I clenched my teeth and muttered to myself. It was half an impulsive act.
The blue eyes visible through the bars gradually grew larger.
And at that moment.
'Affinity -3%'
[Affinity 26%]
My affinity dropped. I stared at it expressionlessly.
In contrast to the dropped affinity, it seemed he didn't immediately understand what I said.
"…What?"
His face, asking a question a step too late, looked somewhat bewildered.
"Go back."
Even though I had landed a hit, I felt no sense of satisfaction.
"I have nothing more to say to you."
"Penelope Eckart."
The voice calling my full name became even lower.
'Affinity -2%'
[Affinity 24%]
The affinity, which had been close to 30%, dropped in an instant.
But I had no regrets. After all, he was just a guy I had marked as an X.
I could confidently say I had never had any expectations of him.
But I found it hard to keep my expression from twisting.
"I'll handle this on my own, so you don't need to clean up after me. Just leave me alone as you always have. Whether I die or end up in prison."
"You, what… Penelope!"
Derrick was about to burst into anger at my insolent tone, but I turned away, not wanting to hear any more.
It was a dangerous statement, but I had no intention of taking it back now.
As long as I didn't die, I didn't care if the damn affinity dropped even further.
Sitting on the bed with my back to the iron door, I heard footsteps gradually fading away after a while.
"Huh."
I was speechless.
He really left, abandoning his nominal younger sister in prison, without a hint of hesitation.
'…Right. You were always like this.'
When I stored the second gift from Derrick in the jewelry box, I actually thought our relationship had improved a bit.
I didn't make any effort to change my existing impression, but I also didn't do anything to deserve being called a 'thunderbolt.'
Even if it didn't develop into the romantic relationship the game required, I thought it would be fine if our sibling relationship improved a little.
It would make it easier to endure until the end.
But it was all just my delusion.
'I can handle it on my own without your condescending help.'
I glared coldly at the empty iron bars, thinking to myself.
Snap.
It sounded like a string I was holding had just snapped.
* * *
After spending a night in prison, I finished the simple breakfast served early in the morning and was led by the guards to the conference room.
Considering I was a vicious criminal who had attacked seven noble men without reason, I was treated quite generously.
'So this is the VIP treatment, huh.'
The ropes binding my wrists were quite loose.
Moreover, there was no body search when I entered the conference room inside the palace.
'They must think I'm a helpless young lady who can't do anything without a crossbow.'
Their contradictory treatment was a bit amusing.
"Princess Penelope Eckart is entering."
With the announcement of the servant, the massive doors of the grand hall slowly opened.
Thud, thud.
The noise in the hall quickly quieted as I entered.
All the high-ranking nobles participating in the political affairs were seated.
As I passed by them with my back straight, I suddenly noticed something and my eyes lit up.
Plaques with the crests of each house were placed at each seat.
'Good.'
The crests became more elaborate as I approached the upper seats.
I frantically scanned them with my peripheral vision and finally found what I was looking for near the end.
'There it is!'
It was the crest that matched the one on the dagger.
When I confirmed the person sitting behind it, my tension eased.
I was confident that the story was progressing as it should.
Sighing in relief, I turned my head and noticed someone sitting at the opposite upper seat.
The duke and his eldest son.
When our eyes met, the duke's face twisted.
He seemed troubled by the sight of his adopted daughter, bound and brought into the conference room.
On the other hand, Derrick showed no change in expression.
[Affinity 22%]
It had dropped by 2% since the last time I saw him.
In total, my affinity had dropped by 7%.
It didn't hit me hard because it wasn't leading to a dead end immediately.
But it was because I had been here for quite some time.
If it had happened in the early stages of the game, it would have been a significant drop that would have made me gasp.
'I don't care.'
I turned my head away from his black scalp coldly.
To me, breaking this episode was more important than the affinity of a guy I had marked as an X.
"Everyone, please be quiet."
A solemn voice came from the front, as if to start the trial.
An old man with white hair and beard stood in front of a makeshift platform, one level below the highest seat where the emperor's throne was placed.
"Since His Majesty the Emperor is away and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is unwell, I, the Minister of Justice, will preside over this trial. If anyone objects, please raise your hand."
Since it was a common occurrence after the Crown Prince went to war, no one objected.
Moreover, the Minister of Justice in the game was known to be a principled and incorruptible figure, making him suitable to preside over the trial.
It was to my advantage.
"Princess Penelope Eckart."
"Yes."
"You are standing trial for the attempted murder of seven nobles during this hunting competition. Swear to conduct yourself honestly in this trial, on the honor of the Great Inca Empire."
"I swear to conduct myself honestly in this trial."
I replied obediently. The Minister of Justice then turned his head and called someone.
"Let's start with the victims' testimonies. Viscount Gaboile."
A man sitting at the far end stood up and approached me.
After a brief bow to the judge, he began his testimony without hesitation.
"Yesterday, seven of us, including myself, entered deep into the golden-marked area to hunt a bear. And we were lucky enough to encounter a bear."
"…"
"After a fierce struggle, we were just about to catch it. Suddenly, Princess Penelope appeared, aimed her crossbow at us, and demanded that we hand over the prey!"
"Oh my…"
"Such a wicked world, such a wicked world. Tsk, tsk."
Tongues clicked in various places.
The duke's face, which I glanced at, had become even sterner.
"Even when we tried to persuade her to look for another bear, she remained stubborn."
"Please continue."
"While we were flustered, Princess Penelope shot her crossbow in succession, and we all fainted. When we woke up, we were back at the camp, and my only close friend, Viscount Tulet, was… ah!"
Viscount Gaboile covered his face, turning away as if he was about to go mad at the loss of his friend.
The pieces of the puzzle to frame me as the 'Crown Prince's assassin' were falling into place.
I observed the entire situation as if watching a farce.
I would overturn the board at the climax for the most effective impact.
At that moment.
"I object."
Someone stood up on behalf of the silent party.
[Affinity 22%]
Derrick, who had risen from his seat, spoke calmly.
"Penelope's crossbow is not lethal at all."
It was surprising that the person who had really disappeared after I told him to yesterday had actually stood up.
I stared at him in a daze as he suddenly spoke up.
"The bolts are only for hunting small animals and are enchanted to only cause unconsciousness and short-term memory loss before being hit."
"…"
"Yet, how can you remember the events before being hit in such detail?"
"Th-that…! L-lie! Don't lie!"
Viscount Gaboile rebutted with a flushed face, clearly stung by the accuracy of the question.
Unlike him, Derrick's expression didn't change as he replied.
"It's not a lie. The mage who enchanted the crossbow is waiting outside the conference room. We can bring him in to verify it."
"Your Highness, even if you favor your own, isn't this too much? How do we know you haven't bribed the mage?"
"There is a contract I had the mage sign when I commissioned the work…"
Derrick was about to counter, but Viscount Gaboile cut him off with a loud voice.
"Moreover, there are witnesses who heard Princess Penelope herself say she used a spell to make them fools! Your Honor, please allow the witnesses to testify!"
The room buzzed with excitement.
Nobles, who valued honor, trusted the testimony of other nobles more than that of a mage who could be bribed.
"Permitted."
The Minister of Justice nodded.
The doors of the conference room opened as if waiting for this, and three people began to walk in.