DED 16

Chapter 16

Cecil went to see Lucy for her treatment.

Lucy, who had been waiting for him, handed him something again.

It was the herbal tea that Cecil liked.

This time too, Cecil didn’t refuse and accepted it, but his expression was complex.

“You don’t need to give me herbal tea anymore.”

Lucy was taken aback.

Seeing her reaction, Cecil added,

“I’m not saying I dislike it. It’s just that the tea I’ve already received is enough.”

Only then did Lucy understand.

When playing the game, she would mechanically give Cecil herbal tea whenever they met to increase his affection.

But now that the game had become reality, how did things look?

‘It must feel unnatural to give the same gift every time we meet.’

With the game becoming reality, Cecil’s reactions had also become more realistic.

‘Come to think of it, my affection didn’t even increase.’

The strategies she had used in the game might not work perfectly now that she had fully embodied Lucy.

If that was the case, she would need to revise her approach to winning over the male leads.

Lost in serious thought, Lucy didn’t notice Cecil clearing his throat.

“Are you listening to me?”

Finally, Lucy looked up at Cecil.

When their eyes met, Cecil let out a small sigh.

“Have you been keeping up with your rehabilitation exercises?”

Lucy flinched.

Since meeting Bartholomew, improving her stats had taken a backseat.

She glanced at her status window. Sure enough, her Intelligence, Stamina, and Charm stats were all in the negative.

‘I need to raise those too…’

But for now, successfully completing the Imperial Palace banquet quest was the most important.

Only after finishing the banquet quest would she have the leeway to improve her stats.

Seeing her reaction, Cecil brushed his hair back from his face.

“You need to get better quickly. You can’t stay holed up in the temple forever.”

He spoke to Lucy while crossing his arms.

Lucy could only give an awkward smile.

Watching her quietly, Cecil slowly spoke again.

“I heard you’ve been spending a lot of time with the Faraday heir lately.”

The combination of the disliked princess and the ailing Bartholomew had stirred the curiosity of those in the temple.

It was surprising that they were suddenly spending time together, and people wondered what the two of them did together.

Some speculated that they might be romantically involved.

And so the rumors spread uncontrollably.

Bartholomew visiting Lucy’s room several times didn’t help either.

Eventually, the rumor reached Cecil’s ears.

Cecil thought it wasn’t his business who Lucy met, but he couldn’t help being concerned.

He concluded that it irritated him that Lucy was neglecting her treatment and going off on tangents.

Indeed, ever since the rumors of her spending time with Bartholomew had started, Lucy had put her treatment on the back burner.

Even the rehabilitation equipment he had given her had been left in a corner.

Even so, the sacred dumbbells had been specially made by Cecil for her.

The more he thought about it, the more irritated Cecil felt as he looked at Lucy.

“It’s none of my business, but since you’re staying at the temple, I expect you to prioritize your treatment.”

Lucy’s eyes widened.

It had been a while since Cecil’s voice had sounded so sharp.

Worried that her affection might drop, Lucy looked around.

She spotted a calendar and brought it over.

Cecil looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Lucy pointed at the date of the upcoming Imperial Palace banquet.

Cecil, arms crossed, leaned in to look at the date.

At first, he couldn’t remember what day it was, but after a moment, his eyebrows rose.

“Isn’t this the day of the Imperial Palace banquet?”

Lucy quickly nodded.

“As the princess, you must attend this banquet.”

Cecil’s eyes narrowed.

“And what does that have to do with our conversation…”

Trailing off, Cecil tilted his head.

“Are you planning to attend this banquet with the Faraday heir?”

When Lucy responded affirmatively, Cecil grew even more puzzled.

They were going to attend the banquet together?

‘Has he become the princess’s dance partner?’

Cecil wondered if that was even possible.

How would they communicate?

Would they converse with gestures, like he did with Lucy now?

Even if conversation was possible, how would they dance?

Lucy wasn’t in great shape, and Bartholomew was equally frail. Could they dance safely together?

‘Maybe I’d be a better choice.’

Cecil also planned to attend this Imperial Palace banquet.

If Lucy had asked him to be her dance partner, he would have gladly accepted, considering the debt he owed her from before.

Thinking of that made Cecil feel even worse.

At that moment,

Ding!

[Affection Change Detected!]

[Cecil’s affection for you has decreased.]

[Affection: ?? → Affection: ??]

Why?

Lucy felt as if she had been suddenly attacked just by staying still.

‘Maybe he’s angry that I wasn’t focused on my treatment.’

Thinking that, Lucy quickly brought the sacred dumbbells and began lifting and lowering them repeatedly in front of him.

She sneaked glances at Cecil in between, but his cold expression did not change.

Finally, the day of the Imperial Palace banquet arrived.

From early morning, the maids came to see Lucy.

They brought dresses for her to wear to the banquet.

Although they were just her old dresses, altered to look like new ones.

Lucy felt grateful to the maids for making sure she wouldn’t look shabby at the banquet, despite their modest means.

After finishing her preparations, Lucy waited for Bartholomew.

He had said he would prepare himself, but Lucy didn’t trust him.

Sure enough, Bartholomew’s outfit for going out was a bit too plain for the banquet.

“Wait a moment.”

Lucy went to the temple garden.

After some thought, she picked a white calla lily and tucked it into Bartholomew’s chest pocket.

Just that alone made him look livelier and more polished.

Bartholomew looked at the flower in his chest with displeasure but did not remove it.

“Let’s go by carriage.”

Lucy told him.

They planned to go together in Lucy’s carriage.

Worried about what had happened last time—when he collapsed from exhaustion upon arriving at the temple—Lucy planned to get out with him at the carriage.

Just as Bartholomew followed Lucy,

“Master!”

Bartholomew’s attendant ran up to him in a hurry.

‘Is there some urgent matter?’

Lucy looked at the attendant with a puzzled expression.

Bartholomew, on the other hand, looked openly displeased.

“Where do you think you’re going without saying a word?”

“What business is it of yours where I go?”

“Well…!”

The attendant hesitated.

“You shouldn’t go out recklessly while you’re not in good health.”

Lucy frowned as she listened to the conversation between the servant and Bartholomew.

“Recklessly?”

She repeated the word exactly as the servant had said it.

Was that something one should say to a superior?

Moreover, the attendant, just a mere servant, was interfering excessively in Bartholomew’s actions.

The attendant looked flustered at Lucy for interjecting in their conversation.

“Leave.”

Lucy snapped coldly.

Bartholomew slightly widened his eyes and looked at her.

The attendant, flustered, finally stepped back.

As they got into the carriage, Bartholomew said to Lucy,

“You can be quite strict with those below you.”

Bartholomew was somewhat surprised; he had only seen Lucy’s usual smiling face.

Lucy felt embarrassed.

Her recent behavior couldn’t have left a positive impression on Bartholomew.

‘My Intelligence stat is in the negative, after all.’

The only answers she could give were short and lacking in wit.

“I have my reasons for that.”

“What reasons?”

“Let’s just say it has to do with a curse.”

Bartholomew looked like he didn’t understand.

Yet, the one who truly couldn’t understand was Lucy.

“Who is that attendant, and why is he speaking to Master Bartholomew like that?”

“I’m not sure.”

Bartholomew also gave a vague answer.

The carriage carrying the two of them began heading toward the Imperial Palace.