Chapter 4
“That is…”
I couldn’t exactly say I knew because I had already experienced it before.
If I had known he would look at me so suspiciously, I would have at least pretended to search around a little.
But I didn’t have the patience to replay something I had already gone through countless times. So I made up a simple excuse.
“…I just had a bad feeling.”
“A bad feeling?”
Lowell tilted his head slightly. The doubt in his eyes hadn’t disappeared.
Just when I thought my excuse sounded too ridiculous—
Lowell let out a small laugh.
“It seems the training has been effective. I’m glad we’ve been consistently practicing mana control.”
I let out a sigh of relief inside. It seemed my random excuse had worked.
“To sense the presence of a curse already, when you’ve only just begun training. It appears my disciple does have a good eye for things.”
“Haha… it’s thanks to having such an excellent master.”
“Then perhaps we should increase the intensity of your training next time.”
“….”
That really isn’t necessary.
From now on, I decided not to act like I knew things. I’d just pretend to struggle a bit.
***
Back in my room, I changed into a dress I had prepared.
It wasn’t flashy, but it showed off my shoulders and neckline in a subtle way, highlighting a gentle femininity. The soft cherry blossom color matched Aisha’s pink hair nicely.
Tonight’s dinner was a perfect opportunity to impress Jerome. I had to appeal to him somehow.
When dinner time came, I followed the servants to the banquet hall.
Just as I was about to sit down, Lowell entered. His eyes slowly traveled over me in my dress.
His steady gaze made me embarrassed.
“Haha… does it look strange?”
Is it really that bad?
If it truly looked awful, I was ready to run back and change. I couldn’t afford to lose Jerome’s tiny and precious affection points.
As I waited anxiously, Lowell smiled gently.
“I apologize for staring. You’re so beautiful that I couldn’t help myself.”
At the same time—
[Lowell Cyprian’s affection has increased by 5.]
[Lowell Cyprian’s Affection: 25]
Damn it!
I didn’t dress up for you! Stop increasing!
Jerome’s affection was crashing, yet the specimen-obsessed mage’s affection kept rising. I was losing my mind.
I opened the affection window in my mind.
Affection
Lowell: 25
Jerome: 0
??? : 0
??? : 0
??? : 0
Jerome was at 0, while Lowell was at 25.
At this rate, it felt like the system was trying to push me into the specimen ending.
This was bad. If I didn’t want to be preserved like a display piece, I needed to raise Jerome’s affection immediately.
Right then—
“You’ve arrived.”
I turned around. Jerome was standing there.
This was my chance.
Like a peacock spreading its feathers, I slightly lifted the hem of my dress and bowed.
“It’s good to see you again, Duke.”
Yes, peacocks are male and I’m a human female, but accuracy didn’t matter right now.
I had to make up for earlier.
Look at me. I dressed up for you. Notice me.
But Jerome showed almost no reaction. He only gave a small nod with his usual indifferent expression.
Is it because his affection is 0…? All this effort for nothing.
Just as I felt disappointed—
[Jerome Winston’s affection has increased by 1.]
[Jerome Winston’s Affection: 1]
It went up!
But only by 1? That’s painfully small.
At this rate, the specimen ending was right around the corner.
Feeling anxious, I quickly activated my Charm skill.
[Activating “Charm.”]
“Uuuh~ Duke! How’s this dress? 1: Pretty, 2: So pretty it blinds you, 3: So pretty you want to marry me right now!”
Goosebumps covered my skin.
Every cell in my body rejected what I just said. My toes curled in embarrassment. I wanted to rip out my tongue and wash it with bleach.
Jerome, who had been silently watching me, spoke in a flat voice.
“I am not knowledgeable in such matters, so it is difficult for me to answer.”
“….”
Is this Charm skill fake? I used it, so why is his reaction like this?
Is his affection going to drop again? There’s barely any left to lose.
Just as my heart started pounding nervously—
[Jerome Winston’s affection has increased by 10.]
[Jerome Winston’s Affection: 11]
I wanted it to go up, but not because of that line.
Jerome must seriously be out of his mind.
When I played the game before, I thought Jerome was just bad at expressing himself despite being prickly on the outside.
But now I wondered if he wasn’t just awkward—maybe he had strange taste.
…Should I switch to another male lead?
I have to romance someone with this kind of preference?
My vision went dark.
***
Dinner was lavish.
Musicians played elegant music in the hall, and delicious food filled the table.
I cut into a turkey leg while listening to Lowell and Jerome talk.
“I hear the number of monsters has increased lately. How is the north?”
“They increase every year, but security has been strengthened. There has been no major damage.”
“Well, with you guarding the north, Duke, I suppose I worried unnecessarily.”
They continued discussing monsters, politics, and the state of the empire.
I had nothing to add, so I quietly sipped my wine.
While they talked, I diligently finished even the sherbet dessert.
Then Jerome addressed me.
“Miss Aisha.”
“Cough!”
I had just stuffed a large spoonful of sherbet into my mouth and started choking.
Jerome handed me a glass of water.
“Th-thank you.”
Was I too focused on eating?
As I drank the water he offered, he said something unexpected.
“I apologize for earlier.”
Earlier? He meant pushing me away at the training grounds?
Right. Even you thought that was too much, didn’t you?
At least he had enough conscience to apologize.
I smiled at him.
“It’s alright. I touched you without permission.”
I’ll be the bigger person.
Learn from me.
“More importantly, I hope we can catch whoever cursed you. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“You’ve already helped enough today.”
“Still… I’m worried something might happen to you.”
I spoke as sincerely as I could.
If Jerome died from another curse, that would be a disaster.
And I needed to show him that I cared. His affection might rise even a little.
Jerome took a sip of wine and set the glass down.
“I appreciate your concern, but I am capable of taking care of myself.”
This is not easy.
Not easy at all.
Jerome was still firmly guarded.
But honestly, this was already better than before I used the cheat.
Back then, Jerome treated me like I was invisible. He wouldn’t even look at me.
Now I had the Charm skill. If natural affection didn’t rise, I could use skills.
As long as I avoided physical contact, his affection shouldn’t drop again.
While thinking this over, I looked up and met Lowell’s gaze.
He was staring at me with an unreadable expression. It wasn’t a casual glance—it felt intent.
What is that look?
Then Lowell smiled softly with his eyes.
I returned an awkward smile.
It must be my imagination.
Making eye contact happens by chance, right?
There was no point in overthinking anything the specimen-obsessed mage did. So I brushed it off.
