episode_0006

[Episode 6] – The Greatness of Affection Points Gifts

“…Ainsel, do you want to escape with me?”

I felt an overwhelming urge to escape from this castle immediately, but the truth was, it wasn’t easy to flee with this body. Even going outside the castle walls was impossible without an escort.

In reality, I was under constant surveillance whenever I stepped out of my room. Since I had been possessed by this body, I hadn’t truly been alone outside my chambers.

Whenever I attempted a brief stroll, the maids would follow, and even when I tried to admire the garden for a moment, they trailed behind, so I had long since given up. Normally, queens would have plenty to attend to… but somehow, I seemed entirely absent.

“Where do you plan to escape to? And if you try to escape from here, I cannot assist you. Have you forgotten? You said you had matters to attend to in the palace.”

Come to think of it, I did say that.

“Anyway, even after that’s done, I intend to leave for elsewhere. Even if you leave the palace, I won’t help you.”

“Wow… you’re really cold-hearted.”

“What can I do? You didn’t even ‘contract’ with me.”

“Contract?”

“A servant’s contract. After Vivian’s death, our contract was terminated. In reality, my helping you here is more of a ‘side task’ related to my personal affairs.”

“So, about a contract with me—”

“Fix your face first, then we’ll talk.”

Ainsel promptly refused, casting a look of genuine disdain upon me. So now what? In reality, my escape route was completely blocked. While I had some knowledge of this world from the game, the reality was entirely different.

“Well then… what if I help you with that matter? Can you assist me a little more?”

“…I’m sorry. To be honest, I have no idea when my task will end. Also, I don’t even understand what ‘issue’ caused all of this.”

“What on earth is the matter?”

– I can’t tell you yet. It’s all just speculation for now. But if you’re here, you’ll eventually find out what’s going on here.

I’m completely stuck.

Here, there was no way to escape without someone else’s help. I was a hopeless unemployed person in this place, and I had no confidence to persuade the elders of the council.

“Ha-ha.”

I didn’t even want to get married, but here I am, struggling not to get divorced. It’s ridiculous, and I found myself laughing involuntarily in this absurd situation.

‘…Even if I don’t have the confidence to persuade the elders of the council, I should at least do the minimum.’

I lay on the bed and glanced at the vanity table beside me. I didn’t know much about the items on it, but it seemed to be filled with luxury cosmetics or scattered jewelry.

“Indeed, a gift offensive is the best way to win favor.”

– Pardon?

“At least, even if I don’t gain an ally, I need to enhance Vivian’s reputation.”

Whether in reality or in games, giving expensive gifts was always the best way to increase favorability. People who wouldn’t be pleased to receive expensive gifts were probably the same everywhere.

“Well… shall I start with Ellie?”

*

Ellie was currently extremely flustered.

“I’m full, so share the rest with the other maids.”

“Pardon?”

“Do I have to say it twice?”

“Oh, no! Th-thank you, I’ll gladly eat it!”

In the Queen’s chamber, where it was usually fortunate just to avoid being scolded, let alone receiving high-class snacks that even nobles found hard to come by, Ellie found it difficult to accept this reality.

She stood blankly in front of the Queen’s chamber, staring at the cake on the plate. One, two, three. Exactly as many slices of cake as she had counted after bumping her head were neatly arranged on the plate by type.

“Is this a dream..?”

She pinched her cheek with one hand, and indeed, it hurt. If this wasn’t a dream but reality, could such a thing really happen? Ellie’s mouth curved into a wide smile.

As much as she wanted to eat it all herself, she feared the aftermath once her colleagues found out. There were five people, including herself, serving the Queen.

One bite at a time should be fine, thought Ellie as she eagerly dashed towards her colleagues. Such joyous days are meant to be shared together!

They divided the cake and one day, two days, then a week passed.

It was only now that Ellie and her fellow maids could understand. The queen must have gone mad after coming back from the dead. Otherwise, such things couldn’t happen.

One day it was perfume.

“Now you must be tired of this scent. Why don’t you take it?”

Another day it was bath salts.

“I bought something else, why don’t you take it?”

And one day, even jewelry and accessories.

“The trend has passed, so I don’t need it anymore. Why don’t you take it?”

This wasn’t just an incident that happened to one person; it happened to all the maid colleagues. Now, they were fighting among themselves over who would take the queen’s hand-me-downs.

A week ago, this would have been unimaginable. With newfound leisure, the maid colleagues could experience spending money on themselves for the first time.

Ellie was no exception. Always having her wages seized by her family due to debts, she could finally afford to have a suit tailored for herself.

The clothes she had worn until now were always hand-me-downs from her older sister, but the satisfaction of buying new clothes with her own earned money was beyond words.

Now, she eagerly anticipated the day when she would serve the queen.

Human desires are cunning, so she couldn’t help but anticipate, “What gift will she give today?” However, now it was okay even if she didn’t receive anything. She wasn’t ordered to bow her head like before.

Finally feeling like a true “maid of the queen,” Ellie happily made her way to the queen’s chamber. After preparing warm water, she gently knocked on the door and entered.

Inside, she saw the queen still peacefully asleep. With a gentle smile, Ellie approached the queen and whispered softly, “Your Majesty, it’s time for your cough medicine.”

Vivian frowned as she woke up to Ellie’s voice, as if in a bad mood. Her tension dissipated quickly. “Good morning, Ellie.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” Well, at least now I won’t get scolded when waking the queen!

My favorability mission was a huge success. Now, the maids were not just following me, but practically fawning over me. Expensive gifts really do work wonders, don’t they?

Even in the game, there were plenty of favorability gifts. Giving specific gifts to certain NPCs would significantly raise favorability, while giving disliked gifts would lower it. Giving an NPC their desired gift would max out favorability… Anyway, such a system existed. For example, didn’t the bald Bangso get a wig from the princess? Probably.

Seeing the princess give a wig instead of hair tonic in this magical world must mean that baldness is an incurable disease here, like poor Bangso. Anyway, for the past week, I’ve been distributing gifts to the maids intensively. With the help of the merchant Bangso, I used my “maintaining dignity fund” to order items that the maids would like.

I distributed things like hand cream to keep their hands soft, perfumes with a nice scent, jewelry-adorned accessories, and things that could be sold for money as often as possible. By launching this gift offensive, the maids’ attitudes towards me could change drastically in a very short time. The only method I have right now is to shower them with money.

This should be called a major success. “Your Majesty, what are you thinking about?” “Hehe, it’s nothing much. Do I have any appointments today?” “No, not yet. Since the weather is nice, would you like to take a walk in the garden? The rose scent fills the air.”

Look at this. Ellie, who used to tremble at the sight of me, is now suggesting we go for a walk together. Unconsciously, I smiled and looked immediately beside me at Ainsel.

It seemed that Einsel wasn’t pleased with the change in the maids’ attitudes. Pouting slightly, she murmured as if grumbling.

“Why do I have to like those bat-like girls who change their attitudes as if flipping the back of their hands? Even if I get close to those maids, they’ll eventually betray me… Mutter, mutter, mutter. What is it that bothers me so much… I feel like they might really get fed up and run away from me.”

Deciding to express Einsel’s mood, I smiled brightly while looking at Eli, who had beautifully arranged my hair. Eli, upon seeing my smile, blushed and lowered her head shyly.

“As expected, you are the one I believe in as my ‘second.’ I really like it.”

“Second..? It’s a shame I’m not the first… Then, could you perhaps tell me who the Queen’s first is?”

“You wouldn’t even know the name if you heard it. There’s Einsel, the child I trust the most.”

Eli grinned as if she had never heard of it before, but the reflection of Einsel in the mirror perked up as if her mouth was shooting up to the sky.

Truly, such an easy mirror.

“Hmph! Even if you say that, nothing comes out, does it? Really! You speak lies every time you open your mouth! Hehehe!”

Saying so, Einsel even hummed a tune. It seemed to lighten Einsel’s mood. The weather was so nice, just as Eli said, I thought I should take a walk in the garden.

“I should go for a walk as you said, will you come with me?”

“Of course! I’ll get the parasol ready!”

While Eli went to get the parasol, I took the opportunity to take out an earring from the dressing table drawer and put it on my ear. An earring with a design that looked like a miniature version of Einsel’s full-length mirror.

“Alright! Shall we go for a walk together then!”

As I put on the mirror-shaped earring, Einsel’s voice immediately came through my ear. Looking into the mirror to check if the earring was properly placed, a small Einsel poked her head out from the small mirror within the earring.

When Vivian went outside, she always wore the earrings that acted as a mirror, allowing her to take Einsel out. The mirror earrings were heavy and hurt her ears, so she didn’t like wearing them, but…

Last time, when she said she wouldn’t wear the earrings because her ears hurt, Einsel cried, so she had no choice. It was so heartbreaking to see how much he cried, I felt really sorry for him.

“I brought an umbrella!”

“…Sure, let’s go.”

-Departure!!

Einsel seemed unusually excited about going out after a long time. Come to think of it, this was my first time going outside since coming here.

It was just a garden visible from the window… but somehow, my heart was fluttering. Holding the umbrella and looking at Ellie walking briskly beside me, I took a step outside the room.

…I had no idea what meeting awaited me after this.

Just with an excited heart.