DAMSC | Chapter 2.1

Chapter 2

After I found the cursed item in the ducal manor, Lowell, who had overestimated my skill, started mana training.

But at the sight of me, who could not feel even the slightest bit of mana, Lowell muttered and tilted his head.

"That's strange... How did you detect black magic with mana like that?"

Just as I felt a jolt of unease, an attendant approached.

"Lord Ciprian, His Highness Caliton is looking for you."

"His Highness the Crown Prince?"

It had been a while since I heard the name of my ex-fiance, so it felt strangely fresh.

When I thought about Caliton's end, poisoned at the wedding, I felt sorry for him, but I had decided not to pity a function made of 0 and 1.

"Today's training ends here. I have some business, so I should go."

"Yes, master."

After Lowell left, I headed toward the garden. There was something else I had to do today.

When I arrived at the fountain, my target was visible in the distance.

Jerome, in a black knight's uniform, was walking through the garden with a straight posture.

His movements were neat without a single flaw, like the tightly fastened buttons on his uniform.

I waved at him and ran over.

"My duke!"

Maybe it was because my stamina was LV.1. Running that short distance made my body complain as much as it could.

If I had known I would end up with such terrible stamina, I would have allocated stat points to stamina too.

Jerome looked at me, breathing hard, then opened his mouth.

"It seems Lord Ciprian is quite forgiving about imperial palace etiquette."

"…"

This bastard.

He was definitely saying I was uncultured, right?

Was being handsome enough to cover that?

Just as I was glaring at Jerome with a sulky expression, Jerome's gaze landed on my forehead.

I had worked up a sweat from running, but was he really going to complain about that too?

I was determined not to stay quiet this time, but Jerome took a dark navy handkerchief from his chest and held it out to me.

The linen, pressed without a single wrinkle, had the Winston family crest intricately embroidered on it.

"There are many eyes watching in the imperial palace, so it would be best to be careful."

A heavy musk scent carried faintly along the handkerchief with the breeze.

Huh, what was this?

It made me feel awkward for no reason.

"Thank you."

I quietly took Jerome's handkerchief and carefully wiped the sweat from my forehead as I asked.

"Why are you in the imperial palace?"

"I am on my way back after being summoned by His Highness the Crown Prince."

The empire, troubled by the increase in monsters, would send out an investigation team to find the cause of the increase.

Today, Caliton must have called important figures to gather the investigation team.

Well, that had nothing to do with me.

I went straight into the main task.

[I activate "charisma."]

"If we keep running into each other like this, I might get so excited that Aisha's heart will go pop and burst! You will take responsibility, right, duke?"

[Jerome Winston's affinity has increased by 10.]

[Jerome Winston's affinity: 31]

===================

Affinity

Jerome: 31

Lowell: 25

???: 0

???: 0

???: 0

===================

At last!

The moment I saw Jerome's affinity surpass Lowell's, I let out a cheer without thinking.

"No matter what comes out of my mouth, it's fine. As long as the affinity goes up!"

While I was relieved that the affinity had risen as planned, Jerome opened his mouth.

"I'm embarrassed by that. Isn't that the sort of thing used only between lovers?"

Wouldn't your higher affinity while saying you're embarrassed be more embarrassing?

"Don't mind it. I just said it because I was happy to see you."

I waved my hand carelessly and tucked Jerome's handkerchief into my chest. Still, it would be proper to wash it and return it.

"By the way, duke, have you been sleeping well lately?"

"Thanks to you."

Jerome nodded.

His face looked clearly better than the last time I had seen him.

The eyes that had always seemed calmly lowered now seemed to have a bright spark of life in them, and his cheeks had turned a little red, so his circulation seemed good too.

He seemed like a different person from the first time I had seen him.

While I was checking Jerome's complexion, he opened his mouth.

"Lady Aisha."

Right. The time had come.

I already knew what Jerome would say next, but I answered like someone who knew nothing.

"Yes?"

"If you are willing, would you have a meal with me? As thanks for helping at the ducal manor, I would like to treat you to lunch."

Nice, he was finally asking me out on a date!

I cheered inside and answered right away without any need to refuse.

"Sounds good. Shall we go together?"

At my answer, Jerome nodded.

"Let's go."

I got into the black carriage with Jerome escorting me.

I heard the clip-clop of horses' hooves and the rumble of the wheels. After I got into the carriage, Jerome only looked out the window and did not say a single word.

I knew he was a man of few words, but the silent stillness was suffocating, so I spoke first.

"Um... was the culprit who cursed you caught?"

"No. It is still under investigation."

"I see. The culprit needs to be caught quickly. I hope they are caught soon."

"Thank you for your concern."

"…"

"…"

An awkward silence continued.

The truth was, I was not very good at talking with the opposite sex.

'Why else would I have been a lifelong single?'

And of all people, Jerome was quiet too.

Should I call this a good match or a bad one?

Just as I was starting to get a headache from wondering how to fix this atmosphere, a question rose in my mind.

"What kind of relationship do you have with Vivian?"

As the saying went, know yourself and know your enemy, and you would never lose a hundred battles.

If I wanted to deal with Vivian, it would help to gather information about her.

"We have known each other since the previous generation."

"Ah..."

I fell into thought for a moment.

'That's a longer connection than I expected.'

If Vivian had been in love with Jerome since they were young, then it really must have been a miserable kind of one-sided love.

I had only managed to seduce Jerome this far thanks to my charisma skill. If I had not had that cheat, Jerome would not even have sat at the same table with me.

"Does Lady Vivian bother you?"

I looked at Jerome with a puzzled expression.

"Of course."

"May I ask why?"

"That is..."

Because she was the woman who poisoned me, so of course she bothered me a lot. And she might poison me again.

But I could not tell the truth.

Unable to find a decent excuse, I turned my wandering gaze out the window.

"...Duke, why do you think I am bothered by Lady Vivian?"

Just as I tried to throw the answer to Jerome, the system window rang.

[Jerome Winston's affinity has increased by 1.]

[Jerome Winston's affinity: 32]

I had no idea what point had raised the affinity. I did not know why, but either way, it was welcome news.

Still, was not one point too much?

As I was thinking that, the carriage reached its destination.

With Jerome's escort, I got out of the carriage and saw a fine old building.

It was the largest and most refined restaurant in the city.

When I passed through the entrance, I heard a woman's voice from behind.

"Duke Jerome Winston?"

When I looked back, I saw a young lady in a refined dress.

The young lady, with long black hair swaying, blinked her large eyes and looked at Jerome.

"What brings the duke to the capital..."

The young lady's gaze shifted to me. For a moment, a cold chill passed through her angelically sparkling eyes.

But then she returned to her angel-like gaze and gave a soft eye-smile.

"And who might the lady beside you be?"

Right. It was about time she appeared.

I slowly looked over the face that had shown up after so long.

Vivian Angus.

The villainess who had poisoned me, and the one I had to get rid of in this playthrough.

Vivian tilted her head at me.

"I have not seen a face like yours in this area..."

Jerome opened his mouth.

"This is Lady Aisha, disciple of Lord Lowell Ciprian. And this is Lady Vivian, young lady of House of Angus."

At the introduction, Vivian's eyes widened.

"Lowell Ciprian? Isn't he the imperial palace's chief mage?"

"Yes, that's right."

"No wonder, I felt like Lady Aisha had a different atmosphere from ordinary young ladies."

With a soft eye-smile, Vivian continued.

"Young ladies usually wear fancy dresses, don't they? By comparison, Lady Aisha is, how should I put it... someone full of scholarly spirit. No wonder you're the disciple of a great mage."

So that meant I looked smart in the bad sense, right?

This bitch was taking a jab at me like that.

I gave the kindest smile I could and replied.

"Thank you. Lately, there are many people who only beautify the outside and do not cultivate the inside, right? In that sense, the young lady seems like someone I have a lot to learn from."

Vivian, who had been smiling, twitched her lips.

What I said could be interpreted in two ways.

One, that she had many things to learn from because her outside and inside were both beautiful. The other, that because her outside and inside were different, she would be good as a mirror to reflect on.

Depending on how you took it, it could be a compliment or an insult.

Of course, I had meant it as an insult.

After a moment of silence, Vivian smiled brightly.

"Thank you for the compliment. Come to think of it, I have not heard your family name. What is it, Lady Aisha?"

The protagonist did not have a family name. That was natural for an orphan, but in noble society, having no family name was practically the same as proving you were of low birth.

I could not give Vivian, who was desperate to drag me down somehow, any prey.

I thought for a moment.

'I'll have to make up a family name.'

One family name came to mind.

When I had captured Crown Prince Caliton, there had been a surname he had bestowed on me.

"I am Aisha Amberveer."

At my answer, Vivian tilted her head.

"I have never heard of the surname Amberveer. Where are you from, perhaps?"

"I came from far away. You probably would not understand even if I explained."

"Oh my... so you came up from the countryside."

Vivian made a sympathetic expression.

"Then city life must feel strange and fascinating to you. I will help show you around the city sometime."

Right, so I was just a country bumpkin to her.

It was obvious to anyone who was not a fool that there was mockery under Vivian's friendliness.

"That's kind of you, but it's all right. I could not trouble the young lady with something so bothersome. Besides..."

I had a comeback too, even as a country bumpkin.

"If it is sightseeing in the capital, I think the duke will show me. Right, duke?"

As if he had heard something unexpected, Jerome's one eyebrow rose crookedly.

Say that you will, hurry up.

I had never asked Jerome to show me around the city, but I threw the words out because I did not want to lose to Vivian.

'You're not going to say no, are you?'

With an uneasy heart, I waited for Jerome's answer. Then he slightly bowed his upper body and answered in a calm voice.

"If that is what Lady Aisha wishes."