The Terminally-Ill Rejects the Approach (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 3

Hezen wore the same lovestruck gaze and painted smile he always showed right in front of me—eyes brimming as if he’d die for his beloved.

Stunned, I stared between Hezen and the woman.

【Imperial Palace Knight Captain】 Lv.10 Hezen Einsahn

Above Hezen’s head floated a blue panel slightly different from others’, along with a liking gauge for the woman.

‘Why does only Hezen have a level displayed? And who on earth is this woman?’

Saintess of Taal Kingdom

Affection: 537

The woman’s affection wasn’t directed toward me.

Naturally—unlike the noble ladies I’d seen at the tea party earlier, this woman was completely unfamiliar.

Of course, as Princess Azester, it was possible she recognized me… but still.

[Please soothe ’s upset heart ⸜(♡’ᗜ’♡)⸝

1. Give a peck.

2. Kiss.

3. Go to the bedroom.]

Seeing the options reappear with a cheerful chime, I suddenly had a lightning-bolt realization.

‘Good heavens. Could it be that I’ve transmigrated into…!’

The novel had been a masterpiece that defined its generation.

And there was the VR game adapted from it: .

To distinguish it from the original , fans called it —‘rubbish’ meaning ‘trash game’.

As you might guess, the ‘rubbish’ in referred precisely to that damned ‘Affection System’.

In this highly open-ended game, players could build affection with female characters.

The term ‘romance targets’ was even used, just like in dating sims, and communities overflowed with all kinds of wooing tips.

Because of this, the righteous Heroes of Light had been twisted into womanizing playboys chasing after every maiden!

Fans were already furious that the original heroine, ‘Saintess Maria of Light,’ had been excluded from the Four Heroes and reduced to merely supporting the male protagonists.

Then came this affection system, utterly desecrating the source material and drawing endless criticism toward the game.

So I hadn’t transmigrated into the I loved—but into that trash game I despised!

And worse, not even as a player, but as one of those damned ‘romance targets’!

“Oh dear, Clara. My sweet little bird. Why that sad face?”

Hezen whispered in that nauseatingly sweet tone, flicking Clara’s cheek lightly.

“My engagement to that woman was unavoidable—it’s just politics between the Azester Imperial House and me. But the only one I love is you. You know that, don’t you? Whose heart truly belongs to whom…”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes.”

Hezen’s fingertips trailed down along the woman’s jawline.

At that moment, the system window’s text vanished, leaving only one option twinkling brightly.

[SYSTEM] You have selected ‘3. Go to the bedroom’…

That was the instant.

Thwack!

With a loud crack, my fist slammed into Hezen’s filthy mouth.

Simultaneously, the shimmering choice above Hezen’s head shattered into pieces.

“Wha—? Urgh?! (Lu… Lulu?!)”

Clutching his struck jaw with one hand, Hezen gaped at me in shock.

[SYSTEM] Emergency situation! [SYSTEM] Emergency situation!

The system window blared alarmingly.

[SYSTEM] Your fiancée has discovered your relationship with ! [SYSTEM] ’s anger is rising. [SYSTEM] ’s anger: 341/999 [SYSTEM] ’s anger: 508/999 [SYSTEM] ’s anger is skyrocketing abnormally. [SYSTEM] ’s anger: 692/999[SYSTEM] ’s anger: 814/999 [SYSTEM] ’s anger: 999/999 [SYSTEM] ’s anger has reached maximum. [SYSTEM] ’s power temporarily surges.

Cute sound effects accompanied the ridiculous system messages about Louise Belle Azester’s anger and power.

Could other stats be visible too, not just affection?

Curiosity flickered—but overwhelming rage ruled me far more.

“Hezen.”

A chilling, murderous voice slipped through my lips.

“H-hic!”

The gasp of fright came from Clara, Saintess of Taal Kingdom, standing beside him.

[SYSTEM] feels terror at this situation.

I glanced sidelong at Clara.

Our eyes met, and she flinched backward with a shiver.

Saintess of Taal Kingdom

§Terrified§

Affection: 537

Another line had appeared above her head.

[Oh no! is terrified! If you don’t calm her down, you’ll receive a penalty.] [Oh no! Your fiancée , who witnessed your romantic escapade with , is extremely angry! If you fail to avoid ’s wrath, you’ll suffer a severe penalty.]

Immediately, two choices popped up before him.

[1. Calm ’s terror.

2. Appease ’s anger.]

That despicable wretch, seeing ‘penalty’ versus ‘severe penalty,’ instantly chose option 2.

“Oh! Oh, Lulu! This is just…”

Hezen didn’t even glance at Clara, scrambling toward me instead.

“It’s that strange woman! She suddenly lunged at me…! You know better than anyone—I’ve only ever had eyes for you, Lulu. Please, don’t doubt my heart.”

With that handsome face I once adored, Hezen blinked his eyes pitifully.

But I now knew every word spilling from his lips was merely an attempt to soothe my rage.

And that only stoked my fury further.

[SYSTEM] Failed to appease ’s anger. [SYSTEM] ’s anger intensifies further. [SYSTEM] ’s anger: @%#$^% [SYSTEM] System error! System error! ’s anger is immeasurable! Flee at once!

The system window shrieked urgent warnings.

But Hezen wasn’t the only one who saw the ‘flee’ warning.

I grabbed him just as he tried to run.

Without hesitation, I drove my knee straight into his most precious spot.

[This is the timeline separator]

Three days had passed since I learned the secret of this world.

I lifted my head slightly—and there it was again, the system window still shimmering above me.

Third Imperial Princess of Azester Empire

Unlike others, it sparkled in pink.

With a gloomy expression, I let out a heavy sigh.

Just because the affection stemmed from a game mechanic didn’t mean my feelings for him were false.

My heart had genuinely fluttered when he confessed; I’d truly been happy.

I’d even secretly smiled, imagining a future with him.

To me, it had all been real.

But to him, it was just a ‘game’.

To him, I wasn’t ‘Louise Belle’—just another ‘romance target’, .

Alongside my gloom, anger flared toward that bastard who’d turned my beloved ‘Hezen’ into a tool for building his harem.

“Your Highness, why so glum? Did something happen with Lord Hezen?”

Just then, a voice brimming with concern came from beside me.

“Did Lord Hezen do something wrong? Even if he did, please forgive him just this once. It must be a misunderstanding!”

Handmaiden of the Third Princess Palace

Affection: 999

Seeing Seira’s glowing affection gauge, my heart chilled again.

Because that affection wasn’t for me—but for Hezen, that damned player.

Seira was my most cherished handmaiden.

‘That madman even romanced Seira.’

And it wasn’t just her.

Elizabeth, Sylvia—and every young noblewoman present at that tea party—all had affection gauges glittering toward Hezen.

That cursed [Player], wearing Hezen’s skin, had charged at every skirted woman like a frenzied stallion, ignoring age and status alike!

And I’d been completely oblivious, thinking their affection was meant for me.

‘I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I didn’t realize you’d been waiting just to see me…’

‘…Poor Sylvia. Miss Sylvia must first learn how to express her feelings honestly.’

Suddenly, I recalled the things I’d said to Elizabeth and Sylvia, misreading their affection.

No wonder they’d looked so flustered!

“Aaargh! So annoying! So embarrassing! Humiliating!”

I couldn’t hold back, stomping my feet furiously on the bed.

“Y-your Highness?!”

Seira called out in a flustered voice.

“Damn it!”

I yelled, jerking upright.

Startled, Seira cried, “S-sorry!” and bolted out the door.

Left alone, I fumed silently, chewing over my rage.

A single punch to his mouth and a knee to his groin hadn’t been enough.

I should have scraped that bastard’s manhood clean off like husking corn—but unfortunately, he’d used a [Skill] and vanished too quickly.

Remembering the sparkling effect that appeared when he used his skill, I was reminded once more: this truly was a game world.

‘But if this really is a game, and he truly is that damned player…’

The question that had haunted me for four days resurfaced.

‘Why can I see the system window, which should only be visible to players?’

I thought back to when I’d first started seeing the system windows.

‘It definitely happened after I bumped into that man and picked up the pendant…’

Ever since I’d picked up that stranger’s pendant necklace, text had appeared above everyone’s heads.

‘So it really is because of this?’

I fished the pendant out of my pocket.

The cold metal chain slithered smoothly through my fingers.

‘This must be why I can see the system windows.’

I looped the pendant around my neck, deciding I wouldn’t remove it for now.

“I’ll just consider it a temporary loan until I find its owner.”

Too many things felt suspicious.

The necklace, the fact that I could see this… everything.

Third Imperial Princess of Azester Empire

“And why is mine pink of all colors?”

As I glared at the irritating pink window, another chime rang out.

Poro-rong!

With a mouse-click-like effect, new information about me appeared.

Third Imperial Princess of Azester Empire

Attribute: Lover, Terminally Ill (Remaining Lifespan: 13 days 11 hours 47 minutes)

“Huh…?”

My eyes widened as I slowly read the words.

“Terminally ill…?”

My jaw dropped as I noticed my remaining lifespan ticking down by the minute.