Chapter 5
“What did I do?”
I stepped away from the door so our voices wouldn’t carry inside.
Emma huffed in disbelief.
“You’re just a newbie! If I said I’d go first, you should’ve read the situation and stepped back! Do you know what a great chance it was to go to the Pendler Duke’s estate?!”
It’s not like a maid’s salary increases just because you run more errands…
But Emma looked genuinely furious.
What’s the point of going there anyway? You don’t even have a quest…
“Lady Bianca told me to go. What was I supposed to do—refuse?”
Emma glared at me.
“I heard you’re good at pretending to be sick. You could’ve just made an excuse again! It was only you and me there anyway!”
The more she lost her temper, the calmer I became.
No… there’s no need to fight.
This is a game.
Just a game.
Making enemies right now would only hurt me.
It’s better to have one more ally than one more enemy.
At this rate, even stress alone might reduce my HP.
So I gently reached out and held Emma’s hand.
She flinched in surprise, her face turning red.
I thought she’d slap my hand away, but—
“W-what?! Why?!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through. I just agreed because you said you were busy. I’ll be more careful next time.”
I smiled softly, trying to calm her down.
[Your affinity with Emma has increased by 1 level.]
The status window blinked, showing her affinity had gone up.
My eyes widened.
Wait… this works on women too?
So this is what max charm does?
Emma, who had been fuming, turned even redder and avoided my gaze.
“W-well… if you say it like that, I guess I can’t help it. But next time… be more careful.”
“Okay. I’ll also tell Lady Bianca how much you helped me.”
“Hmph… well, if you do that… I’d appreciate it a little.”
Time to send her off.
“You have to go out too, right? Be careful.”
“…Y-you too! I-I should hurry and get ready!”
Emma quickly pulled her hand away and rushed off, her brown ponytail swaying behind her.
“…Finally.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
I thought she might grab my hair or something.
Luckily, she wasn’t that difficult to deal with.
In the original story, there were quite a few maid conflicts.
I headed back to my room.
To prepare for any danger outside, I changed into a stiff dress made of water-resistant fabric, put on a hat, and tied it tightly.
I also packed the money I got from quests.
I planned to stop by the market later and buy something.
“I’ll finish the errand first, then think about the rest.”
After getting ready, I returned to Bianca.
Standing in front of her door, I knocked twice neatly, like a professional secretary.
“Milady, I’m ready. May I come in?”
At her reply, I entered.
Bianca was sitting gracefully, sipping tea.
“You prepared quickly. Just take the basket on the table. I’ve placed everything you need inside.”
A neatly woven round basket sat on the table.
Inside, I saw a letter placed on top of items covered with cloth.
“Then I’ll deliver it and come back right away.”
“Be careful. Sir Millard will be waiting by the carriage. It could be dangerous outside, so make sure to take him with you.”
“Yes, Milady. I’ll be back soon!”
I firmly gripped the basket and left her room.
For a “small gift,” it felt surprisingly heavy.
Outside, a carriage was waiting, along with a knight in armor.
He had fiery red hair, but his face looked surprisingly innocent.
If nothing had changed from the original story… I knew who he was.
Though I had only read descriptions before, this was my first time seeing him in person.
What was his name again…?
Mill… Millard?
★★★
Millard
Gender: Male
Age: 28
Notes: Attack/Defense type, Knight-type. Bianca’s personal guard.
Affinity: ●○○○○
As expected.
If I fail the ending, he, the two protagonists, and I will all die tragic deaths.
In a way, we share the same fate.
“Sir Millard, hello. I’ll be in your care.”
“….”
He just stared at me blankly without responding.
His eyes looked slightly unfocused.
I tilted my head.
Don’t tell me he’s ignoring me because of low affinity?
“Sir Millard?”
He suddenly flinched, covering his mouth and stepping back.
His affinity jumped up to level 2.
…What?
“Ah! I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to— Y-you’re… very beautiful.”
“…What?”
When I widened my eyes, he panicked.
“N-no, I mean—I apologize! We’re heading to the Pendler Duke’s estate, correct?”
I nodded slowly.
Even though his status was higher than mine, he didn’t speak down to me.
Though… that might just be because he was flustered.
“Yes. And on the way back… could we stop by the market for a bit?”
He nodded vigorously, his armor clanking loudly.
“Of course! Lady Bianca said to accompany you however you prefer.”
“Thank you. I’ll be counting on you.”
I smiled.
He coughed awkwardly, covering his mouth.
His face turned red like it had been sunburned.
“Cough… It’s nothing. P-please, get in.”
…Let’s just get in.
“Thank you.”
I stepped onto the carriage.
As soon as Millard climbed up beside the driver, the carriage started moving.
As we passed through the large garden and exited the front gate—
Ta-da!
A fanfare played, and a new quest window appeared.
[Main Scenario I-2 Quest has arrived. Deliver Bianca’s gift to the Pendler Duke’s estate and build affinity with the protagonist.]
[Reward: (5) Gold + Random Stat Orbs (3) ▶ Continue]
That sudden music nearly made me jump again.
I wanted to turn it off in the settings, but nothing worked.
If it did, I would’ve quit the game already.
I blinked at the disappearing window.
So it’s not just delivering the item—I have to build affinity too?
Still…
Three stat orbs?
That was tempting.
My charm was already maxed, so any increase would go into other stats.
Every single point mattered.
But…
I was already hesitating about the hidden quest.
Now I have to raise affinity too?
If I rush things and try something reckless—like suddenly kissing him—I might not just fail, but actually lose affinity and get kicked out.
I’ll think about it on the way.
The carriage wasn’t fast, but the shaking made me nauseous.
This weak body started getting motion sickness.
“Ugh… haah…”
Just delivering a letter feels like it’s draining my life.
At this rate, trying to build affinity with the protagonist might destroy my own.
After about an hour, we arrived at the Pendler Duke’s estate.
Even though it was a mansion in the capital—not the main territory—it was still incredibly grand.
Millard got down, spoke with the guards, then came back.
The tightly shut gates opened, and the carriage entered.
“Ugh… I’m dying…”
I was practically glued to the window the entire time.
The cool glass helped reduce the nausea a bit.
Honestly, I felt like jumping out.
My HP dropped by 2, then recovered by 1.
Then dropped again… and recovered again.
Even my HP bar seemed to be “getting motion sickness.”
The carriage finally stopped in front of a massive mansion that looked like a palace.
Millard opened the door.
Only then did the nausea ease.
“We’ve arrived… Are you alright?”
Seeing my pale face, Millard looked shocked—like he’d just seen a ghost.
