The entrance to the dungeon felt ominous.
Like any cave, it was damp and dark. The ashen city outside had been eerie too, but at least it was bright.
“So, have you realized your mistake now?”
I spoke in a serious tone as I walked into the dungeon toward Max.
“Friends should get along with each other. You can’t say mean things to your friends, you know? Hurry up and apologize. To Sir Sian.”
Honestly, both Max and Sian said rude things.
The difference was that Sian was correct but spoke harshly, while Max was wrong and rude on top of it.
At my words, everyone’s attention shifted toward Sian, the strategist.
Since Sian had been walking at the very back while watching out for mechanical dolls outside, the whole group turned around.
And then we saw it—beyond the dungeon entrance.
The path to the city on the right, which we hadn’t taken, suddenly caved in.
See? I was right.
It was a hidden trap.
A mechanical device was revealed, and beneath the gaping pit were blue-black spikes and rapidly spinning saw blades.
If we had gone that way, we would have fallen in immediately, been shredded, and pierced through.
Outside, the mechanical doll boy tilted his head and rolled his eyes as if disappointed.
Everyone shuddered.
I pretended not to notice the trap at all and spoke to Sian in a bright, innocent tone.
“Sir Sian, you must be very sad and upset, right?”
Sian looked at me with a confused expression, as if struggling to understand me.
Is he looking so uneasy because he thinks I might grab his hair too?
Soon, Sian spoke.
“Why did you take my side just now?”
“My side?”
I tilted my head.
“I don’t understand what you mean by taking your side… No, forget it. From now on, don’t resort to violence against others. Especially not because of me.”
That was a terrible thing to say to someone who just defended him.
I was slightly annoyed, but I reminded myself that I needed to raise the party’s favorability.
“Why not?”
“In this world, that’s called common sense. What if Sir Max demands compensation from the Marquess of Sharon’s house? You shouldn’t act impulsively just based on emotions.”
“But Sir Sian looked sad.”
According to my brother, April’s charm points were being pure, kind to friends, and possessing true friendship.
“If April hears bad things, she’ll go home and get angry. I don’t really understand why, but anyway, friends should protect each other.”
“Protect…?”
Sian’s previously cold sky-blue eyes wavered slightly.
“Yes!”
I answered brightly and looked up at him.
“I will protect you, my friend, Sir Sian.”
[The favorability of Strategist Sian has increased significantly!]
I should’ve read the story more carefully.
Now I finally understood how to play April.
A character who is so pure she can cause trouble, but never abandons her friends.
Someone who would smile even while dying trying to help the player.
While I was trying to build that image, I suddenly felt something in my hand. I opened my palm.
“Hmm?”
A clump of Max’s hair—he’d been shaking his head the entire time—was in my hand and then fell apart, scattering down.
“My hair!!”
Max screamed as if he was about to faint.
“Why… what do you want from me, young lady?”
“Friendship doesn’t need a reason to treat each other well. My father said so. Friends should be cherished unconditionally.”
I smiled brightly at Sian.
The intention was clear: if I treat you as a friend, I expect the same level of care and affection in return.
“……”
Sian, who had seemed briefly flustered, hardened his expression and spoke coldly.
“…No need for that. You’re the one who interfered on your own, aren’t you? I never asked to be protected or cherished by you, young lady.”
Sian’s sharp response instantly cooled the atmosphere.
Yenniel looked like she was ready to step in and mediate. The Crown Prince, and even Max—who had just been arguing with Sian—were watching cautiously.
But there was a reason I alone remained calm.
Because—
How scary can he be just because he looks stern?
Despite Sian’s refusal, the status window kept updating.
[The favorability of Strategist Sian has increased significantly!]
[The favorability of Strategist Sian has slightly increased.]
[The favorability of Strategist Sian has increased significantly!]
His slightly confused eyes, and the faint redness at his ears.
Sian, who didn’t even realize how his favorability was fluctuating, was simply amusing.
[The favorability of Strategist Sian has slightly increased.]
[The favorability of Strategist Sian has increased significantly!]
[The favorability of Strategist Sian has slightly increased.]
Why does it keep going up and down like that?
The group soon reached a place filled with a more dangerous atmosphere.
The true interior of the dungeon had appeared.
The walls were no longer natural cave stone—they looked artificially constructed. A cold wind blew through the passage.
Sian raised his hand, stopping everyone.
“From here on, the flow of mana changes drastically. It seems this was only the dungeon lobby until now. Since no monsters appeared outside, they’re likely all gathered inside. Do not act recklessly. Especially you, Lady April…”
During the journey, Sian’s favorability had continued to rise intermittently.
Would my brother be jealous if he saw this?
During my first playthrough, he had been so obsessed with romance that he made me do all sorts of ridiculous things.
Because Yenniel’s absurd actions—like crawling on the ground to eat dropped food—had raised suspicion, her suspicion value increased.
Suspicion increased by 40%! Current suspicion: 45%!
Her ridiculous “deer-like dance” while trying to seduce the Crown Prince had also raised suspicion.
Suspicion increased by 15%! Current suspicion: 60%!
Tip: Try to maintain at least basic human dignity!
…Looking back, that really was insane.
Anyway, if you raised favorability above 90% through choices and gift items, you could become lovers.
Either the player confesses first, or accepts a confession.
<Status Window>
Player: Yenniel Genes (Nickname: Light April)
HP: ■■ / MP: ■■
Trait: Memory Collection
Equipped Item: Necklace of Life
Status: Noble Baron’s Daughter
Lover: Crown Prince (Ajeph Aquilium)
Favorability: ▼
Crown Prince: 90% (Lover)
Strategist Sian: 57% (Between friend and love interest)
Suspicion: 65%
Condition: Potion dependency
I want to take Yenniel’s route. Once it’s recorded in the status window like that, they’re treated as a fixed party member. And in this romance game world, where eternal love exists, there’s no breakup function anyway, so they just stick forever.
But Yenniel’s favorability wasn’t something I could raise just by trying.
Maybe he noticed I was distracted.
Sian, who had been lecturing me nonstop, suddenly asked.
“Did you understand?”
“Yes!”
I answered brightly, then continued.
But honestly, I hadn’t been listening.
I should just admit I didn’t hear him.
“By the way, Sir Sian, what you said was too long and complicated, so April didn’t understand it. I think I got bored halfway and started thinking about four sheep.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“April counts sheep when things get too long—one sheep, two sheep, three sheep—to stay awake. My father taught me that when I feel bored or sleepy, I should imagine sheep.”
The perfect “April” act seemed to leave the Crown Prince and Yenniel speechless.
[……]
As always, silence followed whenever April spoke. That’s why April was nicknamed the “Silence Generator.”
“Haah…”
Sian sighed and turned away, looking exhausted.
Yenniel’s favorability increased.
I still didn’t understand why hers kept going up too.
From afar, the growls of monsters echoed through the dungeon, sending chills down my spine. The true dungeon had begun. The air smelled faintly of blood.
“Stay alert. It’s going to be dangerous.”
Sian gave a quiet warning.
And so, we moved forward again in tense silence.