Before I could fully understand, Derek quickly changed the subject.
"The reason I looked for you was to give you this."
He held a tray with one hand and fumbled in his pocket with the other.
I widened my eyes when I saw what Derek was handing me.
It was a scarf for women, which didn't match his large, rough hands at all.
"This is...?"
"You can't keep looking like this even in formal settings, can you?"
He coldly remarked and glanced at my neck.
I had wrapped my neck in bandages like a cast to avoid his anger.
Now that I think about it, my appearance must have been ridiculous, but Derek's face was completely expressionless, without a hint of a smile.
"Considering your reputation is already at rock bottom, who knows what rumors might spread if you're seen with something given by some unknown guy."
"......"
"Always think about the weight of your status before you act."
I alternated my gaze between the scarf and Derek, my mouth agape.
He was talking about the handkerchief given by Bouter.
Even though Derek had told Emily to throw it away, the handkerchief had been carefully washed and was now stored in my drawer.
'How did he know it was from a guy?'
I was amazed by his terrifying insight.
I thought he would scold me for causing trouble again without understanding the situation, but I didn't expect even Derek to react this way.
I pondered how to respond to his reaction and then answered.
"......Thank you."
Considering his intense dislike for Penelope, I carefully took the scarf to avoid our hands touching.
'It's... a bit expensive, isn't it?'
There was no wrapping paper or case, but the fabric felt soft and expensive as soon as it touched my hand.
I smiled contentedly at the unexpected gift.
"I'll cherish it, Young Duke."
Just as I finished my thanks and looked up, Derek's blue eyes wavered, and his expression suddenly turned cold as ice.
'Why, why is he like this?'
My heart sank at his unusual demeanor.
While I was nervously watching the flickering favorability meter.
"That... I forgot about an urgent matter."
He turned around and, holding the tray of snacks, quickly walked away from the garden.
"Why is he suddenly...?"
As I watched him walk away, my eyes widened.
[Favorability 10%]
The white text above his head had changed.
"What the hell is this game...?"
Derek vanished in an instant, and I was left alone, muttering to myself.
The favorability of these brothers was unpredictable.
'Well, that's probably why I keep dying.'
Looking at the scarf in my hand, I couldn't shake off the eerie feeling that I was drifting further away from the game I played before coming here.
* * *
"Found it!"
I finally found a hole to escape from outside the mansion.
The wall surrounding the mansion was almost impenetrable.
But I discovered a small opening that seemed to be used secretly when the knights were slacking off near the training ground.
It was well camouflaged with bushes, so I wouldn't have found it if I hadn't tripped over a stone and fallen over it.
"Why doesn't this damn game tell me about things like this?"
I stood up, brushed off the dust from my clothes, and kicked the stone I had tripped over in frustration.
Then I neatly tied the scarf that had come loose.
I've been using the scarf Derek gave me to cover my wounds, having finally gotten rid of the ridiculous bandages.
"Well... it's a good thing I found it the day before the festival."
The festival starts tomorrow, and I was incredibly worried.
Of course, I could easily leave if I asked the Duke or Derek for permission.
However, it was impossible to send a noble girl out into the streets without any escort, especially during the period when crowds flood the capital.
Even more so, attending a slave market that opens secretly at night.
"I'm going through all this trouble to find it, so you better meet my expectations, Iclees."
I muttered softly, looking at the hidden opening.
I then straightened the bushes that had been disturbed by my fall.
Just as I finished and stood up straight.
"Hey, what are you doing there?"
A voice called out to me from behind.
I jumped in surprise, visibly flinching and turned around.
I immediately doubted my eyes when I saw the glowing text above his pink hair.
[Favorability 7%]
Renald's favorability had risen by 4% after a week.
'No, do I have to avoid seeing these brothers to raise their favorability?'
I felt a sense of injustice.
When playing the game, I had to complete episodes, so I couldn't avoid them.
To think I could raise favorability so easily.
I regretted the countless nights I spent resetting.
"What are you standing there staring at? What are you doing?"
"Uh, uh?"
I snapped out of it at Renald's urging and quickly looked away from the favorability meter.
"Just... taking a walk."
"Just a walk...?"
Renald's eyes narrowed at my answer.
"Just a walk near the opening? What a coincidence."
"......"
I barely suppressed a gasp. Goosebumps ran down the back of my neck.
'How did he notice? I thought I had it well hidden!'
The bushes I had rearranged looked the same as before.
I calmed my thumping heart and tried to act nonchalant.
"......Why are you here?"
"I just finished training and am on my way back."
I noticed Renald's pink hair was drenched in sweat.
Through the gaps in his loose training clothes, his skin was faintly visible.
'Oh. He has a good body.'
His solid, muscular physique contrasted oddly with his delicate face, making him strangely sexy.
'Well, I need some eye candy to survive in this damn place.'
I scanned the drowsy Renald and then replied coolly.
"Then go on. I'm going to continue my walk."
I moved as if nothing had happened. When I was a few steps away, he called out.
"Hey, wait."
I wanted to ignore him, but I had to stop and turn around because of the favorability.
"......What?"
"Four years ago, you tried to follow some slackers and climbed over the wall, breaking your leg. You don't remember that?"
"......"
"If we wrote down all the insults the knights said about you back then, it would fill more than ten books."
I hadn't realized the wall around the mansion was so high.
'All that happened?! Ha. This guy is really... '
Four years ago, I was 14, and even if I was late, I had almost completed my etiquette lessons.
I was annoyed by Penelope's outrageous past, which didn't appear in the game, and Renald's sarcasm.
"......It's not like that."
My voice sounded pitiful even to me. Renald threatened me with a terrifying tone.
"Rather, ask your father for permission and walk out the front gate. Don't get cursed at again for some outrageous stunt."
"It's not like that."
I snapped at him, and he didn't add anything more.
Instead, he suspiciously watched me until the end and then turned and left before I did.
Just as I was staring at the [Favorability 7%] that was moving away, a white square window appeared before my eyes.
〈SYSTEM〉 A sudden quest has appeared! Do you want to proceed with the [Festival Sightseeing] quest with [Renald]? (Reward: Renald's favorability +3% and other items.)
[Accept / Decline]
Sure enough, the quest I feared appeared.
"Do I have to do this with him again? And the reward is just 3%?"
I shuddered, recalling Renald's excellent attitude just a moment ago.
When playing the game, I accepted the quest because I was reluctant to miss out on the 3%, and I had to reset infinitely.
What was even more frustrating was that I couldn't complete it in the end.
"No, no, no!"
I pressed 'Decline' repeatedly without hesitation.
"Why would I go sightseeing with a guy who growls at me every time he sees me?"
I'm not in a position where I'm short of just 3%. I have a solid '10%' and '7%'!
Moreover, I'm not going through all this trouble just to enjoy the festival peacefully.
I glared at the spot where Renald had stood, now empty.
'Annoying guy.'
If I say something so irritating, Penelope will naturally...