The cursed hunting competition was just one day away.
I was woken up by the maids at the crack of dawn and was being forcibly bathed and polished.
It was because of the pre-festival held in the royal hunting grounds.
This time, a large number of nobles and royalty from other countries were participating, so it was expected to be on a much larger scale than usual.
Second, after being soaked in fragrant oils, I let the maids handle my wet hair while I complained with sleepy eyes.
"Why do we have to go through all this? I'll just tie my hair up and wear pants tomorrow when we go hunting."
"Then you must look more beautiful than anyone else today and receive the most game from the gentlemen!" Emily replied enthusiastically. The maids who had barged into my room early in the morning also chimed in.
"Of course, Miss!"
"This time, you'll be the queen of the hunting festival, Miss!"
"That's right! Last year, Lady Kellin won because of that incident, and how arrogant those people were..."
The maid who had been chattering suddenly shut her mouth.
Emily glared at her sharply, giving her a warning, which was reflected in the mirror.
The atmosphere in the room instantly became solemn.
The maid must have been afraid that I would be angry for mentioning my master's dark past.
'Well, I didn't do it.'
I generously overlooked the maid's slip of the tongue and thought about the hunting competition they were looking forward to.
In the normal mode, it wasn't detailed, but the hunting competition here was open to everyone regardless of gender.
The winner was selected based on the total number of game caught on the last day, and there was a unique point.
You could win first place as long as you had the most game, even if you didn't hunt them yourself.
Of course, difficult game like bears and tigers were scored separately.
Therefore, many men would hunt hard to give game to the women they liked, as a form of courtship.
'This setting of the hunting competition is just like a female-oriented game. It's like a love Secret Santa.'
Lady Kellin won the hunting competition last year.
Thanks to Penelope's mischief.
The sympathy for her almost being hit by the crossbow of the Duke's mad dog, or rather, chimpanzee, made the attending men give her game.
'She must have been boasting about it to the Duke's family...'
Unfortunately, I was only interested in protecting my life.
"Ah."
At that moment, one side of my hair was pulled, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Ah! Does it hurt, Miss? I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
One of the maids was curling and fixing my now dry hair.
At my short groan, she quickly let go and stepped back.
"It's fine. Keep going."
I nodded and murmured to myself.
"Don't worry too much. I have my own plans."
"Excuse me?"
"I'll seize the opportunity."
The maids looked puzzled at my sudden words.
"What opportunity, Miss?"
"The woman with the most game."
"..."
"Watch for a while, and on the last day, shoot her with a crossbow and take all her game..."
"Ah, Miss!"
The atmosphere turned pale at my joke, and Emily quickly changed the subject.
"Please don't say such scary things! Come on, it's all done. You just need to put on makeup."
"It's still early."
I grumbled but obediently closed my eyes as they instructed.
After all, being beautiful is good.
The elaborate preparation that started early in the morning finally ended in the late afternoon.
I put on a set of white pearl accessories and a blood-red dress that revealed my collarbone, chosen by the maids.
'As expected, this look suits my face.'
Evil is beautiful by nature.
Compared to the protagonist in the normal mode, Penelope's appearance in the mirror was dangerously alluring.
Her large, slightly upturned eyes were strangely erotic.
On the surface, they were the most red and luscious, but in reality, they were like apples filled with poison.
The maids brought black enamel shoes to match the dress.
It had been a while since I wore high heels, and I couldn't get used to them. I stumbled, and Emily quickly caught me.
"Miss, shall I support you to the first floor?"
"No, call Iclees."
"Why...?"
Emily asked, puzzled. I responded casually.
"He's my bodyguard, so he should protect me."
"R-right! Then please wait a moment, Miss. I'll call him right away."
Emily nodded reluctantly and hurried out.
I understood why she did that. Slaves were not allowed in the palace.
But the reason I called him wasn't for protection.
To find out if Derrick really fought after I left.
And while I was at it...
'Now it's time to increase his affection.'
A few moments later, there was a knock, and the door opened.
"Miss, I've brought the bodyguard."
"Come in."
Iclees entered the room, following Emily.
"Master..."
He stopped abruptly when our eyes met. His gray eyes shook violently. It was definitely because of my elaborate appearance.
[Affection 50%]
Unlike before, the affection increased slightly, and I smiled deeply.
"Emily, take my crossbow case and go down first."
"Are you taking it today?"
"I think it's better to put it in the cabin in advance."
"Yes, Miss."
A moment later, she left the room with the crossbow case.
"Come closer, Iclees."
I tapped the table a few times with my finger.
He, who had been standing there in a daze, finally regained his senses and slowly walked over.
"Closer."
When I nodded again, he silently closed the distance and stood right in front of me.
"Kneel."
Despite the sudden and forceful command, Iclees knelt in front of me without hesitation.
I reached out and gently cupped his chin.
Since I hadn't seen him since the day he confronted Derrick, I needed to check him closely.
Fortunately, there were no marks on his smooth skin when I examined him carefully.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Despite my rude touch, I asked kindly.
'If there are no marks on his face, he might have been beaten on his body.'
Iclees, who had been staring at me silently, nodded slightly when I finally stopped moving.
"Fortunately, it seems you didn't fight."
"Lord Derrick left after you did."
He immediately confessed what happened after I left, sensing what I was curious about.
"Were you worried?"
It was the same question as before. I had readily answered yes then.
He seemed pleased with that, as his gray eyes stared at me blindly.
His gaze felt like it was demanding an immediate "yes."
But my heart sank because he had shown unexpected hostility, so I decided to use the carrot and the stick.
"Don't act rashly in the future."
My voice was stern, like scolding a dog that had done something wrong.
"You said you could handle it. Do you want to be kicked out before you're recognized here?"
"He grabbed your wrist first..."
"Who is 'he'?"
I released his chin and warned him coldly.
"Does the first brother seem like someone who would be lenient with an arrogant person like you, like me?"
"..."
Iclees's eyes drooped slightly, as if he was trying to argue.
His expression was as usual, but he looked subtly dejected.
Of course, it might be an illusion.
I looked at the white text floating above his head and said softly.
"I want you to stay by my side for a long time."
Iclees must not be expelled from the Duke's family until his affection is maxed out.
Only then can I escape.
"To do that, you need to exclude me from your personal grudges."
"..."
"I mean, don't take out your resentment towards the empire on me."
My anxiety wasn't just about possibly dying in the power struggle between Derrick and Iclees.
- How can that vulgar barbarian teach the empire's only princess how to use a bow?
The moment I heard Iclees say that, a vivid memory of a rainy day came to mind.
The way he swung a wooden sword in the air as if trying to kill someone and the way he pressed his sword against my neck.
Iclees seemed to revere me for bringing him here and taking care of him, but he also intensely despised being under the control of the empire.
For a successful escape, Iclees must not continue to harbor such contradictory feelings.
'I need to make him have only affection for me.'
So, I needed to remind him once.
"Are you angry that I bought you? Do you think the auction house is better than being despised here?"
"..."
"I need someone useful to me. If you don't like it, I'll give you this ruby ring. You can leave whenever you want."
I acted as if I was about to take off the ruby ring on my left ring finger.
It was a strong move. If he really left, I would have to immediately apologize.
But I knew from playing the normal mode.
He stayed with the Duke's family despite enduring all of Penelope's wickedness and irritations.
There was nowhere for a slave from a defeated country to go, and nowhere to feel as safe as in the Duke's family.
"Master..."
When I finally took off the ruby ring and offered it, Iclees's pupils shook.