I muttered the words I hadn't finished saying to Leonard yesterday and threw the bundle of bed sheets out the window.
Then, I leaned against the window frame, panting for a while.
The first day of the festival dawned.
I waited calmly until nightfall, and as soon as Emily finished tending to my bed and left, I took out all the bed sheets from the wardrobe and tied them together.
It was the most classic method of escape.
"Let's see if I can get down now."
Once my breathing had calmed, I got up from the window frame.
I had already made thorough preparations. I put on a thick robe to hide my hair and face.
I also took the blank check and a small amount of gold coins I had received as compensation from the duke.
All that was left was to get down to the second floor safely.
"Ha... I can't believe I have to do this."
Looking down from the window, I briefly lamented. Then, I steeled my resolve and lowered my body.
After hanging from the bed sheet rope, I quickly descended.
It was only the second floor, after all. I had estimated the height several times while going in and out of the mansion and concluded that I could definitely get down.
But surely, it wasn't like that.
"...Crazy."
The length of the tied bed sheets was much shorter than expected.
If I jumped, it might make a loud noise and wake someone up, and in the dark, it could lead to serious injury.
"Damn it...!"
Realizing the significant difference between my estimation and reality, I screamed.
Looking up, the distance to the window of my room was considerable. Moreover, I didn't have the strength to climb back up.
All I could do was hold onto the bed sheets to prevent myself from falling.
"Ha... What should I do?"
My arms trembled, and soon my palms were sweating.
Then, little by little, my body started to slip.
Glancing down, my acrophobia, which I had completely forgotten in my eagerness, suddenly came back.
"Really, what should I do..."
I sniffled, unable to do anything in this desperate situation.
That's when it happened.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
A voice suddenly came from below.
I glanced down and met someone's eyes.
"Huh."
A series of hollow laughs echoed.
"...Leonard?"
In the faint moonlight, I saw his pink hair.
Leonard was looking up at me from the window below, his face expressing astonishment.
"You, why are you out there?"
"Are you kidding? Your room is right above mine!"
"..."
I shut my mouth. How could I have known his room was below Penelope's?
"You're... seriously, I can't even speak. Are you running away?"
"Running away?!"
I jumped at his accusatory words.
"I just want to go out for a bit."
"Out? Is it a trend for girls your age to climb walls when they go out?"
"..."
I couldn't think of a retort and looked at the distant mountains.
However, in my panic, I had forgotten that my arms were reaching their limit holding onto the bed sheets.
Without realizing it, my grip loosened, and I slipped in an instant.
"Aah!"
I screamed and, just before falling, managed to grab the end of the bed sheet.
"Huh, huh..."
My body dangled from the mansion's outer wall like a cicada on an old tree, swaying.
"Hey!"
At that moment, Leonard shouted and quickly climbed onto his window frame.
His face, as he jumped out of the window and looked up at me, seemed a bit pale.
"Let go."
Leonard, who had come outside, spread his arms toward me and said.
"What, what do you mean?"
"Let go and jump toward me. I'll catch you."
At that moment, the words 'Why should I trust you?' almost came out.
"If you don't want to jump, just keep hanging there."
However, I had no choice but to decide while hesitating.
"...Don't drop me. Catch me well."
I earnestly warned him. Surely, even if he was a hateful younger brother, he wouldn't intentionally kill me.
I repeated this thought to myself and finally let go of the bed sheet I had been gripping tightly.
"Whoa-!"
A sharp wind brushed past my cheeks. When the thrill of falling like a ride covered my body,
Thud.
"I caught you."
When I opened my eyes, I saw Leonard's face grinning like a rascal.
"...Put me down."
Realizing how close our faces were, I hurriedly got out of his arms.
While straightening my disheveled robe, Leonard suddenly asked,
"Where are you going?"
"Just for a walk..."
"If you're talking about just a walk again, I'll go to Father right now."
I glared at him, who cut me off so abruptly. Why did I have to get caught by this guy of all people?
'No, it's better than getting caught by Derrick.'
I quickly changed my mind and obediently made an excuse.
"I'm going to see the festival."
"Leaving to see the festival in the middle of the night? In the middle of all this chaos?"
"There's a reason. A reason you don't need to know."
"Leaving to see the festival without any guard is a reason? Do you know how dangerous it is outside at this time? A girl, without fear..."
"Leonard."
I called him irritably.
"Thanks for helping me. But I asked you before, didn't I? I'll handle my own affairs from now on, so don't interfere anymore."
"Hey, you..."
Leonard stuttered, seemingly at a loss for words at my cold attitude.
I glanced at [Affection 7%] and calmly said,
"I'm an adult now. Whatever happens, I'll take full responsibility. And as a brother, it's considerate to just look the other way in such matters..."
"Then I'll go with you."
"...What?"
His sudden answer left me speechless.
With a blank expression, Leonard calmly said,
"Going together is fine. Then I can guard you and, at the same time, show my consideration as a brother. Isn't that perfect?"
"..."
"Why are you shouting?"
I frowned and whispered to him.
'And, when did I say that?'
I wanted to scold him for making things up, but the situation wasn't favorable.
I had to go save Eclis. Just as I thought that, Leonard stubbornly announced,
"Anyway, I'm going with you. Even if you don't want me to, I'll follow you."
At that moment,
〈SYSTEM〉 Sudden quest! Do you want to proceed with the [Festival Sightseeing] quest with [Leonard]? (Reward: Leonard's Affection +3% and other items.)
[Accept / Reject]
A white square window appeared, showing the quest I had rejected yesterday.
I sighed deeply, looking back and forth between Leonard's stubborn face and the quest window.
And I had no choice but to choose.
"Fine. Let's go, then."
* * *
I walked silently to the training ground with Leonard.
When we arrived at the hole I had discovered yesterday, he had a 'I knew it' expression.
Just as I was about to quickly clear the camouflage bushes and squeeze through the hole,
"Are you two doing something there?"
A sharp voice rang out.
Leonard and I turned our heads in shock. The first thing I saw in the darkness was the glowing affection.
"Where are you going in the middle of the night?"
"Brother."
Derrick, who walked over with heavy steps, glared sharply at me, who was about to squeeze through the hole.
"That, that's..."
In this crazy situation, I fumbled for words.
The damn Leonard pointed at me first.
"This one wants to see the festival, Brother."
"See the festival...?"
"Yeah. So I decided to follow to guard and monitor her, to make sure she doesn't cause any trouble."
Derrick's eyes, which had briefly shifted to Leonard, returned to me. My body shrank under his icy gaze.
'The Eclis route is a failure.'
Just as I was about to hang my head in disappointment, unable to start the Eclis route,
"The basic guard for a noble is a pair of two."
Derrick's chilling voice pierced my ears.
"So I'll go with you."
Surprised by the unexpected words, I lifted my head. At that moment, the white square window appeared again.
〈SYSTEM〉 Sudden quest!
Do you want to proceed with the [Festival Sightseeing] quest with [Derrick]? (Reward: Derrick's Affection +3% and other items.)