At Lysith’s statement of fact, Serul choked on the water he had been slowly sipping and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

“That, ahem.”

“……”

“……I’m sorry.”

After waving her hand dismissively at Serul’s apology, Lysith checked that her face was somewhat presentable and returned to her seat without further comment. Sitting like this, her tired body and mind felt like they might collapse at any moment.

To be more specific, her mind was more exhausted than her body.

Recalling past memories, receiving a sudden quest that promised an affection check skill, preventing a confrontation, receiving the level 9 quest, and completing that level 9 quest.

All of this had happened today.

‘There’s still time……’

The current time was around 2 PM, and the hunting festival was scheduled to end at 4 PM.

Verheigen had seemed quite confident, but the outcome was uncertain. It seemed Dietrich was also determined to do well this time. Besides, hadn’t Verheigen been significantly delayed spending time with her?

‘Actually, I don’t really care which of them takes first place……’

But they would care.

Dietrich, especially, would be quite concerned. Given what she had heard from him during the recent visit to the Grand Duke’s residence, she suddenly felt like cheering for Dietrich.

If he always lost, shouldn’t he win at least once?

Of course, if Verheigen knew this thought…….

“Are you taking that guy’s side over mine, my Lysith?”

He would probably say something like that.

Judging by how she could now predict his manner of speech, tone, and what he would say, it seemed she had spent too much time with him.

While wondering how to kill time until the end of the hunting festival, Lysith suddenly noticed a group of young ladies approaching her. Until now, no one had approached her, but suddenly like this?

And when her gaze naturally turned toward them and their eyes met, they startled but gradually approached until they finally stood near her.

“Um, um. Lady. May we sit beside you?”

“Me too.”

“If it’s alright……”

Goodness.

Not four men, but three female friends.

Lysith tried not to show her delight as she nodded gently. The young ladies who sat beside her began introducing themselves one by one, and after conversing with them, Lysith eventually reached a conclusion.

‘They couldn’t contain their curiosity because of the rumors circulating.’

They were quite young. Unlike Lysith, who was twenty-three, the three were in their mid to late teens, just before the marriageable age.

Having completed that thought, Lysith suddenly furrowed her brow.

‘Wait, I’m sure there was something similar among the empress’s duties.’

That is, something where young ladies of marriageable age could request help from the empress…….

Sure enough, her ominous premonition was exactly right.

“His Majesty will offer his game to you, won’t he……?”

“……I wonder. How could I dare predict the heart of the sun?”

“Ah, y-yes, of course!”

They showed many signs of naivety. Lysith roughly guessed their hidden meaning but deflected all their questions with appropriate answers that left no room for rebuttal.

It seemed their parents had sent them, as well as their own curiosity.

Being loved by the emperor, gaining the Grand Duke’s interest, receiving the Tower Master’s affection. Whichever of these three was true, if rumors had spread to this extent, they must have judged that at least one contained some truth.

Whatever it was, there was no harm in these girls making a good impression on Lysith Gronevelt.

After the girls left without gaining much, Lysith relaxed her shoulders that had been tensely stiffened throughout.

‘When will this end? I want to go back and sleep.’

Yes, lately Penchev’s massages had been quite good. No matter how much of a waist passive skill she had, enduring rough lovemaking wasn’t entirely effortless. So naturally, she often struggled. At such times, he would appear like a ghost and give her a massage.

When she asked if her discomfort was that obvious despite trying to hide it, he answered with a calm face that he had noticed because he paid a lot of attention to her. And when he added, “Because I’m the one who troubled you,” Lysith would cover her face with both hands, followed by his low laughter.

Enduring the boring time with her tired mind, finally the fanfare announcing the end of the hunting festival sounded across the hunting grounds.

And at that sound, participants began returning one by one.

Even as many people showed their catches and scores were being tallied, Lysith was lost in other thoughts.

[Loading next level sub quest……]

0/100%

‘If level 9 was like this, what on earth will level 10 be?’

Moreover, to clear level 10, she absolutely had to do it with Dietrich!

The additional condition, yes. If only that damned additional condition didn’t exist. She could have pretended to be crazy, done level 9 with Dietrich, and seized the opportunity to end the main quest.

In fact, since she didn’t know the affection levels of the male protagonists yet, it might seem too optimistic, but they say imagination is free, don’t they?

While Lysith was absorbed in negative thoughts, it seemed the determination of the winner had concluded. There was a slight murmuring sound, and then the announcer raised his voice.

“This year’s hunting festival winner is… His Highness Grand Duke Clonair!”

It was the opposite of what Verheigen had confidently predicted before parting with her. Hearing the announcer’s announcement, even Dietrich himself seemed slightly surprised, widening his eyes, though not enough for others to notice.

And when Lysith naturally looked toward Dietrich and their eyes met, he smiled, yes, uncharacteristically smiled with his eyes crinkling.

Receiving his unexpectedly proper smile head-on, Lysith was so surprised that she unconsciously leaned her upper body slightly backward.

Seeing her reaction, Verheigen mercilessly furrowed his brow, which the announcer noticed from the corner of his eye and hastily concluded.

“Well then, this hunting festival……”

“Wait.”

No, he had tried to conclude.

“Aren’t we deciding the Lady of the hunting festival?”

If not for Dietrich’s question.

At his remark, the announcer hurriedly continued. Most had already decided whom to offer their game to long ago, so the Lady was as good as determined.

“Ah. Y-yes, of course. The Lady of this hunting festival is Lady Dekaum……”

“How is the Lady already decided when I, the winner, haven’t said who I’ll offer to?”

“Yes. ……Pardon?”

……You’ve never offered to anyone before, have you?

The announcer swallowed the retort he wanted to make. Besides, if he was going to offer, he should have mentioned it beforehand, not now after the winner was decided.

But power is a bully, so the announcer had no choice but to nod.

……In fact, he had thought that His Majesty would surely intervene in this situation, but what was happening? Even the emperor was just watching what he was doing! Though with a somewhat displeased look.

“I… offer my game to Lady Gronevelt.”

At Dietrich’s words, the crowd stirred. Did you hear that? He said he’s offering to the Lady… But the Lady doesn’t look happy about it?

Cutting through the murmuring of the people, Verheigen continued in a clear voice.

“I too offer to Lady Gronevelt.”

The previously murmuring crowd fell silent in an instant. Instead of words, gazes busily exchanged. In reality, it was no exaggeration to say it was even noisier than before.

The difference in scores between Dietrich and Verheigen was not large, and both had more than enough to surpass the game offered to Lady Dekaum, who would have been named the Lady with just one of them.

The protagonist of the hunting festival had changed in an instant, but the feelings of Lady Dekaum, the actual person who had been replaced, were better than expected.

That was because…….

This situation, right now, was a historic moment when the rumors of society were being confirmed, wasn’t it?

The affection of Tower Master Ashites, who exemplified expressionlessness and indifference, a collection of apathy; the affection of Grand Duke Clonair, cold as a blue blade; the affection of Emperor Verheigen, who had never captured anyone’s heart…….

Wouldn’t anyone fly with happiness receiving just one of these men’s affection? Yet all of it was directed at Lysith Gronevelt!

Everyone thought this as they turned to look at Lysith, but contrary to their expectation that she would be beaming with joy, what they saw was a rather troubled face.

‘Being the Lady is nice, it’s nice but……’

The problem was that she had never wanted this kind of attention. Of course, she had expected to receive some attention if she became the hunting festival’s Lady, but she never dreamed it would be like this.

And so, Lysith claimed the title of this hunting festival’s Lady.

In many ways, it was an ending full of gossip-worthy content compared to last year’s hunting festival.

[Sudden Quest Complete!]

‘Become the Lady of the hunting festival!’

Cleared!

[The ‘Affection Check’ skill has been provided as a reward for clearing the sudden quest.]