Chapter 6
“Are you alright? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
“Uh…”
Only then did my senses snap back.
I realized I was in Lowell’s arms.
“Ah—!”
I immediately pushed against his chest and sprang away like a startled rabbit.
“I-I’m fine!”
My heart was pounding wildly.
I couldn’t forget the look in Lowell’s eyes from just now.
It was the exact same look he had before preserving me in the specimen ending.
I almost peed myself on the spot.
There’s no way he’s planning to turn me into a specimen this early… right?
Still, that ending left a strong impression.
Unable to meet the eyes of a specimen-obsessed mage, I avoided his gaze and spoke awkwardly.
“…Thank you for saving me.”
Lowell stared at me for a moment, then smiled softly.
“My disciple was in danger. As a teacher, it’s only natural that I save her.”
I quickly checked the system window.
It was quiet.
‘His affection didn’t go up. Thank goodness.’
If it kept rising here, it would only be a matter of time before I ended up preserved alive.
Meanwhile, Lowell glanced around. The snowfield spiders were all dead, lying on their backs.
“It seems the number of monsters has indeed increased. Snowfield spiders are nocturnal. They don’t normally come out during the day. They hunt large animals or monsters at night. Humans are inefficient prey during the day.”
He approached one of the corpses.
“These must be a group pushed out of their territory due to overpopulation.”
Then he put on leather gloves.
“Well, this works out nicely. I have something to do.”
Lowell opened the spider’s mouth and pulled out its fangs.
He yanked them out as easily as pulling carrots. For someone so slender, his grip strength was terrifying.
“The palace sends magical materials, but their condition is often terrible. Sometimes the important parts are damaged, or removed too late to be useful. Magical materials require delicate work.”
He continued while examining the body.
“I don’t think the palace supply team understands that. So I handle it myself.”
Wait. Handle what?
Confused, I watched him pull a knife from his coat.
The sharp blade gleamed coldly.
I swallowed hard.
“Right before or right after death. That’s the perfect timing. You must remove the organs before blood circulation fully stops to preserve freshness. And most importantly…”
He stabbed the knife into the spider’s head.
The wet slicing sound made my skin crawl.
“You must remove only the necessary parts without damaging them. Otherwise, the material is ruined.”
He pulled the knife out, inserted his fingers into the cut, and took something out.
He placed it carefully into a specially made glass bottle.
Then he smiled gently and showed it to me.
“This is how you collect materials.”
I finally exhaled.
It took me a second to realize he had removed the spider’s eyeball.
‘Can you please be more specific with your subject when you talk?!’
And of all people, why is the specimen guy saying things like that?
I nearly fainted on the spot.
***
After finding the cursed item at the duke’s estate, Lowell overestimated my abilities and increased the intensity of my mana training.
No matter how much I trained, I couldn’t sense even a trace of mana.
Lowell’s expression grew stiffer by the day.
“This is strange… How did she detect dark magic with this level of mana?”
I flinched at his muttering.
Just then, a servant approached.
“Lord Cyprian, His Highness Caliton is requesting your presence.”
“The Crown Prince?”
The empire, troubled by the increasing number of monsters, had formed an investigation team.
Caliton must have called Lowell for that.
“That’s all for today’s training.”
“Yes, Master.”
Hearing the name of my former fiancé after so long felt strange.
I had played the game for three weeks straight and grown somewhat attached.
Thinking about how Caliton had been poisoned at the wedding made me feel a little sorry.
But I refused to pity a character made of code.
After Lowell left, I headed toward the garden.
I had something else to do today.
When I reached the fountain, I saw my target.
Jerome stood walking through the garden in his black uniform, posture perfectly straight.
His movements were as neat and precise as the buttons on his uniform.
I waved and ran toward him.
“Duke!”
Maybe it was because my stamina was only Level 1. That short run left me breathless.
If I had known I’d be this weak, I would’ve put at least one point into stamina.
Jerome looked at me catching my breath and spoke.
“It seems Lord Cyprian is quite lenient regarding palace etiquette.”
“….”
This jerk.
Is he implying I lack manners?
So what if you’re handsome?
I glared at him.
His gaze shifted to my sweaty forehead.
I prepared to snap back at whatever he said next.
Instead, he took out a dark navy handkerchief.
It was neatly pressed linen, embroidered with the Winston family crest.
“There are many eyes watching in the palace. It’s best to be cautious.”
A faint musk scent drifted from it.
Oh.
That caught me off guard.
I accepted the handkerchief and wiped my forehead carefully.
“…Why are you at the palace?”
“I was summoned by the Crown Prince.”
So he had been called for the same reason as Lowell.
I immediately activated my skill.
[Activating “Charm.”]
“If we keep running into each other like this, Aisha’s heart might explode from excitement! Will you take responsibility?”
[Jerome Winston’s affection has increased by 10.]
[Jerome Winston’s Affection: 31]
Affection
Jerome: 31
Lowell: 25
??? : 0
??? : 0
??? : 0
Finally!
Jerome’s affection surpassed Lowell’s.
‘I don’t care what comes out of my mouth. As long as it goes up!’
Jerome spoke calmly.
“Responsibility? That is a surprising statement. Isn’t that something said between lovers?”
You’re surprised, yet your affection keeps rising.
“Don’t worry. I was just happy to see you.”
I casually waved my hand and tucked his handkerchief into my dress. I’d wash it and return it later.
“Have you been sleeping well lately, Duke?”
“Thanks to you.”
He nodded.
He looked much healthier than before. His eyes seemed brighter, and his cheeks had more color.
He looked like a different person.
“Miss Aisha.”
Here it comes.
I already knew what he would say, but I pretended ignorance.
“Yes?”
“If you are willing, would you join me for a meal? As thanks for your help at the estate, I would like to treat you to lunch.”
Yes. Finally asking me on a date.
I answered immediately.
“Of course. Shall we go?”
He nodded.
“Let’s.”
He escorted me into a black carriage.
After we got in, Jerome stared silently out the window.
The quiet was suffocating.
“I… um. Has the culprit been caught?”
“The investigation is ongoing.”
“I see. I hope they’re caught soon.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
“….”
“….”
Awkward silence.
I’ve never been good at talking to men.
‘There’s a reason I was single my whole life.’
And Jerome was just as quiet.
I wasn’t sure if that meant we were compatible or not.
Trying to ease the tension, I asked,
“What is your relationship with Lady Vivian?”
Know your enemy to win.
If I wanted to deal with Vivian, I needed information.
“Our families have known each other since the previous generation.”
“I see…”
That was longer than I thought.
If Vivian had liked him since childhood, that must have been a painful one-sided love.
Honestly, I only got this far because of the Charm skill. Without cheats, Jerome wouldn’t have even looked at me.
“Are you concerned about Lady Vivian?”
I looked at him curiously.
“Of course.”
“May I ask why?”
“Because…”
Because she poisoned me.
And she might do it again.
I couldn’t say that outright.
“It’s difficult for me to explain.”
That wasn’t a lie.
I lowered my head, avoiding his gaze.
Then—
[Jerome Winston’s affection has increased by 1.]
[Jerome Winston’s Affection: 32]
Huh?
Why did it go up here?
