【No, you can’t.】

No way…….

Thanks to the system that flatly refuses to provide any more information, my excitement was completely deflated.

Still, if I were to summarize it a bit:

1. There are multiple male protagonists in this world.

2. They are all blond. (+good-looking faces)

3. I need to have a 100 favorability rating on all of them

4. Unlock some unknown hidden route

5. Watch until the ending.

That was it.

‘How hard I have lived until now.’

I clenched my fists tightly.

I can’t lose my life getting caught up in this kind of game.

I will definitely see the ending with the blond male lead and return to start a rosy life with five billion!

* * *

Three days after that.

I am trapped and unable to take a single step outside my room.

So, am I frustrated and do I hate it?

No, I actually like it.

‘Wow, I’m happy to be lying down and not working at this hour.’

For someone who lived a sad office worker’s life that was more like six to eight rather than nine to six, just resting like this was satisfying.

Even if I oversleep, no one says anything!

There are many books on the bookshelf, so I don’t get bored. There’s an attached bathroom in the room, so it wasn’t very inconvenient.

The only flaw was that sunlight doesn’t come in, but my original home was like that too.

‘I guess I’m suited to confinement.’

I lay upside down on the bed and whistled leisurely.

Gwen’s minions came once a day to check if I was alive and then left quickly.

Thanks to that, I was enjoying a leisurely staycation, not quite a home vacation.

Oh, how do I eat, you ask?

Fortunately, I wasn’t fasting as Gwen had ordered.

Mandy, the maid who was the only ally of Shailyn in the count’s residence and whom Janice had deliberately picked a fight with before, secretly brought water and food every night.

‘I used to have one meal a day a lot when I was a job seeker because I had no money.’

For someone like me, who doesn’t have a big appetite, one meal a day was enough.

Knock, knock.

Today, too, Mandy knocked on my room door late at night.

“Miss, I’m here.”

The heavy latch was undone, and the door creaked open as Mandy appeared with a basket.

I sat on the bed and watched her take out the food one by one.

White bread and cold stew.

Whenever Shailyn was locked in her room, Mandy would sneak in food like this.

“Thank you, Mandy. I’ll enjoy it.”

“No, Miss. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have fought with Miss Janice…….”

Mandy shed tears as she watched me dip bread into the stew with excitement.

Even though she had already apologized to me several times, she still seemed tormented by guilt.

But I didn’t have the slightest desire to blame her.

Originally, Mandy was the one who helped Shailyn alone when all the other maids ignored her, which is why she got on Janice’s bad side.

Shailyn also stepped up to save Mandy and ended up being humiliated.

I consoled Mandy by patting her sobbing shoulder.

“I’m fine. Don’t cry.”

“But…….”

“By the way, how’s your leg? Is the place where Janice hit you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine, so don’t worry. Just think about yourself and worry about yourself……! Sob!”

Mandy burst into tears. Strangely, her tone was more passionate than usual.

Feeling an inexplicable chill, I asked with a stiff face.

“Mandy, why are you saying that? Did something happen?”

“Sniff! Well, I overheard what Miss Janice’s people were saying at lunch today…….”

The story Mandy told me was shocking.

Gwen Sharofe is planning to marry Shailyn Sharofe off to some rich old man.

And it’s to pay off her debt.

‘This damn household is going crazy.’

Before I could even find the male lead, I’m about to be forced into marriage. I was so stunned that I rubbed my forehead in disbelief.

Calling it marriage is just selling me off!

I can’t stand this.

‘I’d rather leave home and find the male lead as a commoner.’

The moment I made up my mind–

—Ding!

【Mission: Challenge! Elopement!

You are currently at risk of becoming the second wife of a rich old noble.

If you stay like this, you won’t become the heroine of a romance fantasy novel, right?

Become a master of elopement right now and escape the surveillance of your stepmother Gwen Sharofe!

Deadline: One week

Success Condition: Find a residence outside Count Sharofe’s residence.

Penalty for Failure: Get forced into marriage and the game ends.】

The first mission appeared.

I frowned after reading the penalty that the game window maliciously explained.

‘What? Game overrr?!’

If it’s over, I have to live here, right? And get forced into marriage?!

This is insane, I have to succeed no matter what!

“Miss……?”

Mandy, who found my ever-changing expressions strange, cautiously shook my arm.

I grabbed her hand tightly and spoke seriously.

“Mandy, I have a favor to ask. When you leave, don’t lock the door.”

“Wh-what? But if you do that, the Count will know you tried to escape and won’t stay still…….”

“It’s okay.”

Because I’m going to escape.

I pleaded earnestly while meeting Mandy’s worried eyes.

“Please help me just this once. Don’t ask anything and just leave the door unlocked.”

“……If you say so, I understand. I’ll do that.”

In the end, Mandy left the room without locking it, following my wishes.

As soon as she left, I started packing.

Shailyn didn’t have many valuables, so a small backpack was enough.

The meager emergency money I had secretly saved, some trinkets in the jewelry box, a map obtained as a book supplement, and my mother’s keepsake hidden under the wardrobe were all I had.

After packing the backpack as lightly as possible, I placed clothes and a pillow rolled up to look like someone was lying on the bed and covered it with a blanket.

Then, wearing an old brown robe, I carefully sneaked out.

‘It’s a bit impulsive…….’

Since I didn’t know where to go, it was best to move as quickly as possible.

I tiptoed to the back gate of the garden, relying on Shailyn’s memory.

Since it was late at night, the servants on night duty were dozing off.

‘Good.’

I walked through the dark alley after successfully escaping the mansion, thinking hard.

‘Where should I go? I think the first step is to get out of here.’

If I stayed in the Count’s territory, which was practically under Gwen’s control, I’d be caught soon.

It was better to cross into another territory and get a carriage to the capital.

‘Anyway, if we’re talking a romance fantasy male lead, he’s bound to be in the capital.’

Having made up my mind, I firmly set off.

* * *

To the west of Count Sharofe’s territory, there was a land where commercial activity was thriving.

The viscountcy governed by the Turner viscount family.

It was a place with many merchants and foreigners, making it easy to find a carriage to the capital.

I arrived there after crossing mountains and rivers for two whole days.

‘Yay! I finally left Sharofe’s territory!’

A passing local child shouted as I joyfully inhaled the worldly air.

“Wow, a beggar!”

These brats.

But I couldn’t deny it because I looked shabby even to myself.

I hadn’t been able to wash properly while sleeping rough on the roadside.

‘First, food, let’s eat first!’

I pressed the hood of my robe deeply to cover my hair and face and moved to fill my hungry stomach.

It was when I was advancing, only looking at the restaurant in the distance…

Thud.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

I bumped into a man who, like me, was wearing a robe.

But the man ignored me and walked past without even looking at me.

Feeling awkward for no reason, I scratched my head and entered the restaurant.

“Oh my, a beggar……I mean. Welcome, customer.”

The restaurant owner was startled by my appearance but quickly put on a service smile.

I sat in a secluded spot and opened the menu.

‘Hmm, how much can I spend here?’

I fumbled in my pocket to check the money I had.

Let’s see, my money…….

‘It’s not here…?’

The pocket where my wallet should have been was empty.

This, this can’t be?

It shouldn’t be like this?!

I hastily turned the pocket inside out, but only dust came out.

“Would you like to order, customer?”

“……J-just a moment. I’ll be right back!”

Leaving the bewildered owner behind, I ran out of the restaurant.

‘Did I drop it somewhere?’

I came out to look for my wallet with that thought…….

“Oh, my wallet!”

Coincidentally, I saw the man I bumped into earlier holding my wallet.

No way, you bastard. Were you a pickpocket?!

Of all things, you pick on the liver of a flea¹a situation where someone exploits or takes advantage of another who has very little to give!

Enraged, I immediately charged at the man.

“Heyyyyy!”

You thieving bastard!