“Let’s decide by majority vote. How we proceed.”
The Crown Prince finally made the call.
“What do you all think?”
If I remember correctly, we were supposed to enter the dungeon here.
In the game, the outcome changed depending on Yeniel’s choice, but in my first playthrough I picked the forest without thinking and got completely wiped out.
‘We should go to the dungeon… I want to say that. But if I try to persuade them normally, my suspicion level will go up again, won’t it?’
Didn’t it increase by 10% just because I used the word “reasonable”?
“Um, I think Lady Yeniel is really smart! She’s amazing and super smart!”
For now, I clapped my hands and laughed brightly like a proper “airhead noble lady.”
Ding!
[Lady Yeniel’s favorability has slightly increased.]
Compliments also raise the heroine’s affection.
“I vote for the forest!”
Max, the attendant, shouted first.
“Honestly, how are we supposed to enter a dungeon? Who knows what’s in there! Probably monsters like those on the fifth floor! We should go to the city! I’m scared….”
“We must enter the dungeon.”
Sian, the strategist, spoke coldly.
“Inside that dungeon is likely a sealed demon. The Great Mage never once went to a dungeon where a demon wasn’t sealed.”
“That just proves how dangerous it is! And you still want us to go in?”
Max glared at Sian.
“On the contrary, that means this path is based on the Great Mage’s memory. Even if it’s distorted, the space itself should be structurally stable. Do not decide based on emotion. Think rationally.”
When you only know bits and pieces of the game’s story, you don’t predict situations—you just recognize them when they happen and think, Ah, right. Just like now.
“Are you calling me emotional right now, Sir?”
Somehow, I suddenly remembered there was bad blood between those two.
Scritch, creak… creak… creak.
A disturbing scraping sound echoed, and the group turned toward it.
A grotesque figure appeared, limbs twisted unnaturally. A boy-like figure with bulging eyes and bleeding tears moved forward with mechanical jerks.
On closer look—it was a metal doll.
‘Ah, this was here too.’
…Right.
At a glance, it didn’t look human. But once they realized it was a doll, everyone’s expressions grew even worse.
“Why is something like this here…?”
The Crown Prince frowned.
Clatterrrrr!
A blade-like mechanism spun inside the doll’s mouth, producing a horrifying sound. Dried blood-like residue clung to the edges.
“Wow, it’s moving even though it’s a doll! Hello! Hello!”
I waved cheerfully like April would.
Sian looked at me with an expression that was impossible to define—like he was looking at something beyond understanding.
“…Do you not understand the atmosphere, my lady?”
“Yes! Father said Lady April doesn’t need to know things like that. Because Lady April is cute!”
“……”
[Sir Sian’s favorability has slightly decreased.]
Sian’s favorability dropped silently.
Then the automated doll jerked its finger and pointed toward the right-side dungeon entrance.
The group stiffened. Even the Crown Prince looked tense.
“So it’s telling us to enter the dungeon? Sian, what do you think it means?”
“If we don’t go in, it might mean death. It could be a torture mechanism,” Sian said.
“Sir! I can’t do this anymore!”
At that moment, Max screamed.
“Sir Isengrif! You should be doing something! How can you be so calm?! You’re a spirit user and a mage! Are you telling us to enter that place with His Highness and me?! Why do you keep insisting on the dungeon?! If you want to go so badly, go alone! Get rid of that doll!”
“How foolish.”
Sian’s expression turned cold.
“If you don’t understand, stay silent. We have no choice. It’s been a thousand years since the Great Mage died, and not a single Great Mage has been born in the empire. No mage or spirit user alive today would find another method.”
“So we just walk into that obviously dangerous dungeon? I’m going back to the city! I misjudged you—you’re completely incompetent!”
“Are you insane, Max? That’s walking straight to your death.”
The two argued, but Yeniel remained silent, simply observing.
In a way, it was the smartest move. She didn’t seem interested in making enemies.
‘So that’s why she’s the heroine.’
She clearly had no intention of interfering unnecessarily.
“Move! Oh, I see! I get it now! No one likes Sir Isengrif! I know why! Acting all superior and issuing orders like he’s something special—no wonder even the imperial faction people hate him!”
Max shouted angrily.
The city route was no good. Even if my memory was mixing different bad endings, going to the city meant dozens of mechanical dolls would appear and tear everyone apart alive.
“Ugh, he’s doing it again! Max is so annoying! If we follow him, we always die! He’s so inconsistent and infuriating!”
I remembered my brother yelling at Max while reloading the save file.
‘Whatever.’
I casually walked up to Max and raised my hand.
I didn’t know if the real “airhead Lady April” would do this, but survival mattered more than suspicion.
“Stop it!”
Smack!
I hit the back of Max’s head.
It was a light sound—not really painful. Just annoying.
“Lady April?! Are you insane?! You—airhea—”
Max began to say “airhead noble…” but stopped himself midway, sensing the mood.
The Sharon Marquis House had low intelligence rumors attached to it, but not low status.
Even if Lady April acted strangely, people still had to address her with respect.
“Tut tut! That’s not nice, Sir Max. Friends shouldn’t fight.”
I put on a prim expression.
“Did I say something wrong? Everyone knows Sir Isengrif’s reputation is terrible! His personality is clearly flawed….”
Before the clueless Max could keep going, I grabbed a handful of his hair.
And pulled.
Hard.
“Did you say something bad?”
Huh? Strange. His hair fit perfectly in my hand.
“W-wait! How is she so strong—AAAGH! STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! I’M THE FUTURE CHIEF STEWARD—AAAGH! LADY APRIL! LET’S TALK THIS OUT! PLEASE! I WAS WRONG! AAAAAH!”
Rustle, rustle—some of his hair came out in my hand.
The tense atmosphere vanished instantly. The Crown Prince covered his face. Yeniel looked genuinely speechless, as if she had never seen such a thing before.
And then a welcome message appeared.
[Due to the Sharon Marquis House’s tendency to grab people by the hair when unsure where to hold, any lingering suspicion has disappeared! Everyone has accepted it!]
[Suspicion level decreased by 1%.]
[Current total suspicion level: 0%]
Just what kind of house is the Sharon Marquis House supposed to be…]