[OnlyFinley donated 100 points!]

– Can’t let go of Finley

[OnlyFinley donated 100 points!]

– If you hold onto Finley, I’ll give 500 pointsㅔㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Please show moreㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

It was a desperate donation from a hardcore personal fan.

I wondered why they’d pour out points like that to see something. The heart of a fan is hard to understand.

Anyway, having received the donation, I had to fulfill the request. My priority was to build favor with the angels right now.

I stopped what I was about to say and brazenly addressed Finley.

“Finley, hang out with me a bit.”

“……?”

Finley immediately made a disgusted face.

“Did you eat something weird?”

“Hey.”

“Even after seeing Selena’s state, you want to play?”

[AsparagusChamp: Really LOL]

[SaltNPepperCat: Where’s your humanity?]

[OnlyFinley donated 500 points!]

OnlyFinley: Hey, you guys be quietㅡㅡ Well done, human!!!

[Gold2: This is funny LOL]

[PleaseShakeACarrot: Anais did that, not sisterㅠㅠ Don’t be too hard on her]

[Manager: Keep the line]

[NyamNyamoo: :3]

“Then send a hairdresser to Selena. Tell her I sent it.”

“…….”

“So, spend some time with me.”

Finley was flabbergasted, then let out a hollow laugh.

“…Alright, Father said he wanted to see you after the quarantine ends anyway.”

The quarantine period hadn’t ended yet, but since Anais had come out on her own, no one could stop her. Duke Erpeso and Finley, though they had half given up on Anais, always ended up yielding to her. That’s why Anais could brazenly bully Selena.

“Follow me. It’s time for dinner.”

Saying this, Finley led the way.

Dinner time, so we were heading to the dining room. Without hesitation, I followed Finley.

* * *

After arriving at the dining room with Finley, a man entered after a while.

Black hair and deep brown eyes like coffee. It was Duke Erpeso.

As soon as the Duke saw me, he immediately averted his gaze, only speaking after sitting down.

“It seems like a long time since I’ve seen you, Anais.”

“It is indeed a long time.”

I replied shamelessly. Finley was giving me a displeased look from the side.

It seemed like the meal was ready, but for some reason, it didn’t look like anyone else was going to join.

Looking around, I asked Duke Erpeso,

“What about Selena?”

“……?”

Both Finley and the Duke looked at me simultaneously.

Then, Finley asked in a puzzled tone,

“Why suddenly ask about Selena?”

“I asked because I didn’t see her.”

“Why so sudden?”

The Duke replied indifferently.

Perhaps because of Anais, Selena wasn’t dining with them.

“Invite Selena too. I’m curious to see how her hair turned out.”

Enough time had passed since I sent the hairdresser, so her hair should be neatly done by now.

Finley seemed reluctant, but he didn’t refuse. The Duke also didn’t seem to care whether Selena came or not.

Soon, a maid who was waiting nearby went to fetch Selena, and shortly after, Selena entered the dining hall with the maid.

“Good evening, Duke.”

Selena greeted him politely, slightly lifting the hem of her skirt. Duke Erpeso responded with a curt nod.

Selena’s hair seemed to be neatly trimmed now, unlike earlier. It was a short bob barely touching her shoulders.

Her beauty shone even with just her hair tidied up. She had an almost angelic aura, especially with her shy smile.

[LLoading: Wow, short hair suits her!!!]

[KongKongCorin=3: Selenaㅠㅠ]

Selena, appearing a bit awkward with her short hair, shyly smiled at me.

“Thank you, Lady. It’s all thanks to you that it’s been nicely done.”

The irony that it was Anais who messed up her hair in the first place and now she was grateful for fixing it, really showed how soft Selena’s character was.

“It was Finley who sent the hairdresser.”

At my words, Finley flinched.

“…Really, Finley?”

Selena’s green eyes sparkled. Finley’s face turned red immediately.

Finley turned his head quickly, avoiding Selena’s gaze.

“It was something Anais did, so I just tried to fix it.”

So clumsy. I looked at Finley with a bit of pity. No wonder he remained a secondary character.

With Anais being quiet, the atmosphere was unexpectedly pleasant.

‘After all, the Erpeso ducal family isn’t a villainous house.’

In the original work, except for Anais, they were depicted as kind people.

Duke Erpeso and Finley, they were sensible people. Their biggest fault was not being able to stop Anais’s misdeeds because they cared for her.

Meanwhile, Selena, who had every reason to be subdued by Anais, was quickly regaining her spirits and initiating conversations cheerfully. Her mental strength was impressive. Perhaps it was the protagonist’s buff.

Duke Erpeso and Finley seemed to enjoy Selena’s company, engaging in relaxed conversation. Indeed, without Anais speaking, it felt like a harmonious family.

I stared at Selena, lost in thought.

‘I need to see the male lead too.’

If things stayed this way, Selena would soon leave for the Grand Duchy. Since the main setting of the original work was the Grand Duchy, I needed to find a way to follow her to intertwine with the original characters.

“By the way, isn’t the day Selena leaves not far off?”

The warm atmosphere suddenly cooled down. It felt colder than if I had poured cold water over the room.

Breaking the pleasant mood might have been regrettable, but just continuing with peaceful conversation wasn’t enough right now. Especially since many people were watching this scene unfold.

Selena wore a bitter smile.

“…That’s true. Not much time left.”

“Did you really have to bring that up now, Sister?”

Finley responded irritably. Selena looked uneasy, glancing at Finley.

I spoke up, undeterred.

“I want to go with her.”

“……?”

All three of them stared at me blankly, as if they couldn’t believe what they just heard.

I continued brazenly,

“It’s worrying to send her off alone.”

“What are you thinking now?”

Menace flickered in Finley’s red eyes.

Ignoring Finley, I focused on Duke Erpeso.

“Anyway, I’m no longer the heir, so there’s no reason for me to stay in the ducal residence, right?”

Duke Erpeso sighed. It was a look of exasperation, yet he seemed accustomed to Anais’s eccentricities.

“Anais, it’s already decided to send Selena, and if you follow, it will stir rumors.”

“I could disguise myself as a maid and go.”

[asdf: wow]

[Isaac: How does she come up with these ideas?]

Suddenly, Finley stood up abruptly, kicking his chair back.

“Make sense, please! Are you planning to follow her there just to torment Selena?!”

[OnlyFinley: Finley’s getting angry♡]

[Gold2: It finally explodes LOL]

[NyamNyamoo: LOL]

“Ca, calm down, Finley.”

Selena hastily tried to soothe Finley.

At Selena’s words, Finley sighed and sat back down quietly.

“Lady, I appreciate your concern, but there’s no need to go to such lengths.”

Selena spoke timidly.

Clearly, Selena too wasn’t keen on the idea of me following her.

It made sense, considering how much I had tormented her.

Duke Erpeso and Finley continued their meal quietly, indicating there was no need to discuss this topic further.

As expected, my words were dismissed as nonsense.

* * *

After finishing dinner and returning to my room, I pondered seriously.

“What should I do? I can’t just stay cooped up in the ducal residence.”

[SaltNPepperCat: Yeah, it would be boring.]

[KongKongCorin=3: Heh;]

[OnlyFinley: I like it thoughㅠㅠ]

[Gold2: That’s because of Finley;]

[PleaseShakeACarrot: Don’t mind us, do what you want LOL]

The chat window’s reactions were divided. Some suggested staying put, others recommended leaving, and some were fine with whatever I chose.

And there were still people who hadn’t grasped the situation.

[Isaac: You’re going as a maid?]

[OnlyFinley: Idiot, she just got scolded for suggesting that LOL]

[Isaac: Go secretlyㄱㄱ]

[MadelineTastesGood: Oh]

[Gold2: What do you mean by ‘oh’ LOL]

“…….”

While reading through the chat, a tempting thought crossed my mind.

‘I could just go secretly, right?’

Originally, Anais was a character who acted recklessly without seeking permission. Why had I thought I needed to ask for permission in the first place?

“I should get there before Selena.”

It was a matter of concealing my identity. As long as I didn’t reveal that I was a noblewoman, I could secretly go there and pretend to be a maid, just as the angels suggested.

[PleaseShakeACarrot: Are you sure it’s okay? LOL]

[SaltNPepperCat: Why, it’ll be fun]

[Gold2: It’s a bit reckless]

[Isaac: It’s fine, fine, go go]

[asdf: Once you get there, you’ll figure something out]

Doing something was certainly better than just sitting around.

Even though I decided to go, there was still a lingering concern.

“The problem is how to get there…”

As I mumbled to myself, the chat window rapidly filled with responses.

[OnlyFinley: Isn’t there magic here?]

[asdf: Yeah]

[KongKongCorin=3: Magic scroll!]

[PleaseShakeACarrot: LOL, but is there a scroll with coordinates to the Heyward territory?]

[Gold2: True, nobody would want to go there]

Getting a magic scroll wouldn’t be difficult for a ducal family, but it was unlikely that a scroll with coordinates to the Heyward territory existed. No one would typically want to go to a region swarming with monsters.

[Gold2: Maybe ask the Manager for help?]

[Manager: What?]

[Gold2: Whoa, scared me, you’ve been watching the chat all this time?]

The Manager, who had been quiet, appeared suddenly. It seemed they were always monitoring, even if they remained silent.