1 – 1. Mansion
“My son, please take care of yourself. I never imagined the day would come when I would send you so far away.”
As if trying to hide his trembling hands, he held onto my arm tightly as we walked down the stairs together.
Yes, today is the day. Today is the day I am being sold off.
Even though I sacrificed my life for the sake of the royal family’s well-being, ironically, this choice will sever the thin thread of their authority.
“I never could have imagined the day would come when I would have to send you away from my embrace.”
Poor man. In the end, both the dwindling servants and the mansion will disappear before Melvus’s power.
Just let me have my life, that’s all I ask for.
They are good people. Good people are drawn to good people, and those with ambition are drawn to others with ambition.
And those who have power are drawn to others with power… or so they say.
Was it a game where people are drawn to each other, or was it a novel?
Thinking that way, the place I was heading to was truly a fearsome place.
A family that would eventually engulf not only the country but the entire continent, dreaming of immense ambition.
Even if I knew that, who would believe me?
Lambe Maelbus had been waiting for this moment, silently, for a long time.
The old father couldn’t say a few words.
Because he knew how much pain it would cause his son to leave like this,
And how much pain it would cause me to see my precious son, the proof of my love with my wife, leave my side.
“Please take care of yourself. I’ll be waiting for your letter.”
“I will, Father.”
At least in our last meeting, he embraced his son for the last time.
“Be careful on your journey.”
…I don’t know if he will return with his life intact, or if he will be able to return at all.
*
“…”
Despite being in a magnificent carriage, I couldn’t even spare a thought to evaluate it.
I had to think about what lay ahead. I thought about the choices I made as Repti Gail.
But the more I thought about it, the more I felt overwhelmed by despair.
Despite showering her with sweet words, attention, and investing ample time, she would always find an excuse to avoid them, sometimes giving a cold shoulder, and even driving away the delicate Le Petit with a terrifying gaze.
…When that guy in the company sulks in his room, I do feel a bit sorry for him.
Certainly, she was not an ordinary woman.
She was smart, like my father, and she surpassed him with her talent for fencing, which further enhanced the power of our family.
Compared to her, I was weak, having lost my mother early and being raised under the overprotective care of my father, like a hothouse flower, a parasite orchid… a pillar of salt…
I probably wouldn’t even stand a chance against a maid with my strength.
In the end, the only advantages I had were my face, which was half like my mother’s and half like my father’s, and my immature charm.
It might be appealing to women, but this is politics.
It was never about love, but rather, marriage.
I thought marriage was the pinnacle of a long-term relationship, the climax of a pure love affair, but in reality or in games, marriage is ultimately a transaction, a contract that is thoroughly calculated for the benefit of both parties…
Fate is not formed that way – I thought.
It may seem ridiculous, and I don’t think it’s something a lifelong single would say, but what can I do?
Even though I haven’t played much of the game, it’s the pure romance that I’ve grown up on through the stories of my parents in the original world and in novels.
And of all games, I had to choose this one.
…It’s not the time for such thoughts. So, what’s the plan?
“A new message has arrived.”
– Just as I thought that, a translucent window appeared in front of my eyes.
Surely, when I first arrived in this world and was suspiciously poking my finger in the air, the people around me who were watching me curiously came to mind, so I cautiously scanned the surroundings before clicking on it.
“Tip: Karmic Points”
– Irene Melvus has suffered considerable emotional damage due to her father’s harsh educational philosophy. She restrains, controls, and is extremely reluctant to reveal her emotions.
– If you can elicit a favorable response from her, you will be rewarded with Karmic Points, which can roughly measure the level of your relationship with her.
…So, is this it?
No stats or skills or anything like that?
No way to gain points, increase stamina, use skills, become stronger, or anything like that in this otherworldly reincarnation or possession story?
In the end, is it just a romance or a dating sim game?
I have no choice but to survive here with my gift of gab.
Even though I was prepared for this, the situation is still far from ideal.
*
“…Welcome to the Melvus Estate, Lady Lepti Gale.”
Seeing her in person, unlike in the game, it felt like an even more somber atmosphere was enveloping me.
From Noble mtl dot com
There was nothing that could stimulate the senses in this place that resembled a fortress with its lack of color and extravagance.
Nothing at all.
Although it was meager to call it the Duke’s domain or an estate, there was still some beauty in the flowers and colors,
A place where the word “beautiful” might slip out once or twice,
But there was none of that here.
The knights stood guard with rigid faces, and the stone buildings and decorations lacked any color.
It felt as if a sense of melancholy had swallowed the estate, or something like that.
I noticed the passing maids.
Their beauty was not strikingly glamorous, nor was it plain.
But still, I couldn’t grasp any emotions from them.
Every person I met greeted me with an expressionless face.
Except for those subtle gestures that showed a hint of curiosity towards me, dressed in a blue suit.
Here, I was a complete stranger.
*
Soon, with the help of a knight, I was able to enter the mansion. The floor was made of wood, but the walls were made of stone.
It was an interior that never seemed to get accustomed to the cold air.
Just when I thought it resembled a prison –
“Lepeti Gail, this way, please.”
As I absentmindedly looked around the mansion, he quietly approached me and snapped me back to reality.
“I apologize… It’s just that new places are unfamiliar to me.”
“…”
It was an attempt to start a conversation, but he seemed to understand right away. He slightly lowered his head and guided me to a room.
“Is this all your luggage?”
He took the suitcase that I had to carry with both hands and effortlessly placed it inside the room. Then, he turned to me and asked.
“Yes, yes. It wasn’t heavy, was it?”
“…If this is all your luggage, then it seems my duty is done. You will be able to meet the host for dinner.”
Once again, he seemed to avoid saying more.
“If… if I may ask a question…”
“Yes, please.”
As expected, I could only respond to him with a slightly discouraged attitude.
All I could say was that it was pitiful how Le Petit treated these emotionless people.
Even though it hadn’t been long since I arrived here, why did the protagonist have to be so passive in everything?
Should I include a scene like this in the game…!
“…You said you had a question.”
“Oh, yes, yes! I apologize. Um – Miss Irene Melvers, my fiancee… When can I see her?”
“Miss Irene Melvers is currently busy… From what I remember, you may be able to see her as early as in two days, or as late as in three days. Are you satisfied?”
Two days if it’s early, three days if it’s late…. Could this be enough time for me to roughly plan my future course of action?
“Um -“
“Yes! I understand. Thank you.”
Before he could become bored with his delayed responses, I hurriedly answered first.
…At least, I didn’t want to be known as a weird guy lost in contemplation.
I can’t afford any unnecessary suspicions.
“If you have no more questions, I shall take my leave. I will guide you to Mr. Gail at dinner time. As for attire… Please choose from what is in the wardrobe. Mr. Gail tends to avoid anything flashy, so I ask for your understanding.”
“Alright… I understand.”
“Then.”
Quietly, the door closed, and I began unpacking the things I had brought into the room, one by one.
Clothes, the perfume I favored, and… one photograph.
Frederick Gail – in other words – a family photo that my father would give to his son as a small comfort.
The harmonious scene of my younger self, mother, and father smiling.
Placing it on the desk in the room, it felt like a single color was added to the bleak landscape.
The color of my clothes, a blue like that of Gaill Ga.
“…I said.”
That was clearly the caption attached to the photo at the beginning of the game.
Le Petit had relied on this photo to regain his crumbling mind.
From a third-person perspective, it didn’t feel particularly close, but experiencing it now, it was incredibly lonely.
It had only been a week, but in just a few hours, he felt a terrible loneliness.
The maids and father, who used to come so often that it felt like a busy day. Tea time and walks…
He couldn’t relax about those things here.
He was now painfully aware of how good it was to be able to do those things without any thought.
Regardless, those things were not important at the moment.
What was important was the upcoming dinner.
Lambeau Membus was the first meeting between Le Petit Gaill and the moment when Le Petit Gaill would be greatly discouraged.
…Even if I know that, can I really overcome it?
It was a fearful moment.