Uh, isn’t this getting a little too serious?
Even the Oath of the Peach Garden wasn’t this dramatic!
I disrupted the mood.
“Hey, we’re just drinking buddies who meet up occasionally. Don’t get so intense. I’m going to keep living a deeply embarrassing life, so you should just go with the flow too.”
“I meant what I said.”
“Let go of my hand. A handshake between friends doesn’t need to go beyond this.”
“...Understood.”
I spoke firmly, and he let go. A faint tingling sensation lingered in my hand.
I hadn’t even said anything that significant, but his reaction was so... intense.
Almost enough to make me feel guilty.
Our connection will never last long.
If I safely marry Tristan, I won’t be coming here anymore.
...But if I don’t?
That’s what Plan B was for.
Originally, I planned to earn enough coins to ask Madame Abigail to introduce me to a decent man. But now, even if I saved up money, I’d have to use it for my sister.
Still, I wouldn’t change my decision.
Percival deviated from the original story because of my influence... I can’t let my sister marry him without at least having some kind of leash on his weak spot.
If I recklessly stopped the marriage, my sister would just end up facing the novel’s original bad ending.
In the original story, the convent was practically designed to punish and torment Natalie. She spent her life there, withering away in regret for tormenting the heroine.
Meanwhile, I had distanced myself from the worst possible outcome.
Recently, I had gained the Crown Princess’s favor, securing a small foothold within the royal family—
And during the charity performance, I made a good impression on several nobles. That counts as networking too.
Through those connections, I might be able to forge a new path.
With that settled in my mind, I felt a bit more at ease.
I smiled at Rick—though he probably couldn’t see it properly because of the mask—and said,
“I said our friendship stops here, but... right now, having a friend means a lot to me.”
Honestly, I only had one person I could truly call a friend—Maria.
“So no matter how this wager ends, no matter what happens to my fate after this season... will you remember me as a good friend?”
Historically, I’d just be another nameless noble lady. At best, my fate would be recorded as the third prince’s consort and the wife of a lord.
But at least you—you met me in a place where names, titles, and faces meant nothing.
You might remember me as just myself.
“If anyone would remember me as more than a one-dimensional noblewoman, I think it would be you.”
The Skull Mask nodded immediately.
“Of course. No matter what happens, I will remember you as the wise lady that you are.”
“...Haha, thank you for saying that.”
I wasn’t sure if I was truly wise.
But just hearing those words made me feel grateful enough to smile—so brightly that it probably showed even beyond the mask.
***
The Dreaded Holiday Had Arrived
Father spoke first.
“It would be inappropriate for Prince Percival to join the Redfield family’s vacation directly. So instead, we’ll be renting a villa near his retreat and spending time together in the vicinity.”
My sister summarized the situation succinctly.
“...Isn’t that just turning a blind eye and pretending?”
“It’s different! What matters is that we demonstrate mutual respect. And in the worst-case scenario... well, it’s a backup plan in case nothing comes to fruition.”
“Fine, I get it. I completely understand.”
“...Do you really, Natalie?”
“Of course. You’re awfully distrustful of your own daughter.”
“Well...”
Father hesitated.
And for good reason—Natalie’s track record wasn’t exactly reassuring.
She smirked at his uncertainty.
“Don’t worry. Just as I’ve always trusted in my beauty, I also understand the reality of the future I can’t secure with looks alone.”
“......”
“I’ll make the most rational decision for my future. So don’t worry about that.”
After a brief pause, our parents nodded.
The villa waiting for us at the end of our journey was a beautiful two-story mansion.
At least, it was aesthetically pleasing. But practically speaking...
I searched for a socially acceptable way to phrase it.
“Ah... well, um, it has a classic charm to it.”
“It looks like it’ll collapse in a couple of days.”
“Natalie!”
Mother quickly grabbed her and whispered,
“This estate was recommended by the royal family! You mustn’t speak like that! It’s a fine villa.”
“......”
Father cleared his throat.
“Ahem, let’s get settled in first. The caretakers are coming out to greet us.”
A middle-aged couple approached and helped carry our luggage.
Our maids followed nervously, climbing the creaking staircase. Fortunately, it didn’t collapse.
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The house had everything—a spacious guest room, a study, rooms for the staff, and even a small ballroom and music chamber...
But everything was coated in an ancient relic aesthetic. Faded wooden window frames, dusty tapestries, outdated suit-of-armor decorations in the hallway—it all came together to create an atmosphere of, ‘Wow, what a remarkable villa. But also... why?’
Natalie wrinkled her nose.
“This place is like a well-dressed corpse.”
The maids barely suppressed their laughter.
But I had more pressing concerns.
Food!
While we unpacked and rested, the housekeeper and our maids prepared a meal.
“The Redfield maids are exceptionally skilled. They were a great help. Please, enjoy your meal.”
The housekeeper beamed with pride, but the maids looked slightly uneasy.
Understandably so. The meal was much simpler than what we were used to back home—probably due to limited ingredients.
I noticed our parents grumbling slightly, so I smiled first and picked up my spoon.
And immediately voiced my thoughts.
“Oh, it’s delicious.”
I meant it. No need for further words—I just kept eating.
Seeing me, Natalie and our parents gradually picked up their spoons as well.
Roast duck without any elaborate seasoning, a green salad dressed with only olive oil and two types of aged cheese, a creamy soup, house wine with olive focaccia... Even the dark sugar brown cake for dessert earned Korea’s highest compliment: ‘It’s not too sweet, but still delicious.’
...This vacation might not be so bad after all.
Moderate house size! Fewer people! Simple, tasty, and abundant food!
Most importantly—
No forced parties!
Maybe it was the low expectations, but my dopamine levels shot up instantly.
...Though, for some reason, the housekeeper kept glancing at me with a strange expression.
What? Have you never seen someone eat properly?
When I met her gaze, she quickly turned away. Meanwhile, my family—who had been picking at their food like they wanted to complain but couldn’t—finally finished eating with an oddly dissatisfied expression.
The housekeeper spoke.
“You must be exhausted from your long journey. The beds have fresh sheets prepared. Please rest well. If you need anything, send a maid to our cottage.”
Father responded,
“Understood. Ahem, by the way... is Prince Percival staying nearby?”
“He is at a villa about twenty minutes away by carriage. Starting tomorrow, His Highness will introduce you to some delightful local figures. You’ll have just as much fun as you do in the capital!”
Wow! I don’t care at all!
The housekeeper then turned to me.
“For those who do not enjoy social gatherings, there are also historic ruins and a convent with a long history nearby.”
“Oh, there’s a convent here?”
“Yes. A short carriage ride up the hill will take you there. Let me know if you’re interested.”
My entire family frowned.
To them, a convent wasn’t a religious institution—it was a place where unmarried daughters were locked away.
I replied politely,
“I’ll think about it.”
But I had no interest in visiting.
That night, we retired to our rooms.
Even in summer, the room was cool.
Good for escaping the heat... but it feels a little damp.
My hair wouldn’t dry properly.
Maybe it was just the humidity?
There were dark clouds outside when we arrived...
Would sunlight make this house look better? Or just reveal all its cracks?
I pondered that thought, then let exhaustion from the long journey pull me into deep sleep.
A very deep sleep...
Until—
“Miss, wake up!”
A maid’s voice echoed down the hall. She was knocking on Natalie’s door.
What now? Why the fuss...?
“Wake up Lady Doris too!”
“All right!”
Hurried footsteps rushed toward my room.
Ugh. The sky outside was getting brighter, but my body told me I was at least two hours short on sleep. Just a little more—
Then, instead of a voice, something else woke me up.
A sharp, cold sensation.
Plop.
“...Huh?”