It seemed as if there was a voice babbling about the crown prince's itchy ears.
I wasn't just standing idly, so I quickly added,
"I was the one who first offended him."
"Good job."
"…What?"
"Perhaps you can use your illness as an excuse to demand something from the crown prince. You've become a fine member of the Eckhart family, Penelope."
I was almost speechless at the duke's unexpected reaction.
"I had to break his pride at least once. He was getting too arrogant, relying on his reputation as a war hero."
"Ah, Father."
Anyone who heard this would be in big trouble. It was practically a slander against the royal family.
However, unlike my shock, the duke calmly continued,
"You know that the Eckharts are neutral, right, Penelope?"
"Yes, of course."
No, I didn't know at all.
"No matter how legitimate, it's hard to survive without a strong backing. After the empress passed away, the forces supporting the crown prince have significantly decreased."
"…."
"Moreover, the empress consort, the mother of the second prince, took control of the palace while the crown prince was away at war."
"…."
"The next emperor has yet to be determined."
I had no idea the crown prince had such a background.
Because in that damn game, nothing came out except for courting the male leads.
'So that's why. There was a reason he acted like a madman at the ball.'
I finally understood why the empress consort and the second prince had sent assassins after the crown prince.
"So, just continue acting as you have been."
The duke, satisfied with his words, moved on to a new topic.
"Since you did well this time, I'll give you a reward instead of a punishment. Is there anything you want?"
"A reward?"
I had only come prepared to be scolded, not to receive a reward.
With wide eyes, I looked at the duke, and he nodded.
"Should I call the jewelers again? Or since the season is changing, you could discard your old dresses and have new ones made."
I was speechless at the extravagant reward.
'What's this all about?'
But since Penelope had already bought more than enough, I didn't really need what the duke suggested.
After pondering what I should ask for, I replied succinctly,
"I'll think about it a bit more and let you know."
Click. As I closed the door of the duke's study and stepped out, a white square window suddenly appeared before my eyes.
〈SYSTEM〉 Your reputation has increased by +5 due to improved relationships with the duke's family. (Total: 5)
"Huh."
I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.
'What did I do?'
I hadn't done anything to improve relationships. At most, I had only slightly intimidated them…
'Was getting hurt by the crown prince such a big deal?'
The duke's reaction and the unexpected events were surprising.
But on the other hand, I felt a bit proud.
Whether it was affection or reputation, any positive change was good.
'Good. Let's keep it this way.'
* * *
"Miss, you're back?"
Emily greeted me as I returned to my room.
I nodded half-heartedly and quickly went to sit at my desk, as I had many things to think about besides what to ask the duke for.
"Miss, this…"
Emily hurriedly followed me and handed me something.
"This is what you had around your neck when you fainted. The young duke said to throw it away, but I washed it just in case."
"Ah."
I stared at what Emily handed me.
A white handkerchief.
It was from Bunter Verdandi. I had completely forgotten about it.
"Thank you, Emily."
I praised Emily for doing something I liked, and her face lit up.
I had been soaked in blood, but the handkerchief had returned to its original pristine white. I pondered how to handle it.
'I should send a thank-you note.'
It was an unwanted gesture, but I still needed to be polite.
And since he was a male lead, I needed to meet him again.
"Emily, can you go to the butler and ask him to call the jewelers for tomorrow?"
"The jewelers?"
Surprised by my sudden request, Emily tilted her head and then clapped her hands.
"Ah! Miss, are you getting new accessories for the festival?"
"Festival?"
Confused by the unfamiliar term, I asked, and she immediately replied.
"Next week is the Founding Festival! Since the crown prince has returned, this year's festival will be much grander…"
"Don't mention the crown prince."
My voice turned cold, and Emily shut her mouth with a gasp.
I was already sick of the crown prince. Seeing Emily start to read the room, I waved her off irritably.
"Go to the butler now."
"Yes! I'll be right back!"
As she left, the room became quiet again.
Tapping my fingers on the desk, I fell into thought.
"Next week is the festival, huh…"
In the game, episodes with each male lead open in sequence.
For example, after progressing a certain amount with Derek and Leonard, the crown prince's route would open.
Meeting Bunter so soon was a bit unexpected.
But since he was supposed to appear at the palace ball, the story had progressed just like in the game so far.
Now, the only one left was the last male lead, the knight Eclis, who appears after Bunter.
In the game, the duke clearly brought the last male lead during the festival.
"What did Penelope do during the festival…"
I had only confirmed the notification that the duke had brought a new male lead, but in hard mode, I hadn't even seen a strand of Eclis's hair.
Thinking about it made my blood pressure rise again.
In the end, I hadn't been able to enjoy the festival with any of them.
Pushing down the rising anger, I hurriedly opened a drawer and took out a piece of paper I had hidden deep inside.
After quickly reading what I had written before, I muttered to myself,
"I need to get it before the duke does."
After narrowly escaping death from the crown prince's sword, I made a firm resolution.
Since I couldn't afford to die again, I decided to clear the ending as quickly as possible and escape this hellish place.
To do that, I needed to focus on the easiest male lead to increase affection.
"Eclis."
I looked at the name of the last male lead and my eyes sparkled.
"I've chosen you."
* * *
Lately, I've been busy wandering outside under the pretext of taking a walk.
The duke's residence was so vast that it could be called a small town. After passing the beautifully landscaped garden and the spacious courtyard, there were the training grounds and quarters used by the family's knights, and a small forest.
'There must be a hole somewhere…'
Actually, I was looking for a secret exit to sneak out for the festival.
But the grounds were so extensive that it wasn't easy.
Today, having failed to find a hole, I returned to the garden with weary steps.
After asking Emily for some refreshments, I plopped down under a large tree and started reading a book.
Just as the story reached its climax, I heard a rustling sound.
"Emily, can you bring me a bookmark?"
With only a few pages left, I didn't take my eyes off the book and just extended my hand.
But there was no response even after I finished the remaining pages.
"…Emily?"
I turned my head and closed the book.
"Are you… feeling better?"
Standing next to me, holding a tray of refreshments, was not Emily but an unexpected person.
"Uh…"
[8% Affection]
I stared dumbly at Derek, whom I hadn't seen in days.
The last time I saw him, it was 6%, and I had no idea why it had increased.
Whoosh. A refreshing breeze carrying the scent of flowers passed between us.
As my hair flew into my eyes, I finally came to my senses.
Realizing I was sitting and staring at him rudely, I quickly got up.
"It's fine. You don't have to get up."
"I'm fine. I was about to go inside anyway."
"Then you don't need the refreshments?"
"Ah…"
I frowned at the tray he was holding.
'Is there no one else to ask, and he just had to!'
"Would the young duke ask Emily to do this?"
"No. I wanted to have a serious talk with you, so I brought it myself."
"With me?"
The guy who found even the sight of Penelope's back repulsive, what could he possibly want to talk about?
I was momentarily puzzled but quickly figured out what he was going to say.
"Is it about that day?"
Even if the duke had let it slide, Derek wouldn't.
'Sigh. Think of it as an extension of my apology to the duke.'
I swallowed my sigh and chose my words carefully. Then, like a machine, I recited them soullessly.
"You told me not to act rashly, and I caused a disturbance. I'm sorry."
"…"
"Sir, you must have been very shocked because of me. I told Father that I would be on house arrest for a while. If you need a harsher punishment, like you suggested before…"