IDTRAFTML 44

~Chapter 44~

“It was definitely a lock…”

After sending Sir Logan away last night and returning to the mansion, I was completely lost in chaos.

He had seemed like just a slightly unusual guest, yet above his head floated a clear lock icon.

It was already strange when he said his worry was about Lyssa.
But now—Bastian and even Richard’s closest aide both had lock emojis!

My mind was so tangled that I couldn’t even bring myself to go to the counseling office.

“Young Lady, I brought ice water.”

“Thanks, Sophia.”

I drank the ice water Sophia brought me all at once.

“Did something troubling happen?”

“Not troubling… more like I suddenly ran into something big.”

“Big? Don’t tell me the business is already failing?”

“Sophia, already…?”

So you expected it to fail someday?
It was probably out of worry, but realizing she didn’t have much faith in me still stung.

“I’m sorry! You just seemed worried lately, so I blurted it out…”

“Hahaha, it’s fine. That can happen.”

“Th-then, oh! A letter arrived for you earlier.”

Sophia quickly changed the subject and handed me an envelope.

The wax seal bore a crest I didn’t recognize.

‘Who could it be from?’

I tore it open with a paper knife and checked the sender’s name.

“Lillian!”

Her name appeared after the greeting.

The letter said she was thankful to me for helping her realize her true love.
As a postscript, she added she had news to share and would visit the counseling office soon.

I had already seen the system notification, but receiving a heartfelt letter right away touched me.

“The letter seems to have good news, Young Lady. You look happy.”

“It’s from a guest. Thanks to me, she became a lover with her true love.”

“Of course she did. With your help, it’s only natural.”

“Hm.”

But then why were Sophia and Eric still like that?

I stared at Sophia, who pretended it didn’t concern her.

She gave an awkward smile, realizing what my gaze meant.

“I know you’ve been trying to bring Sir Eric and me together. And lately, Sir Eric has been expressing himself more clearly.”

“Then what’s the problem? You like Eric too, don’t you?”

“I do… but I’m afraid of how people see us.”

“Why? Did someone say something?”

Who dared interfere?!

Sophia had been boldly approaching Eric before, but now she looked deflated.

“A few days ago, I happened to meet my ex. Someone must have overheard our conversation.”

“What did he say?”

“He clung to me, saying he regretted everything. I told him I liked someone else. Then he got angry, saying I must have had another lover even before his proposal. We argued.”

“What?! He’s the reason the engagement broke, and now he’s blaming you?”

Truly shameless!

Ex-boyfriends almost never left good memories.

“Rumors spread that Sir Eric and I were already involved before the proposal. So I’ve been avoiding him.”

“Whoever spread that nonsense, just ignore it. Most of the staff know you’re not that kind of person.”

“Thank you, but… I don’t want to bring Sir Eric any trouble. If people gossip because of me, I’d feel too guilty.”

A faint sadness showed in Sophia’s strained smile.

Why was it so hard for these two to get together?

I remembered the way she blushed in front of Eric—it made me even more frustrated.

“So you avoided me for such a trivial reason?”

While I worried about what to do, Eric suddenly burst into the room.

Oh no. Eric looked angry.

Normally he was calm and composed, but today his body screamed his emotions.

I quickly stepped back to watch.

“Do you think I’d care about such worthless rumors? Or that I’d be weak enough to be swayed by them?”

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

Eric’s strong voice filled the room.
Sophia pursed her lips and turned away.

It looked like a drama scene.

The atmosphere wasn’t good, but somehow it felt like things would work out.

“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”

“I just don’t want you insulted. Why should someone as good as you hear such things?”

“Let them talk. They’re not wrong. I’ve liked you since before the proposal.”

Now that was interesting.

Both of them, heated with emotion, were spilling their true feelings.
And they were practically treating me like I was invisible.

So I just enjoyed the show like an audience member.

“I like you too, Sir Eric. But because I like you, I don’t want to make things hard for you.”

“The hardest thing for me, Sophia, is when you avoid me. If you want to stop hurting me, then accept my feelings.”

“Sir Eric…”

Wow. Eric was a natural-born flirt.

Those lines came out so smoothly it made me want to take notes.

‘Now… what will Sophia say?’

I watched with excited eyes, like it was a romance reality show.

“I couldn’t bear not seeing you! I won’t do something so foolish again!”

Bbyororong—

System
Love Arrow, direct hit!
–♥->
The love of Sophia Nina has been fulfilled.

Bbyororong—

System
Love Arrow, direct hit!
–♥->
The love of Eric Gray has been fulfilled.

Right after Sophia’s emotional words, back-to-back notifications appeared.

‘Wait… it still counts even if the target changed?’

Her original love target had changed to Eric midway, yet it still counted as success.
The system was more generous than I thought.

Curious, I quickly opened my ability status window.

System
Hidden Achievement Reward Ability:
I Can See Your Affection!
Extra Option –

Viewable Affection Level: Stage 2
Progress to next stage… (5/7)

Of course.

The number of couples completed only increased by two—Lillian’s and Sophia & Eric’s.

If duplicates counted, I’d have had all the abilities from the start.

Oh well. Time to just congratulate them.

“Congratulations on finally becoming a couple. You two were very bold.”

Clap, clap, clap.

I applauded them, partly for the show and partly because they had ignored me the whole time.

“Oh no… I’m sorry, Young Lady. Showing such a scene in front of you…”

Sophia’s face flushed bright red as she apologized over and over.

Eric bowed his head beside her.

“My apologies as well, for entering without knocking.”

“It’s fine. Thanks to you, I saw something entertaining. Especially you, Eric—I never thought you’d push forward so strongly.”

“I realized avoiding things wouldn’t solve anything. And with rumors already out, there was no retreat.”

“That’s true.”

Eric’s honest words became an answer for me too.

I had been running away, despite seeing lock icons above both Bastian and “Sir Logan.”
But what use was avoiding it now?

There was nowhere left to back away.

“Alright. I’ll go meet Richard.”

Whether it was Bastian or “Logan,” I would uncover it one step at a time.