"Are we heading straight back to the Imperial Palace?"
"Why, do you have business?"
"No, not that... but since we're out...."
As Lellia hesitated, Romeo thought for a moment before speaking.
"Then let's have lunch before we go."
"That sounds good."
Lellia breathed an internal sigh of relief. She pulled down the gentleman's hat Romeo had given her on the way out.
If they returned to the Imperial Palace now, Romeo would just go to his room.
She had no excuse to follow him inside and stick around, so it was better to stay out a bit longer.
'The best day....'
The reason Lellia was worrying was because of the quest.
To give that sensitive Romeo the best day possible.
Following Romeo into the carriage, it departed soon after. They were heading to an area where restaurants were gathered.
However, Lellia's worries continued even after the meal, while they walked around the plaza.
She couldn't think of how to improve Romeo's mood.
Then Romeo suddenly stopped walking.
Lellia, following behind, looked at his back in confusion.
"So this was it."
Romeo let out a hollow laugh as if realizing something. Then he suddenly entered a shop nearby.
"Why, why are you doing that?"
"Wait."
Lellia stared blankly at the shop Romeo had entered. It was a small art shop.
But there was a painting hanging inside the shop window. Lellia frowned as soon as she saw it.
Meanwhile, Romeo, who had entered the shop, asked the owner.
"Hey, is the painting out front for sale?"
"Oh my, a customer as soon as I put it up? Yes, yes! It's for sale. Shall I wrap it for you?"
Art shops in busy areas often sold paintings by aspiring artists on consignment.
"How much do paintings like that usually sell for?"
When Romeo asked, the clerk answered proudly.
"You mean the handsome man's portrait? It starts from at least 5 million shillings."
"A handsome man's portrait... Quite expensive for the skill level. Is it by a famous painter?"
"No, it's still by an aspiring artist. If you think it's expensive, just go! It's worth whatever people are willing to pay anyway."
"Do paintings like that sell well these days?"
"You have no idea! We can barely keep them in stock."
"Ha."
Romeo let out a hollow laugh in disbelief and came back outside.
Then he found Lellia, who was looking at the painting with a wrinkled expression, and stood beside her with a mischievous smile.
"Wow. Must be nice, right?"
"W-what do you mean?"
"I heard paintings like this are selling like crazy in the capital lately."
"...."
"Look, it looks just like you."
Lellia couldn't deny it.
The painting was a portrait of a man with very elegant lines, but no matter how she looked at it, it didn't feel like a man.
He had no beard and no Adam's apple, but his hairstyle and clothes were definitely male.
"Is it perhaps a painting of a woman in men's clothing?"
"No. They probably painted it because a man like this doesn't exist in reality. Well, there are quite a few men without Adam's apples."
"...."
"This is why people have been staring at you since earlier."
Lellia looked at Romeo with wide eyes as if asking if that were true.
She had been so focused on Romeo's quest that she hadn't noticed the surrounding gazes.
'...Did I get caught by people?'
Lellia gulped in anxiety. But Romeo seemed to think differently.
"Actually, it's a good thing. If paintings like this are trending, no one will suspect you."
"Why?"
"No one thinks of this painting as a woman. They think of it as an imaginary man that's hard to find in reality."
"...."
That was a relief. Lellia breathed a sigh of relief and observed Romeo.
Romeo grumbled, 'Why do people even like a face like that?' while looking at the painting.
Honestly, in Lellia's eyes, Romeo seemed much more beautiful and handsome than the man in that painting.
Thinking that, Lellia went "Ah!" and made a sound.
Why didn't I think of this? She felt foolish for deliberately worrying in such a complicated way until now.
Romeo is very simple. So he really likes it when someone praises or compliments him.
It was the same when he was young.
Making the best day for Romeo might actually be very easy.
She just needed to stick around all day and compliment him.
Lellia said with conviction.
"I really don't understand why a man like that is popular. In my eyes, Romeo seems much more handsome than that painting."
Sure enough, Romeo's lips curled up. Lellia whispered softly.
"Look. If a man is as scrawny as that painting, does he have charm? He's not even a woman in men's clothing like me."
"Right?"
"Yes. Unlike that painting, Romeo has a great build and a sharp jawline. Just like a god from mythology paintings."
Even as the compliments crossed the line, Romeo accepted them as if nothing was wrong. Lellia decided not to stop.
"That man in the painting is probably very short too. He won't be tall like Romeo. I've always thought that to be a true handsome man, one needs to be tall like Romeo and have broad shoulders."
"You're quite thoughtful, aren't you?"
Like that, as they rode the carriage back to the Imperial Palace.
[Quest Complete! ✧*.◟(ˊᗨˋ)◞.*✧ Receiving rewards!]
∙ Affection Check Ticket 1 piece
∙ Special Recipe Puzzle Piece 1 piece
∙ Lv. 1 Random Gift Box[?] 1 piece
∙ Alchemy Lottery Ticket 1 piece
Lellia was able to complete the quest quite easily.
Romeo hummed a tune while looking out the carriage window. It was the satisfied expression of someone who had experienced the best day.
Then the next quest window appeared.
[Raise Special Affection Target
※ Quest Story Progress: 10%
The quest progression format was the same.
Anyway, succeeding like this made her very happy. Though it was a bit absurd....
Lellia accepted the quest and moved to the item list.
She put off the ticket as before and opened the random gift box.
Last time, useless ingredients came out. What would it be this time?
Opening it with expectation, 'Special Recipe Puzzle Piece 1 piece' appeared additionally.
'At least this will be useful later, so that's rather fortunate....'
Lellia breathed a sigh of relief and looked out the window following Romeo.
Before she knew it, the Imperial Palace was drawing near.
'Now the important thing is the sub-quest.'
Route's holy artifact, and the Special Shop.
When the Special Shop opens, she could scratch lottery tickets like before.
Scratching lottery tickets was essentially like a gacha draw, where one could aim for a jackpot at once.
One could get very rare items, or enormous amounts of crystals or gold.
'Or maybe the ingredients for that special recipe.'
Lellia made various guesses based on her long gaming experience.
Meanwhile, the carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Romeo, still in a good mood, invited Lellia to have tea and even dinner together.
After stopping by her room and heading to Romeo's quarters, Calyx was already there.
Fortunately, this time he was wearing clothes.
Romeo was sitting on the reception room sofa drinking tea, and Calyx was lying on the long sofa across from him.
He was large enough that his shoulders and legs stuck out, but he didn't seem to mind.
Calyx had his eyes closed with furrowed brows.
'He doesn't seem to be sleeping.'
Lellia, sitting diagonally across, stared at Calyx.
Maybe his eyes hurt.
That part had been on her mind anyway.
Before long, Calyx would lose his sight completely.
Lellia worried whenever she had a moment if there was anything she could do for Calyx.
She looked through the in-game recipes with hope, but there was nothing that would help his sight.
But it wasn't that there was no method at all.
'Holy artifact, or the Philosopher's Stone.'
With those, she would be able to treat Calyx's eyes.
The two holy artifacts each granted the wish of their possessor, and Lellia and Route had already used one each.
If those two holy artifacts were combined, one more greater wish could be granted.
Lellia had a goal she wanted to confess to her friends who had broken the spell of the aphorism, but she considered healing Calyx's eyes more important.
So Lellia decided to also aim for another method, the 'Philosopher's Stone.'
To do that, there was a lot to do, so it would take a long time.... But it wasn't impossible.
Lellia looked at Calyx with a pitying gaze.
Doing so, she suddenly recalled childhood.
Back then, Calyx wasn't small either, but she didn't know he would grow this big. Romeo was the same.
Even though Lellia wasn't short either, the difference was significant.
'Now I can't even dream of carrying Calyx on my back like when we were young.'
Let alone carrying him, it would be difficult to even support him.
While thinking such thoughts, Calyx's eyes suddenly opened.
"You're here?"
Calyx greeted Lellia and rose groggily.
Oh right. Lellia hesitated, remembering something, and asked.
"By the way, Calyx... broth...."
"Wait... hey, while you're in men's clothing, don't call me that. It gives me chills."
When Calyx became serious, Romeo held his stomach and laughed.
'...He told me to call him that. Does he think I want to?'
Lellia's pride as a former captain was quite hurt, but she held it in and said.
"Then should I call you 'hyung'?"
"...Hyung?"
Now that she said it, she realized belatedly.
Come to think of it, Calyx said he saw the childhood 'Leo' when looking at her.
Someone who looks exactly like someone who was once called 'captain' calling him 'hyung'? That would be a big disadvantage for Lellia.
"Alright, call me hyung."
But before she could take back her words, Calyx agreed.
Lellia tightened her lips, trembling for a moment, before barely managing to say.
"By the way, about yesterday. May I ask why you took a walk with Princess Uriana...?"
"What? You took a walk with a woman? And a princess at that?"
At those words, Romeo reacted quickly. His eyes were full of mischief wanting to tease immediately.
"Ah."
Calyx's brow furrowed. He must have had a lot to say, as he quickly rambled on.
"Ah, yesterday, because of that woman, really.... She just suddenly followed me and started talking, asking to take a walk. Even when I refused, she kept following me, it was so annoying I thought I'd die. Since she's a princess, I couldn't even curse at her."
"...."
Lellia heard that and thought deeply.
'Why on earth did Uriana ask Calyx for a walk?'
She couldn't understand the reason at all.
The reason Lellia asked Calyx this question was entirely because of the sub-quest.
She had to help Route's love confession somehow.
Lellia sighed deeply.
'There's not much time.'
It seemed better to find Route first after dinner.
However, that wasn't necessary. After dinner, Route came to Lellia's quarters first.
"Sorry for coming suddenly. But I couldn't help it."
Route's face was slightly flushed.
'Yesterday, when I last saw him, he was glaring at me like he wanted to kill me.'
Now he was dealing with a smiling face again.
Lellia felt indifferent but forced a smile. A smile for the sake of the quest.
The two decided to talk while walking briefly around Lellia's quarters. After walking a bit, a small walking path appeared beyond the corridor.
They sat on a bench in front of a small fountain. Route, who had been beating around the bush, got straight to the point as soon as he sat down.
"I have a favor to ask."
"...Is it an extension of the favor you mentioned yesterday?"
"That's right."
It was rather fortunate that Route brought it up first. Lellia readily said she would help him.
"If there's anything I can do to help, I'll help with anything."
"Really? Now that I see it... you're quite a loyal person."
Route made a moved expression, then brushed his mouth with his hand as if excited.
"What's the favor?"
Lellia asked.
Was he going to ask her to listen to how he would confess?
"Actually, Princess Uriana came to me earlier today."
"Did she?"
"Yes. She suddenly asked me if I was close with you."
"...."
Somehow she felt uneasy.
"So... I'm sorry to say this, but I said we were close."
"Do you believe that? We met for the first time yesterday...."
"Ah, yes. We met for the first time yesterday, but I said we got along well and shared a deep friendship... that's what I said."
"...."
Lellia looked at Route with a strange expression.
What a funny guy...
Well, she understood. Route was completely head over heels for Uriana, so he was a character who lost his reason in other aspects.
Perhaps sensing his own fault from Lellia's gaze, Route confessed something else.
"Actually, I said we were close enough to become sworn brothers. I'm sorry."
"...?"
"Oh, anyway. After hearing that, Princess Uriana said her handmaids were interested in you."
"Me?"
"Yes. As I said, among noble ladies these days, men of your type are popular."
"...."
Ah, so that's it.
Lellia nodded, recalling the painting she had seen with Romeo earlier today.
Her heart was anxious. What should she do?
Romeo had said not to worry since there was no way she'd be discovered, but Lellia felt differently.
Her heart pounded loudly.
"So I said I would bring you along to Princess Uriana's tea party. This is my request."
"...."
To go to a tea party together?
Lellia furrowed her brow. Princess Uriana's tea party... a tea party that would surely have all those handmaids from yesterday.
'What if I get caught?'
Lellia bit her lip anxiously. Route waited for Lellia's answer with an anxious face.
"When is the tea party?"
"In two days."
"...I understand."
"Really?!"
At Lellia's consent, Route was overjoyed, standing up and pacing back and forth in front of her.
Then he said to Lellia.
"As I told Princess Uriana, I really want to become close friends with you like sworn brothers. There's no one in this world as loyal a man as you."
"...."
Lellia forced a smile looking at Route chattering excitedly.
'It can't be helped.'
Only by helping Route's love confession could she obtain the holy artifact and the system.
'Only then can I heal Calyx and confess the truth to my friends.'
Lellia explained to herself the reason why she absolutely had to do this and convinced herself. Otherwise, words of refusal might come out of her mouth right now.
'Sworn brothers.'
She had no intention of becoming friends, let alone sworn brothers, with Route who had dared to use the word 'cripple' for her friend.
Originally, she was a woman, so becoming brothers was impossible anyway.
Route might be the male protagonist of the original work, but being a protagonist didn't mean he was virtuous in every way from one to a hundred.
To Lellia, Route already felt like a villain.
'Just wait until all the quests are over.'
Then, Route suddenly became serious and asked.
"Before that, I have something to ask you man to man."
"...What is it?"
At those words, Lellia became tense. The phrase 'man to man' pricked her conscience greatly.
"You don't actually like Princess Uriana, right?"
"...."
"Because Princess Uriana is beautiful and charming to anyone who sees her. I don't want to see you as a rival."
Lellia sighed deeply.
"You don't need to worry about that."
At those words, Route's expression brightened again.
After Route left, Lellia hurriedly went to find Romeo and Calyx.
To ask if they could come with her to Uriana's tea party in two days.
But Romeo laughed, holding his stomach, saying "Go to a tea party?"
"Why don't you go and enjoy a day as a 'popular man'?"
He teased her with such words. This fact seemed hilarious to Romeo. The suggestion to come along was naturally refused.
There was no need to even mention Calyx.
"Um, hyung. Could you perhaps come with me to the tea party in two days...?"
"Tea what?"
"Tea party."
"What's that?"
"It's where Princess Uriana invites guests and serves tea... young nobles from high society..."
"Get out."
Calyx waved his hand dismissively without even listening to the full explanation. As soon as the words 'Princess Uriana' came out, his face scrunched up.
When Lellia didn't leave and hesitated, Calyx looked around to see if there was anything to throw.
Lellia returned to her quarters like she was fleeing, afraid a pillow might come flying.