Chapter 26
“You don’t look well.”
When I stepped into the training yard, the Emperor was already there. Spending more time with him these days was a relief—otherwise, my neck and back would’ve been in pieces.
“My neck hurts. My back too. It feels like my body’s about to fall apart.”
“What?! Chamberlain! Fetch the royal physician immediately!”
Normally, I would’ve told him not to make such a fuss, but I didn’t even have the energy for that now.
I hadn’t slept, and those lunatics had been dragging me around fighting until dawn—my whole body felt like a piece of gum that had been chewed to death. Not just stretched out, but limp and useless, exactly like it. Every inch of me ached as if I’d been rolled up in a straw mat and beaten.
“I heard Duke de Lebois visited yesterday.”
“Francis was with him.”
“Do you like Sir Patella?”
Why does the conversation always go that way, Your Highness… Please… stop finding new messes to step in!
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you once say you liked Sir Patella?”
“Did I say that?”
Oh no.
“Yes. You were the one who asked to have Francis Patella assigned as your bodyguard.”
Wait—that wasn’t your idea, Majesty?
“Then… could you tell me what I did wrong to Sir Francis?”
The Emperor, who had been full of concern until a moment ago, suddenly looked away awkwardly.
What kind of mess is this?! How big of a mess?!
“Father?”
Right! There’s no way a man who was assigned to protect me would get provoked enough to nearly kill me unless there’s something else going on! Why didn’t I think of that sooner? I really thought it was just because he admired Clayton!
“Father!”
He just rolled his eyes and kept his mouth shut.
“Gracie.”
“Yes, Father.”
“No matter what mistake you’ve made, I’ll always be on your side. So… perhaps it’s best not to remember things that don’t need remembering.”
He gave a pained smile, and that alone told me not to ask any further.
“Did Sir Francis Patella say anything to you?”
“No! I, um, just remembered things in bits and pieces, so I asked!”
In the distance, I spotted Francis by the front of the training yard. Our eyes met—and he quickly looked away. Maybe he was still angry about last night.
“Don’t worry. His leash is held tight. He won’t dare act threatening until you’re crowned Emperor. If anything happens, promise me you’ll come to me. Alright?”
Definitely a huge mess. I knew the princess was a disaster-maker, but I didn’t think she’d been spreading chaos everywhere she went!
“Got it.”
I was still looking at the Emperor when I noticed someone approaching behind him—a man with jet-black hair. He closed the distance in an instant, arriving with the royal physician.
“Your Majesty.”
“Rise.”
He bowed formally, then stood and came straight toward me, grasping my arm.
“May I borrow Lady Gracie for a moment?”
“Very well.”
The physician hesitated, then backed away.
Adrian smiled boldly and led me to the garden attached to the main palace.
“I heard you were looking for me.”
Huh? No, I wasn’t?
Quest! Quest for Deyridian Favor!
Improve the welfare of the Deyrid Kingdom’s citizens through Duke Adrian Russell!
Quest Rewards:
The more favor you gain with the Deyrid Kingdom, the more your qualities as Crown Princess are recognized.
You’ll be able to check how much time has passed in Player 2’s physical body. ▼
“Oh! Yes, I was! I was totally looking for you! Constantly!”
I had to complete this quest.
Lottery prizes can only be claimed for a year, after all—I needed to know how much time had passed!
Smiling like an idiot, I found Adrian suddenly much closer. If Clayton was a diamond, Adrian was more like a black diamond.
And that body—those abs were no joke either.
Maybe it was the good mood, but when he reached for my hand, I didn’t pull away.
▼ Failure Penalty:
A part of your body will have its weight applied differently than it appears.
“So, you’re planning to resettle the people of Deyrid in Bastion? To strengthen your standing as Crown Princess?”
“Yes.”
Oh! So the system had already advanced the quest on its own. How efficient! I love it.
“And without offering anything in return?”
“What do you mean? I’m going to be Emperor—if I don’t, you won’t be able to become a national advisor! You have to help me.”
“I will, of course. But… it’s not a simple favor.”
I forced my frown to relax as I looked at him. His eyes, dark as black pearls, glittered with amusement.
“What do you want?”
Of course, he wouldn’t just help for free. He wanted me to become Emperor—either to secure a political role or to get closer to my sister again.
Whatever it was, as long as Clayton still had feelings for me, Adrian would remain a useful card.
“I’d like to spend the night with you.”
Quest! You Heartless Thing II!
Adrian Russell regrets being cold toward you. Choose a reward below!
Spend the night together.
Spend the night together—with Joshua, too.
Spend the night at Adrian Russell’s mansion.
What’s there to fear? We’ve already been alone before. I can handle this.
…Future me would love to punch present me for that thought.
Option 2!
No way I’m alone with Adrian.
Choosing option 2 meant I had to go see Joshua. I was planning to anyway—after what happened last night, I felt like I owed him some comfort.
If I were Joshua, I’d probably be upset too.
“Where are you going, Your Highness?”
“To see Joshua.”
Francis, walking behind me, asked the question—and his expression was so gloomy that I stopped mid-step.
“You must be tired too, right?”
“Pardon?”
“From last night.”
You and Clayton nearly tore my neck and back off! You should feel guilty!
“Ah…”
He lowered his head, his face bright red. At least he did feel bad. Good—means you’re still human.
Francis Patella
Captain of the Royal GuardAffection toward Gracie Fletcher Gabriella Bastion: 45%
Affection toward Clayton de Lebois: 20%
Affection toward Kiira Fletcher Gabriella Bastion: –5%
Affection toward Joshua Deyrid: –1%
Oh? Joshua’s score went up a bit—poor guy.
Wait, maybe it’s not just my display that’s glitched. How could his affection for me go up after last night’s brawl?
“My neck hurts so bad… and my back too.”
He blinked a few times, and the tension melted from his face. He tried to say something but just moved his lips silently.
He really did have nice lips. Red and full and—
No! Bad thought!
This is all Clayton’s fault! That flirty bastard keeps messing with my head!
“Does your… back hurt badly?”
“My neck’s worse.”
Oh, so you’re ignoring the fact you were the one pulling on it, huh?
“I, um… your neck, about that…”
“Why did you act like that yesterday? Before, you kept defending Clayton, saying I was wrong to humiliate him and refuse his proposal.”
“I… I don’t know what came over me.”
His ears were burning red. Guess he was embarrassed.
Probably because he had to report everything to my sister, Kiira, while keeping watch over me.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
Maybe I should tell Kiira I spent the night in the same room as Clayton.
Would that reach Adrian’s ears too?
The system said his access to my status screen was blocked—so maybe it’s blocked for Kiira as well. Pity.
“I really don’t know why I did it.”
Something about his flustered face annoyed me, so I stepped closer. He took a step back. I stepped forward again.
He stopped retreating.
“Huh?”
“Your Highness.”
“Ah. Yes?”
When he called me, I realized just how close our faces were. His eyes—grey from afar—had a faint bluish tint up close. Like stormy seas, dark at the edges but shining blue within, almost like Clayton’s.
“What you said yesterday…”
“Yesterday? Oh, that!”
I asked what I’d done wrong, didn’t I?!
“Ah! Yesterday! You’re here to answer that?”
“…Yes.”
He covered his mouth with his hand, stepping back again, his face redder than ever and his eyes glistening.
Damn it, it was something serious, wasn’t it?!
Otherwise, why blush like that the moment he remembers?!
“I… I wish it were you, Your Highness.”
Oh. So he’s not talking about the past.
“Really?”
You idiot! You think I look like my sister now that the curse is weakening?! That’s why you wanted to kiss me, huh?! How dare you!
“…Yes.”
“Good luck with that. I’ll be cheering you on.”
“What? Oh… uh, thank you!”
He smiled—so innocently it was irritating.
Cheering, my ass! I hope you and my sister both crash and burn! And this damn game too! Ugh!
