Chapter 19
“Found it.”
After searching for days, I was finally able to find a hidden way out. The whole mansion was surrounded by a wall that was like an iron barrier. Fortunately, I was able to find an escape hole by the knight’s training areas, likely used by the knights to skip their training. It was well hidden within some bushes, and I wouldn’t have even found it if it weren’t for me tripping on a rock and practically falling on top of it.
“Hah, why doesn’t this damn game provide me with any of this information?”
I shook the dust off my clothes, then kicked the rock I tripped on out of my way. Afterwards, I readjusted the scarf around my neck.
“Whew… It’s fortunate I found one before tomorrow.”
Tomorrow was the day the festival began. I’d been incredibly anxious waiting for it to arrive. Of course, I could easily leave the grounds if I asked permission from the Duke or Derrick, but that option would interfere with my plans. There was no way they’d ever allow a noble lady to walk alone on the streets, with crowds from all over the empire. Even more so if I told them I wanted to go to the slave market that secretly opened at night.
“I’m going through all this for you, so you better meet my expectations, Eclipse.”
I muttered, staring at the hole. I quickly returned the bush into its original position, and stood to leave.
“Hey, what are you doing over there?”
The voice came from behind me. I jumped in surprise and turned around. I questioned if I was seeing things when I saw the text above the person’s head.
[Interest 7%]
I hadn’t seen Reynold in a week, yet his interest had risen 4%.
Do these bastards have to not see Penelope at all for their interest to rise?
I felt somewhat upset that I hadn’t known this while playing the game, making me have to unlock the episodes.
To think you could raise their interest this easily. All that time I spent constantly resetting the game was wasted.
“What are you staring blankly at? I asked what you were doing.”
“Uhh, huh?”
I came to my senses at Reynold’s urging, looking away from the interest gauge.
“You know, just taking a walk.”
“Just taking a walk…?”
Reynold narrowed his eyes at me.
“You happened to be taking a walk right where the escape hole is, what a coincidence.”
“…”
I was barely able to keep myself from gasping aloud. I could feel goosebumps on the back of my neck.
Just how does that brat know? I thought I covered it back up well!
I glanced at the bush again. There was no difference from how it’d looked before. I tried my best to calm myself down, and changed the subject as if nothing had happened.
“…What about you? Why are you here?”
“I was just heading back, since I finished today’s training.”
Now that I look closer, Reynold’s pink hair was damp with sweat. I could see the outline of his body through the thin white training shirt.
Ooh. He has a nice body.
Unlike his pretty looking face, his body had hard muscles, making him look weirdly sexy.
Yeah. You need this kind of entertainment, too, to survive in this house.
I scanned him once more, then spoke in a prim way.
“Then, you go wherever you’re going. I’ll continue with my walk.”
I took some steps forward. I was going to continue on my way, until…
“Hey, really. Know your limits.”
I wanted to ignore him, but I had no choice but to turn around for the sake of his interest gauge.
“…For what?”
“Have you already forgotten that four years ago, you broke your leg trying to climb over the wall like that one knight who was skipping his training, which caused the walls to be built up higher?”
“…”
“If you wrote down everything those knights said to defame you, it would fill over ten books ”
I knew that the wall surrounding the mansion was taller than I’d thought.
Those things really happened?! Hah. This kid’s really…
If it was four years ago, then it was when Penelope was fourteen. She would’ve mastered the noble etiquette by then, even though she’d started learning later than her peers. I started to get annoyed at Reynold, who’d revealed an extreme part of Penelope’s past that wasn’t mentioned in the game.
“…I’m not doing anything like that.”
Those words I spoke weren’t at all believable, even for me. Reynold spoke with a scary tone of voice.
“Just get permission from Father, and leave the mansion confidentially. Don’t repeat what you did before and get cursed at again.”
“I told you, it’s not like that.”
He didn’t say anything more. Instead, he stared at me in disbelief for a moment longer, then left. I watched the [Interest 7%] move further away from me.
≪ Quest! Would you like to proceed with the quest, [Date At The Festival] with [Reynold]? (Reward: Reynold’s interest +3% and others.) ≫
[Accept / Reject]
As expected, a quest appeared in front of me.
“I have to go to the festival with that brat? And the reward is only 3% of his interest?”
I snorted, thinking of just how annoying he was a minute ago. While playing the game, I wanted that 3% bad enough to accept the quest. I had to use the reset button an insane amount of times. More upsettingly, I never was able to complete that quest.
“I’m not doing it, no way!”
I pressed ‘Reject’ multiple times without having to even think about it.
“How can I have a festival date with a guy who growls whenever he sees me?”
I didn’t feel that missing that 3% was a waste. I had ‘10%’ and ‘7%’ already! Besides, I wasn’t working my butt off like this to simply enjoy the festival. I glared at the spot where Reynold was before.
Annoying. I hate him. If he’d said that in that tone in front of the real Penelope, she would definitely…
Please let me know if there’s anything inconsistent, or that needs further editing/corrections!!
-emrld
Scarlett Shoujo 