Chapter 19

Chapter 19

“You’ll… you’ll just make me want to do it more,” I muttered—the same words I’d wanted to say to Reynold yesterday—as I threw my armful of sheets out the window. Drained, I draped myself over the windowsill and tried to catch my breath.

The first day of the festival had dawned. I’d waited patiently until nighttime. When Emily had retired for the evening, I’d pulled all the sheets from the closet and tied them into what seemed like a long enough rope. It was one of the oldest tricks in the book when one needed to escape via the window.

“Time to try and make my way down, then.”

My breathing calm, I pushed myself back from the sill.

I was totally prepared. Wearing a hooded cloak that hid my hair and face, I carried a blank check and the gold I’d requested as my reward from the duke. Now all that remained was to safely make my way down two stories.

“Do I really have to do this?” I lamented, peering down into the darkness outside my window. I steeled my nerves and shimmied over the sill, rappelling down the makeshift rope. The trip was short seeing as it was only a two-story drop.

I’d sized up the length of the drop multiple times during my walks outside the manor and concluded that the height was manageable. I’d been so certain, and yet...

“This is crazy.”

My sheet rope was much shorter than I’d expected. I couldn’t just jump down without making a lot of noise and possibly alerting someone, and because it was dark, I would likely hurt myself when I landed.

“Damn it!”

I despaired at the stark difference between expectation and reality. Looking back up, I saw that the distance to the window was considerable. It didn’t matter because I didn’t have the energy to climb back up anyway. The most I could do was cling to the rope and hope I didn’t fall.

“Ugh... What do I do now?”

My arms were beginning to tremble, and my palms were sweaty. I began to slide down slowly. Glancing below, I felt terror wash over me accompanied by my long-forgotten fear of heights.

“I’m done for...” I said sniffling. I was quite literally at the end of my rope. Then a voice called out.

“Hey. What the hell are you doing?”

It was coming from below. I glanced down and locked eyes with someone.

“What?” he said as he laughed.

“Reynold?”

The faint glow of moonlight shimmered off his pink locks. Reynold was gazing up at me from the window below with a look of dumbfounded amusement.

“Wh-what are you doing down there?” I asked, still clinging desperately to the remaining length of my bedsheets.

“Are you joking? My room is below yours.”

“...”

I had no response to that. How was I supposed to know his room was right beneath mine?

“You... I don’t even know what to say, this is so absurd... Are you running away from home?” Reynold laughed.

“Of course not!” I exclaimed, indignant. “I-I’m just going out for a bit.”

“Going out? Do all girls your age leave by the window when they’re ‘going out?’”

“...”

I stared into the distance, unable to think of a suitable reply. However, I’d been so preoccupied with our conversation that I’d forgotten my arms were at their limit. My grip gave out, my hands unable to support my weight any longer, and I plummeted for a brief moment toward the ground.

“Oh my god!” I screamed, managing to stop myself at the very tip of the rope.

My breath left me in panicked pants. I was flush against the wall like a cicada clinging to a tree, the tremble of my arms making me shake like a leaf.

“Hey!” Reynold shouted, quickly vaulting onto his windowsill. He seemed pale as he launched himself outside, his eyes fixed on me.

“Let go,” Reynold said, holding his arms out wide beneath me.

“Wh-what?”

“Let go. I’ll catch you,” he replied.

I nearly said “What makes you think I’d trust you?” but caught myself just in time.

“Or keep hanging there, if that’s what you want,” he spat, seeing my hesitation.

I had little choice.

“You better catch me. Don’t let me fall, okay?” I begged earnestly. I might be his unwanted stepsister, but he wouldn’t let me fall on purpose, would he? Willing myself to believe this was the case, I took a deep breath and let go.

I felt a brief violent rush of wind swirl around me, and the feeling of weightlessness I’d felt only once before on a rollercoaster.

Then with a solid thunk and a “got you,” Reynold was holding me with a wicked smirk.

“P-please put me down,” I said, hurriedly pushing away from him when I realized how close our faces were.

I was smoothing out the wrinkles in my robe when Reynold asked, “So, where are you going?”

“Just on a walk—”

“If you say you’re going on a walk one more time, I’m going straight to Father,” he cut me off.

I glared at him. Of all people, why did it have to be him to catch me sneaking out?

Well, I suppose I should be glad it wasn’t Derrick.

Changing strategies, I gave him a better excuse.

“I’m going to the festival,” I said simply.

“Why go so late when you could have gone during the day? And why escape out the window?”

“I have my reasons. It has nothing to do with you anyway,” I replied.

“Nothing to do with me, my ass! Do you intend on going alone with no one to guard you? Do you know how dangerous it is out there right now? You really have no self-preservation—”

“Reynold,” I interrupted irritably. “I’m truly very grateful for your help. But need I remind you? I’m taking care of my own affairs so you shouldn’t worry about me.”

“Hey. You...” Reynold seemed flustered by my cold request.

I glanced at “[Affection Score 7%]” above his head and said judiciously, “I’m an adult now. Whatever happens, good or bad, will be my responsibility and mine only. As my brother, the best thing you can do is pretend you didn’t see me—”

“I’ll go with you,” he interrupted.

“What... did you say?” I asked, startled.

Reynold didn’t seem to find anything about what he’d said strange.

“We can go together. I’ll serve as your escort. It’s what a brother should do. It’s the perfect arrangement, is it not?”

“...”

“I’ll keep it a secret from Father. Let’s go together,” he continued.

What?

Flustered, I couldn’t find the words to reply. What on earth had gotten into him?

He hated the very sight of Penelope before! Why does he suddenly want us to go together?

Growing more and more nervous by the second, I cautiously tried to persuade him.

“But you hate me. Why would you go out of your way to—”

“Who said I hated you?” he bellowed, immediately irate. “You’re the one who kept saying you hated me more than anything in the world!”

“Shh!” I said, dumbstruck by his outburst. I looked around us frantically, afraid someone had heard him. Thankfully, no one came running to investigate. Our surroundings remained completely silent.

“Okay, all right! Why do you have to shout like that?” I whispered, frowning. “And when have I ever said anything of the sort?”

I wanted to admonish him for making things up, but I had no time to waste. I had to hurry and save Eckles.

“In any case, I’m coming and that’s that,” Reynold insisted glumly. “I’m coming even if you refuse.”

A notification appeared before my eyes.

<SYSTEM>

Special quest! [Go to the festival] with [Reynold].

Accept this quest?

(Rewards: +3% affection score with Reynold and other benefits)

[Accept / Decline]

The quest I’d refused yesterday popped up again. I could see the stubborn determination on Reynold’s face. I looked down at the quest pop-up and exhaled heavily. I was left with little choice.

“Fine. Let’s go together, then.”

* * *

We walked toward the tourney hall in silence. When we stopped in front of the opening in the wall I’d found yesterday, he shot me a knowing look, his suspicions confirmed.

Shoving aside the grass covering the hole, I was about to climb through when a biting voice called out, “What are you two doing?”

Reynold and I turned, horrified. I saw the affection score meter first, glowing in the darkness.

“Where are you going so late at night?”

“Brother,” said Reynold.

Derrick approached us in long strides, glaring. He took in the hole in the wall and me, crouched beside it.

“W-well...” I stammered, scrambling for some kind of explanation.

Damn. Reynold pointed at me, throwing me under the bus without a second thought. “She wants to go to the festival.”

“The festival?” Derrick repeated, frowning.

“Yes. I’m just going along to protect her and make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble,” said Reynold.

Derrick’s gaze traveled from his younger brother to me, and I flinched at the feeling of his cool stare.

I guess my plan to go all-in on Eckles is doomed.

I hung my head in frustration, all but giving up on attempting the Eckles questline.

“A member of the aristocracy should always be accompanied by two guards,” Derrick said in his usual impersonal tone. “I shall accompany you as well.”

His unexpected request made my head shoot up just in time to catch the white window appearing again:

<SYSTEM>

Special quest! [Go to the festival] with [Derrick].

Accept this quest?

(Rewards: +3% affection score with Derrick and other benefits)

[Accept / Decline]

I’m done for. Hahaha!

I laughed to myself, resigned to my cruel fate.