Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Bosses and Santas Survive by Seeing Through True Feelings (2)
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As I took a step forward, the servant hurriedly stood politely by the door of the study. I checked the status window of the frightened servant.
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Name: Dandelion
Occupation: Servant
Disposition: Timid - Prone to status changes. Constantly receives evasion rate boost.
Traits: None
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Judging by his disposition, I could see why his affection meter was blaring like a siren. He was timid by nature.
I rummaged through my memories and recalled the name Dandelion. I remembered seeing him in the documents handed over by the head butler yesterday.
"Ah, right. Dandelion."
As a servant who came in and out of my study, he'd been assigned under me after the previous Duke's death. He was young, but his performance reviews were good.
No need to let him go.
"Want to come with me? Dandelion."
I patted Dandelion's shoulder. I needed someone to guide me to Dahlia's room anyway.
Dandelion stared at me blankly for a moment. Then the hearts above his head changed from one to two. Puffing out his chest like a chickadee, he shouted loudly.
"Yes, sir! I'm honored you called my name! Feel free to call me 'you there,' 'hey you,' 'punk,' or whatever!"
"Uh, sure... Nah, Dandelion's better. Your examples are a bit much."
Dahlia's room wasn't far from my study. On the way, I passed a few servants, but none were noteworthy. They had no traits, and their affection toward me was practically zero. At least they didn't hate me. I was willing to overlook a little dislike anyway.
When we reached the large door, Dandelion cleared his throat like a rooster. Was he planning to announce my arrival?
"His Excellency Duke Gongjak has arrived!"
Sure enough. Even in my own house? Dandelion looked at me with a smug expression.
"Thanks..."
It was flashy, but came from good intentions.
Maybe there's a house rule that the master has to make a grand entrance. I didn't know the finer details, so I let it slide. I still didn't know this place well.
Then a good idea struck me.
"You busy today?"
"Are you speaking to me, Your Grace? If you have a task for me, I can do anything."
"Perfect. Wait here a sec."
I patted Dandelion's shoulder and flung open Dahlia's door.
"Your Grace!"
An elderly maid jumped up from her chair in a fluster. She was still in her nightgown, clearly just woken up. I could tell even before checking her status window. Dahlia's nanny, Muriel.
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Name: Muriel
Occupation: Nanny
Disposition: Loyal - Constantly receives attack power/defense power boost. Suffers major debuff if betrayed.
Traits: Charisma - Reinforces/restricts target's actions.
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My guess was right. Nanny Muriel. She had connections to the Duchess and had worked in this mansion for over 25 years.
She was on my watch list, but seeing her now softened my view a bit. Three hearts toward me. Excluding the head butler, she was the first servant to like me this much.
"Visiting a lady's room this early in the morning?"
"A lady's room?"
I slowly looked around Dahlia's room. It was stark, hard to believe it belonged to a child.
The bookshelf was packed like a library, with no toys in sight. The dark brown wooden furniture was luxurious but too rough for a kid. Even the bed with its white canopy looked adult-sized.
It was like they'd tossed Dahlia into any old guest room. Proof she wasn't a beloved young lady.
That explained it. Dahlia's face had a subtle gloominess, her voice curt. Her speech being a bit childish for her age might stem from a lack of love.
"The room does feel very grown-up. Like some rich old man's."
I eyed the unsatisfactory decor as I approached the bed. The nanny glared at me while fixing her clothes.
"It's not time for the young miss to wake yet."
"I told you yesterday to wake her early."
"I was just about to. Give me a moment, and I'll wake her and send her to your study."
"No need."
Dahlia was curled up asleep on the bed. With all the frills on her nightgown, she looked like a toppled vanilla ice cream scoop.
"Dahlia, Dahlia."
"......"
"Dahlia, time to get up."
"Ugh......"
"Get up!"
I shook Dahlia awake. She whimpered like a puppy but kept her eyes shut. The nanny muttered embarrassedly, "She's not usually like this......"
"I've got a busy day. Up, now."
I scooped Dahlia out of bed. Limp as a rag, she dangled in my arms. I dragged over her slippers with my foot and plopped her on them. Dahlia wobbled, on the verge of toppling, and blinked.
"...Good morning, Brother. Morning greetings......"
"Pull yourself together and look at me properly."
First things first. I needed to check if Dahlia could see everyone's affection levels like I could. I turned my back to the nanny and faced Dahlia. She was dozing on her feet.
I propped up the wobbly bundle and pointed at my head.
"Dahlia, see any heart shapes above my head?"
"Heart?"
"Like this."
I made a heart shape with my hands. Dahlia alternated glances between my hand and head, then wiggled to make her own heart shape.
"Heart......"
"No, not copy me...... That's cute, though......"
Dahlia's face grew more serious as she made the hand heart. Adorably so. I wished I could snap a photo, but no cell phones in this world.
"...Sorry. Don't be mad."
She crumpled her hands further. No longer a heart—more like sideways snowmen.
"When did I say I was mad?"
I must've scowled without realizing, charmed by the cuteness. Glancing back, the nanny startled and stepped away.
I slid my eyes to a nearby mirror. Even I looked scary. I relaxed my expression quick.
That Sierra Gluttony girl—I thought she was a pushover, but as the villain's brother, I had a fierce edge to my face.
Dahlia had a prim face too, more haughty than easygoing. If she picked up a venomous look growing up, she'd make a captivating villainess.
"Dahlia. No matter what you do, I won't get mad at you."
Even if you become the world's greatest villainess.
I took Dahlia's hand and fixed it into a heart shape. Her tiny fingers, like baby rabbit ears, wriggled in my palm.
"Instead, I'll destroy anything that makes me mad."
"Eek."
Dahlia's eyes widened as she clasped her hands.
"Brother, you sound like a villain......"
"I am a villain. Since yesterday."
The moment I took this body, I'd claimed the role of villain to protect the kid in front of me.
I shook Dahlia's hands up and down and repeated.
"So answer me. See heart shapes above my head?"
Dahlia nodded. She slipped her hands free and made a squished heart. Her earnest, solemn face was priceless.
"What color?"
"Red."
"How many?"
"Two."
Hm. Guess I don't like Dahlia that much yet. Lame compared to my resolve. I figured at least four. It'll grow once I bond with her.
"Can you see hearts above other people's heads?"
Nod.
I leaned toward Dahlia and whispered. No need for others to hear.
"Hearts above the nanny's head too?"
Nod.
"Red, four."
"...Good."
I'd worried, but thankfully, the nanny liked Dahlia.
"That's enough."
I grabbed Dahlia's hand and started walking. She hesitated, then toddled after me.
"Young master, what are you doing?"
The nanny blocked my path. Dahlia stared straight at her, raising her hands to make a heart—or try to. I could tell.
"Dahlia. That's not hearts, that's two squished fists. Tuck your thumbs lower."
"...Heart."
The nanny looked clueless.
"We're busy today. No need to change Dahlia's clothes."
"What......"
As I tried to pass, my arm was grabbed. The nanny held me with an angry face, then smacked my back.
"Huh?"
H-Hey, I'm the Duke—can she grab and hit me like this?
"Young master! Put Miss Dahlia down right now and go to your room!"
"Huh? What?"
"Both of you change and eat first! You came back from the funeral yesterday and—"
"Huh?"
Her momentum was terrifying. I wanted to say as master, obey me...
"A high noble parading around in nightclothes? Absolutely not!"
"Huh?"
"Dark circles under your eyes! I can't bear it! The old butler told me you didn't sleep last night!"
Even so, can she treat the Duke like this? If not, I'll end up like Sierra, disrespected!
"How dare you...!"
I was about to lay into the nanny hard.
[Muriel's Charisma trait activated]
Beep. The status window chimed. Against my will, I let go of Dahlia's hand. Like I was charmed.
"Mmph......"
I'd meant to fire her on the spot, but my voice wouldn't come out.
The trait's fault?
Traits this powerful? In the original game, I thought they were just affection tweaks.
Being in the game world myself, their importance hit different. Headache.
Dahlia still held her hand heart, then shyly offered it to me.
"Heart."
"......"
Fuming Muriel shoved me out of the room.
"See you in the dining hall!"
I stumbled out next to Dandelion. Our eyes met. He gauged my mood, then slyly asked, "Shall we head to your room?"
"Guess we should eat first......"
"Y-Yes!"
Dandelion nodded awkwardly over and over. My momentum deflated too, and I nodded along. We looked like a pair of pigeons, just bobbing our heads silently.
***
After changing, we went down to the dining hall where food was ready. I was dazed, but didn't forget my task.
I barely touched the food and had the head butler summon the head chef. The chef came in, unable to hide his fluster.
"Your Grace, is there a problem with the food?"
No? The food's fine.
I'm just here to check if there's a problem with you.