BOPE 88

Chapter 88 …

• The current favorability with the territory’s citizens is -397,800p.

This was a negative number on a whole different scale than before. Donghee felt like that massive plunge in points was the very resentment of the residents of Idor Village directed toward her.

Kinda scary, actually.

She rubbed the goosebumps rising on her arm and began carefully planning what she should tackle first.

She was relieved she had converted some of her favorability into Hidden Points beforehand. If she had recklessly opened Idor Village first, she wouldn’t have been able to buy anything she wanted from the Hidden Shop. Or, worse, the status window might have mocked her with fake “suggestions” to take out loans with high interest rates.

Letting go of the tangled mess of thoughts for now, Donghee called for the butler who always stuck to her like a shadow.

“Handsome.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Handsome always replied in less than a second whenever she called, as if he were waiting desperately to be summoned. Foolishly loyal, kind, and diligent—he was a great source of support.

On top of that, he was a feast for the eyes every time she looked at him.

• Taechang can also be used as eye candy.

The status window abruptly shoved in that dubious sentence, as if reading her private thoughts.

I admit he’s good-looking. But sulky men aren’t my type.

When Donghee answered back, the status window trembled as if shocked, leaving the sentence still half-displayed instead of erasing it. But then…

• I think he’s a sulker too. He sulks at the drop of a hat. Yet he always insists he’s not sulking. Why? For the record, I’ve never sulked. I don’t even understand what sulking feels like. Because I’m a status window. Hmph.

The window seemed desperate to separate itself from Taechang, as if proving they weren’t the same. A moment later the text all disappeared, but Donghee was certain that was Taechang’s mischief rather than the window’s will.

Geez, don’t they have anything better to do…

Watching words vanish and then stubbornly reappear, she shook her head.

How could she even describe their relationship—one and yet two, two and yet one?

After brushing aside the distracting window, Donghee turned to the true epitome of eye candy—Handsome.

“I’m thinking of stopping by Idor on the way back to the castle. Will that make the trip much longer?”

Traveling by carriage at night wasn’t easy. Handsome stared gravely toward the village across the river. Even the frown line between his brows looked striking. Donghee realized then how much the aesthetic value of wrinkles depended on the face they were set upon.

Handsome answered, “It’s a detour, but if we leave right away, visiting Idor first won’t delay us too much.”

Idor lay south of Morta and west of Grace. Traveling from Morta through Idor to the castle meant they’d still arrive before dark.

“That’s a relief.”

Breathing out, Donghee turned and glanced at Builder. He was staring intently at the land, scribbling diligently in his notebook. Having hardworking and kind subordinates all around was a real blessing.

“Builder.”

She called, but he was so absorbed in thought that he didn’t respond. Only when Hope nudged his side did he look up.

“What is it?”

“The lord is calling you.”

“Huh? Oh! Forgive me, my lord. I didn’t hear.”

Builder snapped his notebook shut and bowed deeply in apology.

“No need for apologies. You’re already building factories in your head, aren’t you?”

Builder scratched his head bashfully, face flushing.

“Do your best. The Durall bread factory will be the first step in making Morta a wonderful place to live.”

“Yes, my lord. I’ll give it everything.”

“Whatever you need, just tell me.”

At her words, Builder smiled wide like a child set loose in a toy store.

“Ah, and on the way back I’d like to take Beiki and her son to Grace Castle. I promised to invite them, but too much time has passed.”

Hope had thought the lord had surely forgotten about Beiki and Kevin by now. After all, she had endless responsibilities and had even been gravely injured by Kyullen’s attack. Yet she not only remembered but even recalled Beiki’s name precisely.

Hope’s wrinkled eyes grew moist once again.

“Yes, my lord. Kevin will be thrilled.”

“Oh, the boy’s name was Kevin, right? Wasn’t he five?”

Unlike Beiki’s straightforward name, Kevin’s wasn’t as intuitive, so Donghee hadn’t remembered immediately.

“Yes. He’s only five, but he’s so clever.”

“Is that so? Then we must raise him well into a fine talent.”

To everyone else, it sounded like a passing joke. But in Donghee’s mind, a school for all the children of Grace territory was already under construction.

* * *

The road to Idor was narrow—barely wide enough for a single carriage. On both sides, blackened branches jutted out like spider legs.

“Are those trees supposed to be that black?”

The sight gave her chills.

“Yes. They’re called ebony trees. Their bark is very hard, so it’s often used for roofing.”

“Oooh!”

Now that she knew they were useful for building houses, the trees seemed less eerie and almost endearing. She noticed some trees with their bark already stripped away among the dense growth.

In the carriage, Beiki and Kevin stared wide-eyed at the strange scenery.

“Mom, I’m scared.”

At last, Kevin buried himself in his mother’s arms, eyes shut tight.

“It’s all right. Don’t worry. There are knights here, and the lord is with us too.”

Her words instantly soothed the child’s fear. If the lord was there, no monster could possibly stand a chance.

Donghee smiled mischievously at the boy staring up at her with adoration. She stuck out her tongue and tugged one eyelid down.

Even such a simple gesture transformed Chloe’s beautiful face into something ridiculous.

“Hehe.”

Kevin, peeking out from his mother’s arms, gave a small laugh but still held it in. So Donghee puffed her cheek, squashed her nose and lips, and made her philtrum disappear.

But Kevin only bit his lip, refusing to laugh out loud.

Well, there was only one solution.

Donghee reached over and pulled at Handsome’s eyelid.

Caught off guard, Handsome could only stare in shock at Kevin, his eye forcibly stretched.

“Pfft—hahaha!”

Though Kevin covered his mouth with his fist, giggles burst out. That cheerful sound alone brightened the bleak scenery.

“Once we pass the Cave of Wailing, we’ll reach Idor Village.”

“The Cave of Wailing? Wait—we have to go through a cave?”

Donghee wasn’t sure a carriage could even make it through.

“This road is just called the Cave of Wailing. The trees arch together overhead like a tunnel, and the wind whistling through makes it sound like sorrowful weeping.”

“You really know everything. Honestly, someone like you should’ve been lord from the start.”

Donghee said it sincerely, but Handsome went pale with fright.

“My lord, how could I presume such a thing!”

At his sudden panic, Beiki and Kevin also stiffened.

“Handsome. Don’t twist my words. I mean it—I’m proud to have you as my butler. You’re incredibly capable.”

Flustered by the praise, Handsome only blushed.

The lord had changed. No longer did she squander money on endless dresses, trail helplessly after men, or get tricked into selling prime land to scheming barons. Whatever had sparked this transformation, Handsome was proud. He wanted to shout it everywhere: This is the lord I serve.

“It’s truly my greatest honor to serve you, my lord,” Handsome said earnestly.

The two exchanged shy words of admiration as the carriage drew closer to Idor.

• The territory’s favorability has decreased by 10.

• The territory’s favorability has decreased by 10.
  …

• The territory’s favorability has decreased by 10.

As soon as they entered the village outskirts, the familiar messages flashed relentlessly. The citizens were furious at the sight of the lord’s carriage. The brutal red text almost seemed to come with a muted alarm sound—ding, ding, ding.