Episode 1
If you were possessed as the female protagonist in a trashy, failed dating simulation game, how far should you mentally prepare yourself?
Even after lowering all your expectations as much as possible, when exactly does the moment come when you want to scream, “I can’t take this anymore!”
Lucy Adelstein reflected on the crises she had endured so far.
Was it when the “Mouth of Disaster” skill activated at a social party she barely managed to attend, turning her into a human durian?
Or when she earned the title “Legendary Fisherman” and received the undivided attention of middle-aged fishermen instead of the male leads?
No.
Those were nothing.
In fact, they only served to strengthen Lucy’s fighting spirit.
Lucy realized that this very moment was the one when she truly wanted to raise the white flag and declare surrender.
Lucy slowly scanned the scene before her eyes.
At its center stood Bartholomew Faraday.
An extra in the game whose name wasn’t even mentioned.
At Bartholomew’s feet lay a collapsed man.
“…Bartholomew?”
Lucy called out to him in a faint voice.
Bartholomew lightly flicked the blood off his sword and slid it back into its sheath.
His movements were calm and composed, showing not the slightest trace of excitement or anger.
Only after removing his gloves did he brush his hair back and look at Lucy.
Finally facing his full expression, Lucy’s eyes widened.
Bartholomew was smiling.
The perpetual gloom that had always lingered in his blue eyes had completely vanished.
The smile on his usually stiff lips carried a sense of deep satisfaction.
“Lucy.”
His smile grew even deeper.
Beep—!
A warning sound rang out, and a system window appeared.
[Error detected!]
[A critical error has occurred in the existing scenario.]
While a flustered Lucy stared at the system window, Bartholomew took a step forward.
As he approached, Lucy instinctively stepped backward.
Seeing her reaction, Bartholomew tilted his head slightly, as if he couldn’t understand it.
Continuing to back away, Lucy suddenly tripped over her own feet and fell to the ground.
“Lucy?”
Bartholomew immediately came over and knelt in front of her.
“Are you all right?”
Lucy cautiously lifted her gaze from the floor.
Bartholomew was looking at her with pure, unfeigned concern.
‘If you look at him like this, he seems exactly like the usual Bartholomew.’
Just as Lucy’s wariness began to ease a little, beep—a sharp warning sound rang out again.
[The existing scenario cannot be established.]
[The system is becoming unstable.]
The system window began to flicker uneasily and distort.
Lucy forced herself to keep her eyes fixed on Bartholomew and asked,
“Bartholomew. Was this your doing?”
Bartholomew gave no answer. Growing anxious, Lucy asked again.
“It wasn’t, right? There must be some misunderstanding?”
Beep—!
[Changing scenario to stabilize the game system.]
[Application progress: 10%]
What on earth is happening?
At that moment,
Bartholomew reached out his hand, and Lucy flinched, her shoulders trembling reflexively.
[Application progress: 32%]
Bartholomew’s hand paused briefly in midair before moving again.
It reached toward Lucy’s hair.
He gently brushed back the strands that had fallen over her face.
[Application progress: 56%]
The touch was incredibly gentle.
That only made the scent of blood coming from him feel even more dreamlike to Lucy.
After tucking her hair behind her ear, Bartholomew slowly slid his hand down along the strands.
[Application progress: 74%]
He lightly wrapped the ends of her hair around his finger and brought them to his lips.
With his eyes closed, pressing his lips softly against it, he looked like a knight pledging loyalty by kissing the instep of his king.
“I did it.”
[Application progress: 88%]
Bartholomew’s closed eyelids slowly lifted.
“Now I am the head of the Faraday family.”
[Application progress: 97%]
“So.”
His clear blue eyes looked straight at Lucy.
“Try seducing me too, Lucy.”
Ding!
[Game scenario change completed.]
‘No way.’
[‘Bartholomew Faraday’ has become the new male protagonist.]
[‘Bartholomew Faraday’ has been added to your capture targets.]
Lucy’s lips trembled.
‘We’re screwed.’
An extra who was practically just an NPC in the game had stolen the spot of a main lead.
* * *
In hindsight, Lucy should have paid closer attention to the very first system messages.
If she had, she could have mentally prepared herself for just how grueling her future in this trash game would be.
Ding!
[Welcome! We warmly welcome you to ‘Heart-Pounding Love in Akane♡’!]
[You will be playing the game as ‘Lucy,’ the second imperial princess of the Adelstein family and the female protagonist.]
Lucy frowned.
Her mind was in complete chaos because of the system windows filling her vision.
Ding!
[Although the trials and hardships ahead may make things a little difficult for you, the gameplay will be all the more enjoyable and varied because of them!]
Ding!
[We hope you carve out your own destiny and win a beautiful love♡]
The incessantly cheerful notification sounds ringing in her ears completely drained her soul.
“Ugh.”
As Lucy groaned and blinked, an unfamiliar voice spoke.
“Are you coming to?”
Lucy turned toward the source of the voice.
A man was standing by her bedside, looking down at her.
The first thing that caught Lucy’s eye was hair as white as snow.
Beneath straight brows, pale gray eyes came into view next.
Cold gaze, stiff expression.
And firmly crossed arms.
Overall, he was a handsome man who exuded a chilly aura.
‘He looks somehow familiar. Who is he?’
As if reading her thoughts, a status window popped up beside the man.
[Name: ?? Age: ??
Traits: ??
Favorability: ??]
But everything was question marks, so it was no help at all.
“Princess Lucy, are you awake?”
The man asked Lucy once more.
Irritation crept into his voice, as though his patience was running thin.
Regardless, Lucy racked her brain trying to recall the name of this strangely familiar face.
When she only stared without answering, a crease formed between the man’s brows.
In contrast, Lucy’s eyes gradually widened.
She remembered.
‘Cecil Auden.’
She hadn’t recognized him right away because the shoddy 2D art had turned into vivid 3D, but this man was one of the male leads from the game she had played.
As soon as Lucy recalled his name, the status window changed as well.
[Name: Cecil Auden Age: 18
Traits: A prodigy who became the empire’s greatest healer at the youngest age.
Favorability: ??]
Yet the favorability remained question marks.
‘Why?’
While Lucy puzzled over it, Cecil spoke again.
“Lucy Adelstein.”
He leaned forward, closing the distance between them.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and stared quietly at Lucy.
“This is the last time I’ll ask.”
“……”
“Are you awake?”
His cool voice didn’t sound like he was checking on her condition—it sounded more like a warning.
Lucy moved her lips.
She wanted to speak, but her throat felt tightly constricted.
The moment she thought some unknown force was preventing her from speaking to him—
Ding!
[Cecil Auden has asked you the same question multiple times.]
[If you do not answer before his patience runs out, it may negatively affect his favorability.]
The system, having warned Lucy, displayed a choice window.
[-Yes. I’m fine now.]
[-Who are you?]
‘Do I have to choose one of these to speak?’
As if urging her, the system window flashed rapidly.
The moment Lucy, feeling rushed, selected the first option—
Beep—!
[Warning! Event cannot proceed!]
‘What? Why?’
[Intelligence too low to respond.]
‘Intelligence…?’
Only then did Lucy notice her own small status window in the corner of her vision.
[Name: Lucy Adelstein Age: 16
Traits: The ugly duckling of the Adelstein imperial family]
As she slowly read downward, Lucy doubted her own eyes.
[Intelligence: -50 (Insight status abnormality)]
[Stamina: -50 (Health status abnormality)]
[Reputation: -100 (Charm status abnormality)]
What the hell.
These stats that add up to minus 200…?
