Chapter 3

I could hear the sound of his teeth grinding.

“Do you honestly not hear the screams of all the innocent souls who died because of you?” he hissed, glowering at me with bloodshot eyes. “Just wait and see. You’re going to pay for everything you’ve done. For sacrificing innocent people for your own amusement, for treating human beings so trivially! The filthy lust hiding under your skin will be revealed for the world to see, and when you die...!”

“Shut your mouth!” I yelled. I knew he wasn’t actually cursing me—his rage was directed at my character. But still, I was the one receiving the full force of his glare, hearing him enunciate every single hate-filled word. So this was what I got in return for my cheap sympathy. I couldn’t stop my anger from overflowing.

It’s not my fault! I’m a victim too. You might have lost your country, but I lost my entire world. I lost myself. The words I wanted to say sat on the tip of my tongue.

Why did I have to be the one to die?

Why me?!

“Yes, just hurl insults at me, since that’s all you can do,” I said snidely.

“...”

“But I’m not like you. I only speak the truth. Or at least things that will soon become the truth. Oh, I’ve got a good one for you. Do you want to know what your woman is up to right now, who she’s with?”

“Shut up.”

“She’s in bed with my concubine right now. The same bed she slept in with you.” I’d decided to go straight for his heart, assuring myself that this was for his own good.

* * *

Ding!

You have finished having sex with Robért within the given time limit. Congratulations! Robért is slightly appeased.

I turned away from the notification. Etsen had left the room abruptly at my words, but it appeared he didn’t have the courage to confront the truth. Either that or he really trusted her. Whichever it was, he would never be able to go back to the way things were. The seeds of fear and suspicion had been planted. My mouth felt horribly dry.

Ding!

But then, something startling happened.

Robért’s affection levels for you have dropped.

Robért’s affection levels for you have dropped.

Robért’s affection levels for you have dropped.

.

.

.

.

Robért’s affection levels for you have dropped.

After about ten or so notifications, the alert window disappeared. But why? Hadn’t they succeeded in having their fun?

[Robért’s Doubts - 1]

Realizing he could never win Princess Elvia’s love, Robért has begun dreaming of a future with you. But after your lackluster sexual performance today, he is starting to have doubts. He suspects that you are having an affair. Be careful to keep your relationship with Etsen a secret.

[Current Progress]

Time left: 29 days, 23:59:09

What on earth had she done in bed to make him begin doubting her? Unlike these men, who all were serious and desperate in their own ways, the woman behind the screen seemed much more insincere. Likely because, to her, this was just a game.

Ding!

You failed to ease Robért’s loneliness!

Ding!

You have received a penalty.

Skill reduction: Elegance (passive), Earnest Voice (passive)

“You’ve got to be joking...” I muttered as I buried myself under the covers. It was none of my business whether they dated, broke up, or reunited in tears. As long as my safety was guaranteed.

“I’m so tired,” I mumbled, closing my eyes. Fatigue crashed over me, and I fell into a deep sleep. Although I dreamt that I kept hearing notification dings as I slept...

* * *

“Your Highness.”

I felt someone’s hand gently shaking my shoulder. It was a large, heavy hand, full of warmth. Still mostly asleep, I mumbled the first name that came to mind.

“Nadrika...?”

When there was no answer, I slowly opened my eyes and blinked. I did not recognize the face in front of me. Sitting on the edge of my bed, framed in moonlight, a man wordlessly tightened his grip on my shoulder. It wasn’t painful, but it was enough to chase away the rest of my sleep as I sat up.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“You’ve already forgotten me, Your Highness?”

I could smell liquor on his breath. Instantly wary, I slapped away the man’s hand on my shoulder.

“Leave right now,” I said. “Before I call for someone.”

“Do you really not recognize me?”

Sorry, but I don’t have any of the princess’s memories. There was no way I’d recognize him. The only thing that bothered me was that... he sounded like he was on the verge of tears. I sighed, not sure what to say next. Not a full day had passed and already three grown men had kneeled before me. I couldn’t understand what was bringing them all to cry in front of me. This was definitely something I wasn’t used to.

“Well, I can’t see your face,” I said.

Immediately, the man pulled back a little and revealed one side of his face, illuminated by the moon. He looked vulnerable at first glance, but his facial features were sharp and exotic, rather like an elven warrior. But I still didn’t recognize him. Obviously.

Now that his face was revealed, the man seemed to be expecting a reaction from me.

“Ahh... so what brings you here?” I asked, pretending that I knew who he was. I considered calling for my servants, but the fact that he was in front of me at all probably meant that they had already allowed him in. There was no need for me to take any harsh measures and possibly make things worse. I decided not to use my memory loss excuse yet.

“I heard you didn’t call for anyone tonight,” the man answered.

“...”

I was aware that the princess enjoyed a wide variety of men and liked to change her sleeping partner every night. That being said, I had no intention of doing the same just to imitate her.

“So?” I asked.

“You purposely kept me away for a long time.”

“...”

“You said there were plenty of other men to replace me...” he continued.

Of course she would say that, as the one and only princess of the empire.

“But it looks like you’re sick of them all too, Your Highness, seeing how you sleep alone tonight,” the man said. “And since you would never call for me first, what else could I do but come to you.”

His hand slid over mine on top of the covers. It suddenly occurred to me that he might be one of my concubines. Robért seemed likely.

“No,” I said. “It’s because I’m tired. I just... want to sleep.”

“But you always want to make tender love after your dirty playtime with that sex slave, don’t you? I can give you what you want.”

“No, I don’t...”

Grasping my hand, he climbed fully onto the bed. The mattress sunk toward one side as his shadow loomed over me. As he grew closer, I could feel his breath on my forehead.

“What about Arielle?” I asked.

“...”

The man froze on the spot. I guess my intuition was correct. This man had to be...

“What are you talking about, Your Highness?”

Ding!

I let out a sigh.

Etsen wants to make love to you. If you accept, evidence of your relationship with Robért may be exposed. But if you reject him, Etsen might make an offer you can’t refuse... (Caution! Important plot point!)

A. Reject him.

B. Appease him with a lie.

C. Have sex with him.

D. Cry.

As the cursor moved to D, I nearly laughed out loud. Tears, in a situation like this? This character... She was turning out to be far more hopeless than I’d thought. Robért remained frozen in place until I finished reading the notification.

“Look,” I began, tapping his cheek with my finger. “Are you afraid I’ll hurt you?”

“...”

“I won’t, so don’t worry.”

“But I...”

“But honestly. Did you really want to come straight to me right after being with her? Have some integrity, for goodness’ sake.”

“...”

“Are we done here? I’m tired. Just leave,” I said and I meant it. All day long, people had been asking for things I couldn’t give. I was exhausted from all the ridiculous emotional battles.

“You’re not... jealous, Your Highness?” Robért asked.

“What?”

“Still, I... I am your concubine.”

“...”

He pulled his arms away and sat up to get a clearer look at me, now on top of my legs.

“You’re not angry?”

Strangely, he was the one who looked angry. His voice wavered with emotion.

“How is it... that you... you remain so cruel, even to the end?” he asked.

Cruel? Me?

“You slept with another woman, didn’t you?”

“I... I only did it to—!” he stuttered.

“Is it me or her? Make up your mind and stop wallowing in your own pathetic sadness.”

At my words, he suddenly swooped down and climbed on top of me. When I tried to push him away, he grabbed my arms and pinned them above my head.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Wallowing in my pathetic sadness? How could you say that? You of all people!”

“Am I really that mean to you? Even now?” Spiteful words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. “You’re fighting me with brute force just because I refuse to love you, right? It’s childish and petty.”

“But I thought you liked sex.”

“So?” I asked.

“But why not with me? Why do I have to be rejected? Why me! Why can’t I have you!” he howled, his body crouched over mine. Silence fell between us. I could see his shoulders heaving, feel his hands trembling on my arms. I thought you were one of three concubines to the princess. What are you so bitter about? I was frustrated that I didn’t know what had happened between the two of them.

“Listen,” I started.

“Just do it with me once,” Robért interrupted.

“What?”

I was speechless. I couldn’t understand what he was going on about. Plus, I wasn’t the princess he thought I was, so I had no obligation to comply or repay any debts.

Ding!

“Hngh... wait, wait!” I cried.

Robért had planted a kiss on my clothes near my belly button. But instead of making his way up, he started to move down. In a panic, I brought my knee up to his chin. This was no time for me to pay attention to the screen that had flashed before my eyes.

“Argh!” He clutched his chin and glared at me resentfully.

“I said I don’t want to!” I snapped.

“Liar! You don’t care who you sleep with!”

Ding!

“So fucking what? Does that mean you would actually force me?!”

“What...?”

His expression changed abruptly, horror spreading across his face. When his grip slackened around my wrists, I hastily pulled my hands away. My wrists felt numb. Robért stayed still for a long time, unable to say anything.

“I... it... that’s not what I meant,” he mumbled quietly, his body still on top of mine. I was forced to lie there and watch as tears welled up in his eyes, trailing down his chin and dripping onto my chest.

I lost the will to be angry with him. After a weak sigh, I said, “Fine. Just... get off me.” When I pulled on Robért’s wrist to move him, he followed with no resistance. As he moved to sit on one side of the bed, I sat up across from him.

“It was driving me insane... the thought of being rejected by you again. That’s why,” he muttered.

“All right. Do you have anything else to say to me?”

“I’m... sorry, Your Highness.”

“Ok. That’s enough. Now...”