[◆ What are you talking about? You idiot! Mind your own business, you moron.]
'What is this?'
Am I dreaming? But the newly appeared option was shining brightly, as if to prove its existence.
It was even different in shape from the other options. It was the only one with a pattern bordered in gold leaf.
'We... We have to proceed first.'
Presepe held onto her fading sanity and chose the third option.
"Your voice doesn't sound good."
As soon as the third option was chosen, the strange golden choice immediately vanished. Dietrich paused slightly at Presepe's answer. He looked just like someone who had heard something completely unexpected.
Presepe was trembling just the same.
This is the first time I've chosen number 3. I hope I don't die as soon as the game starts.
Contrary to her worries, the lines she had planned flowed out effortlessly.
"Your Majesty always used to catch a cold around this time of year."
"..."
"I am saying this out of concern. If I have offended you in any way... I am simply apologetic."
It wasn't exactly an option that would offend anyone. However, there was no reply.
She was wondering to herself what was going on when Dietrich suddenly sprang up from his seat.
Then, he strode forward toward Presepe and grabbed her dazzling silver hair in one hand.
"...!"
Presepe flinched slightly at the unexpected pain.
"Worry?"
Dietrich said with a mocking smile.
"I don't believe what you say. Especially if it's out of concern for me!"
[Notice: Dietrich Ateloia's favorability has reached 5 points.]
5.
Since favorability starts at 0, it means the score for the 3rd option was 5 points.
This is absurd.
When she was trying to win over Dietrich, that was an answer she couldn't even choose because she was too nervous. And you're giving me 5 points for this?
Am I some kind of Kim Cheomji or something?
As she looked at the flashing notification window, Presepe cursed inwardly.
Well, I suppose it's better than a negative score.
Regardless of the character, if the affection level went into the negative, she was killed before even seeing the ending. She doesn't know how many times she's died so far. She hated and dreaded that so much that she fought tooth and nail to reach the ending, but the problem was that she suffered another terrible blow right there.
"You betrayed me before, and now you're trying to win me back with words like that?"
Ah. This damn love-hate relationship.
Well, it's not like I don't know how you feel.
"..."
Dietrich remained silent for a moment. Instead, he looked down at Presepe with a gaze filled with countless emotions
What could he be thinking? Although she felt like she had a rough idea, only one thought filled Presepe's mind.
I wish... he would let go of my hair...
Soon, Dietrich abruptly let go of Presepe's hair, and pushed back by the man's strength, Presepe staggered backward.
"...A celebratory party will be held tomorrow."
After ascending the throne, Dietrich was frantic dealing with the Second Prince's faction. Although it had already been several months since he became Emperor, he had not even been able to hold a proper celebratory feast.
"Some guests have already arrived. It will be even more crowded tomorrow."
The celebration was the first fixed event in the game.
Four male characters, excluding Dietrich. This celebratory banquet was the occasion where three of them would be met.
"Anyway, since there are people who know of your existence, it might be a good idea to attend."
As Dietrich said, people knew about the existence of Presepe.
In other words, it means that he also knows the fact that Presepe is not a Princess with the blood of the Emperor and is completely unrelated to Dietrich.
Even so, the reason he is saying such contradictory things is...
It's a test.
He's going to watch how Presepe answers.
"What are you planning to do?"
Along with the question, options appeared.
[1. I would like to attend as well.]
[2. I don't want to go.]
[3. I will leave it to Your Majesty's will.]
[◆ Whether I go or not, what does it matter to you?]
'Why again...!'
Presepe paused briefly at the bizarre choice that appeared out of nowhere.
First of all, there is one thing certain. The last option... that one leads to death.
The correct answers for the Dietrich route were numbers 2 and 3.
In fact, Dietrich did not want Presepe to attend the celebration. The reason was simple. He did not want to show Presepe to others. He was afraid that if he did, Presepe would abandon him and leave again.
However, this celebration was a fixed route where one meets other male characters for the first time. Therefore, even if she chose 2 or 3, Presepe would attend the celebration.
Instead, Dietrich's affection level changes slightly.
However, this time the situation was a little different. Since she wasn't pursuing Dietrich, there was no incentive to build up his favor, and she had to attend no matter what. With every character in the game present, who knew she might be able to find the real male protagonist among them?
Presepe chose option 1.
"I would like to attend as well."
"..."
"Please grant permission, Your Majesty."
Dietrich remained silent for a moment, then muttered with a somewhat bitter expression.
"Yeah, I suppose so."
Huh?
"You will need a way to interact with others somehow."
She had never heard such words in Normal Mode. Dietrich would simply contort his face, glare at Presepe, and kick her out.
And as if to explain the reason, the notification window popped up again.
[Note: If you re-romance a male character you have already completed, you can uncover secrets that were unavailable in Normal Mode.]
"But you'd better not even think about doing anything foolish."
"..."
"No matter how hard you try, nothing will change."
Dietrich looked just like someone throwing a tantrum, as if to say that no matter what tricks Presepe pulled, she would absolutely never be able to escape the Imperial Palace.
It was a face she had never seen before.
"Get out."
“...Yes, Your Majesty.”
Although her mind was racing, Presepe's body rose on its own. As expected, it was not of her own free will, but an action taken in the course of events.
Presepe bowed respectfully without saying a word and began to leave the place.
***
"Oh man, all my hair has been pulled out..."
Presepe came out into the empty hallway and muttered to herself.
"But what on earth is it?"
Dietrich's behavior was one thing, but there was something else that kept weighing on her mind.
[◆ What are you talking about? You idiot! Mind your own business, you moron.]
[◆Whether I go or not, what does it matter to someone like you?]
Of course, it was the option that best represented her inner feelings, but anyone could see it wasn't normal.
...Is that a bug by any chance?
If the future development changes because of that bug...
After countless attempts and facing death, she thought she had grasped the game completely, but suddenly she felt her confidence crumble.
"No... I need to stay focused. I have to find the male protagonist quickly and win him over."
Since he is the real male protagonist, the difficulty level is bound to be higher. Therefore, she couldn't waste time like this.
Presepe trudged along, deciding to first sort out the characters he knew. After all, she needed to find someone who could at least be of help.
"First off, Dietrich."
The very first character she targeted, and the first to kill her.
Still, Dietrich sincerely loved Presepe. The way he did it was a bit wrong, but let's leave that aside for now.
[No matter how much you whisper your love to me... I cannot believe a single word. If only I could let go of your hand, that would be the end of it...]
However, Dietrich could not let go of Presepe's hand, and in the end, he chose to die with her.
[... I guess I can finally trust you now.]
Dietrich, realizing that Presepe had chosen death with him, coughed up blood and finally smiled happily.
Next, Presepe went down the stairs with a frown, thinking of Duke Noah DeBern of the North.
Noah was literally trash.
At least Dietrich had a backstory!
Noah, having heard rumors that Presepe is imprisoned in the western tower of the imperial palace, approaches her purely out of curiosity.
To be honest, Noah didn't love Presepe; he merely wanted to possess her. It was an extension of his hobby of collecting stuffed animals, statues, and masterpieces.
As if to prove it, Noah imprisoned Presepe. Just when I finally escaped the tower, that damn bastard.
Not long after, Noah finds a new toy, and Presepe is forgotten.
The ending of Noah's route was that Presepe, unable to endure the hunger and mental illness any longer, eventually took her own life in a room filled with stuffed animals.
“Next, Ivan.”
Ivan was the Archmage of Ateloia. Although he was called a lunatic, his skill was said to be on a level that appears only once in a hundred years.
And Ivan used his magical skills to destroy Presepe. He created illusions, implanted fabricated memories to gnaw away at her mind, and made her unable to do anything without him.
"... This one is the scariest."
The next person Presepe thought of after coming down one floor was the Knight Commander Siegfried.
The last character she attacked.
The one who fed her poison, saying they wanted to possess her completely.
And then again...
“Attar.”
Attar was the prince of the Tain Empire, located just above Ateloia.
Attar came to the Imperial Palace to attend Dietrich's birthday celebration and met Presepe.
It’s just that he’s a pervert with strange hobbies, but Attar actually had a pretty decent face on the outside.
Not only were his facial features magnificent, but the color of his hair and eyes was also a hue rarely seen in Ateloia. Pale pink...
That is why he instantly captivated everyone's attention. That was also the reason why Presepe in the game took an interest in him.
It goes without saying how fascinating it must have been for Presepe, who had always been confined, to see a man with a pale pink complexion like flower petals.
Yeah, just like that person up ahead.
Presepe, who was coming down the stairs, stopped abruptly in her tracks while staring at the back of the man's head visible in front of the corner and lost in thought.
'Why is that pervert bastard here? According to the plot, we shouldn't be meeting yet.'
Is this also because it switched to secret mode? Flustered, Presepe took a step back.
However, Presepe in the game was a woman with terrible luck, just as she always had been.
"Aaaah!"
Presepe stumbled and fell flat on her backside, letting out a scream.
"Ah. Ow..."
It really hurt enough to bring tears to her eyes. Presepe let out a short groan with her head bowed low.
Wait a minute, I haven't been caught by Attar...
Suddenly, a dark shadow fell over Presepe's face.
"Young Lady."
Along with a familiar voice, long light pink hair resembling cherry blossom petals tickled her cheek.
[Attar Hanan/Affection 0]
Attar's name and the long affinity status window slowly appeared... and soon, a large hand was handed over, shackling Presepe's neck several times.
“Are you okay?”
[1. Hold hands.]
[2. Shake off the hand.]
[3. Do nothing.]
[◆ Would you be okay with that? You stupid bastard.]
Even the various options.
Unable to choose anything, Presepe looked at Attar with a bewildered expression.
When there was no reply, Attar clicked his tongue.
Bending down, Attar picked up one of Presepe's shoes that was rolling on the floor.
Soon, he grasped the slender ankle and put the shoe on.
Presepe flinched.
[I will shackle your neck, your ankles, your wrists...]
[I will lock you up in a cage with a mirror. It would be quite magnificent.]
Presepe's reaction was reflexive. Though she had cursed profusely inwardly, she couldn't help but hesitate instinctively. The cold, shackling sensation of the chains that had bound her body came to mind, and Presepe trembled slightly.
"It doesn't look like you're seriously injured."
"..."
"Now, take my hand and stand up."
Attar reached out his hand again, and the status windows floating in front of her began to glow as if urging Presepe to open.
If she intended to attack Attar again, the answer would be number 2. Shaking off his hand.
Attar Hanan was someone who neither stopped women from leaving nor stopped women from coming.
The reason he became interested in Presepe as a woman was that she was different from the women he had met so far.
She didn't give any resistance, didn't react well, and had a kind of desire for conquest and a competitive spirit.
So, she passed on number 2 for now. But she hated the idea of choosing number 1 even more. She never wanted to come into contact with that crazy, perverted psychopath again. Just the thought of it made her feel like iron poisoning was rising through jer body.
Number 3 is... What if I end up wasting time? What if someone comes by? What if they find out I'm with Attar?
If that happens to reach Dietrich's ears...
Presepe was lost in thought for a moment when suddenly she heard a noise similar to a siren.
[Note: A penalty will be imposed if you fail to select an option within the allotted time.]
What, what? A penalty?
I've never heard of or seen anything like this.
However, as if it didn't care about Presepe's situation, red letters were engraved in the air, threatening her.
[Note: If you do not provide an answer within 3 seconds, the game will be completely reset.]
What?!
So that meant she had to take on five more people to switch to secret mode.
That is out of the question. Quickly recalling the arduous endings she had faced so far, Presepe hurriedly began to choose an option.
I can't help it.
Even if you choose the correct answer for the Attar strategy route, your affection level won't skyrocket after just one attempt.
It was the moment Presepe was about to choose number 2.
“Master Attar!”
Suddenly, a loud man's voice was heard from behind me.
Presepe, startled...
She accidentally chose the last option.
[◆ Would you be okay with that? You stupid bastard.]
Uh, uh... I chose the wrong...!!
The golden pattern engraved on the border of the options gleamed and...
Presepe spat out those words exactly as they were, like a parrot.
"Would you be okay with that? You stupid bastard."
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