IDTRAFTML 29

~Chapter 29~

Richard seemed to have misunderstood something.
I didn’t even ask about preferences, but he jumped to conclusions.

“Richard. I only said I was curious about what kind of person His Highness the Crown Prince is. I never said I was interested in him.”

“Being curious is the same as being interested, isn’t it?”

…Well, that’s not completely wrong.

I paused, unable to answer right away, and Richard tilted his head to the side as if to say, See? I knew it.

No, you’re misunderstanding me.

“Broadly speaking, yes, it’s interest, but that’s not what I meant. It’s like when someone new comes to your house—you just wonder who they are. That kind of curiosity, nothing more.”

“You could read the newspapers. There’s plenty of talk about my brother there. The fact that you’re asking me makes it suspicious.”

“Good grief! I asked because His Highness seems close to you and Lysa. As a friend! I just wanted to know what kind of person he is.”

Annoying!

I stressed the word as a friend to make it clear.
From the start, I had no intention of starting anything with anyone here.

After all, I’ll return to reality eventually—so why bother?
Love here was nothing more than a luxury and a waste.

“Fine, let’s say that’s true for now.”

Just like the word for now implied, suspicion still lingered in Richard’s eyes as he looked at me.
Because of that, my chest felt heavy and suffocated.

“Why won’t you believe me?”

“…Do you really not know?”

“I really don’t, so please tell me.”

“I didn’t think I’d have to say this, but… think about your past.”

My past? What about it?

I tried to recall, but nothing came to mind.
It wasn’t like I did anything suspicious—I only just met Bastian for the first time.

Before that, Amelie liked Richard, didn’t she?

“Ah.”

Right. Amelie used to like Richard.
I had completely forgotten that.

So what Richard meant was: Don’t tell me you fell for my brother just because he looks like me.

Honestly, Richard and Bastian don’t look that much alike, but still—I had to clear this huge misunderstanding first.

“Since you brought it up, Richard… my type has changed.”

“My type?”

“Yes. I like black hair now.”

In my soul runs the blood of a Korean girl—
Black-haired male leads, northern grand dukes, survival-type wounded men with muscles.

Even before I possessed Amelie, my taste was always steady like a pine tree.

So there was no way my heart would beat for golden-haired princes or crown princes.

“When did that happen?”

“Huh? What?”

“When did your type change to black hair?”

“If you ask when… hmm. Recently, the main character in a novel I read had black hair, so maybe that’s why.”

I had no excuse, so I just told the truth.

Pfft.

A tiny deflating sound came from inside my hands.

‘What, was that a laugh?’

I realized it was Omok-i mocking me, so I squeezed my hands tighter.
I felt his wings flap in protest.

“Your type changed just because of a novel?”

Even though my palms were obviously moving, Richard didn’t seem to care and asked again with disbelief.

Before answering, I put on a dreamy, lovestruck face.

“Yeah, it’s true. Jet-black hair, eyes full of sorrow… Don’t you think a man like that would be so cool?”

“Jet-black hair, eyes full of sorrow… Don’t you think a man like that would be so cool?”

“You really think that’s cool?”

“You wouldn’t understand because you’re a guy. Respect my taste, okay?”

My acting was perfect, and finally Richard’s suspicious look disappeared.
But instead, he gave me a stare that looked… displeased.

“Calling that a ‘taste’… you really have no backbone.”

What was that?

Maybe he muttered it quietly, but my ears caught it loud and clear.

‘Does every woman’s ideal type have to be you?’

This is exactly why guys who are too popular are insufferable.

“Sorry for not having a backbone.”

Anyway, the misunderstanding was cleared up.
Now I needed to find out more about Bastian.

But I didn’t want to ask Richard anymore.
And in the Imperial Palace, asking around openly would raise suspicion—after all, Bastian’s position wasn’t ordinary.

That left only one method.

I had to play cupid, pair up couples, and unlock the lock floating over Bastian’s head.

“It’s time for me to return to my role as Cupid of the knight order.”

The Cupid of the knights was back.

…Or so I thought.

“If I had known this would happen, I should’ve just stayed in the Imperial Palace!”

The moment I returned home after thanking Richard, I was locked inside the mansion.

I considered sneaking out, but I couldn’t even try.
Viscount Garnet had threatened to fire Eric if I left the house without permission.

“Here are today’s letters.”

Eric placed five or six letters on the desk.

These letters were my substitute for romance counseling.
Right after I was grounded, I asked Sir Claire for help, and he arranged for this “long-distance counseling” through letters.

At least I could still give advice by letter—that was something.

System
Hidden Achievement Reward Ability:
You Can See Their Affection!
Additional Option –

Viewable Information Level: 2
Progress to next level… (3/7)

When I checked the level in my status window, I felt happy for a moment… then annoyed again.

Even if I helped couples and raised the option level in this miserable situation—what was the point?
I still couldn’t see Bastian.

The past few days at the mansion had been painful and frustrating.

“I need to write replies, but I don’t want to…”

“If you don’t feel like it, then rest for today. You’ve been busy even while staying here.”

“Should I? Then what should I do instead?”

I thought about Eric’s suggestion.
But the problem was—I didn’t know how to rest.

At least in the Imperial Palace, Richard or Sir Claire sometimes came to chat with me, so I wasn’t bored.
But now, staying in the mansion with nothing to do, the time just felt empty.

‘I need dopamine. Something fun to cheer me up.’

I needed something to heal my tired mind and fill my heart, something to make my day exciting.

I put on a “thinking” emoji and looked around at the servants, each busy with their tasks.

“Isn’t there anything fun to do…”

But no matter how many hearts, money, and emojis floated above their heads, nothing caught my interest.

“Shall I bring you a book to read?”

“No, it’s fine.”

I answered Eric, who was trying his best to help, then turned my head away.
And at that moment, I noticed a heart floating above his head.

“Eh?”

“My Lady!”

But before I could think about it deeply, Sophia suddenly opened the door and entered.

“Sophia!”

I hadn’t seen her for a while since coming back from the palace, so I was very glad.
Sophia ran to me and grabbed my hands.

“What on earth happened? I heard everything about the palace…”

“Thanks to that, I got to rest plenty in the Prince’s palace.”

“You didn’t rest because you wanted to, my Lady. Are you really fine now?”

“Yes, I’m even healthier now. Did you enjoy your vacation, Sophia?”

“Ah, yes… of course.”

Something about her answer wasn’t convincing.

The day before I met Jonagel, Sophia had taken a long three-week vacation.
She used all the days she had saved up.

But judging from her lukewarm response, it didn’t seem like she enjoyed it.

“Was your vacation worse than you expected?”

“Oh, no. It was a long break, but thanks to the Viscount’s permission, I went on a good trip.”

“Really? You went with your lover, right?”

“Ah…”

Sophia’s face grew troubled at my question.

Did she have a fight with her lover during the trip?

If so, then her strange reaction earlier made sense.

But then—her next words went far beyond what I had imagined.

“My Lady… the truth is… I broke off my engagement.”