Chapter 29

25%.

Of all the characters Ikris has the highest favorability rating.

But for some reason I can’t be happy about it.

Derrick and Leonard’s favorability only went up about 2 to 3% each time, and the highest was only 5%.

On the other hand, looking at it, my goodwill with Ikris, who I’ve only known for a short while, rose at a rapid rate.

”The faster it rises, the faster it falls.”

Now that I think about it, when I was challenging the Difficult Mode, my favorability did fall in unexpected episodes.

That’s why I couldn’t wholeheartedly trust Ikris to save me.

“…… To be on the safe side, I still need to find another Raider character.”

As the cold raindrops hit my arm, my head gradually calmed down.

‘Hmm, this should work. What just happened wasn’t all that unexpected, so I don’t have to be too nervous.’

I convinced myself to calm down, while my heartbeat, which had just skyrocketed, gradually stabilized.

The feeling of dizziness and wanting to throw up made me very tired.

“Emily will be surprised if she hears.”

Gazing down at the ground, an icy cold sensation hit my shoulders. It was then that I realized my rain-soaked shoulders.

Tutting, I continued the pace I had just taken.

After calming down, the feeling of fatigue and coldness gradually hit me.

If I don’t hurry back, this body of Penelope’s is afraid of getting sick in the morning.

I asked Emily to contact the informant, a matter she completed my request in two days.

“Miss. Here, these are the messages you requested, miss.”

Emily placed the black tea and the cake I requested on the table before setting down the letters that were placed on the same tray.

Each letter was sealed with red wax and stamped with a stamp representing each unit.

Placing the book I was reading on the board, I opened the envelopes one by one, examining the contents.

The sheets of letterhead were lined with the first names of nobles as well as family names.

Each sheet was listed with the same names, so much so that to see a second or third different name appear was usually another letter.

“Is that all the names?”

I inquired as I scanned the list on the letter.

Perhaps feeling that I wasn’t happy with the results she had turned in, Emily, who had heard this, straightened up and began to explain in a flustered manner.

“They said that if Miss can provide more clues about that person that would naturally be better, and they can also ……”

Emily’s voice trailed off as she glanced at the list.

It was only natural that she would be alarmed. After all, she had gone out with the confidence that she would be able to find the man, but at this point she was returning with a long list of names.

But it wasn’t Emily’s fault.

”A noble with a white handkerchief who attended the second prince’s birthday party.” That kind of narration.

The characteristics I wrote down were not enough for Emily to pinpoint this person.

Because, wearing a handkerchief at a party is basic etiquette.

“I-I’ll go find a few more people who match the special emblem.”

“No need. This list will be even.”

I shook my head at Emily. I wasn’t looking for anyone in the first place anyway.

“I was looking for the informants you visited. You said you visited a lot of places.”

“Ah… ……”

The tense look on Emily’s face finally soothed a bit.

“I see, so it would seem that there is one more who has not contacted me.”

With a sideways glance, she felt a little unusual herself.

I rechecked all the envelopes, but there just wasn’t one that represented a ‘white rabbit.

‘I thought they’d show up right away.’

As for the point of Winter’s lack of action, I felt sad.

As long as he didn’t show up, there was only one way left.

I have to attend all the next parties where he’s likely to show up, like a heroine in normal mode.

‘What a pain in the ass.’

I sighed.

“Does …… want me to go again?”

Noticing my loss, Emily carefully opened her mouth to inquire.

“No need. That said, how’s the payoff coming along?”

“I myself gave the correct amount to everyone indeed.”

“Good.”

I remembered the upcoming party in normal mode.

“You’ve done well these past few days, so you can have all the remaining gems.”

“This ……!”

Emily exclaimed, as if the reward was too valuable.

“Miss, I… I’m fine with that. I’ll bring the box back after it’s been sorted.”

“Why? Don’t you like gems? Or should I give you some ……”

“No, no need!” Emily looked determined and shook her head, waving her hands vigorously to show her refusal.

“I …… don’t really want those, miss.”

Intrigued by her words, I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to look at her. Her face didn’t look very good.

‘Don’t people who hear about rewards usually accept them cheerfully?’

Not only did she not look happy, on the contrary, she looked like she was being persecuted.

“I don’t need those rewards, miss. As a substitute ……”

“Ah.”

I remembered something I promised her.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get rid of that needle.”

“You don’t have to do that! Miss, you can keep it.”

“Huh?”

I raised my eyebrows in confusion.

‘The person who was once worried because of that needle now wants me to keep it?’

Eyebrows slightly aroused, I couldn’t help but begin to care about her unknown intentions.

“Say what you want properly.”

Emily hesitates under my icy stare, but eventually states her wish.

“I want to become Miss’s exclusive maid.”

Looking deep into the depths of her pupils, I tried to deduce her true heart from her eyes.

I spoke carelessly.

“You are already my exclusive maid. There’s only so much I can do.”

“Miss!”

Emily bent her knees.

“Yes, I’m sorry!”

“I know that I have all done many terrible things to Miss in the past. Until now …… how dare I …… is that I overstepped my bounds and it was obvious Miss that you wouldn’t trust me.”

“Emily.”

“Such as, if you can give me another chance, I will prove myself to be a useful maid!”

For a moment I was speechless at her response.

“You mean you want to be my second-in-command?”

“Yes!”

I couldn’t understand. Until now, Emily was the one who mistreated Penelope with contempt.

This was the best proof of how unappreciated Penelope’s position was.

An existence that was lower than the underlings of the mansion.

”Fake Duke’s Thousand Dollars”

”Does she think that she’ll get a bigger reward by continuously following my work?

If that’s the case, then I’m really sorry for her. Because Penelope spends her money on unnecessary things from time to time, the duke doesn’t specifically allocate pocket money to her.

She could only ask a jeweler to come to her home and purchase gems with the permission of the Duke or the butler.

As a maid who had served Pelonepe for many years, this was something Emily should know best.

”What is she planning?”

When I asked the question by looking straight at her, Emily was very confident. It’s really suspicious.

“You can keep that needle. And in case I make a suspicious move, you can give that needle to the Duke.”

“…… This is your sincere?”

Nodding vigorously, Emily responded.

It was obvious to see that it wasn’t the look that would be on the face of someone who was lying.

As Emily knelt in front of me, I thought hard for a moment.

This was a situation that was not expected. The character who would only complete the quest due to the corresponding reward, a character who was not in my plans, had decided to stand on my side.

‘Could this be the plot in the game?’

To be honest, this kind of thing that exceeds normal human luck would not occur in real life.

However, it wouldn’t have a negative impact.

”In any case, having a loyal maid isn’t a bad thing.”

I didn’t dwell on it for too long.

“Then put the jewelry box with the remaining jewels in it back where it belongs.”

“Miss ……!”

Emily fiercely picked up her head and echoed with a touching face.

“Thank you miss! Thank you miss! From now on I swear to serve you to the best of my ability!”

“Go down first.”

Even when I waved her out feeling bored, she didn’t stop saying thank you.

Ding I.

Right after Emily left my room, a white dialog box appeared in front of my eyes.

.

For renewing good relations with the lethargic people working at the mansion, reputation +10.

(Current total fame: 15)

“Interesting.”

I looked at the sentence in the white box.

The fame that I decided to give up from the beginning began to climb upwards.

Dazzling sunlight passes through the large floor-to-ceiling windows and deep into the room.

The table that once stood in front of the window was now pushed aside; and now I was sitting on the floor, napping.

I thought about going out for a walk, but the two guys that I don’t know where or when I’ll run into discouraged me from doing so.

Bathing in the warm sunlight like this made me feel like going for a walk even more.

How peaceful…”

In fact, there’s no such free time for me to sit here.

I waited two more days after receiving the informant’s report. Wynter was still nowhere to be heard from, no response from him whatsoever.

This was the reason why I had no choice but to make a request to the butler.

A collection of invitations to a party that all the upper class young male nobles would attend.

Just like that.

The butler’s face was troubled by the fact that I wanted to break into the social circle.

What kind of trouble was Penelope to make the butler reflexively show this kind of expression when he heard her request?

”Phew…… my happy life. The peaceful life is finally nearing its end ……”

I sincerely felt dry about myself who had to participate in all kinds of socializing in order to find Winter. At that moment…

Gaaaahhhh!

At that instant, a strong wind poured into the room through the window.

Whew!