Chapter 13 : Blessings for the beautiful Tsundere

In this game, the favorability system has an unwritten rule.
Once someone’s favorability exceeds 50%, the protagonist will definitely enter her route.

In other words, Schiller must be careful that his favorability is neither too high nor too low.

Too high, the world will be destroyed; too low, he will die.

“Difficulty: Hell…”

Schiller stretched, and morning arrived.

Knock, knock.

A gentle knock sounded, and Celia entered, carrying a tray.

Schiller quickly crumpled the paper on the table into a ball and casually stuffed it aside.

“Young master, are you awake? Are you feeling better? I specially prepared your favorite muffins and hot milk for breakfast.”

“Ah, thank you, Celia.”

Schiller tried to make his expression look natural, but his gaze involuntarily swept to Celia’s head—the golden pocket watch still floated quietly, its hands steadily stopped above III, without the slightest anomaly.

Sheryl, who also had three favorability points, had already shown an attribute card.

‘Does the attribute card only work for main capture targets? Or is there… a hidden trigger mechanism?’

“Any leads on the kidnappers?” Schiller asked Celia.

“I’m sorry, Young Master, I failed… I couldn’t capture them alive.” Celia’s face showed deep remorse; she lowered her head, seemingly awaiting Schiller’s criticism.

‘Capture them alive? What kind of euphemism is that?’

“No, you’ve done very well.” Schiller stood up and patted Celia’s head.

“It’s all my fault for Young Master getting hurt!” Celia bit her lip, blaming herself.

“It’s my own lack of caution, my plan went wrong. The responsibility is mine. Besides, haven’t you already healed me?”

Schiller looked at the leg that had been stabbed yesterday. The pain that could make a person faint was now completely gone.

In his memory, this gentle healing power was the symbol of her “Bestowed Name.” The girl with such sacred ability was now waiting for punishment like a child who had made a mistake.

It was truly fortunate that he returned safe and sound this time. If it hadn’t been for Sheryl’s final outburst, he might already be someone’s male concubine right now.

As a result, the secret behind the kidnapping incident simply vanished into the shadows.

“Sheryl, did she say anything?” At the mention of Sheryl, Schiller’s voice unconsciously lowered.

He couldn’t help but ask cautiously. After all, he had done that to Sheryl.

It was fine during the crisis, but who knew if she would react later and settle scores?!

Her father was a Duke whose stomp could make the empire tremble!

“Huh…” Celia tilted her head in confusion. “You mean?”

“Uh… did she write a letter or anything…”

“Ah, Lady Sheryl did send a letter to the ducal manor this morning,” Celia said, clapping her hands.

“Stop it! Stop it and burn it…”

Schiller’s mind was filled with a desperate future.

‘What would the letter say? It must be about how Schiller cruelly took her first time, and the enraged Duke would immediately come to execute him.’

‘But, fortunately, he discovered it in advance. Sheryl, your plan will not succeed!’

“It’s already been sent, Young Master.”

“It’s overrrrrrrr—!!!!” Schiller let out a desperate wail.

“Young Master,” Celia suddenly leaned close to Schiller, taking his hand. A pleasant scent wafted into his nostrils.

Despite her gentle expression, to Schiller, it felt somewhat… indescribably chilling.

“Why are you so scared? Did something happen between you and Lady Sheryl?”

“N-no, nothing at all.” Schiller’s eyes darted around, but he finally managed to compose his face.

“That’s the Duke’s daughter. Even if you gave me ten thousand guts, I wouldn’t dare.”

He would rather die than admit he had forcefully kissed Sheryl.

“Is that so?” Celia’s expression didn’t change at all, her lips even curving into a softer arc, but her body silently pressed closer again, creating an invisible sense of pressure.

“But… last night, while Aileen was attending to you, she seemed to have heard you talking in your sleep…”

“…”

‘Did I talk in my sleep last night?’ Schiller suddenly felt his mouth dry, and the saliva he swallowed felt like razor blades.

“She said you…” Celia deliberately drew out her words, watching Schiller’s face instantly turn pale, before slowly continuing, “…seemed to be shouting something like ‘No one can judge me!’ A very… imposing line, wasn’t it?” She giggled softly, reaching out to ruffle Schiller’s hair.

“Honestly, Young Master never grows up.” After thoroughly teasing Schiller, Celia left, satisfied.

“Phew.” Schiller quietly let out a breath. ‘Good thing I wasn’t found out.’

But, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Celia was a little different from before?

Just as Schiller’s mind was in turmoil, his room door was thrown open with a “bang.”

“Schiller!”

Sheryl stood at the doorway.

She was wearing a brand new pale purple dress, her silver hair meticulously combed, and her face held a deliberately maintained calm. The three silver-white roses on her head seemed to bloom even more vibrantly in the morning light.

“Are… are you alright now?” Sheryl’s voice tried to maintain the Duke’s daughter’s composure, but the end of her sentence carried a hint of imperceptible trembling. She quickly walked to Schiller’s bedside, her gaze sweeping over him, finally settling on his previously injured leg.

“I’m fine, Celia’s treatment was very effective.” Schiller tried to keep his voice calm.

“Hmph, good then.” Sheryl turned her face away, her earlobes starting to redden again. “ I… I am not really concerned about you! It’s just… just as your… your teaching subject, if you fall ill, it would be troublesome!” She emphasized somewhat incoherently, but the flush on her face betrayed her shyness.

This, this is!

“Waaah, Young Lady!”

Seeing such a perfectly tsundere scene, even he, whose heart was like stone, couldn’t help but shed tears. ‘It’s been a while, tsundere!’

‘Lady Luck sometimes does good things after all. Is this the reward for his desperate efforts?’

Schiller looked at her, his heart a mixture of emotions. Illiteracy, lack of etiquette, rumors of being an illegitimate child… This seemingly arrogant ducal daughter carried burdens far heavier than what was depicted in the game.

‘Wait, what exactly did she write in that letter?’

“Lil, do you miss home?” Schiller decided to subtly inquire.

“Yes, but I’ve already sent a letter to Father to say I’m safe! I said… I said Schiller has been very kind to me and taken good care of me in all aspects, so he doesn’t need to worry.” She tilted her chin slightly, like a little peacock waiting for praise.

“But…” ‘But you can’t read, can you?’ He was about to say that.

“I, I can’t read, but Schiller’s personal maid is very reliable!” Her cheeks flushed.

‘So it was you! Do you want to kill your master with your own hands?!’

…

…

Regarding how to quickly improve one’s strength, Schiller’s idea was simple and crude: real combat!

And the most convenient, and also most “safe,” sparring partner right now was undoubtedly Sheryl.

After the etiquette lesson ended, Sheryl, hearing that Schiller wanted to do sword training, ran off to change her clothes, her eyes shining.

Schiller watched her joyful retreating figure, then glanced at his own pitiful [Level: Low-Tier Upper] in his status bar, comparing it to Sheryl’s shining [Level: Mid-Tier Lower] above her head… A bead of cold sweat silently trickled down his forehead.