Chapter 147.

For the first time, I heard overly aggressive words and actions from him. Looking at him with surprised eyes, I couldn’t speak for the moment.

“Who is it this time? A young duke? A second brother? Or Eckhardt ……”

“Ikris!”

Hearing the vitriol that followed, I hastily stopped him.

“It’s not like that.”

“I’m fine, nothing happened.”

Nothing really happened. Just a little tired of seeing a bird in a cage. That’s all.

But, probably not believing words like mine, Ikris’ eyes became hazy.

“…… I have seen and heard something too, master.”

“What is that ……”

“I know very well that the reason my master brought me from the auction house has to do with my master’s situation.”

Fortunately, this time the words were not surprising. I knew that Ikris already knew about my position in the dukedom.

But in lieu of surprise, this time it felt like worry. I’m afraid that the situation of the “fake duchess” will happen again like last time, something that will affect his favorability. So I think he’s angry because I look sad and forlorn.

“Because of my situation …… maybe there is someone else who bullies you?”

“Something like that ……”

At the careful question, Ikris suddenly clenched his fists. He took a deep breath, then answered coldly.

“…… It hasn’t happened since then.”

“It’s not like that …… Please tell me why, standing so alone in front of that guy.”

That guy ……?

“Who bullied” and “why are you standing alone”. It didn’t feel like the same question at all. But I quickly answered it. Because I remembered the way I just acted to him.

Covering my face with my hands in front of the bird and letting out a moan-like fake smile might have made me look miserable.

Instead, did I get sympathy?

Maybe it was one of “those assholes” that Iris said had bullied him, and my anxiety faded away. I replied in a relaxed tone.

“The bird is beautiful. After looking at it for a while longer, I got tired and became like this.”

It’s a bit humiliating to be found that way, but it’s not a completely unacceptable excuse. But Iris looked at me with an unknown expression. After a while, suddenly asked.

“Master now, is it happy?”

“…… What?”

“Were …… you happier before you came to the Dukedom?”

I blinked in bewilderment. I didn’t understand why he suddenly said something like that.

“Have you become more unfortunate since you came to the Duke’s house?”

“…… No. How could it be.”

Ikris shook his head.

“It’s impossible, master.”

“Then why do you ask such a thing?”

“I just want to know how Master is doing.”

He stared at me, goading me to answer. I was at a loss.

“Well ……”

I slurred.

Was he happy?

I don’t know. Thinking about how I felt after entering this place, it was more unfortunate than happy. But is that completely unhappy? It’s not like that.

Since there is a hope of escape, this is nothing.

I’ve never been one to be eaten up by misfortune or frustration. See, just now, although I felt tired, without realizing it I put on a mask and smiled.

“I never thought about it, I don’t know. How do you look?”

Like my usual self, I shrugged my shoulders in a dignified manner. However, Ikris’ expression was at a loss for words.

“Master …… sometimes seems like it’s nothing, but it seems like it’s more unfortunate than anyone else.”

“…… What is that?”

“Sometimes it seems as dangerous as if it will disappear somewhere.”

His next words creeped me out.

Perhaps …… you noticed that I would disappear?

I didn’t think I’d ever show it like that, but he felt good about maybe secretly hiding something. Heart thumping, I hurriedly spoke up.

“You’re looking at this the wrong way, Ikris. I can leave you behind and disappear somewhere.”

“I’m fine, I’m just a little tired so don’t take it personally.”

To reassure him, I emphasize that it’s nothing. Any uneasiness instilled in him before escaping would be detrimental.

“I’d rather we leave here together, master.”

But surprising words were heard, more surprising than the unprovoked outburst just now.

“What …… did you say?”

“Escape with me.”

“Ikris, you ……”

“There are some slaves escaping to plan the Gentiles.”

“I’m planning to smuggle them through the Delmans who are serving over at the harbor in a few days. So we’re hiding in the gap between those ……”

“Together outside the Empire, Master.”

I was too flustered to speak. All I knew was that I was helping the people of my homeland who were in a worse situation than I was, I didn’t realize that something this big was being planned. The uneasy feeling in my heart became a reality every time I heard the reality of him coming home late.

“…… Do you want that too?”

Not knowing what to say, he just smacked his lips as a sudden bleak sense of betrayal rushed up his throat.

“You’re lying to me, do you want to go to another country too?”

“Ah, no. Master.”

Hearing my eager inquiry, he rounded his eyes and shook his head hastily.

“It’s not like that, I don’t want to.”

“Then why did you say such a thing to me, Ikris!”

“I randomly mistook my master for wanting it, I’m sorry.”

His words caught my eye, and I looked at him, feeling absurd for making such a presumption at random. There was no stopping the thinking in this case.

‘Escape alone with Ikris and raise the remaining favorability.’

I don’t know if the difficult mode has such an interlude, but it’s not a bad method. But realistically, escaping was limited by a lot.

It’s been over two weeks now. Favorability is close to 96%, summoning him from the comfort of the public house as I am now, avoiding the many soldiers following me, and desperately moving towards the harbor. If I choose the latter, it does increase Ikris’s favorability, but it doesn’t guarantee the favorability of the other male protagonists. Especially Derrick, who is now slightly more relaxed towards me and is worried that Leonard and the Eckhardt family will be involved in a plot against me.

96% favorability is useless if the two plummet.

And ……

Suddenly flashing the brilliant golden color of my mind, I hurriedly shook my head and said.

“Ikris.”

Coming to a conclusion, I locked eyes with Ikris.

“In that case, in front of me, it’s fine to talk casually with your mouth.”

“…… Master.”

“Before your master, I was a noble of the empire, the only male daughter of the Eckart family.”

Ekris opened his mouth and ultimately said nothing. But his eyes grew hazy.

But it couldn’t be helped. With only 4% left, I don’t want to risk too much.

“I can give you convenience also because of the position I’m in. Let’s pretend the above words didn’t happen, and don’t cross the line.”

At my calm words, Ikris answered with a terse voice.

“Even a servant despises his master with only a name?”

“Ikris.”

“Where is the nobleman who returns from the banquet hall alone without an escort.”

He stiffened his jaw. He really, really felt sorry for my situation and urged me to run away.

It’s amazing to me that he pitied me like that. But it’s all because of good sense. If I ran away, I would instead be occupied by the normal mode heroine ……

”…… But what happens to the male lead’s memories and good feelings towards Penelope if the hard mode ends and the normal mode begins? Do they all revert to the default settings?”

Suddenly that kind of thought flashed through his mind. I hadn’t reached the end of Hard Mode once, so I had absolutely no idea what would happen afterward. What was the content of the “happy ending”. Of course, what happens when I return to reality after seeing the ending isn’t something I know ……

I looked at the stark crimson color of Ikris’ head and fell into deep thought.

“Because I’m a slave and can’t enter the palace?”

“That’s …… no way to ride in a carriage with my family today.”

My defense caused Ikris’ eyes to narrow slightly.

“How can those people be the master’s family ……”

“Stop.”

I firmly stopped Ikris from exceeding the limit of his words.

“Calm down.”

I held out a hand to him who wanted to retort again. The palm of my hand met a warm touch.

“I don’t know why I’m so agitated. But in the carriage, in the palace, nothing happened.”

Gently stroking his cheek, he comforted the excited Ikris. Like a pampered puppy, Ikris soon gently exerted herself and leaned her face against my palm.

“Because it was a long time outside.”

“When I came back, there wasn’t even a carriage left.”

I said immediately after a moment of panic at being recognized as the cause of my cold hands.

“It’s no big deal, I said I’d take a walk, so don’t worry about it.”

“Then don’t buy me master.”

“Don’t let me worry about it, I care.”

“…… Ikris.”

“You said I would be my master’s only knight.”

Ikris rubbed his cheek with my palm and slowly turned his head. Then, instead of soft skin, there was a moist yet strong touch.

“It’s already too late.”

Kissing my palm, Ikris refused to leave me alone. Villains only end in death.