Chapter 7

There Eckles was, begging at my feet, face pressed against me. It was with reverence that he looked up at me, turning his head from side to side, rubbing his cheek against my hand—the one that wore the ring that controlled him. “I’ll never defy you again, Mistress,” he said. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me just this once.” The rock-hard surface of the enormous ruby caught on his soft skin. He could take the ring and shamelessly cling to me, insisting on staying at my side. At least then he would be free from this shackle, the pervasive threat of it choking him at any time. But despite my cold, closed-off expression, Eckles made no move to stop behaving like a dog obediently wagging its tail at its master. I can’t figure out if he’s naive or cunning… I watched in bemused silence as he essentially handed his leash back to me. Eckles was still pressing his face into my hand, but with a light push against his ardent force, I brushed him off and placed the ring on the table. Its clink, cutting through the quiet, rang of finality. Before Eckles had the chance to whine or protest, I leaned in and grasped his face, my palms flush against both of his cheeks. “Eckles,” I said quietly, my eyes locked with his gray gaze. “The moment I gave you that sword, you became my knight. And I your one and only lady. Don’t you ever forget that.” Eckles was smart and would catch on to any falsehoods immediately, so I smiled at him with my eyes almost closed. That way he had no way of reading from my face if I was being insincere or not. In turn, his ashen eyes grew momentarily dreamy. “Yes…Mistress.” [Affection: 54%] His affection had gone up a little. Finally. I was past the halfway point. Smiling with satisfaction, I lowered my hands from his cheeks. “Good. Now it’s time for you to attend to your knightly duties.” After scooping the ring from the table and sliding it back onto my finger, I held my hand out to him expectantly. “Escort me to the ground floor.” And as he always did, Eckles took my hand. We’d just reached the bottom of the stairs when I encountered the duke, who was dressed to the nines and accompanied by the butler. “Father.” They’d been headed for the door when they saw me and came to a stop. “Good afternoon,” I said, a smile upon my face. The duke stared at me in silence. “Father?” I repeated, perplexed at his lack of response. After clearing his throat, he finally replied, “Why are you dressed like that?” “Like what?” I asked, offended that he had ignored my greeting and appeared to be criticizing me. What’s wrong with my outfit? Though I’d worn only very modest clothing since entering this body, this dress, on the contrary, was exactly the sort that the real Penelope had always liked to wear—the kind that drew stares and raised eyebrows. The duke clucked his tongue, evidently displeased. “You haven’t even had your coming-of-age ceremony. How can a young noblewoman—?” “Good afternoon, Miss! You look splendid today. The pearl earrings complement your dress particularly well,” the butler suddenly interrupted before the duke could finish his admonition. The man was astute, I had to give him that. “Really? I put a lot of effort into choosing the right outfit, so I’m glad to hear you say that. Are you sure it looks all right?” I accompanied my pointed words with a beaming, innocent smile. The butler was once again quick to respond. “Of course. I’m positively dazzled.” “Aw, thank you, Pennel. You’ve really brightened my day.” “Ahem!” the duke interjected, making it known that he was uncomfortable with our decidedly wholesome conversation. Hmph! I’m never going to greet you so warmly ever again! I thought, shooting a furtive glare at the duke. Perhaps guessing what I was thinking, the duke changed the subject. “Anyway, why did you come down with him?” he asked, turning his sour mood on Eckles with an unfriendly glance thrown in as the cherry on top. I shrugged. “He’s my personal guard. I asked him to escort me to the palace.” “Escort? Don’t be absurd! We will be going as a family, seeing as we haven’t done so for too long. Send him away. Your brothers will escort you.” “…We’ll be going together?” “Yes.” Ugh… Things are looking bad already…, I bemoaned internally, my smile becoming wooden. I felt stifled just imagining the four of us riding in the same carriage. “That sounds lovely, Your Grace,” said the butler, clapping his hands once in satisfaction and completely unaware of my gloom. “But since Miss Penelope is having some difficulty walking due to her high heels, why don’t you accompany her to the carriage?” “Ahem. How bothersome.” “I’m all right—” The duke held out his hand before I could finish my polite refusal. “Hurry up, take my hand. We don’t have time for this.” No more than a second had passed before he was changing his tune. What happened to it being “bothersome”? His total 180 left me unsure as to what I should think. Still, my bafflement at his shifting moods changed nothing, and I had little choice but to accept. “Eckles,” I whispered, feeling bad for summoning him. “Be a good boy until I get back. I’ll buy you lots of nice things with the prize money if you behave.” He didn’t answer, just looked at me with an unreadable expression. Then he nodded softly and let go of my hand. [Affection: 55%] There was something odd about how it had risen only a single percentage point, and the way he maintained eye contact with me. Why do I get the feeling he’s mocking me? I thought as I gave my hand to the duke instead. When I finally climbed into the carriage with the duke’s help, I realized my other two love interests were already inside. You should have sat next to each other, not like that! I despaired when I saw that they were seated opposite one another. The manor’s carriage was large enough to hold four people without any issue. However, since I’d arrived late, I was forced to sit next to one of them no matter what. I alternated glances between them and considered for a moment. [Affection: 22%] [Affection: 25%] Oddly enough, Derrick’s affection, which had been 20 percent last time, had risen by five percentage points. Was it because of that day at the training field with the crossbow? Perhaps running away from him without siding with Eckles had positively affected his affection. And Reynold, surprisingly, had almost caught up to Derrick. The difference was only 3 percent. “Go on, sit down,” the duke pressed. Making up my mind, I chose to sit next to Derrick. My dislike for Reynold aside, affection was all that really mattered. Two pairs of blue eyes zeroed in on me. For a brief moment, both of their expressions shifted imperceptibly, then suddenly, the letters above their heads changed. Affection –1%, Affection +2% [Affection: 21%], [Affection: 27%] Their affections had changed simultaneously—Reynold’s had dropped 1 percent, and Derrick’s had risen by 2 percent. “Oy, what are you wearing?” While I was occupied with staring at the opposing percentage changes, Reynold did the predictable and started nitpicking the moment I sat down. My tone was cold as I retorted with a curt “What?” “What do you mean, ‘what’? You’re too young to be wearing that kind of dress. Might as well go around naked,” mocked Reynold. “I thought you’d matured a little after the last celebration, but I guess I was mistaken,” said Derrick, joining in with his disapproval. Why are they picking a fight over nothing again? I looked down at my dress, wondering if their criticism was warranted. The V-neck revealed a bit of collarbone, but that was all. It was hardly indecent. “That’s enough,” the duke rebuked, getting into the carriage just as I was about to lash out at them. “It looks fine. Why are you criticizing her?” “Ha! Are you for real, Father?” Reynold seemed unable to believe that the duke would take my side. I was also surprised, of course, since just minutes ago he, too, had criticized my dress. What. The. Hell? I shot him a puzzled look, but he spared me no explanation save for a cluck of his tongue and the turn of his head, avoiding my gaze. “Let’s leave,” he said, continuing on casually with two raps on the carriage roof. The enchanted carriage began to move without a sound, and as I’d expected, an oppressive silence fell over us. We could have just gone separately. Why insist that we go together? I pressed myself close to the window so that no part of me came in contact with Derrick and sighed. It brought back memories of how terrible it had been last time I’d gone to the palace, sitting as still as possible and staring fixedly out the window. To my surprise, it was the duke who interrupted the protracted silence, clearing his throat as was his habit. “Did neither of you receive a token for the hunting tournament?” We all turned our gazes on him. Reynold seemed puzzled. “What token?” “You know, a charm of sorts to wish you safety…like this!” the duke said, pointing at his collar and encouraging us to look. The brothers’ eyes fell on his clothes, and I looked as well, wondering what all this was about. Then my eyes widened. Wait, that’s… “An amulet? Where did you get it, Father?” Derrick asked, speaking for the first time since we started moving. I was dumbfounded. The duke had pinned the silver amulet I’d given him to his chest as if it were a medal. Hold on, why is he wearing it like that? It was designed to easily attach anywhere on one’s clothing, but still—why would someone wear a charm like that so openly? The weapons trader had told me that it was popular because it could be worn secretly, and yet, the duke almost seemed proud of it. I gaped, confused. I’d given only the duke an amulet and had done so for a good reason. Of course I hadn’t gotten one for Reynold or Derrick. But the way the human mind works, people get easily irritated and jealous if they realize they missed out on something. And if he decides to brag to these idiots… The duke, unaware of my mental panic, actually looked somewhat excited as he explained. “Well, you see, just a few days ago Pene—” “F-Father!” I interrupted him hurriedly. The brothers swung their attention to me, and I smiled awkwardly as I struggled to think of something to say. “Whoever it was who gave it to you, it looks great.” “Is that so? Hmm.” The duke’s lips twitched, as if he were pleased by the compliment. Biting back a sigh, I suggested in a roundabout manner, “Still, you should have hidden it on the inside of your clothing. Someone might say something disrespectful if they see it.” I was thinking someone might bounce off what I said and imply that the head of House Eckhart was a coward for wearing a magical amulet to keep himself safe. Reynold, however, misunderstood what I was trying to say. “She’s right,” he said spitefully. “It would be disgraceful if people were to assume you had taken a mistress in your old age.” “Let them talk!” the duke suddenly shouted. “Then I’ll know the faces of those audacious enough to spout hogwash about a present from my daughter!” The ensuing silence was icy cold, as if a blizzard had blown through the carriage. Ha-ha. I’m done for. All I could do was laugh internally. “Did…Penelope give that amulet to you?” Derrick asked in a low voice. For some reason unknown even to myself, I shivered. The duke was oblivious as he grinned, taunting them. “Ahem. You two should have taken a page from my book and cleaned up your act. Then you might receive a pledge like I did. It’s your personalities that make you so unpopular with the ladies, you know.” Reynold only laughed incredulously, and Derrick, who had been regarding the duke silently, turned his stare on me. There was an emotion I couldn’t read in his blue eyes. “You didn’t give me…,” he began tensely, before abruptly falling into a sullen silence and turning stubbornly away from me. His affection meter shimmered and changed. Affection –1% [Affection: 26%] Oh, come on! What’s the big deal? I only gave the guy some dang jewelry! I felt a surge of resentment for how ridiculously easy it was to send affection down in Hard Mode. The carriage slowed as we approached the palace, and I glanced out the window to see a long line of other carriages, starting at the front gates. “Why is it taking so long?” I murmured. The holdup was strange, since there had been no such line last time. The duke soon sated my curiosity. “They’re searching the carriages for lethal magical weapons or monsters, sorcerers, and the like.” “Searching?” “Yes. This hunting tournament is being hosted by the crown prince himself. If he has any regard for his own life, he’ll ensure the security is flawless.” I nodded, agreeing with this assessment of the situation. The crown prince was a war hero with enemies both in and outside the empire. The attempts to attack or assassinate him probably wouldn’t ease until he ascended to the throne. No wonder he’s so unhinged, I thought, acknowledging that his crazed personality wasn’t all that surprising. Not that I sympathized in any way, of course. I was the one who deserved the sympathy out of the two of us. But if they’re also checking for sorcerers…does that mean Winter can’t take part? Our carriage reached the gate, interrupting my train of thought. We were allowed through rather quickly, as was expected. Though the magic-detecting crystal balls flagged the magic marbles in my crossbow, it wasn’t a problem, since they were nonlethal and clearly meant for hunting. After a palace sorcerer completed the inspection, he returned my crossbow and its case to Emily, who had arrived in a separate carriage. “What lunacy are you planning this time? You seem thoroughly equipped,” Reynold mocked, stubbornly gazing out the window. Derrick glared at me accusingly and sighed, obviously in agreement with his brother. “Ahem!” The duke, who had prepared the crossbow himself, cleared his throat uncomfortably. Yet again, I was left feeling unfairly judged. The Eve party was to be held in a large garden located not far from the forest that would later serve as the hunting grounds. As was to be expected of the Imperial Palace, even located outdoors as it was, the venue was beautifully decorated. There were fine fabrics and ribbons draped artfully, complementing the natural beauty of the colorful flower beds. There was also a high, dense wall of vegetation that surrounded the venue, protecting it from prying eyes, and gorgeous lights hanging from various points all around. It seemed as if many of the guests had already arrived, as the attendants were flitting between the round tables, of which there was one allocated to each house. The duke and my two brothers left to check on the cabana and horses they’d be using during the hunt, leaving me to enter the garden alone save for Emily trailing behind me. Where is he? Is he not here yet? I wove between the countless nobles, searching the many faces around me almost desperately. I needed to know where the crown prince was so I could not be there. With no way of knowing when he might suddenly appear, my heart was racing. Maybe I should have just gone with the others… The prince might be a crazy, arrogant bastard, but even he wouldn’t try to kill me while the duke and his family were present. I felt regret wash over me but was soon distracted as I noticed people whispering nearby. “The gall of that girl! Even if her ban was lifted, I’m surprised she was brazen enough to show her face here!” “Exactly. How on earth is Duke Eckhart educating his children…?” “Oh, my lady, don’t say that. No amount of education can change the fact that she is of low birth.” They were obviously gossiping about me. Scowling, I cast my eyes around in search of the ones responsible for the trash-talking, but I couldn’t pick any one person out—the entire crowd was staring furtively at me. I suppose it’s to be expected. I was infamously badly behaved last year. Knowing this didn’t make the experience any more pleasant, though. I realized I was in no position to judge the crown prince’s situation as all that different from my own. Penelope was also surrounded by enemies inside and out—there was good reason for her aggressive attitude toward life. “Ugh! She looks like a harlot in that dress!” “She hasn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony. Has she no shame?” Emily’s face fell—she had been responsible for choosing the dress that would best complement my looks, along with the other maids. This was the fourth time today someone had criticized my clothing. We have a parable back in Korea about a man who endured the same grievance three times but was able to realize the situation wasn’t what he thought, saving him from murdering someone in his haste. In other words, patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. Well, I’ve been subjected to this unsolicited name-calling more than three times, yet my patience still hasn’t rewarded me with any virtues. Am I cleared to raise hell now? “Emily,” I said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “Be a doll and fetch me my crossbow.” Emily shot me an alarmed look but nodded. “Yes, Miss! I’ll go right away!” she replied, turning to leave. Her voice was much louder than mine. Her eager compliance was in stark contrast to earlier, when she’d asked me not to bring up using the crossbow again. Seeing her rush toward the cabana made me grin. The ugly muttering around me had gone completely silent. Say one more word. I dare you. I held my head high and scanned the crowd. Every pair of eyes that met mine flinched and glanced away hurriedly, much to my amusement. Even though my maid was gone, leaving me alone, nobody seemed willing to mock me again. I guess they don’t want to get shot by the crazy Eckhart chimpanzee, huh? I decided to look for the crown prince later. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to have arrived yet; if he was here, I was sure he would have approached me by now. Relieved, I moved to the Eckhart table, which was toward the front. I fell into my seat, crossed my legs, and called one of the passing attendants. “You there.” “Y-yes!” “Bring wine. I want a bottle, not a glass.” Gasps were heard all around as I confirmed the notion everyone no doubt had that I was some kind of a hellion. Emily soon returned with the crossbow case. “Miss!” She was out of breath, seemingly having run the whole way. “Good work, Emily,” I said, and Emily grinned with pride. It was the same nasty expression I’d seen on her face when she’d woken me using a needle way back when. The case clanged loudly as I dropped it onto the table, before removing the crossbow. I began slotting in the small marble-like pellets that served as ammunition in full view of a rapt audience of onlookers. The loud sound the pellets made as they were loaded echoed unpleasantly through the silent venue. “My goodness! Someone stop her!” “Shouldn’t we call the guards?” I could hear whispers, but I ignored them, turning the crank on my weapon. “Hah! What the hell are you doing?” came a confounded voice. Following the sound, I glanced up and found that the duke and his sons had arrived. People were openly sighing with relief. “You look like you’re itching to pull the trigger. Was being called a chimpanzee not enough for you? You’re already trying to shoot someone?” Reynold continued, mystified. The crossbow clicked, indicating it was loaded and ready to go. I slung it over my shoulder, not bothering to turn and look at him. “It’s none of your concern.” “Do you not see everyone staring at you? I can’t let you bring shame to our family again!” “Reynold,” the duke warned, his voice loud and sharp. Reynold glanced around at our audience and leaned toward me to ask viciously, “Are you just going to sit there looking ridiculous, you psycho?” The way he clenched his teeth and spat profanities at me sent a chill down my spine. I knew I must have painted quite the silly picture, sitting with the huge crossbow against my fancy dress, but I refused to respond to him. He wouldn’t believe me even if I told him I was only doing this as a means of self-preservation. “Penelope Eckhart,” Derrick said, joining in on the rebuke. Seems like I can add another name to the list of people who think I’m out of my mind. “It took a year for them to lift your ban. You’d better think carefully before you act.” “I have permission from Father to use my crossbow,” I was finally forced to reply, choosing the most effective excuse I had at my disposal. Reynold’s eyes gleamed unpleasantly. He whipped around to the duke, gaze accusatory. “Is this true, Father?” “Ahem! Hem!” I flinched as the duke glared at me, but thankfully he didn’t deny it. He simply clucked his tongue. “There is no rule that forbids a person from carrying a weapon at the party. Stop making a scene and sit.” “But, Father! She has a legit criminal record—” “Silence! Why are you so distrustful of your sister? She told me she has seen the error of her ways, so let’s give her grace. And you, Penelope,” the duke warned seriously. “If you cause another disturbance, I will not lift a finger even if you’re locked in the palace prison.” “Of course, Father! You can trust me,” I said with a giggle. Reynold seemed to have a lot he still wanted to complain about, but in the end, he kept his mouth shut and fell into the seat next to me. He wore a savage glare as he studied my derisive smile. Ha-ha! If you think this is unfair, you should get him an amulet, too! I was able to mock him to my heart’s content internally, very satisfied with the outcome of my gift to the duke. I’d been very wise to “bribe” him. I was still grinning happily to myself when I felt someone sit down to my right. “Don’t do anything stupid,” came a cold voice. I turned to find Derrick sitting next to me, speaking so low that only I could hear. “If you damage the family reputation once more, I won’t let it end with only imprisonment.” The duke sat opposite me, and with that, the Eckhart table was finally full. I had somehow ended up seated between two love interests who loathed me. Why me? I glanced between them, unpleasantly surprised by the tight spot I’d found myself in. Why do these assholes have to sit beside me? Though it would likely keep the crown prince from trying to kill me, I wasn’t happy about it at all. In addition to the crossbow at my back, in my vicinity there were forks, knives, and even the hunting rapiers that many of the men in attendance were wearing. Each of them posed a significant threat to my life. And to think I was trapped between the very people who could use any of those instruments to kill me, purposefully or not. This is not good. A foreboding feeling was beginning to creep over me when someone suddenly called out, “Announcing His Highness the crown prince!” My gut feeling had taken tangible form already. I whipped around, startled by the loud voice, and noticed the man quickly striding down a red carpet laid out through the center of the venue. [Affection: 2%] Lustrous golden hair shone against the inky night sky. The first thing I usually noticed when one of the love interests appeared was the white letters floating above their head, but the crown prince’s hair always stole my attention. I was staring blankly at his shimmering blond locks when he began to turn in my direction, perhaps feeling my gaze. Oh gosh! His red eyes were about to find me. Panicked, I ducked to hide behind the table. I could feel the brothers staring down at me oddly, but I had more pressing concerns. Please, dear game! If you’re listening, tell me he didn’t see me! I beg of you! I usually cursed the game at every opportunity, but now I was praying that it would spare me. I heard the crown prince’s voice ringing out in the distance. “As His Majesty the emperor has gone south to recuperate,” he began, “I will be hosting the hunting tournament this year.” The crown prince, Callisto, had arrived to deliver the party’s opening speech. Surprisingly, he sounded like a perfectly normal human being. I slowly returned to my seat as though nothing strange had occurred, and I saw the crown prince confidently sitting upon a raised golden throne. At the foot of the platform sat a variety of people dressed in strange outfits, no doubt the royalty who had come from other nations to attend the event. Thankfully, the prince wasn’t looking in my direction. I breathed a sigh of relief. “This year we are honored with the presence of many guests from the empire’s allied nations. I’d wager their participation will cause the competition to be fiercer than ever before. There have been many unique beasts brought from their distant lands for the hunt, so I hope you all enjoy yourselves to the fullest.” True to his character, the crown prince gave a brief, half-assed speech, then immediately made to take his leave. However, a voice calling from a table to the side of the venue prevented his escape. “Your Highness! My apologies, but I have a question.” I glared in the direction of the voice, wondering which damned idiot had dared to stop His Imperial Highness from leaving the party. “Ah, Marquis Ellen. Look who it is—it’s been a while.” House Ellen was the empress consort’s family, but even so, the crown prince should have shown a little respect to someone who was akin to his grandfather. Instead, he’d chosen a haughty tone. “What is your question?” “Wh-why is it that the empress consort and the second prince are not in attendance?” There were actually seats prepared for the Imperial family at the very top of the platform, but the only person seated there was the crown prince. A dangerous smile appeared on said man’s lips at his enemy’s foolish query. “She, just like His Majesty, seems to be ill. She did not respond to my invitation.” “Sh-she was fine when I met with her not too long ago. You mean to say she suddenly fell sick?” “I don’t know the details. Perhaps learning that I was to host the event made her sick with rage,” Callisto responded with a careless shrug. Marquis Ellen’s expression hardened. “Th-then what of the second prince…?” “My dear little brother was crying at the thought of how terribly he’d miss Father while away at the tournament, so I sent him south. If a clingy, tantrum-throwing child wants to remain with their father, who am I to deny them? Isn’t that right?” The second prince was not young enough to be referred to as a child by any stretch of the imagination. I knew instinctively that Callisto was taking his revenge for the events of the second prince’s birthday. “Ha-ha-ha! That sounds about right!” Someone laughed, loudly agreeing. The voice came from where the families that had supported the crown prince in the war and joined him in battle were seated. No matter how you looked at it, the prince was the perfect predator—verbally crushing his political foes while everyone, including the leaders of other nations, watched. I supposed a struggle for the throne would be a heated, dirty battle, but such struggles felt out of place since this was meant to be a dating simulation game. I hadn’t seen any scenes like this in the game when I’d been playing previously. It was a uniquely strange feeling, becoming one of the characters in the game and witnessing the politics of the situation unfolding for myself. I was staring blankly at Callisto when his red eyes suddenly darted to mine. Oh no. Our eyes met before I could react. I wanted to lower my gaze, but it was too late. His lips formed a twisted grin the second he recognized me. [Affection: 3%] The letters above his head blinked. Shit. The anxiety that had sat quietly simmering in the pit of my stomach now roiled, completely overwhelming me. The crown prince held eye contact for a long, agonizing moment, but he soon turned to regard Marquis Ellen once more. “I think that answers your question, Marquis.” He was warning the man in a roundabout manner to know his place. “Y-yes… Thank you, Your Highness,” said Marquis Ellen, having no choice but to bow despite how soundly he had been humiliated. I assumed the crown prince would leave then, since nothing was stopping him from doing so. Or maybe it was more accurate to say I desperately wanted him to. But the universe had it out for me. “Originally, I had planned to give the opening speech and take my leave,” he said. “But I’ve changed my mind.” His red eyes peered down at me, glittering with the excitement of finding a new toy. “I will remain until the Eve party is over.” Boxed in on either side by impossible assholes with the crown prince in front of me—I honestly wanted to cry. Having finished his speech, the crown prince descended from his throne, seemingly intending to speak to the nobles who made up his supporters. I couldn’t shake the feeling, however, that he was slowly but surely making his way to me. At the same time, the duke left to rub elbows with his fellow nobles. “Miss? Do you feel sick?” asked Emily. Maybe I’d made my distress too obvious, since she was regarding me with a worried look on her face. “I’m fine,” I said, trying to school my expression to seem unconcerned. Then I said, “Actually, Emily, would you get me some more water?” In an effort to quench my anxiety, I’d been drinking water, and my cup was now empty. I could have called for an attendant, but I was afraid of doing even that in case I attracted the crown prince’s attention. “I’ll also ask if they have any chamomile tea,” Emily whispered quietly. Chamomile had a calming effect on the mind. It seemed to me that she was taking her role as my right-hand woman very seriously based on how attentive to my needs she was being. “That would be nice,” I said, nodding with a faint smile. A minuscule warmth spread through my heart. Emily had not been gone for long when Reynold rose from his seat. “Wh-where are you going?” I asked, impulsively grabbing his sleeve. He frowned, looking down at my hand. “…To say hi to my friends.” “Must you go? Can’t you just stay with me—?” “A-are you insane?” he stammered, snatching his arm back and storming away from the table. [Affection: 22%] The rapidly retreating letters blinked above his head. Though I’d recovered the tiny drop in affection from earlier, I wasn’t at all happy about it. Now two of my shields had disappeared, and I was more nervous than ever. You’re all I have now, I thought, turning to my right with a desperate look on my face. Derrick was the only person remaining at the table. But as it turned out, he’d already been preparing to leave with someone else while I spoke with Reynold. “…and it would be nice to finish discussing that project I mentioned last time. What do you say? All the relevant parties are in attendance.” “That sounds fine.” Derrick left without a single backward glance, following the man who’d approached him. No! Don’t leave me here alone! Unlike with Reynold, I didn’t even have time to try to stop him. I was suddenly alone at my table, all my human shields gone and exposed to the risk of death. I looked around me, noticing that everyone was gathered in groups of three to five, engaged in amicable conversation. No one seemed interested in me other than the crown prince. What do I do now? I was scanning the place hopelessly when something caught my eye. There was a group of women clad in peculiar clothes, not at all similar to the dresses worn by the noble ladies of the empire. Some of them were wearing more provocative, translucent clothing, while others were covered from head to toe in dark fabric, only their eyes visible. There was also a group of women donning outfits with a distinctly Eastern look to them. These were the royals and nobles visiting from foreign countries—or more precisely, from nations conquered in the war. One of the women draped entirely in black removed something round the size of a soccer ball from a small cage. What is that? It had a smooth, opaque surface not dissimilar to a ball of bubblegum, and an enormous eye that took up half of its face. It also had no hands and only two thin legs that resembled those of a chicken. Is that one of the exotic animals people will be hunting? Though it was a strange creature I’d never seen before, I found the way it waddled about quite cute. I could see tiny canines peeking out of the strange creature’s mouth as it chirped. “Kyoo, kyoo!” “Oh my, it’s so cute!” someone exclaimed. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who thought so; I could see some of the other young nobles glancing in the creature’s direction. That was when I received a notification. <SYSTEM> ~Main Quest: Become the Queen of the Tournament!~ [First Objective: Save the People from Danger] Would you like to proceed? (Rewards: All Love Interests’ Affection +5%, Reputation +50) [YES / NO] What the hell? I was flustered to see the white system box appear from nowhere. Since I hadn’t attended the hunting tournament while playing in Normal Mode, I had no way of knowing a quest like this even existed. While I frantically tried to figure out what to do, more letters appeared in the rectangular dialogue box. <SYSTEM> As this is a Main Quest, the event will be auto-accepted in 5 seconds. <SYSTEM> 5 <SYSTEM> 4 <SYSTEM> 3 The countdown mercilessly ticked lower, and I quickly pressed [NO], since I had no more time to think about it. The window vanished immediately, leaving something worse in its place. “It’s been a while, daughter of the duke.” Red eyes met mine. Shit. I forced down the scream that begged to escape my lips, eyes darting around for some kind of exit instinctively. When did he get so close? I’d taken my eyes off him for only a moment to check the system notification, and in that time the crown prince had approached without a sound. He was leaning over the table and smiling like a predator that had cornered its prey. I could see white teeth gleaming from behind his red lips, and the sight frightened me more than any ghost ever could. All of a sudden, I was finding it hard to breathe. “G-greetings, Second Sun of the Empire,” I finally managed to say with great effort, my voice trembling. “It’s near impossible to gain an audience with you, did you know that? I heard you were running a high fever from metal poisoning. Are you feeling better now?” he asked in a mocking tone, ignoring my greeting altogether. It was true I’d been ill for a few days after he cut me. I wanted to snap back that I wasn’t feeling better at all, but I knew better than to risk my neck like that. “No doubt thanks to your well wishes…I recovered without issue,” I said, forcing myself to smile. His next words made my stomach drop. “If you’d but asked me to visit while you were ill, I’d have dropped everything and flown to your bedside. I waited with great anticipation only to be met with utter silence on your end.” “Huh? Wh-what—?” I started. What fresh load of bullshit is this? I shook my head vehemently, forcing words from my lips I neither felt nor believed. “I—I could never ask someone as busy as you to come just because I was sick. I’m really all right, Your Highness. Good as new.” “That hurts my feelings. What’s so wrong with a simple house visit between two who may one day end up as lovers?” “What?!” I felt dizzy as if I might faint. What the hell is he talking about? Abandoning my fake smile, I spoke with quivering lips. “‘Two’? Who do you mean?” “Me and you, of course,” he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. It was as though I could hear my tenuous mental stability cracking clean down the middle, almost like a thunderstorm rumbling in my ear. Unfazed, the crown prince straightened, strolled around the table, and flopped into Derrick’s seat before I could protest. My whole body tensed. Cupping his chin lazily with one hand, he gazed at me with ruby-red eyes. “You haven’t forgotten your promise already, have you?” “What do you—?” “The next time we met, you were to regale me in full detail why, how, and when you started to fall for me,” he said, repeating precisely the words he’d said as he let me go all that time ago. “I assume you’ve come well prepared?” “…” “Go on, then. I’m listening,” he said, nodding in encouragement. The letters above his glorious blond hair began to blink. [Affection: 3%] There was only 3 percent. One wrong move, and he wouldn’t even need to lift his sword—it would be game over if his affection dropped into the negatives. My mind went blank. “I…I don’t…” “No need to be shy, now. No one’s dropping any eaves on us anyway,” he said. He was right. There was no one within a meter’s radius all around us. Everyone had distanced themselves, content to watch the meeting between the Mad Dog of Eckhart and the hellion of the Imperial family from a distance. “Go on, I said,” the crown prince prompted again. “Well… You see…” I felt tears coming to my eyes as I desperately searched for something to say. I know I was afraid for my life, but why did I say something so stupid? My mind was completely blank. I’d only met him twice now, and there seemed to be not a single good thing about the crazy prince other than the fact that his hair color was so uniquely vibrant. “Hello?” the crown prince called. His voice had grown cold, since I was no doubt taking too long. “I…I’m sorry, but…” I clamped my eyes shut. Ugh, screw it! “I—I don’t like you anymore.” “What?” he asked, one of his eyebrows arching upward. I was afraid he might draw his sword at any moment. My words tumbled out of my mouth, sounding more as if I were rapping than speaking. “I came to understand that it’s only common decency to give up on unrequited love that can never be realized. I’m sorry to have bothered you with my feelings like this, Your Highness! I plan to look for someone more befitting my station, someone who is more realistic.” I wasn’t really sure what I was saying, the fear making everything a hazy mess. Somehow managing not to stammer, I murmured, “I’m sorry for what I said before. I really am…” Everyone around us must have heard. My voice had rung out loudly, as was my intention. Love is a fickle thing, isn’t it? Having a change of heart about a crush should come across as normal. Though the crown prince was unpredictable, he wouldn’t try to kill a lady for apologizing so sincerely in front of all these nobles. This game might have the least tangible grasp on reality I’d ever seen, but surely his character couldn’t be that unhinged. I was wrong, however. After mentally parsing through everything I’d said, the crown prince gave a loud, fake laugh. “So you’ve got another man, is that it?” “…I’m sorry?” “Who is the bastard?” The sound I’d been dreading most—the ringing of his blade—echoed in my ears as he shot to his feet and drew his sword. Indeed, he was the type of lunatic who would bring a long sword meant for combat to a hunting tournament. “Tell me who you whispered sweet nothings to this time, woman,” he spat, glaring at me with his ruby eyes. His sword gleamed as he pointed it in my direction. What the hell is wrong with this game? I cried inwardly. “Patience is not my strong suit. I suggest you answer me—quickly now.” “W-well, I haven’t set my eyes on anyone else yet…,” I replied reluctantly, sweating profusely. [Affection: 4%] My answer seemed to be to his liking, since his affection rose by 1 percent. But I wasn’t at all happy. Despite his score, the crown prince was still scowling at me. “Tell me… Is love such an easy and shallow thing to you?” “Yes,” I said immediately, afraid he’d find something else to criticize if I hesitated too long. “I’m rather quick to fall in love—” “It sounds like you think there exists a man in this empire who is a better catch than I.” “Uh…” It was true. In fact, I’d take anyone over you. I had a feeling that honesty wouldn’t be the best policy in this instance, though. Occupied with glancing above his head at the gauge, I was unable to speak. The crown prince clutched at his chest with great exaggeration. He did so with the hand that held his sword, no less. “How heartless you are, really. I’ve been waiting for this day, unable to sleep at night from anticipation.” The blade of the sword hovered dangerously close to his face, as if threatening to resort to extreme measures in the face of my rejection. As I stared at him as if he were a madman, I heard a familiar voice. “What are you doing?” My savior had arrived, one of the human shields who had left earlier with no pity for my plight. “B-Brother!” It was almost as if I could see a halo around Derrick as he approached. Why are you only just coming now?! I thought tearfully as I rushed to hide behind him. The prince’s red eyes watched me curiously before he seemed to finally recognize my eldest brother. “Ah, if it isn’t the young lord Derrick.” I was surprised to see that the eldest Eckhart brother seemed to be harboring some hostility for the crown prince. “I asked you what you were doing, Your Highness.” “I was having a friendly conversation with your sister.” “With your sword drawn?” “Oh, this?” The crown prince glanced at his blade and grinned. “This is nothing. You see, some flies were flitting about, perhaps because we’re close to the forest.” He swung his weapon a couple of times in the air as if he were really trying to swat a nonexistent fly before sheathing his sword once more in a single, smooth motion. From afar, he might have appeared impressive, cool even. I simply thought him crazed. “Did…Penelope disrespect you in some way?” Derrick asked in his usual cold manner, no doubt wondering at the prince’s mental state himself. “Disrespect me…,” the crown prince repeated, rubbing his chin. He suddenly clapped his hands together. “Indeed, she did. She greatly disrespected me.” “I—I didn’t—,” I very nearly shouted, but then I clamped my lips closed—I hadn’t meant to react so loudly. You’re the one who came over here and started picking on me! Derrick’s head whipped around, his cool blue eyes pinning me in place. The letters above his head glittered. Affection –1% [Affection: 25%] I hadn’t done anything to deserve a drop in affection. I shook my head urgently, looking at him with eyes that begged him to understand. N…no! I’m innocent! His warning that things “wouldn’t end with only imprisonment” seemed to ring in my ears. He sent a sharp glare at me as I fruitlessly continued to shake my head, then sighed so quietly only I heard him. “My sister isn’t entirely herself, Your Highness. She’s only recently left her sickbed, you see. I’m not sure what she’s done to offend you, but pray be generous and—” “She deceived me.” Deceived…? My jaw dropped as he continued to spew nonsense as if they were facts. “She failed to keep a promise we made, and she trampled on my heart with no remorse.” I hurriedly tried to intervene and refute the drivel pouring from his lips, but Derrick was faster. “What do you mean by that?” He was frowning in deepening displeasure. The crown prince shrugged. “Perhaps she doesn’t remember? I, on the other hand, remember precisely what she whispered to me in the maze garden—” “Y-Your Highness!” I snarled despite myself, interrupting his dramatics. The duke and my brothers didn’t know the truly stupid things I’d said to him. They simply thought I’d been attacked by the crown prince for no reason. Things have gone completely off the rails. I need to get this bastard somewhere isolated and knock him out with the crossbow! Plan in place, I spoke quickly. “It seems I may have misspoken. I need to speak to you in private. Will you come with me for a moment, and—?” I was about to drag the prince away, no longer able to bear the ludicrous accusations coming from his lips, when a piercing noise rang out. It was the cry of some sort of animal. Someone shrieked loudly, and then the venue was filled with screaming. Everyone turned to look, me included. “Wh-what is that thing?” There was a huge balloon floating in the air, probably as tall as a two-story building. It reminded me of the giant rubber duck I’d seen on Seokchon Lake back in the real world. “Kyooo! Kyooo!” cried the balloon suddenly, and I realized something. Wait a second. It was that strange creature one of the foreigners had released from its cage earlier. The gigantic monster screeched and landed, beginning to waddle about. “Kyooo! Kyooo!” “Oh god! A monster! Get out of the way!” The nearby guests shouted and began to scatter, eager to escape from underneath the creature’s giant feet. I’d thought the thing cute before, but now its enormous size and piercing shrieks made me shudder. “Please! Save me!” One of the ladies who’d been running away from the monster had tripped and fallen. “Kyooo!” The woman wailed in fear—the shadow cast by the balloon creature was slowly settling over her. “Dammit,” Derrick muttered quietly. He darted forward, unsheathing his sword and rushing the monster in an instant. He then plunged his blade into the bottom of the gigantic creature’s foot, just as it was about to fall on the woman. “Kyeeeee!” The creature’s foot was forced to a stop in midair by the iron wedged against the dirt, hovering just barely off the ground. The sword made an ominous sound, bending dangerously as if it might break at any second. Fortunately, there was more than enough time for Derrick to snatch the woman’s arm and drag her to safety. She was limp in his hold—no doubt unconscious. A resounding crack indicated the sword had been crushed underfoot. “The guards! Call the guards!” someone shouted. “Kyooo! Kyooo!” The creature seemed enraged by Derrick’s attack, and the quiet outdoor venue was thrown into chaos. “There’s the crown prince!” I heard someone shout amid the havoc, the words carrying oddly clearly. My eyes widened as I turned to find the speaker. “Kill him!” The woman dressed in black—whom I’d seen free the monster—stood among a crowd of people all pointing at the crown prince and chanting some kind of spell. The monster turned as if compelled by magic. Shit. It was heading right at me and Callisto. It’s not supposed to be this kind of game! What is a monster doing in a dating sim? I froze in place, stunned by the sudden turn of events. “Kyooo! Kyooo!” The monster, having received its new orders, stomped its feet like a bull readying itself to charge. “Your brother seems to value the life of some stranger over that of his only sister.” The crown prince stepped forward. He’d been just standing and watching until then, calm even though the monster had evidently been released for the purpose of killing him. “If it were me, I’d never leave my sister alone with someone who’d nearly killed her before, especially amid such danger.” “…” “What if I’d found our conversation just now so upsetting that I decided to throw you into the monster’s path as a distraction?” I stiffened—if he pushed me, I’d be unquestionably trampled to death. Seeing that I was speechless, the crown prince grinned. “Relax. It was a joke. I wouldn’t do such a thing while everyone was watching.” “I…” “Now then—it’s time I go reap what I sowed.” I was about to snap at him, demanding to know if he really thought it a proper time to be joking, but he drew his sword and dashed forward much like Derrick had moments earlier. “Kyooo! Kyooo!” The monster had ceased its stomping and galloped at him. The ground rumbled under the creature’s enormous footfalls, and Callisto—rushing at it with an almost impossible speed—launched himself high into the air just as he was about to collide with the creature. He drove his sword into one of its gigantic eyes. “Kyooo!” The monster screeched in pain, flailing, and the crown prince’s body was tossed about, dangling in midair like a piece of fabric. H-he’ll fall at this rate! I didn’t have to worry for long. The prince, who’d been holding on to the sword with one hand, planted his feet on the monster’s back before wrenching his blade along the creature’s spine, metal still buried in its flesh. By the time his feet touched down on the ground, the monster had ceased its writhing. “Kyooo!” The vast body of the monster collapsed into two pieces, attached only barely at the top of its head. It flopped limply to the ground, resembling a piece of bubble gum someone had chewed up and spat out. Huh? I blinked. It had all happened so fast. Having dispatched the monster in a matter of minutes with nobody’s help, the crown prince turned his ruby eyes on the clear perpetrators of the attack. “Strange,” he said. The group dressed in black, who had been controlling the monster, was gathered in a circle. Each member was holding a glowing crystal ball and stood ready to fight so that the few nobles with weapons could not divide and overwhelm them. The strategy was proving effective, as even Derrick—who had retrieved the pieces of his broken sword from nearby—hung back without approaching. The woman he’d rescued from the monster had vanished. The crown prince said as if to himself as he eyed the group, “Why is it so quiet? The guards should have arrived by now.” Those of the nobles who had taken cover a distance away began to murmur to one another. He was right. There was no way the guards had failed to notice something was wrong with all this noise, even if they hadn’t been summoned. It was very odd that none of the guards had shown up at all. If reinforcements weren’t expected any time soon, that made this the perfect time for the attackers to strike, since most of the guests did not have any weapons save for the few individuals like Derrick and the crown prince who had come armed. “Don’t be so sure of victory just yet, Callisto Regulus!” shouted one of the individuals dressed in black. The voice was husky and male. I’d assumed they were a woman based on the person’s diminutive frame, but apparently, I’d been wrong. “You will not escape with your life!” “Ah, remnants of the Holy Nation of Laila. I never thought you’d stoop so low as to disguise yourselves in Setina clothing.” Setina was a small desert kingdom far away from Eorka. It appeared the crown prince had identified them accurately, since the assailants in black seemed to flinch as if caught red-handed. I couldn’t be sure, but I guessed they were from one of the countries that had been defeated by Eorka in the war. “It can’t have been easy to get past the inspections. Who helped you?” asked the crown prince. “A monster like you must not become emperor!” the man cried, ignoring the question. The crown prince looked perplexed. “Why not?” Callisto asked, his tone suggesting he was genuinely curious as to why he couldn’t. His puzzled response triggered great fury among them. “You have caused tens of thousands of deaths with your war! Do you not fear divine punishment, you godforsaken heathen?” “Well, I don’t know about that. I’d be more concerned about my own actions if I were you. Seeing as you’re the ones who were responsible for using humans as test subjects and then feeding them to monsters, after all.” “B-bite your wicked tongue!” “Why, if I heard correctly, you even kidnapped magically inclined children recently only to subject them to horrible abuse.” “A-all done in the name of the great goddess Laila! Only when the filth who defy our god are expunged will the true emperor rise…” That phrase tickled my memory. I’d heard something similar from Winter. —“Some of the heretic sects have made the absurd claim that only when all ‘wicked’ magic users have been expunged will the true god-ordained emperor be born.” So these are the people Winter was talking about? I examined them more closely following this realization. The crown prince continued in a mocking tone, “So how are you feeling about the Ger Clan these days? You know they thanked me most enthusiastically for usurping your unwanted occupation of their country?” “H-how dare those trifling worms reject our holy nation—” “You know what, I don’t actually care to hear it,” the prince said as he raised his hand to halt the zealot’s ranting. “You’ll all die by my hand today regardless, just like that monster you brought.” With those chilling words, he drew his gigantic sword and held it level with his glinting red eyes. A chilling bloodthirsty aura emanated from the crown prince in waves. He looked ready to pounce and annihilate the group in black, just as he had the monster. He really is a war hero, huh? I’d known he was a lunatic, but it seemed he was even more dangerous and terrifying than even I’d imagined. I watched the confrontation with mixed feelings. “You’re the one who will die!” shouted the zealot. Then, with a creepy laugh, he screamed, “Look behind you!” There was an odd, fleshy ripping sound, and the person in black pointed as the frightening noise filled the air. “Wh-what the hell is that?” someone shouted. All eyes traveled to where the man was pointing. Everyone could hear that same fleshy ripping again. The monster, split in two by the crown prince save for the top portion of its head, was tearing apart the last few strands holding it together. With a final wet rip, its body—which was incredibly sticky—stretched and split into two different pieces. “Kyooo!” “Kyooo! Kyooo!” There were now two monsters instead of one. “How do you like the vitality given by a god?!” the person in black cried, snickering at the shocked disgust on the crowd’s faces. “You can cut it down all you like! It will only keep multiplying!” Someone shouted dramatically, “I-I’ve never seen a monster like that before!” Though the crowd had calmed considerably after the crown prince defeated the first creature, people once again descended into frenzied screaming and shouting. They rushed toward the single exit to the venue, but no one was able to actually leave—there seemed to be some kind of unseen barrier that didn’t allow anyone to pass through. The wall of brush that surrounded the garden was smooth and high, so few could even attempt to scale it. The two monsters began chasing the guests who were unsuccessfully trying to flee. “Kyooo! Kyooo!” “Kyooo, kyooo!” Gigantic chicken feet stomped around, destroying the soft grass under their heavy steps. The crown prince and Derrick exchanged a silent look before each charging at a different monster. Other nobles in possession of weapons joined the attack, including Reynold. It was no use, however, as every monster they defeated only multiplied. More and more people were getting hurt in the process. A woman near me screamed, “Somebody help us!” “Oh god!” another shouted. Brief respite over, the garden was a hotbed of chaos once more. What in the world is going on? I thought, staring around me in shock. I had no idea where the duke was, and the way everyone was fleeing from the monsters that chased them reminded me of a demented game of tag. I stood alone in the middle of it all, feeling very much as if none of this was real. As screams and cries filled the air, I spotted someone standing alone in the distance, just as I was. Winter? I didn’t have time to wonder how he, a sorcerer, had managed to get inside. “Please! S-save me!” A man directly next to Winter was being attacked by a monster. Why isn’t he getting out of the way? I wondered. At the same time, I noticed he had one hand shoved into the folds of his coat. I realized he was conflicted, wanting to remove the staff hidden beneath his clothing to save the people around him, but at the risk of revealing that he was a sorcerer. Why is he considering helping at all? He had nothing to gain from exposing himself in a society where sorcerers are oppressed. Not only that, but this entire incident had been masterminded by the very group who persecuted sorcerers. No matter how good a person you are, how can you take that kind of risk for strangers? I felt strange as I watched him struggling to decide, remembering the masked children I’d seen at the Guild of the White Rabbit. I didn’t want him to reveal that he was a sorcerer—I wanted him to keep it a secret until the end. However, Winter seemed to have arrived at a decision that was contrary to my wishes. His hand twitched as if he was about to draw something from his robe when a voice cried out. “Penelope!” Hearing my name, Winter glanced over, and our gazes met. His navy eyes slowly widened as he recognized me. I looked away from him, though, realizing that something was wrong. “Kyooo! Kyooo!” I turned, only to find one of the balloon monsters charging at me, the ground rumbling under its pounding footsteps. “Penelope! Run!” Reynold shouted. He was behind the monster, sprinting as fast as he could to catch up, the veins in his neck visible from the strain. Time seemed to slow down as Derrick and Callisto turned to me, faces pale as they fought other monsters, unable to help. At that moment, my vision was filled with a flash of brilliant light. <SYSTEM> ~Main Quest: Become the Queen of the Tournament!~ [First Objective: Save the People from Danger] Would you like to proceed? (Rewards: All Love Interests’ Affection +5%, Reputation +50) [YES / NO] The quest I’d refused had popped up again. “Ha!” I laughed, speechless. So this is what they mean by the illusion of choice, I thought cynically. New words appeared in my vision. <SYSTEM> As this is a Main Quest, the event will be auto-accepted in 5 seconds. <SYSTEM> 5 <SYSTEM> 4 Back when I’d played the game in the real world, the main quests had been unavoidable since they were needed for the progression of the story. Having to experience it firsthand like this, however, left me in a foul mood. If I had just been playing the game on my phone, all I’d have to do was accept the quest and I’d instantly get a notification that said, “The monsters have been defeated!” Simulation games are composed of illustrations and dialogue, so they can’t be expected to depict much in the way of action, after all. But sadly, this was no game—it was reality. Reality. “Kyooo!” I had no other choice. The monster was nearly on top of me, and the conquerable male characters were all staring at me. I managed to press the [YES] button right as the monster was bearing down on me. The moment I did so, my body moved of its own accord. My right hand grabbed the crossbow slung across my back and easily swung it up and over my shoulder at a speed I knew I wasn’t capable of moments earlier. I supported the tiller with my left hand and pulled the trigger without hesitating. The crossbow clicked as it released the string, twanging. “Kyooo!” The metal pellet buried itself in the hard foot of the creature, and the monster fell onto its back, its entire body convulsing. “Kyoo…” It fell limp, and its opaque, rubbery body suddenly liquefied and pooled like melted ice cream. “Wh-what?! What was that?!” The figures draped in black gaped, struggling to believe what had happened to their monster. They weren’t the only ones stunned and standing still—my love interests and the other guests were frozen, gawping in shock, the danger they were in completely forgotten. What the hell? Of course, I was more shocked than all of them combined. I’d been so flustered by the chaos that I’d forgotten I even had the crossbow. “Th-the duke’s daughter, she shot the…” As those around me tried to wrap their heads around what had happened, my body spun in a different direction. Of course, my movements were not my own. I easily went down on one knee and aimed the crossbow again, then fired. The click and twang of the weapon were followed by a dying screech. The monster that had been attacking the man near Winter quivered and fell. I couldn’t confirm if it melted away, too, because my body was already in motion, standing and aiming the crossbow yet again. The bowstring made a satisfying sound as I fired once more. “Kyooo!” Every shot I took was immaculate, and the monsters fell one by one, even as they still attempted to hunt their prey. I remained in the game’s iron control, moving without any conscious thought. “K-kill that girl! Quickly!” one of the zealots screamed, pointing at me. The multiplied hoard of monsters that had scattered all around the venue began converging on me. It was better this way, since when they were spread out, I had to keep pivoting to line up a shot. There was something deeply satisfying about the repeated click, twang, thump of the process. I shot like a woman possessed—before long I was killing the last two as they rushed at me, and all the monsters were dead. They hadn’t multiplied as much as I thought they had, and their enormous size made them easy targets. I huffed and gasped with exertion, finally lowering my crossbow, trying to catch my breath. My arms trembled violently. I wasn’t even able to lift the crossbow properly when I was practicing at home… Holding it up for such a prolonged period left me feeling as if my arms were about to fall off. This isn’t a quest. This is torture! I looked around, blinking tears from my eyes. An eerie silence had fallen over the garden, its occupants all staring at me uncomprehendingly, including the culprits responsible for this mess. Ha-ha. Looks like I’ll go down as the chimpanzee of the year again, I thought with a hollow laugh. Some of those nearest flinched at the sound, but then I began to hear scattered applause. Slowly, the clapping grew to a thunderous roar. “My god! Lady Penelope saved us!” someone exclaimed. “Oh my goodness! If the lady hadn’t been here…” “Thank you so much, Lady Penelope! You saved our lives!” I was astounded at the sudden outpour of loud cheering. Another window popped up in front of me then. <SYSTEM> ~Main Quest: Become the Queen of the Tournament!~ [First Objective: Save the People from Danger] Quest cleared! <SYSTEM> You have acquired [All Love Interests’ Affection +5%] and [Reputation +50] as your reward. (TOTAL POINTS: 80) The reputation I didn’t really care for or need had soared. Whoa. I wish the affection meters would go up like that. Five percent for all love interests wasn’t too bad, though, as a reward for my efforts. This meant the crown prince’s affection, the one that posed the most threat to me, was a little further away from causing my death. I’m totally wiped from being puppeteered by the system, but considering that hellride, being rewarded like this isn’t too shabby. Despite the crowd of people surrounding me, I could find my various love interests thanks to the white letters above their heads. [Affection: 27%] First was Reynold, who was closest to me because of his attempted mad dash to my rescue. [Affection: 30%], [Affection: 9%] Then there were Derrick and Callisto. [Affection: 20%] And finally, Winter. Unlike the unimportant extras, who were showering me with thanks and praise, the male protagonists were all just staring in shock and catching flies, not approaching. If I were the heroine from Normal Mode, they’d have rushed to me like men possessed. Come to think of it, none of them had tried to protect me, not even my adoptive brothers. I wasn’t all that disappointed, though. I don’t need them. [Affection: 60%] I’d already chosen which male protagonist I’d be going all-in on. Why was it that backup always only arrived when things were already basically wrapped up? I watched as the guards rushed in through the garden’s only entrance. There were three or four men wearing gold robes among the regular guards in silver armor—the palace sorcerers. They quickly moved from one partially liquefied monster to the next, confirming they were all dead. “This type of beast is weak to magical attacks and almost never used for battle…” The sorcerers were implying that the attackers had only brought this particular monster, capable of multiplying infinitely, because they knew both lethal magic items and sorcerers were prohibited in the hunting tournament. Very few nobles chose to come armed to the event—most of them were dressed elegantly, not expecting a fight. Because of the inspections before entry, guests in possession of magical weapons were even rarer. The aristocrats took pride in wielding only non-magical weapons during the yearly hunting tournament—they preferred to win using only their intuition and skill, without the aid of an enchanted weapon. This was why only my crossbow, with its shock magic, had succeeded against the creatures. The situation had worked out very conveniently for me, no doubt thanks to the game’s carefully constructed backstory. But how did Winter get in? I wondered again. Unfortunately, there was no way to know. Perhaps because they’d expended great energy in trying to control the monsters, the robed figures did not put up much of a fight. Trapped without any hope of escape, they were soon rounded up by the guards. “Let go! Let go of me! Do you not fear the wrath of the gods, you heathens?!” Curious about who was responsible for this mess, I watched from a distance. The crown prince was moving between the attackers, roughly wrenching away the cloths that covered their faces. “This isn’t over, Callisto Regulus!” Their leader, as one might expect, was an old woman. As the faces of the five remaining figures were revealed, I was shocked to see they were three bone-thin women and two young boys who looked to be only ten or so. “The gods are watching, you atrocious heathen! We will tear you limb from limb and restore our destroyed kingdom!” The old woman spat curses at the crown prince, struggling with no signs of tiring. Callisto was calm in the face of her violent threats. In fact, he waved a dismissive hand, wearing a bored expression. The old leader and the women were dragged away by the knights, leaving the two mangy children. The knights made to take them away as well, but the crown prince raised a hand. He regarded the captain of the guard. “Why were you so late?” “W-well, you see…there was a powerful magical barrier surrounding the entire venue. We summoned the sorcerers as soon as we could to try and break the spell, but it was too strong…” The man trailed off, clearly stricken with guilt. The crown prince didn’t seem too bothered, however. “It must have been the work of these two.” His frightening red eyes landed on the children. If they had been normal kids, they would have no doubt been terrified to be accused of such, but these children did not react despite the great many eyes watching them. Something was disturbing about the way their empty gazes stared into space. “Search them,” Callisto commanded, and the guards hurried to roughly frisk the children. It wasn’t long before one of the knights shouted, “I found a magic amplifier!” The knight was referring to the tiny black chips attached to the skin behind the children’s ears. Magic amplifiers… Does that mean they’re sorcerers? The palace sorcerers carefully removed the chips, and the children, who were still not resisting in any way, suddenly slumped to the ground like puppets whose strings had been cut. I flinched, surprised, but the crown prince had no mercy for even children. “Take them to the underground prison,” he ordered. “Yes, Your Highness!” The knights took the children by their collars and were about to drag them away when someone stepped in front of them. “Please, just a moment!” It was Winter, his silver hair shifting gently in the night breeze. “What is it, Marquis Verdandi?” “Your Highness. Please leave these children in my care,” Winter requested with a deep bow as he stood before the children. The crown prince tilted his head. “Why?” “They have obviously been subjected to long-term hypnosis and are incapable of thinking for themselves.” “And?” “I can reverse the brainwashing. I believe it would be beneficial to recover their memories and perhaps learn the enemy’s location rather than executing innocent victims as was the case during the kidnapping on Viscount Hail’s estate.” Winter was the picture of calm composure as he made his argument as to why he should be allowed to take the children. However, it wasn’t hard for me to see how desperate he was to save them. After all, he hadn’t hesitated to threaten me, a lady of House Eckhart, to protect the children he’d rescued from the Anti-Magic Association. “Marquis, this is much more serious than a simple kidnapping,” replied the crown prince, his voice as cutting as a knife. “These people attacked the Imperial Palace. Anyone involved will be summarily executed without exception.” “But, Your Highness, it is too cruel to punish them equally when they were recruited against their will. Pray have mercy and—” “Enough. Take them away,” Clearly not wanting to hear any more, the crown prince cut Winter off. Winter watched, openly devastated, as the children were dragged away. Why is he so determined? I found myself puzzling over his actions, unable to understand. However, I remembered the children in animal masks, and I couldn’t bring myself to look down on him for wanting to save them. The knights were making their way through the crowd, the children in tow, when I moved gracefully into their path. “I agree with Marquis Verdandi.” Everyone turned to stare when they heard my quiet voice, including Winter, the crown prince, and my two brothers. Two sets of blue eyes resting on my face seemed particularly caustic, those of a stiff Derrick and a scowling Reynold. I could feel them both silently demanding I not cause any more trouble. I ignored them and spoke. “Your Highness, please allow the marquis to take the children and cure them of the brainwashing.” “What?” the crown prince asked, his eyebrows twitching upward in surprise. I glanced at the letters shimmering above his blond head, which were starting to blink, and replied slowly, “It’s clear to me that they were abused. I don’t think they deserve the death penalty.” I gestured at the children, whose collars were still fisted in the knights’ hands. The fabric of their shirts was gaping open around their collarbones, revealing the skin around their throats covered with bruises and scars. The crowd began murmuring to one another, finally noticing the poor state of the children, and I could feel sympathy for them growing. “Ha!” laughed the crown prince coldly. His red eyes gleamed unpleasantly as if to tell me he was far from happy with my intervention. “Since when did the duke’s daughter get any say in the nation’s affairs?” “Don’t I get to say at least this much, since I’m the one who killed all the monsters?” I asked, turning to peer around the garden at the palace attendants as they struggled to remove the melted corpses littering the ruined grass. I was embarrassed to have to point it out, but we were surrounded by the evidence of my incredible deed. The crown prince’s mouth snapped shut, and he glowered at me. Of course you have nothing to say to that. His affection meter blinked precariously, so I quickly bowed and repeated my demand disguised as a request. “They’re just children. Please be merciful, Your Highness.” I wasn’t trying to help Winter necessarily, nor was I some incredibly benevolent soul. It was just that…I found it hard to watch children being taken advantage of only to end up with their lives tossed away like trash. That was why I’d intervened, though it wasn’t like me. I could feel the crown prince’s stinging glare. Finally, he spoke. “Tie them up…and place them in Marquis Verdandi’s carriage,” he ordered reluctantly. My gaze immediately darted up to check his affection and found that it hadn’t dropped from 9 percent. As relief washed over me, a white window appeared. <SYSTEM> Your standing among the people has risen. Reputation has increased +10 points. (TOTAL POINTS: 90) Though it hadn’t been my intention, my reputation had increased again. I stared in blank surprise at the message. I was woken from my daze by the words of the crown prince. “I didn’t realize you were such a bleeding heart.” His tone was one of pure sarcasm. “I had intended to reward you, but I suppose that won’t be necessary now.” He strode past me. Tsk, stingy jerk. I don’t need a reward from you anyway, I grumbled inwardly as my eyes followed his retreating figure. Suddenly, an odd feeling washed over me. [Affection: 10%] His affection had risen by 1 percent. Well, I suppose this episode is over without any dire consequences this time, at least. Though the rampaging monster had taken me by surprise, I was fairly content with the results. Not only had the crown prince’s affection risen unexpectedly, but I thought it likely that the hunting tournament would be canceled after today’s events. Please let things continue like this… And I don’t want to see one of these stupid main quests ever again. Even if another one appeared, I wasn’t going to accept any more. Aside from how uncomfortable it was to lose control of my own body, it was just too much for me to handle. After the crown prince was gone and some of the tension had left me, I found that my body ached all over. I need to lie down now. I’ll die if I don’t. Glancing around, I saw that the situation appeared to be under control. There were some injured people in the process of being carried away on stretchers, but thankfully, no one seemed to have died. I need to find Emily. I didn’t know where the cabana was, but I had no desire to deal with my two elder brothers, who had suddenly vanished from sight. Because access to the venue had been sealed off to anyone but the guards, I had to go outside to locate Emily. After recounting their versions of events to the palace guards and sorcerers, the other nobles began to trickle out through the main gate. I slung my crossbow over my shoulder and trudged along the garden path, intending to follow, when a voice called out. “Lady…Penelope.” I turned slowly when I heard someone calling my name. I wasn’t all that surprised—it was only natural given the flow of the game’s plot that one of the love interests would come to find me now. The event had begun at sunset, meaning the garden was now blanketed by the dark night sky. The monsters had destroyed most of the lanterns, but the few that remained dimly lit the face of the person who’d said my name. Despite the lack of visibility, I never had any trouble identifying love interests, even in the dark. [Affection: 20%] “Marquis,” I said. The word felt strange on my tongue, since I’d never addressed him this way before. I was pretty haughty the last time we met… Since we were no longer wearing masks, behaving that way now would be a disaster. While I was occupied with how his title sounded in my head, Winter approached me with quick, sure steps. Unlike his title, the color of his eyes was familiar to me. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart…for your help today,” he said with a polite bow. Well, I can’t say I didn’t expect this. Fairly used to the way things unfolded in Hard Mode by now, I replied offhandedly, “I didn’t interfere for your sake, Marquis. You don’t need to thank me.” The words came out smoothly, despite how awkward I felt about the whole thing. “Be that as it may… At great personal cost, you managed to save everyone, including myself.” Head still bowed, his eyes found the hands I was holding carefully at my sides. I glanced down as well, and my eyes slowly widened as I realized what he was saying—my hands were trembling intermittently without my realizing it. He’s right. I worked myself too hard. Ordinarily, my arms were not strong enough to wield a crossbow. However, I wasn’t trembling only from exertion. Though I was pretending I was unaffected, I’d been completely terrified. The shadow from the monster’s gigantic foot when it was about to squash me; the countless monsters that had converged on me; my hands moving like lightning, completely out of my control. It was enough to make me want to clamp my eyes shut against the terrible scenes replaying in my mind. Doing my best to bury my emotions, I hid my quivering hands behind my back. “I’m sure anyone would have done the same in my place. Please don’t worry about—” “No,” Winter interrupted my desperate attempt at acting as if I was okay. “There is no one here as brave as you, my lady. Even though the monster was so easy to kill…” He trailed off, frowning like a tormented man. Does he feel guilty for not revealing himself and doing something about the monsters? I couldn’t really understand why it was bothering him so much. What was wrong with being a little selfish if it was for your own safety? He’d done what he needed to do under the circumstances, just as I’d relinquished control to the system to save my own life as well as that of everybody else. “We each did the best we could in the given situation. There’s nothing more to be said, is there?” I shrugged easily. “I would have run away just like everyone else if I didn’t happen to have my crossbow on hand.” “…” “You also did your best to save the children, didn’t you? I couldn’t have spoken to the crown prince like that. He scares me.” I was amused by how perfectly true my words were. If Winter hadn’t come forward first, and I hadn’t also just killed all those monsters, I wouldn’t have dared to cross the crown prince as I did. His quiet navy eyes shimmered as he watched me laughing to myself. Then I saw a change in his affection. [Affection: 24%] The letters blinked softly above his head. Four percent. The large increase instantly returned me to my senses. He’ll abandon me as soon as he meets the heroine anyway. Nothing good will come of getting involved with him. The smile slowly faded from my lips. “…Thank you for your kind words. If you’ll excuse me,” I said, hurriedly bringing the conversation to an end. I was too tired to stand any longer. Come to think of it, Winter’s the only one who bothered to thank me for saving him. It was a shame he wasn’t a viable option, since he was the most normal of the bunch. I’d turned away with a brief bow when he spoke. “My lady.” Warm palms grasped my arm, and when I turned back in shock, Winter was watching me with an unreadable look on his face. “I received the thank-you message…you sent me.” He hesitated for a moment, then whispered so only I could hear, “May I…also repay you in kind for helping me tonight?” Before he or I could say anything else, someone shouted my name in the distance. “Penelope!” The voice was as stiff as rigor mortis. [Affection: 27%] The darkness made his affection meter easier to see than his face, but his disgruntled voice I had no trouble recognizing. “Excuse me. What are you doing with my little sister?” “Reynold,” I said. It seemed today was the department meeting for all the male love interests, and it was Reynold’s turn now. I thought he’d already left without me… When I’d tried grabbing his sleeve earlier, he had shaken me off coldly, but his timing was immaculate now. I was surprised to see the pink-haired man staring at me and Winter in turn. “Come here, Penelope,” Reynold ordered, warily eyeing Winter, who was still holding my arm. Winter didn’t let go of me, however, and Reynold’s scowl deepened. Why am I getting a sense of déjà vu? I was reminded of a similar standoff that had occurred recently at the training field. Caught between them, I glanced cautiously at both before softly shaking my arm. “Marquis…,” I started. Unlike how my other love interests held on to me, Winter wasn’t squeezing me half to death. I’d be able to free myself if I shoved him with all my strength, just as I’d done to Derrick and Eckles. But I didn’t want to go so far as pushing the only male protagonist who was actually polite to me. “Marquis?” I tried again, peering up at him with wide eyes. Still, Winter made no move to release me. “She’s telling you to let go,” Reynold said angrily. “Are your ears not working?” The ever-hot-tempered Reynold gritted his teeth. He began stomping over to pull me away, but Winter’s hand was already slipping from my arm, his grip going limp as though he’d reluctantly resigned himself to letting go. Reynold snatched me up as soon as Winter released his hold, shoving me behind him as if he were trying to hide me. Now that I was tucked safely behind him, his lips twisted into a grin and he began mocking Winter. “Look here, Marquis. From where I’m standing, it appears you’re trying your luck with an innocent, inexperienced girl. Why don’t you do some self-reflecting on your age, hmm?” My jaw dropped at his audacious rudeness, and I’d already punched him in the shoulder before I even realized I was moving. “Are you insane? It wasn’t like that!” “You be quiet! Girls shouldn’t act so brash!” Reynold shouted. I felt a wave of irritation wash over me. “If you’re going to say that kind of garbage, let go of me. I’ll leave by myself,” I said coldly, twisting my hand free. He seemed flustered and scrambled after me, shouting back at Winter, “Anyhow, stay away from her from now on! You’ve got no chance with her!” “Ugh, seriously…,” I mumbled. “All right, let’s go, darn it! You and your temper…,” Reynold grumbled, charging ahead of me as though I were the one who’d been delaying him. I should be the one saying that! The curse words I wanted to spit at him were on the tip of my tongue from having to hear him criticizing my temper, but I swallowed them back, since I could still feel a pair of eyes gazing at the back of my head. As I was practically dragged away by Reynold, I glanced behind me. Winter was standing in the same spot, watching me leave. He spoke when our eyes met. “I’ll be waiting for your reply, my lady.” He was more tenacious than I expected him to be. I slowed to a halt, looking at him with wide eyes. Reynold had also turned and shrieked, “Enough, dammit! She won’t ever be sending you a reply, so don’t—” “No, please don’t,” I said to Winter, cutting off Reynold. My brother’s terrifying tongue finally fell silent, perhaps only because I was refusing Winter. “I believe I informed the messenger that I wasn’t interested in any further replies,” I said, reminding him of what I’d said all that time ago with a smile. I hadn’t been able to smile at him when I’d been wearing the mask. His navy eyes shimmered once more. [Affection: 26%] I’d noticed this before, but it always surprised me that his affection tended to increase the more adamantly I turned him down. Reynold all but dragged me out of the venue, and before long I heard voices in the distance. “Miss!” “Penelope!” Emily and the duke, who’d been crowded nervously around the entrance, visibly brightened when they saw me and approached at a run. “Are you all right, Miss?” “You’re not hurt anywhere, are you, Penelope? Hmm?” I just stood there as they both examined me up and down, confused at the unexpected welcome. “I’m all right. And I wasn’t hurt,” I assured them. “There’s no need to worry about her. You wouldn’t be saying that if you saw her wipe out those—,” Reynold began in his usual sarcastic tone, but he shut up very quickly when the duke glared at him. The disgruntled look on his face was immensely satisfying. I turned my attention to the duke again. “You’re not hurt, are you, Father? Emily?” “Fortunately, I was outside when the attack began, since I was briefly visiting the cabana,” said the duke. “I’m okay, too! Thanks to the errand you sent me on!” Emily said. “I’m glad… And Brother?” “He went with the crown prince to interrogate the prisoners.” I didn’t actually care where he’d gone but thought it was only polite to ask. “I’m so relieved you weren’t hurt. Do you know how worried I was when I heard what was happening?” The duke certainly seemed deeply concerned, fretting over me and peering down with a distressed expression. I found the duke’s reaction quite strange and was only able to smile awkwardly in response. “Sorry to have made you worry. Things just happened so fast…” “Those bastards! How dare they!” the duke—seemingly relieved to see that I was safe and sound—suddenly exploded with rage. “I’ll set our soldiers after them as soon as we get home. I’ll capture them all and break all their bones before wiping them from the—” “Father, Father,” I called softly, cutting him off. I had a feeling that if I didn’t head him off now, he would launch into a detailed explanation of his plans to annihilate the remnants of the Holy Nation of Laila. “I’m really tired. I’d like some rest.” “Right. Of course. Let’s go, then! That crossbow must be heavy. Give it here.” Thankfully, upon hearing my request, the duke immediately began moving across the lawn. I had no intention of letting the duke carry my crossbow, however. “I’ll carry it, Miss. Please give it to me!” To my relief, Emily offered to take it when she saw my reluctance. “Thank you, Emily. It was getting so heavy, I thought my arm might fall off.” I smiled playfully, slinging the crossbow strap over my head and handing it to her. I hadn’t realized how much it was weighing me down when it was on my back, but I felt so much lighter without it. “Tsk. Penelope Eckhart, don’t get yourself mixed up in anything like this ever again,” the duke ordered, glancing over at me. “You should have hidden until the guards arrived. A young lady shouldn’t be so fearless in the face of danger! I thought I was going to faint when I heard what you did from the nobles who came out before you!” “But I did a pretty good job, Father,” I said, the duke’s disapproving nagging causing me to pout. “I learned a lot from the teacher you assigned me. Thanks to those lessons, I was able to defeat all those monsters.” The reality was that I had been helped by the game’s system, but regardless, the final outcome was the same—I was tonight’s hero. Come on, compliment me when I do a good job for once! How long until they stopped treating me like a pariah or just a troublemaker? I was unhappy with the state of things but wasn’t holding on to any hope that things might get better. It was hard to change people’s perceptions once they were set, after all. There were those who’d seen me defeating the monsters with their own eyes who still didn’t trust me. No doubt there were also many who believed the chimpanzee girl had just gotten lucky. They’re not exactly wrong to be suspicious—though it was the system that was on my side, not luck. “…Indeed,” the duke said, suddenly stopping in his tracks. “I’m very proud that you are my daughter, Penelope.” There was an unexpected smile stretched across his face. The feeling of someone patting me on the shoulder, whether as encouragement or praise, was wholly unfamiliar. I was left feeling a peculiar storm of emotions. There were a total of five separate tents pitched on the portion of the campground assigned to House Eckhart. They were huge and luxurious, all of them indicative of the house’s great wealth and influence. No matter how comfortable they attempted to be, however, the campground was only meant to be used as temporary lodgings. As it posed some uncomfortable logistics for any lady, the duke kept offering to secure a room for me in the palace if I wanted as we made our way to the tents. “I’m all right, Father,” I said. Staying in the palace was more trouble than it was worth. The hunting grounds located in the forest were pretty far from the main palace, and I’d have to travel quite the distance by carriage. I’d have preferred to just be sent home, but apparently, they were still interrogating the attackers, and the fate of the hunting tournament had yet to be decided. Please, game, please let it be canceled, I prayed earnestly—I’d already had more than my fill of the male love interests. The way the tents were set up in a circle around the campfire was reminiscent of camping sites I’d seen in the real world. Under normal circumstances, I might have lingered and had a look around, but I was feeling faint from fatigue. “Father, I’m going to go to bed now.” “Of course, rest well.” I parted ways with the duke as soon as we arrived at the campground. “This way, Miss,” Emily said. My accommodation was the one farthest from the entrance. I was about to follow Emily when I noticed Reynold also saying goodbye to the duke. Is he staying in the one next to mine? If the hunting tournament went ahead as planned, I’d end up running into him the most often—the guy who mocked me at every opportunity. I found myself praying once more, this time that such a thing wouldn’t come to pass. Reynold continued to follow me, however, even after I had arrived in front of my tent. I frowned slightly and whirled around to face him. “What do you want?” “What?” he asked. “Why do you keep following me?” “D-don’t be absurd! I’m not following you!” he began raging at me. He pointed to the accommodation next to the one assigned to me and said, “That’s mine.” My worries had been well-founded, apparently. Tutting inwardly, I replied glumly, “Good night, then.” I made to follow Emily when he called, “Hey! W-wait!” He stepped in my path, preventing me from leaving. I grimaced. “What is it this time?” “Why are you in such a hurry? I’m not trying to start a fight.” “I’m tired. If you have something to say, then say it quickly,” I snapped irritably, but uncharacteristically he seemed hesitant to say what was on his mind. What’s his problem? Even Emily noticed something odd was brewing, tactfully retreating into the tent. I turned to escape again when he remained silent. “If you have nothing to say, I’m going.” “Dammit, you’re hurt, you idiot!” Reynold exclaimed, grabbing me and pointing at my neck. “…Hurt?” I asked, puzzled. Reynold used his finger to cautiously prod at the area, so softly that I barely felt it. “Right there.” “Ow,” I said automatically, surprised. There was a slight prick of pain that I somehow hadn’t noticed before. “A-are you in pain?” I’d cried out in reflex when he’d touched the wound, and Reynold, who was clearly startled, flinched. It hadn’t really hurt that much. If the wound had been serious, I’d have probably noticed it before then. It seemed I’d gotten a little scratch while I was busy fighting the monsters. “I’m fine. It’s not that bad,” I said truthfully. Reynold, however, winced as if he were the one in pain. “Give me a moment.” He then rummaged around in his pocket and took something from it after a short search. It was a small, flat container. “What’s that?” “Ointment.” I was shocked that he had something like that in his possession. “You carry that around with you?” “I got it from the infirmary myself !” This made me pause. I realized I’d politely asked after the duke, Emily, and even Derrick, who hadn’t been present during our debrief. But I’d said nothing to Reynold. Aware of my mistake, I cautiously asked, “Were you…injured earlier?” He sighed, looking at me with deep pity as if I was beyond any hope of saving. With another heavy sigh, he said, “I went to the infirmary for you, idiot.” “I don’t need any—” “Stay still.” He opened the cap and scooped some of the sticky green gel out with his finger. It smelled nasty, and I backed away uncertainly. He followed me, grumbling grumpily, “I said stay still. It’ll get in your hair.” I froze upon hearing this, and he leaned in, rubbing the sticky ointment over the scratch on my neck. “Uh…” Reynold’s face was very close to mine, and I could feel his breath ghosting over my nose and lips. Dazed, I stood there stiffly as he applied the cold ointment. It felt odd. “Did that bastard notice you were hurt? He didn’t, did he?” he suddenly asked. After a moment’s hesitation, I replied, “The…bastard?” “That old guy.” I tried to recall how old Winter was supposed to be in the game. Twenty-five, was it? Or maybe twenty-six… Though the age gap wasn’t all that big, it was true that he was the oldest of the love interests. However, the only person who needed to worry about the age gap was the heroine, since considering how things would develop in the future, I couldn’t afford to become close with Winter, nor could I make an enemy of him. “You’re being pretty rude to the marquis,” I scolded, recalling how impolitely Reynold had behaved earlier. His handsome face contorted into a frown, inches from my own. “Rude, my ass! What’s that crossbow for anyway if you’re not gonna shoot the creeps who try to hit on you?” “He isn’t that kind of person.” “And how do you know that? Men are all the same, dummy,” he said crankily, tugging on my hair with his free hand. “Ow!” I glared at him. “The hell is wrong with you!” “Aw, are you talking back to your big bro?” I hadn’t meant to yell at him, but Reynold didn’t actually seem all that angry. He grinned playfully and straightened, the whisper of his breath vanishing from my nose. “Tell that maid of yours to put a bandage on it,” he said, gazing at my wound. He appeared to be finished treating me. Who’d have thought a day would come when we’d joke around like this? We’d been at each other’s throats not too long ago, after all. A laugh escaped me despite myself as I thought about it. “Thank you…Brother.” Though he was usually a spiteful person, he’d helped me. I could thank him with sincerity for that much at least. At that moment, Reynold’s expression suddenly went curiously blank. His cheeks flushed red as they had when he’d delivered his sudden apology on the way to the training field. “I d-don’t…,” he stammered. “…” “I—I don’t need anything from you, least of all thanks!” he hollered, whipping around and storming to his cabana. What’s his problem now? Then the space above his roughly bouncing pink hair flickered. [Affection: 31%] My eyes slowly widened in surprise. Reynold’s hopeless affection had somehow risen above Normal Mode’s base score. “What?” I exclaimed. We were having breakfast in the duke’s tent. My face twisted into an expression of surprise at the news Derrick had just delivered. He’d finished interrogating the attackers, but they had held out deep into the night. “B-but why? Why is it going ahead as planned after what happened yesterday?” “No one died, and we are hosting visitors from other nations. If the hunting tournament was to be called off, think of what it would do to the empire’s reputation,” Derrick replied bluntly. Sounds ass-backward considering we had literal freaking monsters rampaging about! I gaped, stunned. “Good. Showing hesitation in response to such a trivial matter will only give trifling individuals cause to hold us in contempt,” the duke nodded gravely. Dammit. This is a disaster in the making. I’d been expecting to return home after only a night here, not for the hunting tournament to go ahead as if nothing had happened. I chewed my lip, scrambling to think of an alternative plan. “I…don’t feel well. I don’t think I’m up to taking part in the tournament,” I said. “Of course. Yesterday was a very taxing ordeal for you.” The duke conceded immediately, much to my relief. “This is an opportunity for you to reestablish your position in high society, Penelope. It just so happens Countess Dorothea sent her maid over early this morning.” “What? Countess Dorothea?” “She requested that you attend the tea party to be held at the opening of the hunt.” As I’d never been to a private tea party after entering this world, the invitation was puzzling. The duke, however, looked very pleased for reasons unknown to me. “You’ll be bored if you just stay in your tent all day. Doll yourself up, enjoy the tea party, and socialize with other young ladies your age for once.” “She only packed hunting clothes, Father,” Reynold said in between bites of food, his words accompanied by mocking laughter. How did he know that? I didn’t feel particularly offended by his words, since they were true. I’d known how irritating it would be to wear an unwieldy dress while trudging through the forest, so I’d told Emily to pack only casual clothes and hunting outfits. As I stared at Reynold questioningly, the duke began to scold him. “All the better, then. An enterprising woman is the norm these days, you dunce! Tsk.” He also added, “This is why you’re so unpopular with the ladies.” “What do you mean I’m unpopular?!” Reynold replied quickly, but the duke had already turned away from him to regard me instead. I relished the sight of him sitting there, fuming and unable to talk back. “Who knows? Maybe one of these louts will have been taken with your bravery last night and offer you their game—you may end up the queen of the hunt yet.” “Father, that’s enough,” Derrick, who had been eating silently until then, finally said with a sigh. His blue eyes ghosted over me for only a moment. “If you start bragging about such an improbable outcome, it will only lead to people gossiping about you even worse than before. People are finally starting to notice how much better behaved she seems these days.” “Ahem…” The duke cleared his throat and resumed his meal. Apparently, he couldn’t refute his son’s statement. I was stupefied that he’d come at my throat mid-meal when I hadn’t said or done anything to invite such a dressing-down. In fact, Derrick’s words offended me more than Reynold’s constant nitpicking. Improbable? I have no desire to be the queen of the hunt anyway! I glared at him indignantly, but Derrick didn’t look at me. You bastard! You’re out. Out, I tell you! Clenching my trembling fists under the table, I vowed I’d have my revenge. “Miss, are you sure it’s okay to go out dressed like that?” Emily said, looking over my outfit with an unsatisfied expression. “What does it matter? It’s a hunting tournament. Even if I’m not participating, I can still look the part.” “Yes, but…” The look on her face told me she had a lot she wanted to say to that. I checked my reflection in the mirror again. I’d worn this outfit whenever I practiced with the crossbow: hunting clothes and a ponytail. Dark pink hair fell down my back in waves—it suited my new dark-gray jacket embroidered with the Eckhart coat of arms in gold, and the shorts that went with it, nicely. I look just fine. I swung the crossbow I’d already loaded with metal pellets over my shoulder. “Why are you taking the crossbow with you, Miss? You said you weren’t feeling well…,” Emily said nervously. I got the feeling she was trying to dissuade me from bringing it. “I heard there’s a hunting area with only small animals intended for women and children. I’m going to check it out later.” “You’re going to go hunting?” “I’ll get bored out of my mind just sitting around at the tea party,” I said glibly. At the same time, I remembered the promise I’d made to a certain someone I’d left at home. It would be embarrassing if I didn’t manage to kill a single rabbit after I was so confident. I recalled the soft laughter that had escaped his lips and the way his eyes had danced with amusement. You think you can laugh at me? Just you wait. Your mistress will hunt something that’ll make you a nice little scarf, I thought resolutely. Suddenly, I heard Reynold’s voice calling from outside the tent. “Hey, how much longer are you going to take?” I hurriedly shoved a cloth package of crossbow pellets and a velvet box into my pocket. “See you, Emily.” The Eckhart family men were ready and waiting when I stepped outside my lodging. “What took you so long?” Reynold demanded angrily. Whoa. Most of the time I didn’t pay Reynold any mind, but I found myself scanning him from head to toe. He looked very handsome in his dark-brown outfit, as did Derrick in his elegant black one. As expected from a pair of love interests, they were both tall and attractive, and the striking hunting clothes only accentuated their good looks—so much so that I momentarily forgot about their terrible personalities and just enjoyed the eye candy. This would be much more enjoyable if I were in the real world just playing the game. That the game had been made a reality for me left a bitter taste in my mouth. “I told you to wear something pretty. And why are you bringing that damn crossbow again?” the duke said with a frown when he saw the weapon. He also didn’t seem to approve of what I was wearing. “I’m not entertaining any improbable outcomes, like a certain someone advised,” I said with a sidelong glance at the person who’d said those words. Derrick didn’t even blink, but the duke cleared his throat as if he were the guilty party. “Hem! I thought you said you weren’t going to be doing any hunting. You said you weren’t feeling well.” “Since I’m here, I thought I’d try my hand with the small animals, at least.” The duke flinched, then suddenly bent his head close to mine and whispered so that his sons couldn’t hear what he was saying. “You remember what I told you, right?” “What?” “If you want to shoot someone, get them alone first.” “Oh…” I remembered the conversation I’d had with the duke when he gave the crossbow to me, and why he’d replaced the bolts with magical pellets instead. “You understand what I’m saying? Hmm?” he said, demanding a verbal response. His nervous blue eyes were filled with wariness. I’d seen a similar look on Emily’s face just moments ago when I had picked the crossbow up. I grinned at him. “Of course.” When we arrived at the entrance to the forest, where the opening ceremony was to be held, many nobles were already gathered. “We’ll go check on the horses,” the duke informed me, before disappearing into the crowd with his sons. I skirted around those busily preparing for the hunt and moved to the group no doubt waiting to see the participants off. Most of the people sitting in the shade of a canopy were women. The moment I appeared, the quiet dissolved into furious murmuring. I could feel more and more eyes boring into me, but I was more than used to it by now. Villains get this kind of attention wherever they go. However, I soon realized it wasn’t simply curiosity or contempt that had people whispering about me. Glancing around, I realized why Emily had seemed so displeased earlier. I’m the only one wearing a hunting outfit. I was standing in a sea of fancy dresses. Be it other ladies my age or high-ranking noblewomen, everyone present seemed to be in a competition over who could wear the puffiest dress. They reminded me of peacocks trying to fluff up their feathers. They were all clutching fans or parasols, not weapons. Since I was the only one wearing hunting clothes, with an imposing crossbow on my back, it wasn’t surprising that I stood out. My confidence wavered. I thought the hunt wasn’t a gendered event! Why was I the only one wearing this style of clothing, sticking out like a sore thumb? I began to regret not listening to Emily. No. They can’t move around as comfortably as I can, I thought, trying to find the silver lining in this situation. “If you are ready, please make your way to the center!” someone shouted from the podium. It was time for the hunt to begin. The nobles who’d finished inspecting their equipment began to gather, and it didn’t take me long to find the duke. Apparently, rank was reflected in even something so insignificant as where one stood in line; he was at the very front. He sat atop an impressive-looking horse clad in imposing, ornate magical armor, as one might expect from him as the head of his household. He was occupied with talking to someone next to him. His sons hadn’t arrived yet, it seemed. “Huh?” My eyes traveled over to the person positioned next to the duke as I searched for Derrick and Reynold—and they widened in surprise when I registered who it was. “Oh my! Look! It’s the marquis!” someone said. “He didn’t participate last year, but it seems he will this year. He’s carrying a bow! Doesn’t he look so cool?” I could hear excited whispering all around me. The man the duke was speaking to was none other than Winter. “Your Grace, it’s good to finally see you again.” “Ah, Marquis Verdandi. Nice to see you,” the duke replied, pleased to see Winter as he guided his horse closer. “You haven’t taken part in a hunting tournament for about a year now, yes? You should come more often. I’m worried I might start to forget your face.” “Ha-ha. Hunting just isn’t really my forte, I’m afraid.” “You can improve at anything with enough practice.” The duke liked the young marquis—he was polite and well-mannered. Though his father had passed away early, forcing him to become the head of his house, he was more than capable of the role despite his age. If only he had a woman by his side. Then he would be perfectly positioned… Many nobles dismissed the young marquis as a child since he was yet to be married. The duke, who had been dear friends with the previous marquis, was worried that the younger man still had not found someone even after several years had passed. “Have you received any gifts from the ladies?” the duke asked. “I’m empty-handed, unfortunately. I chalk it up to this being my first outing in some time,” Winter replied with an awkward laugh. The maidens who had arrived in droves at the marquis’s campground that morning would have had a thing or two to say about this reply. The duke, not knowing that Winter had refused every gift offered to him, tutted sadly. “Tsk. You’re just like my sons. You should be thinking about getting married and starting a family.” “You must have received a good-luck gift for the hunting tournament, then, Your Grace,” Winter said, glancing at the left side of the duke’s jacket. “I noticed the amulet you’re wearing even at a distance. It seems to be the work of a fine craftsman.” “Ahem! Y-you think so?” Winter had been astute to mention it, it seemed, for the duke’s face turned red with a pleased flush. He puffed out his chest so that the amulet could be seen more easily. “My sons didn’t even notice—perhaps they need their vision checked. You’ve got quite the sharp eye.” “You’re too kind, Your Grace. It’s a fitting accessory considering your dignified station. I’m sure many others have taken note of it as well.” “Ha-ha! And quite the silver tongue, too!” the duke replied with false modesty and a big smile. “Hmm. My little girl really does have good taste.” Winter’s hands tightened on the reins, though the movement was too slight to catch anyone’s notice. “It was a gift…from your daughter?” “Yes, well, I did tell her I didn’t need any additional protection, but she insisted. Who in the empire of Eorka would dare attack me, after all? It was very expensive and imbued with a teleportation spell, of all things!” It was hard to tell if the duke was bragging or angry based on his tone, but he certainly seemed eager to emphasize how pricey and valuable the token was. The nobles around him began to shoot glances at the duke and the amulet upon hearing his overly loud voice. “Your daughter has a good eye,” Winter said, his face a mask stretched into a polite smile. “It’s a meaningful gift. You can tell she put a lot of thought into it.” “Indeed? You think so as well?” The middle-aged duke’s face split into an even wider grin, which contrasted with his supposedly angry outburst only moments ago. “Of course,” Winter said, knowing precisely what the duke wanted to hear. The duke, smiling contently since he’d successfully bragged about his daughter’s gift, turned his eyes on the marquis to return the compliment. He noticed something bright glinting from Winter’s wrists. “Your cuff links are quite nice, too. The color suits you very well.” His cuffs were decorated with lapis lazuli, which was exactly the color of Winter’s eyes. It was Winter’s turn to visibly brighten. “Do you think so? They were a gift as well, as a matter of fact. I’m happy you noticed them.” “I thought you said you hadn’t received any gifts. Have you started seeing someone?” the duke asked, surprised. Then he grinned. “Which house is this lady from? Come now, out with it. Your father would be so pleased!” “It’s…not that sort of relationship,” Winter replied somewhat mysteriously. It was true, but the duke didn’t seem to believe him at all. “Absurd! You wore them here of all places, which must mean she’s someone special to you. Come, give me a hint as to who it is.” The duke’s eyes glittered with curiosity like a young lady who had just discovered a juicy piece of gossip. He appeared to have no idea that it was his daughter who had gifted them. Winter was wondering how he might avoid answering when he suddenly felt eyes on his face. A great many people were watching him—young ladies peering at him dreamily, and many nobles who were curious about what the empire’s only duke was up to—but strangely enough, the girl with the dark-pink hair and turquoise eyes stood out among the crowd. Their gazes locked the moment he looked up. “…She rarely smiles,” Winter found himself saying. “Hmm? Rarely smiles, you say?” “She likes to keep her distance and always refuses me.” Winter realized after he spoke just how correct that statement was. Perhaps I made a bad impression on her at our second meeting…, Winter thought, recalling how it had ended. —“…I’m not sure about that. What reason would we have to cross paths again?” Her voice had been cold as she denied that they had any chance of meeting again. However, she had no way of knowing that he was the sorcerer wearing the rabbit mask. —“No, please don’t.” —“I believe I informed the messenger that I wasn’t interested in any further replies.” Which begged the question: Why had she been so distant yesterday when he was meeting her as the marquis? People generally took a liking to him very easily thanks to his unfailingly good manners. Younger ladies in particular would blush and smile when he paid them the slightest attention. And that didn’t change much even when he wore the rabbit mask. But that young lady… Winter somewhat belatedly realized that Penelope’s attitude had been on his mind for a while. She has never smiled at me. The duke’s daughter, who was mired in countless rumors, was much colder, sharper, and more beautiful than said rumors could ever capture. “And so…” Her face was just as indifferent as ever, and a faint smile came to his face. “…I guess that’s why the fleeting half smiles I sometimes catch are all the more precious to me.” My gaze only flitted across Winter’s face momentarily. [Affection: 32%] Seeing his affection meter go up for no discernable reason, my jaw nearly dropped. I blinked repeatedly, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me, but it remained unchanged. Huh? Six percent for just making eye contact? This wasn’t Normal Mode, so there was no way this damned game would be so generous with giving out affection. I stared at the duke and Winter, perplexed. The duke, who had been listening carefully to Winter as he spoke, suddenly grinned and slapped Winter on the shoulder. “You…fell hard!” he hollered, though the noisy surroundings made it impossible to hear exactly what he had said. Fell hard? What are those two talking about? Winter gave a mysterious smile in response. I was still puzzling over the strange boost in his affection when someone exclaimed, “Oh my! Look! It’s Young Lord Derrick Eckhart and his brother!” One of the women nearby was pointing somewhere behind me. I found myself turning to look and discovered the brothers approaching their father. Ha! I guess a male protagonist is given that role for a reason —they gotta have the looks to match… Riding a white horse and a black horse respectively, they were more imposing and confident than any other noble in attendance. A sigh escaped my lips. “My god! He is so dashing!” exclaimed one voice. “Do you think Young Lord Derrick will accept my embroidered handkerchief ?” asked another. “I brought a protection bracelet for Lord Reynold!” The ladies around me squealed as they gazed at the brothers. Approaching the men cautiously, the girls fluttered with the excitement that is universal to young women when it comes to their crushes. I looked around and noted that this must be considered the correct time for giving gifts. Many of the women were hurrying forward, most of them flocking to Derrick or Reynold. I wonder if they’ll still call them dashing after they learn about their god-awful tempers, I thought, laughing coldly to myself. Then I began rummaging in my pocket, remembering the little velvet box I’d brought with me. I stared down at it, falling into deep thought. Who should I give this to? I’d bought a total of three amulets from the weapons trader: One for Emily, one for the duke, and one extra just in case I needed it. If I didn’t have to participate in the hunting tournament, I had intended to give it to Eckles, and in the case that I did have to, I had wanted to use it as protection for myself. I was beginning to think it would be wise to go for one of the other love interests, though. As I tried to figure out who to present it to, I immediately excluded Derrick for all the nasty things he’d said that morning. I was a little touched by the ointment yesterday, so I should probably just give it to Reynold… But seeing Winter next to the duke made me hesitate. [Affection: 32%] and [Affection: 31%]—there was only a 1 percent difference in their affections. If I gave the gift to Winter, my plan to avoid getting involved with him would immediately go down the drain. Should I risk positioning him as my backup plan, or just go with Reynold and endure his no doubt endless mockery? At that moment, I was pulled roughly from my contemplation. “Is that for me?” Like a bird catching its prey, a hand shot out and snatched the velvet box from me. “What—?” Shocked, I turned to find my assailant. Golden hair shone under the noon sun. “Ooh, an amulet.” Far from being a viable candidate, the last man on earth I would have considered giving the amulet to was opening the box that wasn’t meant for him. “You must have chosen it to match my hair color,” said the crown prince, examining the golden amulet I’d picked that was imbued with a defensive spell. What the hell is he going on about? I gaped at him for a moment, then my face twisted into a scowl. “Give that back, please,” I said, reaching for the box. He suddenly raised it above his head, holding it high enough that I could barely reach it. Dammit, you asshole! Enraged, I stood on the very tips of my toes and jumped to try to grab it, but he only held it higher when I almost succeeded. I grunted and tried a few more times to snatch it, but he was just too tall—I found myself just jumping up and down with nothing to show for it. “Like a child playing a game.” His laughter came from above me, very close, and tickled my forehead. When I stopped and looked up at him, I noticed that his eyes were full of mirth and he was smirking. I flushed and asked, “What do you think you’re doing?” “It’s mine, isn’t it? No need to play hard to get.” No! It! Isn’t! I wanted to shout at him, but I had no choice but to restrain myself. [Affection: 10%] That 10 percent had been hard-earned after enduring the events of the game’s predetermined storyline, and it was an affection that didn’t guarantee I was safe from being killed just yet. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this…,” I said, gritting my teeth and smiling only through great effort. “But that gift wasn’t meant for you.” “Which bastard did you intend it for, then?” “…Pardon?” “Tell me who it is. I’ll give it to him myself,” he said, glaring around him with his creepy red eyes. I didn’t know if it was just a habit, but his hand went to the sword at his waist, and I got the impression that if I told him someone’s name, he would use it—either on me or the person I named. Come on… He wasn’t this insane in Normal Mode. I bit back a sigh. “It’s meant for my second brother, Reynold.” Sorry about this, Reynold, I apologized inwardly as I threw him under the bus, thinking that he stood a better chance than someone like Winter, who was unrelated to me. Hearing that I’d intended to give the amulet to a member of my family seemed to mollify the crown prince somewhat since he didn’t actually draw his sword. “Well, it seems to me, sadly, that your brother is rather preoccupied at the moment and couldn’t care less about your gift,” he said tauntingly, glancing over at Reynold. I turned, wondering what he meant, and immediately frowned at what I found. Reynold and Derrick were being practically swarmed by ladies approaching them to offer gifts. “Look, Father! Who are you calling unpopular?” Reynold shouted excitedly, finally able to mount a comeback against the criticism he’d received that morning from the duke. The crown prince was right. I wasn’t sure I would be able to wade through the crowd of women to actually give the gift to Reynold. And I don’t really want to go through all that effort for him, either… But by no stretch of the imagination did that mean I wanted to give it to the man in front of me. “I’m sure you have plenty of other people eager to give you gifts, don’t you?” “I like this one,” he said as he fished the amulet out of the box and pinned it to his chest. “Let’s say it’s a token of affection for the man you once loved deeply.” “A t-token of affection?” I repeated, gaping at him. “I just told you it was for my brother.” “Or perhaps think of it as a tribute owed to the crown prince, from my loyal subject,” he threatened, red eyes gleaming. If I didn’t offer it as a gift, he intended to take it as tribute. “Ha! Well, do as you wish, then.” What could I really do to stop him if he wanted the amulet that badly? I hadn’t decided who I wanted to give it to anyway, and technically speaking, the crown prince was one of the love interests. Eyeing the amulet pinned to the crown prince’s chest, I muttered hollowly, “It…looks good on you.” The compliment was forced, and I didn’t mean a word of it. However, the crown prince grinned as if he was pleased to hear it. “You think so?” [Affection: 12%] Well, that could have turned out worse, I suppose. His affection had risen by 2 percent. Just then, a loud horn sounded from the platform, signaling that the hunt was about to begin. The crown prince jumped easily onto his chestnut horse before staring down at me with his usual arrogant airs. “In return for your gift, I’ll make sure to personally snare a beast worthy of the daughter of the duke.” “Huh? N-no! You don’t need to—” “Look forward to it.” Before I could refuse him, he steered his horse to the duke and my two brothers. If you wanted to give me a gift, you could try staying away from me… As I was thinking of the words I desperately wanted to say, the crown prince greeted the duke in a loud voice. “Hello there, Duke Eckhart.” Suddenly, tension fell over the participants waiting for the hunt to begin. Thanks to the abrupt quiet, this time I could hear the conversation clearly. “Greetings, Second Sun of the Empire,” the duke said with a bow. Callisto seemed to study the duke closely for a moment, before saying with an overly pleasant smile, “It seems you and I both received the same gift from the lady.” “I’m sorry?” “Come to think of it, I wasn’t able to ask her what my amulet was enchanted with. What spell is yours imbued with, Duke Eckhart?” That lunatic! Shut your mouth! My jaw was hanging open. At the prince’s casual words, the duke, Derrick, and Reynold all turned to look at me. Then it happened. Affection –1% [Affection: 29%] Affection –1% [Affection: 30%] Derrick’s and Reynold’s affection meters, which had been at 30 percent and 31 percent respectively, dropped one after the other. If the duke had had an affection gauge as well, no doubt his score would have also decreased. I trembled with rage as I glared at the crown prince. He must have felt my furious glower, since he turned and shamelessly waved at me. I seriously contemplated giving him the finger. Unfortunately, the horn indicating the beginning of the hunt sounded once more before I could put my thoughts into action. “Hyah!” “Yah!” The nobles galloped toward the forest entrance, and the steady rumble of horse hooves against dirt drowned out any other sounds. When the dust finally settled, the clearing was completely empty. I didn’t get a word in with anyone but the crown prince… Though I’d set my mind on avoiding the male protagonists, I hadn’t intended for their affections to suffer. I was staring in the direction my love interests had disappeared, filled with a mysterious sense of regret, when a voice called my name. “Lady Penelope Eckhart?” A woman I’d never seen before was giving me an elegant smile. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come. I’m so happy you did.” “Ah…” I immediately realized who this was and wondered what to say in response. Though I was of a higher rank than her, she looked older than me. In addition, there was an unspoken custom in the empire to regard those who were married as of a higher station than those who weren’t. “Hello, Countess Dorothea,” I finally said in a courteous tone, bowing slightly. The real Penelope would have said something arrogant like “Who the hell are you?” or “You should be honored I came.” —“This is an opportunity for you to reestablish your position in high society, Penelope.” But I recalled the expectation the duke had looked at me with over breakfast. “Thank you for inviting me. I’m looking forward to spending a pleasant afternoon with you and the other ladies,” I said politely. I hadn’t really wanted to accept any invitations, but since I’d run into the host, it was hard to refuse. She seemed a little surprised by my greeting, perhaps finding me less insane than the rumors about the “Mad Dog of House Eckhart” had suggested. She pulled herself together, though, and gave me a peculiar smile. “The tea party began at noon, actually. We’ve already gathered. Would you like to join me?” Countess Dorothea said, turning and beginning to lead me away. I considered her mysterious smile as I followed. Something doesn’t feel right… But then again, it wasn’t as if there would be any male protagonists a hair trigger away from murdering me in attendance. How could anything bad happen among noble ladies drinking tea? If things turn out boring, I’ll just find an excuse and make my escape, I thought offhandedly. As was always the case in the game, the tea party wasn’t at all what I expected it to be. Next to the broad clearing at the entrance of the forest where the hunting tournament was being held, there was a second, smaller clearing. It looked as if it had been designed to give the women somewhere to socialize amid greenery while they waited for the tournament to end. As the countess had informed me, the long table decorated with flowers at the center was already mostly filled. “Everyone!” called the hostess, clapping her hands together once sharply. “Can I have your attention? Look who I brought with me!” “Oh my.” “So she came.” The women each exclaimed softly as I followed behind Countess Dorothea, though it was hard to tell if they were reacting positively or not since many of them spoke from behind fans. You don’t need to censor yourself on my behalf. I didn’t recognize any of them. The tea party consisted of a wide variety of guests of all ages. I was puzzled to find that most of them were accompanied by a maid, unlike me, as I’d left Emily behind. I only needed a brief glance to see that none of them were wearing hunting clothes like I was. Though I’d noticed it earlier, it was a reminder that I alone stood out because of my outfit. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. Should I have brought Emily with me? Nobody said anything about coming with my maid. I was starting to regret not bringing her and was afraid that the ladies would judge me as rude for not recognizing any of them. I decided to refrain from speaking as much as I could. “Thank you for having me,” I said, bowing only slightly so as not to appear too docile. I felt many eyes on me, all filled with strange emotions I couldn’t put my finger on—their expressions reminded me of the odd look I’d seen on Countess Dorothea’s face when I’d greeted her. “Now, please have a seat over here, Lady Penelope.” Thankfully, she didn’t childishly leave me to stand there but instead quickly suggested I take the seat right next to her own. It also just so happened to be the seat that would put me at the center of everyone’s attention, which was unexpected given Penelope’s terrible reputation. “Pour her some tea,” Countess Dorothea instructed the maid standing behind her. A steaming yellow tea was poured into the cup in front of me. “This is a rare tea my husband brought back from his diplomatic mission to Setina. Please try some.” The countess had suggested it softly, so I politely picked up my cup. I’d shown so little interest in attending these kinds of social events that the duke had chided me, encouraging me to spend more time with my peers. Now that I found myself sitting at a tea party, I felt both awkward and a little… Dammit, I’m a bit nervous. I sniffed the tea carefully and pretended to take a sip, before placing the cup back down carefully. “It smells lovely, Countess.” In actuality, it didn’t smell very good at all. Perhaps because it was from a country unfamiliar to me, there was a faint aroma to the tea that didn’t agree with my stomach. I knew, however, that saying so out loud probably wasn’t appropriate in my current company. “Is that so? I’m so glad to hear you say that! I’m sure you all agree?” said Countess Dorothea, laughing loudly and turning to the rest of the ladies. “Of course.” “That’s great to hear.” Some of the women replied with their fans fluttering over their lips once again. I internally breathed a sigh of relief, glad that I’d successfully maneuvered the social niceties thus far. Someone called out to me then. “Lady Penelope! I heard you were incredible last night at the party!” It was the young lady seated opposite me who had spoken, perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old, her chair tucked in close to the table so she could peer at me more closely with great eagerness. She looked very young, her large eyes shining with curiosity. “Oh. Well, I wouldn’t go that far…” I smiled and waved my hands around awkwardly as if to deny any spectacular heroics on my part. Modesty is a noble virtue, I thought, somewhat pleased with myself. The young lady seemed enamored by my blasé response since she blushed and continued excitedly, “Stories were spreading all over the palace about you yesterday!” “Oh, is that so?” She suddenly pouted and said, “Yes. I had to retire to my tent early because I wasn’t feeling well, and I missed it all…” “Wait, Miss Alice. You mean to tell me you missed that delightful scene?” someone questioned in a surprised tone before I could respond. I glanced over in an attempt to find the owner of the voice, but it seemed to be one of the many ladies hiding their faces behind a fan. I turned away, uninterested. So her name is Miss Alice…, I thought, committing to memory the name of the lady who’d taken an interest in me. I wanted to memorize her name to avoid making a fool of myself later, but I also had every intention of making some friends among the other ladies as the duke had suggested. The women seated at the table began to chat about my deeds from the day before. “Lady Penelope shoots so well! It was truly a wonder to watch her defeat the beasts so quickly,” one lady said. “Really? I wish I could have been there…” “Of course. Miss Alice, you may very well regret not being there yesterday for the rest of your life.” “But, Lady Penelope, how was it that you were able to improve so quickly in such a short period?” Most of the ladies speaking were older than me, and they were starting to adopt a slightly condescending tone, though I was of a higher rank than them all. I noticed it right away but didn’t bother calling them out on it. That kind of social back-and-forth was only human nature. Besides, my reputation is in tatters—this isn’t all that bad, all things considered. There was no need to ruin the relaxed mood of the tea party by getting worked up about something that didn’t really matter. Instead, I reacted with polite laughter. “Anyone can improve very quickly if they practice hard and have a good teacher.” “My goodness… I wonder who you were planning to shoot this time that motivated you to practice so diligently?” muttered the woman seated diagonally across from me, covering her mouth with her gloved hand. Her tone was mocking, and her voice was surprisingly loud. “I’m…sorry?” I stared at her, wondering if I’d misheard. She seemed to be about my age, and the blue of her hair wasn’t easily forgotten. Her eyelashes blinked at me prettily, as if in greeting, as we made eye contact. Huh? She looked so gentle and sweet that it was hard to believe such a jab had come from her lips. “Ha. Miss Kellen, were you there to witness Lady Penelope’s performance yesterday?” asked the host, effortlessly initiating conversation once more amid the sudden awkward silence. A sense of déjà vu washed over me. Miss Kellen? I’ve heard that name before… The blue-haired woman beamed. “Of course, Countess.” “What was it like? Please share the details!” Miss Alice begged, bouncing in her chair. Even though I was the topic of conversation, I had the feeling I was rapidly losing control of the situation. Nobody else seemed to think anything was strange, though, as they waited eagerly for Miss Kellen to speak. “Actually, I felt very safe since Lady Penelope was there with her crossbow,” Miss Kellen said. “Safe? How so?” “Oh, come to think of it, you’ve been praising her skill with the crossbow since last year, Miss Kellen.” The other ladies chimed in. She’s been praising my skills? That can’t be right… I tilted my head, confused by her absurd claim. Something occurred to me. Wait a second. I suddenly remembered who the blue-haired lady was. I’d forgotten about her altogether since I hadn’t actually been responsible for the incident the previous year, and I had assumed I would never cross paths with her. She’s the girl from last year! She was the lady who’d become the queen of the hunt after Penelope threw a fit and aimed a crossbow at her. I’m screwed. A chill traveled down my spine, and I had a feeling this tea party wasn’t going to turn out too well for Penelope—and, therefore, me. “I was reminded of her behavior during last year’s hunting tournament,” Miss Kellen continued while I worked through the stormy emotions that this turn of events had summoned. “She aimed her crossbow right at me and told me she was trying to kill a mosquito that was flying near me.” “Good heavens!” The women seated around the table began throwing sidelong glances my way as they exclaimed dramatically. “You mean that rumor was actually true?” Countess Dorothea asked, making a huge fuss. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly comment on any rumors floating about, but Lady Penelope here didn’t aim her weapon at me for an undignified or irrational reason, I’m sure. Please don’t misunderstand. She was only attempting to do me a kindness by offering to kill that pesky mosquito.” She grinned cheekily at me, and I realized what a hateful creature this girl was. Hey. If you wanted me to curse you out, all you had to do was ask. She was very talented at twisting words, insulting me to my face under the guise of casual conversation. I was beginning to grow angry, even if I wasn’t the one whose actions she was making a mockery of. No wonder Penelope had wanted to shoot her. “I felt so bad for Lady Penelope because of all the rumors that went around after last year, but I’m so relieved I’m able to clear everything up now.” Apparently, she wasn’t done with me yet. She peered over and continued slyly, “Yesterday she was against a monster as big as a house, not some tiny mosquito. Of course, I wasn’t worried that she might accidentally hit someone. She’s not blind, after all.” In other words, she was suggesting it would have been pathetic if I couldn’t shoot a monster that big at close range. Why were my terrible gut feelings always correct? I now knew why the countess had been so eager to invite me to this little gathering. No wonder I felt like there was something odd about their smiles… With the blue-haired lady in the lead, the women had lured me in and sprung their trap—now it was time for them to bare their venomous stingers at me, their freshly caught prey. “I took some archery lessons myself, back in the day. Maybe I should practice using targets as big as monsters next time, just like you, Lady Penelope.” “Come to think of it, Lady Penelope’s little hunting getup today really suits her well, don’t you think?” Now they were even attacking my clothes. “Thank you,” I said, ignoring the way everyone’s eyes were now scanning me up and down. Someone snorted, which triggered a round of snide laughter coming from all directions. Ugh. These gossipmongers… It was annoying to listen to their thinly veiled insults, but it was bearable since they weren’t mocking me for anything I’d actually done. There was little I could do about the past actions of the person previously occupying this body. And if I cause a scene and the duke or Derrick hears about it… If that were to happen, this might evolve into a life-and-death issue. I also felt a little apologetic toward the duke, who’d looked far more excited than I had felt when he told me about the tea party. I planned to stay only as long as I needed to avoid appearing rude and then take my leave. The blue-haired lady seemed to grow impatient the longer I failed to react to her taunts. She made another attempt: “You look like you’re planning to take on some more monsters!” “Huh? Wait a second. Is that crossbow the same one you used to defeat all those creatures yesterday?” Miss Alice asked, pointing at the crossbow slung across my back. Even this felt rude, perhaps because I now knew the true purpose of this tea party. “Yes,” I replied soullessly. I’d already given up on maintaining a polite smile for appearances’ sake. “Oh my, that’s fantastic!” said Countess Dorothea, clapping her hands together. “Lady Penelope, you have no idea how disappointed Miss Alice was to have missed your amazing performance yesterday. Since you have your crossbow, couldn’t you please give us a short demonstration of your skill?” “You’ve even dressed appropriately for it, so it must be okay!” Miss Kellen chimed in, her voice saccharine sweet. “I actually received an enormous stuffed bear for my birthday. I brought it with me to show everyone at the tea party today. I think it would serve well as a target!” “Oh my, Miss Kellen! Isn’t it important to you? What if it gets damaged?” the countess replied with false concern. “It’s much smaller than yesterday’s beasts. She probably won’t even be able to hit it,” Miss Kellen replied. “Hee-hee, you’re right. That might very well be the case.” The ladies waved their fans furiously and burst into obnoxious laughter. “Bring me the things I prepared earlier,” Miss Kellen said to a maid without bothering to ask my opinion. “Yes, Miss.” Interesting. So you went as far as preparing a target for me to shoot at? Wondering where she was going with this, I leaned back in my chair and watched with crossed arms. I could feel people begin to glare as they took notice of my increasingly uninterested demeanor. The maid soon waddled back, struggling with a gigantic stuffed bear that was as big as she was. She stopped a short distance behind Miss Kellen and asked, “Where should I put the target, Miss?” “Lady Penelope, where would you prefer it to be placed? I think this might be the perfect spot,” Miss Kellen said, doing her best to hold in her laughter as she indicated where the maid was already standing. “It’s right in front of you, so there will be less risk of accidentally shooting someone like you nearly did last year. Don’t you think so, everyone?” The women all nodded in agreement. “Miss Kellen is correct. That close seems about right. If we place it too far away, she might miss, and we wouldn’t want that,” the countess interjected. “Please stand up and show us your skills, Lady Penelope,” the blue-haired lady simpered. “Yay! I’m so excited!” Miss Alice said, clapping her hands together with glee, her demeanor reminiscent of a little girl. I felt stupid for mistaking her inquisitive curiosity as genuine earlier. I suppose she is curious, in a way. The glimmer in her eyes was similar to that of someone gazing at a chimpanzee in the zoo or a clown onstage. Since she’d laid the initial trap, so to speak, she was now using that same enthusiasm from earlier to make it so that I couldn’t refuse. There was no need for me to look at any of the other ladies, as I knew I’d find the same mocking in their eyes as I was finding in Alice’s. Instead, I turned my gaze on the host, who was responsible for planning this event and had invited all these noble ladies to come in the first place. Her smile broadened when she saw my expressionless face. “Go on, run amok like you did last year,” her derisive, triumphant eyes seemed to say. In the scenario the game was presenting, Penelope had two options. She could either play along or succumb to rage and threaten to shoot everyone. The real Penelope would have been annoyed by both options. It wouldn’t be difficult to comply with their request and show them my skills with the crossbow, but if I just went along with them, then the story of “Lady Penelope’s silly crossbow show” would be on everyone’s lips by tomorrow. And if I got upset and caused a scene, demanding to know if they were mocking me… She’s trying to win everyone’s pity just like last year so she can become queen of the hunt again. That’s what seemed to be Miss Kellen’s endgame. She would love to take things far enough that she could trample the eyesore that was Penelope into the mud so that she was never able to show her face in high society ever again. Both scenarios would be ideal for her. I made my decision. In that case, I might as well have it both ways. Miss Kellen looked puzzled when she saw that I was making no move to rise from my seat, where I sat with my arms crossed. “Lady Penelope?” I gazed back at her for a moment, then laughed. “I don’t think the teddy bear’s going to cut it.” “…I’m sorry?” she said, taken aback. She seemed unable to believe that I wasn’t throwing a fit as she’d expected I would. “Wh-why is that?” “Unfortunately, there’s no way I can prove my skills with a target that size,” I replied lazily, casting a sidelong glance at the stuffed bear. “My goodness!” Countess Dorothea said in a shrill voice. “How big a target do you need if we want to see you in action, then? Something as huge as those monsters you shot yesterday?” The blue-haired lady gave an exaggerated shrug and muttered, “What a shame. I don’t think we could find a craftsman capable of making something so big…” “Ho-ho! You’re right. A pity, truly!” exclaimed another lady. Her words were followed by a round of laughter from the surrounding women. “Well,” I said. My chair made a loud screech as I shoved it back noisily, silencing them as I stood up. With an elegant, smooth motion I swung the crossbow off my shoulder and into my hands. “I wonder if shooting that fruit fly buzzing around those loose lips of yours would be enough to put my name in everyone’s mouths?” The weapon made a metallic clunking sound as I brought it around in a flawless arc and aimed carefully. “What do you think, everyone?” I asked, looking around at the assembled ladies through my eyelashes. The giggling slowly died down, since no one had expected me to aim at Miss Kellen as soon as I stood. I’d done so with no warning, after all. Miss Kellen and the other nobles, slowly realizing what was happening, began glaring in my direction. An older noblewoman waving a fan, whom I’d found increasingly unpleasant as the day wore on, suddenly hollered at me. “Look here, lady! How dare you! How could you threaten to shoot someone again—?” “‘Lady’?” I said coldly, cutting her off. I glanced over without moving, as if she wasn’t worth the trouble of turning. “Since when were total nobodies allowed to speak with such disrespect to a member of the Eckhart family?” “Th-that’s…” The lady turned bright red, humiliated at the suggestion that her family was too insignificant to warrant my knowing. She wasn’t able to argue, however. She might have been well respected among those attending the tea party for her age, but the empire operated as a strictly class-based society. An unnatural, stifling silence fell over the beautiful forest setting. “Lady Penelope… Please calm down,” Miss Kellen said, her voice more subdued than before. “If you persist, I’ll have no choice but to summon the guards again. I don’t think your reputation would survive another incident.” It was a provocation designed to upset me. The guards were stationed in the clearing right outside the forest where the tea party was being held. I could picture last year’s Penelope screaming at the top of her lungs and swinging the crossbow she didn’t even know how to use around wildly. No doubt the noise had been enough to mobilize the guards immediately. It wasn’t hard to figure out that she’d suddenly resorted to pulling out a weapon both to threaten people and protect herself. After the few crossbow lessons I was able to take, I realized this body had no preexisting talent for such things. If Penelope had been in possession of even the tiniest bit of skill in archery, her fingers would not be this smooth, nor would her arms be so devoid of muscle. Idiotic girl. Why had it never occurred to her that a little bit of wit was all she needed to establish dominance? Miss Kellen began to look nervous when she saw that mentioning the guards didn’t seem to faze me. “This time I won’t be as lenient as I was last year. You’d better lower that crossbow, or—” “Call the guards, if you wish,” I said, grinning at her and gesturing with my chin. The women all looked shocked. They’re all thinking, “She should be hysterical by now. But instead, she’s inviting Miss Kellen to bring the guards upon her.” The blue-haired girl stared at me in astonishment. “But consider this…,” I said with an innocent smile and a slight tilt of my head. “What will take longer—you getting the guards, or me shooting a moving target?” I heard loud gasps from all directions. Perhaps it was because of how differently I was behaving in comparison to the fool Penelope had been last year. “Call for the guards, then. Chop-chop,” I said. Even the maids, who’d been tensing as if they might go running at any moment, suddenly refused to budge. The forest was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. The sound my finger made as it found the trigger rang out among the trees. “L-Lady Penelope! Y-you can’t…” Miss Kellen’s words came out in an awkward rush. I could practically see her thinking, The Mad Dog of House Eckhart is really trying to shoot someone dead. No doubt finally realizing the gravity of the situation, the blue-haired girl’s eyes were now full of fear. There was a loud clicking sound as I pulled the trigger. “Eeek!” Miss Kellen and the others gasped, faces pale as they clamped their eyes shut. “Bang,” I said, imitating the sound of a gun. I hadn’t actually fired anything, of course. With a grin, I lowered the crossbow and said, “Just kidding.” Miss Alice, seated opposite me, started to hiccup. The ladies, who had all been wearing expressions of derision and mockery seconds before, now stared with eyes brimming with terror. I guess I’m a natural at playing the villain. Instead of feeling sorry for them, I was rather enjoying how things were unfolding. “What are you all so scared of ?” “…” “Everyone, it’s not even loaded.” I lifted the crossbow and pulled the trigger a couple more times. Though I meant to reassure them they were safe, each click of the trigger made them flinch. I slung the weapon over my shoulder again and glanced around the table as if nothing was amiss. “Relax, why don’t you?” I said, playing the tomboy disappointed by the lukewarm reaction to her little prank. I crinkled my nose. “You’re making me feel like a villain who crashed a party. Remember, you invited me. Isn’t that right, Countess Dorothea?” At being so suddenly addressed, she nearly jumped out of her seat. “O-of course!” she scrambled to reply. “Oh, everyone, y-you should be laughing. L-Lady Penelope simply prepared an amusing joke for us, you see?” No one laughed. “I want to do some real hunting, so if you’ll excuse me,” I said, stepping away from my chair. The party’s previously good mood had definitely evaporated because of my actions, so it was only right that I excused myself. Preparing to leave, I finally added with a wistful look, “It’s too bad I can’t show you some real target practice. My crossbow shoots enchanted pellets, you see, not bolts. If the opportunity arises next time, I’ll be sure to give you a demonstration.” As I was turning away, I deliberately paused, as if I’d forgotten to impart something important. “Oh, right,” I said, turning back to my captive audience. “If any of you were curious what I mean by ‘enchanted’…” “…” “Shots fired from my crossbow will lay waste to the mental functions of anyone they hit, effectively leaving them batshit loony,” I lied casually, making eye contact with each and every person sitting at the table, starting with the instigator of this whole spectacle. “I’ve been itching for a good hunt, you see, since I was banned for a year on account of a certain someone. I was so eager, in fact, that I had these pellets made specially.” My eyes found the lady with blue hair. I grinned and offered one final quip: “They were made for small animals, of course, so they won’t kill a person…but I can’t help but wonder if the magic works on humans.” Miss Kellen was deathly pale by now—she looked ready to faint at any second. I turned away, assured that they’d keep their mouths shut thanks to my parting words, and began down the path that led to the central clearing. A flash of white filled my vision. <SYSTEM> Your standing among the people has sunk. Reputation has decreased -10 points. (TOTAL POINTS: 80) So my reputation had dropped. I pouted for a moment but ultimately breezed past the notification window without another glance. Only affection had any bearing on my survival. I didn’t care what happened to my reputation.