Episode 4
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A sound like something drilling directly into my ears.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
“!”
My eyes flew open.
At some point, I must have fallen into a deep sleep… What on earth is that sound?
Startled, I quickly sat up.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Thud.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Thud. Thud.
The knocking sounds came repeatedly.
They were oddly unsettling, like they followed a rhythm but not quite.
But I soon remembered the situation and nodded to myself.
‘Ah… right. I’m inside the game.’
My body felt heavy like I’d just woken up from a deep sleep, which was surprising in itself.
The game even replicates the feeling of waking up—that’s impressive detail.
Maybe signing up as a beta tester really was the right move.
“Hehe.”
I had taken five days off just to play this game, so I did get some side-eyes.
But as someone who had never truly rested while working full-time, I had my reasons.
If not now, then when? Gotta enjoy it properly.
As I was lost in such thoughts—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
“Eek!”
A loud knock startled a scream out of me.
The knocking grew more violent, like someone venting their anger.
If it’s that urgent, why not just come in? Why all this knocking? Are they crazy?
Sigh.
I wanted to rush out and confront whoever it was, but I had just been warned by the game devs.
They had told me to follow the safety rules.
Probably because the beta version can’t handle actions outside the scripted story.
But just as I was about to crawl back under the covers—
Wait a sec.
A strange thought came to mind.
A lone woman in a bedroom, disturbed in the middle of the night.
Could this be the setup for a fateful encounter with the male lead?
Maybe if I go out now, it’ll lead to some steamy romantic scene…
Without realizing, I placed my feet on the floor.
[Warning! Please follow the safety rules.]
At that moment, a system message popped up and halted my actions.
Sigh.
Alright, guess I should adapt first.
Still, I got out of bed and dragged myself to the wardrobe, pulling out the safety manual tucked between the clothes.
Ⅱ. Do not respond to any sounds between 2 AM and 4 AM.
The Belmont estate staff operates strictly within designated hours.
As expected, good games need solid world-building.
The clock’s second hand passed precisely over the hour—it was exactly 3 AM.
* * *
“Good morning, Miss Windsor.”
“Yes, good morning!”
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Um…”
Should I mention the strange noises?
After a brief internal debate, I shook my head.
I didn’t want to come off as a nitpicky fiancée when I needed to raise my favorability score.
“Yes, I slept very well.”
Once I’m asleep, I’m out cold—but falling asleep takes forever, especially with noise.
So how did I sleep so well despite the knocking?
Easy. I spent money.
“This item is just too effective.”
Last night, with the knocking in the background, I bought an item from the cash shop:
[Sleep Mask and Earplugs for a Perfect Sleep – 800 Diamonds]
· Blocks all light and sound. Warning: Not for children, pregnant women, or those with weak mental states.
Thankfully, I was none of the above, so I had an excellent rest.
I’m sure the banging continued all night, but hey—that’s not my problem.
“…I see. Was there anything uncomfortable?”
“Thanks to the head maid’s care, the bed was extremely cozy!”
The maid tilted her head for a moment, then nodded awkwardly.
A small message popped up above her head:
[Favorability +3]
As expected, no one hates compliments! I was secretly thrilled.
Maybe she’d been worried the room was too old?
But compared to the tiny one-room apartment I used to live in, this place—like a luxury suite—was paradise, even if slightly worn.
Growl.
Having eaten nothing since entering the game, hunger hit me hard.
“Ah, I’m hungry.”
“Breakfast is ready, please follow me.”
I followed the head maid to the dining room on the first floor.
The castle, which had seemed shabby yesterday, now felt different—maybe it was just my mood?
Wipe away the dust, and its full grandeur revealed itself.
It was like a preserved European relic—timeworn, but majestic.
Like stepping into a real palace.
“Other games just describe it in text or graphics. Experiencing it firsthand? Amazing.”
Yep, I loved it.
Despite minor bugs, I bumped up my rating for Heart-Pounding Destiny Love☆Crush.
While lost in thought, I passed through an archway into the dining room.
[You’ve entered a new area for the first time. Exploration reward: +300 Diamonds]
Oh, this system exists too?
Then it’s likely much of Belmont Castle is locked in this way.
A new window appeared in front of me:
[New Area: Belmont Castle – Dining Room]
A once-favorite dining space of the Belmont family.
The dining room reminded me of a grand museum hall I once visited.
A massive crystal chandelier, statues, mirrors—everything was magnificent.
“The environmental graphics are perfect.”
Even if in-game time moved faster than real time, a week didn’t feel like enough.
“Welcome, Miss Windsor.”
An NPC in a white chef’s hat appeared as I sat down.
Another notification popped up:
[New Main Character Info Unlocked]
· Chef (new!)
Loyal chef of the Belmont estate. Specially hired by the former Duke from abroad. Proud of his culinary skills.
(Favorability: 0/100)
Two of the three main characters’ info had now been revealed.
Though his face was still a black void—probably due to a bug.
The chef approached with theatrical grace and greeted me after removing his hat.
“I am the chef of House Belmont, ■■■.”
“…Pardon?”
It sounded like a name, but it was garbled.
Was that a translation or dubbing error?
“I am the chef of House Belmont, ■■■.”
Still incomprehensible.
Bug report +1.
Of course, all this stayed in my head. Outwardly, I just shrugged.
The chef stepped back like an actor on cue, puffed out his chest, and cleared his throat dramatically.
“Interaction delay. Overly scripted behavior. Bug +1.”
Regardless, he began his speech:
“Today’s breakfast is a perfectly roasted dish. The skin is glazed with sugar, and the juicy meat pairs exquisitely with vegetables for a sublime flavor.”
He then lifted the dome covering the dish with flair.
“Oh, this is…”
As I prepared to give a polite compliment, loud clapping echoed around me.
The head maid and other maids nearby applauded enthusiastically.
