Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Reynold looked completely taken aback by this. Neither the duke nor Derrick had actually said they wanted the maid dismissed, of course. Derrick had only mentioned Emily’s long tenure in the house to chastise me, nothing more. He had been reminding me that I was worth less than a maid about to be let go. But I didn’t care that I was technically twisting the truth. I was pretty sure I could cover my tracks.

If the lie catches up to me later, I can just say I misunderstood.

“That’s why you’ve decided to continue using her as your personal maid instead of kicking her out?”

I nodded calmly. “That’s right.”

His smooth forehead furrowed in a deep frown, and he exploded, the volume of his shouting causing my ears to ring.

“Are you an idiot? You should have objected!” he shouted.

“But would that have changed anything?” I asked.

“Are you serious? Are you saying you’d like to continue eating rotten food until it kills you? Or—”

“How can I be certain that a new maid won’t do the same thing?”

“...”

He fell silent at this.

I gazed warily at the words “[Affection Score -3%]” hovering above his head and considered. I couldn’t make it sound like I blamed any of them for what the maid had done. Reynold took great pride in the name Eckhart, and he wouldn’t take any censure lightly. I wished the affection score bar was actually a rage indicator instead. That would make it easier to choose words that wouldn’t aggravate him. If the affection score dropped even more, I would die.

I sighed inwardly. This was why I hadn’t been excited in the least when Reynold’s affection score had gone up.

“I didn’t see Father yesterday to talk about punishing the maid,” I said slowly. “I knelt before him and begged for forgiveness, since I caused a scene when I was meant to be serving my punishment.”

“What?” Reynold could not contain his shock. Penelope had never once apologized for anything. The very idea seemed to appall him. “You did what... Wait, did Father... did Father demand that you apologize?”

He had done no such thing, of course, but I skimmed over that detail.

“I told him I would behave for the remaining period of time spent confined to my room.”

“...”

“So please don’t concern yourself with this any longer.”

I wanted to tell him that none of this was really any of his business. But if I could get the hot-tempered man to simmer down, half the potential deaths waiting for me in the game could probably be prevented.

Please don’t pick any more fights with me. Let’s just have some peace around here, huh?

Of course, I couldn’t be so direct with him, so instead I made my tone as sincere as possible.

“Please, dear brother?”

Reynold stared as I bowed my head, like I was some sort of otherworldly anomaly. He seemed flustered for a time before finally saying, “You... I don’t...”

I watched as his face twisted into a scowl again, expecting another of his cantankerous, senseless criticisms. He’d likely call me crazy and say the rotten food had addled my brain. It was true that I was being much too reasonable, considering Penelope’s usual disposition.

“Have you no pride?” His thunderous rage was somehow completely unexpected. “You’re going to just let this slide after what she did to you?”

His words seemed to flip a switch inside me, even as he continued to shout.

“Are you insane? I’d prefer you pitch a fit and throw things about like you usually do. That’s more like you!”

Reynold’s anger almost seemed to be out of concern for me. Sadly for him, I didn’t feel thankful in the least.

“But you expected all this, didn’t you? Ever since you put that necklace in my room?” I shot back sharply, unable to contain my anger. “This is exactly how you wanted me to be treated. It’s what you’ve wanted all along, isn’t it?”

“What... did you say?” Reynold’s mouth was hanging open.

I shouldn’t have snapped back considering his affection score was still in the negatives, but right now I was too angry to think. He had some nerve lecturing me about pride.

He’s the one responsible for Penelope’s current situation. The butler, head maid, and Emily were all small fish compared to him, the source of all the persecution against Penelope.

Reynold finally choked out a response. “Penelope... that’s...”

“I don’t hold all that against you. It’s in the past. Goodness knows I’ve been an arrogant fool.”

“...”

“But I’m tired of all that now,” I said, looking him directly in the eye. “I’ll soon have my coming-of-age ceremony. I can’t stay in the Eckhart manor forever.”

Reynold paled. “You... what are you saying? Are you... saying you’re going to leave?”

“That is up to Father and Lord Derrick,” I said with a shrug. I didn’t really mean to let them decide my future, of course.

As was the case with most stories set in these times, I could easily be forced into some kind of arranged marriage by the duke or Derrick. I had no intention of letting that happen. The nature of the game’s story wouldn’t allow it anyway, so I could rest easy in that respect. I would choose a male protagonist to reach one of the predetermined endings with and get the hell out of this place forever.

And you’re not in the running, so don’t you fret.

Once again, I tried to politely convince him to butt out.

“So there’s no need for you to worry yourself with my affairs any longer.”

I can take care of myself. So gloat if you will, but mind your own business. That’s what you usually do anyway.

“I need to bathe now. Can you please leave?” I said, glancing at the door.

Reynold’s face fell, and I was taken unawares. I’d never seen this particular expression on his face before. I was suddenly afraid.

Wait, does this mean his affection score is going to drop? No!

I hadn’t raged at him like Penelope usually did when he appeared and had done my best to be reasonable. Why was this happening? Suddenly, the empty gauge above his lovely pink hair began to glow.

[Affection Score 3%]

Huh?

I felt numb.

Why did it go up?

It had risen by a whopping six percent, too.

While I stared in confusion between Reynold and his affection score in turn, he seemed to recover himself and spat, “I am a fool for wasting time on you.”

There was an almost wounded look in his furious blue eyes. He spun away.

My eyes must be playing tricks on me. Watching as he left abruptly, I decided that whatever I’d seen was a trick of the light.

Slam!

The door slammed shut behind him, and the room was completely silent.

I considered the situation, planting an elbow on the table and resting my chin in my hand. I felt odd. It was satisfying to see Reynold’s affection score rise like that in real time. I’d given up on him as a lost cause.

“I guess things did improve some after I turned off the dialogue, then?”

She’d managed to keep the brothers’ affection score from dropping, despite how much they hated Penelope.

“I’m keeping it turned off,” I said, making my decision before getting up. It wasn’t just an excuse that I needed a bath. Tugging the bell pull, something occurred to me.

I would no longer be able to call Reynold “Mr. Negative.”

* * *

I thought the time locked in my room would last forever, but it ended sooner than I expected.

“An invitation arrived from the palace?”

“Yes, my lady. Lord Derrick wants you to get ready.”

“Lord—my eldest brother?” I asked, cutting myself off before I could call him Lord Derrick in front of the servants. I was the youngest daughter of this house, adopted or not. It was probably best the servants didn’t notice anything strange was going on.

Derrick said that?

Though he hadn’t said it in so many words, this was effectively an end to my confinement.

“Here’s the invitation, my lady,” Emily said, holding it out politely.

The name Penelope was written clearly on the stiff paper, which was embossed with the symbol of the imperial house: a golden dragon. It was for the second imperial prince’s birthday celebration, set to take place tomorrow.

“I guess I should prepare myself, then...” I muttered.

I was actually a little disappointed that the period of isolation had ended so soon. It had been so nice just enjoying Emily’s attentive care, while being able to avoid both of my brothers. If I were now allowed to leave my room, the game’s plot would inevitably draw me into encounters with Derrick and Reynold...

Wait a second.

As I was worrying about my problems inside the manor, a thought suddenly crystallized that caused me to flinch.

If I’m going to the palace... That means I might meet the crown prince!

It was all but certain. Though there had been no actual cutscene showing Penelope going to the palace in the game, the celebration for the second prince marked the beginning of the crown prince storyline. I couldn’t help but groan as I thought of the illustration featuring Penelope’s beheading at the crown prince’s hands. I’d seen the gruesome sight more than once.

“Oh no!”

“M-my lady?” Emily said, startled.

I can’t go. Should I say I’m sick? That was the only way I could avoid the lunatic crown prince.

Emily seemed morose, probably thinking she’d done something wrong.

I quickly asked, “Emily. Will Father be at tomorrow’s celebration?”

“He has other matters to attend to,” she said. “Lord Derrick will be escorting you there instead.”

Sh*t. I’m so screwed...