty while you eat.” I could feel that my eyes were as wide as saucers. There were a few places in the manor that were off-limits to me—the duke had closed off any area filled with memories of his dead wife or long-lost daughter. One of those places was the gigantic glass greenhouse located in the back garden. I’d only seen it from afar despite my frequent walks in the garden, never actually going inside. “But why are we eating in the greenhouse all of a sudden?” I asked. “The dining room in the manor will soon be renovated.” “Renovated?” “Yes. I believe it will be out of commission for some time,” the butler replied, his eyes twinkling with a mysterious enthusiasm. I had no idea why the manor was suddenly undergoing renovations, but I nodded. I suppose it’s a good thing. If they’d asked me to eat in the dining room again, I probably wouldn’t have attended under any circumstances. It would be unpleasant, after all, having to eat in a place full of so many unfortunate memories. Besides, I had no way of knowing if I’d be forced to starve again. “Hmm… All right,” I said, finally acquiescing. I didn’t agree because we were eating somewhere new, but because I wanted to see for myself how the affection meters above Derrick’s and Reynold’s heads had changed. “I’ve been out in the rain, so I need to take a bath first, but I’ll be at the greenhouse for lunch.” The butler brightened visibly. “In that case, please call for me when you are ready to depart.” He bowed politely and left the room. Following behind the butler, I entered the greenhouse for the first time. The huge, airy room was warm and smelled wonderful. Its ceiling and supporting pillars were covered in green vines, and there was a wide variety of flowers in full bloom. The dining table was located at the very center, surrounded by blossoming delicate violets. Three men sat closely together around the table. Expressions solemn, they contrasted starkly with their romantic surroundings. “There you are,” the duke observed when he saw me from where he was sitting at the head of the table. I bowed. “I’m sorry I’m a little late.” “A little? Did you say a little? You’re damned—,” Reynold began angrily, but he quickly fell silent. I raised my head and regarded him with confusion. He looked displeased, nostrils flaring, but said no more. “That’s fine. Come and sit, Penelope,” the duke said casually, turning his attention from Reynold to me. I’d expected him to say something about my tardiness as well and was surprised he’d made no comment. Derrick shot me a disdainful glance but also said nothing. Not knowing what was going on, I sat to the duke’s left and glanced at my love interests. [Check Affection] Dammit. As expected, their affections had been hidden from me, and the gauges had changed color. Derrick’s had turned a bright orange, reminding me of a caution sign. I nodded to myself upon seeing it. Yes. Further confirmation he’s a no-go. I turned away indifferently and scowled when I laid eyes on the bar hovering above Reynold’s pink hair. What’s with the light pink? Reynold’s bar had turned a color similar to his hair. But what do the colors mean? At that moment, I inadvertently found myself staring into his blue eyes. “What are you looking at?” Reynold sneered, eye twitching as he tucked a napkin into his collar. “I wasn’t looking at you.” “What, then?” “The flowers on the tree behind you.” “Why would you be glaring daggers at a tree?” Reynold asked dubiously, glancing behind him. Apparently, I’d been wearing an expression of contempt without realizing it. Coughing awkwardly, I replied weakly, “The flowers are beautiful…” “They are Alnwick roses,” came a sudden voice to my right. I’d just said the first thing that came to mind, but the duke was gazing at me seriously. “If you’d like, I can have the servants arrange a vase of them for you.” I turned to get a proper look at the tree behind Reynold, admiring the luxurious apricot-colored roses. “They smell nice. I presume they’d make a nice addition to your room,” the duke said. “No, I’m all right,” I said, shaking my head. “Flowers are most beautiful when they’re growing on their branches.” “Right you are,” the duke relented, much to my relief. He rang the bell in front of him, and the food was served. I guess they really were replaced. I didn’t recognize any of the servants bringing in the trays and dishes. Before long, the plates of food were arranged on the table neatly. The butler had said this would only be a light lunch, and he was correct. Though there were many different kinds of food, they were all the expected fare found at a light brunch—stews, bread, salads, and sandwiches. I liked this choice of the menu since it meant the meal would be over quickly, and I could even eat with my hands if I wanted to. “Let’s eat,” the duke said. I was relieved to see that the eating utensils placed in front of me appeared to be normal. I studied them carefully, trying to determine if some kind of prank had been played on them again. The duke sipped at his black tea, then suddenly addressed me. “Why aren’t you eating?” “I was just about to dig in,” I said, picking up my spoon reluctantly. Why is he watching me so closely today? I hadn’t done anything wrong, besides ignoring his invitation to dinner. Surely he wasn’t checking whether I was actually eating—he’d never bothered to before. If he’d been that meticulous in the past, he’d have noticed that Penelope was starving much earlier. Oh… Is it because the table is so small? I realized why the duke had noticed so quickly that I wasn’t eating. The table in the greenhouse was much smaller than the one in the manor’s dining room. This meant we were seated a lot closer than usual. It would be hard to ignore what cutlery had been set out at each seat, given the proximity. Accepting that this was the most reasonable explanation, I ate a spoonful of the soup. A quiet meal passed, blanketed in the sweet aroma of the flowers. When I started feeling full, I placed my fork neatly down on the table. “You’re not having any more?” As was becoming the norm, the duke reacted before anyone else upon hearing my fork clicking softly against the table. “No, I think I’ve had enough.” “Shall I send for dessert?” I shook my head. I didn’t have much of an appetite and had no desire to continue. “You shouldn’t eat so little. I’ll have another sandwich made and sent up to your room.” “No, Father. I’m all right,” I said, wanting to dissuade the duke. I wanted him to get on with it and say what he needed to. “If we’re done with lunch, I’d like to return to my room. I’m a little tired from my morning walk.” “All right…,” the duke began in a weighty tone, thankfully understanding my meaning right away. “I called you all here to tell you that I’ll be commissioning a painter soon to have a family portrait made.” Everyone seemed surprised to hear this news. Derrick looked puzzled, and Reynold asked, “Why a family portrait all of a sudden, Father?” “It will be Penelope’s birthday a month from now,” the duke replied. I turned to the duke, utterly stupefied, as though I’d never heard the word birthday before in my life. My…birthday? I felt my entire body go numb. This birthday would be Penelope’s coming of age. But that’s way too soon! While I sat there in disbelief, the duke made an unknowingly cruel declaration. “Prior to the coming-of-age banquet, I want to have the family portrait finished and hung near the central staircase.” He’d just announced the deadline for the true daughter’s return and the end of Hard Mode in the game. “So…keep that in mind and stay out of trouble, all of you. I don’t want you getting hurt before the ceremony.” The duke continued to speak, but his voice sounded distant—as if it were coming from very far away. The coming-of-age ceremony is in only a month? My brain had ceased to function. It felt as though I’d suddenly been attacked out of nowhere. The hunting tournament was such a major episode in the game and had only recently been in full swing, so I’d expected that Hard Mode was far from over. There should at least be more opportunities for me to create an emotional connection with the love interests, shouldn’t there? I’d only just managed to figure out Eckles’s real motivations and was in the process of using that information to get him to like me. Only one month. I felt suffocated. If I didn’t manage to get a 100 percent affection with someone, along with a confession of love, I might very well be stuck in this place forever. Though escape was a pressing issue, the bigger problem was that I’d be relegated to the villain and fated to die once the real Eckhart daughter appeared. The reason was simple: It was how the stupid game was written. My hands gripped at the folds of my dress compulsively. I didn’t want to die. I’d studied so hard so I could escape my terrible home. “…lope.” I’d gone through hell and back in this cursed place so I could return to the real world. I couldn’t die. I simply couldn’t. “…lope. Penelope, my child.” I jerked to attention as I registered the sound of someone calling my name. “Y-yes?” I said, glancing up hurriedly. Everyone at the table was regarding me oddly. The duke was clearly bemused as he asked, “Is there something you don’t like about this arrangement?” “What? O-of course not,” I said, still in a daze. I’d fallen into my own thoughts, catastrophizing at the mention of my birthday. Pulling myself together, I muttered awkwardly, “I was just thinking…” “Oy. You’re acting strange today,” Reynold said in his usual caustic tone. “Why do you keep staring at nothing? You’ve been quiet for a while now. Are you itching to cause trouble again or something?” “Reynold Eckhart.” It would be simple to just ignore his sarcastic comments, but for some reason, the duke rebuked him solemnly. “Tsk. That’s no way to talk to your sister. You’re her brother.” “She doesn’t treat me like one.” The duke tutted again, glaring fiercely, and Reynold was forced to fall silent. The light-pink bar hovering above his head didn’t seem at all suited to the sullen look on his face. I was unsettled to see the mood go cold so suddenly on my account. Trying my best to smile, I said, “I’m sorry. I was distracted, and I missed what you were saying. Could you repeat that one more time, please?” “Ahem. All right,” the duke said, expression softening. “I asked you what you wanted for your birthday.” “What…I want for my birthday?” “Yes. You may ask for anything you like.” My first instinct was to demand that he scour the continent for a way for me to get out of this game, but I fought back the absurd urge at the sight of the three pairs of blue eyes fixated on me. “Nothing, really,” I said indifferently. “Wh-what?!” the duke exclaimed, expression astounded for reasons unknown to me. “Y-you…” The duke stuttered, unable to form words. “Hey, are you sure you’re not sick or something?” Reynold shouted in the duke’s stead, banging his fist on the table. Even Derrick, who had been eating in silence, was regarding me with shock. “Just last year, you…,” he began, but his face turned cold and hard as he trailed off. Huh? I was confused by their reactions, which I hadn’t foreseen. The duke, who’d been staring at me and trying to form a response, finally managed, “But you’ve never failed to ask for a myriad of items.” “Oh,” I murmured. The real Penelope had coveted extravagant things, so that was hardly surprising. Sadly, I didn’t really need anything. Besides, my birthday might as well be the date of my execution. Why would I care about any gift I would receive on that day? The duke regarded me with great puzzlement. “You’ve always said you wanted your coming-of-age dress to be fitted by the late empress’s tailor, remember?” “My coming-of-age dress?” I repeated, confused. “That’s right. I’ve already made a special request to the emperor on your behalf,” the duke said, puffing his chest out confidently. He’d looked the same way when he’d offered me the crossbow not that long ago. I needed a dress even less than I needed money or gems. Last year’s Penelope must have raised quite the ruckus, however, as the duke wasn’t easily dissuaded even by my obvious lack of enthusiasm. “How about some accessories and shoes to go with the dress? It’s been quite a while since the jeweler visited.” “Hmm…” I thought for a moment, glancing furtively at the two brothers seated opposite me. Orange and light pink. In the past, I’d relied on the numbers themselves, but now the color coding allowed me to differentiate them even from a distance. I didn’t really want to use my own money to raise their affection, even if it was just game currency, and decided to take advantage of the duke’s kind offer. “If you want to give me a birthday present, I’d prefer to receive money rather than gems.” “Wh-what? Money?” the duke repeated, his jaw dropping. “I realized recently that I don’t have any personal assets of my own. I’d like an allowance, too, Father.” “Th-that’s…” The duke’s expression was one of pure bewilderment, and he appeared unsure of what to say. Reynold inserted himself into the conversation. “What do you need an allowance for?” “Well…” “You have a designer summoned to the manor if you want a dress and the same for jewels. The butler does everything for you. Oh, by the way, Father, I heard you gave her a blank check!” he said suddenly, turning his temper on the duke instead of me. “What’s with the special treatment? When I asked for one, you said our finances were too precarious!” “Ahem! Hem! Who in the world told you that?” The check had been given to me secretly by the butler, but somehow Reynold had heard about it and was now hassling the duke, pointing an outraged finger at me. Ugh, you’re so juvenile, I thought. The duke cleared his throat, turned away from Reynold, and changed the subject. “But why are you suddenly asking for personal assets of your own? You’ve never wanted any before.” “My interests have changed,” I said. “I’m more interested in money than accessories these days.” “You have your prize money, right?” “I can’t bear to use it. It’s the first money I’ve ever made by myself. I’m going to keep it locked away.” “Hmm. That’s not a bad idea,” the duke said with a nod. It was the first money his scatterbrained adopted daughter had ever earned, and by winning first place at the hunting tournament, of all things. I pressed my advantage. “Could I have money that I could use in an emergency as a birthday present?” “What do you mean, an emergency? Why would a daughter from House Eckhart have any need to prepare for an emergency?” “Well, I could use it when I leave the manor, or perhaps as a dowry—” “What?! Leave the manor?!” the three men shouted in unison. I peered at them with wide eyes. The duke went on to holler in a displeased voice, “You’re talking that nonsense again? You haven’t even had your coming-of-age ceremony. You won’t be going anywhere!” “But I’ll be having it soon, won’t I? Which means—” “Penelope Eckhart.” I fell silent as the duke clicked his tongue. “You can’t have an allowance.” Derrick, who’d been silent so far, spoke now in a cold tone—dashing all my hopes. “You can’t be trusted to spend it wisely. We already spend more than is budgeted buying your things. What other reason do you have for needing an allowance?” “…” “You’re not hoping to start a business. So give us one good reason why we should just give you large sums of money.” As the eldest son, Derrick was deeply involved in the financial matters of the manor. If he demanded a specific reason for why I wanted more money, I had no explanation to give him—I just wanted to have as much cash on hand as possible, just in case. I couldn’t trade my gems for money every time I needed to check someone’s affection meter. Since the duke had offered to give me a gift, I’d thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask. “That’s right. There will be no allowance,” the duke said. “Yeah, there’s no way!” Reynold cried, agreeing vehemently with Derrick. Tsk. Then why did you ask? I pouted. If I was being honest, I did not like the idea that I was the only one without personal assets. Though nobody said it in so many words, it made it obvious to me that I was just a stand-in, to be kept around only until the real daughter returned. So you’re refusing to give me a single cent, huh? I held back the desire to sigh loudly, remaining silent. The duke tried to coax me as if I were an unruly child. “I heard that diamonds of exceptionally high quality have been unearthed in the southern mines. I’ll have a tiara made out of them, so—” “No, thank you,” I said, cutting the duke off somewhat rudely. “I’m past the age where that sort of thing appeals to me.” I pushed my chair back noisily and stood. “Penelope,” the duke called, his tone cooling warningly. I knew that the men of the Eckhart house had been cutting me some slack despite my impudence, on account of the events during the trial at the hunting tournament. But now that I had driven their affections up, I no longer wanted to fawn submissively to them. “Thank you for lunch. If you’ll excuse me.” “Penelo—!” I heard the duke calling out my name angrily, but I ignored him. I returned to my room, only to find Emily staring at me with large, surprised eyes, only just finished making the bed. “You’re back already, Miss?” “Emily. Please call for the butler right away,” I ordered, flopping into the seat in front of my desk. “Huh? Y-yes!” Emily, taken aback by my sudden command, rushed from the room. I stared into space, tapping my fingers aggressively on the desk. I’d called the butler so I could ask how the clothes were coming along—the ones I’d had him commission using the leather from the hunt. “I’ll…have to start with giving him the remaining gifts.” It was the only way I could think to quickly boost Eckles’s affection. I realized I’d been so disoriented by the new affection meter system that I’d forgotten to remove his choker when I’d put the necklace on him. I drummed an anxious rhythm against the desk, noticing that quite a lot of time had passed but the butler remained nowhere in sight. “What’s taking him so long?” I muttered to myself with a frown. Knock, knock. There was finally a knock at the door, and quite irritable by now, I asked, “Who’s there?” “It’s your father.” My fingers froze mid-tap. Huh? Wondering if I’d misheard, I stared blankly at the door. “Ahem. I’m coming in, Penelope.” The door creaked open, and I shot to my feet. “F-Father?” The man who entered wasn’t the butler, but the duke. What in the world? What is he doing coming to my room? He had never done this before—that is to say, he’d never once visited Penelope in her room for the duration of the game. “Ahem. What were you doing?” he asked awkwardly, clasping his hands behind his back and coming to a stop at the center of the room. “I was just resting… What are you doing here, Father?” “I have something to talk to you about. Please come over here and take a seat,” he said, approaching the table in front of the large window and sitting down. I stood in front of my desk, peering at him uncertainly, before slowly making my way over. What on earth is going on? Is he here to tell me off for being rude over lunch? Questions filled my head, but I could think of no reasonable explanation for his presence here. He’d always summoned me to his office in the past—why would he come all the way to my room just to scold me? I sat down opposite him, unsure of what to think. “Here,” the duke said, placing something on the table between us. It was a thick paper envelope embossed in the center with the Eckhart coat of arms. “What…is this?” I asked. I had no clue as to what it might be. Puzzled, I stared at him, and he cleared his throat, looking away. “Open it,” he said. Curious, I did as I was told. There was a slip of white paper inside, which I fished out with one hand. “That is a transfer-of-ownership certificate for an emerald mine in the southeast,” the duke informed gruffly. His tone was so casual and unconcerned that I doubted my ears for a moment. “A certificate…transferring ownership?” “Your name is at the bottom. Take a look.” My eyes traveled down to the bottom of the page. Ownership transferred to Penelope Eckhart. He wasn’t lying. My mouth slowly fell open. “F-Father. I—I don’t understand. This is so sudden—” “It’s not a big deal.” “This? This is no big deal?” “You said you wanted money of your own, did you not?” the duke said, inexplicably bewildered by my reaction. “You don’t like it?” “N-no, it’s not that…” I’d only asked for a little pocket money, and I’d been given an emerald mine. Of course I was completely taken aback. “I…I don’t deserve this, Father,” I finally said with some difficulty after trying unsuccessfully to form a response. In my experience, it was never good when nice things were just handed to you on a silver platter, and this wasn’t exactly what I’d envisioned when I’d made my request of the duke. “I wasn’t asking for something like this—” “You’ve always liked emeralds since they share the color of your eyes,” the duke said, interrupting my attempt to politely refuse. “I was planning to give it to you once you came of age anyway. I’m just choosing to give it to you early, that’s all.” This new development left me feeling rather strange. [To celebrate the return of his one true daughter, the duke gifts the heroine a magic stone mine.] I suddenly recalled a scene from the game that had occurred not long after I’d gained access to the [Dialogue Prompts ON/OFF] function in Normal Mode. The quest had been called [The Forgotten Word—“Father”], and when accomplished, the duke had been beside himself with joy upon hearing the heroine refer to him as Father for the first time. That was why, not long after his adopted daughter’s birthday, he’d given the heroine an entire mine for seemingly no reason at all… “Have you tired of emeralds? Would you prefer a magic stone mine, then? I know you’ve been showing an interest in magical tools lately,” the duke said, confused by my blank stare. It was impossible to describe the storm of emotions brewing inside me, and it was more difficult than expected to keep those unnecessary feelings in check. “You…don’t have to go this far for me, Father,” I said politely, slipping the sheet of paper back into its envelope and sliding it across the table to the duke. All of this was to belong to his “real daughter” once I made my escape. “But I appreciate the gesture.” “Penelope,” the duke said, features twisting into a grimace. His reaction wasn’t surprising, since I’d refused such a generous offer. The whole thing left a bitter taste in my mouth, though. A cold silence fell over my room for a moment. I’d have preferred it if the duke had come just to scold me for being an arrogant little girl before storming from the room. Instead, he sat stiffly in his chair for several long moments. Then he said, “Are you…” His tone was cautious. “Are you still angry?” “Huh?” “About the hunting tournament.” “The hunting tournament?” I repeated, perplexed. The duke added quickly, “Penelope. There seems to be a misunderstanding here…” “What do you mean—?” “I believed you,” the duke said. “I’m…sorry?” “Back during the hunt, I was positive that you didn’t attack any of those nobles.” The topic of conversation had changed abruptly. I struggled to understand why he was bringing up the trial again—it was long over and done with. The duke seemed to feel differently, however, and he continued with his odd tangent. “I did have a fleeting doubt at first, but you promised me several times, did you not?” “Promised?” “That if you needed to kill anyone, you would do so in a secluded place.” “K-kill, Father?” I stuttered, recalling that the wording had been considerably less violent when we’d last spoken on it. The agitated duke seemed to realize his mistake and cleared his throat clumsily a few times. “Hem! In any case, you seemed to have grown more mature of late, and I knew you wouldn’t do something so reckless in front of witnesses.” “…” “And that…business regarding the crown prince… You said it was only a momentary dalliance.” The duke stammered awkwardly, as if he couldn’t bring himself to acknowledge that I might have had feelings for the crown prince. “I should have spoken to you one-on-one, but my hands were tied, since both the crown prince’s faction and the second prince’s people were putting pressure on me, watching my every move.” “…” “I’m…sorry.” In summary, he was saying he’d believed in my innocence and had sent Derrick in his stead since he was unable to come himself. After many rambled excuses, the only words that actually mattered had finally come from his lips. I was relieved that what Derrick had said hadn’t represented the duke’s opinions, but knowing this didn’t really improve my sour feelings about the affair. “Derrick certainly wasn’t of the same opinion,” I observed dryly. “He’s always had a bad temperament, no?” the duke observed, jumping to criticize Derrick. “I reprimanded him thoroughly following the trial. So please don’t let this eat away at you.” “You…reprimanded Derrick?” “Of course! I’m also gifting this to you behind his back,” the duke said, nudging the envelope toward me again. “He’s but a spring chicken, just barely dipping his toes into the mining business. In fact, he’s apparently only been making joint investments, too afraid of losing money. Tsk, the spineless brat.” “…” “You, on the other hand, starting today, are the proud owner of your very own mine. You’re leaps and bounds ahead of your older brother!” He reminded me of a parent using baby talk to soothe a grumpy child. “Ha!” I couldn’t contain an incredulous laugh at hearing him throw his eldest under the bus without hesitation in an effort to make me feel better. The duke smiled in response, blue eyes twinkling with good humor. “He got what’s coming to him. Serves the nasty fellow, hm?” he said playfully. This was a side to him I’d never seen before. I finally gave in, my face breaking into a smile. “Derrick has no idea that I’ve given this to you, so don’t mention this to anyone for the time being,” the duke whispered, knowing he’d successfully alleviated my bad mood. “Especially not Reynold! Lips sealed around him, understood?” “…Yes, Father,” I said, taking the envelope he was holding out to me with some reluctance. I had nothing to lose by doing so, and it would be pointless to refuse when he was so insistent about it. “And…thank you for giving me such an amazing gift, even if I don’t deserve it,” I said politely, dipping my head in a slight bow. Internally, however, I was already busy scheming how I could use this new asset to my advantage. “I…don’t deserve a daughter like you, either, Penelope,” the duke said wryly. “I was too much of a fool to realize it before now.” I wasn’t sure what he meant by it. Did he regret his impulsive decision to adopt Penelope, or was he just feeling sorry about all I’d gone through since I’d begun behaving more sensibly? <SYSTEM> Your relationship with the inhabitants of the manor has improved. Reputation has increased +10 points. (TOTAL POINTS: 410) The new notification flashed before me, and suddenly a surge of tumultuous emotions washed over me, completely out of my control. Sometimes it got to be too much—knowing it was not the real Penelope who was being told these things, and knowing that I’d never heard my own father say anything similar and likely never would. I repressed the throbbing pain in my heart with great effort. The butler, who hadn’t been able to come when I’d summoned him thanks to the duke’s sudden visit, came to my room early the next morning. “This is a list of the investors in the southeast emerald mine,” he said, placing a few documents on my desk. The duke had obviously told him that I’d suddenly become the owner of the mine, and he’d been prompt to adjust accordingly. “I will bring you a detailed summary of the gemstone quantities successfully mined in a few days.” “Yes, please do that,” I said. I skimmed through the documents but didn’t bother to examine them too closely. The list contained many foreign names, so I couldn’t hope to identify all of them anyway. All I was interested in was the money. “Tell me, how are the gemstones usually distributed?” “We have contracts established with the merchant guilds, so stones of a lower quality are sent to them. The high-quality stones are polished and auctioned off.” “And is the sale of these stones profitable?” The butler’s voice was noticeably quieter as he continued, “The gemstones that have been successfully imbued with magic by our sorcerers are sold secretly on the black market. Sometimes they sell for up to ten times as much as the market price.” “Is that so?” I said, intrigued. The duke had informed me that recently a large number of high-quality emeralds had been unearthed in the southeastern mine. He had transferred ownership of it to me before the emeralds had even been sold. Thanks to this new business venture, I would be so rich, I could use all the money I wanted to view my love interests’ affections without worrying about going broke. Resisting the urge to smile, I said calmly, “Just carry on as you normally would. All you need to do is bring me the ledger periodically.” What did I care, so long as the money found its way into my hands? “The thing is…,” the butler began, an indecipherable look on his face. “I don’t think we’ll be able to call on the Eckhart sorcerers to imbue the gemstones with magic from now on, Miss.” “Why is that?” “Well, the young lord isn’t aware of the transfer of the mine, so…” I immediately understood what he was trying to say. If Derrick learned of my involvement, he would go to the duke and make a fuss. This was likely why the duke had made me promise to keep the matter a secret until everything related to the transfer of ownership had settled down. “His Grace suggested that you might want to select a merchant guild with sorcerers in their employ and form a contract with them… How would you like to approach this, Miss?” the butler said, asking after my opinion somewhat cautiously. “Hmm…” I thought for a moment before responding calmly, “It’s not urgent that we form a contract quickly. We don’t need to go looking for a merchant guild, either.” Apparently, my life as the illegitimate child of a chaebol family wasn’t a complete waste. I remembered a conversation I had overheard between my father and Asshole #1, the eldest of my despicable half brothers in the real world. “Put a few unpolished gems of the highest quality on auction and monitor the response. Anyone capable of recognizing their value will compete to buy it.” “Therefore…” “We’ll wait and form a contract with the merchant guild that offers the best price.” “Ah,” the butler agreed quietly, nodding. “I…will do as you say, Miss.” There was a suspicious look in his eye, almost as if he was asking, “How in the world did you come up with such a plan?” I know what you’re thinking, you know, I thought, scoffing internally. I steered the conversation to the topic I’d wanted to speak with him about yesterday. “And how are Eckles’s new clothes coming along?” “They are nearly finished.” “How much longer will they take?” “I’ve been informed that they were just putting the finishing touches on the garments… Are you in a hurry, Miss?” the butler asked, puzzled. His confusion wasn’t surprising, since all the clothes I’d commissioned were winter clothes. We were now approaching fall, and it was still quite warm, which meant the new clothes would not be suitable to wear just yet. “Shall I pay extra to have the tailor finish faster?” “No, that’s all right. It’s not all that urgent a matter…,” I said, shaking my head. The winter season was in no hurry, but I was. I was extremely anxious knowing that I had only one month remaining. “Pennel, when do the knights finish training today?” “There will be rain this afternoon, so they will only train in the morning, as far as I’m aware.” “Have Eckles come to me after training is finished for the day.” “Yes, Miss.” I enjoyed the way the butler now accepted my instructions without question. Right as I was finishing my lunch, a light drizzle began. I’d intended to read in the back garden while I waited for Eckles but instead decided to go sit in the greenhouse. The door creaked as I pushed it open, allowing the scent of flowers and lush trees to wash over me. During lunch two days ago, I’d been too busy fretting over the affection gauges to take a proper look at the interior of the greenhouse. It was beautiful, peaceful, and quiet. “…Not bad.” I strolled around the broad space, passing a small table that would be perfect for taking tea. I chose a corner that wasn’t visible from the entrance and flopped down onto my backside. Tiny white flowers were blooming nearby, and it was obvious that the greenhouse was tended to with great care. It’s so well kept in here. I recalled the butler’s words just before I’d left my room in the morning. —“Please visit the greenhouse as often as you like, Miss. We’ve had a variety of rare flowers and trees imported. His Grace has instructed that it be maintained year-round from now on.” After witnessing firsthand the bullying I’d been subjected to in the dining room, the duke seemed to be trying his best to make me feel more comfortable. He had proved this by opening the third floor again, which had been closed off for six years, so that I could go up to the attic if I wanted to. He seemed to have decided that opening the greenhouse was a better idea, however, since I’d shown no desire to go anywhere near the attic after my fight with Reynold. Penelope would have been overjoyed, I thought, feeling a little sorry for the girl, even as I ran a gentle hand over the face that once belonged to her. I appreciated the duke’s efforts, but I wasn’t here to enjoy the beautiful flora housed within. Rather, I meant to use this space to my advantage. Compared with the other love interests, Eckles wasn’t so easy to have interactions with— there were few places we could actually meet. Unless I left the manor, I couldn’t really summon him away from training, and our social ranks made it difficult for me to just take him wherever I pleased. We couldn’t go see an opera, for example, as it would be full of nobles; famous restaurants were also off the table so long as I went with a slave in tow. Tch. This is more troublesome than I’d thought it would be. What I’d seen on the training field two days ago still bothered me a little. Eckles still hadn’t progressed in learning proper sword techniques. I wonder if he would be faring better if the duke had brought him here instead of me, like how it happened in the original storyline. But if things had unfolded in that way, Eckles would not have nearly as much affection for me as he did now. I was his mistress, the person who’d rescued him from the terrible auction house. It was a shame there was nothing I could do for him right now. I had to content myself with the fact that Derrick had accepted him as a knight-in-training under the Eckhart family despite how little influence I possessed as only the duke’s fake daughter. In addition, both Derrick and the duke had come to dislike Eckles all the more after he choked one of their knights. At least they didn’t just kick him out. Eckles would become a swordmaster later than he had in the game’s original story. But that won’t be an issue once the duke’s real daughter returns, I thought coldly. All that mattered to me right now was his affection. Eckles needed someone like the affectionate, angelic heroine, not someone like me. She’ll take care of everything once I escape. Trying to convince myself that this would be the case, I opened the book on my lap. Time passed as I read, and I slowly began to feel drowsy thanks to the magically warmed air inside the greenhouse. My eyelids grew heavy, and I found that I couldn’t focus on the words on the page anymore. Placing the book aside, I lay down among the flowers. I closed my eyes, on the edge of slipping into a deep slumber. The door creaked open, and I heard someone come inside. Their quiet footsteps rustled in the grass as they moved about. They seemed to wander around for a while before deciding on a destination. Their steps grew closer and closer until, finally, they came to a stop by my head. My eyes were still closed, though not intentionally—I was really just too drowsy to pry them open. The person looming over me moved, and I could hear the sound of their breathing now. They seemed to be crouched over me. I felt the ghost of a touch on my cheek, though they weren’t actually touching me. Their hand hovered over my skin, almost close enough to touch but not quite, before slowly traveling to my lips. I wanted to keep pretending I was asleep, but I laughed, feeling ticklish under the light brush of their hand. “You can touch me if you want to,” I said, eyes slowly blinking open. “It tickles.” Gray-brown eyes widened at my words. He seemed more surprised by how close our faces were than I was. “Mistress…” He sighed more than spoke my name. The elaborate bone necklace I’d gifted him dangled, resting over his shabby clothes. My only knight and my devoted slave. Eckles was sitting by my head, peering down at me. His face—as if cast in wax—was as expressionless as ever; however, there was an odd shine to his gray-brown eyes. I glanced above his head out of habit. “I’d like to get up now, ” I said. “…” “Move over, please?” I said, and as I lazily locked eyes with him, Eckles flinched. He froze for a moment, then retreated, backing away from me and sitting up. “Training ended earlier than usual today, huh?” “Yes. Because of the rain…,” he murmured as I sat up. I studied him languidly, noting that the necklace I’d given him lay somewhat awkwardly on top of the spelled choker. I hadn’t taken it off him the last time we’d met. The magical restraint, shabby and revealing his status as a slave to anyone who saw it, was a stark contrast to the new luxurious ivory accessory, which was priceless. It should have looked silly, but somehow it didn’t. If anything, he looked glamorous wearing them. He’s well suited to the role of male protagonist. “The necklace. You’re still wearing it,” I said, reaching out and touching it. Eckles’s intense stare wavered at the feel of my fingers near him. “My mistress gave it to me,” he replied softly, not shying away from my hand. His voice sounded strained. Meeting his gray-brown eyes, I smiled, my own eyes forming happy crescents. “You look pretty in it.” Pretending to press my hand against the pieces of ivory, I ran my finger along his collarbone so I could check his affection. It was a very light touch, barely skimming his skin, but Eckles twitched nonetheless. A message popped up. <SYSTEM> Would you like to check the affection of [Eckles]? [4,000,000 Gold / 200 Reputation] Ha…! Are you kidding me? I clenched my teeth when I saw the prompt. The price had gone up to twice what it had been before. That is so damned greedy! I’d been stupid to think I had forty-nine tries left, momentarily forgetting what sort of game this was. I knew this was a common pricing pattern for in-game microtransactions, but I still couldn’t help feeling upset. Trying to keep my anger in check, I irritably pressed [4,000,000 Gold]. <SYSTEM> You have paid [4,000,000 Gold] to view the affection of [Eckles]. (Remaining: 94,000,000 Gold) [Affection: 81%] His affection had risen since the last time I’d checked it. I was relieved but at the same time worried. If this pattern continued, I would run out of money rather quickly. I was able to dismiss those concerns out of hand, though. Oh, right. I’ll be filthy rich soon, I guess? I was the owner of an emerald mine as of yesterday. “Why…,” Eckles suddenly began, interrupting my examination of the gauge above his head. It now read [Check Affection] again. “Why are you lying here?” “Huh?” “It’s dewy, and the ground is cold.” “Ah…” He was right. I supposed it would seem silly to him that a nobleman’s daughter would lie among the flowers like this when I could have just sat in a chair. “I just felt like it,” I said, brushing my fingers against the tiny, cute blossoms around me. “The flowers here are beautiful.” “You like wildflowers?” I hadn’t known they were wildflowers. It made sense they were growing randomly in the corners of the greenhouse. “Yes.” I nodded. “Everyone always chooses the pretty, colorful blossoms as their favorite. These should get some love, too,” I murmured, though if I were being honest, I wasn’t all that concerned with them. This greenhouse would belong to someone else in a month’s time anyway. However, an odd emotion flickered over Eckles’s face. “Why would you…?” He began to speak, only to trail off moments later. I stared at him expectantly, but he didn’t say anything more. Since we weren’t talking about anything important, I casually changed the subject. “More importantly, I called you here today to remove the choker.” “My…choker?” “Yes. I told you I’d get rid of it last time, but I forgot. Sorry about that.” Eckles’s eyes widened. Perhaps he’d assumed I hadn’t actually had any intention of removing it, but I was completely sincere. If I was honest with myself, I was still a little afraid of him. The way he’d beaten those people to death in the alley with his bare hands, as well as the time he’d almost struck me with his wooden sword, was still fresh in my mind. Does Eckles still resent me? There was no way of knowing just based on the way he was peering at me obediently. Perhaps in getting rid of the only means I had of controlling him, I was only courting my own death. At this point in time, however, I didn’t have many other options—beggars can’t be choosers. As long as I can continue to earn his affection, what does it matter? I’d give him anything he wanted, whether it was gifts or removing his choker. “Turn around for me, Eckles?” I asked with a gentle smile. My ring was needed to remove the choker—I had to fit the ruby into a slot in the back and turn it to unlock it. Eckles stared at me with blank eyes, unmoving. Why isn’t he reacting? I thought he’d be happy to have it removed. I looked back at him with surprise, blinking like an owl. “I’m okay with wearing it, Mistress,” Eckles said at last. “You don’t have to remove it. In fact…I don’t want you to.” Those weren’t the words I’d been expecting, and I struggled to make sense of them. “But why?” “Taking it off won’t change the fact that I’m still a slave.” “Well…no,” I admitted reluctantly, disappointed since I’d so desperately wanted to increase his affection by getting rid of the choker. “But wearing it is a burden, isn’t it?” It was a fact that the choker, with its bright-yellow stone, signaled to anyone who saw it that he was a slave. Wearing it only served to cause him physical and social discomfort. If I were in his shoes, that kind of negativity would weigh heavily on me. However, he said nothing more and just sat quietly—it truly seemed as if he didn’t want to remove the choker. A twinge of anxiety bubbled up in my stomach. “Has…someone been picking on you again?” I asked quickly. “Have they been harassing you because you’re a slave? Be honest with me. I told you I wouldn’t let the knights get away with that anymore.” Eckles was slow to respond but eventually, giving in to my insistent questioning, said, “No, that’s not it. I feel as if you will only come to see me so long as I wear this around my neck.” I didn’t understand what he was trying to say. “…What do you mean by that?” “You pity me, Mistress, while I wear this. And that’s only because I haven’t made any trouble for you. Correct?” My eyes widened. Eckles had seemed to know my motivations far better than I’d realized. “I…” He didn’t give me the chance to think of an excuse, continuing to say, “If another confrontation occurred after you removed the choker and someone falsely reported to you that I was solely to blame, then you would throw me out without hesitation.” It scared me a little to know that this was what he was thinking. He was right, to an extent. If he’d caused problems after coming to the manor, I wouldn’t have even considered removing the choker. But I’d never once expressed that sentiment to him. Instead, I’d gone so far as to gift him with a magical sword and offer him a position as my personal knight. I glanced up reflexively, even though I knew I couldn’t see his affection. “That’s not true, Eckles. I’ll always be on your side.” My words sounded forced, though, perhaps because I was in too much of a hurry to contradict him. Eckles’s face remained completely expressionless. He didn’t seem to take any notice of what I said, simply raising his hand to his neck and muttering, “As long as I’m wearing this, you know I won’t misbehave. You’ll continue to take pity on me.” He bent, bringing his face to my hand where it lay resting on my knee. I could feel the warmth of his skin as he rubbed his cheek against the back of my hand. “I’ll be good for you…,” Eckles whispered in a voice so small only I could hear it. “So please keep a tight hold on my leash, Mistress.” I stared blankly at his storm-colored hair as it brushed against my skin. It felt as if he was begging a cold mistress, one who didn’t come to visit him often, not to abandon him. I wonder if he’s just acting, or if he really feels that way. Eckles still needed what paltry protection I, as the “fake daughter,” could provide, since he had yet to really establish himself firmly among the knights. A lot had changed in the manor since I’d returned from the hunting tournament. The servants in the kitchen who’d disrespected the duke’s daughter—with Mrs. Dona at their lead—had all been replaced. Not only that, but I’d also been told that everyone who had taken part in publicly harassing Eckles had been sent away. The gifts and attention I gave him from time to time would soon affect his status among the knights. My heart, which had started beating faster at his unexpected reaction, began to slow again. I gathered myself. Sliding my hand out from under him, I placed it on top of his head and began softly stroking his hair. The message I’d been expecting appeared. <SYSTEM> Would you like to check the affection of [Eckles]? [6,000,000 Gold / 200 Reputation] “…All right. I will.” The answer slipped from my lips after a long moment’s pause. <SYSTEM> You have paid [6,000,000 Gold] to view the affection of [Eckles]. (Remaining: 88,000,000 Gold) [Affection: 86%] My eyes glinted with satisfaction as they locked on the affection meter above his head, rather than his hair. Who cares if he’s acting? As long as his affection kept going up, nothing else mattered. “If that’s what you want, then it’s my pleasure.”