TIRS 20

CHAPTER20.

 Why Do You Keep Getting on My Mind

Three days later, just as the system had predicted, the first main scenario arrived.

[SYSTEM] Main Scenario Incoming!

[SYSTEM] Main Scenario <Chapter 1: Proof of a Hero> has begun! (▶Preview Scenario)

But I had no intention of simply becoming a player and following the scenario. So I ignored it.

“I saw it that time. As soon as Hezen clicked [▶Preview Scenario], the quest arrived.”

The main quest Hezen received that day had a penalty of “Bad Ending” if failed, and what’s worse, he hadn’t even had the option to refuse it.

Who knows what dangerous quest might show up if I press that button.

“So if I just don’t press that button, the quest won’t come?”

As if to confirm my guess, the loud green system window kept popping up, whining repeatedly, begging me to click the [▶Preview Scenario] button.

[Uh, player? Are you not going to proceed with the scenario? (((( ;°Д°))))]
[Player? You need to click the [▶Preview Scenario] button to move on… Player?]

“Hmph. Like I’d press that just because you’re begging.”

Then the system window practically started wailing.

[Waaahhhhh! Player, please! Just once… just click the [▶Preview Scenario] button once, please? Waaahhhhhhh… ༼;´༎ຶ ۝༎ຶ`༽]

“So noisy.”

The system window definitely felt noisier now than when Hezen was the player.

Still, I stubbornly ignored it—hoping that if I kept at it, the system might just give up on me.

Two more days passed, and then it was my mother’s birthday celebration.

Since the day I became the player in Hezen’s place, I hadn’t seen Ancelot once.

Before, I’d been avoiding him, so we didn’t run into each other. But now, he was just gone.

There were rumors he was sick, but I had brushed it off.

“No way.”

However, even on the day of Mother’s birthday, he still hadn’t shown up. I started to feel a mix of unease and suspicion.

“I thought for sure he’d show up and ask me to be his partner.”

Recalling how persistent he’d been up until now, I started getting worried.

“Is he really sick?”

The ball was scheduled to start at 6 p.m. It was already 3 p.m.—just about three hours left.

“Should I go check on him?”

While I hesitated, another 30 minutes passed. Eventually, I jumped up and went to find Ancelot.

“Why do you keep making me worry about you?”

This was all his fault.

If someone had been chasing you around that persistently and then just disappeared, anyone would be worried.

So it wasn’t like I was especially concerned about him or anything…

…Pause.

I stopped in my tracks when I saw a group of people walking toward me from the opposite direction.

They saw me too and stopped, glaring daggers at me.

[Whoa, look at that loser. Look at how he’s glaring. Just makes me want to—BAM!!! =͟͟͞͞(๑•̀ㅁ•́ฅ✧
Player, I have a great idea to teach him a lesson! Just click the [▶Preview Scenario] button…]

The system window popped out again, unable to resist, chattering noisily. I ignored it and smiled sweetly at the person across from me.

“Hello, Brother Orent.”

“…Tch.”

Orent scowled openly in disgust.

“Not even a child would show their emotions that blatantly.”

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

Why had I ever thought Orent was so impressive?

I smirked and walked past him.

“Hm?”

Suddenly, I felt a sharp gaze from behind and turned around.

But behind me was only Orent, fuming, with his companions holding him back.

“Did I imagine that?”

Tilting my head in confusion, I continued on my way.

The man silently watched Ruivel’s retreating back.

Ruivel didn’t seem at all interested in progressing the scenario, even though she had fully awakened as a player.

“…This won’t do.”

He stroked his chin and muttered slowly.

It seemed he’d have to remind the player of her role.

Knock, knock.

I arrived at Ancelot’s room and knocked on the door.

After a brief wait, it opened, and a man poked his head out with a lazy look—then widened his eyes in surprise.

“Princess Ruivel?”

Then, smiling warmly,

“Wow, what an honor. Did Her Highness come to personally escort me?”

“Escort? What are you even saying?!”

Blushing furiously, I waved my hands.

“Then what is it?”

“I heard a rumor you were sick. I came to check on you, in case you were hurt. I’m not that heartless.”

But Ancelot didn’t look sick at all.

His neatly groomed silver-white hair, pristine white formal uniform, even the lavender tie—it all looked tailored for tonight’s celebration.

“Doesn’t seem like you’re sick at all.”

So the rumor really had been false.

“Disappointed I’m not sick? That’s cold.”

He replied playfully, and I glared at him.

“Don’t tell me you started that rumor just to make me come here?”

“Whoa, how’d you know?”

He gave a crooked smile.

“See? That’s why clever people are dangerous.”

“Gasp!”

I took a step back in surprise.

“I’ve let my guard down again—he’s still dangerous!”

Because he always treated me so casually, I kept forgetting his true nature.

“Well, I confirmed you’re not sick, so I’ll just—!”

“Ruivel Azester, Third Princess.”

As I tried to retreat, he gently took my hand.

“That partner request I asked for last time—still valid, right?”

I paused and met his gaze. Then slowly nodded.

“Of course. I keep my promises.”

After all, he had helped me defeat Hezen. It was only fair I follow through.

“Good. I was worried.”

“Huh? About what?”

This man, who looked like he didn’t even know what the word “worry” meant, said:

“It just seemed like your little royal head was filled only with thoughts of how to avoid me.”

“…That’s a misunderstanding.”

Though, honestly, if I could avoid him, I’d be thrilled.

“Well, I can’t see inside your head, so let’s call it a misunderstanding.”

“…”

“Why does that sound so terrifying…?”

“If it’s Ancelot, he might actually find a physical way to see into my head…”

I shook my head to chase away that unsettling thought.

Still, even though I had come here over a false rumor, knowing he wasn’t really sick made me feel a little less annoyed.

“Okay, now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, I’ll be going—”

“Where to?”

“There’s still some time before the ball starts, so I thought I’d…”

“Well, since you’ve come all this way to escort me, let’s take a walk together.”

“I said I didn’t come to escort you!”

He chuckled as I barked at him.

I felt teased—my face went even redder.

“Sure. Then at least show me around the palace, Your Highness.”

“…I must be insane. Why didn’t I just stay quiet? Why did I invite trouble?”

I quietly regretted having come all the way here.

Under the still-bright sky, I walked beside him.

Even though he’d asked me to show him around, Ancelot didn’t seem remotely interested in the palace’s layout.

As we walked, I noticed knights blocking off the path by the lakeside.

Sir Ervain, the vice captain, was leading them in place of Hezen.

Mother believed this whole incident was an attempt to harm the royal family and was investigating, which had delayed Hezen’s funeral.

“She’s not wrong. Hezen did release monsters at the lake to kill me.”

As I quietly observed, a thought crossed my mind.

“How did Hezen even get the horn?”

It wasn’t an item just anyone could obtain.

Even when I checked the [Player Exclusive Shop], which I could now access, the [Horn of Aegir] wasn’t there.

“Maybe someone who wanted to help awaken a player gave it to him. Like one of the system’s underlings.”

“But…”

I frowned deeply.

“Helping someone awaken is one thing, but releasing monsters in public? That’s too dangerous.”

“They never care about the means—only the end.”

True. The cleaners I had encountered before had tried to kill both me and Ancelot, who was a foreign dignitary, inside the palace.

It could’ve turned into a national incident, but they clearly didn’t care.

I thought of Roana, my former maid.

Her death had been brushed aside unnaturally quickly. The other maids hadn’t even questioned her sudden disappearance.

Furrowing my brow, I thought more seriously.

Just like Roana and the other cleaners I saw that day, the person who gave Hezen the horn might also be hiding among us.

“Someone who could contact Hezen, and who could possess a rare item like Aegir’s horn…”

But no one came to mind.

“Will the knights be able to uncover the truth?”

I looked gravely at the lakeside knights, then opened Hezen’s still-active inventory.

Item:

A cursed horn made from monster bone. It shows signs of prior use. Gather 10 and bring them to the Black Market Guild for a reward.

The one-time-use had shattered when Hezen used it. In its place remained this .

These worn horns were left behind after summoning monsters, and came in tiers—basic, intermediate, and advanced—depending on the monster’s rank. They had no function aside from being collectible.

It was like a coffee shop punch card—you drink 10 cups, you get a cookie.

Just another marketing ploy by the game developers.

“Black Market Guild… even the name screams illegal.”