Chapter 10
The crown prince confessed to Ashley at that banquet. It was practically a public confession.
All the nobles there heard it. But the crown prince overestimated Ashley too much.
Ashley was someone who couldn’t understand unless things were said directly.
‘I would like you to be by my side.’
Her brain couldn’t accept such words as a confession. Ashley had no idea the crown prince was confessing to her and cheerfully replied.
‘I have Frederick and Cordelia though?’
With those absurd words, she inadvertently rejected that confession spectacularly. And she even added her own preferences.
‘Oh my, now that I think about it, everyone by my side has muscular bodies. Muscles really are attractive. Bodies without muscles are… how should I put it? Lacking in appeal. Hoho!’
Thinking about it again, Ashley Ort was not normal. How could she humiliate the crown prince like that in the imperial palace with everyone watching?
Anyway, I never imagined this story had spread among the rebels too.
It wasn’t even something I did, but I felt embarrassed for no reason and my ears burned hot.
I was bringing my hand to my heated ears when I heard a voice from behind.
“Do you have a fever?”
Adrian was standing behind me. My heart pounded in surprise at him appearing without any presence.
When I brought my hand to my heart, Adrian approached my side.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d be startled.”
It had been two days since he kicked me out of the study. I was both glad and annoyed.
Not knowing my feelings at all…
A pouty tone slipped out.
“You’re not avoiding me today?”
“When did I ever avoid…”
“What were you doing that you’re only showing your face now?”
“I was a bit busy.”
There was nothing to say when he answered like that. I shrugged and was about to get up when Adrian asked.
“By the way, may I check something briefly?”
“What…?”
At my words, Adrian reached out his hand. Then he placed the back of his hand on my forehead.
“You have a slight fever.”
Is that so?
I fidgeted with my ears for no reason. Adrian turned his gaze to Lucian and Kay who were still sitting in the corner.
The two had been watching me and Adrian with snickering smiles, apparently having been looking this way for who knows how long.
“You two, what are you doing over there?”
“Nothing~”
“Nothing at all!”
I looked at those annoying faces and brought my index finger to my mouth. Then I warned them with lip movements.
Be quiet. Don’t say anything.
After seeing my lip movements, Lucian smiled mischievously and stood up. His mischievous smile made people uneasy.
No way…
“Ahem! Since we’ve eaten, shall we go make the mus! cles! that Ashley likes?”
No. When did I say I liked muscles?
Ashley before the conclusion did say that, but I couldn’t help feeling wronged. It would have been good if it ended there, but Kay added her words too.
“I’m going to do the dishes! But uncle, dishes won’t build muscles, will they?”
“You have to lift heavier things!”
“I hope sister will like me too. So I’ll work hard!”
I wanted to stop that absurd conversation and was about to say something when Adrian, who was standing next to me, looked at me and asked.
“Do you like muscles, my lady?”
At Adrian’s question, Kay and Lucian simultaneously turned to look at me. The two looking at me with expectant eyes were annoying.
I eventually had no choice but to nod while crying inwardly.
“Yes… I’m crazy about them…”
Right… What do I need my dignity for? Saving the rebels comes first…
What I hoped for in this situation was one thing. That Adrian wouldn’t avoid me because of my answer…
* * *
There had been no real progress since receiving the <Supporting Character’s Helper> quest.
“Am I really going to fail at this rate?”
I thought we had become quite close, but apparently this level wasn’t nearly enough as the completion rate hadn’t risen at all. Due to this, the possessor’s insides were burning up.
“At least it’s fortunate that the time limit hasn’t decreased…”
But I couldn’t let my guard down. Since it could start anytime.
I was fidgeting with my fingertips out of impatience when the door burst open. I could tell who it was without checking.
“Kay, I told you to knock.”
“Ah, right.”
Kay backed out and closed the door. A few seconds later, a knocking sound rang out.
“Come…”
Before I could finish speaking, the door burst open. Kay, who entered the room, ran to me and hugged me tightly.
“Kay, did something happen?”
“Sister…”
Kay hesitated and continued.
“Well, you see…”
Kay came out of my embrace and slightly lifted her skirt hem. The side of the skirt was torn cleanly.
I think I knew the reason, so I made an exaggerated “tsk” sound and frowned slightly. Then Kay flinched and looked up at me with round eyes.
“You slid down the stair railing again.”
At my words, Kay’s eyes became much bigger than before.
“Gasp! How did you know?!”
How would I know? I’ve seen you use the railing like a slide several times, how could I not know?
“I told you not to do it because it’s dangerous.”
“I wasn’t going to do it… But uncle keeps teasing me saying he can do it…”
That grown adult… I should give him a good scolding when I get the chance.
I patted the head of Kay, who looked tearful, then examined the skirt. Since only the side was torn, it seemed like a few stitches would fix it.
But do I know how to sew?
Not knowing my past life was frustrating at times like this. Having no confidence in doing anything.
“Sister.”
I shifted my gaze to Kay’s voice calling me.
For some reason, she had a determined expression. And she gripped my hand that was holding the skirt tightly and said.
“You can ask the leader to fix it. I won’t be sad even if he says he can’t! It’s my fault. So don’t make that expression.”
My expression of being frustrated with myself seemed to appear difficult to Kay. Rather, seeing the child comforting me left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Whatever. If I just have a needle and thread, I’ll manage somehow.
“Who said I can’t fix it?”
“Sister, you can fix it?!”
“Yeah. Do you know where the thread and needle are?”
“I know!”
Kay, who answered energetically, took my hand.
“Sister, let’s go!”
I smiled at Kay, who had quickly become cheerful.
The place Kay took me to was a warehouse-like room piled with miscellaneous items.
It seemed to have been neglected for a long time, as dust flew when we opened the door. When I coughed from the old dust, Kay turned to look at me.
“There’s too much dust… I said we should clean it!”
“Should we clean up a bit while we’re here?”
At my question, Kay said in horror.
“How can a noble sister do such things! I’d rather ask a dog to clean.”
Am I… worse than a dog…?
“Kay, I’d do better than a dog, right? At least sister has fingers…”
“Oh my, forget it, sister. We can make uncle clean. Sister just wait here while I bring the thread.”
Kay went into the warehouse without even listening to the rest of my answer.
And after looking around for a while, she clapped her hands and headed toward a small wooden chair.
She’s trying to move that… it must be heavy…
“Kay, should I help you?”
“No, I’ll decline. I can do it!”
Kay lifted the chair as if to prove her words. The child’s face looking at me while holding the chair in both hands was triumphant.
“See, I can do it? I’m stronger than sister. Don’t worry.”
Instead of answering, I gave an awkward smile.
Kay placed the chair in front of the display cabinet and climbed on it.
The display cabinet in front had large and small bottles lined up. It looked so precarious that I couldn’t take my eyes off it.
This won’t do. I thought it would be better for me to take it out, so I was stepping into the room when a window appeared before my eyes.
[A special event will occur considering the difficulty of the hidden quest.]
“…What?”
What kind of sudden consideration is this?
“Sister, what did you say?”
Kay reacted to my flustered voice.
“Ah, nothing?”
“Sister, you were trying to sneak in right now!”
“No?”
At my shameless answer, Kay whirled around. And seeing my foot that had entered the room, she made triangular eyes.
“Your foot is inside! Don’t breathe in dust and stay there.”
I had no choice but to nod at her firm voice. Having heard the answer she wanted, Kay turned her head with a satisfied expression. I also turned my eyes to the system window.
[Special Event Occurred!
Save ‘K’ from crisis. ‘K’ will recognize you as an ‘ally.’
The completion rate of <Supporting Character’s Helper> will increase depending on the success of this event.]
Seeing the word crisis, I couldn’t focus on the other sentences. I reflexively looked up and examined Kay’s surroundings.
The legs of the chair Kay was standing on were strange. The legs had cracks abnormally.
“Ah! Sister, I think I found it! Just wait a moment!”
