Chapter 03
I couldn’t believe it.
My favorability actually went up because of a line like that?
Was there something wrong with the game—or was there something wrong with Jerome’s head? Just as I was puzzling over it, Jerome opened his mouth.
“…Having a stranger visit the ducal estate might help change the mood.”
Well, whatever. If the skill worked, I should be happy, right?
As I let out a sigh of relief over the successfully activated skill, I felt someone’s gaze and turned my head.
That’s when I met Lowell’s eyes—slightly widened as he stared straight at me.
‘Uh….’
His expression practically screamed, What kind of person says something like that?
“……”
I didn’t want to say a line like that either!
But if raising favorability required it, I didn’t have a choice.
While I was consoling myself internally, Lowell smiled softly and spoke.
“It’ll be good practical experience. Let’s go together.”
Thank you for pretending not to notice.
I silently sent Lowell my gratitude.
Anyway, I’d succeeded in creating a reason to get involved with Jerome, and that was enough.
Just wait, Jerome Winston. I’ll make you mine.
Returning to reality felt like it was only a matter of time.
I traveled with Lowell by carriage to the northern region of the Belcadia Empire.
As was common in romance fantasy settings, the ducal estate where Jerome, the Grand Duke of the North, lived was located in a snow-covered mountainous region.
The weather at the imperial palace had been fairly warm, but the sudden cold up north was hard to adjust to.
When we arrived at the estate, Jerome came out to greet us.
Just like the first time I’d seen him, he was dressed in a black uniform. The only difference was the black fur-lined cloak draped over his shoulders.
Jerome approached and greeted us in a rather businesslike tone.
“Thank you for coming such a long way. Would you like to warm yourselves first?”
His eye shadows had grown twice as dark since the last time I’d seen him.
Lowell replied with concern in his voice.
“You look even worse than before. Let’s deal with the urgent matter first. Could you show us around the estate?”
“Follow me. I’ll guide you.”
Jerome’s condition had deteriorated so much in just a few days that it wouldn’t have been strange if he collapsed at any moment.
It would be a problem if he died from a curse, so I hurried after the two of them.
The ducal estate, unified in black tones, was immaculate—not a speck of dust in sight—but it felt oddly cold and empty.
There was nothing but the bare necessities: furniture and household items for daily living. You couldn’t find even the usual decorations common in aristocratic homes.
‘Minimalism is trending these days, I hear.’
…Or maybe not? This was a game world, after all.
While my mind wandered, we toured the dining room and study before finally arriving at the bedroom.
That was when Lowell spoke.
“You can definitely feel a strong presence of dark magic.”
True to Jerome’s personality, the bedroom also lacked any decorations beyond practical items.
Except for one thing: an incense burner placed on the bedside table.
The burner was gilded with gold and studded with various jewels—completely at odds with Jerome’s minimalist taste.
Upon noticing it, Lowell spoke again.
“That’s purification incense used by the temple.”
“Lady Angus has been sending it regularly after hearing that I suffer from headaches and nightmares.”
At the familiar surname, my body stiffened.
Vivian Angus.
The villainess who poisoned me—and someone I would have to confront eventually.
Lowell continued questioning.
“Did it help?”
“The headaches eased while it was burning, but only briefly.”
“Temple-made items are always like that.”
Lowell clicked his tongue in displeasure.
“Did you try changing the location of the room?”
“I did, but nothing changed.”
While Lowell and Jerome continued their conversation, I walked toward Jerome’s bed.
It was large enough for four people to lie on comfortably.
“May I check under the mattress? I think it’d be good to tear open the bottom.”
At the sudden request, Jerome looked at me for a moment. Then he summoned the attendants and had them lift the mattress.
“Open it.”
The attendants brought sharp knives and cut into the underside of the mattress.
As white goose feathers fluttered out from the torn opening, one of them noticed something.
“There’s something inside the mattress.”
“Take it out.”
They pulled out a small, old wooden box.
The box exuded a damp, heavy aura, like an ancient coffin. Its fragile, decaying surface was stained with unidentifiable blotches, and just looking at it made my stomach churn.
As everyone in the room frowned, Lowell stepped forward.
“Please step back. This is my specialty.”
Once the attendants retreated, Lowell murmured an incomprehensible spell.
When he opened the box, short black hair and charred black feathers spilled out.
“It’s a curse using dark magic. The blasphemous hair causes the headaches, and the burnt crow feathers serve as the medium for the nightmares.”
Lowell continued.
“I don’t know who did it, but it was a nasty little trick.”
Jerome’s expression darkened at the sight of the cursed items.
He’d expected someone had cursed him, but seeing it with his own eyes must have been shocking.
As Lowell closed the lid, he said,
“Could you have the servants leave?”
At Jerome’s signal, the attendants exited the room.
When only the three of us remained, Lowell asked,
“Do you have anyone in mind?”
“There are a few people I suspect, but…”
Jerome rubbed his chin uneasily.
That made sense. A Grand Duke would be entangled in complex political interests.
He must have more than a few enemies, making it hard to identify the culprit right away.
But there was no way to know how the culprit might try to harm Jerome next.
If I was determined to be with him, I needed to find the one who cast the curse as soon as possible.
Picking up the box, Lowell spoke again.
“Let’s remove the curse first. Could you guide us to an outdoor area where we can light a fire?”
“Follow me.”
The three of us went outside together.
After walking for a while, we reached the training grounds.
It was wide and covered in sand, making it safe to light a fire without worrying about a blaze.
Lowell placed the cursed box on a prepared stand. Closing his eyes and clasping his hands, he recited a spell in a gentle voice.
“Comburo Maledictum.”
A violent cracking sound erupted—completely at odds with his soothing tone—and the box burst into flames.
In a brief but intense blaze, the box was reduced to nothing.
Just as it disappeared completely, Jerome staggered.
“Ghh…!”
“Are you alright?”
I quickly grabbed Jerome’s arm.
Part of me was genuinely worried, but my real motive was to create an opportunity to get closer to him.
The two of us needed to be deeply entangled.
That was the only way I’d return to reality sooner.
Leaning against me to steady himself, Jerome breathed heavily.
Then Lowell approached.
“When a curse connected directly to the body is severed, it can cause momentary shock. How do you feel?”
After catching his breath, Jerome examined himself. His eyes widened slightly.
“The headache is gone.”
“That’s good. It seems the curse was successfully lifted.”
“As expected of the mage His Majesty trusts most. I will make sure to properly reward—”
At that moment, Jerome’s gaze fell on the arm I was holding.
“…!”
Suddenly, he jerked away as if startled.
Caught off guard by the rough movement, my body wobbled.
“Ah…!”
Just as I was about to fall backward, Lowell quickly reached out and caught me.
Ending up in Lowell’s arms, I looked at Jerome with wide eyes.
Jerome looked just as shocked, staring back at me with equally wide eyes. His blue eyes trembled unsteadily.
Then the system window chimed.
[Jerome Winston’s favorability has decreased by 10.]
[Jerome Winston’s favorability: 0]
…Huh?
What is this?
Favorability can decrease?
As I stared blankly at the plummeting number, Jerome spoke.
“…Dinner is being prepared. I’ll have someone show you to your rooms.”
He turned abruptly and walked away.
As I stared dazedly at his retreating figure, Lowell spoke to me.
“Are you alright, my lady?”
“Ah…!”
Only then did I realize I was still in Lowell’s arms and hurriedly pulled away.
“I—I’m fine.”
I was still in shock.
After all that effort, the favorability had dropped.
So it could fall, too?
While I stood there stunned, Lowell spoke again.
“I knew the Grand Duke disliked physical contact, but I didn’t think it was to that extent.”
“He dislikes physical contact?”
“Yes. It’s well known in the imperial palace. Many women try to approach him—why do you think he’s still unmarried?”
I hadn’t known.
It seemed his favorability dropped because I grabbed his arm.
Still—wasn’t that a bit much? I was just trying to help!
I was full of resentment, but the one at a disadvantage was me.
If I wanted to go home, I had to endure injustices like this as a slave to favorability.
As I resolved to avoid physical contact going forward, Lowell continued,
“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“How did you know where the curse was?”
I froze.
I’d known about the cursed item under the mattress from early gameplay.
The difference between then and now was that back then, Lowell had discovered it—not me.
Lowell took a step closer.
“There was a barrier on the box meant to conceal the curse. Even I, a palace mage, would’ve needed time to detect it.”
His deep, mysterious violet eyes slowly searched my face, as if trying to see straight through me.
“So how did you know immediately that it was under the bed?”
