From the beginning, if I were to go directly to where I hid the items, suspicions would naturally turn back toward me. I suggested starting by searching the areas near my room.
"If someone wanted to frame me, they might have hidden it in or near my room."
Even though the conclusion was easily reached by just thinking a bit, Khan looked at me with a slightly displeased expression, perhaps thinking my words were based on experience. Without needing to correct that misconception, I continued.
"So, it would be best to start looking around this area."
"Fine. Let's do that."
Khan nodded and entered the room next to mine, this room was three times the size of my own. As I admired the large bed, sofa, sturdy and luxurious desk, and various decorations, Khan sarcastically remarked.
"This is a guest room. You're a prisoner. The room is still the same. At least for a week."
"...Who said anything."
Khan glared at me and began searching the guest room. As he unhesitatingly bent down to inspect under the bed, I felt a slight sense of guilt. The place where I hid those items wasn't under the bed or beneath the wooden floor.
I walked near the large desk by the window and pretended to rummage through the drawers. However, my gaze was fixed on the thick branch outside the window. Yesterday, in the early morning, as I contemplated the money pouch, the tree outside caught my eye. Bathed in moonlight, its thick branches seemed like a suitable hiding place. Just in case, I gathered other items along with the money pouch and silently went outside, climbing the tree.
Although it was difficult with my weak muscles, the thought that Khan might mistake me for a thief and kill me, gave me the strength I needed.
That's how I ended up hiding the money pouch and other items inside a hole in the tree trunk outside. It was challenging to see from afar as I had to climb the tree, and the hole was on the opposite side of the Duke's castle. I had to climb the tree myself to make the hole visible.
How happy I was when I found that hole yesterday. I confidently stowed away the money and other items, thinking that no one would be able to find them, and returned to my room after almost two hours. Now, the problem I faced was how to subtly encourage Khan to climb the tree himself.
"Nothing under the bed."
Khan stood up from the floor just as he spoke. I hastily opened and closed drawers noisily, then turned around to look at Khan.
"Nothing here either."
Afterward, we meticulously searched every room on the third floor. Naturally, nothing came up, and my energy, already in poor condition, quickly depleted. As my movements noticeably slowed and my expression darkened, Khan sighed.
"This is why I despise southern nobles."
Saying that, he grabbed my collar.
"Let's eat first."
He lifted me effortlessly and led me to the dining room on the first floor. I insisted I could walk, but he paid no heed.
Khan kicked open the dining room door and boomed, "Food!"
There are food beggars in every world.
However, the servants quickly prepared a meal as if accustomed to Khan's behavior. Seating me on the opposite side, Khan sat askew and scrutinized me.
"Why... Why?"
"You have an illness?"
Probably not. According to the game setting, Del Narcisse was very healthy. Just a bit weak in terms of stamina, fitting for a noble.
"I'm healthy."
"But why is your face so pale?"
"I've been wandering around the third floor for a few hours."
"And that's enough to make you like this?"
Southern nobles are really trash, Khan mumbled.
Can you please insert a subject at the front? Can you say 'stamina' is trash?
I glanced at Khan. As he laughed, slapping the tabletop with his palm, I gave him a challenging look. I feared the dining furniture might shatter at any moment.
"Why on earth do you trust me so little?"
Khan asked with a laughter-infused voice. He was genuinely amused by me.
"Aren't you going to volunteer to find my belongings under the prisoner pretext? You never give me a glare when I say something... Really, you're quite an interesting person."
However, Khan's laughter abruptly stopped.
"Don't forget, now is your trial period. You have to prove to me that you're not trash."
I'm so fucking scared...
A sense of unease crept over me as memories of last night's strangling crossed my mind. I absentmindedly rubbed my neck, feeling the eeriness. I nodded, trying to think I shouldn't act up.
Soon, the maids brought out the food. Khan, twirling a spoon in the onion soup that was served as an appetizer, propped his chin on one hand and watched me closely. More precisely, his fingers marked on my neck, where I had been strangled.
"Eat."
Khan raised his chin in a gesture.
I cautiously lifted a spoonful. The steam rising from the soup was overpowering, and it tasted deliciously hot. As my tense body began to relax, I took a deep breath, and Khan chuckled.
"Your tongue is just like a cat's."
He said that and gestured to one of the maids standing by.
"Get the soup cooled down for him. It seems too hot."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Without asking for my opinion, the kitchen maid took my soup bowl away and started to blow on it gently to cool it down.
Well, I'm thankful, but isn't it a bit unhygienic?
As I exchanged uncertain glances with the maid and Khan, Khan burst into laughter like a mischievous child.
"Impressed? Even prisoners get treated like this."
Seems like that guy feels guilty after seeing the marks on my neck.
Suddenly, the system window appeared.
1. (Angrily) It's only natural for you to worship me fervently!
2. (Smiling) Oh, you like me, huh?
3. (Taking off clothes) Since I'm a prisoner, just punish me.
Facing another round of absurd choices, I rubbed my forehead. It felt like my surroundings were fading away. However, not choosing one immediately might lead Khan to come over and attack me, so I bit the bullet and chose option 2. Khan didn't appreciate people making advances on him, so it seemed like the best choice.
"Huh... So, you like me?"
Unexpectedly, a disheartened expression formed naturally. I was slightly surprised that such an expression and tone could come from me.
I wasn't the only one surprised. The maid, who had been diligently blowing on the soup beside me, had her eyes wide open, seemingly unsure about what I just said. Meanwhile, Khan, frozen in his previous posture, continued to stare at me with wide-open eyes.
[Khan Alexis's Favorability decreased by -2!]
It was indeed the right choice. I inwardly sighed with relief, pushing for the decrease in favorability.
"I'm really a sinful man."
After delivering a line full of narcissism, I snatched the soup bowl from the maid as if taking it away from a child and blew on it before eating. Khan looked at me in disbelief, his jaw dropped. Veins appeared on his fist, clutching the spoon. Waiting for the impending decrease in favorability notification, I nonchalantly chewed on the softened onions.
But then...
"Pff... Hahaha!"
A loud clatter. The spoon fell to the floor. Khan bent at the waist, clutching his stomach, bursting into laughter.
[Khan Alexis's Favorability increased by +5!]
"What?"
I also chuckled involuntarily.
"Hahaha! Why is your voice like that? Oh, is it really that funny?"
[Khan Alexis's Favorability increased by +3!]
[Khan Alexis's Favorability has reached 20 or higher, triggering the "Lucky Seducer" event!]
Huh? What event?
Suddenly, I felt a rush of blood to my face. I clenched my suddenly icy fingertips and looked at Khan with fearful eyes.
He laughed heartily, pounding the table with his fist. Then, he looked straight at me with an alluring smile.
"Hey, Del Narcissus. Do you know you're the most amusing prisoner I've ever had?"
I have no idea.
I quickly shook my head, and Khan flashed a refreshing smile as if he wanted his chosen victim to see the intensity of his grin. He stood up, spun around the table, and came to stand in front of me.
"How about finishing the meal in your room? I really want to go to Del's room now."
"But my mother instructed me to eat at the dining table."
"You've received good etiquette training. However, you're a prisoner now, and I'm the master of this icy prison. Whose orders do you think you should follow?"
With that, he effortlessly lifted my chin. My body rose as if lifted by an invisible force. Perhaps startled by my sudden rise, the maid standing beside me exclaimed, "Oh my!" and took a step back.
At that moment, I had a gut feeling. This must be the 'Lucky Seducer' event.
Sure enough, as the maid stumbled backward, she tripped over a chair and kicked my chair in the process. The chair struck the back of my knees, causing my knees to buckle, and my body toppled forward.
Startled, Khan released my chin, and I found myself...
"Ugh!"
Crashed face-first into Khan Alexis's groin.
[Due to the 'Lucky Seducer'' event, Khan Alexis's Favorability increased by +5!]
Damn it... I didn't need this kind of event...