“Ah, ugh…!”

Hezen, sprawled on the ground, covered his precious parts with both hands and let out a painful groan.

“Ugh… kugh…”

[SYSTEM] The attribute [Eunuch] has been added to Player.

[SYSTEM] Congratulations! You have gained 1200 experience points as an effect of the new attribute.

[SYSTEM] Experience points have exceeded the maximum. Levels are limited to 10 or below during the tutorial stage.

Having been unable to think straight due to the pain, he belatedly noticed the system window that appeared before his eyes and opened them wide in surprise.

[Seedless Watermelon] Lv.10 Hezen Ainsuhan

Attribute: Eunuch

Then he cried out in a voice of despair.

“Ah, no! I can’t be a eunuch! I can’t be a eunuch!”

I looked down at Hezen rolling on the ground in agony with an indifferent face.

Since this happened in the game, there would be no impact on the real-world player who was ‘playing’ Hezen. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t feel much guilt.

‘Besides, if I don’t break off the engagement like this, I’ll die for that damned bastard’s awakening.’

My death was just one of the game events for him.

But for me, it was reality.

If he wanted to maintain his relationship status with me, I had no choice but to push him away like this.

‘It would be even better if he failed to awaken, gave up on the scenario, or logged out and disappeared from my sight forever.’

[Oh my, poor Player! You’ve lost your reproductive ability ˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥‧º·˚)]

With a cheerful sound effect, a notification window appeared to console Hezen.

[It looks like you’re on the verge of failing your awakening too. Your eunuch route is not far off!!!! (＾0＾)っ✂✂✂]

‘Wait, is this consolation or mockery…?’

[But even if the sky falls, there’s always a way out!

Although you haven’t maintained a 30-day relationship with yet… as a special beginner’s benefit, we’ll unlock the awakening scenario for you in advance!

If you succeed in awakening, you can recover your lost reproductive ability as a privilege ♡⁺◟●˙▾˙●)◞⁺♡]

‘Wait, what…?’

My expression stiffened at the following notification window.

‘If I succeed in awakening, what happens?’

[This is a special second chance just for you, Player! I’ll send you the awakening scenario and additional quests, so make sure to succeed in awakening!!! ☆(･ω･*)ゞ]

It wasn’t just me who reacted to the notification’s message.

“Awakening…!”

Hezen, who had been in despair until then, suddenly raised his head and his eyes gleamed brightly.

A gaze dripping with killing intent was directed at me.

‘W-What?’

I unconsciously took a step back at his slightly different, somewhat unhinged appearance.

[SYSTEM] The conditions for have been met by maintaining the relationship status!

[SYSTEM] The tutorial scenario is now activated! (▶Preview scenario)

Along with the intense message, a dazzling video unfolded before my eyes. And the content of that video was, damn it all…

[Mysterious enemies are after you and your lover. You barely manage to escape from the mysterious enemies, but in the process, your lover loses their life.

As you grieve over your lover’s death, a bright light unfolds before you, awakening your sealed power and recovering your lost reproductive ability…!]

…It was the image of me dying in Hezen’s arms, coughing up blood.

‘W-What is this?’

[SYSTEM] ‘s remaining lifespan is being adjusted.

Shhh.

A deep fear enveloped my body.

The remaining lifespan above my head seemed to blur, and then new letters appeared. And the content of those letters was,

Third Imperial Princess of the Azester Empire

Attributes: Lover, Terminal (Remaining lifespan: Unknown)

‘Unknown’.

My fate, which was supposed to end in 6 days, had changed, but in other words, it meant I could die at any time without it being strange. After all, the terminal attribute remained.

‘Why…?’

I couldn’t understand.

I had clearly interfered to hinder that bastard’s play, and the engagement cancellation was nearing its goal.

It was flowing against my will, as if someone was controlling my life.

Who gave that bastard a beginner’s benefit on their own authority?

Who gave him a special second chance on their own authority?

[SYSTEM] Quest arrived!

Ding!

A system window appeared, notifying the arrival of a new quest.

[Main Quest: Death of a Lover]

Achieve awakening through the death of your beloved lover ! However, the lover’s death must occur in a place with many people. So that everyone can witness the birth of a new hero!

▷Clear condition: Death of lover, crowd of 100 or more people

▶Reward for success: Awakening

▶Penalty for failure: Bad Ending

[Side Quest: Stop the Engagement Cancellation! (2)]

Emperor is doubting your reproductive ability. Before the emperor’s doctor arrives to check your reproductive ability, raise ‘s affection to 500 or higher to make her retract her statement.

▶Reward for success: ‘s defense, Honor +500

▶Penalty for failure: Emperor’s wrath, Engagement cancellation

“Lulu…”

A moist, teary voice called out to me.

Hezen blinked his pure eyelashes.

“Don’t you smell something burning?”

“?”

Wondering what nonsense he was spouting, I looked at him, and he suddenly grasped my hand and brought it to his chest.

“My heart is burning. From the moment I saw you.”

“You son of a…”

With a shudder, I hastily shook off his hand.

What the hell is this bastard doing?

I looked at him with a horrified expression.

“Oh, this won’t do! I’ll report you to the Imperial Knights right away! For the crime of arson on my heart…!”

However, Hezen continued to spout nauseating words, regardless of my reaction.

My expression soured by the second.

Is he trying to seduce me now to raise my affection?

Even if he tries to use such vulgar lines with his charm having dropped so much, it won’t have any effect…

[SYSTEM] Using item .

[SYSTEM] Charm increased by +500. (Charm: 499)

[SYSTEM] Using item .

[SYSTEM] Charm increased by +500. (Charm: 999)

In an instant, his charm rose back to the maximum value.

‘Those damn cash items!’

[SYSTEM] Activating special skill . Please state the target.

“Luibel Azester.”

He recited my name while staring straight at the system window.

[SYSTEM] enters a charmed state.

[SYSTEM] ‘s affection will rise more easily.

Thump!

At that moment, my heart made a ‘thump’ sound against my will, and heat rushed to my face.

‘Huh…?’

I was dumbfounded and incredulous.

I immediately realized what state I was in.

[SYSTEM] ‘s affection increased by +100. (Affection: -899)

[SYSTEM] ‘s affection increased by +200. (Affection: -699)

[SYSTEM] ‘s affection increased by +140. (Affection: -559)

The madly ringing notification sounds and the corners of Hezen’s mouth curling up.

In that instant, anger surged.

“You, what are you doing…!”

I grabbed Hezen by the collar.

My anger was still at its peak, and naturally, my strength was also exponentially high.

But strangely, I couldn’t hit Hezen.

Far from hitting him, my heart pounded whenever our hands brushed against each other.

‘Damn it! This damn affection system!’

I could immediately realize.

That the cursed skill effect that had put me in a charmed state or whatever and the affection system were holding me back.

It was horrifying.

I felt a chill at the sensation of my body escaping my will.

“But, my lovely arsonist Lulu. If you become my partner at His Majesty’s birthday celebration, I’ll overlook the crime of setting fire to my heart. What do you say?”

No! Absolutely not!

His Majesty’s birthday celebration was where the most people’s gazes would gather. Hezen, that bastard, was finally trying to achieve his awakening through my death.

Moreover, becoming his partner meant providing an excuse to raise affection.

I had to refuse that damn proposal right away.

However, just as my body, beyond my will, was about to nod at his proposal.

Whoosh!

I felt my body being separated from Hezen with a strong force.

The notification window that had been ringing to the point of dizziness, saying that affection was rising, suddenly stopped, and a snow-white cloak fluttered before my eyes.

“Who the hell are you!”

Hezen’s voice was heard, bursting out in anger.

As I tilted my head back, silvery-white hair shining like the first snow under the soft moonlight came into view.

Even from just that back view, I could tell who it was.

‘I am Anselot, Your Highness.’

‘You said you’d stay by my side, so why do you keep avoiding me? Like a little mouse.’

It was that very Prince Salto Anselot who had been threatening me fiercely!

“Tch. Some insignificant bug trying to steal someone else’s cute little mouse.”

Salto clicked his tongue in annoyance as he looked at Hezen.

“What did you just mutter?”

Anselot, facing the bristling Hezen, said with a crooked sneer.

“Princess Luibel has promised to be my partner throughout this ball.”

Huh? I did? When…?

As I blinked at him, boasting about a promise I didn’t know about, he turned to me and smiled brightly.

“You promised, Your Highness. That you would allow me to serve you from the closest position while staying in the empire.”

“Ah…? Ah…!”

For a moment, I let out an exclamation with a dumb expression.

‘So it can be interpreted like that…?’

Thinking about it again, it made sense.

To serve from the ‘closest’ position, naturally, being my partner would also become his role.

“Is that true, Lulu?”

Hezen’s eyes wavered for a moment. He seemed a bit flustered.

“Yes.”

A clearer voice flowed from between my lips.

‘The system’s compulsion has been released.’

Because the promise with Anselot came first, Hezen’s partner request was naturally rejected.

At the moment I realized this, a feeling of relief or something indescribable washed over me.

“I’m sorry, Hezen. It seems I can’t accept your partner request.”

“That can’t be…!”

Hezen cried out in a voice of disbelief.

“When on earth…! Then the affection becoming negative, could it be because of that man…! Did you have an affair with that man behind my back?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? You’re the one who had an affair, aren’t you?”

As I was about to retort angrily at his shameless accusation, it happened.

[SYSTEM] Bug occurred!

[SYSTEM] Bug occurred!

Along with a noisy warning sound, a system notification window popped up.

‘Bug…?’

At the unfamiliar yet familiar word, I stopped arguing with Hezen and looked at the system window.

[SYSTEM] Adjusting system due to sudden bug!

[SYSTEM] Adjusting system due to sudden bug!

[SYSTEM] The bug…!

[SYSTEM] Removing the bu…!

However, the noisy notifications in the system window didn’t last long.

“Tch.”

Along with the sound of a cold tongue click.

“Caught again, huh.”

Because Anselot had shattered the system window.

“How annoying.”

He looked at me and Hezen with a crooked smile.