Chapter 43
“Did you call for me, Your Highness?”
The familiar voice belonged to Lilfey.
I’d deliberately reinstated her as a maid—specifically telling her that if the bell rang, she had to be the first to show up. It had been hard enough to see her face at all.
“Adrian. Ease up on that expression. You look like you’re about to eat her alive.”
“If you wanted me to kill her right in front of you, you’ve brought her at just the right time.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“How is that nonsense? Killing her doesn’t sound too bad either, Your Highness.”
What the hell? Even Francis is like this now?
“Well, it’s the first time we’ve agreed on something, you damn mutt.”
“Who are you calling a mutt? You’re no better, Lord Russell. You’re more like a fox. A white fox.”
“Quiet, both of you beasts.”
Their gazes clashed midair. Adrian still hadn’t let go of my hand, so I had to look at Lilfey from an awkward angle.
Her lips were chewed raw—she must’ve bitten them over and over again. Her fingernails were short, her lips looked as if they were bloodstained. She couldn’t even make eye contact; both hands gripped her apron tightly. She was clearly terrified.
[Quest Triggered! — Mirror of Truth III]
Lilfey is trembling with fear!
Choose one of the following options to guide the conversation:
- Why do you think I called you here?
- Why don’t you take off your clothes?
- I spared your life, so now it’s time for punishment. What kind of punishment do you deserve? (Auto-execute)
- Kneel.
Number 3 is absolutely out of the question. Auto-execute? NO WAY.
Number 2—what, are you insane? Make a girl undress in front of other men? Hell no.
So… 1.
“Why do you think I called you here, Lilfey?”
“A-ah…”
At that, she started trembling harder, darting anxious glances around.
Adrian, looking bored, took my hand and led me to sit on the bed.
“What are you doing? I’m in the middle of talking.”
“Sit down while you do it. You were just carried here—looks like you can barely stand.”
His low voice, unusually gentle, made me feel weird.
Then the bed dipped as he sat beside me.
“P-please spare me… Your Highness…!”
Francis’ hand had drifted toward the hilt of his sword. Lilfey, shaking in terror, suddenly prostrated herself flat on the floor.
[Lilfey / Imperial Slave]
▼ Lilfey fears Princess Kiira Fletcher Gabriella Bastian Gracie more than you.
What? Why would she fear Kiira more than me?
I’m the one who can literally order her execution right now.
Lilfey had always taken my sister’s side, but—ah. So that’s it. Kiira’s already gotten to her.
“Lilfey.”
“Y-yes… Y-yes, Your Highness…”
“You said you were from an orphanage, right?”
“Y-yes…”
Her forehead pressed against the floor as she knelt. I couldn’t see her face, but her voice was shaking like crazy.
“I gave you two chances. Once, when you served as my maid—I spared you because you obeyed well.
And again, even after you betrayed me, I still let you live.”
“Y-your Highness…”
“My sister approached you, didn’t she?”
Her sobs broke out again. She hesitated, then looked up at me.
What I saw in her eyes was fear—and despair.
And maybe, a tiny bit of hope.
“You won’t get a third chance.”
“Y-your Highness…”
“What did my sister say to you?”
At some point, Verdin had entered the room. I hadn’t even heard the door.
No doubt the Emperor told him to watch.
“P-Princess Kiira… she… she didn’t… didn’t say anything…”
“So you did meet her.”
“Ah, um… I-I mean…”
[Please select again!]
- Why do you think I called you here?
- Why don’t you take off your clothes?
- I spared your life, so now it’s time for punishment. What kind of punishment do you deserve? (Auto-execute)
- Kneel.
Again, 1.
[Invalid Approach.]
Are you kidding me?
[Invalid Approach.]
What the hell?
3 is off-limits…
Then… I have to try 2?
If that doesn’t work, I’ll be forced into 3!
But why undress her?! What about her dignity?!
Sure, I’m playing a villain, but this is insane!
“Huh… mmph…!”
Why can’t I talk? Hey! At least let me swap out the witnesses first!
You can’t make me strip someone in front of these guys!
Even I have limits!
[▼ Time limit: 10… 9… 8…]
Wait, what?!
[▼ Time limit: 5… 4… 3… 2… 1.]
I didn’t choose in time.
[Time expired — random option selected!]
“Why don’t you take off your clothes?”
Wait—what?!
Only #3 was supposed to auto-execute! Why is this automatic too?!
“What the hell…”
“Your Highness?”
“Ah…”
My head throbbed.
There must be a reason for this command. Fine. If the system insists, I’ll just… go with it.
“Sir Francis.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Strip Lilfey.”
“Y-your Highness…! P-please… no…”
Lilfey trembled pitifully. Francis, surprisingly, just stared at me.
Then, slowly, he spoke.
“I refuse.”
“What?”
“Why should I undress another woman? I refuse. It’s filthy.”
“What kind of thing to say is that?! Filthy?!”
I scolded him, utterly baffled, but he just looked away with a pout.
“I still refuse.”
“Then at least hold her still.”
“N-no, I… I can’t—!”
“I’ll do it.”
Verdin stepped forward. The look he gave Francis was pure contempt—so sharp it almost made me laugh.
Francis sighed and reluctantly grabbed Lilfey from behind. His arms locked tightly around her shoulders from under her armpits, keeping her from struggling.
“Where shall I start?” Verdin asked calmly.
While Francis looked half-dead with disgust, Verdin was coldly composed—probably just obeying orders, even if he didn’t get why.
“Lilfey. I’ll ask you one last time. What did my sister tell you?”
“I… I-I didn’t…! She didn’t say anything!”
“Do it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Adrian, hand still gripping mine with that 50kg weight of pressure, looked utterly bored.
He’d seen me cause enough chaos to find this routine, apparently.
“P-please, Your Highness!”
As the maid’s dress came off, she was left in a white negligee.
A wave of relief hit me. If she’d been completely exposed, I might’ve rage-quit this whole damn “game.”
Maybe #3 would’ve been better?
No—who knows, it could’ve triggered some whip scene or something.
This game is definitely rated 19+.
If it came to “punishment,” there’s a 99.9% chance it wouldn’t stop at just hitting.
“Show me your thigh.”
—That wasn’t me speaking!
The words just came out on their own!
Was there something on her thigh?
“Y-yes…”
“Agh…!”
She trembled, trying to twist free from Francis’ grip.
Her small hands were clenched into fists; her tear-streaked face was a wreck.
Finally, as if resigning herself, she bit her lip hard, squeezed her eyes shut, and turned her head away.
Verdin slowly reached toward her skirt—and met Francis’ gaze.
There it was again. That look.
The same distrustful, doubtful eyes that said, I don’t believe in you.
Then—
Bang!
“Gracie!”
“Huh?”
No knock, no warning—an uninvited guest burst in.
“What the hell is this?!”
“Why are you here?”
“I heard there was a disturbance and came straight in. But what the hell is going on here?!”
Damn it. Clayton.
He must’ve come to the palace about the Joshua incident.
And of course, he walks in now, just when it looks like I’m torturing a maid!
The system was supposed to be on my side—why didn’t it block him?!
And clearly, he’s planted his own spies around me too.
“Stop barging in without knocking.”
“There was no one outside. I thought something serious had happened.”
“That’s your excuse?”
“I’m sorry. But seriously, what is this?
Why are you holding hands with that fox?”
“Normally, wouldn’t you ask why I’m bullying a maid first?”
“Ah.”
His eyes didn’t even blink.
He just stared coldly, like a predator eyeing prey.
I wasn’t scared of him—my palm was just sweaty from Adrian’s grip, so I pulled away.
Immediately, the 50kg pressure vanished.
Then Adrian grabbed my hand again. The weight vanished—like magic.
“See, that’s why you got dumped,” I said flatly.
“Is your brain made of muscle too? What’s the big deal about holding your fiancée’s hand?”
“You done yapping, weakling? Don’t think I don’t know—you almost died trying to hunt a single bear today.”
“You exaggerate.”
“Took five men to take down one bear, and you call yourself a knight? Pathetic.”
“I’m a magistrate, not a knight. And it wasn’t five men—it was just me.”
God, I’m tired.
“Verdin.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“P-please! Your Highness!”
At my call, Verdin lifted the hem of Lilfey’s negligee in one swift motion.
“This… this is…?!”
