ITITPS 12

Chapter : 12

“Just now, that really was because of m—”

“Asha, please.”

Serena’s twisted expression made me snap my mouth shut.

Even if I spoke the truth here, Serena would never believe me anyway.

Silence stretched in the awkward air—and suddenly my vision trembled.

Nice timing!

Freed from that suffocating atmosphere, I let out a cheer.

It’s nice that the characters misunderstand and worry about me,
but that one was just humiliating.

My favorite scenario is when my party watches me get hurt or die
in their place.

Just imagining it gives me chills. Beaming, I bowed before the emperor who had just appeared.

“So. You are the hero who has reappeared after 500 years!”

His voice, dignified enough, rang through the hall.

A real slave from this world holding a private audience with the emperor would definitely keel over from stress-induced ulcers.

But I’ve seen him so much while playing that he feels more familiar than my senior coworkers.

“You may raise your head. A savior of the world has more than enough right to look upon my face. Do you not agree?”

“Thank you.”

I answered boldly, and the emperor burst into laughter.

“Hero, how old are you this year?”

“I’ll soon be celebrating my twenty-first birthday.”

“So the same age as our Michael. You’ll make good partners.”

I think this every time, but the emperor is way too invested in the Michael route.

If you get the proper ending, the player receives the empire’s greatest honor—so I guess that’s good taste.

If the hero becomes the crown princess, there’s no pesky in-law faction, and the imperial family gets children blessed by the Goddess.

“Gil, bring it.”

At his command, a court servant carried in a snow-white cloak. It matched my current uniform nicely.

“Take it. It will preserve your life—even a little.”

[(Take it)] – 10,000G

[(Do not take it)]

The cash item “Hero’s Cloak” can be purchased each playthrough at this point.

Even if you pick Do not take, the game continues fine,
but it’s only polite to buy cool cosmetic gear.

The game company has to eat, you know.

[Attempting purchase……]

[Purchase successful.]

[You obtain: Cloak imbued with holy power.]

The man called Gil draped the white cloak over me and vanished. The laughing emperor faded from view as my surroundings changed again.

“Presenting His Grace Grand Duke Zaharov, Lady Serena of the Tower, and Hero Anastasia!”

The grand entrance made every noble in the already-filled hall turn to stare.

“Why is the Grand Duke at the palace…?”

“Still gives me chills, that hair color.”

“I heard the newly chosen hero is a lowborn slave. Is that true?”

“I heard the Tower Master took her in…”

“She’s clearly not a noble. No surname.”

“Why would the Goddess pick someone with no breeding?”

Grand, yes—but not welcoming. Whispered gossip buzzed everywhere.

After hearing the same lines a hundred times, I was bored stiff.

They’ll all worship the protagonist by the end anyway. They’re just following their preset scripts, so no need to get ang—

…nope! Still angry. Hearing it over and over is still annoying.

[(Shrink back)]

[(Hectopascal kick the rude noble brat)]

“Isn’t that a little extreme?”

Couldn’t I have a neutral option? Something like “Stand straight with dignity.”

Complaining does nothing. No new choices for my sake.
Sighing with resignation, I picked the first one.

“Ugh…”

[Illya’s Affection +5]

[Serena’s Affection +2]

Hostile, dirty looks full of curiosity.

An avatar who’d crawled the bottom of society would instinctively flinch at malice aimed at her.

Just then.

I locked eyes with a young man staring straight at me.

Smile.

A bright, flower-like smile returned. I frowned slightly.

Second prince Adrian Graywords—golden hair, green eyes.

He may look like a perfect prince, but I know his true identity: the Demon King.
Not that I can acknowledge that now.

In my first playthrough, I didn’t discover it until practically the ending.
Well—aside from the run where I died in Chapter 2.

Anyway—Michael and his brother are both massive schemers.

Michael’s still the better one, though.

They’re twins, yes, but the key difference:
Michael retains goodness inside.
Adrian does not.

“Asha, wait.”

While I wondered how to respond, a broad back blocked my view.

Illya stepped in front of me, shielding me from the nobles’ gazes.

“They don’t even know who you are. Pay them no mind.”

“Illya…”

He spoke protectively, his voice full of concern just for me.

I looked up with moved eyes, and Illya gave an awkward smile.
Romantic tension was just starting to spark.

“My, my. Duke. Must you hover so closely over the star of the party?”

A bright voice chimed in.
Peeking out, I checked who it was.

[You have encountered a Main Character!]

[Name: Michael Bernard Graywords]

[Michael is a prince of the Empire. Despite his angelic appearance, he prefers your tears over your smiles. Raise his affection and you might see a surprisingly shy side?]

The final route character, the Demon King’s twin,
Prince Michael Graywords.

He’s so beautiful he could be called an angel incarnate.

Skin smooth and pale as porcelain, cherry-red lips,
and ruby eyes sparkling with curiosity.

His soft golden hair bounced with each step.

“Have you been well, Your Highness?”

“What danger could I be in inside the palace? More importantly, move aside, Duke.”

Reluctantly, Illya stepped away, and I finally faced Michael properly.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Eek—no need to be so stiff! Mother told me—you’re my age, right?”

He looks flighty for a prince—but I know his true colors.

If the nation’s main enemy weren’t demons, Michael would absolutely be the main villain, not a romance target.

[(Look him up and down)]

[(Give a polite nod)]

The choice window popped.
I hesitated, then picked the first to spark his interest.

My avatar automatically scanned him head to toe.

“…Well, aside from age, we’ve got nothing in common.”

Anastasia and Michael are both nearly twenty-one.
Same age—but wildly different lives.

…or so the script goes.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

Michael blinked wide eyes—then laughed.

[Michael’s Affection –2]

“Haha! Fair enough. But isn’t it normal to be drawn to someone different?”

Watching him laugh like nothing happened despite a loss of affection
sent a chill down my spine.

Honestly—until affection hits 50, Michael is just…

And he already starts at a measly 10.
Brutal.

Still—the harder the fire, the hotter it burns.

Illya and Serena’s routes feel too easy this round anyway.
Mut and Michael being tougher is a good balance patch.

Nice, dev team!

“Well then, how about a dance? My lady?”

Smiling sweetly while hiding his true intent, Michael extended his hand.

[(Accept)]

[(Decline)]

I stared at him coldly.
He knew refusing a prince’s invitation was a huge breach of etiquette.

…And I refuse!

“I’ve never learned to dance.”

“…Really? Right, you’re not noble-born.”

[Michael’s Affection +1]

[Illya’s Affection +5]

Turning down Michael raised Illya’s affection.
I glanced at him—his lips twitched, clearly pleased.

Michael, meanwhile, looked sour.
But hey—affection is affection.

Don’t ask me how it works.

“Hm… then how about a stroll instead? In place of the dance.”

“Wait—Your Highness—”

“Duke, stay out of it.”

Michael shot Illya a sideways glare.
Then another choice appeared.

[(Go to the garden with Michael)]

[(Stay in the hall with Illya)]

[(Go look for Serena)]

Of course.
I eyed Serena across the hall, surrounded by political vultures.

No way was I going over there—it’d be exhausting.

Plus, higher chance of running into Adrian.
Hard pass.

That left the two men.

Not that there’s really anything to choose.

Chapter 4 is the palace-infiltration masquerade incident.

At 10 p.m., a crack opens wherever I am.
If I’m still in the ballroom, the emperor gets dragged in.

So option one it is.
My avatar nodded—and the reactions split.

[Illya’s Affection –1]

[Michael’s Affection +2]

Michael looked more excited that Illya was rejected than that he was chosen.
Truly a rotten personality.

“Asha…”

I ignored Illya’s pitiful whine.

It’s just what the story requires.