Hezen had the same look in his eyes as when he was in front of me, as if he loved the other person to death, with a smile that seemed painted on his face.
I stared at Hezen and the woman with a shocked face.
【Commander of the Imperial Knights】 Lv.10 Hezen Einsan
I noticed the blue window above Hezen’s head, which was slightly different from others, and the woman’s affection level window.
‘Why does Hezen’s window have a level (Lv) on it? And who is that woman?’
Saint of the Kingdom of Taal ⌈Clara⌋
Affection: 537
The woman’s affection level wasn’t directed at me.
That made sense, since unlike the ladies I saw at the tea party earlier, this woman was someone I was seeing for the first time. Of course, as a princess of Azester, she might have known me, but…
⟪Please soothe the upset heart of ⌈Clara⌋⸜(♡’ᗜ’♡)⸝
1. Give her a kiss.
2. Give her a hug.
3. Take her to the bedroom.⟫
Seeing the options appear once again, I had a sudden realization like a bolt of lightning.
‘Oh my god. Could it be that I’ve possessed…!’
The novel ⌈Chronicles of the Hero of Light⌋ was a masterpiece that defined a generation.
And the virtual reality game ⌈Chronicles of the Hero of Light: The Four Heroes⌋ was adapted from the original novel.
This game, also known as ⌈HeroLight⌋ to distinguish it from the original ⌈Chronicles⌋, received intense criticism from fans of the original. As you might have guessed, the ‘HeroLight’ in ⌈HeroLight⌋ stood for ‘failed game.’
The reason was this damned game’s ⟪Affection System⟫.
In this highly free game, players could build affection with female characters.
The term ⟪Target⟫ was even used, just like in a dating simulation game, and various tips were shared in the community.
The righteous heroes of light became playboys, targeting various women due to the game’s elements!
Already, fans were displeased because the original heroine, ‘Maria the Saint of Light,’ was excluded from the four heroes and relegated to being an assistant to the male heroes. With the added destruction of the original story due to the affection system, the game faced a barrage of criticism.
So, I didn’t possess the ⌈Chronicles of the Hero of Light⌋ I liked, but rather that damned failed game!
And not as a player, but as one of the targets!
“Oh dear, Clara. My lovely little bird. Why are you making such a sad face?”
Hezen whispered to Clara in a sickly sweet voice, lightly touching her cheek.
“The engagement with that woman was inevitable because of the relationship with the Azester royal family. But you know that the only person I love is you. You know whose heart I belong to…”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Hezen’s hand slid down the woman’s face. At that moment, the letters in the system window disappeared, leaving only one option sparkling.
⟪SYSTEM⟫ You have chosen ‘3. Take her to the bedroom’…
That was when it happened.
Thud!
With a loud noise, my fist struck Hezen’s filthy mouth. Simultaneously, the choice window sparkling above Hezen’s head shattered.
“Uh… Lulu?”
Hezen, holding his bruised mouth with one hand, looked at me in shock.
⟪SYSTEM⟫ Emergency!
⟪SYSTEM⟫ Emergency!
The system window blared loudly.
⟪SYSTEM⟫ Your fiancée ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋ has discovered your relationship with ⌈Clara⌋!
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger is rising.
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger: 341/999
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger: 508/999
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger is rising to abnormal levels.
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger: 692/999
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger: 814/999
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger: 999/999
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger has reached its maximum.
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s power is temporarily surging.
Strange things like Luibelle Azester’s anger and power appeared in the system window with cute sound effects. Could it be that other stats besides affection could be checked?
I was curious, but at that moment, my overwhelming anger took precedence over my curiosity.
“Hezen.”
A chilling voice, as if I might kill the other person at any moment, slipped from my lips.
“Hic!”
The sound of someone swallowing in surprise came from Clara, the Saint of Taal, who was standing next to him.
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Clara⌋ is feeling fear from this situation.
I glanced at Clara. Meeting my eyes, Clara trembled and took a step back.
Saint of the Kingdom of Taal ⌈Clara⌋
Fear State!
Affection: 537
There was an additional line of text above her head.
⟪Big trouble! ⌈Clara⌋ is in a state of fear. If you don’t soothe ⌈Clara⌋, you will receive a penalty.⟫
⟪Big trouble! Your fiancée ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋ is very angry after witnessing your affection with ⌈Clara⌋. If you don’t avoid ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger, you will receive a severe penalty.⟫
Two choices immediately appeared in front of him.
⟪1. Soothe ⌈Clara⌋’s fear.
2. Soothe ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger.⟫
That cowardly jerk saw the words ‘penalty’ and ‘severe penalty’ and chose option 2 without hesitation.
“Oh, it’s a misunderstanding, Lulu. This is…”
Hezen began to cling to me, not even glancing at Clara.
“I don’t know her! She suddenly came to me…! You know, right? It’s always been you for me. Lulu, please don’t doubt my feelings.”
Hezen blinked his pitiful eyes with that handsome face I liked. But I knew that every word from his mouth was just to soothe my anger. Thanks to that, my anger surged even more.
⟪SYSTEM⟫ Failed to soothe ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger.
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger is intensifying.
⟪SYSTEM⟫ ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋’s anger: @%#$^%
⟪SYSTEM⟫ System error! System error! ⌈Luibelle⌋’s anger is unmeasurable! Run away quickly!
* * *
The system window blared loudly with warnings.
But Hezen wasn’t the only one who saw the warning to run away.
I grabbed Hezen, who was trying to flee. Then, without hesitation, I kneed him in his precious area.
* * *
Three days had passed since I learned the secret of this world.
When I slowly lifted my head, I could still see the system window sparkling above me.
3rd Princess of the Azester Empire ⌈Luibelle⌋
Unlike others, it was sparkling in pink. I sighed deeply with a melancholic face. Even though the affection was due to the game system, the feelings I had for him weren’t false. I definitely felt my heart flutter and was happy when he confessed to me.
I secretly smiled, imagining a future with him. To me, everything was reality.
But to him, it was all just a ‘game.’
To him, I was not ‘Luibelle’ but the target ⌈Luibelle Azester⌋.
Along with my melancholic feelings, I was also angry at that guy who used the character ‘Hezen’ I liked for building his harem.
“Princess, why do you look so down? Did something happen with Hezen?”
At that moment, a voice full of concern for me came from beside me.
“Did Hezen do something wrong? Even if he did, please forgive him just this once. I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding.”
Lady-in-waiting of the 3rd Princess Palace ⌈Seira⌋
Affection: 999
The moment I saw Seira’s affection level sparkling above her head, my heart turned cold again, because that affection wasn’t directed at me but at Hezen, that damned player.
Seira was my most cherished lady-in-waiting.
‘That crazy guy targeted Seira too.’
It wasn’t just Seira.
Elizabeth, Sylvia, and all the ladies who were at the tea party that day had affection levels sparkling above their heads directed at Hezen.
That damned ⟪Player⟫ in Hezen’s shell had targeted every woman in a skirt, regardless of age or status, like a mad stallion!
I thought their affection was directed at me.
‘I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I didn’t know you were waiting to see me…’
‘…Poor Sylvia. Sylvia needs to learn how to express her feelings honestly.’
I suddenly remembered the words I said to Elizabeth and Sylvia, misunderstanding their affection levels.
No wonder they looked noticeably flustered!
‘Ugh! So annoying! Embarrassing! Humiliating!’
Unable to hold back, I stomped my feet on the bed.
“P-Princess?”
Seira called me in a flustered voice.
“Damn it!”
I shouted and jumped up. Startled, Seira shouted, “S-Sorry!” and ran out.
Left alone, I was seething with anger. Punching his mouth and knocking out a few teeth wasn’t enough to relieve my anger.
I should have crushed that damned guy’s balls like corn, but unfortunately, he quickly used a ⟪Skill⟫ to escape.
Thinking of the sparkling effect when he used the skill reminded me again that this place was inside a game.
‘But if this really is inside a game and that guy is the player of this damned game.’
The question that had been on my mind for the past three days popped up again.
‘Why can I see the system window that should only be visible to the player?’
I recalled the moment when I first started seeing the system window.
‘It was definitely after I bumped into that man and picked up the pendant…’
Since picking up the pendant necklace of a stranger, I could see the letters above people’s heads.
‘Is it because of this?’
I took out the pendant from my pocket, and the cold metal chain flowed down.
‘This must be related to seeing the system window.’
I decided to wear the pendant necklace around my neck and not take it off for a while.
“Think of it as borrowing it until I find its owner.”
There were too many suspicious things. The necklace, the fact that I could see those things…
3rd Princess of the Azester Empire ⌈Luibelle⌋
“And why is mine the only one in pink?”
As I stared at the unpleasant pink window, more information about me appeared with a click-like effect.
3rd Princess of the Azester Empire ⌈Luibelle⌋
Attribute: Lover, Terminal (Remaining lifespan: 13 days 11 hours 47 minutes)
“Uh…?”
My eyes widened as I slowly read the letters.
“Terminal…?”
My mouth dropped open as I saw my remaining lifespan decreasing by the minute.
