Chapter 41: The Dreaming Girl (2)

Julius Fran did not yield.

No matter how brightly Renaria smiled and spoke to him, he never dropped his perfectly composed servant demeanor.

He never revealed anything about his private life, nor did he leak any information about his master, Kishtarial.

He always wore an unreadable smile, as if warning her not to step any closer.

Though his intelligent, refined looks—so perfectly suited to glasses—were captivating, it was dull that she couldn’t get the reaction she wanted.

Unlike Kishtarial or Mikhailis, he didn’t openly drive her away, so there was still a chance.

When she gave him sweets, he accepted them with a smile—and she had also handed some to Kishtarial and Mikhailis, so if things went well, she might capture them all at once.

The hidden character was proving harder to conquer than she expected.

But if she managed to win over Kishtarial, then Julius, his servant, would practically come as a bonus.

With Albeltiina absent, Julius often stayed at the academy as Kishtarial’s attendant.

Perhaps he simply couldn’t be captured yet—after all, he was a character meant to be unlocked only after at least a third playthrough.

(Still, no matter how handsome Julius is, he’s just a servant right now.

Oh—then I could just make him my lover.

I don’t really like that he’s supposedly Albeltiina’s plaything, but it’d be a waste to leave such a beauty alone…)

She had once seen another servant from the Lattiche ducal house, but he wasn’t her type at all.

He lacked presence—about her height, with decent features but no glamour.

She preferred men who were obviously handsome.

He had dark skin uncommon in this region, dull black hair that seemed to absorb light, and a small, agile build.

He moved without making a sound, like a black cat—almost unsettling.

If this were the sequel set two or three years later, he might have fallen into her strike zone, but as he was now, he looked too young.

For the same reason, Cain didn’t interest her much either.

Because of his curse, Cain’s growth had been stunted.

He would only grow normally once he found true love.

Though he had matured to around twelve or thirteen now, he was still too immature for her taste.

And in the harem route, he would remain that way even at the end.

Frankly, Cain’s desperation over his curse made him clingy—and dealing with someone that dependent was a hassle.

Her favorite was still Lucas.

She would keep Cain’s affection at a decent level, but no more.

Lucas, meanwhile, was progressing smoothly.

Since Albeltiina’s events weren’t happening, she simply made Vivian take her place.

Vivian wasn’t as aggressive—but she constantly nagged Renaria about manners and etiquette.

Even though the academy claimed equality, Vivian would nitpick everything—

conversation order, curtsey posture, the depth of the bow.

It was unbearably irritating.

No one helped her—

if anything, they snickered.

When Renaria complained tearfully to the teacher Findol, he said he would report it to the academy, but nothing changed.

Useless adults.

Though she liked his mature charm, Findol never acted as she wanted.

Lucas, as the crown prince, was still the most useful.

By skillfully provoking him, she caused an event.

Seeing Vivian scolded harshly and bow her head in frustration was deeply satisfying.

But still, it didn’t feel like she was getting as close to her targets as in the original events.

(That’s it! What about paid items? Could they exist here too?)

There should be a magic tool shop in a corner of the marketplace district—

in a slightly run-down alley.

She remembered that it sold items that could greatly boost affection.

The problem was money.

She had received dresses and accessories from Lucas and the others, so her appearance had improved, but she didn’t have much cash.

In her previous life, purchases were made using “Sandis Light”—

extremely rare magical gemstones.

They were far beyond her reach.

Even low-grade stones were still expensive.

Still, just looking was free.

Even browsing could be useful.

So, on a day off, Renaria hurried into town.

The “shop” turned out to be a stall.

A shabby tent made of worn cloth, with crude shelves and goods spread across the ground.

An elderly shopkeeper with white hair and a suspicious mask turned toward her—just like in the game.

The items displayed were exactly as expected:

paid items that increased character affection.

The selection was random, making each encounter unique.

Prices were listed in coins instead of Sandis Light—

some could be bought with copper, others required silver or gold.

Lucas’s items were expensive, as expected of royalty—

fine jewelry adorned with gems.

Among the more affordable items, she spotted a manual on ancient martial arts—an affection item for Mikhailis.

She bought it immediately, along with a Love Elixir.

The elixir was cheap, costing only a few copper coins.

As it was purchased repeatedly, it would level up in rank and effectiveness.

Most importantly, it could be used on any character.

It could be mixed into food, used as perfume, or even crafted into charm-enhancing magical accessories—

though the latter required high magical and intellectual stats, which Renaria lacked.

The simplest method was to mix it into sweets.

However, to have someone accept homemade sweets, a certain level of affection was required.

So she needed to use paid items first to soften them up.

She immediately went to Mikhailis.

But he frowned.

“I don’t need it. I’ve already read that. And I have no obligation to accept it.”

—In truth, the gentleman he was supposed to be would never treat a lower-ranking female student this coldly.

Before she could respond, he walked away quickly.

There was no way she could keep up—he was taller, with longer strides, and already walked fast.

Last time, when she had pretended to stumble and tried to fall into his arms, she had completely missed and fallen flat.

He hadn’t even offered a hand—he had simply been put off by her clumsy display.

She didn’t want to repeat that humiliation.

When she tried to run after him, a teacher scolded her for improper conduct.

His red hair swayed as he disappeared into the distance.

“W-why…? I thought it would work…”

She muttered.

To her, it was just an old book—but in the game, Mikhailis would have been delighted, showing a rare, youthful smile.

Instead, he rejected it coldly.

There was no way he had already read it.

He was supposed to thank her warmly.

As she trembled with anger, she caught sight of red hair in her peripheral vision.

“Mikhailis!?”

“…If you can’t even tell me apart from my brother, perhaps you should see a doctor.”

Turning eagerly, she found Jibril instead.

As always, Jibril wore an exquisitely refined dress.

Though not flashy, it was clearly high-quality silk adorned with delicate embroidery and lace—

far more beautiful than Renaria’s own.

Her crimson hair shone vividly against the soft yellow dress.

“Jibril…!”

“I don’t recall permitting such familiarity.

And would you kindly stay away from my brother?

He has high standards. A loose girl from a poor baron family like you is not welcome.”

“What!? Then you stay away from Mikhailis—and Kishtarial and Julius too!”

“I return those words to you.

Learn proper manners before speaking again.

They are my childhood friends.

You are the outsider here.”

With a small shrug, Jibril turned and left.

Cold stares pierced Renaria.

Mocking laughter rippled around her.

Renaria had no friends.

No close female companions at all.

In this academy—a microcosm of noble society—she was isolated.

Even with Lucas’s protection, she was often targeted.

In the game, there should have been a female student who displayed affection levels—but here, that girl avoided her completely.

Most noble sons already had fiancées.

Lucas and Leold did.

Even Joshua, a mere viscount’s son and knight, had one.

Some targets like Kishtarial, Mikhailis, Cain, and Findol did not—but generally, noble engagements were decided young.

In the game, each route had obstacles—

fiancées, family, or past trauma.

But now, Albeltiina was absent.

And instead, Jibril—who should have been gloomy—stood at the center.

Renaria wanted to eliminate her.

But she didn’t want to lose Mikhailis.

Ideally, she would remove Jibril after capturing him—

but the key conflict between the siblings didn’t even exist.

They got along perfectly.

“Why…? Why is there someone else besides me…?”

Instead of Albeltiina, another girl had taken the heroine’s role.

Jibril’s closeness to Kishtarial and Julius infuriated her.

And society accepted it.

The rising Domitrius house, allied with the Lattiche dukes, made Jibril a prime candidate for future duchess.

Kishtarial remained cold to Renaria.

And focusing too much on others annoyed Lucas.

Even Findol and Leold reprimanded her.

Cain and Graham watched her.

Even Joshua, whom she had charmed, had become persistent.

(I’m going to be the future crown princess.

This is beyond disrespect.)

Lucas adored her.

He promised to make her his queen.

Though costly, her gifts were working—

his affection deepened steadily.

But her failures elsewhere gnawed at her.

Her hatred for Jibril burned.

“Everything was going so well…

Stop getting in my way!”

—and then, Renaria would encounter her next fateful meeting.