* * *

“It doesn’t feel like there’s any sincerity in it.”

“Why are you so greedy? Isn’t it enough that I smiled? Do I have to put my heart into it too?”

“Don’t be so cold… We’ve already kissed, haven’t we?”

“A-a kiss! Why are you acting like that suddenly makes us something more?!”

[Affection Level: Ateol]

83%

What the hell?

Why is the affection level going up now?!

Ateol is thinking, ‘Why is he so ■■?’

If you’re going to censor it like that, just don’t tell me at all.

I was grumbling at my status window when suddenly, I was pushed back and fell onto the bed.

With a soft thud, a shadow loomed over me.

“Then… what about being someone who’s kissed twice?”

“…….”

“Or… someone who’s gone even further than that?”

“Do you even realize who you’re talking to right now?”

At my words, Ateol made a deeply regretful expression.

ꔚ

“I’m just saying what a man invited into a bedroom should say. If you ever visit someone else’s bedroom, you’ll find yourself acting just like me.”

“I’m the passive type.”

This time, one of his eyebrows lifted.

Not understanding the implication, I stared at him blankly.

Ateol kindly provided an explanation.

“That sounds much dirtier than you probably intended.”

“You’re insane…”

Damn it, I meant to just think that, but it slipped out.

But judging by how Ateol burst into laughter, I guess it didn’t matter.

He actually seemed to like being called crazy.

Maybe because he really is crazy.

I punched his chest with my fist.

“Move. Cloden will be back soon.”

“He has a habit of opening his master’s door without knocking.”

“Don’t interfere with my attendants. I’ve already given them permission.”

“You must be quite close with your attendants.”

“What do you even think ‘attendant’ means?”

Someone who serves closely, right?

Ateol, having been pushed back without resistance, simply shrugged again.

“I have attendants too, but… not the kind of relationship you have with yours.”

“Are you jealous?”

No way, right?

Just then, I heard the sound of the affection level increasing again.

[Affection Level: Ateol]

85%

Ateol is thinking, ‘Am I actually ■■ right now?’

Oh, I get it.

Even though it’s censored, I can tell.

It’s “jealous.”

I had no idea why my affection level was rising at this moment, but… the upward trend was pretty satisfying.

At this rate, 100% wasn’t too far off.

Of course, I knew that all types of experience points get harder to accumulate the higher they go, so the road ahead wouldn’t be easy… but I had my cheat key—physical contact.

I subtly grabbed Ateol’s wrist.

Nothing.

No increase.

“Shall we?”

“For what?”

“A second kiss.”

“Hmm. What about going beyond that?”

“……That can wait.”

I wasn’t ready for that yet.

Before I could even finish my sentence, Ateol leaned in and kissed me.

This time, he was much more composed.

Well, he was—I wasn’t.

His lips sucked on mine with a sticky persistence before he suddenly pulled away and murmured:

“Your mouth tastes sweet.”

“…….”

I ate something sweet, so obviously…

We were still kissing when—knock, knock—Cloden rapped on the door outside.

I flinched and tried to push Ateol away, but he held me tightly and said,

“Wait there for a moment.”

“You crazy—! Move!”

“We’re not done yet.”

“Move, damn it!”

I hissed at him in a whisper, and Ateol, looking rather regretful, finally let go.

I rubbed my lips furiously with my sleeve before calling Cloden inside.

Cloden approached with the medicine, his face as composed as ever.

After I took the medicine, he calmly gathered the tray and announced he would be leaving now.

There was an odd weight to his words, and my face immediately flushed.

“You don’t have to leave! Ateol, you should go now.”

“…The second kiss doesn’t count, then.”

Does that even matter?!

I shot Ateol the most displeased look I could muster.

He covered his mouth with his hand, but I could tell he was smiling underneath.

Once Ateol finally left, I collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.

Even Cloden told me to rest before departing.

Checking my gauge, I saw it hovering around the halfway mark.

Damn, if it drops this much, it’s dangerous.

Feeling the weight of my impending death settle in again, I shivered.

No matter what I do, I could still die.

Lying there, stewing in irritation, I eventually felt sleep creeping in.

“…….”

I reached for the drawer, took out some medicine, and swallowed one sedative and one sleeping pill with water.

Standing by the window for a moment, I felt the wave of exhaustion hit me like a tidal wave.

I threw myself onto the bed.

At least the fear of death was short-lived.

I spent the rest of the rainy season idly, doing nothing but lying down and being kind to my attendants.

As a result, my gauge slowly recovered, and even though my stamina remained at 12 from eating well, I still didn’t want to get up.

Maybe I took too much medicine.

My supply was running out much faster than expected, and I dreaded what Cloden and Eretto would say about it.

The rainy season ended, and a new month began.

Fresh raindrops clung to the leaves under a clear sky, and my task was to deal with the flood of visitors waiting to see me.

The Tower Master’s official audience chamber was built outside the labyrinth, resembling a small temple.

Still using my poor health as an excuse, I draped a thick robe over my comfortable indoor clothes and sat on the high chair in the audience chamber.

“Are you sure you’re alright? You could postpone it a bit longer.”

Serta asked with a worried face.

Behind him, Bell looked similarly concerned.

Cloden also assured me I could delay as long as I wanted, but after spending the entire rainy season bedridden, my visitors were probably reduced to nothing but anxious ashes by now.

“I’ll be fine.”

I just need to listen briefly and send them away.

If I keep avoiding visitors like this, I feel like my gauge will start decreasing.

The doors to the audience chamber opened, and a group of nobles, dressed in lavish, ornate clothing, poured in and bowed their heads before me.

“We greet the master of the highest tower.”

After that opening greeting, they went on and on with formalities before finally, cautiously, getting to the point—just as expected, it was about the Fourth Prince.

I stayed silent and simply listened.

I could speak, but saying something wrong and losing gauge points was too risky.

These people weren’t ones I needed to keep as strictly in check as the Emperor and Empress.

Instead, I carefully observed if any of them seemed ambitious enough to plot a rebellion.

…Not that I could actually tell. I was just watching for anyone who gave me a bad feeling or seemed suspicious.

Still, instincts are said to be signals from one’s ancestors.

I don’t even know who my ancestors are, but unless I dropped straight from the sky, I must have some.

Or maybe not?

Could they have failed to follow me here?

Anyway, the nobles entered one after another, all saying the same thing.

Why the Fourth Prince?

Is it really him?

What about the Crown Prince?

The Second Prince?

The Third?

Then, in a manner reminiscent of the Joseon Dynasty, they pleaded for me to reconsider before running out of time and being dragged away.

I didn’t say a word.

As long as I remained silent, Cloden would speak for me: “It is the will of the Tower Master.”

After repeating this process several times, the endless line of visitors finally disappeared.

* * *