PLML 02

chapter 02:

 Raising the Male Lead’s Affection Level?

“Who are you?”

Ignoring Jayna’s words, Theorise asked directly.

His voice landed like a blade, cold and heavy enough to make most shrink back. But Jayna didn’t flinch in the slightest.

“Isn’t it proper manners to introduce yourself before asking who someone else is?”

Theorise was someone who placed great importance on etiquette.

“Theorise Le Akrana. And you are?”

“The person who’s going to be your wife starting today.”

“…What?”

Theorise trailed off, his tone making it clear he had no idea what she was talking about.

Which was understandable.

Their marriage was a political arrangement—an engagement made without a speck of either party’s consent, purely for strategic gain.

The Emperor needed the vast wealth of Count Hans’ house to keep the nobles in check. Hans, an emotional and foolish man, had nevertheless amassed a fortune through generations. He was the perfect tool.

But the Emperor had no intention of offering a precious legitimate child to some pawn. Instead, he brought forward Theorise—his illegitimate son with the late Empress, effectively exiled to a desolate province.

Count Hans felt the same. He didn’t mind strengthening ties to the imperial family, but marrying his beloved child to someone known as a “monster” wasn’t ideal. So he offered up his own illegitimate daughter—Jayna.

A marriage no one wanted. A union of bastards. And yet, everyone except the two involved was satisfied.

Jayna handed over a crumpled paper she had brought. It was a royal marriage contract.

Theorise accepted the document and nodded shortly after scanning it.

“Now do you understand?”

“Yes. I’ll show you to your room first.”

After escorting Jayna to her room, Theorise left without so much as a greeting.

The room was just as dirty and dusty as the hallway they passed.

Jayna sat on the hard bed, stamping her feet in frustration. The sheets, curtains—nothing was to her taste.

More than anything, the conditions were abysmal. Aside from a slightly larger space, it was no better than the room she’d been imprisoned in at the Count’s estate.

“Seriously? Even here, I have to clean?”

A proper duchess wouldn’t dream of cleaning—that’s what maids were for.

Jayna tossed off her uncomfortable dress. Left in something resembling a flimsy white slip, she didn’t care—no one was around to see anyway.

She forced open the stubborn window, wiped away dust, and scrubbed the floor. The stained bedsheets were tossed out the window.

She figured there must be a clean set somewhere. And if not—Theorise, who prided himself on etiquette, wouldn’t let his wife sleep without sheets. Right?

Once cleaning was done, Jayna walked to the worn-out wardrobe to change into something more comfortable.

“Kyaaaa! What the—ah! You’ve got to be kidding me! Aaaaagh!”

Jayna screamed a string of curses not found in this world as she backed into the opposite wall.

“What’s wrong?”

Theorise appeared at the sound of her scream, his voice calm as he opened the door—only to be met with Jayna in a slip. He immediately turned his head.

“My apologies.”

He started to close the door, but Jayna lunged forward and grabbed his hand. He flinched at her touch.

“Jayna Blake…?”

“Where do you think you’re going? Look! Look at that thing!”

Jayna pointed frantically at the wardrobe.

A massive spider, bigger than her face, was clinging to the moldy blue-and-white interior. Furry, with five glowing eyes—it looked like a mutant tarantula.

“Jayna Blake, please calm down. You’re in your undergarments.”

“We’re married! Who cares about underwear?!”

“…What does ‘who cares’ mean?”

“Forget that! Just deal with that thing already!”

Sensing movement, the spider leapt from the wardrobe. Jayna shrieked and hid behind Theorise.

He looked back at her, then raised a hand. A swirl of black mana formed, thin as a thread, and gently wrapped around the spider—then tossed it out the window.

“Is it done now?”

Jayna nodded rapidly and collapsed to the floor.

The spider’s grotesque image still haunted her. Especially how it had just jumped like that…

She hugged her arms tightly and rubbed at her goosebumps.

“Jayna Blake?”

There was a faint trace of concern in Theorise’s voice. Jayna forced a smile and nodded.

“I-I’m okay.”

Only then did she remember—this was an affection meter event.

‘Crap.’

She wasn’t supposed to react this way. In the game, Jayna was meant to lovingly approach the spider, say something like ‘Weren’t you lonely in there?’, and gently coax it out.

Seeing that, Theorise—so used to cold, ordinary noblewomen—would feel a spark of interest.

Jayna now recalled the reality: her screaming and cowering. Her face flushed with embarrassment.

‘Whatever. I hate bugs and amphibians. How am I supposed to pet a spider?’

Desperate to salvage the situation, she sat in place and began brainstorming.

‘Missing one event can’t ruin everything, right? It’s not like I’m aiming for the true happy ending anyway. Just the bad one…’

At that moment, a warm weight settled on her shoulders.

Theorise had taken off his robe and draped it over her.

“Wear this for now. I’ll bring you something more suitable.”

“Th-thank you.”

She didn’t know why, but the fact that Theorise, who hated revealing himself, offered her his robe—meant she’d at least gained a few affection points.

As he walked away, Jayna smiled inwardly.

“Here. Wear this.”

Theorise returned with a neatly folded dress. Jayna changed into it cautiously, eyes darting around for bugs.

Thankfully, aside from that one spider, the room was clear.

Standing before the mirror, she frowned.

He really didn’t think this through.

The dark green velvet dress clashed badly with her soft pastel-pink hair. But it was better than the rags she’d been wearing.

“Does it fit?”

“It’s a bit big, but I’m fine.”

“I’ll summon the servants tomorrow to clean and order new clothes.”

“…There are servants?”

Jayna had wondered why a grand duke’s manor had no staff.

Come to think of it, the game did mention servants appearing around the mid-game.

“Yes.”

“Then why aren’t they here?”

“…”

Theorise didn’t answer and turned to leave—only to pause and return.

“What happened to the bedsheets?”

Ah. Right.

“I threw them out.”

“…What?”

“They were disgusting. I couldn’t sleep on them, so I chucked them out the window.”

She couldn’t help but grin, imagining his expression behind the mask.

Theorise rubbed his forehead, then moved to the window to check. The sheets were long gone.

“There are no other sheets in the entire manor.”

“Wait, what?”

“The one you threw out was the last sheet available.”

“…Oh.”

“…Hah.”

How could a duke’s manor have just one set of sheets? Still, her bad.

“…For now…”

Theorise started, then sighed, arms crossed, tapping his elbow with a finger.

“…You’ll have to sleep in my room tonight.”

“Sure.”

Jayna followed him to his room without hesitation.

It was just as empty as hers—one bed, one desk, a bookshelf packed with books. Thick curtains blocked any light.

Upon entering, a familiar set of choices appeared.

• [Pull back the curtains.]
• [Examine the bookshelf.]
• [Lie down on the bed.]

All were safe, but “Examine the bookshelf” gave the most affection points. Still, Jayna didn’t need a perfect affection score.

‘Let’s open the curtains. This place is a cave. How can anyone live like this?’

She strode to the window and yanked the curtains open.

“Ugh.”

The sudden red sunlight made Theorise shield his face and step back.

“Are you a vampire or something? Open some windows, geez. You’ll get depression living like this.”

“…What is ‘depression’?”

Ah, right. This world doesn’t have that term.

“Ahem. That’s not important.”

Jayna opened both windows. Cool air swept through the room, replacing the stuffiness.

The sun was setting. The golden horizon against the forest was beautiful. As she stood under the evening light, Theorise stared at her, momentarily dazed—then quickly turned away.

“Where are you going?”

He flinched at her question.

“I thought you’d rest easier without me here.”

“Huh? I don’t mind. Stay. We haven’t even had a proper conversation yet.”

“…Very well. I’ll stay until bedtime.”

Theorise sat on the bed. Jayna followed and sat beside him, causing him to flinch slightly—but he didn’t pull away.

She glanced at the bed’s size and smiled.

“Anyway, there’s only one sheet, right? Let’s just sleep together.”