The inauguration ended 30 minutes later.

Next was the celebration at the palace.

Creak—Thud—

[Waaaaah…]

The massive cheers of 100,000 faded behind me.

My friends looked like they’d just completed a grand mission.

Before catching a breath, Ulrike slapped my back, shouting, “Hurry! Run!”

“…….”

“Haha, it’s soon. Makeup alone will eat up the time.”

Tsheringen laughed.

I understood why they were rushing.

In 30 minutes, we had a theater performance.

Our club, named best team at the arts festival, earned a chance to perform at the Imperial Court. Today was the day.

“It’s fine. We already did it, so there’s enough time.”

The theatrical makeup was heavy, so I did it like I would for a 21st-century camera, which Tsheringen probably didn’t know.

Anyway, this was my last favorability-gathering chance today.

‘I thought I’d need this to hit 10,000.’

10,000, my ass.

It’s 50,000 now.

I pushed away the favorability windows still popping up and thought.

‘Might as well hit 100,000.’

Just do it. The system keeps shoving these windows at me. Panicking gets old—now it’s just fun…

Only 10,000 of the 100,000 inauguration attendees stayed for the play, so I’d need to earn the remaining 50,000 from them.

Five points per person should do it. From -5 to 0.

‘Get this done, and I’m free.’

Having just finished a proposal, I shouldn’t see similar ones for a while. The system won’t keep spamming real-time favorability windows after the celebration.

‘By the way…’

I dismissed a window and looked at Elias.

Unlike Ulrike, who should be excited, Elias was quietly lost in thought.

The reason was clear.

The cheers from the anti-Emperor faction were unusually loud.

This was Elias’s first public appearance since resolving Mepen’s polluted mosquito crisis at the Federal Committee last October. Showing his accumulated support to the Emperor and Crown Prince couldn’t leave him at ease.

Meeting my eyes, Elias gave a faint smile.

Not his usual carefree, playful grin.

I nodded in response and looked forward.

Crossing a corridor, a servant approached.

“Excuse me, Askanian.”

Knowing we had to move to the waiting room, Ulrike grinned.

“Looking forward to it! Your Rosalind felt so real—I’ve been wanting to see it again. So excited~”

“Me too.”

Heike Ainsidel said flatly, as usual.

I glanced at Narce. He looked between me and the others, smirking playfully.

“It’s a secret.”

I’d asked him to keep it quiet, and he nodded.

He’s good at keeping promises.

As I turned, relieved, an unwelcome notification sounded.

Ding—!

< Chapter 6. Do Right and Fear No One >

Proposal 3: Gain +12 Eszett Favorability within the deadline (0/12) (167 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds) Route 1 — < Chapter 6 Special Reward > Route 2 — < Proposal 4 >

***

“It’s a secret.”

Lucas said to Narce before following the servant.

Twenty minutes later.

Ten minutes remained until the play.

‘What?’

What’s the secret?

Ulrike sat in Eszett’s assigned seats, chin propped, in the three-story theater buzzing with 10,000 people’s energy.

“Hope it starts soon.”

“Right?”

The excited chatter of schoolmates behind filled the air.

Everyone’s reason was the same: to see Lucas’s acting again. Though it was “As You Like It,” seen before, Rosalind’s lingering impression made rewatching thrilling.

‘Sucks that cameras aren’t allowed.’

He’d snapped a photo last time, but after hearing a rumor—true or not—that Lucas stormed the photography club and destroyed their film, he couldn’t ask to share it.

No point taking a photo he couldn’t give.

Done thinking, Ulrike turned to Leo.

“Class prez, you saw Lucas’s play before? You must’ve seen Faust.”

“Yeah.”

Leo, usually aloof, answered curtly.

‘So blunt.’

He gets icy whenever Lucas comes up.

“What’d you think? His acting’s amazing, right? So much like Rosalind…”

“First time seeing a Rosalind over 180 cm.”

At Leo’s sarcasm, Ulrike internally worried about team dynamics, forcing an awkward smile.

Then, the auditorium lights went out, plunging the theater into darkness.

‘Oh!’

So exciting.

Suppressing the urge to grab Yulia and gush, Ulrike—thinking himself dignified—glanced around.

Elias, quiet in the palace unless joking with Lucas, was the same today. Yulia and Narce looked expectant.

Leo kept his cold expression.

He didn’t like Lucas, so no surprise.

‘Still, they’re teammates now~ Could be a bit friendlier.’

His disposition’s unavoidable, and he doesn’t seem to hold Pleroma ideology. Plus, it’s cured, right?

Yet he’s still so wary.

‘I’ll cheer Lucas up after so he’s not hurt.’

The stage lights hit the curtain. The royal crest flashed and vanished.

It’s starting. Whispers ceased.

Tension filled the silence.

The curtain rose without lights.

A voice rang out.

[Adam.]

“…?!”

Ulrike’s eyes widened.

‘Wait.’

Did I mishear? That’s Orlando’s line, the male lead.

But the voice was Lucas’s.

Click—

The lights snapped on, revealing pink eyes gleaming beneath.

‘Whoa?!’

Not Rosalind. He was on stage as Orlando.

‘He was the female lead last time, now the male lead?’

Memorized two scripts? Why not Rosalind again?

Ulrike fixed his gaze on Lucas’s hair, stunned.

Beyond the role, something else was shocking.

His hair was ashy blonde.

Dark blonde is common here, but seeing a friend who’s always black-haired switch was striking.

Lucas, playing Orlando, looked past the supporting actor and audience, speaking.

[As I remember, Adam, my father bequeathed me 1,000 crowns in his will. He charged my brother Oliver to raise me well. If he wanted blessings, that is.]

Ulrike’s mind swirled, but Lucas’s clear voice rang out.

[But who knew? That was the start of my misfortune.]

Standing apart from the servant actor, Lucas faced the audience, raising his voice. His forceful gestures carried a subtle irritability.

[My brother sent our younger brother Jaques to university, and I hear his grades are quite good. But Oliver keeps me at home like a rustic. To be precise, he leaves me neglected. Is this the treatment a gentleman of my lineage deserves?]

Orlando glanced back at the servant, finishing.

Lowering his eyes, he muttered.

[I’m no better than an ox in a stall. You know the horses my brother rides get better treatment. They’re well-fed, glossy, and he hires trainers at great cost. But me, his brother…!]

Me?

Despite having seen the play, Ulrike focused entirely on Orlando.

His muttering grew heated, then stopped, his gaze turning to the audience. The vigor of his indignant gestures faded.

In an emotionless voice, neither angry nor sad, he said.

[I just grow under him, with nothing. Even livestock scavenging trash get this much.]

‘Oh.’

Orlando’s chilling voice and eyes pierced through, making Ulrike, who’d leaned forward, jolt upright.

He suppressed the urge to clap. Having seen another Orlando, it felt exhilarating.

‘Last time, a first-year junior played it angrily.’

Unlike Lucas’s Orlando, whose emotions deepened steadily.

He’d thought it was good then, but this changed his mind.

Placing emphasis earlier and drawing out focus with calm words made Orlando’s emotions—grievance, sorrow, and vengeful intent—richer, despite no such lines yet.

Early on, this approach could feel disjointed, but his steady, loud voice prevented that. He knew the line of excess.

“Now I get why our drama club’s at the Imperial Court.”

Whispers came from behind, despite manners.

Ulrike agreed inwardly, diving back into Orlando’s lines. Orlando continued without sharp emphasis, maintaining the tone with slight shifts.

[He gives me nothing, yet seems intent on taking what nature gave me. Not treated as family, I dine with his servants, raised as basely as possible to crush my noble spirit. Adam, this saddens me. My father’s spirit in me rebels against this slavish treatment. I can’t endure it anymore… though I don’t know how to escape this yet.]

[Here comes your brother, my master.]

Ulrike snapped to attention at the servant’s words.

Not that the actor was off, but it pulled him from Orlando’s monologue.

Orlando gestured to the servant, pointing stage-end.

[Now, Adam. Stand there. Let’s see how my brother insults me.]

He’d thought Lucas was perfectly Rosalind, unable to imagine him as anyone else.

Wrong.

‘Every time I see him, the best role changes.’

This time, his commanding presence was stronger. Orlando’s lines overwhelmed, drawing even supporting roles into him, making others’ acting fade.

Lucas Askanian’s traces were gone—only the shell remained. I faced Orlando, not the role, but a noble youth fleeing to Arden Forest.

Ulrike locked eyes on Lucas.

He had a ton of questions to ask later.

***

Favorability +95,410 achieved!

Favorability +95,420 achieved!

Favorability +95,430 achieved!

Theater’s the best tool.

When 300 points surged mid-line, goosebumps hit, wondering what they saw, but it benefited me, so I took it well.

Of course, another problem arose.

After the curtain call, I returned to the waiting room, reading the white text before me.

Proposal 3: Gain +12 Eszett Favorability within the deadline (1/12) (167 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds)

‘Are you kidding?’

I thought I’d escaped favorability hell…

I need 12 points from six of seven teammates.

Someone gave 1 point during the play, but 11 remain.

Twelve sounds easy, but it’s not.

‘All their favorability is positive.’

Even Ulrike Kleist, with whom I had little contact, is positive. They’re not targets for quick 1-point gains via surprise.

I haven’t checked Narce, Leo, or Elias’s favorability this year. I didn’t want to judge close friends by numbers. Felt guilty.

Their favorability’s probably near max, so they’re out for this proposal.

‘…So, start with lower ones, like Yulia and Ulrike…’

My vision darkened.

Conquer? With friends?

No way. I’m already used to it.

I slapped my cheeks and took a deep breath.

‘Let’s get closer to Yulia and Ulrike.’

There’s a catch.

If their favorability’s +5, the max I can reach is +7-8. If lower, a week’s max is +5.

Since it’s about human hearts, you can’t assume 10 points from a 0 baseline.

Can I really get 11 points from them?

‘Gotta try…’

A hollow laugh escaped. Winning teammates’ favor feels harder than the masses’.

Changing clothes, saying goodbye to club members, and stepping out, I saw familiar black shapes.

“Oh.”

“Lucas! You were *so* Orlando! Really!”

Ulrike clapped like a seal, eyes gleaming.

Meeting my top target—er, person to bond with—so soon was surprising, but seeing someone clap like that was mildly shocking too.

Elias grabbed my shoulder, exclaiming playfully, “Lucas! Should’ve told me~?”

“It was good. Should I join the drama club?”

Narce laughed. Elias seemed to regain some of his usual mischief.

Ulrike waited for them to finish, then continued.

“So that’s why you told Narce to keep quiet~ Even without Rosalind, you were awesome! I wanna see it again.”

“Really? Thanks.”

Smiling, I felt a sharp reality check.

I’d acted instinctively.

Narce, noticing my favorability grab, turned away, stifling laughter.

‘If you’re gonna laugh, give me favorability first…’

Swallowing that, I smiled at Ulrike.

Heading to the banquet hall, Ulrike kept muttering beside me.

Good for me, needing to bond.

Just before the doors opened, Ulrike put a hand on my shoulder.

“Lucas. We’re drinking till the banquet ends—you in?”

Perfect. To gain favorability, I need to stick around.

But I had something to do first, so bonding with Ulrike would wait.

“Nah, I’ve got a quick stop.”

“A stop?”

“Yeah. Let’s drink after.”

***

During the play, night fell, and the palace was dim as before.

Reaching the Crown Prince Palace, I told the guards, “I’m here to see Her Highness.”

They eyed my hair suspiciously, then my eyes, and stepped aside.

“Welcome. Enter.”

They’d been told Lucas Askanian was coming.

My eye color as an identifier? Laughable, but not the point.

As before, the bluish palace was eerily silent, no servants in sight.

Hearing only my boot heels, I scanned the quiet palace and headed for the stairs.

Doubts lingered.

‘Why bother putting an Ainsidel in the team?’

Since Abraham was tied to Pleroma, I knew an Ainsidel mage was among them.

The two Ainsidels are likely related—though we found no proof in the Ainsidel family. Like with Jeremiah, the maternal Old Human side could be Ainsidel, or a distant relative too obscure for direct-line records, explaining our failure to find evidence. They might plan to use that kin to blackmail Ainsidel. Normal humans wouldn’t enjoy seeing family harmed because of them.

‘Pleromas have emotions too.’

The councilor Pleroma I met was a strong example.

Also, the Pleroma Ainsidel’s obsession with Werner Strauch’s death, urging me to become Strauch, showed deep attachment.

Thus, Heike, sharing blood, could be a solid blackmail tool.

This assumes Heike and Pleroma Ainsidel are closely tied… but Abraham might have info I don’t.

If not, secondly.

Heike’s “Unconquerable” status, as I suspected, might mark him as a worse villain than Adelbert.

Abraham could know dangers about Heike I don’t.

The library door was wide open.

Unlike last time, white muslin curtains fluttered.

I knocked on the adjacent room’s door.

Creak—

It opened on its own.

The Crown Prince, reading, raised an eyebrow at me.

Now in casual indoor clothes, not her earlier attire.

She scanned me, murmuring, “Suits you.”

“…….”

“I thought so earlier, but it wasn’t the place to say. Matches your eyes better than the school uniform.”

She’s not bringing this up for nothing. Her patronizing tone confirms she tailored Eszett’s clothes.

Since she stared at my tie, I casually removed it, stuffing it in my pocket.

“Is that so? How long will you keep me standing?”

“…Hahaha. Sit.”

A servant entered with a trolley and tray.

After setting down tea and leaving, she snapped her fingers, closing the door.

“Do you like that hair color?”

“What’s to like or not? It’s just a color.”

“Just a color… I used an unused federal flag color for you, so it’s a pity you’re indifferent.”

As expected, this bastard chose the uniforms.

Too annoyed to reply, thankfully, she continued.

“Using Eszett’s Imperial entry to fix your reputation? Now 100,000 spectators will go home talking about you all day. Nice ripple effect.”

“Indeed. I think so too.”

“Worth the effort, so I’m pleased. What did your brother say about this?”

“…….”

Nothing.

He sent a three-page letter.

No other action.

Catching my meaning, she smiled.

“Must be a lot on your mind. As someone concerned for your safety, it’s unfortunate.”

No time for pointless chatter.

I’ve humored her enough.

“Why bring Heike Ainsidel here?”

“Too hasty? It’s been a week—let’s catch up more.”

“Sadly, I’ve no updates worth sharing.”

“That stings.”

A child?

As I stared silently, she met my eyes.

“I considered dropping Ulrike Kleist to 7th and raising Heike Ainsidel to 6th, but score tampering felt improper.”

Hm.

She admitted it.

She’s the one who brought Heike Ainsidel.

“Plus, our task force’s advisory chair hates students being thrown into danger, so I thought adding one was better than removing one.”

“Not something to say to the chair.”

“No, Sir.”

She shook her head, clasped her hands, and leaned back on the sofa.

“With six, a vacancy leaves five to handle Pleroma and berserkers, which is tough. Seven ensures a Grade 4 berserker can be managed even if one drops.”

I shook my head, smiling.

“You assume a vacancy. Sounds like you’ll ensure one.”

“Exactly. You know, don’t you?”

Tapping her chin, she continued.

“His surname’s the issue. ‘Ainsidel.’ The Pleroma Osnabrück diocese’s bishop, right?”

She knows about Ainsidel.

I stared silently.

Observing my blank face, she smiled.

“You know too. Just as I couldn’t give up having you, could I pass on an Ainsidel? 7th place? Adding a slot’s nothing.”

Lost in thought, she said.

“It’s good bait for the Pleroma bishop.”

Bait.

Similar to my earlier thought.

“I don’t want Pleroma ruling the world, Sir. In that, we’re allies.”

“Not ruling? You plan to build your own sect.”

With nothing to say, she grinned.

“As you know, Heike and Pleroma Ainsidel’s abilities aren’t the same. Sharing a unique ability means close mana and blood ties. Even distant kin can coincidentally share it, so let’s skip pointless talk…”

Her intrigued eyes turned to me.

“Why does Pleroma keep Bishop Ainsidel?”

“…….”

“His memory-reading ability. That’s Ainsidel’s value. Would Pleroma let someone with that ability go?”

Sipping tea, she rolled the cup’s base on the table.

“You know I can manipulate blood.”

“So?”

“Shouldn’t we use resources fully? Blood manipulation isn’t common.”

“So use me?”

Her eyes shifted from the cup to me.

“Exactly.”

“…….”

“All credit goes to you. You found Ainsidel’s same ability suspicious, didn’t you? I won’t ask why.”

Observing me, she continued.

“Left as is, Heike Ainsidel’s fated to be taken by Pleroma, bishop or not. Whether he wants it or not, he’s doomed to cause ruin. So…”

“Get to the point.”

I could guess her next words.

Given her mindset and ability, there’s one thing she’d do.

Her golden eyes, gleaming eerily in the dark, curved slightly.

The child’s eyes from Marco’s memory overlapped with hers.

“Bring me Heike Ainsidel’s blood.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep