After walking for a while, he emerged onto the main street and soon turned into a sparsely populated side alley.
As he passed by the buildings that were scattered here and there, a slope suddenly appeared. Beyond it, lush trees and thickets could be seen.
However, this was not an ordinary road, as delicate, intricately crafted small lamps illuminated the path, looking as beautiful as fireflies.
Looking closely at the trees and shrubs lit by the lamps, they appeared well-maintained, like a neatly kept garden.
I was puzzled when I saw the signpost that read "East Hill" at the entrance.
'Why did I come here all of a sudden?'
It was a place I vaguely knew. This was a walking path carved out of a hill owned by the Duke's mansion.
It was also the main dating spot for the female and male protagonists in the Normal Mode.
Of course, since I had no reason to date any of the male protagonists, this was my first time coming here.
Access to this path was strictly controlled due to its luxury, meaning that commoners were not allowed to use it.
'Could it be that he wants to stab and kill me in this deserted place?'
I suddenly stopped in my tracks as this thought crossed my mind while passing the signpost.
"Hey, wait a moment!"
Derek turned to look at me coldly.
"What is it?"
"Why are we coming up here?"
"Didn't you say you wanted to be punished? Follow me quietly."
He turned around and started walking again, quickly passing the entrance and ascending the slope.
Since I had said it first, I couldn't resist. I also couldn't predict his reaction if I said I didn't want to go.
Thus, I had no choice but to follow. However, the fake noblewoman's body quickly ran out of breath after walking only a short distance.
Moreover, to keep up with the brute who was walking at an incredibly fast pace, I had to almost run.
"Huff, huff..."
Panting heavily inside the mask, I thought to myself.
'Could the punishment be making me climb this hill?'
If that were the case, he was truly a cruel person.
I was dragged along by the brute, who walked without looking back or showing any consideration for a lady.
Unable to bear it any longer, I stopped again.
"Huff, wait a moment!"
"What is it now?"
This time, Derek scolded me without even stopping.
I was frightened, but I couldn't just be dragged along like this. My robe was already dirty from being dragged.
"It's hard to keep up if you walk so fast."
I protested in a timid voice.
Honestly, I expected him to ignore me or shoot back with an unpleasant remark as he usually did.
However, surprisingly, his pace gradually slowed down.
And at some point, he maintained a certain distance from me, matching my stride.
'...Is it okay?'
I kept glancing at the top of his head. Even in the darkness, the [Affection 13%] indicator shone brightly.
After walking in silence for a while,
A beautiful gazebo came into view. We had finally reached the top of the hill.
I hurriedly looked inside and frowned.
'What, it's a dating spot?'
In the game, it was clearly described as a place for secret meetings between men and women, but now that I was here, it was completely empty.
'I'm scared to be alone with him...'
Feeling deeply disappointed, I shuffled towards a bench.
I was completely drained from the climb and desperately needed a rest.
"Come this way."
However, before I could take a step, Derek dragged me along again.
Only when we reached the end of the hill did his steps finally stop.
"Look down."
I complied half-heartedly. Then,
"Ah..."
My eyes widened at the scene before me.
Don't underestimate the gentle slope; it could lead to a big problem.
The bustling capital, in the midst of a festival, was visible from the hilltop.
The night streets adorned with colorful lanterns, the quaint buildings, and the countless people flowing like waves between them.
The festival was not included in the Normal Mode, and in the Hard Mode, I hadn't even seen the 'F' in festival.
Therefore, the scene before me was a breathtaking view I had never seen in the game.
"Wow..."
I was mesmerized, looking down at the hill.
When I was walking through those streets, I never realized how beautiful the world was.
I was always on high alert, too busy preparing for any possible situation to notice such things.
The same was true in my real life. I never had the leisure to look around.
But now, stepping back and looking at the world from a distance...
'Why does it feel so real?'
I felt strange, my heart pounding.
'It's just a scene in a game...'
At that moment, Derek suddenly pointed to a spot.
"Look over there, Penelope."
I snapped out of my reverie and carefully looked at where he was pointing.
It wasn't far from the hill. A large street where many people were walking.
Two knights in silver armor were chasing someone at high speed through the crowd.
"That's..."
A man was desperately running to escape the knights chasing him.
However, it didn't last long. He couldn't navigate the crowd as skillfully as the knights and was eventually caught and subdued.
He looked like a pickpocket, a common sight in crowded places.
'Whether in reality or in the game, human society is the same.'
As I was thinking this, Derek, who was looking at the same scene, suddenly spoke.
"Those petty thieves are nothing. During the festival, all sorts of crimes surge in the capital."
"..."
"More serious incidents are happening in places you can't see. Yesterday, a murder occurred at a tavern on Hamilton Street. You wouldn't know, being cooped up in your room."
'Is he trying to provoke me?'
I looked at Derek with a puzzled expression. I didn't understand why he was saying this to me.
"Considering what happens in the Duke's jurisdiction, what do you think happens in the Merchant District, where lowlifes and mercenaries frequently visit?"
However, I realized that this was a continuation of our earlier conversation at the alley entrance.
'So, is this a lecture or a taunt?'
Now, I just needed to figure out why he brought me here.
"Do you plan to mingle with such lowlifes now?"
The answer came quickly. It was a taunt.
'Sigh. That's just like him.'
I sighed and paused before speaking.
"I swear, I have never done anything to disgrace my family."
"Reputation is not something you decide; it follows your actions."
"That's why I wore a mask."
I shrugged. Derek glared at me coldly.
"What if someone recognizes you like I did? Or, before that, what if the commoners notice you're a woman and still let you wear the mask?"
"I'm not a child, Young Duke."
I firmly cut off his assumptions.
"True, I've acted foolishly until now, but I'm not a fool who walks into danger on my own."
I was scared of how he would react to such words, but it was something I had to face eventually.
Until now, I had mostly dealt with the Duke and hadn't really confronted Derek.
So, like with Leonard, I needed to draw a clear line now.
"Are you saying you're not a fool, but a noblewoman who crawled out of a dog hole?"
"The reason I left without a word today is..."
I trailed off, quickly thinking.
A reasonable excuse that wasn't too extreme but could convince the more difficult Derek than the Duke.
"...I told you I would live like a mouse to avoid causing you any trouble. You also wanted that, Young Duke."
"..."
"I just went out quietly and came back without causing a commotion."
Yes, I went out quietly like a mouse.
It was a good excuse, but Derek's blue eyes turned even colder, as if he didn't like it.
"What was your purpose in going to the Merchant District?"
He didn't stop interrogating me. I suddenly felt deeply exhausted.
"Do I have to report that too?"
"It's better to answer."
"I had to find someone for information."
I knew that talking about a lady's secret would only work with Bauter.
I sighed and mixed the truth with a lie, as I often did in front of Derek.
"I lost an item given to me by someone who helped me at the palace, and I wanted to apologize separately."
"..."
As soon as I finished speaking, Derek, who had been questioning me, suddenly closed his mouth.
I felt a sense of triumph.
It was about the handkerchief Bauter had given me, which he had told me to throw away.