Deep down, I wanted to tell him I’d accept him right away.
But… but…!
I can’t end up with just half the ending!
With that thought, I barely managed to steady my resolve.
“Ugh… n-no…”
“Hah.”
I could feel Edwin’s gaze fixed on me.
But if I looked into those crimson eyes, I felt like I’d end up saying, ‘No… I mean, yes.’
So I lowered my head instead.
A moment later, the lingering stare left me.
The mattress, which had been tilted under his weight, slowly returned to normal.
Edwin had stood up.
Is it over?
Just then, a completely unexpected system message appeared before my eyes.
[Edwin (1/2, Alignment: Evil)’s Affection has been unlocked.]
[Affection +1 (1/50)]
“Huh…?”
It unlocked like this?
No, I was sure I’d hurt his pride. Was I mistaken?
Carefully lifting my head, I found him looking down at me arrogantly, as though dissatisfied with my choice.
…Judging from his expression alone, he definitely wasn’t pleased.
But his affection still went up.
So I was right.
Giving in because he seduced me wasn’t the intended route after all.
I’d secretly been worried that I’d made the wrong decision, so seeing this confirmation was a huge relief.
Still…
Edwin (1/2).
That probably meant I’d have to unlock the other half’s affection separately too.
The maximum affection being fifty instead of one hundred was likely because the original value had simply been split in half.
I’d expected each personality would require a different approach.
I hadn’t expected their affection meters to be completely separate too.
Now the game’s difficulty really started to sink in.
“Are you thinking about someone else while I’m standing right here?”
Just then, Edwin’s displeased voice broke the silence.
“Huh?”
“Is there another man?”
“W-Well… that’s not completely wrong…”
Technically, they were the same person.
But since their personalities were different, didn’t they count as different people?
The words slipped out before I could stop myself.
Edwin’s crimson eyes narrowed, turning ice cold.
“What?”
The relaxed mood he’d had just moments ago vanished without a trace.
A chilling atmosphere settled around us.
Changing the mood in an instant, he took a careless step back and muttered,
“How boring.
I should leave.”
…Huh?
I stared blankly as he turned around completely.
Then, on impulse, I called out to him.
“Wait!”
“What?”
“A-Are you… sulking?”
He stopped dead in his tracks.
Without even turning around, he answered in a low voice.
“Sulking? Me?”
“W-Well…”
“My interest has simply faded.”
His cold reply was followed by another remark, as though my question itself was ridiculous.
“It’s been a while since I’ve heard something so absurd.”
Moments later, my bedroom door shut firmly behind him, as though no intruder had ever entered.
I stared at the closed door for a while before quietly sighing.
“…He’s definitely sulking.”
He really was a difficult romance target.
****
Thanks to my unexpected midnight visitor, I’d woken up at such an awkward hour that I ended up skipping breakfast and sleeping well into the day.
“Mmm…”
When I finally opened my eyes again, every curtain in the room had been drawn to keep the sunlight out.
The head maid had probably done it out of consideration since I’d looked exhausted.
“I wonder what time it is…”
Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I climbed out of bed and walked over to the window before pulling back the thick curtains.
Beneath the sun high in the sky, crops waiting to be harvested stretched across the fields once again.
Nearby, the stable master was feeding treats to the horses…
Huh?
“Oh, right!”
Watching him suddenly gave me an idea.
Ever since the evil Edwin had left last night, I’d been thinking about it until I fell asleep.
How am I supposed to unlock the good Edwin Belmont’s affection?
Honestly, considering I hadn’t even properly started romancing anyone yet, unlocking the evil Edwin’s affection had been incredibly lucky.
Who would’ve guessed he was that kind of character?
The type who blushes and says, “You’re the first woman who’s ever treated me like this,” after the heroine slaps him across the face.
Anyway!
One thing was certain.
I had to unlock the good Edwin’s affection before I could properly continue the game.
Which meant…
“If walking everywhere keeps delaying your schedule, perhaps you should consider learning horseback riding.”
Maybe I should take his advice and learn how to ride.
To be honest, I didn’t want to keep walking to the village every single time.
The gloomy forest and the strange things I’d experienced there had been unsettling.
Besides…
A teacher and student relationship was practically the perfect setup for romance, wasn’t it?
There was a reason romance web novels loved tags like #TeacherStudent.
Anyway!
He’d never outright said he’d teach me himself.
But when someone suggested something like that to their fiancée, it usually implied they’d personally be the one teaching.
Since I’d never seen any of the servants riding horses, my imagination naturally drifted toward a rosy romance with Edwin.
Riding together.
Holding the reins together.
Accidental touches.
Blushing cheeks.
Affection gradually blooming between us.
Yes.
“Let’s go with the teacher-student route!”
From now on, my strategy for conquering the good Duke Edwin would be…
#TeacherStudent
“Hehehe.”
Having made up my mind, the first thing I did was open the cash shop.
I’d become rich from the “What Carol Wants” quest.
Surely it was okay to indulge myself a little.
“What should I buy?”
The farther I scrolled, the more things I wanted.
I’d completely forgotten what it felt like to want things this badly.
The game company would probably let players buy diamonds with real money.
If they designed their microtransactions this well…
They were going to make an absolute fortune.
Anyway, after a long time thinking it over, I finally bought…
…a beautiful riding outfit made from white fabric embroidered with elegant golden thread.
Graceful Riding Set of the Goddess — 2,000 Diamonds
A riding outfit crafted for the Goddess’s messenger. Its elegant embroidery and refined design naturally encourage graceful posture the moment it’s worn. Though formal in appearance, it remains comfortable enough for everyday outings and official occasions alike.
I worried the size might not fit.
But the instant I put it on, those worries disappeared.
The slightly long skirt automatically adjusted itself to perfectly match my body.
Hehe.
Cash shop items really are the best.
After changing into my riding outfit, I hurried outside toward the backyard.
“Oh! Head Maid!”
“You’re awake. Although… those clothes…”
She’d apparently been working, holding a ledger while checking something around the grounds.
She stopped and looked at me.
“Well, His Grace recommended I learn horseback riding yesterday.
So I thought I’d give it a try.”
“……”
“Head Maid?”
“Oh… I see.
If His Grace suggested it himself, then that’s wonderful.”
For some reason, she’d gone quiet for a moment.
Only after I called to her did she seem to come back to herself and nod.
Was it just me, or did she sound… relieved?
Before I could think more about it, she continued.
“I’ll inform His Grace myself.
If you’re practicing horseback riding, he’ll naturally be with you.
In that case, the two of you should have lunch together today.
I’d better let the chef know as well.”
“Oh, yes! I’d really appreciate that. Haha.”
Leaving behind the suddenly busy head maid, I headed straight for the stables.
The stable master, who had apparently just finished walking two horses back inside, noticed me and greeted me.
“What brings Miss Windsor all the way here?”
With his solid, dependable voice, he looked me over before tilting his head slightly.
“Hm? That outfit…”
“Hehe, yes.
I’d like to learn horseback riding.
I feel bad relying on everyone else all the time.
So… would it be possible for me to ride one of the horses?”
I asked politely.
But the answer I received was completely different from what I’d expected.
“I’m sorry.”
…Huh?
W-Wait.
He rejected me that quickly?
Comments (0)