Chapter 9. No Matter the Path, It Always Leads to a Romance Event Cheat
[You’ve won: “Overflowing Charm (7-Day Pass)”
: When used, your charm will radiate broadly. Affects everyone’s favorability level.]
“What the hell is this?”
My frosty reaction made the Administrator awkward.
【ADMIN: T-That’s strange? (;´・`)>】
【ADMIN: I really thought you’d be bouncing with joy…】
“You’re joking, right? You said these items would help me survive!”
The Administrator protested my outburst.
【ADMIN: Hey now, I never said it would help you survive!】
【ADMIN: I said it would help you achieve a happy ending, remember?】
“Same difference.”
【ADMIN: Hey, Possessor. (-`ε´-)】
【ADMIN: ‘Same difference’? Not even close.】
【ADMIN: Think back to the original genre.】
【ADMIN: It’s a romance fantasy, remember?】
“So what?”
【ADMIN: Wow, wow.】
【ADMIN: You said you read tons of romance fantasies in your past life, but you don’t know anything.】
【ADMIN: What’s the core of ro-fan (romance fantasy)?】
【ADMIN: Romantic love set in a dreamy medieval world!】
“Geez. That’s such a narrow view. Not all of them are like that nowadays, okay?”
I snorted, but the Administrator wasn’t backing down.
【ADMIN: Hmph. ✧(`↼´)】
【ADMIN: Well, the original work you’re in is exactly that — medieval setting, dripping in romance.】
【ADMIN: Ever seen a possession story that doesn’t follow the original narrative?】
【ADMIN: The key to this world is your relationship with the male lead, and all those fluttering romance events!】
A bad feeling crept into my mind.
“…Don’t tell me.”
The Administrator happily confirmed it.
【ADMIN: Yup! This draw is a cheat that pushes you straight into romance events no matter what route you take!】
【ADMIN: ( ´△｀)】
“…”
So this draw only gives items optimized for romance.
“Then the ‘happy ending’ I’m supposed to reach… Is it just ending up in a relationship with the male lead?”
I gave voice to the ominous suspicion swirling in my head.
【ADMIN: Yep, that’s it.】
The Administrator didn’t hesitate for a second.
“Sigh…”
So I have to faithfully follow the romance genre of the original work and end up with the male lead — but without following the exact original path.
What a headache.
A sigh escaped my lips.
【ADMIN: N-No, wait a minute!】
【ADMIN: Isn’t your disappointment a little too obvious? (;´・`)】
This situation was far from what I had imagined.
You said it was my happy ending… but I have so little autonomy,
When the Administrator first told me to pursue a happy ending, I had honestly imagined myself leaving this house and living in luxury and freedom.
Because that’s what a happy ending means to me.
But this system was only giving me one path.
“What if I reject this predetermined happy ending?”
【ADMIN: Huh???】
“My only goal is survival. Do I really have to go through a romance ending?”
【ADMIN: …】
“Can’t I just use the luck ability and live comfortably? Spend a lifetime rolling in money or something?”
The Administrator made a sulky face.
【ADMIN: ( ¯ㅁ¯ )】
【ADMIN: I’m literally giving you the correct answer, and you’re just ignoring it.】
【ADMIN: Were you a contrarian frog in your past life?】
【ADMIN: Ugh, this is why MZ generation is so…】
Did he just drop a Gen Z diss?
“How old even are you? Are you some kind of boomer?”
【ADMIN: Ahem ahem ahem】
【ADMIN: Is that important right now?】
The Administrator scolded me and then spoke more seriously.
【ADMIN: If you don’t reach your happy ending, your regression will never end.】
【ADMIN: That’s the rule of this world.】
“…”
A never-ending regression?
I didn’t even want to imagine that. It wasn’t just fear; it was repulsive.
【ADMIN: I mean, that’s the worst-case scenario!】
【ADMIN: Don’t take it too seriously.】
【ADMIN: The original story hasn’t even properly started yet.】
【ADMIN: Besides, you’re a competent possessor — I know you can do this.】
【ADMIN: (૭｡•̀ ◡ •́｡)૭✧】
He tried to lighten the mood as usual.
I shook my head, trying to dispel the heavy thoughts.
“So bottom line — I have to reach an ending.”
Hmm.
A lot of thoughts passed through my head about what to do next.
But I didn’t dwell on it too long.
If I have to reach the happy ending anyway, I might as well clear it as efficiently as possible.
Maybe because of all the chaos I’d been through, my mindset shifted quickly.
“If I want the happy ending, these items could come in handy.”
It all depends on how I use them.
“Better to have something than nothing.”
【ADMIN: Oh? You’re surprisingly accepting about this.】
【ADMIN: Good, good.】
【ADMIN: Let’s go for the second draw, shall we?! (๑>▽<๑)/】
The Administrator, clearly more excited than I was, opened the draw screen for me.
Well, whatever. Might as well spin the wheel again.
Maybe I’d hit something useful if I kept going.
“Spin the roulette.”
Pyolololong!
As I spoke indifferently, the roulette spun vigorously again.
Click, click, click, click, click—
It gradually slowed and finally stopped at…
【ADMIN: Gold color! That’s the best-tier item! ヘ(°◇ °)ノ】
To my surprise, it landed on a golden slot.
A radiant golden light burst from the item.
Thump, thump, thump.
My heart fluttered with anticipation.
[You’ve won: “1-Minute Genre Switch (Yandere Edition)”
: For 60 seconds, the current situation turns into a high-stakes, obsessive romance genre!]
“…”
What… level of intensity?
“Hey, Administrator. What the hell is this? I thought we had to stick to the original story.”
My pupils trembled.
“Wasn’t the original story rated for all ages? Explain yourself. Now.”
I glared at the Administrator, ready to grab him by the collar.
【ADMIN: (;´・`)>】
【ADMIN: I mean, even if it’s rated for all ages, sometimes you gotta move things along, y’know?】
【ADMIN: You can’t expect just innocent hand-holding in a romance.】
What kind of nonsense is this?
【ADMIN: Plus, the original had this too.】
【ADMIN: Just the right amount of fan service — not enough to get censored, but enough to please the readers and encourage microtransactions…】
This bastard. He’s doing whatever he wants.
Does he think words are just air?
I couldn’t take it anymore and slammed the item window shut.
Stupid romance-themed item draw.
I stomped into the toilette room, seething.
【ADMIN: Hey! You drew it, okay?! Complain to your own fingers!】
【ADMIN: Aaaaaah—! ヽ(ﾟДﾟ)ﾉ】
【ADMIN: No violence! No profanity! Protect Admin rights!】
Rights? You’re not even human.
I would’ve loved to rough him up, but he ran off.
And I had to play the role of the Crown Prince’s fiancée.
A maid timidly asked,
“Miss Rosellia, how would you like your hair styled today?”
“Do it however you think is best.”
“Then I’ll go for an elegant and graceful look today.”
I nodded.
My sea-blue hair was carefully brushed and styled into flowing waves.
My blue eyes sparkled like gemstones, as always.
My sharp, cold expression contrasted with my dazzling appearance — more than enough to captivate anyone.
While applying makeup to soften my pale complexion, the maid cautiously asked,
“I tried to highlight your natural elegance today. Do you like it, my lady?”
“It’s wonderful. You’re quite skilled.”
At my crisp compliment, the maid bowed repeatedly.
“Th-Thank you! It’s an honor, my lady!”
“…”
All that fuss over one compliment.
Maybe Rosellia herself is a walking cheat.
Gorgeous looks, and power enough to make most people kneel.
Objectively, Rosellia lacked nothing.
What a waste…
She had beauty, wealth, and power in both hands — and yet she was destined to die in disgrace.
Knock knock.
Just then, the head maid knocked on the door.
“Please hurry, my lady. His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived at the duke’s estate. He’s waiting in the drawing room.”
So it begins.
My fiancé, Perwin de Emprion.
The shining Crown Prince of the Empire.
If there’s one fatal flaw in that noble man…
…it’s that he’s the one who will lead me to my execution ending.
And after being engaged to Rosellia, he instantly falls for the heroine the moment she appears?
Well, our engagement is purely political, sure…
In the original, Perwin and Rosellia were tied together by mutual political gain.
Still, Rosellia genuinely loved Perwin. So much that it turned into mad obsession and destructive jealousy.
Perwin, who loathed Rosellia for her possessiveness and cruelty, fell head over heels for the pure and gentle heroine the moment he met her.
When Rosellia tried to tear them apart, he framed the entire Sertheia family for treason and had them executed.
Dying just for being engaged…
Avoiding Perwin at all costs is clearly the safest path.
But…
I opened the item window.
[Overflowing Charm (7-Day Pass)]
[Charm radiates widely. Affects everyone’s favorability.]
[☞ Use Item ☜]
If I want to make a good first impression, I need to build up some charm — even just a sliver of it.
Recalling my prepared strategy, I tapped “Use Item.”
