DED 22

Chapter 22

Lucy returned to the annex and began preparing in earnest for the social party.

First, she had the servants buy every fairy tale book they could find.

As a result, Lucy’s study became filled with fairy tale books.

After a quick glance, she could read all the titles.

This meant that the only books she could currently read were fairy tales.

Without Bartolomew and facing real meetings with the male leads, Lucy felt the need to improve her stats first.

“Intelligence should be built through reading.”

Originally, she could have increased her intelligence through lessons with a tutor.

However, the books the tutor used were far too advanced for Lucy at this point.

“If I read fairy tales, my intelligence will improve. Then I can gradually move on to more advanced books.”

With that in mind, Lucy locked herself in the study and spent all day reading.

The annex staff, observing Lucy engrossed in her fairy tales, vaguely guessed:

“So it’s true, our princess has become a fool.”

When they heard that she had caught the emperor’s attention at the palace banquet, they thought the annex would finally see some favor.

But all she received was a tiny little dog.

Cute as it was, it was of no practical use.

That tiny dog probably couldn’t even serve as a hunting dog.

The annex staff were secretly disappointed, but Lucy, now a fool, was delighted with just the dog.

If she were in her right mind, she would have been disappointed like them.

Thinking this, the staff quietly wiped away their tears without Lucy noticing.

Lucy, oblivious to their thoughts, continued to immerse herself in her fairy tales.

Cerberus lay on Lucy’s skirt, taking a nap.

How much time had passed like that?

Ding!

[Congratulations!]

[For showing focus and persistence through prolonged reading,]

[a new skill has been granted to you, a lover of books.]

[Bookworm Lv.1]

[Intelligence has increased by 10.]

[Intelligence: -50 → Intelligence: -40]

After reading dozens of fairy tales, her intelligence increased by 10.

On top of that, she gained a new skill: Bookworm.

“What do I use the Bookworm skill for?”

Lucy silently hoped it wouldn’t be a useless, frivolous skill like the Aestheticist skill.

“I’ll just keep raising my intelligence through books.”

Lucy stroked Cerberus and pondered.

“But how do I increase my stamina?”

She had brought the sacred dumbbells from the temple, but they were far too inefficient.

“System!”

Lucy, deep in thought, looked up and called out.

“How can I increase my stamina stat in my current state?”

The system window popped up with a notification sound.

[There are various ways to increase your stamina stat.]

[Exercise is the most basic method, but it’s too demanding for someone with negative stats like you.]

[Instead, I recommend increasing your stamina by building endurance.]

“Endurance?”

Lucy looked at the system window expectantly.

[That is… “fishing.”]

Fishing?

In a dating simulation, not a healing farm game… fishing?

[Fishing is an activity done while sitting in one place, so it doesn’t consume much stamina. By repeatedly pulling in fish, you can train your stamina.]

Reading the system’s explanation, Lucy resigned herself.

Well, at this point, what complaints could she even have about this flawed game?

If it helped increase her stamina stat, then fishing was doable.

The next day, Lucy left the annex and headed to a nearby river.

She had the servants bring a few fairy tales and a fishing rod.

Cerberus, accompanying her, seemed ecstatic at the sight of the water.

He ran around in the grass, then came to the river to drink when thirsty.

Lucy found a spot with a large rock and extended her hand to a servant.

The servant handed her the fishing rod and asked cautiously,

“Your Highness, why do you suddenly want to go fishing? Do you want to eat fish? If you tell the chef, they can prepare fresh fish dishes immediately.”

“It’s my choice.”

The servant was momentarily speechless.

Then they quickly shook their head and asked again,

“Your Highness, do you know how to fish?”

“I don’t.”

“…Shall I teach you?”

At that, the usually indifferent Lucy’s eyes lit up.

Lucy learned the basics of fishing from the servant.

“Got it.”

She nodded. Perhaps because her intelligence had slightly increased, she understood the servant’s instructions better, and could speak in complete, if brief, sentences.

Lucy stacked a few fairy tales beside her and began fishing in earnest.

Since she just had to cast the rod and wait, she didn’t feel her stamina draining.

However, boredom crept in due to the lack of fish biting.

“Good thing I brought the fairy tales.”

She passed the time by reading while waiting for fish.

There were other palace-affiliated anglers along the river as well.

They looked at Lucy, a visibly high-ranking young lady, fishing, and found it puzzling.

Moreover, she was a young lady—not just any commoner.

They looked at her with concern.

“At that rate, you won’t catch any fish.”

They wanted to offer advice.

But with her attendants around her, it was impossible to approach her.

Besides, the little dog accompanying her was no help—it ran around excitedly, growling and baring its tiny teeth whenever someone got close.

Lucy, staring at the unmoving fishing rod, felt doubt creeping in.

“Will this really increase my stamina?”

She wondered if the system might have lied to her.

With a small sigh, she opened a new fairy tale book, when someone came to mind: Bartolomew.

The story reminded her of him somehow.

It was about twin brothers; the parents favored one child excessively.

The other child could never gain their approval, no matter how hard he tried.

He was constantly compared to his gifted sibling and left neglected.

Even in a fairy tale, the story was sad.

The mistreated child was eventually kicked out of the house and wandered in the cold winter, eventually dying.

A compassionate god took the boy to heaven, where he finally found happiness.

It was a happy ending, but bittersweet.

Realistically, the boy died without ever receiving the love he wanted most—from his parents.

Reading the story as if Bartolomew were the boy, Lucy felt even more sympathy.

Soon, Alexander would appear. How would Bartolomew fare then?

Would he, like the boy in the story, be cast out of the family?

Would he die alone in bitterness?

Lucy’s heart ached.

Bartolomew’s health was already poor.

“If that happens, I’ll have to take care of Bartolomew myself.”

Thinking that, Lucy felt a wave of relief.

Of course, she still needed to secure marriage with one of the male leads, but she felt confident she could at least support Bartolomew.

“Why do I care so much about Bartolomew?”

Just as Lucy pondered this, the fishing rod twitched.

“Ah!”

Lucy’s exclamation drew the attention of nearby anglers.

She fumbled with the rod, unsure what to do.

All they could do was send her silent encouragement with their eyes.

After a brief struggle…

“I caught it!”

Lucy shouted with exhilaration.

Her attendants clapped and congratulated her.

She looked at the fish dangling from the line.

After all that fuss… it was only a minnow.

Ding!

[Congratulations!]

[For successfully catching your first fish, you have earned a new title.]

[Lv.1 ‘Beginner Angler’]

[Your stamina has increased by 10.]

[Stamina: -42 → Stamina: -32]

A single minnow increased her stamina by 10?

Thank you, little minnow!