Chapter 57
Contrary to appearances, I get the sense that Yurel is a completely outrageous gag character.
Unbothered by my reaction, Yurel kept whispering.
“My lord said to tell you his heart will never change. Whether it’s the third floor or the second, it’s the same.”
I couldn’t understand this whole kidnapping method, but at least it made one thing clear—he still desperately wanted to take me away.
Perfect. A chance had come, and I should seize it. Time to switch sides already.
I wondered how long I would be forced to stick with this group on the third floor.
Just as I was about to recall something, the Crown Prince, looking faintly displeased, rebuked him.
“Sir Yurel. Do you not know etiquette? Whispering in the ear of an unmarried lady is overly familiar, and can cause her distress.”
Crown Prince Azeph’s favorability has increased.
A hundred, two hundred—meaningless numbers. I didn’t care.
Still, the fact that he could feel jealousy and his favorability could rise even while I held a bloodstained halberd… That tenacity was at least impressive.
Yurel did not avert his gaze from the Crown Prince.
“The matter was that important.”
“And what matter would that be?”
It was a situation no high-ranking person would welcome.
But perhaps from being long at Evelyn’s side, Yurel didn’t flinch in the slightest, answering calmly.
“That necklace cost 13.2 billion, commission included. That is what I conveyed. Of course, Duke Kyle gifted it freely to his friend.”
“What? 13.2 billion?”
The Crown Prince’s eyes widened. Jealousy was one thing, but 13.2 billion was indeed shocking.
I smiled brightly as if what Yurel and I had just discussed truly was about the necklace.
“As expected, Duke Kyle is a wonderful person!”
Evelyn was certainly a decisive one.
With Yurel acting as well, it was beyond doubt that Evelyn was deeply concerned with me. Everyone must already suspect he intends to pull me into his own faction.
“Since that’s the case, it can’t be helped. Let’s move together, Sir Yurel. Don’t take this as if I’m granting permission—it’s not my place, and not anyone else’s opinion either.”
That was Yeniel’s reply.
The mood grew chill.
Yet in that cold silence where no one dared show their feelings openly, we opened the door of the grand kitchen and stepped out into the rear garden on the first floor.
“It’s the first floor! It looks normal! I want to go out through that door right now, Your Highness!”
Overwhelmed by the sight before him, Max cried out to the Crown Prince.
“Max, I understand your desire to leave, but we are still on the third floor.”
“I know. Honestly, I thought so….”
Max’s shoulders drooped, as if he himself had only spoken in vain.
The Crown Prince gave his shoulder a reassuring pat.
“Still, everyone survived the fifth floor, safely passed the fourth, and now we’ve reached the third. Since the mirror world keeps its equivalence, escaping won’t be so difficult either. Let us continue on.”
“Yes, sir!”
I smiled brightly and agreed with the Crown Prince’s words.
I pretended to listen carefully, even though I didn’t quite understand.
Seeing me like that, the tense atmosphere eased slightly, and things became just a bit lighter.
Crown Prince Azeph’s favorability has increased.
Strategist Sian’s favorability has increased.
Yeniel’s favorability has increased.
Max’s favorability has increased.
For a short moment, it felt like when we had walked carefree through the fourth floor.
Ever since witnessing people torn apart at the banquet hall with no way to escape, everyone’s expressions had been grim. Now, they looked somewhat lighter.
The Crown Prince even smiled.
“Lady April is ever constant. It makes me realize anew just how precious your presence is. Since you joined us, we’ve found so much more peace.”
I focused on his word: “anew.”
‘Wait. Don’t tell me… is this all because Yurel showed up, and now that I might be taken away, they suddenly realize my value? Anew?’
I looked at the Crown Prince with an innocent smile.
“What does constant mean? But I’m happy. I like you and all my friends too, Your Highness!”
“Yes. And we also consider you prec—”
He reached out his hand, as though to fondly pat my head, but suddenly froze.
“—precious.”
As if recalling something, his face stiffened instantly. His eyes wavered violently.
“Your Highness?”
I tilted my head up at him.
“No. It’s nothing, Lady April.”
Why the sudden change?
Unable to make sense of it, I gave up pondering the Crown Prince and decided to observe the surroundings instead.
‘How did I handle the third floor in the second playthrough?’
Back then, I had followed my brother’s words, entered the banquet hall normally, and then moved into the rear garden.
‘Ah. That’s right.’
From here, monsters with different movement patterns and faster pursuit would begin to appear, two or three at a time, chasing players simultaneously.
It was around then that, growing a little bored, I had actually started to feel interested again.
After all, the variety in their attack patterns wasn’t half bad.
“We need to pass through this small forest path. Only then will the outer kitchen appear.”
Yeniel guided the group.
Two of Sian’s summoned spirits circled above our heads.
The closer we got to the outer kitchen, the gloomier it became. The sky darkened, as though rain were imminent.
“Looks like it’s about to rain. Let’s just take the cleanser and return quickly.”
The Crown Prince scanned the surroundings with a tense expression.
Dusk settled, clouds hanging heavy, dimming the light. Somewhere in the distance came eerie howls and eerie, tittering laughter.
“Please…”
Max whispered like a prayer.
Having been chased so often, he had learned: in such places, monsters always appeared.
Raindrops began to fall—plop, plop—soon becoming a thin drizzle.
“Sir Isengrif! Are we almost at the outer kitchen? Feels like we’ve been walking in circles!”
Max clattered his teeth in agitation, but Sian silently pointed ahead.
“We’ve arrived.”
From the darkness emerged a single building, looming suddenly before us.
