12 – Episode 2. The Method to Regain the Favor of the Sinful Lady (2)
Lina Spon.
She was the youngest daughter of the Duke of Spon, a promising knight with the talent of a sword master. Even now, she was a rising star in the Academy’s Knight Department, contending for the position of the crown princess and the top seat. In the latter half of the story, she would join the ranks of the sword masters. Moreover, she would become one of the few comrades relied upon by the princess when fighting against the demons.
Yet, at this moment, she harbored enmity towards me.
“Hmph. Are you mocking me?”
“Pardon?”
“Or are you planning to distance yourself from me now?”
Her gaze bore into me fiercely, subtly exuding animosity.
“… I wouldn’t do that.”
“What’s so regrettable about me that you would… associate with someone like you? All you have to offer is a handsome face and a prestigious family name.”
It was a rather harsh rebuke.
As far as I knew, Abel and Lina were childhood friends who had no reservations about each other, but they certainly maintained their boundaries. What could Abel have done to provoke such a reaction from her at this time?
In fact, merely embracing another woman while engaged was grounds for a breakup. Pretending not to know about it was probably a necessity for the bond between the two dukes.
“Why are you standing there like a statue? Sit down.”
She gestured to the sofa opposite her with a jerk of her chin.
Her tone was commanding. It didn’t matter if she took the lead in the conversation, but there was a need to address the hostility she held towards me.
“Let me make it clear in advance. Don’t get any wrong ideas. It’s just that your parents asked me to come and see your face after a long time.”
“… Is that so? That’s a shame. I was looking forward to talking to Lady Lina.”
I sat down on the sofa opposite her and said.
“You… How dare you say such things in front of me?! If you’re teasing, at least do it in moderation!”
Bang!
Lina slammed the coffee table. The cup, which had been sitting quietly, shook, and the tea splashed into the saucer.
“Every time we meet, you always show your annoying attitude…!”
“Well, uh…”
“Marriage that is not desired by both parties is meaningless! It may be unavoidable for the sake of family relations, but I’ve already said that even if we were to marry, it wouldn’t be fun!”
I know this line from the original work. It’s when Lina complained to the protagonist after becoming close with the princess.
I should have expected her to say such things to my face already.
Abel was really pushing his luck.
“Lady, that’s…”
There was a grinding sound of teeth. The gaze directed at me was piercing.
“Don’t say another word. I feel like slapping you…!”
How am I supposed to handle this?
I couldn’t easily open my mouth in this awkward situation.
[A quest has arrived.]
[Would you like to read it? Y/N]
A quest… in this situation?
I glanced at the “Y” with my eyes. As I did, the quest window appeared, and the sentences poured out.
[When the fiancée is angry, frost falls even on New Moon.]
Category: Sub (Lina Spawn)
Deadline: –
Your fiancée, Lina Spawn, has developed a dissatisfaction with your formal and respectful manner of speech, as if treating her as someone else. Normally, this would be something to overlook, but the accumulated unpleasant behavior on your part has started to manifest in outward expressions of emotions.
The reason for this is because Lina Spawn has developed feelings for you. If that were not the case, she would have broken off the engagement and resolved this relationship long ago.
This is why she cannot bear the fact that you have embraced another woman. Not only does she consider herself lacking in femininity, but she also resents you for not having the same feelings as her.
Therefore, in order to improve your relationship with her, you need to show her a different side of you. However, it will take sufficient time for this, so let us start by sending letters and slowly improving the relationship.
Instead of initiating a conversation today, spend time together while taking a walk. Conversation will naturally come up as you walk, so accept the awkward atmosphere as it is.
Also, leave a hint of anticipating the next meeting before she leaves. Although she may not show it outwardly, there will certainly be a disturbance in her heart.
Clear conditions:
[Letters sent to Lina Spawn: 0/5]
Reward: Improved relationship with Lina Spawn.
Failure: Break off the engagement.
This time, it’s not about death. It seems that failure leading to death is limited to the “main quest.”
Moreover, judging by the classification of the quest as a sub-quest, it seemed that even if I break off the engagement with Lina, it wouldn’t have a significant impact on the main quest itself.
In other words, it meant that it was okay not to improve the relationship with Lina Spawn, or there might be other quests to improve the relationship in different ways.
However, when considering the failure resulting in breaking off the engagement, it is expected to be difficult to become close with her again.
By the way, since the rewards are related to likability, it’s confusing whether I’ve entered a fantasy novel world or a dating sim world.
Just like the previous Clara quest, and this quest too…
“Hmm.”
Either way, there would be no harm in getting along well with Lina Spawn.
In the future, Rena will play a significant role, forming a prominent presence alongside the protagonist. It was possible that she might receive assistance when Beral starts wreaking havoc, especially after the successful summoning of demons.
Of course, apart from that, there were plans to gradually reduce the scale of the Beral sect from now on.
However, unless the cult leader was dealt with, completely eradicating them would be challenging. Since the leader’s location couldn’t be pinpointed, satisfaction had to be found in downsizing the organization.
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“Sigh. It’s a shame to waste time on such a boring woman. I wouldn’t have come to a place like this if it weren’t for my parents’ words.”
“…Rena.”
“Don’t call me.”
She still glared at me with an expression, but her voice had slightly lost its edge. Perhaps she hoped I would treat her more comfortably, as suggested in the quest.
“Then talk to yourself as you please.”
“What?”
“…Let’s take a walk for a moment.”
The quest’s proposal seemed generally correct.
If Rena’s spawn indeed harbored favorable feelings toward Abel, she would probably comply with my suggestion.
“What?”
“I won’t talk. But since we’re engaged, we should at least take a walk together formally, shouldn’t we?”
“…”
She didn’t respond, but it felt like she understood.
“Let’s go.”
As I stood up and turned away, Rena quickly followed.
* * *
“Don’t you know how to escort? You’re aware that wearing a dress makes walking uncomfortable.”
“But if I hold your hand, you’ll be scared, right?”
“Of course.”
Of course… Even I was a little hurt.
“Why do we have to wear dresses when we meet? It’s meaningless to wear something uncomfortable like this.”
I glanced at Lina, who was holding onto a tassel, speaking curtly.
Lina’s dress was something I hadn’t seen before. It was only mentioned in the story, I had never seen an actual illustration of it.
The only illustration of Lina that I had seen showed her wearing an academy uniform and holding a sword.
“Well, from now on, you can wear whatever makes you comfortable. You look beautiful no matter what.”
“…Ha! Is that how you enchant women?”
Oops. Was that counterproductive?
Even if our relationship was bad, I thought that giving a compliment would help, but it seemed like it had the opposite effect.
“Do you really expect praise from me?”
“You don’t need my praise?”
Lina passed me with a snort and walked ahead briskly. It seemed like her statement about the dress being uncomfortable was a lie.
We continued walking for a while without talking, fully embracing Quest’s opinion. By the time Lina stopped and looked at a certain place, we had been walking for quite some time.
It was the magic purification tree that we planted a few days ago.
I wasn’t sure if it was a fragment of the World Tree, but seeing that it had a similar effect to the Holy Sword, it didn’t seem too far-fetched.
“What’s this tree? I don’t remember seeing it before.”
“It’s a magic purification tree.”
“Magi Purification Water?”
“It’s a tree that treats magi.”
Her eyes widen at my brief explanation.
“What? Wasn’t magi treatment exclusive to the sect? Even if it were, they wouldn’t allow it for personal use, right?”
“The sect doesn’t matter. It’s something I obtained.”
Though no one from the sect has come yet, I anticipate many discussions about this.
But I don’t care. It surely has its uses.
Of course, if I have to give it away, Samdae will get enough money to live comfortably before handing it over.
“Now you’re even lying? Well, you’ve always lied.”
She squints her eyes, a look that says, ‘Well, that’s just how it is.’ Whatever I say, she won’t believe.
“If you don’t believe me, grab anyone in the Duke’s residence and ask. Ask if I’m lying.”
“…Speaking of which, I heard you brought a saint to the Duke’s residence.”
How did she find out about that?
“Yeah. She’s staying here for now. They say she’ll come from the Beatrix sect soon…”
I had thought of sending the saint to the sect. Houston seemed to be thinking the same.
However, considering the permanent increase in divine power, one of the effects of magi purification water, it might be okay for her to stay here.
“And this time, are you involved with that woman?”
Her voice suddenly chills. Does she think I embraced Clara?
“…I didn’t bring her for that reason. And if a relationship develops with the saint, the sect won’t stay quiet.”
“When did you care about that? You’ve always acted however you pleased, as if you were already the emperor.”
Rina’s sneering made me frown. It was clearly a veiled resentment towards Abel, but it started to feel like she was insulting me, which annoyed me a bit.
“Hey. Even if you’re like that, I also have some sense.”
“You’re talking about having some sense? That’s funny.”
“You…!”
In an instant, I almost blurted out what I wanted to say to her.
“Well?”
She opens her eyes wide, as if telling me to say what I wanted to say. Honestly, it was really unfair, but as the one who became fused with Abel, I couldn’t say anything.
“…It’s really not true. I can’t ask you to believe me with my own words, but it’s really not true.”
“Hmph. I want to go back.”
“What?”
“Just this much of a walk is enough. I’m uncomfortable in this dress.”
“….”
Before lifting her foot, Rina glanced at Magi Jung Hwa one more time, then turned her body. I let out a small sigh as I watched her walk away without hesitation.
* * *
“I’ll visit you next time.”
I said, watching Rina get on the carriage. The servants around us held their breath, and Carrie, who came to see us off, covered her mouth as if surprised.
There’s nothing wrong with following the quest’s instructions.
“…Who are you to decide? Coming here now—”
“Even if you don’t like it, it doesn’t matter. Just like you said, I’ll do as I please.”
She made a mocking laughter, as if incredulous, and spoke sharply.
“Hmm. I can imagine my mother giving you a good slap when she finds out you’ve been to our house.”
“With the things I’ve done so far, a slap would be considered mild.”
I chuckled and said, “Did you have a good day today? You even saw me off, unlike your usual self.”
Although Lena’s sarcastic attitude remained, it seemed she didn’t mind my departure.
“It’s not just today. Things will be different from now on.”
“Hmph.”
She glanced at me and boarded the carriage.
“Take care.”
“…”
There was no response. I didn’t care since I thought it was a natural reaction.
The servant she brought closed the carriage door, and it smoothly set off.
Watching the carriage go into the distance, I pondered why I was given such a quest.
In the end, I concluded it was to give me a hard time.
“Well, well. When did our son become such a ladies’ man?”
Carrie slapped my back and laughed heartily.
…It really seemed like it was to give me a hard time.