~Chapter 19~
Huwaaahm—
I yawned long, and when I looked out the window, it was already dark night.
“When did it get this late?”
“It’s good you’re so focused, but skipping meals like this isn’t good, milady.”
Sophia set down a warm coffee and a plate of scones on my desk.
She must have worried I skipped dinner, because every hour she had been bringing snacks.
“Thanks to you, I think I ate everything today except a proper meal.”
“You didn’t eat any meat. You always eat meat for dinner, but today you only had bread and cookies. That won’t give you strength.”
“I’m fine, I’m fine. I’ve been going to the training grounds lately, so my stamina is better.”
I made a fist and showed her my arm.
It was barely noticeable, but compared to the first day I came here, my forearm had some faint lines of muscle.
That must have come from all the kneading and mixing while baking.
“You really do look healthier than before. You don’t even catch colds now.”
“See? So missing one dinner isn’t a big deal.”
Dinner wasn’t important right now.
I sipped the coffee for caffeine and picked up my pen again.
The reason I was stuck at my desk from day to night was for achievement points.
At first, hearing that I had to influence couples to unlock them felt overwhelming. But giving up wasn’t an option.
My will to help couples was already strong—so all I had to do was make a big enough influence.
That was why I decided to act like a nosy matchmaker, interfering in every step.
“Hm. There’s no information on this lady at all.”
The problem was that gathering info about the knights’ love interests wasn’t easy.
If they were knights or socialites, fine—but if they were the quiet type who stayed at home, not much came out even with background checks.
“Is something not going well?”
Sophia asked when she saw me frowning with my pen.
“I keep getting love consultations, but I feel like I don’t have enough ability to help.”
“What are you saying, milady! You’ve helped me so much already!”
“No, Sophia. I really don’t have enough.”
I turned on the “thinking” emoji and pulled up Sophia’s affection list.
‘See? These abilities are so weak.’
Knowing it’s about romance, or seeing who they like—it wasn’t enough to actually help.
My basic options before upgrades were like chicken ribs—something there, but not worth much.
Ping!
Just then, a new system window appeared.
System
Love Arrow hit!
–♥->
‘Josh Maxner’s’ love has been fulfilled.
“What?!”
The window sparkled brightly, just like the day Sir Harbor’s confession succeeded.
This time, it was the colleague Sir Claire had told me about—the knight’s love had finally worked out.
I quickly opened my status window.
System
Hidden Achievement Reward Ability:
I Can See Your Affection!
Extra Option –
Unlocked info stage: 1
Progress to next stage… (2/3)
This morning the number was 1. Now it was 2.
Just one more couple! Only one!
That meant I was one step away from Stage 2. I clenched my fists with new determination.
“W-what’s wrong?”
Sophia looked startled at my sudden change of mood.
Speaking of Sophia, why hadn’t her couple triggered anything yet?
“Wait… Sophia, you accepted his proposal, right?”
“Eh? Oh. Yes, I accepted.”
“And you two are still close?”
“Yes, of course.”
She blushed and turned her head.
From the way she acted, their relationship looked fine. So why no system window?
“Actually… tomorrow, I’m going to meet his parents.”
“Already?”
How many days had they even been dating?
The system was slow, but Sophia’s romance was lightning fast.
I thought proposals here were just the step before engagement, but maybe not.
“I wasn’t planning to marry so soon, but his parents said they wanted to meet me.”
“Well, families have to talk if it’s an engagement.”
“For commoners like us, engagement isn’t common, milady. Usually, after a proposal, we marry within a year.”
“So basically, you’ll marry fast. You only just became lovers and already got a proposal.”
“Yes, but… since it’s him, I think marrying quickly would be okay.”
She smiled with red cheeks.
I sighed with relief.
‘Then maybe the window only pops up after marriage?’
That was the only explanation I could think of.
“I’ll sincerely wish for your fast and happy marriage.”
“Thank you, milady.”
Sophia would be happy, and I’d get my upgrade. Everyone won.
“Let’s go to your room. I’ll help pick out clothes for tomorrow.”
I stood, ready to help her prepare for meeting her future in-laws.
“Uh… I was going to wear the altered dress. Is that okay?”
“That one’s nice, but we had more tailored, right? You need a style that’s a meeting-the-parents free pass.”
“Meeting-the-parents free pass…?”
“Something adults will like. You’ll see.”
I waved it off and opened the door.
But standing outside was… someone.
“What the—?!”
I thought it was Eric, but he was just standing beside the stranger. He wasn’t moving, which meant it wasn’t dangerous.
Still, my heart jumped, and I lifted the candle to see the face.
“Kyaaah!!”
The shadowed face that appeared in the flickering light was so scary, I screamed.
Panicking, I bolted for the other door—
“Ah!”
But there too, a woman with a shaded face was standing silently.
“Kyaaaa!!”
My mind gave up. I fainted.
“Ugh…”
Ouch, my head.
The first thing I felt when I opened my eyes was a pounding headache. My body was heavy, like lead, and even sitting up was hard.
“Milady! Are you alright?”
Sophia helped me up carefully.
“Sophia… why does my head hurt so much?”
“You hit your head on the door when you fainted yesterday. The doctor said it’s just a bump, nothing serious. But does it hurt badly?”
“…Ah!”
Yesterday’s intruders!
The terrifying faces flashed through my mind. No wonder I fainted like I was in a haunted house.
Luckily, it was just a mild concussion.
“When you fainted, the whole mansion was in chaos. The Viscount even ran to fetch your personal doctor from the annex…”
“If you had seen their faces, Sophia. Ugh, even now it gives me chills. Who were those people?”
“…Milady, are you really okay in the head?”
She looked worried.
Did I say something strange?
I thought back over my words—no, nothing odd.
“Why are you looking so scared? It was dark, but… I really didn’t see them clearly…”
“Right? It was dark, that’s all. Of course you recognized them. No way you’d fail to know your own parents.”
…What?
She sighed in relief, finally smiling again.
But I couldn’t smile.
“…Parents?”
“Yes, the Viscount and the Madam.”
Those scary intruders… were the Viscount and his wife?!
The truth hit me like a storm, and my head spun.
