Heir of the Winter Duke’s Family

§Alert State§

Affection: 290

Seeing the new words added to Klaus’s status window, I thought to myself.

Oh no, this is bad.

“So, the reason why Klaus’s affection drops every time he meets me is…”

“Because you’re too pretty.”

Anselot said, curling one corner of his mouth playfully.

“The princess is just too pretty.”

I blushed at his direct remark.

After returning to the palace, I was telling Anselot about what happened at the Duke of Winter’s mansion.

That included Klaus’s traits and views on romance.

Anselot spoke as if he already knew.

‘You discovered that too late, our princess.’

‘What? You knew?’

‘Figured it out a while ago. That guy is a pervert.’

Upon further inquiry, Anselot revealed he had seen Klaus’s detailed information window when they had encountered each other at the palace.

Even Anselot had raised his eyebrows when I mentioned my name being listed as Klaus’s ideal type.

‘My name as his ideal type?’

‘Yes. Why?’

‘When I saw it, it wasn’t that specific.’

‘Then, that means…?’

‘Picky bastard. He must have had all sorts of fantasies in the meantime.’

Anselot muttered sharply about Klaus.

Well, I wasn’t the only one who could see the status windows.

‘But still, to look someone straight in the face and call them pretty is a bit… a bit embarrassing, isn’t it?’

I coughed a few times to change the subject.

“But it’s strange, isn’t it? If I’m his ideal type, why does his affection drop every time he sees me?”

I worried if my outburst seemed too much, but fortunately, Anselot continued explaining without any particular comment.

“His trait was asceticism, right? Probably, he has low basic affection towards all women, not just you.”

“Right. His affection was negative even before we became acquainted.”

“But meeting someone who perfectly fits his ideal type conflicts with his trait, causing his affection to drop and making him more wary of you.”

“So, his low affection is because…”
“But now that he has met someone who perfectly matches his ideal type, his trait conflicts with it, causing his affection to drop and making him more wary of you.”

“So, the reason his affection is low is…”

“It’s because he fears he might start liking you, so his instincts prematurely drop his affection.”

“Does that even make sense?”

“It’s the trap of the affection meter.”

Anselot replied nonchalantly.

“Human emotions aren’t simple enough to be represented merely by a number. They are far more complex.”

“Ah, it’s complicated…”

My head became even more muddled as I listened to the explanation.

I gently stroked Piya’s belly with two fingers as it slept on my lap, lost in thought.

The wound on Piya’s wing joint hadn’t healed yet due to insufficient rest.

After realizing that Piya could only rest in its original form, I had insisted on maintaining it and forced it to rest.

Even Piya, who claimed that a good messenger should be wide awake day and night beside the player, fell asleep soundly once it lay down.

Anyway, the conclusion of the conversation with Anselot meant that, like Hezen, it was impossible to win affection.

Especially since I am a woman.

And since Klaus’s ideal type, with his ascetic trait, just happens to be Louibel Ajester.

If it had been Hezen, this quest would have been completed very easily.

‘A quest that’s hard mode only for me.’

I sighed deeply and glared at Anselot with narrowed eyes.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Klaus’s trait when you knew everything?”

“Just didn’t feel like sharing.”

His mischievously evasive answer frustrated me.

“If you had told me, I wouldn’t have planned to raise Klaus’s affection from the start!”

“I felt uncomfortable about it. How dare he make the princess his ideal type.”

Anselot mumbled with a skewed smile still on his lips.

“Huh?”

I blinked, not understanding his reasoning.

“Why is that uncomfortable?”

Anselot didn’t respond any further.

“Anyway, you really have a strange personality.”

I grumbled audibly.

But now there’s a big problem.

Not only has the affection dropped, but I have also reached a state of being on alert.

“Can’t you help somehow?”

I asked Anselot.

“You said you’d help me defeat the Light Dragon. At this rate, I won’t even be able to leave the empire.”

Anselot seriously pondered and then replied.

“I’m good at killing… Maybe if he dies and comes back to life, his trait might change?”

“No, just don’t help.”

I shook my head sternly at his suggestion.

I had momentarily forgotten he was Salto.

‘If Klaus dies, it would mean quest failure.’

All this because of that strange trait, asceticism or whatever it is.

That he dislikes me so much for such a nonsensical reason of being his ideal type.

“Klaus Winter… a strange man who looks fine on the outside but is weird on the inside.”

I murmured with a deep sigh when suddenly, a slightly sharp voice cut in.

“He’s handsome, you say?”

Anselot’s mouth corner was lifted more crookedly.

He seemed to be smiling, but why does he look upset?