ORHML 16

Chapter 16

“Choice 2. He tells you to take off your clothes.”

This isn’t for my selfish desire! The quest! It’s making me! Do it!

“Then… take them off.”

Whoa, the lines are coming out smoothly.

“Huh?”

“I said, take them off.”

“…….”

“If you don’t want to, just let go of this. I’m busy.”

[Francis Patella: Captain of the Guard / Affection for Gracie Fletcher Gabriella Bastian 30%]

You’re a pervert… And why did the affection go up? Are you insane…?

“I-I’ll… take them off…”

I could see his face turning bright red, like his hair. Unlike the confident voice he had shown until now, his small, faltering voice reflected his state. His face looked like it could explode at any moment, even his ears seemed to burn, and yet his eyes were strangely moist, making him look pitiable. Why is his neck so red too?

His gray eyes reflected the light from the chandelier, sparkling like glass beads. I couldn’t avoid looking at them, and the longer I did, the more he clutched his cloak tightly.

“You want me to feel ashamed, right? I’ll prove it to you.”

He took my hand and led me down the stairs. Once there, he let go of the cloak he had been holding and placed it on the floor. He removed the pin from his cravat around his neck and laid it on top of the cloak.

His hands were trembling.

[▼Francis Patella is a virgin.]

Ah, that explains why he got so angry when it was said to be small before.

If left like this, I might really find out whether it’s small or not—kinda exciting.

He removed his outer garments completely and piled them neatly. Soon, only a thin shirt and trousers remained, and he was slowly unbuttoning the shirt. From the neck down to the waist, each button came undone.

So he’s a virgin, huh… though judging by the X-shaped mark, maybe not? Judging by the trousers about to burst, it’s certainly not small.

The white shirt was fully unbuttoned, revealing a chest covered with scars. Perfectly shaped muscles, firm chest, divided abs, arms without an ounce of fat.

Beautiful. I stared as if hypnotized, and our eyes met. I even saw him swallow. His Adam’s apple moved, and he seemed conscious of it, avoiding my gaze briefly before checking again.

When he removed his gloves and placed them below, only his trousers remained.

He undid the sword at his waist and set it down.

He loosened his belt to take off the trousers. Then, he touched the buckle.

“Stop!”

Who told you to stop!!

Turning around in anger and frustration, Clayton the bastard was there.

If only he’d been one minute late! No! Why did you come! You shouldn’t have!

“Ah, this is…!”

Francis, twisted by shame, looked at me. He seemed unsure whether to put his clothes back on.

“That’s proof enough. I’ll explain it to His Majesty later… put your clothes back on.”

Why did saying that make me feel both relieved and embarrassed? My ears were burning, cheeks were hot, and his persistent gaze made it worse.

“What are you doing? Playing with that guy in the library?”

“Ah, no! This is… I… I did it because I wanted to.”

Francis said pitifully, but since he was sticking with me because of my sister anyway, I didn’t feel too sorry for him.

My sister’s affection: 100%. So that number isn’t really reliable.

[Francis Patella: Captain of the Guard / Affection for Gracie Fletcher Gabriella Bastian 35%]

Pervert.

Of course, he meant it for me.

“Get lost.”

“Why are you treating my guard however you like?”

“It’s fine if you hook up with the guard?”

“Not yet, and whether I do or not is none of your business.”

“Not yet?”

Suddenly, my vision went dark. This crazy guy must be covering my eyes. I could barely see through his fingers, but I could tell he was angry.

“Are you crazy? Won’t you let go?”

“You—hurry and put it on.”

“Yes, sir!”

Annoying! So annoying!

“Enough. Now tell me why you came all the way here.”

“I don’t know. I forgot because of you.”

So much for a duke.

Once I let go of his hands, Francis dressed himself properly again, though still a bit disheveled compared to before.

Not that I was disappointed.

No, honestly, I kind of was. I’m only human.

“Go.”

“No.”

“You need to go, or you’ll hook up with the guard. So just go.”

“Then I’ll kill that guy on the way.”

[Clayton de Reboua: Duke / Affection for Gracie Fletcher Gabriella Bastian 99% / Affection for Francis Patella –99%]

Affection numbers are unreliable.

Both men my sister likes are just annoying.

“If you’re going to kill Sir Francis, why not kill me too?”

“How would I kill you?”

“Then don’t talk like that about Sir Francis either.”

Seeing him, it became clear why Francis seemed so big; Clayton was even bigger. How tall—190 cm?

“I came for the victory ceremony.”

Changing the subject… so he has no intention of following my plan.

“And?”

“I’m going with you.”

“I’m not going with you.”

“Then who are you going with?”

“I have a fiancé, why would I go with you?”

Of course, I won’t go with him either. I have someone else in mind.

“You want to talk about that guy in front of me…”

“I’m not going with him.”

Seeing his hurt expression, I couldn’t help speaking.

I really am a hopeless fool. I always soften for guys entangled with my sister.

“Then go with me.”

“No.”

“Why…?”

He reached for my hand, looking even more hurt than before. I wanted to pull away but couldn’t because he was trembling.

Gracie, seriously, how did you manipulate him so that he likes you this much? I’m genuinely curious.

“I already have someone I want to go with.”

“Do as you like. Whoever you bring, I won’t let it slide.”

He spoke as if holding back his anger, but I wasn’t afraid at all. I could clearly see how hurt he was by my words despite his loud tone.

“I’ll go with dad, and you want to kill me? Isn’t that treason?”

“What?”

“Let go. It hurts.”

He listens when he wants, huh.

“Then…”

“I’m tired. Please go.”

Rejecting him became harder because of Clayton’s looks.

“Even with His Majesty, the first dance has to be with me.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s happening thanks to me.”

Right, yes. You came back victorious from the war.

“Dance with your partner. You have your sister, right?”

“My partner is only you.”

“My partner is only my father.”

[Quest Reward ▼ Usage time for the status window increases.]

Some citizens of the capital came to the emperor with unfair grievances. This idea originally came from the strategists, thinking that the emperor, who spends all day seeing nobles, wouldn’t understand the lives of commoners.

“Confess.”

The seat next to the emperor belonged to the empress. But now, I sat there. The empress had been too ill to leave her palace, and the emperor hated my sister Kiira immensely.

Looking closely, the empress I had seen in portraits sat below. She was beautiful, but her pale complexion made her look fragile, as if she could collapse any moment.

“Your Majesty.”

A high-pitched voice I didn’t want to hear reached me.

“Where do you think you are, coming here?”

It was strange how different his voice was from when he addressed me normally. When we eat together, he always speaks gently—but that tone doesn’t reach Kiira.

“Her Majesty sent me as her proxy.”

Kiira handed documents stamped with the empress’ seal to the aide.

I didn’t know if I should stand, so I looked at the emperor, who gestured to stay seated. So I stayed.

“Sit there, beside the empress.”

“But Your Majesty, I came as Her Majesty’s representative.”

“Do you want to be kicked out?”

Threatening to issue an expulsion order sent chills down my spine. The claim in the prologue that he disliked Kiira because she resembled the empress now seemed like a lie. Gracie’s original face is very similar to Kiira’s.

Then what is it? Why does he dislike Kiira but like Gracie?

My curiosity began with, “I must maintain the emperor’s favor if I want to become empress.”

“Your Majesty.”

Joshua Derid was also beside Kiira.

“Since the crown princess has not been decided, it should be fine for Princess Kiira to attend.”

Leonil spoke casually, but for some reason, I hated hearing it.

[Leonil Graham: Strategist / Affection for Kiira Fletcher Gabriella Bastian 50% / Affection for Gracie Fletcher Gabriella Bastian –50%]

Hmm, as expected.

“Don’t worry, Gracie. Your father is here.”

Ignoring Leonil, he patted my shoulder, and I felt a strange surge of sorrow I had to control.

At least until I understand why Kiira brought Joshua.