Chapter 67 - Affection Deficiency
"Young Master, where have you been?"
Having spent the entire night on a date with Serena, a wave of fatigue washed over me. But at the same time, the stress had melted away, and my mind felt clearer than it had in ages. For the first time in a while, a genuine, relaxed smile tugged at my lips as I replied.
"Morning walk."
"I see. Then..."
Kania nodded and moved to lead me inside, but she suddenly froze. Wondering what was wrong, I tilted my head—and that's when she strode toward me, her expression hardening.
"Did you really just go for a morning walk?"
"Yeah. I heard it's good for your health. Figured it was time to start taking care of mine."
For some reason, her stare made cold sweat prickle my skin. I started babbling excuses without thinking, and Kania reached out toward me.
"I see. But it looks like you took a tumble during your walk?"
I blinked in confusion, and she began brushing off my back.
"Uh... yeah, I must've tripped."
Only then did I realize that rolling around with Serena had left grass and dirt smeared on my clothes—I hadn't brushed it all off. Sheepishly making excuses, I watched as Kania held something out to me.
"I see. But what's this?"
It was a strand of Serena's pale purple hair.
"And this?"
"That's a handkerchief my little sister gave me..."
"Then why does it bear traces of moon mana?"
"I'm sorry."
Under Kania's relentless questioning, I eventually bowed my head and apologized. I hadn't done anything wrong, but it just felt like the thing to do.
"...The silver cat embroidered on the handkerchief looks so lonely."
"Huh?"
I was racking my brain for how to soothe her anger when Kania stared wistfully at the handkerchief and murmured to herself. Puzzled, I tilted my head again, and she infused it with black magic.
"Here you go, Young Master."
"...What's this?"
A moment later, she handed it back. Now, beside the original silver cat, there was a black cat drawn in as well.
"I gave the cat a companion."
With a satisfied expression, Kania turned and headed into the duke's mansion.
"One of a kind in the world."
A silver cat drawn with Aria's star mana, a black cat etched by Kania's black magic, and the moon drawn with Serena's moon mana. Gazing down at the handkerchief radiating entirely different auras, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Ah, h-hello."
I carefully folded the handkerchief and slipped it into my pocket before stepping inside. A timid voice greeted me. Turning, I saw a student in a maid outfit bowing her head.
"What are you doing here?"
"Y-Young Master Frey told me yesterday to be your personal maid..."
"Oh, right."
It was Lulu, the one I'd assigned as my personal maid yesterday.
"W-what should I do now?"
Fidgeting with her fingers, she kept her eyes down, clearly intimidated by my gaze, and asked softly.
I stared at her for a moment, then started walking as I spoke.
"From now on, you follow me everywhere and do whatever I tell you."
"Y-yes! I'll do my best!"
She'd been standing there with a blank look, but she squeezed her eyes shut and shouted before scurrying after me.
Glancing back at her, I sifted through memories from previous loops.
Right, she was Lulu...
According to the Prophecy Book, the highly freeform game series Blacktail Fantasy featured not just the main heroines but a colorful array of sub-heroines. And Lulu, the one trotting anxiously behind me, was one of the most peculiar.
Because in Blacktail Fantasy 2, she was virtually impossible to romance.
Of course, that didn't matter much to me, walking the Villain's Path to save the world. But once you learned why she was so hard to romance, anyone would feel a pang of unease.
...Can I really save her?
In almost every route, she kills herself. And the reason isn't even in the Prophecy Book.
Still, the existence of a hidden achievement means there's definitely a way to save her. Unlike Serena's Subjugation Curse, which was just dummy data in the program, this one could be cleared through gameplay.
But no one ever succeeded. Countless heroes from our ancestor's world threw down the gauntlet to save her, and not a single one prevailed.
...She was the only heroine I couldn't romance. Even in a game with such high freedom, the system had its limits. But... but in this real world, not some game—maybe I can save her?
Our ancestor believed I had a shot.
Of course, you don't have to take care of her on top of everything else. And like I keep saying, you don't have to follow my every word to the letter. You're the one suffering right now, not me. What I want is a 'happy ending' for everyone in the world.
Isn't it too cruel for her alone to die without seeing that happy ending?
So decide for yourself whether to save her, based on the situation at the time.
If things are already a mess... might as well stir it up more.
The Starlight family shines light on those the world overlooks. So I'll find a way to save her.
Crash!!
"...Eek?!"
The thought had barely crossed my mind when a loud crash erupted behind me. Whirling around in alarm, I saw a priceless vase shattered on the ground.
"H-how much was it?"
"150 gold."
"......Ah."
I'd casually told her the price, and her eyes went dead. Looks like I'd accidentally given her some motivation.
......
Entering the kitchen with Lulu in tow, I found Kania and Irina bustling about with preparations.
"Kania? Irina? What are you doing here?"
"Preparing breakfast."
I tilted my head, puzzled, and Kania answered matter-of-factly. Flustered, I opened my mouth to protest—then glanced at Lulu, still staring with dead eyes, and said,
"Wait outside."
"Yes."
"Don't go anywhere. Stay right by the door."
"Understood."
After shooing Lulu out, I turned to Kania and Irina.
"You two are handling all that food prep alone?"
"It's fine. Breakfast can be simple."
"Still... hmm..."
Irina chimed in that it was okay, but I wasn't convinced. After agonizing over it, I rolled up my sleeves and started limbering up my hands.
"Young Master? What are you doing?"
"Lending a hand."
I tied on an apron, and Kania and Irina stared at me.
"You... know how to cook?"
As I picked up a kitchen knife and inspected things, Irina eyed me warily.
"Well... cooking's just chopping ingredients, mixing them, and adding sauce, right? I'm confident with a blade, so I should be decent at—"
"Young Master, it's not that simple."
I flashed a cocky grin, but Kania approached with a firm expression.
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!!
"Like this, right? You've been slicing those carrots at even intervals."
I'd diced ten carrots into perfect bite-sized pieces in an instant. Kania's eyes changed as she'd moved to stop me.
"...Can you do that with other ingredients too?"
"I could cut adamantium or mithril if I had to."
Smirking arrogantly, I spun the knife—
"Great and all, but now you've sliced the cutting board?"
"Ah."
Irina pointed out the mangled board. Scratching my head awkwardly, I felt Kania place her hand over mine with a sigh.
"First, let me teach you how to control your strength."
"Uh, y-yeah..."
And so Kania and I spent a while pressed close, chopping vegetables in sync.
"...Young Master, one question."
"Hm?"
Rhythm taking hold, I smiled contentedly when Kania suddenly asked,
"When does the second Trial come?"
"Ow!"
Irina, silently slicing meat nearby, cried out.
"Irina? You okay? What happened?"
Blood welled from the finger she clutched. Rushing over, I saw her face pale as she looked at me.
"I-it's nothing... just a slip."
Biting her lip at my worried look, she averted her gaze downward.
"Be careful, Irina. Put a bandage on it later."
It nagged at me a bit, but the cut wasn't deep, so I turned back to Kania and answered her question.
"Probably soon."
"...Could you share the exact symptoms and duration? We need to prepare."
"No need to worry. The second Trial is really no big deal..."
"It can't be nothing."
I tried to reassure them, but Irina slammed her knife down, head bowed, interrupting quietly.
"Tell us what suffering you're facing this time."
"No, really, it's minor. It'll probably be gone in a few months without issue..."
"A few months?"
My frantic excuses only paled her face further.
"Irina, I'll be fine. So..."
Knock knock knock!
Floundering, I reached to comfort her—but froze at the sudden knock.
"Who is it?"
Kania asked calmly, and an unexpected voice replied from outside.
"Kania...? What in the world is going on?"
It was Ariane's older sister, sounding flustered.
"...Why are you here?"
Kania scowled at the interruption, and Ariane's sister explained in a trembling voice.
"W-well... I'm in charge of the kitchen. I went out briefly to procure ingredients, but when I came back, students were wandering the mansion..."
Realizing what happened, I sighed deeply. Kania did the same and began explaining.
"Wh-what? Then... what about me?"
"Leave the mansion by the end of vacation. Pack your things today and—"
"P-please! Don't fire me!"
A thud—like knees hitting the floor—followed, then her desperate pleas.
"I-I have nowhere else to go... And Ariane's here too, so please let me stay...!"
"Nowhere else?"
"O-our family home was taken... I'm staying at the Starlight residence, Ariane's in the dorms... If you kick me out...!"
Her tragic tale spilled out. Clutching my head, I pondered.
Having Ariane's skilled sister around would be convenient... but it's dangerous here.
"I'll do all the chores and cooking! I'll sleep with Ariane...!"
"...What should we do, Young Master?"
After deep thought, eyes closed, I opened them at Kania's whisper and decided.
"...She can stay, on condition she sleeps with Ariane at night and sticks close to her otherwise. Ariane's protective magic is top-tier, so it'll be fine."
"Understood. I'll inform her."
Kania relayed the decision. Soon, tearful thanks echoed from behind the door.
"...Guess I'll head out then. Better leave it to the pros."
With the cooking issue settled, I climbed out the kitchen window.
"F-Frey! Wait—"
Irina called urgently, but I'd already vaulted over.
"...What are you doing there?"
"Eek!"
Gazing at the sky with a sigh, I noticed Lulu crouched nearby.
"S-sor... ry... Hic."
"...Hah."
She was sobbing pitifully. Normally I'd hurl insults to rack up villainy points, but I feared this blowfish of a girl might actually kill herself. Clicking my tongue, I headed to the courtyard.
"Hic... Sob..."
She sniffled, trailing after me.
"P-personal... maid... Hic."
"Sigh..."
Observing her issues was why I'd made her my personal maid, but the problems seemed endless.
Whispers...
The commoners in the courtyard murmured, eyeing me and Lulu. They must think I made her cry.
What the hell.
Opening her status window, I froze in shock.
No wonder she's so hard to romance.
It was the worst status I'd ever seen. Breath catching, unsure what to do, Lulu grabbed my arm, pale-faced, and cried out.
"S-sorry...! Really sorry! So sorry... Eugh!"
"...Got it. Let go."
I pushed her away to create distance, and her eyes died again.
"...Understood."
Her voice dripped with utter despair. Panicking, I backpedaled.
"If you get it, go clean my room."
"...Pardon?"
"Clean my room. Isn't that basic for a personal maid?"
"Y-yes!"
She bowed frantically and bolted to my room.
"...What now."
I desperately wanted to use Mind Reading, but I'd already used it on Aria at dawn—couldn't today. No choice but to call over the murmuring commoners in the distance.
"You lot, come here."
"Y-yes?"
"Tell me everything you know about that girl who just ran off."
"Uh, nothing?"
They exchanged glances and shook their heads.
"...R-really! We don't know her!"
I scowled, and they scrambled excuses.
"No one in our class is close to her anyway. Asking around won't help."
"...She's an outcast?"
"Kinda... but it's self-imposed."
"What?"
I tilted my head when a shout rang out.
"F-Frey! What are you doing there? Bullying innocent commoners again?!"
"Perloché, come here a sec. You lot, scram."
The perfect person arrived just in time. I dismissed the hesitant commoners and questioned her.
"You know anything about Lulu?"
"Wh-what for?!"
She shot back warily. Fair enough—after all the backstabs.
"Gotta know all the students as commander. No time, so spill."
"Oh... r-right?"
"Won't talk? Fine, I'll defect to Clana. Hurry up, I'm busy."
"Mm..."
After some effortful excuses, Perloché, who'd been glaring thoughtfully, finally spoke.
"Nope, still no. You always just use me. If I tell you about Lulu, you'll twist it for something evil..."
"She's an outcast, right? And you're fine ignoring her as a saintess?"
"Th-that's not it!"
"Then what is?"
Sensing her max wariness, I switched tactics. She bit, sighed, and explained.
"Lulu pushes everyone away herself."
"What do you mean?"
"Kind commoners try befriending her... I approach to comfort her pain... but she rejects us all."
I frowned, puzzled. Affection deficiency and menhera traits... but she pushes people away?
Contradicting her status. Perloché continued, as if remembering something.
"Oh, and... she always says the same thing when pushing us away."
"...What?"
"'I'll make everyone unhappy... so please stay away.'"
Arms crossed, she muttered.
"But... I don't sense any curse on her. Even purification spells changed nothing..."
Now I grasped the Mark of Misfortune.
"Anyway, you! Don't even think of messing with Lulu! I'll turn her heart around somehow...!"
Not a curse, but a [Mark]... intriguing.
Looks like I'd need to keep her close and observe.
......
Meanwhile, in the servants' quarters of the Starlight Mansion.
"There... all done."
Aris, the commoner representative, set down her pen and carefully folded the letter.
"The Imperial Princess said she'd come around now..."
She tiptoed to the window, peering around anxiously.
Flutter!
"Ah, she's here!"
Pacing by the window, she beamed at the familiar wingbeats outside.
Hooo!
A white owl she'd seen before flew to the sill.