Chapter 27
So… to be exact, what I found was a crumpled pile of paper trash.
Why did I think trash was a clue? Because the area around that trash was strangely glowing.
In the game, quest items or clues always glowed faintly, so it didn’t feel out of place.
But seriously, the clue is just trash?
There was no special mark or anything — how could this help?
When I picked up the trash, the system window popped up.
[SYSTEM] Acquired ‘Crumpled Paper Wrapper.’
· Crumpled Paper Wrapper
Looks like ordinary trash.
…Is this really it?
No, maybe if I take it to the knight, something will come of it.
Glancing around nervously, I carefully tucked the trash into my arms.
Then…
[SYSTEM] You contributed to the palace’s environmental sanitation by picking up trash.
‘James the Palace Cleaner’ is watching you.
“…What.”
Now all sorts of things are being announced as system messages…
I had expected some important notification but felt a bit deflated, so I quickly left.
Checking the map, luckily the next destination wasn’t far.
Let’s move.
Feeling vaguely uneasy about being “watched,” I hurried along.
Already my third dead end.
I sighed deeply, grumbling.
“Another trash again?”
There are four ways to enter the banquet hall where the palace ball is held.
First, the central entrance on the first floor.
Second, the royal family’s exclusive entrance, unlocked only in the game.
Third, the balcony entrance on the second floor.
Fourth, the lobby entrance leading to the garden.
Among these, the least used entrance was the second-floor balcony entrance, which I had searched first, so I had followed the clues there without major obstacles.
The problem was, all three clues on the second floor were…
‘Crumpled paper wrapper, an unknown leaf, and a banquet glove dusted with white powder…’
What kind of nonsense was this?
I had no idea why a glove would be lying in the hallway of the banquet hall, but these were the glowing clues.
On top of that, the system mocked me by showing absurd guidance messages every time I picked up trash.
[SYSTEM] You contributed to the palace’s environmental sanitation by picking up trash.
‘James the Palace Cleaner’ burns with fierce competitive desire toward you.
This was really bothering me…
At first, I ignored it, but the repeated notifications every time I picked up trash made it impossible not to notice.
I’m aware of James the cleaner, and he sees me as a rival…
It was confusing. Sigh.
Besides, I didn’t know exactly where he was watching me from, but I even felt a tingling sensation on my cheek as if being stared at.
By this point, my motivation to run around for the double-price mana crystals was slowly dying.
In truth, it was exhausting. Even though I only picked up trash in three places, the palace was huge, and after dodging knights popping out everywhere, several hours had already passed.
I’ll search a bit more and then call it a day…
Though one-sided, the promised meeting time with the Suspicious Knight was gradually approaching.
I quickly checked the map; this time, the distance was a bit longer.
<Central Palace, West Wing, Lounge for Palace Servants>
Until now, I had been moving on the same floor, so the journey felt short. But this time, it actually was quite a distance.
Still, I had to go.
Ugh, I’m tired.
Looking back, I had tried to avoid knights by wandering around the palace, then changed plans to enter the sewer dungeon.
Not to mention the tense power struggle with the Suspicious Knight, followed by hours of environmental cleanup…
Why is this day so long?
This wasn’t part of my plan. Sigh.
As I descended the stairs, lamenting my pitiful situation, I found myself near the lounge reserved for palace servants on the lobby floor.
So naturally, except for nobles going out to the garden, most people nearby were dressed in the palace servant uniform.
It made me a little self-conscious, but maybe blending in wouldn’t be so bad?
As I quietly moved forward, suddenly someone blocked my way.
“This area is for palace servants only, my lady. Are you lost?”
A maid appeared with a polite smile.
Uh, what do I do?
I realized I was overly nervous simply because I was unfamiliar with the social route.
On the user forums, there were many posts about helping lost foreign envoys and receiving quests as a result.
So maybe the maid saw me as a lost lamb wandering the vast palace?
She’s not asking suspiciously, right?
I quickly thought it through.
But even if I was lost, a noble lady wandering into the royal exclusive servant lounge might look suspicious.
“Eek!”
At that moment, I noticed a knight turning the corner nearby, and I shrank instinctively.
“My lady, what’s wrong?”
“Uh, um, well…”
I stammered because I felt so awkward, and the maid took a step closer, probably because I looked suspicious.
“May I ask which family you belong to? I will guide you.”
“Ah…”
What now?
I promised Paula I wouldn’t sneak into the palace without permission; that was between us and no one else.
But if Paula heard about this, it would be troublesome.
I wanted to handle this quietly and avoid revealing my identity.
“My lady?”
I hesitated, and the maid became genuinely suspicious and took another step forward.
After a long moment of thought, I blurted out…
“Why should I tell you?”
That was a very rude answer.
Sometimes, when I was so focused on quests or immersed in the situation, I forgot that this game was a villainess-raising simulation.
But this was a real character game where the more villainous I acted, the easier things became.
“…Excuse me? No, I was just asking to guide you smoothly.”
“Why should I tell you?”
My bold question made the maid look down in embarrassment.
“No, it’s not that. It’s just…”
“If that’s not it, maybe you should just do your job.”
I smiled kindly, intending to let it go peacefully, when the system window suddenly popped up as if waiting for this moment.
[SYSTEM] Your smile appears as a ‘Demon’s Smile’ to ‘Alisa the Palace Maid.’
Title effect activated! Opponents feel a chilling fear!
“Oh my!”
The maid jumped back in surprise and screamed.
…I didn’t expect this effect.
“Of course, my lady, but still, I…”
The maid, clearly both afraid and suspicious, wouldn’t back down easily.
Just as I wondered if things were escalating, a deep voice sounded behind the maid’s shoulder.
“Alisa. Let her pass. I will attend to her.”
“Huh?”
The maid’s expression changed oddly.
I was also puzzled. Who would suddenly serve me?
“Ah, Mr. James?!”
Huh? James?
The same James who had been nagging me incessantly with messages? The palace cleaner?!
I turned my head slightly and saw a short, balding old man.
He wore the usual servant’s uniform, but held a dustpan and broom, so it really was that palace cleaner.
“James will guide you? But this lady…”
“Yes, this lady…”
Suddenly James raised his voice passionately.
“Although of noble birth, she diligently cares for the palace’s cleanliness and works hard!”
