Thump. Thump. Thump.
A sound that seemed to stab straight into my ears.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“!”
My eyes flew open.
At some point, I must’ve drifted into a deep sleep… But what is that sound?
Startled, I sat up abruptly.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Thump.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Thump. Thump.
The knocking echoed again and again.
It was almost rhythmic, but with an oddly unpleasant beat beneath the pattern—until I suddenly remembered.
‘Ah, right… I’m inside a game.’
My body still felt heavy, like I’d just woken from a deep sleep, but even the sluggishness and stiffness were oddly fascinating.
Even the feeling of grogginess after waking up is this detailed?
Maybe signing up as a beta tester to broaden my gaming experience hadn’t been such a bad idea after all.
“Heh, heh, heh…”
Sure, I did get a few judgmental stares for using all five of my vacation days just to play a game.
Back when I was working full-time and constantly buried in deadlines, I never got a proper break, and honestly, I had a lot to say about that.
If I didn’t enjoy this now, it would definitely be my loss, my loss.
Just as I was lost in those trivial thoughts.
… Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Aack!”
A scream escaped me instinctively at the sudden, thunderous knock.
As if venting its frustration, the banging grew even more violent.
If something needed to be said, couldn’t the door just be opened instead of getting banged on like that? Had someone gone nuts?
‘Phew.’
I wanted to fling the door open and yell, but I’d already been warned by the game company—strictly follow the safety protocols.
Maybe it was because, being a beta version, the game couldn’t properly handle events outside the preset storyline.
Just as I was about to crawl back under the blanket.
‘Wait a second.’
A strange thought crossed my mind.
A mysterious visitor, in the dead of night, came to a woman’s bedroom while she slept alone.
Could this be the setup for the male lead’s first appearance?
If I went out now, would it lead to a steamy, R-rated, blush-worthy scene or… It might be one of those built-in story triggers.
Without even realizing it, I’d already lowered my feet to the floor.
[WARNING! You are strongly advised to follow the safety guidelines.]
But at that moment, a system message popped up, cutting off my actions immediately.
“Phew.”
Alright, the point is to get used to this place first, huh?
Even so, I got up from my seat, dragging myself over to the wardrobe. From between the neatly folded clothes, I pulled out the safety guidelines.
II. Between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM, even if you hear footsteps or sense a presence, do not react.
The servants of the castle strictly operate only during their designated hours.
As expected, for a game to work, its settings need to be airtight.
The second hand, moving slowly as the gears interlocked, had just passed the hour mark—it was exactly three in the morning.
* * *
“Good morning, Miss Windsor.”
“Yes, good morning!”
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Hmm…”
Should I tell them I woke up because I heard strange noises in the middle of the night?
After a brief moment of consideration, I shook my head.
There was no need to come across as a grumbling fiancée—not when I needed to build favorability points.
“Yes, I slept very well.”
When I’m asleep, I’m the type who wouldn’t wake even if someone carried me away—but it always takes me a long time to actually fall asleep.
Especially when there’s persistent noise—it’s hard for me to ignore it and drift off.
But even so, how was I able to sleep so well?
The answer was simple.
I spent money on… in-game items.
‘And honestly? The effect was ridiculously good.’
Last night, with the loud knocking echoing in the background, I lay in bed and bought the perfect item from the cash shop.
[Sleep Mask and Earplugs for a Sweet Slumber — 800 Diamonds]
· A sleep aid that blocks out all light and sound. Caution! Not suitable for the mentally weak, pregnant women, or children.
Well, I wasn’t a child, definitely not pregnant, and I was pretty sure I wasn’t mentally weak. Thanks to that, I got the best night’s sleep of my life.
I’m sure the banging outside went on all night. Well, not my problem.
“… I-I see. Were there any inconveniences?”
“Thanks to your care, Head Maid, the bed was incredibly soft.”
The comment I threw in as a bit of small talk made the head maid tilt her head briefly before awkwardly nodding.
At the same time, a small message appeared above her head and quickly disappeared.
[Affection Level +3]
As expected, no one hates being complimented. I silently celebrated my success.
Was she worried because the room was old?
But honestly, for someone like me, used to living in a cramped one-room apartment barely five pyeong wide—even an old room like this, which felt comparable to a hotel suite, was pure luxury.
Considering its age, I’d say it was in top-notch condition.
Growl.
Maybe it was because I hadn’t eaten anything since entering the game, but that familiar, hollow hunger of early morning hit me all at once.
“Ah, I’m hungry.”
“Breakfast has been prepared. If you would kindly follow me.”
At the head maid’s words, I followed her to the dining room on the first floor.
The old castle, which had seemed almost shabby to me yesterday, now felt completely different—maybe it was just my mood.
It felt as if I simply brushed away the thin layer of dust on the furniture, and I’d be able to see its true beauty.
Like a European cultural heritage site frozen in time, the marks of age only made the place feel more special.
It almost felt like I had stepped into a real palace.
‘In other games, things like this were just described in text or shown through graphics, so I never really paid attention. But experiencing it firsthand… It’s actually pretty nice.’
Yeah, I like it.
Despite running into minor bugs here and there, I mentally gave 〈Thump Thump: Fateful Love☆Crush〉 a higher rating(?).
Lost in thought, I soon found myself stepping through the archway that led into the dining room.
[You have entered a new area for the first time. Exploration reward granted: +300 Diamonds.]
Oh, so the game had this kind of system too? If that’s the case, the inner areas of Belmond Ducal Castle were probably locked similarly, waiting to be discovered one by one.
Just then, a new window popped up before my eyes.
[New Area 〈Belmond Ducal Castle — Dining Room〉
Once a beloved dining space for the members of House Belmond.]
The dining room reminded me of the grand halls I’d seen in museums long ago.
The massive crystal chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling, the statues lining the walls, and even the antique mirrors.
‘The environmental graphics… they’re absolutely flawless.’
Although the in-game time was supposed to move faster than real time. At this rate, even a whole week here might not feel like enough.
“Welcome, Miss Windsor.”
As soon as I sat down, an NPC wearing an impeccably white chef’s hat appeared. At the same time, a new notification popped up at the edge of my vision.
[New Main Character Unlocked.]
[· Head Chef (new!)
The diligent chef of Belmond Ducal Castle. A talented cook specially hired from abroad by the former Duke of Belmond, he takes great pride in his culinary skills.
(Affection Level: 0/100)]
With this, I had now unlocked information on two out of the three main characters.
Of course, perhaps due to the same persistent bug, there was still a pitch-black hole where his face should have been.
Anyway, the head chef approached me with disciplined steps, removed his chef’s hat, and politely greeted me.
“I am the head chef of House Belmond, ■■■.”
“Pardon?”
Judging from the context, he seemed to be introducing himself by name, but the pronunciation of that part was completely garbled.
What did he just say? Was it a translation or dubbing error?
“I am the head chef of House Belmond, ■■■.”
Even after hearing it again, it was still impossible to understand.
‘Bug to report to the developers: +1.’
Of course, all of this was just going on in my head. Outwardly, I simply shrugged as if nothing was wrong.
But then, the head chef suddenly stepped back, almost like an actor following a pre-set stage direction. With an exaggerated flourish, he puffed out his chest and cleared his throat.
‘Minimal interaction. Excessively scripted behavior. Bug +1.’
Regardless of my inner thoughts, the head chef began his speech.
“Today’s breakfast is a perfectly roasted dish. The skin is glazed with sugar, and the tender, juicy meat pairs exquisitely with the accompanying vegetables, offering a truly refined flavor.”
With a practiced motion, he dramatically lifted the silver cloche covering the plate.
“Ah, this is…”
Just as I was about to offer the expected polite compliment, loud applause suddenly erupted around me.
The head maid and the nearby maids who had gathered all began to enthusiastically cheer and clap.
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