TIRS 63

CHAPTER 63…………..

: First Princess Consort Arbella

Enzer and I, caught in the heat of our competitive spirits, impulsively made a bet.

“Let’s make it so that the loser must fulfill the winner’s request.”

“We’ll need a fair judge to determine the outcome of the bet.”

[SYSTEM] Quest Arrived!

Perfectly timed, a new quest had just arrived.

[Random Quest: Bean Pod vs. Ego Boost]

You have made a bet over who is more handsome— or ! Go find the young ladies enjoying tea in the palace greenhouse garden, ask them to judge, and win the bet.

▶ Reward on Success: ’s Secret
▶ Penalty on Failure: Date with

Unlike normal quests, spontaneous quests triggered by the system come with a penalty if failed, but I could choose whether to accept it.

[SYSTEM] Do you accept the quest? (Accept/Decline)

The idea of losing and having to go on a date with Enzer was terrifying, but…

‘Of course I’ll win. I’m sure of it.’

I had confidence. After all, Anselot’s appearance was exceptional—no one could rival him.

‘And the reward if I succeed…’

I found myself staring intently at the intriguing success reward.

Anselot’s secret—what a tempting prize.

‘It’s not like I have romantic feelings for Anselot or anything… it’s just… naturally, you get curious when someone close keeps secrets. Well, not that Anselot and I are particularly close, but…’

I tried to rationalize my thoughts, even though no one was reading my mind.

‘Accept.’

I muttered this under my breath, and the spontaneous quest was accepted.

[SYSTEM] Quest Accepted.

“Luckily, there are guests enjoying tea in the palace greenhouse today. We can ask them to judge.”

Enzer guided me to where the young ladies’ tea gathering was taking place.

It was also a place I had been wondering how to get to, so somehow, things seemed to fall into place easily.

“Oh, Crown Prince Enzer?”

As we entered the greenhouse, the young ladies recognized Enzer and brightened up.

One of them approached, noticeably pleased.

“How did you come all the way here…?”

But she immediately noticed me standing beside him and her expression stiffened.

‘Ah, that woman.’

She was someone I had met before—the same nasty woman who had led Maria’s harassment at the last ball.

‘The name sounds familiar…’

Duchess Helena of the Azelrine family

Affection Level: -389

I tilted my head, trying to remember where I had seen her name.

After the death of First Prince Arno, she became engaged…

Helena Azelrine.

She was the fiancée I had seen in the detailed information panel of Crown Prince Enzer.

“Hello, Your Grace.”

Enzer smiled gently at his fiancée and greeted her.

“So you’re attending Lady Arbella’s tea time today as well?”

“I went to the Crown Prince’s palace this morning but she wasn’t there, so I left my regards with the steward.”

“Oh, I see. I didn’t know. I was busy today.”

With a seemingly kind but subtly distancing tone, he then introduced me.

“Allow me to introduce: this is Princess Louibel from Azester. She was just passing by and heard the laughter of the young ladies here.”

“Ah…”

Hadn’t he just said he was busy today?

Realizing this, Helena awkwardly smiled, as if unsure how to react.

[SYSTEM] ’s affection has decreased by 35. (Affection: -424)

‘Why is she mad at me when it wasn’t my fault?’

I felt unfairly treated.

“I see. Please, come in.”

Helena led us inside.

Inside the greenhouse, a long table held the invited young ladies.

Some of them had previously bullied Maria alongside Helena.

At the head of the table sat the woman hosting the tea time.

Enzer strode toward her to greet her.

“Long time no see, Lady Arbella.”

She looked young, roughly my age.

First Princess Consort of the Luenhart Kingdom,

Affection Level: -493

She disliked me even more than Helena Azelrine, Enzer’s fiancée.

‘What’s with her…?’

I panicked and opened her information panel.

[Wife of First Prince Arno. She had a young son with the late Prince Arno and continues to reside in the palace, overseeing domestic affairs. (Support Level: 37)]

‘Prince Arno… the one who supposedly died because of Anselot?’

So this woman became a widow because of Anselot…

‘Then she must hate me because of her grudge against Anselot?’

I felt uneasy.

“Princess, this is Lady Arbella, who oversees domestic affairs in the royal household. She was the wife of my late brother, Prince Arno, making her my sister-in-law.”

“Hello, Princess Louibel. I’ve heard much about you.”

She stood and greeted me calmly, in a way that made it hard to believe she disliked me so much.

“I am Arbella. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“I’m pleased to meet you as well.”

After a brief exchange, Enzer smiled and looked around.

“Fortunately, there are plenty of young ladies gathered here.”

He finally got to the point, adjusting his voice.

“The truth is, I made a bet with Princess Louibel here.”

“Oh? Did she provoke Your Highness’ pride?”

Arbella asked with a gentle smile.

“Yes. What was the bet?”

“Between me and Uncle Anselot…”

He paused briefly, frowning slightly.

“Who is more handsome.”

I snickered inwardly at his seemingly embarrassed attitude.

The ones who should feel embarrassed or displeased were actually Anselot.

“Ah…”

“Uh…”

“Hmm…”

Sighs and murmurs spread among the young ladies, unsure of how to respond.

“This is an important matter.”

“Yes, very important.”

Enzer and I said firmly.

While no one dared speak up, I pointed to a young lady in the front.

“Miss Meoli, what do you think?”

“Uh, me? Well…”

Surprised that I knew her name, Meoli rolled her eyes nervously.

“O-of course it’s Prince Anselot. Haha.”

“Miss Meoli has excellent judgment.”

I smiled at her awkwardly, then turned to the next girl.

“And Miss Oletta?”

“Both represent Luenhart’s beauty, but I think Prince Anselot…”

“Helena, being the fiancée of the Crown Prince, would also say he’s better, right?”

“Of course…”

Helena glanced at me before trailing off, and I fixed my gaze on her.

She awkwardly smiled.

“Prince Anselot’s looks are indeed representative of the Luenhart family.”

“Hehe. Miss Helena seems destined to be a fair and impartial Crown Princess.”

I noticed Enzer’s facial muscles stiffening beside me.

After asking a few more young ladies, I got the answer I wanted and looked at Arbella at the head of the table.

“Since the decision seems settled, there’s no need for me to answer.”

Arbella elegantly smiled and replied neatly.

I turned to Enzer triumphantly.

“So, Crown Prince Enzer, do you accept defeat?”

“I cannot! People are not honest because they fear Uncle Anselot’s notorious reputation!”

“How pathetic, Crown Prince Enzer.”

I impatiently waited for the quest completion notification, speaking sharply.

But instead of yielding, Enzer’s competitive pride surged.

[SYSTEM] ’s competitiveness has increased by 500.
[SYSTEM] ’s competitiveness has reached its maximum.
[SYSTEM] ’s rationality is temporarily paralyzed.

“Moreover, since the Princess is already rumored in the Luenhart palace as ‘the woman who can make someone faint with her gaze,’ how could anyone answer honestly after meeting her eyes?”

“What did I do with my gaze?”

I narrowed my eyes at the absurd rumors circulating about me.

[SYSTEM] Your competitiveness has increased by 550.
[SYSTEM] Your competitiveness has reached its maximum.
[SYSTEM] Your rationality is temporarily paralyzed.

Enzer and I, now paralyzed by our competitive pride, glared fiercely at each other.

“Let’s conduct a secret ballot.”

“You think that will change the result?”

I genuinely felt pity for Enzer now.

“Fine. Let’s do the secret ballot.”

However…

“Hahaha! What do you think, Princess Louibel? Will you admit now that I’m more handsome than Uncle Anselot?”

The secret ballot results favored Enzer.

I couldn’t believe it and had to check multiple times.

“Did you threaten people to manipulate the vote?”

“The people of Luenhart fear Anselot’s ferocity more than the Crown Prince’s authority.”

That made sense.

“Still, I cannot accept it! How…!”

“Princess, since you won’t admit it, you must now fulfill my request.”

Enzer arrogantly lifted his head, triumphant.

“….”

A sorrowful system notification appeared before my eyes.

[Random Quest: Bean Pod vs. Ego Boost] Failed!

It was my first failure since becoming a player.