When I raised my head and looked up, Khan, with flushed cheeks and ragged breath, was visible. The pervert bastard, who I thought would be pleased with this suddenly occurring bonus like-event, unexpectedly retreated, stumbling backward and quickly leaving the dining room.
Upon seeing the maid, who was now sprawled on the floor, I slowly got up. She looked at me with a puzzled expression. A very awkward atmosphere lingered in the dining room.
"Well... then, I'll be on my way."
I spoke slowly as I rose
Yes, I need to clean up here as well
the maid hurriedly got up from the floor.
"......"
"......"
We parted ways with awkward expressions.
My nose, which had collided with Khan's center during the event, felt a bit tingly. I rubbed the tip of my nose with my index finger and returned to the third-floor room. Originally, I should have continued searching for Khan and the items, but considering the current situation, going to Khan might lead straight to the bedchamber.
However, as soon as I opened my room door, a familiar face appeared. It was the maid with a face full of acne and twin tails.
"Oh, you're here? I was cleaning the room."
After greeting with a nod, she tried to leave hastily. Suddenly sensing something, I called her back.
"Hey, what's your name?"
"Huh? Me?"
I nodded, and she looked at me with a guarded expression.
"I'm Miriam. Why do you ask?"
"Miriam."
I walked across the small room, and when I stood in front of the window, Miriam was visibly startled. Opening the window wide, I reached out, gently touching the leaves swaying in the breeze. Miriam, with a vigilant look, spoke in a cold tone.
"It's Miriam. Is there anything else you want to say? If not, I'll be going."
"The first person to notice that the Duke's belongings were missing was Miriam, right?"
A sound of her taking a breath could be heard in response to my question. I hit the nail on the head.
I continued speaking, focusing on the vibrant leaves.
I said," You were the first noble to treat me with respect or thank me, so why...?"
I turned around and looked directly at Miriam.
"Are you trying to kill me, Miriam?"
Her large eyes trembled violently. Now that I looked closely, she had very beautiful green eyes. They were cleaner and more vivid than the leaves I had touched just now.
In this world, there are things that just exist. An old tree outside the window, tender leaves reaching out on its branches, a boy who has never been kissed, the feeling of instantly disliking a stranger—these things just exist in their places.
However, the desire to kill someone is different.
Such feelings don't bloom in an instant. They accumulate over time through various events.
Maybe I, Del Narcisse, didn't know who Miriam was. However, Miriam most likely knew who I was, and perhaps she was eagerly awaiting my arrival at this icy prison.
"K-kill you? Why would I? I don't even know who Narcissus is..."
"How did you know my name?"
Miriam had known my name from the beginning. She called me "Narcissus-nim." She was the one who wrongly directed me to the room at the east end of the second floor, claiming it was Khan's room. Since before secretly invading my room in the early morning, she had planned to trap me.
Miriam's face turned extremely pale. Her legs seemed to tremble involuntarily, and her forehead turned excessively red, making her look like someone bleeding from the head.
"I have already cleared myself from suspicion of the Duke. Now, the thief suspected by the Duke is you—the one who first discovered that something was missing."
This also implied that Miriam, without lifting a finger, expected that I would be caught by Khan.
"I know where the stolen items are. It's an easy task to plant them in your accommodation."
In reality, it was anything but easy. How could I find out where that maid's accommodation was, sneak around, retrieve the items, and secretly put them back? But now was the time for me to play the role of a "noble" who had such abilities, considering the game's historical context where nobles would be considered almost divine by commoners.
Miriam's trembling lips moved. Resentment and hatred dripped from her eyes.
"If you use honorifics and exchange polite greetings, what does it matter? As expected, you are a poisonous Daffodil!"
"...As expected, you know me after all."
"Devil! You dirty male prostitute! Pig bastard!"
After spewing curses at me as if she were about to vomit blood, Miriam pulled out a small dagger from her bosom.
"This is how it ends—just die!"
Miriam shouted as she rushed towards me.
However, I didn't move. I was slightly surprised, but I remained calm. Because...
"What's this about?"
Behind her, Khan had been standing all along. With just two steps, he put an end to the entire situation. He effortlessly took the knife from Miriam's hand and slammed her head onto the floor. A desperate scream erupted from Miriam's mouth.
"Del Narcisse, do you really know where my belongings are?"
Khan asked me while restraining Miriam. His gaze was so fierce that it felt like my body would be pierced if I stared at it for too long. I instinctively nodded.
"I-I don't know. I just said it. It seemed like I needed to set a trap."
"Aaargh! You devil!"
Miriam, lying on the ground, screamed and struggled. Although Khan held her down, she continued to vent her anger, scratching the floor with her nails.
"Judging by this sight, it seems you're not an innocent fellow falsely accused."
Khan pointed at Miriam with a nod. Then, as if waiting for it, Miriam spoke.
"Your Grace! Please listen to my unjust words! Don't be deceived by the devil's angelic face! This scoundrel is a villain who led my brother to his death!"
That was her story. Miriam's only faithful brother, fell in love with Del Narcisse when he came to work and fell in love at first sight. Despite chasing after Del for over two months, showering him with all his belongings, Del always threw his gifts into the mud and trampled on them. Treating her brother like a slave, Del demanded that he sacrifice all the family's money to him. Once her brother, infatuated with Del, offered all their household wealth, Del used the money as a bribe to the Imperial Guard and asked them to arrest Miriam's brother. Miriam's brother committed suicide in prison while missing Del Narcissus.
With tearful eyes, Miriam cried out.
"Please, release me from this injustice, Your Grace! Send this trash to the garbage village! Among the nobles living there, many have suffered similar fates as my brother! They will punish this noble!"
And as I listened to Miriam's words, I thought,
Del Narcissus is really worse trash than I had thought.
Upon careful consideration, a guy who had been stalking for over two months, probably took advantage of the absence of laws or sanctions against stalking in this era to take matters into his own hands. However, his methods were quite sinister and cruel.
Miriam's story about her deceased brother and the family roots being pulled out was pitiful. But, I couldn't just go to the garbage village for something I didn't do... Wait a moment.
Wasn't my goal to go to the garbage village?
My mind was spinning. I looked at Khan, who was listening to Miriam's story with an expression that revealed nothing about his thoughts.
Maybe I can just admit my guilt and go to the garbage village as planned?
Khan turned his gaze towards me. Surprisingly, he showed no sign of disappointment or blame. So, what I had to do here was to disappoint him and plant disapproval in his heart.
"This is the truth. Del Narcisse?"
"Your Grace."
I tried to make the most unfortunate expression I could.
"I honestly can't remember who this maid is talking about."
At my words, Miriam erupted like she would foam at the mouth. Despite Khan holding her head, she struggled intensely, seemingly trying to break free with tremendous force.
"Aaargh! I'll kill you! Del Narcisse!"
"Too noisy."
Then, Khan raised the edge of his hand and struck the back of Miriam's neck. Miriam, as if biting her tongue, made a popping sound and fainted.
Just like me, you're quite something...
"Killing people and claiming not to remember? This is truly... he's even worse than I thought," Khan said, narrowing his eyes.
[Khan Alexis's favorability has decreased by -5!]
I cautiously spoke, thinking that I should be careful not to let the favorability drop below zero.
"But... a lot of people seem to like me, even Your Grace likes me."
"Ha."
"I'm the Daffodil of the empire, I can't possibly take care of everyone who likes me, right?"
Good. Unlucky. What a beautiful trashy remark.
But then, Khan's expression changed strangely. At the same time, the system window popped up.
[Hidden Quest: 'Beautiful Three Tongues' automatically begins!]