System

“…….”

It seemed this damn system was as arbitrary in its departures as it was in its arrivals.

‘Quest or not, I’m not going.’

Why would I risk getting my character deleted just to go sightseeing at a ball? With that thought, I was just about to hit the decline button without hesitation.

◎ Reward: None ◎

◎ This is a Main Quest; refusal or failure will result in data deletion. ◎

Reading that sentence, I was left speechless for a moment.

“……What kind of game is this?”

No reward for success, but they’ll kill me if I refuse? They call themselves a developer, but they’re just a straight-up thug.

Is the tyranny of otome games usually like this?

“I’m going to kill that developer someday.”

Feeling like I was being forced to swallow bitter medicine, I pressed the accept button.

◎ Quest Accepted! ◎

Well, if I think about it, the Imperial Palace is huge. Besides, at a masquerade ball, no one will even recognize my face.

Since countless nobles will be gathered, I might even easily find the last male lead.

I nodded slowly, engaging in a bit of self-justification.

However, I didn’t know then. That there would be a much bigger problem than that….

The night before the Imperial Ball, a knock sounded from outside the door.

“Miss, I apologize for the late hour.”

The person who pushed the door open and entered was a middle-aged man with graying hair. He looked to be the oldest among the servants I had seen so far.

‘Who is he?’

I hurriedly activated the character info.

◎ Name: Elliot ◎

◎ Occupation: Head Butler of the Ducal Household ◎

◎ Characteristic: Gentle personality ◎

I thought he looked quite old; so he was the head butler of the Duke’s estate.

“What is it?”

“Well, that is….”

He picked and chose his next words carefully before speaking as if he had no choice.

“The Duke has issued a confinement order.”

“……A confinement order?”

Does this jerk not know that tomorrow is the day of the ball?

The confinement order itself was absurd, but the timing made it even more ridiculous.

Thinking he might just not know, I tried to inform him kindly.

“Tomorrow is the day of the masquerade ball, you know?”

“Yes, perhaps that is why….”

“……Don’t tell me he did this on purpose?”

The head butler couldn’t bring himself to say another word and bowed his head.

In other words, he had intentionally issued the confinement order to prevent me from going to the ball.

“Is he afraid I’ll cause another scene?”

“…….”

He didn’t even deny it.

“As it is a banquet held at the Imperial Palace, he seems to be reacting sensitively. Please understand, Miss.”

Of course, it wasn’t that I didn’t understand that sentiment at all. Evelyn is the villainess’s best friend, and tomorrow is a banquet at the palace.

It wasn’t a bad choice to keep me on a short leash to prevent any potential mishaps.

Though for me, whose life depended on this quest, it was anything but welcome news.

Is he going to interfere with me like this at every turn until his likability reaches a certain level?

“Jer—no, Brother isn’t asleep yet, is he?”

“Pardon? Yes, presumably….”

He blinked as if asking why I would inquire about that.

“I’ll be back.”

“Pardon? Miss? Miss!”

I bolted upright without a moment’s hesitation.

Elliot’s urgent voice echoed behind me, but I didn’t care and headed downstairs.

“Je….”

I threw open the firmly closed door of the office and walked in.

“Je….”

However, the office was quiet, with no sign of anyone. Far from a conversation, there wasn’t even a glimpse of Gervan.

So he locks his sister up and then goes wandering around himself, huh?

Let’s sit on the sofa and wait first. Just as I was about to move—

“…….”

I couldn’t help but stop dead in my tracks.

Because Gervan was sleeping on the office sofa.

‘I’m screwed.’

Won’t his likability drop even further if I wake him up? He’d probably ask, ‘Who do you think you are to wake me up?’

‘Let’s just get out of here.’

Covering my mouth with my hand, I began to backtrack cautiously.

One step, two steps.

Just a bit more.

Until I reach the office door….

Just a bit more….

Ding.

‘No!’

The sound of the system window echoed in the quiet room.

It was a volume sufficient to wake someone, but apparently, this sound was only audible to me.

I looked up at the translucent window with a sharp gaze.

◎ Would you like to proceed with a ‘Fragment of Memory’? ◎

◎ ch.1 Gervan’s Past (1) ◎

‘Huh?’

My eyes widened at that phrase.

If it’s a ‘Fragment of Memory,’ I had played it in the original game too. It was a semi-side story where you could learn about a male lead’s past.

I remember learning about Johann’s family history through this, but at that time, I had already built up some likability.

‘Why is this appearing at 0%?’

Should I watch this or not? I’m not even going to court him, so do I really need to know?

While I was lost in thought, the system window moved once more.

◎ The window will close automatically in 10 seconds. ◎

“Wait, what?”

7….

Whatever.

Feeling like I was being forced, I pressed the ‘View Story’ button.

Did I become a ghost? I was floating in the air in a translucent state.

I couldn’t feel the gravity weighing down my body or the air touching my skin. It felt as though I had become the wind.

Once I got somewhat used to that state, the surrounding situation began to enter my sight.

‘This is….’

Though the exterior was a bit different, this was definitely the Louis Ducal estate. It seemed I had been transported to the mansion of the past to proceed with the Fragment of Memory.

However, contrary to the subtitle ‘Gervan’s Past,’ there wasn’t a glimpse of him.

Is there anything I can do until Gervan appears? Since I’ve come all the way to the past, I wanted to get at least some hint.

At that moment, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

‘Let’s go to the left hallway.’

The place where I found the wallpaper of a different color. Now, I might be able to find out what was hanging there.

I moved my steps without a moment’s hesitation.

The left hallway I arrived at had a completely different atmosphere than it did in the present.

Soft lamps were placed here and there, and a plush carpet was laid on the floor.

Unlike the present where even the lights didn’t turn on, it was a cozy and comfortable atmosphere.

It really seems like there’s something here.

‘It was around there….’

At that moment, I was forced to stop talking.

The wallpaper that was the only one of a different color. A family photo was hanging on it.

‘…….’

It was a photo of a happy family.

The Ducal couple were holding hands affectionately, and Gervan looked brilliant. It was a harmonious family where misfortune seemed to have no room to squeeze in. But one important thing was that nowhere in it—

‘Evelyn isn’t there.’

Evelyn was missing.

Then, a man I had seen somewhere passed by me.

‘Wait, that man is….’

His appearance was somewhat younger, but I could be certain. It was Elliot, the middle-aged head butler I had seen in reality.

“Young Master, they say they will arrive soon.”

“Really?”

A small boy standing across from him. He looked to be about seven or eight years old at most.

‘It’s the young Gervan from the family photo.’

“The carriage has arrived.”

Elliot said.

Soon, the sound of a carriage stopping was heard, and Gervan ran toward the entrance like an arrow.

“Mother, Father!”

Gervan ran out to the door to greet the returning Ducal couple.

“Welcome ba….”

He stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of his greeting.

What caught his eye was a small young girl standing to the right of the Ducal couple.

‘……A young girl?’

My gaze was also fixed on her. A thin body, disheveled hair, and a shabby appearance.

The girl stood in silence, her head bowed low, fidgeting with her hands.

“Father, who is that girl?”

Gervan looked up at his parents with a puzzled expression.

The Duke answered.

“Gervan, say hello. From today, she will be your sister.”

“A sister…?”

The girl hid her body behind the Duchess.

It was hard to see because her hair covered her face, but through the gaps, her golden eyes were shining clearly.

The Duke stroked the girl’s head and said,

“Yes, her name is…. We shall call her Evelyn.”

“…….”

Gervan and Evelyn’s golden eyes looked at each other at the same time. It was the moment they first recognized each other’s existence.

“Gervan, about Evelyn….”

“…….”

‘What are they saying? I can’t hear them.’

They were clearly having a conversation, but I couldn’t hear the talk.

I tried to move a bit closer, but my body wouldn’t move, as if it were frozen.

‘…….’

And then, the world blinked into darkness.