TIRS 02

CHAPTER 02.

 I Can See Your Affection Meter

“Your Highness?”

As I stared blankly into the air, frozen in place, Seira called out to me with a puzzled voice.

“Seira, above your head…”

“Yes?”

Seira looked up over her head, then tilted her head in confusion.

“Above my head? There’s nothing there.”

Apparently, Seira couldn’t see the strange blue window floating above her.

‘What the heck is that? Affection meter?’

It was odd—very much like a game interface window.

With my extensive past life experience as a longtime reader of web novels, I searched my memory. I’d read stories where the protagonist would be transmigrated into a book and gain a status window like this.

‘But this wasn’t in the original… Oh, right. The original’s already been altered!’

I immediately accepted it with ease.

I had promised myself many times that if I were ever transmigrated into a story, I would never be one of those obsessive “stick-to-the-original” types. Instead, I had resolved to live as someone who always accepts things as they come.

Anyway, the number 999 on the affection meter was huge, even at a glance.

‘I didn’t know Seira liked me this much…!’

A smile crept across my lips without me realizing it.

By the time I arrived at the imperial garden, many of the ladies were already present.

“Hello, Elizabeth unnie.”

I walked up to the host of the tea party and greeted her.

“You’re late, Luyvel.”

Elizabeth, seated at the head table, replied coldly.

Though, I had actually arrived ten minutes early.

I was about to defend myself when I spotted the blue window floating above Elizabeth’s head.

Second Princess of the Azester Empire: Elizabeth
Affection: 999

Elizabeth and I weren’t particularly close sisters.

It was only natural. While my father’s identity was unknown, Elizabeth hailed from a prestigious count’s family on her paternal side.

We rarely interacted unless there were formal gatherings like today’s tea party or a ball.

So I was genuinely surprised to see that Elizabeth had such a high affection level toward me.

‘She must have cared for me all along, even if she never showed it.’

My nose tingled with emotion.

I’d always believed my entire family was indifferent toward me.

But to find out that wasn’t true…

Well, the original story had already gone off the rails. If I was now romantically involved with the protagonist Hezen, it wasn’t strange for my family to actually like me too.

‘This feels just like a cliché female lead in a transmigration story.’

Thump—
Just like when Hezen confessed to me, my heart fluttered again.

“I’m sorry, Elizabeth unnie. I didn’t realize you were waiting for me because you missed me…”

“…What?”

When I spoke with a bashful smile, Elizabeth flinched.

“You were eagerly waiting for me to arrive, weren’t you? So much that being just ten minutes early still wasn’t enough.”

“What are you talking about, Luyvel? Stop with the nonsense and sit down.”

She quickly changed the subject, clearly flustered.

Oh, Elizabeth unnie. Acting all shy like that.

I need to be better to her from now on!

I’ll use the typical transmigration clichés to become the best sister ever!

I flashed another sweet smile and sat at the empty seat at the table.

But from across the table, a not-so-welcome voice greeted me.

“Good day to you, Princess Luyvel.”

It was Lady Sylvia Winster, who never missed a chance to pick a fight with me.

The moment I met her gaze, my expression stiffened.

“Oh my, how rude to scowl right to my face!”

Of course, Sylvia and I were known rivals.

But that wasn’t the only reason my face stiffened.

Daughter of the Marquess of Winster: Sylvia
Affection: 999

Sylvia’s affection meter was also maxed out!

A chill ran down my spine.

‘What? Creepy!’

Sylvia had always openly despised me because of my unknown paternity.

It was common knowledge in high society.

So… could it be that she actually liked me all along?

Come to think of it, I had read characters like her in novels before.

The classic tsundere types—who liked the protagonist but constantly bickered with them because they were too embarrassed to be honest.

They always ended up becoming the protagonist’s close friends.

“Even wrapped in palace etiquette, your lowly origins are still evident,” Sylvia spat, flicking open her fan dramatically.

Even as she picked a fight, the glowing 999 affection level floated brightly above her head.

“…Poor Sylvia.”

I suddenly reached across the table and grabbed her hands.

“W-What are you doing?!”

Sylvia’s face instantly flushed bright red.

That confirmed it. Sylvia liked me.

“Miss Sylvia, you should first learn how to express your feelings honestly.”

“Wh-Wh-What are you saying…?!”

“It’s okay. I’ll support you in being honest from now on. I think we can become great friends.”

Sylvia froze, lips moving silently in disbelief.

The afternoon tea party in the imperial garden was lovely.

Warm spring sunlight, a soft breeze, sweet floral scents, and delicious desserts with fragrant tea.

Laughter and gentle chatter filled the space among the gathered noble ladies.

“Oh right. Lady Janice, did you hear? Prince Anselot of Luenhart is visiting the Empire!”

“Oh, the bloodthirsty youngest prince? The current king’s younger brother…”

“Yes, yes! The lunatic who smiles while chopping off people’s heads!”

“I heard he spends more time on the battlefield than in the palace. Why show up at a diplomatic event now?”

“Thanks to him, Luenhart’s territory has doubled in size! Yet he has no interest in the throne.”

“They say he’s so handsome, you can’t forget him once you’ve seen him…”

“Oh my!”

I half-listened to the idle chatter while glancing around.

‘Something feels off.’

I frowned slightly as I looked at the system windows floating above each of the women’s heads.

Oddity #1:
Every single lady at the tea party had an affection level of 999.

Count Janice’s Daughter: Diana
Affection: 999

Duke Gibreta’s Daughter: Melainy
Affection: 999

999 must be the max.

‘Was I really this popular with the noble ladies?’

This was news to me.

Oddity #2:
The system window only showed affection levels for women.

Though it was a ladies-only event, male servants and knights occasionally passed by.

But none of them had any affection numbers above their heads.

Imperial Palace Servant: Hans
Knight of House Winster: Alvin

Only their names and titles were displayed.

No affection numbers—ever.

‘Shouldn’t it be the opposite?’

I tilted my head and sipped the last of my tea.

Maybe it was because I had no real interaction with them?

‘Oh ho, that makes sense.’

As a self-proclaimed queen of rationalizing, I quickly nodded in agreement with myself.

Before I knew it, the tea party was over and the sun was setting.

Just like earlier, I decided to walk rather than ride in a carriage.

‘Should I stop by and see Hezen for a bit?’

By now, he should be in his office.

Normally, I wouldn’t want to disturb him while he’s working, but since it was close to the end of the day, I figured a quick visit would be fine.

“Your Highness? That way leads to the main palace.”

“Yes, I’m going to visit Hezen.”

“Then I’ll come with—”

“No, Seira. I’ll go alone. Head back to the princess’s quarters.”

Seira looked a little hurt, perhaps thinking I was brushing her off.

But I wanted to keep the romance of spending time alone with my fiancé.

As I walked through the long corridor toward the main palace, I hummed a little tune.

Hezen, as the captain of the imperial knights, had an office on the second floor of the main palace.

‘I wonder if he’ll be surprised by an unannounced visit.’

That’s when I happened to glance at my reflection in the darkened window.

“…!”

I looked up in shock.

Floating above my head was an affection meter too.

Third Princess of the Azester Empire: Luyvel
Affection: 999

“Why… is this here…?”

Unlike the others’ blue windows, mine shimmered in a radiant pink, with the same 999 score.

Sure, I loved myself—I was inhabiting the body of the most beautiful woman in the empire, after all.

But… does a system usually display your own affection for yourself?

A meter that measures self-love?

This was the first I’d heard of it.

Even I, queen of rationalizing, couldn’t wrap my head around this one.

‘No, no… it’s not impossible…’

Just as I tried to convince myself—

[SYSTEM] Target ’s affection is…

Faint text appeared in the air ahead of me, along with a translucent window.

‘Target…?’

I squinted and stepped forward.

The closer I got, the clearer the text became.

And then I read it:

[Oh no! The target has found out that you’re already engaged and is furious!
Please calm her down properly, or her affection will drop to 0! ༼;´༎ຶ ۝༎ຶ`༽!!!!!]

Beneath the blue system window… was Hezen, smiling sweetly at a woman I didn’t recognize.

0.